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
Gusau – The Police on Monday in Zamfara said that a suspected armed bandit, one Sani Abdullahi, had been killed in a gun battle with security agents.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Shaba Alkal, told newsmen in Gusau that the suspect died during gun battle when a group of bandits attacked Yartukunya village in Bungudu Local Government Area of the state.
"We also recovered one AK 47 rifle from the deceased suspect," Alkali said.
Alkali also said that the command had also arrested nine illegal miners in Gemawa village of Talata-Mafara local government area of the state.
"We had also recovered exhibits from the suspects such as the cash of N90,000 given to our policemen as bribe, mining materials such as mining detectors, diggers, shovels and head pans," Alkali said.
He advised residents of the state against engaging themselves in unlawful activities, especially mining as it had security and public health implications
According to Alkali, the team of detectives of the command's Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) also arrested four suspected criminals in Gusau metropolis.
"During our investigation, we discovered 84 handsets of different types, SIM and memory cards and cash of N111,420.
"On 29 April, 2017, we arrested a student of Abdu-Gusau Polytechnic, Talata-Mafara connected with the killing of another student, Imrana Nasiru," he said.
Alkali said all the suspects would be arraigned after investigation by the command.
He commended the public for giving information to the police about criminal activities, saying that all the arrests made by the command were due to the support of the public.
Alkali urged the public to continue to cooperate and give useful information on criminals to the police to sustain peace and stability in the state.
…Promises to expedite their recovery, rehabilitation
By Soni Daniel
Abuja – Health Minister, Prof Isaac Adewole,Monday visited the 82 Chibok schoolgirls freed by insurgents at the weekend in an Abuja hospital where they are receiving treatment and assured them of the resolve of the government to give them maximum treatment and care so as to quicken their recovery and reintegration into normal life.
Prof Adewole asked the girls to be open with their caregivers and not hide any ailment from them so that appropriate attention could be given to them while in the health facility.
The minister said, "We are happy for you. We thank God for your release. President Buhari has shown his commitment to your plight and has directed that we offer the best of medical services. We are going to take care of you so that you can go out and live productive lives again. We are at your service; it is our job to help you. Please, do not hide anything from us", he said.
Prof Adewole assured the girls that everything they need for their healthcare would be provided as soon as the laboratory results were delivered
The minister, who was accompanied by Permanent Secretary, Binta Bello, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital Abuja and other top officials of the ministry, later met with the freed girls and also had a technical session with the hospital team on the management of the girls.
He called on the medical team to set up individual chart to track the progress of each of the girls. He called on the care providers to give special attention to psychosocial services, bearing in mind that the girls had been held captive for more than three years.
The minister later presented some essential drugs and commodities to the management of the facility to aide them in managing the freed girls
The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zaki Ahmed has expressed satisfaction and delight in the efforts of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, in ridding the nation of corrupt practices. Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu and Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mr. Zaki Ahmed
According to him, Magu’s efforts have brought pride and honour to the Nigeria Police and Nigerians in general.
Ahmed gave this commendation on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when Magu paid him a courtesy visit.
“You are doing a good job and we are proud of you. Corruption is a monster. It has tried to destroy the nation but with your efforts and efforts of your men, we will overcome it. Someone doing a good job like you must be faced with so many obstacles but by the grace of God, you will overcome them,” he said.
According to a statement by the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, Magu was in the Port Harcourt Zonal office of the EFCC on a one-day working visit. Aside his courtesy call on the Police Commissioner, he also visited the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iyayi Laminkara. The visit yielded useful exchange of ideas on how to improve on the prosecution of EFCC’s cases. Justice Laminkara reiterated her disposition and commitments to expeditious trial of corruption cases.
“To this effect, there are judges that we have designated for such cases and we are making progress in this regard”, she said.
Magu was accompanied on the visits by the Zonal Head, Mr. Salihu Ishaq among other officers.
Yenagoa – A 26-year-old man has reportedly stabbed his 18-year-old girlfriend in a hotel room in Yenagoa.
The man took to his heels when the wailing of the victim attracted the attention of other guests in the guest house who came to her rescue.
The victim was identified as Miss Faith Pius
The guest house is located at Biogbolo area of Yenagoa.
One of the guests told NAN that the suspect escaped when other guests and residents in the neighbourhood rushed to the scene.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident happened on Friday night.
NAN gathered that Pius was rushed to a private clinic where she was treated and the wounds stitched.
"But she developed complications on Saturday and she died on Sunday morning,'' the source said.
The state Police commissioner, Mr Amba Asuquo, who confirmed the incident, said it was first considered as a case of assault occasioned by harm.
"Initially, it was treated purely as a case of assault occasioned by harm but now that the girl has died, we are now treating a case of murder against one suspect.
"We are in the process of ensuring that the suspect is arrested because after committing the crime he ran away.
"I know some people are associating it to ritual killing but we cannot conclude," he said.
Youths of Biogbolo community took to the streets to protest the death of the girl from knife cuts allegedly inflicted on her by her lover boy.
The youths were said to have attacked shops and vandalised vehicles reportedly owned by the kinsmen of the lover boy along some streets in the area.
It took the intervention of detachments of riot policemen to disperse the aggrieved youths.
The incident caused panic as residents run in different directions while operators of business outfits closed shop and fled.
Stephen Pius, an elder brother of the victim, alleged that the suspect cut his younger sister twice each in her stomach and her heart region.
Lagos – A former Lagos State Governor, Sen. Bola Tinubu, on Monday called for special and adequate care for the released Chibok schoolgirls, to help them overcome the sad experience they had to suffer while in captivity. Buhari and Tinubu Tinubu made the call in a message in Lagos to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians over the release of more of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls
He urged the government to help the families of the girls to nurture them, for their proper reintegration into the society.
The 82 of the over 200 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno by Boko Haram in April 2014 were released by the sect on Saturday following negotiations with the federal government.
The sect had earlier released 21 of the abducted girls in October 2016.
Tinubu said: "I congratulate President Buhari and Nigerians over the release of more of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.
"This shows President Buhari's unwavering commitment to freeing these and other innocent children from the cruel hand of Boko Haram and returning them to their families and community.
"Yet, we must keep this good news in proper context. The released children need to be nurtured and cared for in a special way in order to overcome the sad experience that they had to suffer.
"Moreover, we must not forget the girls still held by Boko Haram and we must not forget the grief of their families.
" We owe it to them to press forward until all the girls have regained freedom and Boko Haram is so defeated that it may never again be able to do what it did in Chibok.
"Boko Haram must be defeated. President Buhari has said as much. We all must stand with him and support his strategy to accomplish this humane and necessary goal, " he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader said the release of the girls showed that President Buhari had kept his eye on the true objective to reunite families and communities under the reign of peace and rule of justice.
According to him, the northern Nigeria, and Nigeria as a whole, may begin to rebuild in a way that brings a decent life and a taste of enduring prosperity to all Nigerians.
"This is the ultimate goal, and the release of these girls is an important step on this pathway.
"I congratulate the President. I congratulate our gallant armed forces. After waiting so long for the return of their children, the parents of these girls must feel a great sense of relief and elation, " Tinubu said.
The Niger Delta Anti-Corruption Crusaders has commended the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, Chief Operating Officer (Refineries) Anibor Kragha and Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, Mr. Adewale Solomon Ladenegan, for the smooth operations of the Warri Refinery.
In a statement, the co-ordinator, Mr. Kingsley Emoefeme, disclosed that the group particularly commended Ladenegan for being diligent and transparent in running the Warri Refinery.
"The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, NNPC’s Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, Chief Operating Officer (Refineries) Anibor Kragha have been working tiredlessly to fully restore our refineries, we believe their collect efforts have been complimented and achieved in Warri Refinery by Mr. Ladenegan.
"We are commending Ladenegan to encourage him to remain focus and continue with his good works. We also appreciate the full supports and cooperation from management and workers in Refinery, their laudable teamwork that is yielding positive results," he added.
KANO – President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Legislative matters, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Kawu Sumaila Monday,said ailing President is fit to seek for reelection in 2019.
Kawu Sumaila told Reporters in Kano that “from what I have seen at close range, my boss is quite fit for 2019 electoral battle”.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Buhari left the shore of this country Sunday night to United Kingdom on medical leave following undisclosed ailment that had debilitating effect on his capacity to run the governments.
