"Oshiomole lied about assasination attempt, Here's what happened" - Police

By SIMON EBEGBULEMJ, Benin

THE Edo State Police Command said yesterday that it has commenced investigation into the attack on the convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole Thursday night and the burning of the Police post by youths alleged to be students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Usen.
However, the State Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Louis Odion, alleged thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state opened fire on the Governor’s convoy at about 6pm, shortly after he paid a visit to the Onogie of Usen,  His Royal Highness Oluogbe 11,at his palace.
It stated however that “the brave security details attached to the governor, supported by an additional contingent of regular policemen deployed to maintain law and order, rose to the occasion. They were able to shield the governor, key government functionaries and ACN leaders.  But several official vehicles including Toyota Land cruisers, Hilux pick up van and Toyota Corrola Saloon car were either badly damaged or riddled with bullet”.
The attack is coming barely two months after the Governor escaped death following the accident involving his convoy at Auchi, where three journalists in his convoy lost their lives.
However, the Police Command in a statement signed by its spokesman in the state, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo, narrated that “the governor went on campaign tour to Usen town in Ovia South West Council of Edo state, the governor while on his way to the campaign venue met the students and promised to address them on his way back.

Job Opportunity! Ndani is recruiting!!!

Not too long ago, BN showed you interviews with Davido, Tiwa Savage and Folake Folarin-Coker on Ndani TV. Now the online platform aiming to be the number one online site for premium African businesses, entertainment and travel content is currently seeking dedicated and hardworking individuals who have skills in blogging, film making or script writing and tv presenting to join its team.

Be an Ndani TV Presenter
Are you one who looks in the mirror and pretend that you are the next big TV presenter? Then grab this chance of being a real TV Presenter for Ndani. They are looking for bold, creative and funny individuals, who can keep viewers glued to their screens. To be Ndani’s TV presenter, send an E-mail toaudition@ndani.tv with a photograph and short bio of yourself on or before Wednesday 4th July 2012.

Ideas for Ndani
Are you a filmmaker or scriptwriter? or simply just an individual who has an idea for TV, then jump for joy as Ndani is giving you a platform to showcase your talent. All interested individuals should send their video URLs or a treatment if you are a scriptwriter to ideas@ndani.tv.

Fashola says Third Mainland would not be closed fully... wants FRSC to stay off LASTMA jurisdiction which Includes 3 MB

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola on Monday said that contrary to what has been reported, the Third Mainland Bridge will not be shut down from July but that diversions will take place depending on what sections of the road will be worked upon.

He urged residents of the State not to entertain any needless fear about the impending repair works on the Third Mainland Bridge, saying it is all about proper management of the situation.

Mr Fashola who spoke in an interview with State House Correspondents at Lagos House, Ikeja said that it is a process which has taken place before and when it took place the people went through it and it was managed successfully even though there were some traffic.

“Let us remember that we have done this before. Two years ago four joints were fixed and I think we managed the traffic by communicating with our people. So, contrary to what has been reported, it is not a total closure but a partial closure.

BREAKING: 50 cent hospitalized after Truck crashes into his Car

50 Cent has reportedly been hospitalised after being involved in a 'horrific' car crash.

According to fan-site ThisIs50.com, the accident occurred on the Long Island Expressway in New York, after his bullet-proof SUV was hit from behind by a Mack truck.

Paramedics are thought to have rushed to the scene of the collision, with the website showing pictures of the In Da Club hitmaker lying on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace as he is taken to Queens hospital.

It is thought Fiddy - real name Curtis Jackson - is undergoing tests on his neck and back - although the website is yet to reveal any further details concerning his condition.

Goodluck Jonathan is a joke – Professor George @ayittey

One of the World’s foremost economists, Professor George Ayittey has lashed out at the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), describing him as “a joke” and a mediocre President after his (GEJ’s) encounter with the media last night.

According to Professor Ayittey, Nigeria “deserves a better leader”, judging by GEJ’s poor, almost unfortunate responses to some of the questions posed to him by the Nigerian media last night.
The Professor indicated that GEJ’s refusal to declare his assets and his failure to tackle the Boko Haram crisis suggests that he is of an unsound mind.

He therefore called on Nigerians to rid themselves of GEJ as soon as possible.

He said: “Nigerians should not put up with such mediocrity and should mount a RECALL GEJ campaign. They should check Chapter VI of their Constitution. See Sections 143 and 144 about removing the President and Vice-President from office other than through elections”.

“137; 1c: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.”

Arik flight delayed for 30 mins in the Air as Airspace was shut for VIP

Popular lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has demanded that the federal government reveal the identity of the VIP whose movement caused a partial closure of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, last Tuesday.

Falana, who was on an Arik Air Flight W3 271, said the plane stayed in the air for an extra 30 minutes after it approached Abuja from Lagos because the airspace was closed.

House of Reps resolution banning Farouk Lawan on Video

Court says Sanusi has no right to grant Islamic Banking Licences

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja

A Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, held that the Central Bank, CBN, Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, lacked the constitutional powers to issue license for the operation of a non interest bank under the Islamic commercial jurisprudence.

