July 29, 2010..
Just as we have an Independent National Electoral Commission which is non partisan and headed by a credible person, we may need to work towards developing our National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) into an independent body tasked with developing our power infrastructure. At the moment the commission's mandate is limited. Such a commission like our dream INEC should be non partisan, professional and COMPLETELY separated from politics as well as independent of the government of the day. Power, like our votes ought to be treated as an urgent security issue for it is vital to our nations stability, economy and social progress. For a nation to have steady power, there must be a consistent forward movement in policy and project implementation without policy uncertainty. We need to inspire confidence in those who want to invest in this sector such that International and National bodies and contractors who do business in our country can attest that when a contract is signed it will be implemented as agreed. Transitions from one government to the other irrespective of whatever political colouration or ideological leanings must not affect valid legal agreements. Just as I have signed the AMCON bill to bring in our financial systems, I see a day coming when every aspect of our economy will be immune from unwarranted interference. GEJ. |
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July 29, 2010..
Just as we have an Independent National Electoral Commission which is non partisan and headed by a credible person, we may need to work towards developing our National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) into an independent body tasked with developing our power infrastructure. At the moment the commission's mandate is limited. Such a commission like our dream INEC should be non partisan, professional and COMPLETELY separated from politics as well as independent of the government of the day. Power, like our votes ought to be treated as an urgent security issue for it is vital to our nations stability, economy and social progress. For a nation to have steady power, there must be a consistent forward movement in policy and project implementation without policy uncertainty. We need to inspire confidence in those who want to invest in this sector such that International and National bodies and contractors who do business in our country can attest that when a contract is signed it will be implemented as agreed. Transitions from one government to the other irrespective of whatever political colouration or ideological leanings must not affect valid legal agreements. Just as I have signed the AMCON bill to bring in our financial systems, I see a day coming when every aspect of our economy will be immune from unwarranted interference. GEJ. |
Akpan with the Severed head
Daily Sun gathered that the suspect, Akpan, met his niece returning from school soaked in rainwater. He then offered to help the girl by carrying her on his motorbike. But Akpan allegedly had other plans.
Instead of taking the little girl home, Akpan was said to have taken her to his room. Once in the safe confines of his abode, Akpan allegedly severed the young girl’s head.
Akpan then sneaked out of the room with the girl’s head and buried it somewhere with the hope of later removing it for sale.
However, while removing the girl’s body, some members of the family had suspected that something was wrong as they saw blood dripping on the ground.
They later discovered the body and shouted for help. The villagers and other youths in the surrounding villages quickly rushed out and beat Akpan to a state of coma before the matter was reported to the police.
One of the youths, Elder Silas Bassey, told Daily Sun that when they heard the noise from the family, they rushed out. He said after discovering what really happened, the mob descended on Akpan and beat him mercilessly until he passed out..
It was said that during interrogation, Akpan confessed that he actually beheaded his niece. He said he wanted to get money from the sale of the skull.
The culprit has since been remanded in prison custody, pending further investigations by the police.
Three suspected Internet fraudsters have been arrested by officers of the Ondo State Police Command for allegedly duping two people of a sum of $20,000 dollars.
The three suspects: Olutoba Alade, Ezekiel Bepo, and Temitope Arowosegbe, were arrested based on a tip-off from members of the public. The Command's spokesperson, Adeniran Aremu, while parading the suspects yesterday, said they were arrested along Olu Foam area of Akure metropolis by a team from the state CID who stormed the building last week.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects were two laptops, ten flash drives, and documents being used to dupe unsuspected people on the Internet. Also recovered from them were a Toyota Camry, Toyota Solara, and a Liberty Jeep.
Mr Aremu pointed out that the fraudsters confirmed that the vehicles were the proceeds of their cyber crimes. While being interrogated, the suspects confirmed that they duped a foreigner of a sum of $20,000 which they used to purchase the cars..