The Presidential aide stated that ” President Buhari’s fitness status was played up in 2015 general election, he survived the campaign rigour, won the election and on the verge of taking Nigeria to the promised land”.
“Buhari is quite alright, he is fit to pass through a familiar terrain, and its human to fall sick, and highly confident he would get better, “. Kawu Sumaila stressed.
He expressed Buhari’s readiness to flaw any challenger within his party and across in a competitive election, adding that ” Buhari has nothing to fear.
“Those who have legitimate ambition should step forward, but they should also have at the back of their the fatal consequence of such misadventure in 2015,” Kawu Sumaila said.
Sumaila explained that President Buhari’s two years in office was “eventful and fruitful”, adding that ” his ability to degraded the insurgency was a landmark in the history of this country “.
The Presidential aide appealed to Nigerian to continued to support the government to enable it delivered the dividend of democracy to their door step.
As part of its continued drive to promote Made-in-Nigeria products, Shoprite has gathered local manufacturers, start-ups and farmers for the second edition of its initiative.
The gathering is a quarterly meet-ups aimed at strengthening existing relationships with suppliers, identifying gaps, harnessing new opportunities in line with improving the Economic stability of the country, alongside creating the chance for local producers to showcase products and goods manufactured in Nigeria for export.
As part of its continued drive to promote Made-in-Nigeria products, Shoprite has gathered local manufacturers, start-ups and farmers for the second edition of its initiative.
The event which was held at the Shoprite store in Ikeja City Mall, Lagos. The management of Shoprite calls on manufacturers to take advantage of this window to partner with Shoprite and have their products on the shelves.
Through the initiative Shoprite has established a partnership with the association of potato farmers in Plateau state where deliveries of fresh potato products are made to Abuja in large quantities.
Likewise, the farmers' association will continue to benefit from their relationship with Shoprite in terms reduction of food wastage and lost revenue which were major challenges before the partnership, said statement
The made in Nigeria event which was first launched in February is a programme that would continue to showcase Nigerian products in all of Shoprite outlets across the country.
Other local manufacturers and farmers have a chance to partner with Shoprite to make Proudly Nigerian products a household name both locally and internationally as it continues to call for manufacturers to supply local products.
*warns that schools in the N/East may be attacked again
By Evelyn Usman
President of the Association of Industrial Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria, Dr. Ona Ekhomu, yesterday, commended President Muhammed Buhari on the release of 82 additional Chibok School girls, three years after they were abducted by members of the Boko Haram sect.
Describing the release as a demonstration of the FG’s believe that Nigerians lives mattered, Ekhomu in a statemet made available to Vanguard said " the willingness of government to negotiate and meet the terms of the exchange should not be mistaken for weakness. Rather it shows strength and compassion on the part of our leader".
He called on the federal government to conduct a high level judicial probe of the Chibok mass kidnap that would determine what vulnerabilities resulted in the security breach.
" The culpability of the school authorities,the Borno State government and security agencies in the seizure of the girls would also be determined. This will enable government punish those whose negligence contributed to the seizure of the girls and deter such reckless behavior in future", he added.
Attributing the kidnap of the girls to what he described as pervasive insecurity in Schools throughout Nigeria, Ekhomu noted that " prior to the abduction of the Chibok girls, Boko Haram has seized several girls from schools in the Northeast yet nobody cared. So, School insecurity is a recurring decimal in Nigeria. And this situation must be address".
But he was quick to warn that schools in the Northeast might come under attack by Boko Haram. According to him: " as Shekau releases the Chibok captives, he will need to kidnap more girls and women to serve him and his top lieutenants" .
He argued that the release of top commanders of Boko Harm which was a major concession for the release of the 82 girls meant that the terrorists were being recycled to the battlefield. He therefore cautioned against psychological dissuasion " where there is frequent assertion of the "defeat of Boko Haram, while Boko Haram is still carrying out lethal attacks here and there. Unless a snake is defanged you can't assume that it can't hurt you".
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-Though the report of the three man Presidential Committee that investigated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal and the Director-General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke is yet to be made public, both men still stand suspended, a Presidency source has said.
Investigations by Vanguard Monday night revealed that the Chairman of the Committee, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who is incidentally acting on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari who, Sunday night, left Abuja for London to seek medical attention, would not take any soft discretionary measure that may exonerate Lawal and Oke.
Findings also indicated that Osinbajo may have quietly submitted the report to President Buhari during their meeting the same night before his departure.
It will be recalled that Lawal and Oke were suspended on April 19 following allegations of financial corruption.
Specifically, Lawal was indicted in the N200 million contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East, PINE which he supervised while Oke answered questions on what he knew about the $43 million discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos which his agency laid ownership claims.
The Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers of Nigeria (UTQEN) says it is against plans by the Lagos State Government to introduce multiple haulage charges on their services.
Mr Aliu Mayungbe, the Acting National Chairman of the union, disclosed the position of the union at a media briefing in Lagos on Monday.
He said that the state Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development recently attempted to impose haulage levies on trucks moving sands from dredging sites.
Mayungbe described the plan as unlawful and a disincentive to businesses in the state.
The union chairman said that his members had been paying the said charge to government regularly through the Ministry of Transportation.
He said that attempts by the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development to use collection agents to collect the charges from truck drivers would amount to multiple charges.
According to him, the union maintains a position of neutrality and refuse to be entangled in the payment dispute between government and the Dredgers Association of Nigeria.
"Officials from the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development met with our members to solicit support for introduction of haulage fees on our activities.
"The collection process was for truck drivers to obtain N500 from dredgers on each truckload of sand moved from their site and pay to the ministry's collection agent positioned at the gate of the site.
"We resisted the fees because our activities are not regulated by Ministry of Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, but by Ministry of Transportation.
"Moreso, the dredgers that we are been pitched against are members of our union and every increases in charges by government impacts negatively on our operating costs and reduces job creation opportunities," he said.
Mr Abimbola Odusanya, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Chapter of the union, said that officials of the ministry threatened to imprison truck drivers who refused to boycott sites of dredgers that did not comply with the payment.
"Obeying such order will hinder our business activities and relationship with dredgers.
"We instructed our members to resist efforts of government officials that tried to collect the payment from them.
"The issue of multiple charges is killing businesses, making Lagos unfriendly to entrepreneurs and a major factor for the increasing cost of doing business in the country," he said.
Mr Batare Akpomejero, President, Dredgers Association of Nigeria, said that a judgement of Federal High Court had restrained the state from seeking to control commercial activities of dredgers.
"Due to multiple taxation on our activities from federal and state agencies, the court had ruled that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and NIMASA were the proper and lawful agencies with authority in matters relating to the commercial activities for dredgers.
"To now have officials of the state government lobbying UTQEN through the pretence of introducing unauthorised charges to collect fees that the court restrained them from obtaining from us is unlawful," he said.
Akpomejero said that multiple taxation was inimical to business expansion and growth, reduced profit, worsened unemployment rate and discouraged investments in the country.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has said that medical tourism is one of the major contributors to foreign exchange depletion in the country.
Ehanire who spoke in Lagos at the inauguration of the Reddington Hospital Group’s cardiology Centre in Lagos also identified limited access, inequitable distribution of facilities, limitation of both material, financial and human resources for health, poor attitude to work, strikes and inter-professional discord, and limited affordability for the average citizen as challenges plaguing the health sector.
Ehanire said by conservative estimates medical tourism cost Nigeria about $1 billion annually
He said the phenomenon which many Nigerians have resorted to has left the poor in Nigeria to their fate or faith in God, and so-called native medicine.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is furthering the revitalisation of nearly 10,000 primary health care centres (PHCs) in Nigeria, at least 1 in every political ward, working with states and our development partners, to rebuild the National Health System from the foundation, including plans for a referral system to relay patients through secondary to tertiary facilities.”
He said to check the problems; government is encouraging private sector participation in health care delivery.
Ehanire said commissioning of Grays Cardiology Centre has sets the bar higher as it goes beyond the routine, to bring state of the art diagnostic and intervention capacity to Nigeria.
“We are proud that services that would have been found only in the top hospitals of technologically advanced countries, can be rendered right here, in the country, without need for passport, visa, airfare or other hurdles and expenses."
