Photos: Former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, AVM Adigun, others arraigned in court

Embattled former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosun, AVM Jacob Adigun & others were arraigned before the Federal High Court Lagos today. They are standing trial for alleged misappropriation of N22.8 billion while in office.

Also arraigned was Air Cmdr Gbadebo Owodunni and eight companies namely Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

Photo credit: Sahara Reporters

OJB Jezreel laid to rest at Ikoyi Cemetery (photos)

The body of late music producer, Babatunde Okungbowa aka OJB, has been laid to rest at the Ikoyi cemetery today Friday July 8th. May his soul rest in Peace. Amen. See more photos after the cut.

Only God can stop Biafra, not Buhari, says MASSOB

The Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereignty State of Biafra on Thursday said only God can stop the objectives of the group, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot.
It maintained that Buhari cannot stop Nigerians from discussing the way they would want to live in the country.
It restated that Nigerian sovereignty was negotiable.
In a press statement made available to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital, MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, described Buhari’s comment that Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable as curious and primordial.

“This is an enthusiastic expression of an old man who still believes in his old way without realising that new trends are taking place.
“Buhari believes that with his kinsmen occupying all the positions in the military, he will easily crush Biafra and other opinions on the restructuring of this country,” they stated.
They also added, “Maybe, he thinks that with his intimidation of Igbo governors, National Assembly members and religious/opinion/political leaders, he can crush Biafra.
“MASSOB views Buhari’s constant negative comments on Biafra consciousness as a sign of being jittery. As every revolutionary struggle has its own methodology, the current Biafran struggle for self determination and restoration will continue to pose confusing methods to President Buhari.
“Buhari’s military-civilian administration is the worst government Nigeria ever experienced in this country.

“His leadership style of enforcing and imposing Islamic Hausa/Fulani agenda on the rest of Nigerian people is tremendously assisting and justifying our struggle for Biafra actualisation.”

They stated, “Buhari’s stubbornness and Islamic fundamentalism against the Christian Southern, Eastern and Middle Belt regions have reawakened the consciousness and thought of future survival of the people of these regions.

“We want President Buhari to continue to make similar statements of this kind which always express his frustrations. Any king who thinks like Pharaoh of Egypt against the Jews will certainly experience the doom of Pharaoh.

“No man born of a woman can crush Biafra because God, history and humanities are on our side.”
Meanwhile, the Conference of Ethnic Nationalities in the Niger Delta has said that rather than continue to say the country’s unity was non-negotiable, President Buhari should improve Nigeria’s structure and the status of the citizens.

The President of the group, Prof. Kimse Okoko, explained that though he believed in the corporate existence of Nigeria, it was meaningless to say the unity of the country remained non-negotiable when the nation was moving towards precipice.

Okoko urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendation of the last National Conference in order to avoid the Yugoslavian experience.

He added that it was possible for Nigerians to sit down and examine other possibilities if the implementation of the last National Conference report would not be possible.

Okoko, who is also the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, said, “You cannot continue to say the country’s unity is non-negotiable and would refuse to improve on the status of the citizens, improve on the structure of the country and improve on the system of the country.

“To me, it is meaningless because the reality before us is that we are moving towards the precipice. If we are not ready to implement the recommendations of the National Conference, then let us sit down and examine other possibilities,” he said.
Also, the National Director of Information, MASSOB, Mr. Sunday Okereafor, has countered the campaign for referendum by one Mr. Madu and his team, insisting that the group primarily wanted the Independent State of Biafra.

He maintained that Madu was not a member of MASSOB, let alone being on the top hierarchy of the organisation. Therefore, he said he should not meddle in the affairs of the pressure group.
Okereafor, who spoke to one of our correspondents on Thursday in Owerri, stated that MASSOB had sometimes ago in 2004 and 2005 yielded to referendum and that for Madu to come up with an idea for the group now showed that he was not abreast of the group’s agenda.