They said they were lured into the business by one of their friends who is still at large. Mr Bepo said his gang have been in the business for over ten four years. "We have been doing this Internet fraud for over for years," he said. "We have not been that lucky, not until recently when we duped a white man of about $20,000. Immediately we realized the money, we went for shopping and we got three cars for ourselves."
According to police sources, David, who resides at 3, Transformer Street, Amikanle, Alagbado, Lagos and Babatunde, who lives at 8, Oduduwa Street, Surulere, Lagos, have been allegedly withdrawing money from accounts of bank customers with the connivance of a female cashier. Their victim, Alhaji Odetunde, the owner of Moonshine Motel, Lagos told P.M.NEWS: “ The suspects withdrew money from my account with the assistance of a female cashier. My bank is near Nigerian Breweries, Iganmu, Lagos.
“ Can you imagine that when the pastor and his comrade-in-crime removed N8 million from my account, I went to report at the bank’s headquarters. Immediately I stepped out, I got another alert that N2 million was removed again from my account.
“I dashed back to the bank to complain again and in a twinkle of an eye, I got a transaction alert which read your account has been credited with N2,000,000 by returned 062317520 cheque.
“But for the assistance of police detectives attached to Area ‘A’ command, Lion Building, Lagos Island, they would not have been arrested.
“I am disappointed with the way the bank officials handled the matter. I feel it is no longer safe to keep money in the bank. They keep deceiving me over my N8 million.
“The bank is yet to pay me my money. I work extremely hard to get money.”
Pastor David said: “I am a pastor of Redeemed Church. It is true we withdrew money from Alhaji Odetunde’s account. I got 30 per cent of the money. The cheque was paid into my account and we withdrew it at Gbagada branch, Lagos. I deal in oil and gas.” Babantunde said: “The offence has been committed. The account number we used was 06231753 at the Ibadan branch. The money was paid into Pastor’s account with the help of a female cashier.”
It was also gathered that the police at the Area ‘A’ Command have impounded a Toyota Infinity SUV marked DM11EKY and a black Picanto Car with registration number MN 141 KJA from Pastor David and Babatunde respectively..
Police sources told P.M.NEWS that the suspects will be charged to court soon
A mishap was prevented yesterday when the jet conveying President Goodluck Jonathan back to Nigeria developed a fault barely ten minutes after taking off from the international airport in Entebbe, Uganda. Pilots had to return the aircraft to Uganda to be fixed before it could undertake the journey again.
The President was returning from the African Union summit, which ended on Tuesday, and was expected to attend the weekly federal executive council meeting with his cabinet.
NEXT gathered that minutes after take off, the pilot and co-pilot of the presidential jet noticed they were getting strange signals as a result of a technical fault in the aircraft.
A source who was on the trip, said the same aircraft was repaired in Kampala and was later used to bring the president and his entourage to Nigeria. They arrived the country by noon yesterday.
The source explained that two of the three jets on the presidential air fleet used for the Uganda trip developed faults and had to be repaired in the East African country.
One of the jets had earlier conveyed the wife of the President, Patience, from Kampala. She was scheduled to be in Germany to visit Nigeria’s team at the ongoing Fifa Under-20 women’s world Cup ahead of their semi-final match against Colombia.
Yesterday’s incident occurred barely two weeks after NEXT reported on July 18 that Mr. Jonathan had ordered the probe of key aides to late President Umaru Yar’Adua including the commander of the Presidential Air Fleet, Aminu Adamu, over allegations of misappropriation of the funds budgeted for the maintenance of presidential jets.
About three months ago, NEXT reported in its April 11 edition that “Presidency sources also say that the N234 million approved for the “completion of the presidential air fleet (PAF) quarters in the 2009 budget, is unaccounted for, some four months into 2010”.
The report also said, “the same goes for the maintenance of presidential aircraft, which had a budget increased by over 50 percent to N970 million in 2009”.
As at press time, it was not clear if the Presidency is holding anyone responsible for the faulty jets or will take more drastic action in the probe of how money appropriated for their maintenance was spent.