In his welcome address, the Medical Director of the Centre, Dr. Soe Moe Aung, gave his assurance that the latest medical technology in cardiology will be used to provide the expertise to ensure that all patients receive world-class medical care. Aung explained that the Grays Cardiology Centre, is a full-fledged Cardiology Centre with a vision of improving patients’ chances of healthy survival, bettering the quality of their care, and giving more people the tools and education they need to prevent cardiovascular disease in an ethical and affordable manner.
Recalling that the first digital Cardiac Catheterisation and Angiography Suite in Nigeria was launched by Reddington Hospital in 2009, he said Grays Cardiology Centre was launched in collaboration with a team of indigenous cardiology experts, Professors of cardiology, and a USA-based cardiology group.
The Grays Cardiology Centre will offer services covering non-invasive and interventional procedures, heart diagnostic procedures, cardiac rehabilitation, intensive coronary care, telementry services, and heart care education, amongst others.
The telecoms industry is well aware that digital transformation will forever change the way in which we interact with our customers. However, there is still a significant amount of scepticism about the true impact and speed of digital transformation on more established businesses.
The telecoms industry is a perfect example of this trend in that it plays a critical role in supporting digital transformation across industries, but it can also unlock significant value through its own digital transformation.
Truly digital telcos will be able to develop new ways of working using new IT architecture that seamlessly connects front-end with back-end technology. It means a higher level of business assurance by protecting revenue and preventing fraud.
One of the stumbling blocks along the way to digital transformation is that many executives still feel that business models created by disruptive companies like Uber are not realistic for their specific operations. Others are hesitant to kick-start programmes without the skills, financial support, investment model, patience, and culture to succeed.
The Digital Transformation Initiative by the World Economic Forum, WEF, analysed the impact of digital technologies on industry and society. In its latest telecommunications report, the WEF identified four broad digital themes with the potential to unlock $2 trillion in new revenue opportunities for industry and society:
*Networks of the future – is about virtualisation and its promise to fundamentally change how networks are built and function.
*Beyond the pipe – focuses on how technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality (VR) and reimagined models of digital communication can extend revenue streams beyond connectivity.
*Redefining customer engagement – highlights how companies who delight consumers with high-quality digital experiences will ultimately win their loyalty.
*Bridging the innovation gap – is about the demand for rapid innovation and its requirements for new innovation models and strategies for a digital workforce.
From 2016 to 2025, gains in the telecom industry are expected to exceed $1.2 trillion in cumulative operating profit. Similarly, the value for society is expected to exceed $800 billion – the majority of which will come from connecting billions of people who are still unconnected to the internet.
What's important to highlight here is that although digital transformation will look different for every company, we must understand how integration of digital technology into a business results in changes to how that business operates and delivers value to its customers. Beyond that, it’s a cultural shift that requires regular experimentation and becoming comfortable with failure.
Telcos face a rapidly changing economic and competitive landscape driven by internal and external digital disruptions. The role operators have played in accelerating digital business and service models has not translated into new value, with their market share declining from 58% in 2010 to 47% in 2015, and forecast to drop to 45% in 2018. Pressure on traditional revenue means it is increasingly important for operators to consider new digital business models to ensure they share in the value from digital transformation.
For larger, established organisations, digital transformation is a massive undertaking, but when done right, will result in businesses that are more aligned with customer demands and be more resilient in a constantly changing digital future. Four imperatives for industry and policy-makers include the following:
*Network transformation will be necessary to enable new business models beyond the pipe and address changing customer expectations.
*New business models adopting emerging technologies will require strong collaboration with vertical industries and internet platforms.
*Operating in the digital age requires a corporate culture change along with new organisational structures.
*Digital transformation will require an adjustment to existing policy and regulatory models.
The next decade of digital transformation will look significantly different from the past. Telecoms companies will need to be well prepared to take advantage of the sweeping transformation happening in consumer's lives, within enterprises and across the broader economy.
In a committed effort to retool local capacity for global competitiveness, Zinox Technologies Group has concluded arrangements to sponsor the Chris Uwaje, the the Oracle of the Nigeria IT industry to speak at the 2017 Global Internet of Things, in Geneva, Switzerland.
The former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, ISPON, and the Africa Chair on Communications and Publicity GioT Geneva 2017- will be speaking as a panelist on Africa perspectives and challenges on Ipv6. Uwaje is selected and invited to represent Africa and speak as a panelist of the Global IPv6 Forum on the state and challenges of Internet Version 6 (Ipv6) at the 1st Global Internet of Things Summit, GioTS in Geneva, Switzerland 2017). With this sponsorship, ZINOX assumes fundamental ledership of national ICT Policy and strategy matters, where government should at all time be at the forefront.
Given the future requirements of 70% youths that makeup Nigeria/Africa Population, Zinox is lighting up the way to the sustainable progress of the Nigerian nation. According to Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Africa stands to gain immensely if she can leapfrog from her present deep slumber on ICT ecosystem development and engage the values of (IoTs) whose estimated market potential is valued at $19 trillion USD by 2020.
Zinox projections is that the world has just at the embryonic stage and process of the global digital transformation and beliefs that no other startegy is capable of securing the economic empowerment, massive Youth employment, future development progress and national security of Nigeria and Africa.
Today, "IoT is rapidly evolving with the substantial risk of not paying attention to safety, reliability, privacy, security, and interoperability. Research has a fundamental role to enable a globally interoperable IoT and to make it right,” Sebastien Ziegler, General Chair and President of the IoT forum, said.
According to Latif Ladid, Co-Chair and President of IPv6 Forum "GIoTS 2017 will attract experts from industry and research in current and emerging technologies such as 5G-based IoT, software defined IoT, IoT-centric Cloud Computing, including the Social Internet of Things" For Dr. Antonio Skarmeta, TPC Chair, "The selected technical topics seek some maturity in IoT across the board. There are many facets that need research and experimental pilots to put the pieces together and give IoT innovation a roadmap".
GIoTS 2017 is supported by the IoT Week of the IoT Forum, The IPv6 Forum, the IEEE 5G subcommittee, the IEEE SDN-NFV subcommittee as well as the IEEE BiG Data TC. It will be collocated in Geneva with the IoT Week 2017, bringing together cutting edge research results, the IoT innovation community and the UN system with a unique worldwide outreach.
According to the United Nations Development's Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report of 2013 (UNDP, 2013), Africa contributes 35 of the 45 poorest countries. Given these high poverty levels, most African governments , especially the Sub-Saharan Africa are still struggling to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, health, water and sanitation and education among others and therefore technology innovations take a back seat. While the world's Development Index stands at 0.694, the Sub-Saharan Africa's one is at 0.475.
The IPv6 session will attract speakers from the 5 Continents to outline the deployment efforts of IPv6-based IoT research and best practices. The deployment in different countries is taking different shapes and forms considering the differing continental user requirements at this stage of deployment.
This session will try to harmonize and draw a common roadmap for deployment of IoT networking capabilities and architectural definitions to make sure “Internet of Things” are scalable,inclusive of several communication media, secure, future proof and viable for businesses and endusers. Each representative is challenged to research his/her continent to outline the various IoT initiatives and industry showcases and various user requirements, challenges, security and privacy issues and obstacles that could enrich the discussion in this worldwide IoT session.
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday ruled that the statements obtained by the EFCC from Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, an ex-aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan, were made voluntarily and not under duress.
Dudafa is arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alongside. Joseph Iwejuo, on 23 counts bordering on fraud, conspiracy and concealment of crime proceeds.
EFCC operatives
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the commencement of trial on Nov. 21, 2016, the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole, had raised an objection to the tendering of Dudafa's statement as evidence.
He argued that the statement was an "extra-judicial"statement as it possessed similar features, claiming that Dudafa was forced to make the statement.
Oyewole had urged the court to conduct of a trial-within-trial to ascertain if the statements were voluntarily obtained.
Consequently, the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, ordered a trial-within-trial in a bid to test the voluntariness of the statement.
The judge had taken arguments from both counsel and final addresses were adopted in March, while the court reserved its ruling.
Delivering his ruling on Monday, Justice Idris held that the statements of the accused were voluntarily obtained.
"The question then is, are the statements confessional?
"A confession is that which is made before the police and any other security agent while investigation is on.
"There is no evidence before the court that the statements made by the defendant is not a confessional statement.
"I cannot, therefore, hold that the statements were not voluntarily made," he said.
The judge further held that the statements in contention were made under caution and same voluntarily obtained.
