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Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, says Delta State, at 26, has the potential of being greater in the comity of states in Nigeria, stressing that the task of reaching its potential is a collective responsibility of stakeholders.
Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro
Otuaro, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Communication and Press, Bulou Kosin, accordingly tasked stakeholders to show understanding as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa grapples with the challenge of building the state despite economic difficulties.
"With remarkable strides in all sectors and empowerment programmes for our youths put in place by Governor Okowa, who is an astute administrator, Delta State holds the potential of becoming greater in the comity of states in Nigeria", Otuaro said.
To warring communities in the state, Otuaro appealed: "I want warring communities in the state to give peace a chance so that scarce resources in the state could be deployed to programmes meant to raise the quality of life of the people and uplifting the youths of Delta State for a greater tomorrow".
Dr Nicholas Okoh, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on Saturday appealed to Nigerians to avoid hate speech.
Okoh made the call in Kano when he led some members of his church to visit Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje at the Government House.
The clergyman, who described the trend in recent times as alarming, urged Nigerians to work assiduously to control hate speech.
"Hate speech has serious consequences on our country as it promotes violence, extremism and conflicts.
"Most of the adherents of these two religions don't have the real understanding of the teachings of their religions; that is why we having problem with hate speeches," he said.
Okoh called on Nigerians to preach love, tolerance and understanding in order to move the country forward.
He said that religious bodies in the country had critical roles to play in nation building.
"We have critical roles in nation building and we must work for the progress of the country, because we believe in one Nigeria," the cleric said.
Okoh also enjoined Nigerians to tolerate people in other denominations because the country needs peace to grow.
He also commended the governor for his efforts in providing security of lives and property in the state.
The cleric said that they were in the state on Primatial visit.
In a remark, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje restated the commitment of the state government in securing lives and property of all in the state.
"For government to make worshipers practise their faith without hindrance, government is beefing up security in places of worship during Sallah and Christmas festivities," he said.
Jose Mourinho praised Manchester United’s perseverance as second-half goals from Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini broke down Leicester City’s massed defence in a tense 2-0 win.
Manchester United’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku takes his penalty which was saved by Leicester City’s Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on August 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
United dominated for long periods at Old Trafford on Saturday, but were in danger of losing their 100 percent start to the Premier League season after Romelu Lukaku’s penalty was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.
Mourinho’s men kept pressing and Rashford, sent on as a substitute moments earlier, finally gave United a deserved lead when he slotted home with 20 minutes remaining.
Fellaini, who also came off the bench, sealed United’s third successive victory eight minutes from full-time to leave Mourinho full of admiration for the way they refused to be discouraged by well-drilled Leicester.
“I think we played very well. The blue wall was very well organised and I always give credit for that. They defended very well,” Mourinho said.
“I think we played very well. The result was open at 0-0, but we kept calm and kept the ball.
“We missed a penalty but after that I saw the team playing with confidence. We deserved it.
“After the goal I have to say we were very good. If I have to choose a word to describe my team, I would have to say solid.”
Mourinho refused to take credit for the substitutions that changed the game, preferring to deflect the spotlight onto his players.
“It’s not me. If I don’t have them on the bench I can’t make successful changes,” he said.
“The players are good and motivated. They work hard, they are waiting for a chance and they broke the wall.”
United’s flying start — 10 goals scored and none conceded — has some talking of the leaders as title favourites and Mourinho is encouraged by their displays.
“The difference (from last season) is in the quality of our football. The team is playing confident, great football,” he said.
“I like my team very much but three matches and nine points is nothing new for us because last season it was three matches and nine points.”
THE moment Charles walked through the door, I knew there would be trouble," said Molade. In her mid-fifties, she's a typical trophy wife. She'd never done a decent job in her life. After being kicked out of higher school for not passing any decent subject in her school certificate exams, she met Charles." I was enrolled in secretarial school and was bored stiff", she said.On my way from lunch this fateful afternoon, Charles stopped to chat me up in his brand new Mazda car. That brand of car was the rage then amongst the young executives and I quickly got into the passenger seat with him.
"He was handsome, tall and fun to be with. We started dating and I was impressed by his two-bedroom flat. Less than a year after we met, I became pregnant and Charles said he was ready to tie the knot. I was 20, he was 29 and assured me he was ready for marriage. He'd never hidden the fact he was a ladies' man from me and he knew I had a couple of boyfriends when we met.