He strongly warned him (Madu) to desist from hiding under the cloak of MASSOB to deceive members of the public and the international community.

EFCC set to seize Fayose’s N1.35bn properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced moves to seize some properties linked to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, The PUNCH has learnt.

According to the EFCC, houses to be seized are four duplexes on Victoria Island in Lagos State and one located at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

A reliable source told our correspondent on Thursday that the houses were allegedly purchased with illegitimate funds, stating that the EFCC could invoke the Assets Forfeiture clause to seize the properties in line with sections 28 and 34 of the EFCC (Establishment Act) 2004 and Section 13 (1) of the Federal High Court Act, 2004.

The EFCC is currently investigating Fayose for allegedly receiving N1.219bn from the Office of the National Security Adviser through a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who is currently in school in the United States of America.

After freezing Fayose’s Zenith Bank accounts, the anti-graft agency alleged that it had uncovered details of how the governor had been receiving kickbacks from state contractors.
The source added, “Investigations showed that the properties were bought with bribes from Ekiti State contractors. Some of the properties were not bought in Fayose’s name but through proxies. So, we will seize all the properties by God’s grace.”
The EFCC had, in a 10-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to by Tosin Owobo, accused Fayose of using the proceeds of crime to purchase properties.

The affidavit reads in part, “Apart from fraudulently retaining the sum of N1,219,490,000 being part of the N4,745,000,000 stolen from the treasury of the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser, the applicant (Fayose) has also received gratification in form of kickbacks from various contractors with the Ekiti State Government such as Samchese Nigeria Limited, Tender Branch Concept Nig. Limited, Hoff Concept Limited and Calibre Consulting Limited.
“The applicant (Fayose) received these kickbacks and gratification through Still Earth Limited and Signachorr Nigeria Limited. In turn the applicant (Fayose) instructed the Still Earth Limited and Signachoor Nigeria Limited to use the funds to acquire properties for him.
“In complying with the applicant’s instruction, Still Earth Limited and Signachoor Nigeria Limited acquired properties on behalf of the applicant (Fayose) in the name of a company, known as J.J. Technical Services Limited, belonging to the applicant (Fayose) and his wife (Feyisetan).
“That the applicant (Fayose) also used the name of one Mrs. Moji Ladeji (the applicant’s sister) to acquire a property situated at 44 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, from the proceeds of the alleged offences of receiving gratification and kickbacks.”

In his reaction, however, Fayose said all the properties linked to him were not bought with stolen funds.
In a statement by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said any property that might be linked to him or his company was “bought legitimately and his properties were duly declared in his assets declaration form and sources of such funds were not illicit.”
He said since the money he got for his election was from legitimate sources and not from the ONSA, “how the money is spent remains his own business and not that of anyone.”

Jaden Smith explains why he loves wearing skirts

The 17-year-old actor is often seen in public wearing skirts and has the confidence to carry off some of his more outrageous ensembles because of his own belief in himself.He told Nylon magazine:
[I want to] inspire and change the way people think about clothing and about life.”
“You just have to believe in yourself, you know. “The world is going to keep bashing me for whatever I do, and I’m going to keep not caring. I’m going to keep doing the same things – I’m going to keep doing more things.””So,
you know, in five years when a kid goes to school wearing a skirt, he won’t get beat up and kids won’t get mad at him. I’m taking the brunt of it so that later on, my kids and the next generations of kids will all think that certain things are normal that weren’t expected before my time.”

80 special prosecutors to try Saraki’s forgery case, others

The Federal Government has set up 20 teams of prosecutors, comprising 80 lawyers, who will handle a number of high profile criminal cases investigated by law enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The PUNCH learnt that each of the teams had four lawyers with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria as the leader.
The identities of the lawyers, who were said to have been specially trained for the tasks ahead, have not been made known.
It was learnt that the Prof. Itse Sagay-led Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption was involved in the training of the special prosecutors.