Sambo takes charge
In the President’s absence, the FEC meeting was presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo. At the meeting, the sum of N3 billion was approved for the development of 1500 hectares for the Tada Shonga irrigation project, in Edu local government area of Kwara State, the minister of information, Dora Akunyili, said.
The meeting, which started few minutes after 10am, deliberated on five memos and had all ministers in attendance.
Mrs. Akunyili told journalists at a briefing after the meeting that the minister of water resources presented a memo to council seeking approval for the award of contract for the development of 1500 hectares and associated infrastructure, being Phase 1 of Tada-Shonga irrigation project, located at Tada-Shonga in Kwara State.
Tada Shonga irrigation project has potential for the production of rice, sugarcane, and other vegetables in the flood plains of River Niger. The project is expected to be developed in two phases. The first phase involves development of the main infrastructure and 1500 hectares of gravity irrigation. The project will generate employment, increase the income of farmers, as well as boost food security in the country.
“There is N692,469,119.00 for the project in the 2010 appropriation,” she said.
The minister of commerce and industry also presented a memorandum to council seeking approval for 1st January, 2010 to be the effective date for the convergence of accounting standards in Nigeria with International Financial Standards (IFRS).
Accounting standards are benchmarks for the preparation of financial statements by private and public institutions. Individual nations used to set their accounting standards, until the widely reported financial scandals involving WorldCom and Enron in 2001.
According to the information minister “Having seen the enormous benefits for the adoption of the International Financial Report Standards for Nigeria, council approved 1st January 2012 as the effective date for conveyance of accounting standard in Nigeria with International Financial Report Standards.
Council also directed that the Nigerian Accounting Standard Board, NASB, under the supervision of the federal ministry of commerce and industry, should take further necessary actions to give effect to council’s approval.”
The minister of science and technology also presented a memo to council, which sought approval for the ratification of the status of the International Renewable Energy Agency(IRENA), which Nigeria, alongside 75 other countries signed on Monday, 26th January, 2009, during the Founding Conference of the organisation, held at the World Conference Center Bonn, Germany.
Council considered and approved the ratification of the statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
Through a memo to council, the minister of water resources also sought for the approval of the revised Estimated Total Cost for the expansion and completion of Bagwai Wateri Dam Irrigation project located at Bagwai in Kano State.
Mobile phones can habour 18 times more living bacteria than a flush on men's toilet, according to research for consumer group Which?.
A hygiene expert who swabbed and analysed 30 handsets (Mobile Phones) for the study found seven had warning or high levels of environmental bacteria.
One haboured levels of bacteria, including faecal coliforms, high enough to give it's user a serious stomach upset.
Which? said the findings sugget millions of UK mobiles would exceed the recommended acceptable levels of bacteria.
while not immediately harmful, elevated levels indicate poor hygiene and can act as a breeding ground for more serious bacteria.
Hygiene expert Jim Francis told Which?:"The levels of potentially harmful bacteria on one mobile were off the scale. That phone needs sterilising."
The tests showed how easily bacteria could liger on the surface of a phone, which could be passed on to other people if they held the handset to look phtos or other applications.
Which? advises that phones can be cleaned with an alcohol wipe.
President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that Nigerians living in the Diaspora will not be able to participate in the 2011 general election until a particular provision on general elections in the constitution is amended.
Jonathan, who was responding to an appeal made by Nigerians in Diaspora for the extension of their voting rights to their places of residence to ensure that they exercise their franchise in the 2011 general elections, said it was not feasible since the general election is a few months away.
He stated that time is too short to include Nigerians in the Diaspora in the voting exercise, adding that Nigerians are determined to get it right this time, therefore the process of registering which is yet to be done in the country cannot be extended to them if it has to be concluded before the elections..
The President who was represented by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed made the disclosure at the 4th National Diaspora Conference with the theme Nigeria at 50: the Role of the Diaspora in National Development yesterday in Minna.