"And even after we got married, Charles behaved as if his new status had nothing to do with his roving eyes. I knew he loved me and I was in love with him too. Only the love we shared didn't prevent us from admiring other people. I had four children in quick succession. Charles told me from the get go I shouldn't breast-feed – that he hated women with floppy boobs and I was quite happy to agree with him. During the course of our marriage, I'd had a few bites of the forbidden fruit myself and I wasn't ready to stop. Charles had even used it to his advantage. Where he worked, there were highly ambitious colleagues wanting to step on top of him on their hurried climb up the ladder of success. I happened to be friendly with a few of his bosses?' so when the competition got fierce in his office, Charles would encourage me to go on dates with any boss that might make his next promotion difficult.
"I'd ensured one or two pushes up the ladder for him and Charles was really
grateful and gave me a monthly allowance generous enough for me not to seek paid employment. But after our last child started primary school, I became bored and Charles agreed for me to find a job that wasn't too demanding. I just laughed. What decent job would I get with my barely finished secretarial course? In the end an old family friend gave me a job in the building society his son ran. I was to be an assistant to his son's secretary and even with the work-load being minimal, I found it boring. I went off on extended lunch breaks with my boss' father. and thanks to him, his now frustrated son couldn't sack me.
"In the end I was the one who left – to the relief of most of the staff. My husband was now a top dog in his office and I was able to do their annual corporate gifts and supply some stationery. It was around this time that I met Bernerd, a foreign partner in Charles firm. He was to see how the business was run from Nigeria and planned to be around for a couple of years. I started flirting with him straight away – one might never know how badly his 'vote of confidence' would be needed in Charles' favour. I virtually seduced him and he was quite happy with how good I made him feel. He was married, but his wife was abroad. So I often ended up in the beautiful house he lived in.
"We were having a cossy snack in the bedroom when his new steward came in. We both did a double take when we saw each other but the steward quickly got himself together. He used to be our steward before he travelled to his home town for good. Five months down the line he was back and the company transferred his services to Bernerd. I was in a right spot now. What would happen when the steward shared his 'secret' with his mates? A lot of them were horrible gossips who shared tit-bits with other stewards and drivers.
"I didn't have long to wait. As soon as Charles walked through the door I knew there would be trouble. His face was like thunder as he yelled at me for sleeping with Bernerd. How did he find out? 'His wife called me in the office, that's how!' roared Charles. But wasn't the wife abroad? 'He
was alright and someone who knew her called to let her know what her husband was up to." I was also portrayed as a man-eater to her and the quicker she warned me off her husband the better for her marriage. "As long as you were discreet, 1 never bothered you about your 'conquests' and Bernerd wasn't that much of a threat. .."
"That was what he thought. I told Charles how his assistant was bent on rubbishing his reputation to Bernard so he would be promoted above Charles. Bernerd had told me everything and I'd been extra sweet to him lately so Charles would get promoted instead of his back-stabbing assistant. He calmed down instantly as we talked into the night. He emphasised that as long as I was discreet, I could do whatever 1 wanted. He didn't want any scandal. Humph!
"He got promoted in the end but it was really dicy. His assistant not only ran him down, he got the support of some of the directors to unseat Charles, – but Bernerd had the last say. Of all the bits-on-the side I'd had, he was the most insatiable! I certainly deserve the perks I got from my husband,
and once he landed the job, he needed not fear being threatened by his superior as he was now one of the powers-that-be.
"What Charles and I have is what is termed recreational adultery in today's parlance. It means your having relationships that will never threaten your marriage. Like having nibbles whilst your regular meals are assured. Charles and I know what we have and we'll never jeopardise that by having relationships that would threaten it.
"Of course I've had a rumour or two of Charles having a couple of love- children. It's no skin of my nose. We've both sat down to write his will and no gold-digger is going to get her teeth into what I've worked for my whole life. Whatever crumbs Charles could throw at his 'take-aways', they're welcome to them …"
The number of people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mainly in the volatile Kasai region, has doubled in the past six months to four million, a United Nations official said Saturday.
George Okoth-Obbo, the number two official at the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR), said its priority for Kasai was providing food and clothing for the 1.4 million who have fled their homes in violence that has killed more than 3,000 people.
“Immediate protection” was required, he told AFP on the last day of a three-day visit to the country, in particular for children “who are sleeping in conditions that are difficult to imagine”.
In the southeastern province of Tanganyika, clashes between Bantus and Pygmies have also forced thousands to flee, as has the long-running violence in the Kivu region, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council, an NGO.
In Kasai, violence erupted last September after the death of a tribal chieftain, known as the Kamwina Nsapu, who rebelled against the authority of President Joseph Kabila’s regime in Kinshasa and its local representatives.