Consequently, he adjourned further hearing until June 21.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have on June 11, 2013, conspired to conceal proceeds of crime amounting to over N1.6 billion.
It was alleged that they concealed the sum through a company — Seagate Property Development and Investment Ltd and that they also used Avalon Global Property Development Company Ltd to launder over N399 million.
Other companies allegedly used in perpetuating the alleged crime include Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd, Rotato Inter Link Services Ltd and De Jakes Fast Food and Restaurant Nigerian Ltd.
Dudafa was alleged to have between June 1 and June 4, 2015, contracted Iwejuo and Ebiwise Resources Ltd to conceal N150 million being alleged proceeds of crime.
EFCC also alleged that on April 27, Dudafa failed to provide any information in relation to over N616 million held on his behalf by Seagate Property's account.
The prosecution said he also failed to disclose the sum of N560 million held for him by De Jakes Fast Food Ltd as well as the sum of N10 million held for him by Ibejige Services Ltd.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened the provisions of Section 27 (3), (c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004.
About 40 traders in Baboko Market in llorin whose shops were gutted by an inferno in April are living on charity.
Mr Ajayi Oluwafemi, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee in the market, disclosed the plight of the victims to newsmen in Ilorin on Monday.
He said that the affected 40 traders were living on charity since they lost their wares, money and other valuables to the fire incident.
"Some of the traders that are not affected normally give the victims money and other items to keep their soul since those affected do not have anywhere to display their goods," Oluwafemi said.
He said that there had not been any assistance from either the llorin West Local Government council or the state government to the traders.
Oluwafemi said that the traders, who are mostly women, could not carry out repair works on the affected shops.
Alhaji Duro Mohammed, the Special Adviser to Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed on Emergency and Relief Services, told newsmen that the state government was aware of the plight of the traders.
He promised that the state government would soon provide assistance them.
Prof. Okechukwu Oranika, publisher of Africa Business World, an American based journal on Africans, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that all kidnapped Chibok girls are released.
On the night of April 14, 2014, 276 female students were kidnapped from the Government Secondary School in Chibok town, Borno State.
Oranika told the newsmen on telephone from Atlanta, United States of America, on Monday that the release of 82 girls through government efforts was a welcome development.
"The release of over 80 Chibok girls held hostage by Boko Haram is welcome news indeed.
"Despite reports that several Boko Haram commanders were traded for the release of these girls in what appears to be a swap deal, it is still a welcome news from my perspective," he said.
Oranika, however, called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to achieve the release of all the girls still held by Boko Haram group.
" I urge the Nigerian authorities to further take steps to achieve the full release of all unaccounted Chibok girls still under Boko Haram captivity.
"This release for all intents and purposes should be considered a partial victory.
" Full victory would be achieved when all the girls kidnapped by Boko Haram are fully released and Boko Haram ceases its murderous attacks and killings of innocent Nigerian citizens," he said.
According to the Don, government should provide additional security for schools, especially at those within close proximity to Boko Haram`s areas of operation.
" This action is aimed at stopping similar copycat kidnappers and criminals who have no value nor regards for human lives and dignity," he said.
Oranika stated that the recent release would end the ordeal and sufferings of the girls, parents and families.
The Nigerian Navy on Monday in Abuja pledged to collaborate with the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to develop sports for the upliftment of the country's teeming youths.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, made the pledge while receiving a merit award conferred on the Nigerian Navy by SWAN.
Newsmen report that the award was in recognition of Nigerian Navy's contributions to sports development in the country, both in the past and currently.
Navy personnel
Ibas, represented by Cmdr. Suraj Bello, Navy's Director of Sports, at a short ceremony at the SWAN National Secretariat in Abuja, expressed regrets he could not personally receive the award.
He said he failed to make it to the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State where SWAN conferred awards on other well-deserving individuals and organisations due to his tight schedule.
Congratulating SWAN on a successful Full Council Meeting, Ibas said sports writers have over the years remained the Navy's very formidable ally when it comes to sports development in the country.
"Sports journalists are very critical members of the nation's sporting family who must not be treated with levity,'' he said.
Speaking further, the Chief of Naval Staff noted that sports have shifted from a mere instrument of recreation to a huge income-earner which has equally helped in national and international integration.
"The rate of crime will also reduce if we engage the youths in sporting activities,'' he added.
Earlier, SWAN President Honour Sirawoo had said the Association decided to honour various individuals and organisations, especially the military and security outfits because of their contributions to the country's sports development.
"Sports writers, as the society's watchdog in sports, would continue to keep to their unique responsibility of holding governments at all levels accountable on behalf of the people,'' he said.
Sirawoo also advised that government and its agencies could add value to the sector's development by investing energy and finances in areas where Nigeria has comparative advantage over others.
"For a very long time, Nigeria has concentrated on oil revenue forgetting that there are other gold mines like the sports sector which has the capacity to gainfully engage millions of youths if properly harnessed,'' he said.
NAN reports that SWAN gave awards to various organisations on Thursday during its National Full Council Meeting at the Yankari Games Reserve.
These included the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, the National Lottery Trust Fund, the League Management Company and Channels Television.
SWAN which also made Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State its National Patron equally honoured the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, at the occasion.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, has described the release of 82 Chibok girls as a testimony that Nigeria can achieve as a nation.
He said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Mrs Clara Braide, Special Adviser Communication to Chairman NDDC.
He described the girls' freedom from Boko Haram captivity after three years since their abduction as a reward for President Muhammadu Buhari's tenacity and dedication to ensuring the safe return of the girls.
Ndoma-Egba
The NDDC Chairman said this in a release to celebrate the freedom which he described as "joyous and gladdening."
"I commend the hard work of our military, security agencies, civil and international bodies and the President Buhari-led administration, who again have this tangible result to show for all our prayers and persistence."
He encouraged the families whose children are still in captivity, assuring them that government will ensure their safe return.
He thanked the Almighty God for the girls who have bravely survived the traumatic experiences and their parents and families for their endurance during the heartbreaking wait for their children.
Ndoma-Egba called on all Nigerians to continue to pray for lasting peace in the North East Region and our nation Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the 82 schoolgirls released by Boko Haram Islamist militants have met Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
The girls were handed over on Saturday in exchange for Boko Haram suspects after negotiations.
They were from a group of 276 abducted in north-eastern Nigeria in 2014.
Before the latest release, about 195 of the girls were still missing.
The number of Boko Haram suspects released by authorities remains unknown.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the temporary suspension of the state's Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIOs from road operation in the state with immediate effect.
The governor, it was gathered, ordered the officers to stay off Lagos roads until further instructions.
Vanguard gathered that since last week, the VIOs, under the Vehicle Inspection Service, VIS, had left all Lagos roads on the order of Ambode.
According to government source, the directive was in line with the present administration of Ambode's policy of compulsory traning and retainning of all public workers in the state irrespective of cadres.
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
President Muhammadu Buhari who departed Nigeria for London Sunday night for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors has said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will take charge in his absence and that Government will continue to function smoothly and efficiently.
By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA-The cliche’ “the more you look, the less you see was exactly what played out at the Presidential Villa, Abuja as Journalists covering President Muhammadu Buhari and his official activities were literary barred from covering his meeting with the released 82 Chibok girls.
82 Chibok girls with President Buhari shortly before leaving for London
With the official statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu on Saturday that the girls freed on the same day would be formally received by the president on Sunday, State House correspondents set out early for the event.
Time for the reception was originally 4pm but the Journalists arrived 2pm.
By 3:30 pm, they walked to the official residence of the president, venue of the reception from the press gallery of the Council Chamber but were told by the security men on duty to wait for clearance.
It turned out to be waiting game as the girls earlier expected by 4pm didn’t arrive until 7:05pm.
Upon their arrival in two Maccopolo white buses with an inscription “Nigerian Army”, the girls were driven inside the premises to alight behind a closed steel gate that made it extremely difficult for anyone to behold them.
Only the Reporter and the Cameraman from State owned media house, the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and the personal photographer to the President were allowed access into the meeting.
The General Overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleiman has said that he received with bewilderment the purported claim by Ms., Stephanie Otobo, the Nigerian Canada-based stripper, that she has become born again and accordingly forgiven Apostle Johnson Suleman, with whom she previously accused of having an amorous relationship. In a statement signed by the church's Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, it expressed doubts about Stephanie’s new claim of being born again, coming on the heels of the fresh suit instituted by her against Apostle Suleman in Canada, the smear campaign and threat to unveil nude pictures confirming her tryst with the senior pastor.
