2019: Ensure No Candidate Gets Easy Pass – Ezekwesili Admonishes Nigerian Youths

Former Nigeria’s minister of education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has called on Nigerian youths not to freely give their votes to any candidates in the 2019 elections.

Ezekwesili, who is also an activist was reacting to a recent speech in which Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo commended Nigerian youths over their roles in economic and nation-building.

But Ezekwesili asserted that no Nigeria government has the right to glory in the individual capacity and successes of Nigerian youths because the government has failed the youths.Dr. Oby Ezekwesili

The former minister noted that the best resource of a country is the human resources as represented by the youths. She also noted that most Nigerian youths did not believe that government played any role in whatever successes and achievements they may have recorded in their endeavors.    

“Our people & nothing else represent our best endowment forever.”

“Do our Young Ones feel that any Government in Nigeria has a right to glory in their respective individual successes?" considering their constant refrain that Nigeria failed, fails and continues to fail them? she asked.

Ezekwesili added that Nigerian youths now have the opportunity of strategically deliberating on problems that matter most to them and which leaders in states and federal, executive and legislative arms of government must solve as the country is heading towards the 2019 general elections.

She lamented that Nigeria political contest is still at a base level where matters of the stomach are deemed more important than issues that matter to the poor and rural business.

Ezekwesili, however, warned Nigerian youths to be wary of selling off their votes or freely voting for any political aspirant.

She urged them to look out for competent and capable leaders who can solve the different problems confronting the country.

She said, “No candidates of political parties should get an Easy Pass anymore from the electorate -especially the young segment of our Voting population- who have URGENT & SERIOUS ISSUES that only Competent, Capable people with Character CAN SOLVE in the Legislative &Executive arms of Govt.”

The former minister also advised youths to channel their anger about the current Nigerian leaders to take the right political decisions that will help in tackling the challenges they are angry about.

“Our Young are ANGRY. Anger can sometimes be USEFUL. Useful Anger is the one I call "Effective Anger". Effective Anger is the type of Anger that pushes the one who is angry to TAKE THE RIGHT COURSES OF ACTIONS that could become Catalytical to tackle the ISSUE that got them angry.”

Ezekwesili also called on the youths to refrain from hurling insults, resorting to violence or embracing criminality, which she described as ‘wrong kinds of anger.’

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Offa Robbery: Police release photos of four of the robbers, announce N5m reward for anyone with information that will help in their arrest

The Nigerian police has declared wanted four of the robbers that participated in the bloody bank robbery incident that took place in Offa on April 4th. The state police command released the photos of the robbers from the CCTV footage of the bank.

The Kwara State Government has also announced a N5 million reward for anyone that can help with information that would lead to the arrest of the suspects. The number to be contacted are 08062080913, 08126285268, 08032365122, 07056792065, 08088450152.

Speaking on the recent development, the Assistant Commissioner of police, Moshood Jimoh, said

“All the suspects are cooperating with the Police in the investigation into the incident. Currently, some of the other gang leaders and principal suspects at large are being identified and their pictures obtained for further investigation. Other sister security and safety agencies are equally implored to arrest them and hand over to the nearest Police Station or Formation across the country or avail the Police with any information they may have or come across about these suspects” he said

The police asked for public help to apprehend the gangsters still at large and said they have also been placed on INTERPOL Watch list and Red Alert.

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Billionaire businessman, Muhammadu Indimi despite having no formal education, delivered speech at Harvard University

Billionaire businessman and chairman of Oriental Energy Resources, Muhammdu Indimi delivered a speech during an event at Harvard University few days ago.

The Maiduguri oil mogul never had any formal education and learnt English Language by listening and associating with people.

In a recent interview, Indimi, whose son is married to President Buhari's daughter, said he now supervises people with master’s and Ph.D.s who work in his organisation. Read  here

Meanwhile his family members took to social media to praise him for the accomplishment.

See their posts beow....

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Davido reveals he has been with his lover, Chioma, for 5 years

The singer revealed on twitter that he has been with Chioma for five years now. In that five years, he welcomed Imade, his first daughter with Sophia Momodu and Hailey, his second daughter with is Atlanta based lover, Amanda. See the twitter exchanges below...