Jonathan assured the Nigerians in Diaspora that despite that the National Assembly is yet to resolve the issue of their inclusion in the voting exercise of 2011, he promised that everything will be done to make it possible for them to exercise their franchise if not in 2011, the next general elections.
“I note with sadness that Nigerians in Diaspora have not been exercising their fundamental rights as Nigerians. This is essentially a constitutional issue but as a responsible Government, we shall do everything to promote the fundamental rights of Nigerians wherever they are”.
Speaking to the 288 Nigerians in Diaspora from about 20 countries who converged in Minna to discuss on issues that affect the development of the country, Jonathan encouraged them to continue to be ambassadors of the country wherever they find themselves, adding that the attitude of Nigerians living abroad will prove to the world that the country is serious with its re-branding
campaign.
According to the president, the conference was held with the purpose of pooling resources and focus of the development challenges facing the country and to proffer solution to them, especially the area of turning the brain drain syndrome to brain gain for the country.
Speaking earlier, Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, said it was imperative for the organisation of the conference to enable Nigerians in Diaspora to contribute their wealth of knowledge to national development.
Aliyu encouraged them to invest in Nigeria , adding that their commitment and investment in Nigeria will encourage foreign direct investment into the country.
Forbes List billionaire, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has learnt that in indeed the law is no respecter of persons. For failure to show up in court today, as prescribed by a Lagos federal high court presided by Justice James Tsoho, the billionaire was declared WANTED
Delivering his ruling, Justice Tosho said that Alhaji Dangote, who stayed away from the court’s last deliberation, was in perpetual contempt of court and ordered him to be arrested and detained till October 26th.
Huhuonline.com checks reveal that the once powerful Dangote has fled to Dubai, a country that has no extradition treaty with Nigeria. However, sources told that the court may enlist the services of Interpol, if necceasy, to execute its warrant.
Nevertheless, Aliko Dangote becoming a fugitive from Justice, will negatively impact Dangote Groups, as he must sign approvals above five thousand naira. said a company source.
It is recalled that Justice Lambo Akanbi had on March 12, 2010 , nullified the election of Dangote as the President and Chairman of the Council of NSE following an application by some shareholders of African Petroleum (AP).
The shareholders had argued then that after a court had on August 4, 2009 , ordered all the parties to maintain the status quo in a suit they instituted, challenging Dangote’s membership of the Council of NSE, the NSE went ahead and conducted its election on August 2009, where Dangote allegedly emerged president. An action that made the shareholders, in a form 49 (motion for committal) filed a suit against Dangote, Okereke-Onyiuke and Igbinosun, saying that the trio conspired by allowing Dangote to preside over the affairs of NSE despite the existence of the order.
At the court proceedings, counsel representing Dangote, Ricky Tarfa (SAN) had argued that before the court can consider the issue of contempt, it must first entertain a motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain the case by citing the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of Ebhodaghe and Okoye..
But in his response, Aniakor, counsel for the shareholders, flawed Tarfa’s argument, saying it was not the true position of the judgment of the apex court and urged the court to issue a warrant for the production of Dangote and Okereke-Onyiuke, who were absent in court.
“The Supreme Court added a proviso to the judgment to the effect that in the event that if there was an application seeking to protect the integrity of the court and another one challenging the court’s jurisdiction, the court would have to first determine the one that had to do with its integrity.”
After reviewing all the arguments by both counsels, Justice Tsoho upheld Aniakor’s submissions, and held that the contempt proceedings must take precedent over any other application, being the one seeking to protect the integrity of the court.
In addition, the court has struck out the name of Ndi- Onyuike from the case.
News at our disposal have it that the actress has called it off with her soon to be husband.
Friends, fans and foes were excited for Uche when the news of her engagement broke out and Uche wouldnt stop flaunting her sparkling engagement ring.
Now Uche is back on the single club and she was heard saying she isnt searching. As to why she left her hearthrob, we learnt the dude wasnt meeting her expectations financially and so Uche walked off while she could
NOW THIS COMES OUT ?