The killing sparked violence that has escalated, including alleged violations of human rights such as extrajudicial killings, rapes, torture and the use of child soldiers.
In addition, about 33,000 Congolese have fled Kasai for Angola, with little prospect of being able to return anytime soon.
“The conditions today in Kasai are such that we cannot encourage or promote the return of refugees,” Okoth-Obbo said.
At the same time, the country is also having to cope with the arrival of about 50,000 refugees fleeing fighting in Rwanda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Burundi, he said.
The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, says he has no hand whatsoever in the proposed coronation of High Chiefs slated for Sunday at Mapo Hall by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
Newsmen report that Ajimobi had on Friday presented letters of conferment of Obaship titles to 30 out of the 32 obas recommended by the Justice Akintunde Boade (rtd) led Judicial Panel of Enquiry on the review of 1957 Olubadan Chieftaincy Declaration.
The Boade-led panel had on Aug. 18 submitted its report recommending 11 Olubadan High Chiefs and 21 Baales to wear beaded crown in Ibadan.
Olubadan had kicked against the review, saying he was not in support of it.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Mr Adeola Oloko, Director, Media and Public Affairs to Olubadan, Oba Adetunji said his name being bandied around in some quarters as the father of the day at the occasion does not enjoy his blessing.
" I have said it for the umpteenth time that I am opposed to the chieftaincy review and its recommendations as the process for such exercise has not been followed.
"Therefore, as being advertised in some media houses, l cannot see how, I could possibly play a fatherly role in an exercise that I have not endorsed
"Besides, as the father of Ibadan indigenes irrespective of political and ideological persuasion, I cannot attend an occasion where local government executives of one political party have been sending text messages to the party members in Ibadan land to mobilise for the event as if it is a political rally," Adetunji said.
The monarch said he considered any conferment of crowns on anybody as an exercise in futility until otherwise reversed.
Adetunji said that it was going to be contemptuous for anybody to attend that programme as there are two suits that are yet to be determined before the court.
""Where is the humanity of the organisers of the programme when Ibadan land is still mourning the passage of the Otun Balogun, High Chief Femi Olaifa, who was one of them until Aug.24," he said
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, on Saturday promised that all ongoing projects embarked upon by his administration would be completed and handed over to his successor in good condition next year.
Fayose, who spoke at the Grand- Finale of the 2017 edition of the Udiroko Cultural Festival in Ado Ekiti, said no single development project embarked upon by his administration would be abandoned; the biting economic recession notwithstanding.
Newsmen report that the governor was the chief host at the cultural event in his capacity as the newly installed Apesin chieftaincy title holder in Ado Ekiti.
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He listed his administration's projects to include the N5.7 billion over-head bridge (fly- over) in Ado Ekiti as well as the N3.8billion ulltra-modern Kings Market in Ado iEkiti.
Fayose also cited the new High Court Headquarters project in Ado Ekiti and the local government headquarters dual road projects across the state, among others.
He said that he would still do many other things that would distinguish the state capital from other towns before the expiration of his second term as governor in October 2018.
The governor asked for the continued support and cooperation of all residents, including traditional rulers, toward taking the state to higher pedestal.
Newsmen report that the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, in an opening address, thanked the governor and his administration for always supporting and committing funds to the Uditoko festival since coming into office.
He commended the governor for his ability to maintain peace and tranquility among the different segments in the state since coming to office.
Adejugbe also commended the state police command for living to expectation in securing lives and property.
Newsmen report that highlights of the celebration included paying of homage to the king by his chiefs, shooting of local gun into the air, exchange of traditional and cultural greetings as well as cultural dance and display, among others.
The 46-year-old bodybuilder, Mr. Rich Piana, has been confirmed dead by his estranged wife who said she was "in tears" as she paid a touching tribute to him.
Fellow bodybuilders and fans spoke of their shock amid previously unconfirmed reports Piana had died after spending more than two weeks in a coma following a possible overdose.
Sara Piana had on her Instagram post, said: "I'm in tears writing this that @1dayumay has just passed away. I can barely believe this … I am so saddened & heartbroken that he didn't make it.''
"I just want to say THANK YOU Rich for teaching me so much about life, whether it was the easy or the hard way."
"Rich, I hope you feel better now in heaven and that you're up there healthy, smiling & telling everyone 'how it is, being REAL & doing your thing'. Rest In Peace my dear husband."