 

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''N100m was spent on Dino Melaye’s failed recall'' INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu says

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, today disclosed that the electoral commssion spent N100m on the failed attempt to recall Kogi-West lawmaker, Senator Dino Melaye.

INEC chairman disclosed this while denying claims made by PDP that the commission spent N100 billion in the failed exercise.

Members of Dino's Melaye constituency failed to turn out for the verification exercise to wrap up his recall last Saturday April 28th.

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Court orders police to relocate Dino Melaye to National Hospital Abuja

Justice Nasir Ajanah of the Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has given an interim order that embattled senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, be moved from police custody in the state to the National Hospital Abuja, for further treatment.

Recall that a magistrte court in the state yesterday ordered Melaye to be remanded in police custody till June 11th after he was arraigned for unlawful possession of arms and funding of a criminal group. 

Melaye is currently nursing injuries he sustained after jumping off a police van last month. 

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Photos: EFCC arraigns three NGO workers for stealing N4.5m from MTN Foundation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, have arraigned the trio of Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola Mate and Abimbola David-Orugun before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N4, 576, 000.00 (Four Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-six Thousand Naira).

The defendants, who are staff of Hope Worldwide Foundation, a non-governmental Organisation (NGO), were arraigned alongside Cumulative Ventures Limited and Continental Best Buys Limited. 

One of the count reads: “That you, Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola (a.k.a Bukky Mate, Bukola Mate), Abimbola David-Orugun, Cumulative Ventures, Continental Best Buys Limited, Olaoshebikan Candido Clement (at large) and Abosede Fasasi (at large), sometime in January, 2007, at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, conspired to steal money, property of MTN Nigeria Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, set up to cater for the less privileged people and HIV victims across Nigeria and committed commit felony, to wit, stealing contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Vol.2, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.”

Another count read: “ That you, Owolabi Kayode Samuel, Esther Olubukola (a.k.a Bukky Mate, Bukola mate), Abimbola David-Orugun, Cumulative Ventures, Continental Best Buys Limited, Olaoshebikan Candido Clement (at large) and Abosede Fasasi (at large), sometime in October,2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, dishonestly converted the sum of N3, 556, 000. 00 (Three Million Five Hundred and Fifty- Six Thousand Naira) property of MTN Nigeria Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited , set up to cater for the less privileged people and HIV Victims across Nigeria and committed stealing contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the EFCC. 
In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, K.M.A. Olushesi, asked the court for a short date for the commencement of trial.

However, in his response, counsel to the defendants, J.O. Odubela, SAN, informed the court that he had filed bail applications on behalf of his clients and also urged court to grant them bail on liberal terms.

Justice Oshodi granted the defendants bail on self-recognizance.

The defendants were also ordered to enter a financial bond of N2million each, which should be paid to the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court.

Also, the defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court’s Registrar.

The judge, however, said that the bail would be revoked, if the defendants fail to perfect the bail conditions within seven days.

Meanwhile, the judge ordered the commencement of trial, after the prosecution counsel, Olushesi, confirmed the presence of his witnesses in court. 

Led by the prosecution counsel, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Abasiekong Udobang, Programme Manager, MTN Nigeria, told the court how the defendants misappropriated about funds meant for the treatment of people living with the Acquired Immunized Deficiency Syndrom (AIDs) and the less-privileged in the society.

Udobang also informed the court that the money belonged to MTN Foundation, a subsidiary of MTN Nigeria, which was established for the purpose of giving back to the society, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

In his further evidence, Udobang said that MTN, in 2005, engaged Hope Worldwide in order to implement two of its medical support programmes: Partners Against Malaria and Aids and Children and the Orphaned in the Community.

"MTN usually gives funds to Hope Worldwide Nigeria, since it is a non-governmental organisation, on a quarterly basis. Those funds were usually retired to MTN Foundation as a proof that the work was done. Every year, we usually work towards a new agenda until 2012 when we became suspicious of some of their retirements,” he added.

The witness further said that the case was reported to the Business Risk Units of MTN (BRM) for investigation.

He said "Following the information from BRM, we discovered that funds meant for buying drugs at the centres for HIV/AIDs victims were misappropriated. It was also discovered that documents were added in the names of two companies that we don't have any dealings with.
“After the findings from the BRM, the matter was reported to the EFCC for further investigation.”

Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, J. O.Odubela, SAN, the witness confirmed that the money meant for the treatment of the AIDs victim was usually paid to Hope Worldwide quarterly.

The witness also stated that after the fraud was discovered, members from the NGO were invited for a meeting to tell them the findings of BRM and that a letter was written to inform them about the fraud.

Udobang, who further said that the discovery led to the termination of the contract with the NGO, insisted that the letter itemised the area where they suspected the alleged fraud.
He, however, could not present the letter written to Hope Worldwide in court.

Consequently, Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to June 26, 2018 for continuation of trial.

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Kogi court denies Dino Melaye bail, orders that he be remanded in police custody till June 11th

A Lokoja Magistrate Court has ordered that embattled Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West Senatorial district be remanded in police custody till June 11th pending the commencement of hearing in the case brought against him and three others by the state police command. 

The charges the police brought against Senator Melaye bothered on criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, amongst others.

At the hearing in court this morning, counsel to Senator Dino Melaye, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) argued for his bail which was opposed by the Police prosecuting Counsel, Alex Iziyon who insisted that the offences preferred against the senator were ordinarily not bailable.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate Suleiman Abdullahi denied the bail application and ordered that Melaye be kept in police custody till June 11, 2018 when hearing in the case would commence. 

Dino, who is currently on stretcher will be in police custody for 38 days.

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Buhari’s current records cannot keep him beyond 2019 — Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan wednesday asked the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to call the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to order for peddling falsehood against his person.

Jonathan added that even after Osinbajo had been called upon repeatedly“to respect his supposed pastoral calling and stop his nasty habit of lying, he refuses to heed these calls and continues to spew falsehood.”

These were contained in a statement the GEJ Media Office issued yesterday, pointing out unfounded allegations the vice president had made at different times against the person of the former president.

Last Tuesday, Osinbajo had at The Platform, a programme organised by the Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos alleged that three unnamed persons stole $3 billion (N1 trillion) in the Jonathan administration.

On March 19, also, Osinbajo alleged that the Jonathan administration shared N150 billion two weeks to the 2015 elections while it spent a paltry N14 billion on agriculture in 2014; N15 billion on transportation and only N153 billion on infrastructure in three years.

But in a statement issued by his media office wednesday, Jonathan called Pastor Adeboye to caution Osinbajo to stop peddling falsehood against his person.

If Osinbajo fails to heed this advice, the former president urged the cleric “to remember that the RCCG ordains its pastors not to lie but to spread the word of God, “asking if “this is what Vice President Osinbajo is doing?”

Jonathan recalled that Osinbajo falsely alleged that he took N100 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in cash to his personal house in Abuja.

When challenged to provide proof of his fallacious claims, the former president disclosed that the vice president hid behind ‘sources’ and began to feed stories from anonymous officials to the media.

This time around, according to him, Osinbajo alleged that three persons working in his government looted $3 billion from the country’s resources without providing proofs to back his allegation against his administration.

He, thus, noted that the vice president “is a liar, forgetting or perhaps not caring that the devil is the father of all liars. I challenge him once again to prove me wrong by mentioning those three people and providing proof that they stole the amounts allegedly stolen.

“It is sad that at a time when the Buhari administration should be telling Nigerians what they have achieved after three years, they continue to blame and point fingers. The reason for this is because neither Buhari nor Osinbajo can point to any project that they have initiated, started and completed in three years,” he explained.

Jonathan noted that the people of Nigeria voted for Buhari and Osinbajo because they said subsidy was a fraud and would be stopped; that fuel would be sold at 40 per litre, and that fuel scarcity would end.

After three years, Jonathan said the Buhari administration “is paying more subsidy than former President Jonathan ever paid at 1.4 trillion annually. Fuel price was increased from 87 to 145 per litre, Fuel scarcity is worse.

“Faced with these facts, a desperate Buhari administration, wanting to be re-elected and knowing that it cannot run on its record, has devised a plan to distract attention from its woeful record of failure by making constant false allegations on my person.”

He lamented that the Buhari administration “has yet to tell Nigerians what happened to the $25 billion that was awarded in contracts without due process by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).”