Mr Shaibu particularly pointed out the several lacunas in the statement announcing Miss Otobo’s new status as a born again Christian, noting that the Canada-based stripper must provide answers to some salient questions before she could be believed.
Stephanie Otobo and Apostle Joshua Suleiman
Part of the statement read thus: “After besmirching the reputation of a man that she has never physically met, Stephanie Otobo, who filed a suit for $5 million against Apostle Johnson Suleiman in a Canadian court in abuse of court process now claims she is born again and wants to put the whole saga behind her and forget the matter and withdraw the case?”
“Not so fast. Where are the explosive incontrovertible evidence she , Festus Keyamo and their team of jeer leaders promised Nigerians? Where are the travel documents she promised to reveal? Where are the nude pictures she claimed to have?
“The 33 year old-officially 23 year old girl who made history by being the only woman to miscarry a baby from her backside rather than her front side (as she claimed) now wants to forgive and forget?”
“Her father called her a liar, her mother called her a liar, her best friend said she was a blackmailer and when given the chance to prove them all wrong she suddenly becomes born again?
“No! We refuse to accept that. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. He who comes to the Lord must come with contrition.
“Psalm 51:17 says “a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Contrition requires remorse and confession. If Stephanie Otobo is indeed born again, we welcome it, but we need to see proof of that and the proof is her confession that she lied or her provision of proof that she did not.
“This girl, who has undermined the faith of many through her Lies wants to get acceptance without doing penance for an act of wickedness motivated by finance!
“A girl who lied that she had her marriage introduction in the apostles office should be honest enough to do her damage control in the office of the court where she filed her suit by providing supporting proof rather than this suspicious handing it over to the Lord when the time came for her to have her day in court.”
“Apostle Johnson Suleman has refused to be blackmailed and his refusal has frustrated his accuser and her sponsors who now hope that this issue will die a natural death but you cannot play with The Lord’s servant and now go to Him without first confessing”.
It is against the foregoing that the spokesman asked Nigerians and Christian community worldwide to be weary of the new claim of Stephanie Otobo, warning that the ex-stripper may be up to mischief and seeking new victims to blackmail.
President Muhammadu Buhari departed Nigeria for London Sunday night for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.
He had planned to leave Sunday afternoon, but decided to tarry a bit, due to the arrival of 82 Chibok girls who arrived Abuja earlier in the day.
"The President assured Nigerians that there is no cause for worry", said Femi Adesina, the media and publicity adviser
"He is very grateful for the prayers and good wishes of the people, and hopes they would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.
"The length of the President's stay in London will be determined by the doctors.
"Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the Vice President.
"President Buhari has transmitted letters about the trip to the Senate and the House of Representatives, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution".
The President had travelled in January for a similar check and returned on 10 March.
Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron resoundingly won France’s landmark presidential election on Sunday, first estimates showed, defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a pivotal vote for the future of the divided country and Europe.
Emmanuel Macron
At 39, the former investment banker will be the country’s youngest-ever leader and faces a huge challenge to heal a fractured and demoralised country.
The vicious election campaign has exposed deep economic and social divisions, as well as tensions around identity and immigration.
“A new chapter in our long history begins tonight. I want it to be one of hope and renewed confidence,” Macron told AFP in a call shortly after results were released.
Initial estimates showed Macron winning between 65 percent and 66.1 percent of the ballots — a higher than expected score – and Le Pen scoring between 33.9 percent and 35 percent.
Unknown three years ago, Macron is now poised to become one of Europe’s most powerful leaders, bringing with him a hugely ambitious agenda of political and economic reform for France and the European Union.
The result will resonate worldwide and particularly in Brussels and Berlin where leaders will breathe a sigh of relief that Le Pen’s anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme has been defeated.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said it was a “victory for a strong and united Europe”, while EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said French voters had chosen a “European future.”
After Britain’s vote last year to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s victory in the US, the French election had been widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise.
“France is sending… an incredible message of hope to the world,” veteran centrist Francois Bayrou, an ally of Macron, told France 2 television. “Anyone who bet on this has probably made a fortune.”
Le Pen, 48, had portrayed the ballot as a contest between Macron and the “globalists” — in favour of open trade, immigration and shared sovereignty — and her “patriotic” vision of strong borders and national identities.
In a short statement, Le Pen said she had called Macron to wish him “success” in tackling the “huge challenges” he faced and announced that she would lead the FN into June’s parliamentary elections.
– Major obstacles ahead –
Macron will now face huge challenges as he attempts to enact his domestic agenda of cutting state spending, easing labour laws, boosting education in deprived areas and extending new protections to the self-employed.
The philosophy and literature lover is inexperienced, has no political party and must try to fashion a working parliamentary majority after legislative elections next month.
His En Marche movement — “neither of the left, nor right” — has vowed to field candidates in all 577 constituencies, with half of them women and half of them newcomers to politics.
“In order for us to act, we will need a majority in the National Assembly,” the secretary general of En Marche, Richard Ferrand, told the TF1 channel, adding that only “half of the journey” had been completed.
Many analysts are sceptical about Macron’s ability to win a majority with En Marche candidates alone, meaning he might have to form a coalition of lawmakers committed to his agenda.
Furthermore, his economic agenda, particularly plans to weaken labour regulations to fight stubbornly high unemployment, are likely to face fierce resistance from trade unions and his leftist opponents.
He also inherits a country which is still in a state of emergency following a string of Islamist-inspired attacks since 2015 that have killed more than 230 people.
– Rollercoaster election –
The vote Sunday followed one of the most unpredictable election campaigns in modern history marked by scandal, repeated surprises and a last-minute hacking attack on Macron.
Hundreds of thousands of emails and documents stolen from his campaign were dumped online on Friday and then spread by anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, leading the candidate to call it an attempt at “democratic destabilisation.”
France’s election authority said publishing the documents could be a criminal offence, a warning flouted by Macron’s opponents and far-right activists online.
It was the latest twist in an election that has consistently wrong-footed observers as angry voters chose to eject establishment figures, including one-time favourite Francois Fillon, a rightwing ex-prime minister.
Unpopular President Francois Hollande was the first to bow to the rebellious mood in December as he declared he would be the first sitting president not to seek re-election in the French republic, founded in 1958.
In the first round of the presidential election on April 23, Macron topped the vote with 24.01 percent, followed by Le Pen on 21.30 percent, in a crowded field of 11 candidates.
The results revealed Macron was favoured among wealthier, better educated citizens in cities, while Le Pen drew support in the countryside as well as poverty-hit areas in the south and rustbelt northeast.
…Says Ifeanyi Ubah, or anyone else can’t incite us to cause economic sabotage
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
PETROLEUM Tankers Drivers, PTD, branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday dismissed the allegation credited to the Department of the State security service, DSS, that one of the reasons Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Capital Oil, was arrested, was for inciting members of PTD to cause economic sabotage.
DSS OPERATIVES
PTD in a statement by its National Chairman, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, declared that the “allegation is baseless, unfounded and totally untrue.”
According to the statement: “We read from an online publication that one of the reasons for the arrest of Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, was for inciting Petroleum Tanker Driver to cause economic sabotage. The leadership of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers wishes to categorically deny the allegation of Ifeanyi Ubah or any other individual, inciting the Tanker Drivers to cause any economic sabotage. The allegation is baseless, unfounded and totally untrue. Our responsibility as a Trade Union is solely to promote, project and protect the job security and welfare of workers most especially the petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria.
“We have no further relationship with any capitalist/employer beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members. We unequivocally support the ongoing war against corruption by the current government and any capitalist/employer found culpable of stealing, diversion or embezzlement of government funds should be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law. The Petroleum Tanker Driver Branch of NUPENG has over the years built a good brand of integrity and excellent service to the nation and we will not allow anyone or institution no matter how highly placed to bring this beautiful brand our forebears toiled to build into disrepute.”
Renowned for his popular hit track titled 'Suo', which rocked the airwaves, streets and ghettoes in the late 90s, veteran dancehall artiste, Marvelous Benjy, claims to be unruffled by the new generation of dancehall artistes who have been gradually changing the face of dancehall music in Nigeria. According to him, the influx of new dancehall artistes has helped to bring out the best of the music genre.