Fellow social media body building star and friend Bradley Martyn posted a picture of himself with 46-year-old workout champ Piana on Instagram with the message "Rest in peace".
Neither Piana's partner or company have confirmed his death but hundreds of tributes were earlier posted on social media as rumours swirled.
James Mooney, co-founder of Gunsmith Clothing posted a message on twitter reading: "Gone too soon brother. What a sad day, can't even believe it's true … truly heartbreaking."
Professional bodybuilder Dan Fine posted a tribute saying: "RIP to my great brother in iron @1dayumay #richpiana. Love you brother and I know you're crushing it at the Great Gym in the Sky.
"You've left behind a legion of friends and fans the world over."
Australian actor and bodybuilder Calum von Moger said: "A big man with a big heart- RIP Rich Piana."
James Mooney in his tweet said: " Gone too soon brother. What a sad day, can't even believe it's true…truly heartbreaking.''
Two white South African farmers Theo Martins Jackson and Willem Oosthuizen who forced a black man into a coffin have been convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping.
The man inside the coffin
Victor Mlotshwa, 27, was beaten and made to get into the coffin by the duo in August 2016.
The pair will be sentenced on 23 October. They had denied the charges.
The case has caused outrage in South Africa and highlighted racial tensions in some farming communities.
Africa Live: More on this and other stories
Theo Martins and Willem Oosthuizen: Guilty as charged
Mr Mlotshwa only reported the matter after footage of the assault emerged on YouTube months later.
His attackers threatened to douse him in petrol and burn him alive.
In a court affidavit, Jackson and Oosthuizen said they did not mean to harm Mr Mlotshwa but merely wanted to "teach him a lesson".
They claimed that Mr Mlotshwa had been trespassing on their land.
He denied this, saying he was taking a short cut to the shops, where he had been sent by his mother.
As Judge Segopotje Mphahlele read out the guilty verdict in Middelburg Magistrates Court on Friday, supporters of the victim burst into songs of celebration.
"I'm relieved that justice has been served," Mr Mlotshwa told the BBC.
Migrants seeking to enter Italy via Libya and the Mediterranean had better shelve the idea. Italy is working hard to block the Libyan route.
Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti met Libyan mayors on Saturday to renew a commitment to fight migration and people trafficking as part of an agreement signed earlier this year between Rome and Tripoli.
The meeting, which Libya's interior minister also attended, focused on fostering alternatives to human smuggling and trade in contraband in Libyan towns heavily affected by illegal immigration.
"Youngsters in those areas and the whole of Libya deserve a future of hope, free from the threats of criminal organisations…" both sides said in a statement issued by Italy's Interior Ministry.
In February, Italy pledged money, training and equipment to help the U.N.-backed Libyan government curb the flow of migrants to Europe.
More than 600,000 migrants have reached Italy by sea from North Africa since 2014, most of them from Libya where people smugglers have operated with impunity in the turmoil that followed the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The subject of immigration is dominating Italy's political agenda ahead of general elections due before May next year, with public opinion increasingly hostile to migrants.
After a surge in migrant arrivals from Libya at the start of the year, numbers have recently slowed and Minniti said earlier this month those trends would continue in August.
Saturday's meeting also included, among others, Italy's ambassador to Tripoli and representatives of the European Commission.
Corruption in the procurement process has affected the efficiency of public spending and the opportunities to improve quality of lives of Nigerians, Alhaji Bala Kaoje, a former Minister has said.
Kaoje, a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, also said that corruption in the procurement process accounts for over 70 per cent of the government's total budget.
The former minister spoke at the induction of new members and fellows of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) on Saturday in Abuja.
He said: "In Nigeria, corruption affects the efficiency of public spending and the opportunities to improve quality of life of the citizens.
"Due to the importance of a good procurement system in governance, Nigeria had the first Procurement Act in 2007 which provides for the harmonisation of existing government policies and practices on public procurement.
"It is to ensure probity, accountability and transparency in procurement process, which if judiciously practiced will reduce corruption in the country to the barest minimum.
"The institute is today showcasing yet another batch of professionally chartered members of the procurement and supply chain management personnel.
"They will contribute in no small measure toward the prevention of corruption in procurement and development of our country."
Kaoje, also a former President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, said that the World Bank had equally called on all member states to adopt transparent measures in public sector budgeting and expenditures.
According to him, experts also identified procurement as the area most prone to corruption in all sectors of the economy.
He also faulted the existing procurement law which he said was not favourable to the middle class who could not afford to execute projects with only 15 per cent mobilisation.