Our correspondent gathered that the training, which ended in June, lasted for over one month.
Sources in the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja confirmed to our correspondent on Thursday that one of the teams of prosecutors had been assigned the forgery case recently instituted against Senate President Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others.
The new prosecuting team will fully take over the forgery case from the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Diri, when the trial resumes on Monday, a source confirmed to The PUNCH.
The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minster of Justice, had, on June 10, preferred against Saraki, Ekweremadu and others, two counts of criminal conspiracy and forgery of Senate Standing Rules used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the 8th Senate on June 4, 2015.
The two other co-accused persons are a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and his then deputy, Benedict Efeturi.
The Federal Government stated that the offence of conspiracy is punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Act and offence of forgery with “fraudulent intent” punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
On June 27, the four accused persons were arraigned and they pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Yusuf Halilu of a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja.
Shortly after their arraignment on June 27, they were granted bail on the conditions that each of them should produce two sureties, who must have property either in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse 2 or Garki (all in Abuja).
Sources confirmed to our correspondent on Thursday that the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, deliberately assigned the case to the special prosecution team for “efficient prosecution and management of the case”.
It was learnt that the team was given the liberty by the AGF to review the case file “and make necessary adjustments or amendments” where necessary to enhance the prospect of a successful prosecution of the case.
When contacted, the AGF’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Salihu Isah, confirmed to our correspondent that the forgery case was one of the high-profile criminal cases that had been assigned to one of the special teams of prosecutors.
“The prosecutors, 80 in all, are constituted into 20 teams. After they were trained, cases have been assigned to the first six and one of the cases is the Saraki’s case that you mentioned,” Isah said.
Though he declined to mention the names of the lawyers in the team, Isah said the matters assigned to the various teams varied from terrorism to corruption cases, among others.
According to him, the National Prosecution Coordination Committee, inaugurated by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, would review some of the cases either being prosecuted or still being investigated by the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and others agencies.
The committee, he added, would also recommend the re-assignment of suitable cases among them to the teams of prosecutors.
“The teams will take up cases investigated by the various law enforcement agencies – ICPC, EFCC, DSS – and even some being handled by the ministry,” he said.

A source explained that some of the cases that would be assigned to the teams of prosecutors were the over 1,500 terrorism cases said to have been filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja since last year while the accused persons had yet to be arraigned.

NANS rejects N2,500 post-UTME screening fee

The National Association of Nigerian Students has rejected kicked the introduction of the admission screening fee of N2,500 by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Education.
Mr Gbenga Ayenuro, the NANS Vice President, said this in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure on Friday.
“NANS, which has been, and will always be, at the forefront of any and every kind of exploitation of Nigerian students in any guise was relieved by the recent ban on post-UTME.
“As it was a long overdue decision to end the exploitation of prospectively- Nigerian students seeking admission.


“And it was a policy that endeared the Federal Government to the hearts of Nigerian masses; it was widely jubilated and welcomed by all concerned stakeholders in the Nigerian education sector,” he said.
According to him, it is surprising, appalling, anti-masses and unethical, for the federal government to submit to pressure from the heads of tertiary institutions by introducing the post-UTME screening fee.
He noted that the policy somersault was tantamount to the government being insensitive to the growing economic meltdown being experienced by parents and guardians of prospective students all over the country.
Ayenuro said that NANS viewed the introduction of the post-UTME screening fee as another way of extorting and exploiting potential students.
He alleged that it was another avenue of enriching management of various tertiary institutions across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“Nigerian students can no longer keep mute in the face of the general hardship confronting the Nigerian masses.
“Our parents and guardians have become incapable of sending us stipends for our upkeep let alone of paying for our tuition fees.
“The food and provision stores in all our various campuses are undergoing abysmally low patronage from students due to the ever increasing high price tag of virtually all commodities.
“We cannot continue to keep mute while our future is being mortgaged and short changed by this present administration,’’ he alleged.
Ayenuro therefore issued a three-working day ultimatum to the ministry to reverse its decision on imposition of post-UTME screening fee as the most important stakeholder in the Nigerian education sector.
He said that failure to reverse the new policy would result in a peaceful protest at the Ministry of Education, Abuja, at a date to be announced.