Delivering judgment in a suit that was filed by a lawyer, Mr Godwin Sunday, challenging the institutionalization of the Islamic banking system in the country by Sanusi, the court maintained that the action was in flagrant violation of section 10 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The court preisded over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole noted that in-line with the extant provisions of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, BOFIA, Cap B2, Laws of Nigeria, 2004, the CBN governor, ought to have secured the nod of both the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance, before issuing license and guidelines for the operation of Islamic Bank in the country.

Lamido Sanusi, CBN governor

It however declined to revoke the license earlier issued to one Jaiz Bank International Plc to operate Islamic banking in the country on the premise that the plaintiff lacked the  locus-standi to institute the action.

Nigeria's 1960 election on video...

The Channels Video Showing Farouk removing Otedola's Company. Dep Speaker was shocked...

House of Reps Resolution Suspending Farouk Lawan and Re-listing Otedola's company...[Sahara News]

Farouk Lawan

By SaharaReporters, New York

The plenary session of the Nigerian House of Representative has suspended Farouk Lawan from the house and referred his case to the Ethics Committee of the house. Farouk Lawan is a People’s Democratic Party member and the house ad-hoc committte chairman of oil subsidy probe who was accused of receiving $620,000 in bribes from a shady oil business magnate, Femi Otedola.

When the emergency meeting began today, federal legislators overwhelmingly passed a "vote of confidence" on the speaker of the house.

Mr. Farouk was detained overnight by the police over allegations that he engaged in bribery to remove Mr. Otedola's company, Zenon Oil and Gas Limited from the list of oil marketers involved in fraudulent gasoline imports that led to the theft of $6.7 billion.

The lawmakers at today's emergency meeting adopted a resolution to reenlist Mr. Otedola's Zenon Oil and Gas Ltd and Synopsis Enterprise Ltd on the list of companies that were corruptly enriched through fraudulent subsidy payments.

Full Text Of The Speaker's speech at the plenary session today:

  We are on course

Being text of remarks by the speaker, house of representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (CFR) on the occasion of the special plenary session of the house on Friday 15th June 2012
 

The Full Story of how Police uncovered total of over N11 billion in bribes to Farouk Lawan and company...

By Emmanuel Aziken, Okey Ndiribe, Kingsley Omonobi, Emman Ovuakporle & Ben Agande
LAGOS — Chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy management, Hon. Farouk Lawan who is at the centre of the $3million bribe to clear indicted oil companies, was detained last night by the police.

Rep Lawan who voluntarily reported to the CP Ali Amodu-led police Special Task Force investigating the allegation at about 4.40pm yesterday was interrogated for several hours alongside the secretary of the ad-hoc committee, Boniface Emenalo. As at press time, his interrogators said the embattled lawmaker has failed to return the marked $620, 000 first installment he collected and he would not be allowed to go until he hands over the money.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives reconvenes in an extra-ordinary session this morning with the legislators weighing several options to diminish the damages accruing from the cash for clearance scam centred around Rep. Farouk Lawan.

Lawan Farouk

The dimension of the crisis escalated, yesterday, with the Police claiming that as much as N11.3 billion might have been collected as bribe money by Rep. Lawan and some unnamed members of the ad-hoc committee on the investigation of fuel subsidy management.

Interested parties including former influential members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday night intervened during separate meetings with Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Rep. Lawan over the brewing crisis at the Apo Legislative Quarters residence of Chief Halims Agoda.

Lawan visits Police task force

Before reporting to the Police, Lawan visited Speaker Tambuwal yesterday morning during which, it was learnt, the Speaker urged him to go to the police.

"How I was kidnapped and how I escaped" - Christian Obodo

What the footballer told Kickoff magazine

“I couldn’t believe it. I was on my way to church and I had just parked my car when six boys, very young boys, just came to me and started ordering me to come with them.

“I told them to take it easy, that I would do what they say, and they took me to their car, blindfolded me and drove away. I asked where we were going, and they said Port Harcourt, then Benin, then Asaba. Instead, when they took off the blindfold, we were in a forest. That night, I slept on the ground.

BREAKING:[Sahara Exclusive] "Lawan collected $500,000 from me...asked me to Charter Plane to fly dollars from Lagos to Abuja!" - Otedola opens up

Posted: June 11, 2012 - 11:31

Femi Otedola and President Goodluck Jonathan

By Yemi Ajayi in Lagos, Ike Abonyi, Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The full details of the $3 million bribery scandal involving members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the Fuel Subsidy probe were revealed yesterday, as one of the major actors in the scandal has opened up on what transpired.

In an exclusive interview with THISDAY, chairman, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, who hitherto was suspected of being behind the $3 million bribery scandal, blew the lid on what transpired and how chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon. Farouk Lawan, and the secretary of the committee, Mr. Boniface Emenalo, had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation masterminded by the security agencies.

The amount was part payment for the $3 million, which he alleged Lawan had demanded from him to exonerate Zenon Oil from the ad-hoc committee’s report.