"The eligibility criteria for tendering in Nigeria is too cumbersome and it eliminates lower income earning contractors and suppliers.
"It kills the middle class in the society and only the big time contractors and suppliers who have the resources to meet up with the stringent laid requirements can compete.
"This is certainly unfair in a country where less than 10 per cent of the population fall within the bracket of big time contractors or suppliers, while 90 per cent of the population is either middle class or low income earning group.
"The 15 per cent mobilisation presently approved, is unreasonable and can only lead to contract abandonment; perhaps 30 per cent advance payment could be better for contractors," Kaoje said.
Dr Sunday Ochoche, Executive Director, Victims Support Fund (VSF), says the Fund is scaling-up its livelihood and recovery programmes in the North East, in its continuous efforts to alleviate the plights of displaced persons.
Mrs Rotkatmwa Gofwen, Head of Communications, VSF made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.
The statement quoted Ochoche as saying that the scaling up activities in the insurgency affected states of the North East is in line with the VSF's mandates to rebuild and recover the region.
He said this was particularly applicable to the worst hit states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
The executive director said that the VSF has commenced various activities aimed at increasing the economic empowerment programme for 5,000 women.
He said the programme was targeting the women who have previously benefited from its Women Economic Empowerment project (WEP).
He explained that this involved transiting the women through community self help projects to enable them handle bigger income generating ventures.
Ochoche said these women will transit from Savings and Loan Associations (SLA) to cooperative societies.
The executive director said that the VSF had also begun setting the tone with State–level implementing partners for the distribution of agricultural inputs for dry season farming.
Ochoche said that the agricultural inputs to be distributed to farmers include improved seeds, pesticides, fertiliser and livestock.
''Partners from Civil Societies Organisations (CSOs) working with key relevant Government agencies have also commenced community level entry activities.
"The activities are largely beneficiaries selection, biometric data capture and the formation of beneficiaries into suitable groups in preparation for the roll out of the SLA methodology.
"The rollout of this livelihood programme also includes capacity building for the CSOs that will train SLA group leaders," Ochoche said.
Newsmen report that n May, the VSF inaugurated 10 of its funded projects in Bama, Borno State, which gulped about N368 million.
The media team of Senator Andy Uba for Governorship bid has debunked reports that a certain aspirant has been endorsed as APC candidate for the November governorship election in Anambra state.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Uba's media office described the claim as untrue and laughable.
" We have been inundated with statements that certain candidates in the space of a few hours from the commencement of the primaries have been endorsed by the presidency or the National Executive as the candidate of the APC for November 18 elections.
"These statements are laughable as well as untrue owing to the fact that the true situation of things now favour an Uba candidacy.
"However, owing to our principal's decision to abide by the rules of the game, we have continued to keep faith with the system by allowing them to vote their candidate of choice.
"We urge Ndi Anambra to thus disregard any claims of anyone as an annointed or endorsed candidate without the votes of the delegates."
The primary election for the All Progressives Congress (APC) held today, Saturday but the results are yet to be announced.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), another party contending for the state number one position has scheduled its primary election for Monday.
The United States has sent a strongly worded warning to corrupt African political office holders, who illegally enrich themselves at the expense of their poor people, that they would no longer go scot free. They will be investigated, held accountable and punished.
The warning was given by US Department of Justice after a New York court jailed Mahmoud Thiam, a 50 year-old former minister of mines and geology of the Republic of Guinea, who was living big in America on the bribe he collected from a Chinese company. He was jailed seven years. He will spend three of the years under supervised release, for laundering bribes paid to him by executives of China Sonangol International Ltd. (China Sonangol) and China International Fund, SA (CIF).
Mahmoud Thiam: an African looter jailed in US
"Today's sentence sends a strong message to corrupt individuals like Thiam that if they attempt to use the U.S. financial system to hide their bribe money they will be investigated, held accountable, and punished," according to Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco of the Department of Justice Criminal Division.
"Mahmoud Thiam engaged in a corrupt scheme to benefit himself at the expense of the people of Guinea," said Blanco.
"Corruption is a cancer on society that destabilises institutions, inhibits fair and free competition, and imposes significant burdens on ordinary law-abiding people just trying to live their everyday lives", he added.
The warning was reinforced by Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H.Kim of the Southern District of New York, who also declared:
"Today's sentence shows that if you send your crime proceeds to New York, whether from drug dealing, tax evasion or international bribery, you may very well find yourself at the front end of long federal prison term."
Thiam's sentencing by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote of the Southern District of New York was announced by Blanco, Kim , Assistant Director Stephen E. Richardson of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI's New York Field Office.