He sought to know how “Maina was returned, reinstated, double-promoted and given armed guards or why the indicted Executive Secretary of Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme was reinstated despite a clear case of corruption or when Babachir Lawal would be charged.

“Instead, they continue to throw mud at those who have achieved what they have not achieved. If Osinbajo cannot stop his habit of lying, I hereby call on Pastor Adeboye to withdraw his pastorate before he brings the church of Christ into disrepute.

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President Buhari currently in the UK, presidency says ‘It’s a technical stopover’

 

President Buhari is yet to arrive Abuja two days after he left the US after his bilateral meeting with President Donald. Senior Special Assistant to the president on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, when asked why the president is yet to return to Nigeria, said President Buhari “had technical stopover in London and will be on his way back soon,”.

The president was expected to arrive Abuja on Wednesday May 2nd and was to leave Abuja tomorrow Friday May 4th for Daura to rest.

President Buhari’s official aircraft, Eagle One, left Joint Base Andrews military airfield in Washington on Tuesday morning as twitted by Bashir Ahmad, on this Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad.

“President @MBuhari has departed Joint Base Andrews Airport for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after a Working Visit to Washington DC where he had a bilateral talks with US President @realDonaldTrump, and met with a group of business executives. #PMBinDC”.

Buhari was said to have arrived in London at 9:42 p.m., according to Flight Radar 24, which tracks air traffic across the world.

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Update: ''President Buhari to arrive Nigeria later this evening'' Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina gave an update on President Buhari's itinerary

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Governor Okorocha reportedly gifts Miracle a plot of land + scholarship for his CPL, gives Nina, Teddy A and Bam Bam N2m each

Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha hosted #BBNaija housemate Miracle Igbokwe and some of the ex-housemates Nina, Teddy A and Bam Bam. According to reports, the governor gifted Miracle a plot of land and scholarship for his Commercial Pilot License CPL. 

The governor also gave Nina, Teddy and Bam Bam N2 million each. He has also promised to support Nina in the completion of her course.

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PDP queries President Buhari’s London ‘Technical Stopover’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Presidency to end their official secrecy and come clear on the reasons for President Buhari’s alleged ‘technical stopover’ in London.

In a statement released today, the party said Nigerians should note that President Buhari left the United States 48 hours ago and embarked on an unofficial visit to United Kingdom for undisclosed reasons without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly.

This is impunity and another constitutional breach. Continue to read their statement below

President Buhari had on Tuesday left the United States, where he had an embarrassing and fruitless outing and instead of returning to the country, detoured to the UK for another private visit without regard to full disclosure requirements of our constitution and laws.

Indeed, Nigerians are worried about the signal being sent out by this penchant for secret itinerary, particularly, given the poor reputation and governance transparency issues confronting our nation under the Buhari administration.

The Presidency must understand that President Buhari is not a private citizen and as long as his upkeep and itinerary is sourced from our hard-earned resources, there must be full disclosure, as citizens deserve to know the purpose of the visit and the cost to our nation.

This is especially as President Buhari’s foreign trips, which come at great costs, have not brought any gains to our country. Instead, the President has continued to de-market our nation in the international arena. The just concluded the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, where he cast aspersion at our enterprising youths and failed to return with any dividend readily comes to mind.

Furthermore, President Buhari’s admission at the Voice of America (VOA) that he was unable to reach any agreement with President Donald Trump on any matter of interest to Nigeria, during his US visit and that he has no future development agenda to validate his 2019 re-election bid, confirm our position that the Buhari administration has nothing to offer Nigerians.

The PDP therefore urges President Buhari’s handlers to adequately prepare him before international outings as well as ensure full disclosure on all his visits outside the country, since he embodies the image and integrity of our nation, until May 29, 2019.

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Lagos police arrest ‘one chance robbers’ along Apapa expressway

Yesterday, two suspected commercial bus robbers Sunday Oghenero and Daniel Johnson were arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for dispossessing passengers of money and valuables worth thousands of naira.  

Ogenero, 24, lives in Agausa area of Ajegunle in Apapa, while Johnson, 22, resides at Okoafo area of Badagry. Both are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing to which they have pleaded not guilty.