Marvelous Benjy
In a recent chat with E-daily, Marvelous, who is notably one of the pioneers of the dancehall musical genre in Nigeria, believes that competition among dancehall artistes will make the craft better. "It's a welcome idea to see the new generation of artistes changing the face of dancehall music from what it used to be to what it is now. It's good for us, it's a welcome idea, and I like the whole idea of the competition.
The truth of the matter is that the coming of this new trend of dancehall music and artistes has brought about the best of dancehall music, because competition will only bring about the best. To be sincere, either it gingers me or not to do more as one of the pioneers of dancehall music in Nigeria, it brings out the best of the craft", he said.
Mrs Liz Ahua, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Representative for West Africa, says massive displacement in Nigeria's North-East zone poses great dangers of statelessness for victims.
Ahua said this on Sunday in Banjul at the opening ceremony of a three-day ministerial meeting on the Adoption of the Regional Plan of Action to Eradicate Statelessness in West Africa.
She said that if urgent actions were not taken, some of the 2.4 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or refugees residing neighbouring countries could lose their nationality and become stateless.
She explained that displacement, whether caused by conflicts or natural disasters, was a root cause of statelessness which further increases the risk, if not urgently and properly tackled.
She said that it could also become an obstacle to achieving durable solutions for displaced persons and prevent them from rebuilding their lives in dignity as well as impede return and relocation.
"The crises in the Lake Chad Basin region is a prime example where over 2.4 million people have been displaced by the conflict, including over 1.8 million IDPs in Nigeria
"Over 200,000 Nigerians are living as refugees in neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon without adequate documentation.
"Before the crises, civil registration, including birth registration, were already low in the region and most of those displaced lack identity documents.
"This has created many challenges, including discerning between refugees and IDPs in local communities, impacting their access to protection and rights.
"In the longer term, this may hamper the achievement of durable solution for the displaced.''
According to her, the link between issues of statelessness, sustaining peace and security in the region cannot be separated as statelessness can lead to insecurity and instability.
She explained that stateless persons, when they felt deserted, could easily be used as tools of destruction by insurgents and criminals in carrying our attacks and perpetuating other crimes.
Ahua commended Nigeria and Niger for their commitment in pushing for the Adoption of the Abuja Declaration on the Protection of the Lake Chad Basin in June 2016.
She said that the commitment of both countries gave impetus to the Abidjan Declaration in its engagement to reduce the risk of statelessness among the displaced populations.
The UNHCR Regional Representative further said that laudable efforts were under way to address documentation and nationality issues in the affected areas. (NAN)
Nollywood actress cum producer, Omoni Oboli, weekend, asked her fans to pray for her family after she lost her beloved father in a fatal car accident last Friday.
Omoni Oboli
The actress made the appeal via her Twitter handle, a day before she launched her fashion line 'Omoni Oboli By AVE' The fashion line was launched yesterday in conjunction with Ayo Van Elmer, yesterday, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
"The devil is a liar, pray for me and my family," she wrote. The appeal is coming three weeks after another Instagram post where she reminisced about a good time she had with her father in Asaba, the Delta State capital, where she was promoting her new movie, “Okafor’s Law”.
Recall that before now, Oboli had faced some challenges following a case of copyright infringement and trademark violation brought against her by a Canadian-based Nigerian script writer, Jude Idada, who secured a court injunction to stop the premiere of Oboli’s much -talked about movie,"Okafor's Law" and also its release on March 31. However, the ban was lifted following a counter suit.
Meanwhile, speaking about her fashion line, the actress who is known for rocking Ayo Van Elmer's designs said, 'I am introducing to the world my inner passion and ideas and a new side of me. You all know me as an actress and movie maker, now you all get to see this whole new side of me. I am excited about this fashion line and excited to be working with Ayo Van Elmer. This fashion line is for my fans and fans of fashion'.
Popular Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke who delved into manufacturing business called Burgeon Global a few years back, is now plotting to expand into real estate business and services.
Nollywood star, Jim Iyke
Jim Iyke took to his Intagram page, weekend, to announce his latest effort. "Men at work. Lustrous Dynamic Global Services; future horizons. Unveiling soon,"he wrote.
In another post, Jim Iyke uploaded a picture of himself and his workers with a caption; "This is what my team and I look like at the office. It’s not pretty but we get first class work done with first class results. We will announce the first of our many platforms on May 10."
Recall that the controversial actor, a few years back delved into sachet water business, with its headquarters located in Abuja. Indeed, since he veered into business, fans of Jim Iyke have been missing him on the big screen.
Emmanuel Macron, who exit polls say won France’s presidential elections on Sunday, may have seen off the competition in the race for the Elysee Palace but will face daunting challenges when he takes office.
Emmanuel Macron
The 39-year-old must unite a deeply-divided country, roll back unemployment and try to nudge a fractious EU along the path of reform — but he first faces a battle to secure a governing majority in legislative elections due next month.
– Reunite France – Macron, a pro-European centrist and former banker, takes over a divided country where nearly half of voters backed extremist candidates — critical of the EU, globalisation and “elites” — in the first round of the election.
The “two Frances” are divided geographically — one urban, more affluent and open to reform; the other, concentrated in the northern rustbelt and in disadvantaged areas of the countryside. It was this latter France that voted for Macron’s far-right opponent, Marine Le Pen.
Macron knows that many voters backed him not out of conviction but simply to stop Le Pen taking power, and his support could evaporate at the parliamentary elections.
“Will the Macron-Le Pen divide — which is a national, existential identity divide, not the usual left-right split — continue into the legislative election? I tend to think so,” said analyst Stephane Rozes of the CAP thinktank.
– The impossible majority? – Macron has promised to move beyond traditional left and right parties to create a new majority in the centre.
He launched his En Marche! (On the Move) party less than a year ago but managed to attract hundreds of thousands of supporters. He finished first in the first round of the election with a quarter of the vote. In the runoff against Le Pen, he notched up almost two-thirds of the vote, according to exit polls.
Now he must convert his extraordinary rise — unprecedented in recent French history — into a solid presence in the National Assembly.
After his success in the presidential race, Macron believes that the French people will give him another victory in parliamentary elections, which will take place on June 11 and 18.
But the traditional centre-right, whose candidate Francois Fillon crashed out in the first round amid a fake jobs scandal, hopes to strike back and force Macron into a coalition arrangement in parliament.
The far left, emboldened by the first-round success of candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who took an unexpectedly high 19.6 percent, is also aiming for a strong showing.
– Labour law battle – Macron has lamented France’s failure to solve its unemployment problem.
French joblessness runs at 10 percent, which compares with an average of 8.0 percent across the EU and just 3.9 percent in neighbouring Germany.
Like his predecessors, Macron will be judged above all on employment, and he has vowed to force through reform of France’s hidebound labour laws using executive orders during his first months in office.
This accelerated procedure, bypassing parliament, could mean a fiery start to his term as France’s highly activist unions would likely bring protests out onto the streets, as they did last year when Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls used the tactic.
Macron wants to cut unemployment to seven percent by 2022 by liberalising employment laws, cutting business rates and loosening restrictions in France’s 35-hour working week.
– Terror threat – The killing of a policeman on the Champs-Elysees in central Paris just three days before the first-round vote was a sobering reminder of the terror threat hanging over France.
More than 230 people have been killed in jihadist attacks in France since January 2015, many carried out in the name of the Islamic State (IS) group.
“IS is open about its desire to smash national cohesion by exacerbating tensions between Muslims and the rest of the population,” said Marc Hecker of the French Institute of International Relations.
Hecker pointed to the dangers posed by hundreds of French IS fighters returning home from Syria and Iraq in the coming years.
With no previous experience in such matters, Macron has to move quickly to show he has a grip on these challenges and his role as military commander-in-chief.
General Jean-Paul Palomeros, who advised Macron, predicted that France’s military commitments in the Middle East and Africa would continue unchanged.
Macron has also said he wants to reinforce the EU’s external borders and has called for a major increase in resources for the Frontex agency.
– EU reform – Macron sees a reinvigoration of the France-Germany alliance as crucial to relaunching the EU after the shocks of Brexit and the migrant crisis.
He plans to tour European capitals during his first months in charge to set out a “five-year roadmap to give the eurozone a true budget and to create a Europe of 27 for the environment, industry and managing migration”.