Thiam was convicted on May 3, after a seven-day trial of one count of transacting in criminally derived property and one count of money laundering.
"As a unanimous jury found at trial, Thiam abused his position as Guinea's Minister of Mines to take millions in bribes from a Chinese conglomerate, and then launder that money through the American financial system," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kim.
"Enriching himself at the expense of one Africa's poorest countries, Thiam used some of the Chinese bribe money to pay his children's Manhattan private school tuition and to buy a $3.75 million estate in Dutchess County", Kim added.
"Thiam abused his official position, but the outcome shows that no one is above the law," said Assistant Director Stephen E. Richardson.
"The FBI will not stand by while individuals attempt to live by their own rules and use the United States as a safe haven for their ill-gotten gains. I would like to applaud the dedicated investigators and prosecutors who have worked to hold those who have committed these crimes accountable for their illegal actions."
"Today's sentencing should remind the public that no matter who you are, or how much money you have, you're not immune from prosecution. The FBI will continue to use all resources at our disposal to uncover crimes of this nature and expose them for what they really are," said Assistant Director in Charge Sweeney
According to evidence presented at trial, China Sonangol, CIF and their subsidiaries signed a series of agreements with Guinea that gave them lucrative mining rights in Guinea.
In exchange for bribes paid by executives of China Sonangol and CIF, Thiam used his position as Minister of Mines to influence the Guinean government's decision to enter into those agreements while serving as Guinea's Minister of Mines and Geology from 2009 to 2010. The evidence further showed that Thiam participated in a scheme to launder the bribe payments from 2009 to 2011, during which time China Sonangol and CIF paid him $8.5 million through a bank account in Hong Kong.
Thiam then transferred approximately $3.9 million to bank accounts in the U.S. and used the money to pay for luxury goods and other expenses. To conceal the bribe payments, Thiam falsely claimed to banks in Hong Kong and the U.S. that he was employed as a consultant and that the money was income from the sale of land that he earned before he was a minister.
The trial evidence showed that the purpose of the bribes was to obtain substantial rights and interests in natural resources in Guinea, including the right to be the first and strategic shareholder with Guinea of a national mining company into which Guinea had to, among other things, transfer all of its stakes in various mining projects and future mining permits or concessions that the government decided to develop on its own. China Sonangol and CIF, through their subsidiaries, also obtained exclusive and valuable rights to conduct business operations in a broad range of sectors of the Guinean economy, including mining.
The FBI's International Corruption Squads in New York City and Los Angeles investigated the case. Trial Attorney Lorinda Laryea of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elisha Kobre and Christopher DiMase of the Southern District of New York prosecuted the case. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Tarek Helou and Trial Attorney Sarah Edwards, and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Parker previously investigated the case. The Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in this matter.
The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all matters relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"). Additional information about the Justice Department's FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Saturday congratulated the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, as he turned 89, praying God to renew his strength and continue to grant him peaceful reign.
Ajimobi, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, also congratulated the entire people of Ibadanland on the momentous occasion.
"It is by divine arrangement and not sheer coincidence that Olubadan's birthday is coming at a period Ibadanland is witnessing a major transformation and boost in royalty, which is aimed at enhancing the status of the ancient city," he said.
He prayed that the Almighty imbue the monarch with greater wisdom and knowledge for the benefit of the people of Ibadanland, as he nears the nonagenarian status.
"Kabiyesi, on behalf of the good people of Oyo State, I rejoice with you on the occasion of your birthday.
"This occasion provides another opportunity for me to thank the Almighty for preserving your life and for renewing your vigour.
"I pray for a renewed strength for you and may God continue to preserve your life to witness more years and peaceful reign in Ibadanland.
"During your time, may Ibadan continue to witness rapid progress and development.
"I call on the entire citizens of Ibadanland, members of the Olubadan-in-Council , friends of the state and those in diaspora to join me in clinking of glasses to celebrate our dear father's 89th birthday," he said.
Ajimobi prayed that the Olubadan would live long enough to join the league of centenarians, so that the people of the state would continue to draw from his fountain of knowledge
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its governorship ticket for the 2019 general election to the North Senatorial District.
The district, which has never produced a governor since the state was created, comprises four local governments – Akwanga, Nasarawa, Eggon and Wamba –
Mr Francis Orogu, its Chairman, announced the party's decision on Saturday in Lafia, after an expanded elders and state executive caucus meeting held at the state secretariat.