Police Prosecutor Benson Emuerhi, told the court that Oghenero and Johnson committed the offences on February 28 along Apapa Expressway at 7.30 p.m. Their accomplices remain at large.  Emuerhi said both men stole one Techno phone valued at N36,000, N34,000 cash and other valuables from one Tunde Mustapha while he was returning home from work.  

“The complainant, after the close of work, boarded a commercial bus heading towards Mile 2 area of Lagos, unknown to him that other occupants of the bus were robbers. The duo dispossessed him of the items but were caught by some passersby, who handed them over to the police,” Emuerhi said.  

The suspects faces a three-year jail term each for stealing if found guilty.  The Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule-Amzat, granted them N50,000 bail each, with two sureties each in like sum. The case was adjourned until July 5

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Melaye jumped from vehicle because he was being tear-gassed by police - Senator

Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has confirmed that the lawmaker representing Kogi West in the Senate, Dino Melaye, actually jumped from a police vehicle.
Murray-Bruce alleged that Melaye jumped from the vehicle because he was repeatedly tear-gassed by police officers, Premium Times reports.
We notes that Murray-Bruce explained that he visited Melaye at the hospital on Monday, April 30 and was not happy with the condition he met him.
He tweeted: “Just met with @dino_melaye. Very sad to hear what transpired. Dino is asthmatic, yet while in transit, the police gassed him & he could barely breathe.
“Second time they gassed him, he had to force his way out of the vehicle. Dino literally escaped death. SAD!”
The police later took Senator Melaye to the National Hospital and monitored him on his sickbed. He was arraigned on Wednesday, May 2 for attempted suicide and destruction of property, amongst other allegations.

Meanwhile we previously reported that Senator Dino
Melaye was re-arrested after being granted N90 million bail by a Wuse Zone 2 chief magistrate’s court in Abuja on Wednesday, May 2.
Melaye was accused by the police of escaping lawful detention and was granted bail. He was picked up immediately by the police again who took him away in an ambulance.
An FCT high court in Apo, presided over by Honourable Justice Adeniyi, ordered that Senator Dino Melaye should be released by the police.

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Okorocha’s administration is insensitive, wicked - Imo pensioners voice grievance

- A group of pensioners in Imo state, on the platform of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has cried out over the government's inability to pay accrued pension
- In favour of the group, the National Industrial Court ruled that the development was “insensitive, wicked and unlawful"
- The Court further said in its judgment that the state government has no right to owe the pensioners
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the Imo state chapter, has described the state government’s effort to reduce the pensions of retirees, despite recent judgment by the National Industrial Court over the act as being “insensitive, wicked and unlawful.”
The NUP in a press release signed by its state chairman and principal state secretary, James D. Osuigwe and Evangelist Livinus Asiegbu respectively, said: “The union recalls that Imo state government has only paid gratuities below N500,000 to affected pensioners and refused to pay gratuities above N500,000 since it came to power seven years ago, The Vanguard reports
This is in spite of several bailout funds advanced by the Federal Government, to clear arrears of pensions and gratuities.”
Moreover, the senior citizens raised the issue that the Rochas Okorocha administration “deliberately avoided harmonising pensions since it came to power seven years ago.”
Substantiating their allegation, association remarked: “The government has failed, refused or neglected to pay the six percent increase of 2003, 15 percent of 2003 and 33 per cent of 2010, approved by the Federal Government and long implemented by our neighbouring states.
“It is embarrassing that Imo State Government has continued to claim falsely that it has cleared all pension arrears and gratuities owed Imo pensioners.”
With reference to specifics, the union leaders said that Imo Broadcasting Corporation retirees are owed between 47-59 months, civil service pensioners, 33 months, retired primary school teachers, 43-63 months and Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, 50-90.
The NUP said: “It must be said that the government’s announcement, purporting to remove allowances in pension, amounts to contempt of court and breach of the verdict of the National Industrial Court.”
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The court’s judgment read in part: “There is no law permitting the Imo State Government to alter or withhold any part of the pension of pensioners in the public service of Imo State. The Imo State Government or any of the defendants do not have the authority or power to alter or withhold any part of the pension of any retired civil servant.”
We reported that a group of pensioners in Imo state on Thursday, January 6, said the state has accumulated a backlog of 77 months pension debt.
The pensioners in a protest decried the nonchalant attitude of the state governor Rochas Okorocha over their plight.