(NAN)

Woman narrates her shocking experience with trigger-happy policemen in Aguda, Surulere today (Details & Photos)

Olufunke Phillips took to Facebook to narrate her shocking experience with trigger happy policemen, while driving past a bank in Surulere, Lagos this morning. According to her, these policemen who were with a fellow drunk colleague, shot in the ear repeatedly and an empty cartridge got into her car. When she went to inquire what warranted the gunfire, she found out they were merely welcoming a colleague who just resumed. Read her narration below...

"Driving to work this morning, I drove past Stanbic IBTC bank in Aguda, next thing I heard were sporadic gunshots and things hitting my windscreen and car. Instinctively, I ducked. I didn't know what was going on. I tentatively looked up and saw the mobile policemen in front of the bank laughing and hi-fiving themselves and one was cocking his rifle.

I was stunned. Obviously it must not have been something major, else why the hell would they be laughing. Something caught my eye on the passenger seat beside me, I looked and saw a spent cartridge/shell/whatever it's called on the seat. I recoiled in horror, turned and drove straight into the bank. I came down and saw 3 other shells on the partition between the windscreen and the hood cover.

These policemen were basically shooting at 9am for no reason and their spent shells were what I heard hitting the windscreen and car. I went to the bank security officer and asked him why the policemen were shooting. He said and I quote..."one of them come resume with them so them dey welcome am"

What I could deduce from the security guy was that the policemen were welcoming one of their colleague with gunshots. Wonderful! When did the police start welcoming themselves with gunshots? Shooting into the air? No robbery in progress? Nothing was happening. They were just flossing. Welcoming themselves. *smh*

So I went to the policemen and demanded to know why they were shooting at 9am. Was there a robbery in progress at Stanbic? No. What was happening? These men looked me in the eye and denied shooting. I was mad. I showed them the shells and the one that even deigned to speak with me told me I must have been mistaken. And he was reeking of alcohol. The remaining three had disappeared when they heard me asking questions.

So I did the next thing I could think of. I went to Aguda Police Station to file a complaint. I got there and explained what happened and showed them the shells even the one on the seat beside me. Guess what the officer said...

"Madam, why you sef no wind up?"

That's when I lost it. And the crase I always carefully hide just had to come out. Oh, it was not a pretty sight. I demanded to see the DPO. I explained what happened to him and asked a simple question.

"In the absence of a robbery or interaction with a suspect, is shooting in the air to greet or welcome a colleague normal police procedure? "

The DPO apologised and told an officer to call the policemen at the bank back to the station. The officer came back and said he met no policemen there. They had all dispersed. I drove back to the bank and asked the security guy where the policemen were. This guy changed story o. "No be here dem shoot. I no hear any sound." Even when people around said they heard the gunshots and had to hide for safety, this stupid buffoon of a security guy was still lying.

I went into the bank and demanded to see the BM. When we went out to meet the security man, the fool was still lying, I told him I recorded his previous conversation with me where he told me they were shooting to greet their colleague and showed him a picture of one of the shells, that was when the idiot backpedalled and admitted that indeed the policemen were shooting. The BM called an assistant and told him to call the policemen, one now appeared and started begging.

Long story short. Everybody started begging. I wasn't here for the begging. I just needed to know why the police would think it necessary to just shoot in the air for no reason. Anyway, Bank Manager begged. Police begged. Security guy begged. Bank Manager said they would write a report to the station. Smh. Police said they would deal with the guy. *smh*

I ranted, shouted, screamed, popped my veins, used all the expletives in my dictionary and demanded to know why my tax money spent to buy bullets was being used to greet their friend because he resumed work.