Vincenzo Scarpetta, analyst at Open Europe, warned Macron may be biting off more than he can chew.
“Reforming the EU looks good on paper but Macron’s ideas are bold: he wants a budget for the eurozone and a eurozone minister. Is that really realistic, when it would require treaty changes?” Scarpetta said.
Macron has also said he is determined to develop European defence by coordinating operations and industrial programmes in this area.
THE lawyer of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has said that Nigeria has expired and nothing will make Nnamdi Kanu go into politics.
He made this known in an interview with 'Wazobia Fm' saying that ”Nnamdi Kanu is Biafra and Biafra is Nnamdi.”
His words: "Let me make this clear now, nothing will make Nnamdi kanu to go into politics, Nnamdi Kanu is Biafra and Biafra is Nnamdi Kanu.
"The thing he believes in nobody will change it, he said it to me, he is my friend. Secondly, court demanded that he should come with one senator from his place, and you know that Kanu is loved by everybody, even if the court demands 100 senators for his bail, you will see people from his side struggling to sign for him.
"Enyinnaya Abaribe agreed to sign for his bail and you know it is a matter of life and freedom, he signed for him. " Enyinnaya Abaribe's signatory to Kanu's bail does not mean that Kanu has a political affiliation attached to it.”
Nnamdi Kanu and other co-defendants in court
Explaining the unplanned meeting of Nnamdi Kanu and Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu's allegation against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, coming after him, Bar. Ejiofor said: "Now that Kanu is out, he saw the importance of going to thank Abaribe for his assistance in fulfilling his bail conditions. So, as he went there he met Sen. Ekweremadu and other South East senators that came to Abaribe's house.
"As we left, Sen. Ekweremmadu raised an alarm, because Nnamdi Kanu came to the house and met him, EFCC are finding a way to punish him, probably insinuating that he is assisting Kanu, thus attaching politics to what Kanu is doing.
"Let me state it clearly and unequivocally, Nnamdi Kanu is not a politician, he is not doing politics with the Biafra project and the cause he believed in nobody can change it, that's the simple truth.
"The fact that EFCC is seeking for Ekweremmadu is unknown to me, not till he raised an alarm on the 6th of May, perhaps made them denial it and said that they did not plant anything in his house. But the most important thing I want to tell you now is that Kanu is not doing any politics with the Biafra project.”
Asked if these Senators were supporting Kanu prior to his detention or just started now, he said: "Well, you know it is possible. If court did not request for a senator, nobody will hear about them. But they sometimes urged the federal government to release Kanu and obey the court order.”
Asked the role British played since Kanu was arrested, the lawyer said: "The truth is that since he was arrested, detained, granted bail and FG refused to obey court order, the British government has been sending a delegation to the court and equally going to the prison to see him.
"Any time we go to the court they come from their embassy to the court and follow the proceedings. Even when tear gas was released in his prison, I wrote to them, FG and many other people, they just took records of what is happening,”he said.
On the ownership of Radio Biafra Ejiofor, said "Radio Biafra in London is owned by IPOB, registered just like we have BBC in London and Kanu coming to Nigeria is just to tell you that he had nothing against anybody, he did not plan any evil against the Federal Government yet they arrested him.
"I want to come to Nigeria and see my family, friends and my people. Anyone who is planning a coup will he announce it? Someone who wants to take over government, will he announce it? Someone who wants to mobilise people to take over government will he announce it?
"He announced it on air via Radio Biafra that he wants to go home and see his people in Nigeria and his family members. After announcing it, he came back and they arrested him.”
On comments that the government had made Nnamdi Kanu a hero, he said: "It's true and that is the more reason now that Kanu is strongly saying that Federal government should conduct a referendum. Let them put the Senate process that will guarantee a fair conduct of the referendum, so that Biafra people will determine if they want to separate from Nigeria or not.
"It is not a fight, we are not fighting anybody, it is a peaceful agitation in process without weapon. IPOB people are harmless, they don't fight anybody and anybody has the right to self determination as contained in our constitution, we do not fight anybody.”
On calls for restructuring Nigeria, Ejiofor said: "Nigeria has expired. What is happening in the country today is obvious that we have problem, let’s tell ourselves the truth. It's time for us to come together and discuss if we are going to stay together or not. We are not for fight, it's time for us to come back and negotiate if we are telling ourselves the truth and let's stop hiding the truth from people.”
Minister of Transportation and immediate past governor of Rivers state, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has again blasted his successor and current governor of the state, Nyesom Wike over alleged claims that the over $43million found in an Ikoyi apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were stolen Rivers state funds kept in the apartment by Amaechi.
Mr. Amaechi also said that Wike lied that the luxury Ikoyi apartment belonged to him, Amaechi.
Recall that Amaechi had, when the discovery was made, strongly debunked Wike's claims and had challenged Wike to provide evidence of his (Amaechi's) ownership of the money and apartment where the money was found.
In a statement released by his media office, Sunday, Amaechi again took a swipe at Wike for his failure to go to court to prove his claims before a Judge, describing Wike administration in Rivers State as a "government of lies, deceit, fraud and blood."
Wike and Amaechi
Amaechi also threw his weight behind the call by Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka that in the fight against corruption, detractors (saying Wike is an example) who deliberately create distraction should be criminalized and prosecuted.
According to the statement:
"Nigerians would recall that on the night of Friday, April 14, during his hurriedly arranged shambolic press briefing, Wike had threatened the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone, vowing the mother-of-all legal action against the Federal government if the over $43million was not given to him within seven days. The 7-day ultimatum has long expired, yet no action, whether legal or otherwise by Wike to prove his malicious allegations and claim to the money.
"Again, on Friday, May 6, another wonderful opportunity was open for Wike to prove his frivolous allegations against Amaechi and claim the money, before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court, Lagos. The Judge had on April 13, directed that anyone who owns the money should come forward to claim it. Neither Wike nor his Lawyers were anywhere near the court. Again, another no show."
"Wike's failure to prove his allegations against Amaechi in a court of law or even in the court of public opinion clearly vindicates our position and completely exonerates Amaechi of any link or connection to the Ikoyi money and apartment.
"Wike's failure to prove this his latest malicious outburst against Amaechi also clearly shows that all previous fake stories of allegations upon allegations of graft against Amaechi by Wike are all lies, like this Ikoyi silly lie from a sick and warped mind. Since he became governor, Wike sleeps and wakes up everyday, with a sole, one-point agenda to attack and denigrate Rotimi Amaechi, his erstwhile benefactor, no matter how ridiculous and silly he sounds.
"Everyday in Rivers State, there is one frivolous, false story of what Amaechi did or didn't do. Same pattern, the same blatant lies with no proof, same old concocted stories of corruption allegations against Amaechi told with different flavours, just like this his latest Ikoyi money blatant lie."
"Sadly, what Wike is running in Rivers State today is not a government, by any stretch, but a contraption of lies, deceit, fraud and blood. He has bastardized and destroyed Rivers State.
"To stem this dangerous trend, this is why we are in full support of Prof. Wole Soyinka's call that in the anti-corruption war, detractors who deliberately create distraction should be criminalized and prosecuted. Detractors of the fight against corruption like Nyesom Wike, and his lackeys and minions like Femi Fani-Kayode, Lere Olayinka, one Senator George Sekibo who like a clown, foolishly blew a whistle on the floor of the senate to push Wike's false narrative of the ownership of the Ikoyi money etc, should not be allowed to go scot free with their politically motivated lies to distract the fight against corruption."
"Finally, we insist that Wike must go to court, like he vowed (as he goes, he can also take his minions and lackeys with him), to prove his frivolous claims that the over $43million Ikoyi money and luxury apartment belongs to Amaechi and were stolen from Rivers State by Amaechi; or be ready to face the wrath of the law (at the appropriate time; constitutional immunity for governors is not for life), the wrath of the people and ultimately the wrath of God, which no constitutional immunity can protect him from", the statement concluded.
Osogbo – The family of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, who died on April 23, has rejected the coroner inquest instituted by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun. Late Isiaka Adeleke
While addressing a press conference on Sunday in Ede, the immediate younger brother of the deceased, Deji , alleged that the outcome of the inquest was predetermined.
Aregbesola had on May 2 signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the death of the senator.
The order was according to the Coroner Law Cap 32 Vol I Law of Osun, 2002.