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*EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT*

*Judgment of the Human Rights Court of Strasbourg -France*

*Unanimously, the World Court of Human Rights has established, verbatim, that "there is no right to homosexual marriage." The 47 judges of the 47 countries of the Council of Europe, which are members of the full Court of Strasbourg (the world's most important human rights court), issued a statement of great relevance that has been surprisingly silenced by information progressivism and its area of ​​influence. In fact, unanimously, the 47 judges approved the ruling that "there is no right to homosexual marriage." The sentence was based on a myriad of philosophical and anthropological considerations based on natural order, common sense, scientific reports and, of course, positive law.Within the latter, in particular, the judgment was based on Article 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This is equivalent to the articles of human rights treaties, as in the case of 17 of the Pact of San José and nº 23 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In this historic but not disclosed, Resolution, the Court decided that the concept of family not only contemplates "the traditional concept of marriage, that is, the union of a man and a woman", but also that they should not be imposed on governments to "obligation to open marriage to persons of the same sex". As for the principle of non-discrimination, the Court also added that there is no discrimination, since "States are free to reserve marriage only to heterosexual couples."*

It is important and absolutely necessary to spread this kind of news because governments and sympathizers of such lobbies will not want people to know. Help spread if you want! Obviously, it does not interest the media to publicize this news.

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Unknown gunmen burn down INEC office In Rivers State

As the June 16 local government election in Rivers State approaches, gunmen on Friday burnt down the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISEC) in Bori, the headquarters of Khana local government area.  

The gunmen left on their trail expended bullets and destruction of many vital and sensitive documents slated for the conduct of the local government election. Bori, which is also the traditional headquarters of the Ogoni ethnic nationality has a record of electoral violence. In 2015, the liasion office of Senator Magnus Abe and the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were set ablaze by arsonists.  

The Director of Public Affairs and Civil Education, Mrs. Menney-Amgbare Sarah Hope, confirmed that some sensitive documents meant for the conduct of the election were burnt. She disclosed further that some expended bullets were recovered at the scene of the incident. No live was lost.

Ahead of the election, there have been accusations and counter accusations by aspirants into various councillorship positions under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that some persons have been imposed on the party as favoured candidates for election against rules of the party.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State is boycotting the election because of a case it instituted against the government over the sacking of council chairmen and councillors elected under the APC government.

They argued that the planned election is subjudice to the court case.

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''President Buhari will be the first African president to meet US President Trump at the White House'' presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad says

President Buhari is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on April 30th. According to presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, President Buhari will become the first African president to meet Donald Trump in the white house.

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Paris Club Refund: Court Orders Final Forfeiture Of N1.4bn

Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday,  April 27, 2018, ordered the final forfeiture of a sum of N1,222, 384,857.84 ( One Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty Two Million, Three Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven Naira and Eighty Four Kobo) only, recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, from the account of Melrose General Services Company Limited.

Also to be forfeited to government is another sum of N220,000,000.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty Million Naira) only, also recovered by the EFCC from two other companies:  Wasp Networks Limited and Thebe Wellness Services, to the Federal Government.

Justice Olatoregun had, on Friday, October 13, 2017, ordered an interim forfeiture of the money,  following a motion ex parte filed by the EFCC.

In granting EFCC prayers, Justice Olatoregun had ordered anyone interested in the money to appear before the court within 14 days to show cause why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The judge had also directed the Commission to publish in any newspaper for anyone who is interested in the money to appear before the court to show cause why the order for the final forfeiture should not be granted. Following the publication of the order,  one Prince Godwin Maduka and a company,  Linas International Limited, appeared before the court, praying separately that the funds should be forfeited to them.

Maduka had claimed that his firm, Udemgaba Maduka & Associates, had been engaged in 2011 as a consultant by Zamfara State government to help to recover some "hanging funds", with an agreement that it would be paid 20% of the recovered funds.

On its part,  Linas International Limited had told the court that it was entitled to the payment of $6m from the NGF.

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