Orogu said that the decision was reached by all organs of the party "in the spirit of peace, unity, moral consciousness and political perfection".
According to him, the zoning of the governorship ticket is in line with chapter 5, section 35(1 c) of the PDP constitution.
He said that the party was working out modalities with stakeholders toward zoning other positions to other senatorial zones " to ensure justice and fairness".
Meanwhile, the immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Innocent Lagi, has defected to the PDP from the Labour Party.
Lagi, who was officially received into the party at the meeting, said that his decision was borne out of a deep conviction that the state needed a change of leadership.
"I was an Attorney-General under the All Progressive Congress-led administration and would have easily joined them from the Labour Party, but I am a principled persons and my ideals are opposed to the kind of objectives being pursued by APC in Nasarawa State," Lagi said.
He said that the PDP was a reflection of Nigeria and was better positioned to effect the change desired by Nigerians.
"PDP is more organised, accommodating and united; it is in a better position to unite Nigerians toward prosperity," he said.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said that Igbo never mandated anybody to talk about breaking away from the country.
Iwuanyanwu said this in Abuja on Saturday in an interview with newsmen.
He expressed worry over agitations by some groups calling for the nation's balkanization.
Iwuanyanwu, however, said that the call for restructuring was appropriate to address the numerous challenges confronting the country.
According to him, restructuring doesn't mean division of the nation, adding ''let us forget about the talk of secession by some young people.
''I am an Igbo man and a leader.
''I was the Chairman of Planning and Strategy of Ohaneze Ndigbo, so when you talk of any decision on the Igbo, it must have my consent.
''Igbo have never mandated anybody to go and talk about secession.
''We have heard that some youths reversed the call for the exit of the Igbo form the north.
''l am happy that Nigerian leaders as well as the governors are coming up to say that Igbo are safe in their places.
''Iwuanyanwu assured Igbo of their safety in every part of the country.
''Many Igbo in the north have been coming to me asking me of what to do; I want to assure them that nobody is going to hurt them.
''We all stand for one Nigeria and in future if anybody makes a statement, nobody should generalise and say it is Igbo,'' he added.
According to him, there are good and terrible people amongst the Igbo as it is in other tribes.
''People should stop generalising individual's comment as if it were the general Igbo who made the comment.
''I am happy that the President (Muhammadu Buhari) has said that anyone who made threatening comments would be disciplined and he has said he would put security measures to protect them.
''Therefore, Igbo shouldn't go anywhere.
''I just want everyone to accept this restructuring and by the way, this restructuring issue is not a complicated one.
''We have had two constitutional conferences during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodluck Jonathan civilian governments. We don't even need to have a sovereign national conference.
''If the National Assembly members can be honest with themselves, they should form a committee of the whole which include both chambers and call it a restructuring committee.
''Call for submission by people then include it with the submissions from the conference by Obasanjo and Jonathan, then they will know that we want to restructure to give more autonomy, money and development to the region and avoid people running to Abuja for everything.
''We need a system where people can stay in their states, create industries and get jobs,'' he said.
A man identified as Abiodun Onipede has been arrested for attempting to commit suicide over his inability to refund a fifty Thousand 'Lapo' loan.
Abiodun Onipede
Onipede who was arrested by the Anti-Vandal team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogun State command while attempting to mount the rope in the bush along Ayetoro road in Abeokuta to take his life .
Vanguard gathered that he had tied the rope to a big tree and was about hanging himself when a member of the team who wanted to ease himself in the bush stumbled on him and stopped .
It was further gathered that, the Suspect, a commercial Tricyclist was a 200 level drop-out of Federal College of Education, Osiele due to financial incapability.
Onipede had lost one of his children due to his inability to pay the hospital bills. He had raised money for the child surgery which was successful but, later lost him after complication .
While speaking with newsmen, Onipede, a 34-year old father of five said he was a former staff of Traffic Compliance and Agency in the state.
He said his inability to perform his responsibility as the head of the family led him to attempt suicide .
He added that his failure to pay the 'Lapo' loan, an informal money lender syndicate forced him to take the decision to take his life.
'Lapo' loan is a popular loan among the Yoruba entities; where people are being lent money with a high interest.
According to him, I am a 200 level Drop-out of Federal College of Education, Osiele, I dropped out because I could not get financial assistance to continue.
"Due to the health problem of my child in 2008, I had to drop out so that I could have some money to take care of my sick child. But, we later lost the child in 2009 because we were unable to pay some hospital bills after people have helped us in raising money for the surgery.