The family, according to Adeleke, however, rejected the coroner inquest in its entirety.
"The family, hereby, denounce in its entirety the ill-advised and self-serving coroner inquest ordered by the Osun State Government, purportedly set up to determine the cause of death of our dearly beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
"We condemn, in strictest terms, the continuous politicisation attempts by the state of this great loss to our family, particularly the ordering of this inquest at a time we are still coming to terms with the harsh reality of his sudden departure and the pain and grief therefrom.
"We have been reliably informed by credible sources that the outcome of the kangaroo inquest is already predetermined by the state.
"It is also designed to serve its own interest with distorted facts and misinformation which will clearly not be in the interest of the good people of Osun in general and the Adeleke family in particular," Adeleke said.
NAN recalls that the Adeleke family had at a press conference on April 26 said that the autopsy result conducted on the deceased was yet to be out.
The late senator, who was buried on April 24, represented Osun West Senatorial District on the platform of the APC.
Adeleke, who died at 62 years, was also the first civilian governor of Osun between January 1992 and November 1993 on the platform of defunct Social Democratic Party .
In his unorthodox private life and short political career, France’s new president Emmanuel Macron has battled conventions and broken with traditions.
Emmanuel Macron
The 39-year-old son of two doctors from the northeastern city of Amiens — set to be the youngest president in French history — breaks the mould of a traditional French leader, apart from his elite education in some of the country’s best universities.
Firstly, he is married to his former teacher, glamorous 64-year-old Brigitte Trogneux, a divorced mother of three children whom he fell in love with as a schoolboy.
Their relationship has been a subject of fascination, often encouraged by the media-savvy Macron, in French glossy magazines.
He has also charted one of the most unlikely paths to the presidency in modern history, from virtual unknown three years ago to leader with no established political party behind him.
The philosophy, literature and classical music lover launched his independent movement En Marche (“On The Move”) only 12 months ago, which he said was “neither of the left nor the right”.
This unusual positioning for France, which has seen him borrow economic policies from the right coupled with social measures from the left, was initially met with cynicism.
“There is a left and a right… and that’s a good thing, that’s how our democracy functions,” ex-prime minister Manuel Valls said after En Marche launched. “It would be absurd to want to remove those differences.”
Others saw the ambitious former investment banker, who was then economy minister in Socialist President Francois Hollande’s government, as too young and too inexperienced to have serious presidential ambitions.
Few apart from his loyal core of advisors believed that he had the ability to triumph in 2017 at the age of 39, a year younger than Napoleon Bonaparte when he took power in 1804.
– Momentum –
But Macron pressed on, using his image as a dynamic young moderniser to draw in thousands of volunteers to En Marche, which was modelled partly on the grassroots movement of ex-US president Barack Obama in 2008.
After resigning from his job as economy minister in August, he set about writing his pre-election book “Revolution” and then finally declared he was running for president on November 16.
“We can’t respond with the same men and the same ideas,” he said at a jobs training centre in a gritty Parisian suburb.
A giant meeting at a convention centre in southern Paris in December was an early warning to rivals — and led to widespread mockery of Macron who ended the rally screaming, arms aloft, as he basked in the adoration.
Since then, he has benefited from the woes of the Socialist party and a scandal that engulfed one-time favourite Francois Fillon from the rightwing Republicans party, the other mainstream force in French politics.
Fillon was accused of paying his wife hundreds of thousands of euros from the public purse for a fake job as a parliamentary assistant — allegations he denied but which sunk his campaign.
“He’s been lucky,” veteran political journalist Anne Fulda, who wrote a recent biography called “Emmanuel Macron, Such A Perfect Young Man”, told AFP. “That’s something that helped him considerably. The stars aligned.”
With frustration at France’s political class running high, Macron was able to tap into a desire for wholesale change that also propelled his far-right rival Marine Le Pen into Sunday’s run-off vote.
– Already hated? –
As a student, Macron worked as an assistant to a famous French philosopher and followed a well-worn path through France’s elite public universities including the ENA, which has groomed many leaders.
After first working as a civil servant in the finance ministry, he then went into investment banking, where he earned millions at Rothschild putting together mergers and acquisitions.
Opponents have targeted this period of his career as proof he is part of the “global capitalist elite”. His self-assurance, expensive suits and defence of entrepreneurs has offered further ammunition.
“I’ve spoken with hundreds of people and you can feel it in the air: you are already hated,” one far-left critic, Francois Ruffin, wrote last week in an article in Le Monde newspaper.
He is also frequently criticised for being too vague or intellectual in his speeches, which are often long and peppered with literary references or poetry.
While at ease among ordinary voters, Macron has been accused of being condescending in the past, whether referring to “illiterate” abattoir workers, “alcoholic” laid-off workers or the “poor people” who travel on buses.
In an infamous exchange, when confronted by a protester in a T-shirt in May last year, he lost his cool, saying: “The best way to buy yourself a suit is to work.”
Emmanuel Macron was elected French president on Sunday in a resounding victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen after a deeply divisive campaign, initial estimates showed.
Emmanuel Macron
Macron, running as a centrist, won between 65.5 and 66.1 percent of the vote ahead of Le Pen on between 33.9 percent and 34.5 percent.
The Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Nyanya, has expressed concern over President Muhammadu Buhari's health, and called on the Church to pray for his quick recovery.
He also praised Buhari for the relative peace in the Niger Delta region through the dialogue option adopted by the Federal Government.
He called on Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic background to join hands with the present administration to build a country where peace, rule of law and freedom of speech reign.
"We call on the government to sustain the peace to revolve the Niger Delta issues.
"We call on the government to take action against the menace of killers in the guise of herdsmen who have been wreaking havoc on lives and property of helpless Nigerians across the country.
"We condemn the continued killings of innocent persons in Southern Kaduna and call for an immediate stop to the attacks,'' he noted.
On the path of education, Kalu urged the government to restructure the educational curricula to focus strongly on entrepreneurial skill acquisition, which would help the youths of the country.
Jose Mourinho claimed Arsenal were lucky to end Arsene Wenger’s woeful record against his old rival, but the Manchester United manager insisted he wasn’t bothered because the Europa League is more important.
Mourinho
Gunners boss Wenger was able to celebrate a first Premier League victory over Mourinho at the 13th attempt as Arsenal won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck shattered United’s 25-match unbeaten run in the league as sixth-placed Arsenal closed the gap on fourth-placed Manchester City to six points with a game in hand.
Fifth-placed United are four points behind City with three games left, but Mourinho had already surrendered in the top-four race after sending out a weakened team against Arsenal as he prioritised the midweek Europa League semi-final second leg against Celta Viga.
United, who hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, will qualify for the Champions League if they win the Europa League, so Mourinho wasn’t too concerned with the result against Arsenal.
Not that it stopped him getting a dig in at his old rival Wenger after Arsenal’s fortuitous opening goal saw Xhaka’s shot deflect in off Ander Herrera.
“Of course we knew we were not coming in our maximum power. That’s a decision,” Mourinho said.
“We want to try to win the Europa League. It’s more important than finishing fourth. We needed to rest players.
“I’m disappointed with the result, not the performance. We lost because we didn’t score and we had great chances to score before them.
“They had luck with that first goal. I can’t ask anymore from my players who haven’t played a minute for several weeks.
“The team was good, organised, we played to win and Arsenal weren’t better than us in my opinion.”
After a turbulent season that featured calls for his resignation from angry Arsenal fans, Wenger could have revelled in a rare upbeat moment this term.
But the Frenchman opted against taunting Mourinho, preferring to urge his players, who are also in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, to finish the season strongly.
“We have had many draws (against Mourinho) as well and there were some fantastic teams that we played against. It is not manager against manager,” he said.
“It was a patiently built win where in the first half you could see we were a bit nervous, in the second half we took the edge off and scored the goals.
“We still have a mathematical chance but we need some help. But the best help we can get is by winning our own games.”
Today in some part of the world people are celebrating World Naked Gardening Day.
According to wikipedia.org World Naked Gardening Day ‘is an annual international event celebrated on the first Saturday of May by gardeners and non-gardeners alike.
According to NBC’s Today News, WNGD “has become an annual tradition that celebrates weeding, planting flowers and trimming hedges in the buff.
While it's linked to a movement of nudists who promote wholesome and unashamed acceptance of the human body, the day is meant to be funny, lighthearted and non-political, founders say.”