Shocked?…you are definitely not alone!
Probably spurred on by the commotion caused by the wande coal nude pictures,someone with wicked intentions has circulated this picture of the actress on facebook.
This looks like a younger uche iwuji but we are not so sure What do you think ?
Recent Interview with Uche
Playing sexy roles in films may be taking its toll on Nigeria top female movie star, Uche Iwuji. Having featured in about thirty films in her ten years acting career, the sensational actress, an undergraduate of Creative Art of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), told Showtime Celebrity that she has so far dated five men without winning their hearts for marriage.
“The sixth will be the final one” she declares.
Excerpt:
How many movies have you starred in so far?
I have done close to thirty.
Could you name some of the titles?
I took part in Aristo, Passion And Pains, My Heart Desire, My Dream………..
And how long have you been in the industry?
Close to ten years now.
How did your acting career start?
I started acting in my church. From there I met Zeb Ejiro and I told him that I wanted to take acting as a career. He asked if I have acted before and I said yes, I have been doing it in my church. He then gave me a role to play and I played it to his satisfaction and that was how I started acting.
Which was your first film?
Tears In Heaven.
How did you feel appearing in a film for the very first time?
I was happy, It was an opportunity to act..
What is your real name?
My name is Uche Evelyn Iwuji.
Are you now married?
No.
Is it because of your roles or career as a movie star that is making it difficult for you to get hooked?
Laughs…. I can’t really say. You know it’s really difficult because most of the guys I have met in the past pretend to fall in love. And immediately ask you to stop acting and all that. It’s a difficult task and it has been a problem for us.
Do you mean you can’t sacrifice your acting career for marriage when a man knocks on your door for marriage?
Yes, I can. I will do something else. I will put my head somewhere else and keep my marriage.
Are you thinking of marriage now?
Yes, I am thinking of marriage.
Do you have somebody on the line?
No, not for now. I used to have one but it ended and we packed it up. Since then, I have decided to keep to myself.
Was it because you weren’t ready to give up your acting career?
No. It didn’t happen like that. The relationship didn’t work out. That was it.
So, what is your next step?
Em…. I am in school now. I have decided to concentrate fully on my studies, after which, I may begin to think about marriage.
Which school are you attending?
The University of Lagos (UNILAG)
And what course are you studying?
Creative Art.
What level are you now?
300 level.
Do you still find time to act?
Occasionally yes, but the school time table is really taking more of my time.
Do you intend to take acting on full time after graduation?
I might if I don’t see my husband before then. If I see my husband, and he tells me to find something else to do, I will abide.
What kind of roles do you love to play in films?
Sexy roles, possessive roles, projecting role - any challenging role, in short.
In which of the films have you actually played sexy roles before?
Total Control and some others
What was it all about?
It was all about six girls searching for greener pasture. They have to do anything and everything to get there including going to bed with different men.
How has playing sexy roles affected you?
It has really affected me because the guys out there feels this girl is very hot (laughs) and they want to have you in bed.
They expect us to look like what we play in films, as a person in real life; ‘sex bloody’ and that is not possible because it’s just a movie and we are only playing a role. They hold on to their imagination and keep calling and wanting you to hook up and do it with them.
They want to see us in person in real life do it to them, so to say, which is not true about us. We have our discipline. It is only the God fearing ones that take you reasonable or think reasonably about you. They take you for what you are and tell you the truth.
The other men that just want to have you simply come around to flatter you and that is it.
It’s as if you work on men’s imagination a lot. Don’t you think this will make it difficult for you to fall in love?
I don’t even love again. It ended last year
Why?
I don’t see the need for it because when you decided to love someone and he ends up breaking your heart. What is the need? So I don’t love.
Don’t you have love in you?
No, I don’t have. So, I don’t give. It ended last year.
Do you mean to say you are taking your time?
Hmm... something like that.
Who is this guy that caused this damage to your love?
I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t want to remember him.
What kind of guy would you want to restore your love?