"I was duped by some people and they even threatened me, and this made me to leave Abeokuta for Akwa-Ibom state. It was when I came back after a year that I discovered I have been sacked from the TRACE.
"I am frustrated because am owing a lot of people ranging from house bill to electricity bill, and some other bills. I am ashamed of myself because am not a responsible man, I cannot cater for my family as a head.
"The Lapo officials have used OPC to arrest my wife because of the money, if not for the help of my pastor. Am just frustrated because I have to pay N3,000 every Friday and I am presently jobless. And I still have like N24,000 to balance .
"I cannot pay the hospital bill of my mother, I can't take care of her, I was told she is now on the street begging to survive. No family to help me, we have been living in abject poverty.
"What added to my conclusion to commit suicide was due to my inability to refund the 'Lapo' loan I collected when I wanted to start my tricycle business. The officials of the Lapo have been giving my family tough times for sometimes now, because, I cannot afford to be repaying N3,000 every Friday", he said.
He however, said he regretted his action, saying, " it was not my fault, am just a frustrated man that does not know what else to do.
"I wish to go back to school; I want the government to help me with a job that can cater for my family and other things that are important".
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of NSCDC, Ogbonnaya Dyke described it as a crime against the state for someone to try to take his life.
Ogbonnayah added that the suspect will be handed over to the police, after the NSCDC Intelligence Unit has done proper work.
His word, "Since the matter is under our Crisis management team, we have to swing into action to address the situation.
"It is a crime against the state for someone to try to take his life. Necessary actions will be taken by the Corps in addressing the situation. He is going to be handed over to the police after our intelligence Unit has done its proper work".
Former Kaduna governor Balarabe Musa has said that "saboteurs" were behind groups issuing quit notices to Nigerians living in some parts of the country.
*Balarabe Musa
Musa, who condemned such notices in a telephone interview on Saturday, said that the development was a threat to Nigeria's unity.
The People Redemption Party (PRP) leader was reacting to the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)'s reported rejection of the withdrawal of quit notice given to Igbos to leave the north, and a fresh quit notice given to Yoruba and Hausa persons resident in the Niger Delta to quit the region before Oct. 1.
"The quit notices are designed to escalate tension in the country and promote disaffection among citizens.
"Clearly, the issuers of such notices are irresponsible groups being backed by some people in their respective regions to issue the notices.
"Such backers are saboteurs ready to undermine the unity of the country for their own parochial ethnic and political interests.
"It is sad that issuance of quit notices to Nigerians resident in other states is now the order of the day.
"The development threatens the unity of the country and the peaceful co-existence of all citizens.
"The groups issuing the threats are not doing that alone. They are actually acting scripts by some people in their regions who are supposed to be leaders.
"These backers are saboteurs who are bent on undermining the unity of the country for their personal and parochial interests," he said.
The former governor urged the government to take the right steps to arrest the development in the interest of peace and progress.
On the rejection of quit notice withdrawal by IPOB, Musa said that such rejection was not relevant because IPOB could not force Igbos, who had chosen to live in the North, to leave by October 1.
The former governor noted, however, that the northern youth group that issued the quit notice did not have the power to implement their threat.
"All these groups issuing quit notices and threats do not have the powers to do anything.
"They only create tension in the polity and threaten the peace of the country .
"They can't tell people where to live. They are nonentities who are just claiming an influence they do not have," he said.
He said that the responsibility to keep the country together was that of every citizen, and urged leaders and politicians to promote peaceful co-existence in their respective regions.
The National Chairman of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Malam Shittu Mohammed, says the party has zero tolerance for godfathers, but will give all members a level playing field.
Mohammed made the declaration on Saturday in Yola while addressing members of the party.
He assured the members that they were all automatic delegates in the selection of candidates for all elective posts.
"We have no godfathers, we have no moneybags; ours is a level playing field for all members," Mohammed said.
The chairman said the party had, however, allocated 30 per cent of its elective positions to women, 25 per cent to youths and five per cent to physically challenged.
"We also believe in restructuring and devolution of power. I want to appeal to the National Assembly to revisit the issues,"he said.
In his welcome address, Adamawa state chairman of the party, Alhaji Umar Jada, said APDA had a huge number of followers in the state, where it was considered as a liberator.
Jada said many people in Adamawa had started defecting from other political parties to APDA.
Highlights of the national chairman's visit to Yola include the swearing-in of the State and Local Government executives of the party and the inauguration of the APDA state headquarters.
The national chairman, who met with party executives, also paid a courtesy call on Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha.