As all this was happening, the irony was not lost on me. Nigeria is shitty but I tore those mobile police guys a new one. I protested and screamed and shouted and I didn't have to fear for my life. I was too angry to care. Blacks in America don't get to question the police. Your skin colour makes you a suspect. You can be killed because of a busted tail light. You can't scream and question the police at the police station. Your ass would be thrown into holding. Heck, they can kill you even when your kids are in the backseat. During the whole drama, I reached into my bag several times to pull out my phone, I didn't have to fear that a trigger happy-power drunk police officer would think I'm reaching for a gun and shoot me in the chest. Black people in America don't have that luxury and that's why‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬. That's why ‪#‎BlackLives‬ should Matter. How can you be so scared of living in your own country because of the colour of your skin? Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

This morning, I was grateful I live in Nigeria."

Nollywood Actor "Ibrahim Chatta" Beg Fans Not To Vote For Him On City People Award

Nollywood actor, director and producer, Ibrahim Chatta, appeal to his fans, friends and folks not to vote for him on the CITY PEOPLE AWARD (Best Actor of The Year Nomination). He further stated on is Insta page that most Film Award in Nigeria are not credible enough.

Check out the screen shot and few fans comments 

Pregnant Blake Lively shows off growing baby bump in a bikini while straddling husband Ryan Reynolds (photos)

American actress and model Blake Lively showed off her growing baby bump in a bikini as she and her husband Ryan Reynolds partied in the Atlantic ocean, at Rhodes Island alongside Taylor Swift, Tom Hiddleston, Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne, Uzo Aduba and Ruby Rose.

CBN sacks management of Skye Bank, takes over the bank

The Central Bank of Nigeria today sacked the management team of Skye Bank over capital adequacy issues. The bank's top executives on getting wind of their impending sack, resigned en-mass this morning. The bank's Chairman, Tunde Ayeni and its Managing Director, led other executive and non-executive board members to tender their resignation before the apex bank announced the dissolution of the bank's management team this afternoon.

CBN will manage the affairs of the bank for some time. The bank, according to financial experts, has been distressed for a while.

What's the difference between getting a hair weave & changing your skin color?' Azealia Banks defends her decision to bleach her skin

Controversial American rapper Azealia Banks has admitted to bleaching her skin and took to Facebook to explain her decision to use products to make her skin lighter. In the video posted on Saturday, July 2,  the 25-year-old explains to her fans and viewers why she’s opted to lighten her skin. She compared skin lightening to getting a nose job or wearing a weave:

"What's the difference between getting a nose job and changing your skin color? What's the difference between getting a hair weave and changing your skin color?

 Nobody was upset when I was wearing 30-inch weaves and tearing out my edges. You guys loved it, but what is the difference? I don't understand what the difference is," she said.

She further explained her decision to change her skin color, saying that it's an attempt to assimilate into American society, and that changing her skin color didn't negate her views on blackness. 

Some of her fans/viewers insulted her while a few supported her. See some of their comments and her replies below, also watch the video.

Regina Askia shares photos of a beautiful 3 tier ring her husband gave her

Former Nollywood actress turned nurse, Regina Askia, shared these photos of a 3 tier ring given to her by her husband, Rudy Williams. 

 

 

Photo: President Obama invites chief speechwriter Cody Keenan and his wife to the White House after their wedding

President Obama invited chief speechwriter Cody Keenan and White House researcher Kristen Bartoloni to stop by the White House for a photograph after their wedding yesterday, July 3rd. Photo 

credit: Pete Souza

Photos from Osas Ighodaro-Ajibade's baby celebration in New York

Osas Ajibade welcomed her baby girl in the US earlier than expected and the baby shower that was previously planned by her friends and scheduled for a particular date, turned into a baby celebration. MGBN Tourism 2014 Chinyere Adogu, Personal shopper Remi Fagbohun, Fashion designer Ugonna Omeruo and others were present. See more photos after the cut.