As the scandal unfolds, it was learnt that operatives of the State Security Services have sent a video recording of the incident to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further scrutiny and action.

Otedola, who was opening up on the issue for the first time, narrated how Lawan at the outset of the probe had approached him to get some insight into the workings of the downstream oil and gas sector.

Otedola said he obliged him and ensured that his managing directors of Forte Oil Plc and Zenon Oil appeared at the subsidy probe during its public hearing after both companies had been invited by the committee.

"Na lie! Na we free Obodo, not Police!" - Community Vigilante

Christian Obodo

By Amour Egodibie Amour

Following the credit been taken by the Delta state police command over the release of kidnapped soccer star, Christian Obodo, the Emevor Vigilante squad in Isoko North local government area of the state has expressed sadness over  claims of the police stating that they were the one that rescued the football star.

Delta State police spokesperson DSP Charles Muka had told Saharareporters that the abducted soccer star was rescued by police in Emevor in Isokoland, a position corroborated by the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chika Ogeah..

Speaking to our reporter at Emevor,   angry local vigilantes, who pleaded for anonymity, said  the police lied about the release of Obodo. they asked the police to give them credit and not undue credit all by themselves.

Battle for 2015: Buhari, Tinubu bury ambitions, to anoint candidate

Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, presidential candidate in the April 2011 election, General Muhammadu Buhari, and leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may have agreed to bury their differences and aspirations as the CPC and ACN rapprochement continues to gather momentum.

Gen. Mohammed Buhari discussing with Former Governor of Lagos State Bola Tinubu at a meeting in Abuja

The two met in Kaduna at the residence of  Buhari last Thursday. Both men also drove together to Kano to the waiting embrace of a mammoth crowd.

The Police is your friend: Kidnapped Super Eagles Player Christian Obodo Freed By Police, Kidnappers arrested

Christian Obodo

By SaharaReporters, New York

The spokesperson to Delta State police command ASP Charles Mouka told SaharaReporters over the phone that kidnapped soccer star, Christian Obodo, has been rescued by police in Emevor, an Isokoland township lying between Ughelli and Oleh area of Delta state. 

He stated that the some of the kidnappers were also arrested in an operation that tracked the kidnap gang to a forest about 1 hour 30 minutes drive from Warri where Mr. Obodo was kidnapped yesterday.

The kidnappers of the Lecce player had demanded for $170,000 in ransom money shortly after the kidnapping.

Delta state Commissioner of Information, Chika Ogeah also confirmed that Mr. Obodo was rescued, he stated that some five kidnappers were arrested in what he referred to as a "purely police operation".

Mr. Ogeah promised that Obodo will be fully protected by the state government before he leaves Nigeria for his club base in Europe.

Comic video on Cashless Lagos. Happy Sunday

Happy Sunday guys... Let's try to smile despite the chaos around us :).

Do you think Cashless Lagos will work?

Honest Lawmaker Farouk Lawan in $600,000 bribery scandal

BY OKEY NDIRIBE AND EMMAN OVUAKPORIE ABUJA-
There are indications that fresh trouble is brewing at the House of Representatives over allegations that Chairman of the House’s Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy Hon. Farouk Lawan was involved in a bribery scandal worth $600,000 last month.

Already there are speculations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have invited Hon Lawan over the bribery allegation which sources say have already resulted in the Speaker of the House Hon. Aminu Tambuwal disowning the legislator over the messy incident.

It was gathered that Tambuwal had confronted Lawan over the issue in a meeting of Principal officers of the House where the Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Petroleum Subsidy was summoned to defend himself over the allegation.

DANA AIR CRASH: Aviation ministry, NCAA disagree over suspension of airline's operating license

While the aviation ministry says DANA's license has been suspended indefinitely, industry regulator, NCAA, says the license remains valid
The management of Dana Air on Wednesday denied the suspension of their operational licence in Nigeria in the wake of last Sunday's air disaster which claimed the lives of more than 150 people, a claim that was swiftly punctured by the aviation ministry.


At a world press conference in Lagos, Wednesday, Francis Ogboro, a director in the company told journalists that only the aircrafts similar to the crashed one were grounded.


"I use this opportunity to tell the world that our licence has not been suspended," said Mr. Ogboro.

Arik aircraft makes u-turn to Port-Harcourt as Abuja airport runway lights refuse to come on...

Nigeria’s Aviation challenges twice came to the fore today and both incidents involved Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. First it was the Arik Air craft that had to hover for about 20 minutes for a certain VIP flyer to probably walk down the airport hall and just minutes ago, an Arik plane craft coming from Port Harcourt to Abuja was forced to make a return to Port Harcourt because…guesss what? Because the run way was dark – no light on the run way!
The minister of Aviation Princess Stella Oduah did say, in the wake of the Dana Crash that our airways were the safest around. I am certain she didn’t mean that in the literal sense. She deserves a sack if she does because it all looks like some constant attempt to either scare Nigerians from flying or just plain absolute incompetence. This is just not the way to run an industry let alone a safety or death one like aviation!

via Omojuwa.com