The man must be God fearing. He must go to church for me to love him.
Is that all?
Emm. That is the kind of person I want. A Church goer.
If he happens to be a whiteman and an unbeliever?
He just has to go to Church for me to love him. Obviously, not all whitemen or foreigners in Nigeria go to church but when you meet them and tell them about Church, they want to go with you and in the process end up giving their lives to God.
So you may prefer a White man now because a lot of your female colleagues are gunning for them?
Not really, but anyone that comes is okay by me. But he must go to Church. Even the Whiteman shows more love.
They are really crazy about love. They take you on tour and make you see things you often dreamt about. They do many things to make you feel that you are needed. But a black man especially a Nigerian, he wouldn’t take you to where you want to be. He keeps you there in the house and there is no time. There is not much time for the two of you to go out as lovers, like going for picnic, shopping, travelling, and doing things that really ignite love.
The star-studded soap is part of the effort by the veteran actor to sensitise the populace on the adverse effects of drug abuse in our society, using the medium of the tube.
Adams, a former Cartoon Editor of Vanguard Newspapers said in a chat with HVP that the soap, currently running on LTV Channel 8, Lagos, will be returned on Super Screen where it ran during its first season, and TVC respectively.
The soap is the brainchild of Paul Adams and his wife.
Lifestyle, according to Adams, is a product of passion. He has a strong desire to enthrone a society devoid of drug addiction.
“My passion is to advocate a drug-free society or relatively low participation of our youths in the use and abuse of harmful drugs,”Adams said.
While emphasizing that the soap is part of his noble contribution towards sanitising the society and making it a safe place to live in, Adams explained that he has a desire to use the soap to highlight the activities of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Being a personal effort, the 25-minute soap according to him, stresses the need for government agencies to deem it necessary to support a project of this magnitude in order to actualize its mission.
“We are putting the project together to discourage youths and adults from using and trafficking in harmful drugs. I believe that we all owe it as a duty to contribute towards sanitizing our society and making it a safe place to live in.”
“Lifestyle is about life, it’s about reality and it’s about living. It also teaches that it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, you can live a new life apart from drugs, violence and crime.”
Adams however described the soap as “a contemporary drama serial on drug abuse, journalism, business, love, family and religion.”
Set in metropolitan Lagos, Lifestyle mirrors happenings in our society with a view to providing positive reinforcements to valuable norms like good business ethics, moral upbringing, fidelity in marriage, genuine faith in God and clean drug-free living amongst values..
At the center of the intriguing story is the Pataro family, headed by Chief Temple Pataro(Festus Agbueboh) a rich, influential business magnate and unknown to his family, a drug baron. His wife is Gwendolyn Pataro (Ngozi Ezeonu), a religious house wife with a questionable background that remains undisclosed to her family.
Their daughter is Joy Pataro and their son, Tony Pataro(Tuvi James) is an undergraduate drug-abuser.
“Lifestyle is an anti-drug campaign.. We have been at it for awhile. And we just ended the editing of Season 2. We want to start off Season 3 in earnest,” Adams, who has acted in several movies and soaps relayed to HVP.”
Before we get back to the evictions, its been an interesting week in the Big Brother Africa All Stars house all week. The housemates have spent the week getting to know each other and basically getting reacquainted with the Big Brother Africa experience. We’ve had Munya and Meryl take a steamy shower together (well not really ‘together’ but at the same time in neighbouring shower stalls), there has been some sizzle between Sheila & Hannington – she seems quite open to the idea, though she warned him that he might not be able to handle her lifestyle. Hannington on the other hand has been warned by Uti who admits that Sheila is hot but ‘trouble’. Uti admitted he fancies Jen and asked the other housemates if they “Had Sex in the House”
Finally, the other big news was the Housemates’ Revolt. The housemates got really rowdy on Saturday as they were protesting the lack of food in the house. When things got out of hand and guards were sent in by “Biggie” to calm the situation, the housemates took them hostage and didn’t let them leave. After discussions between the housemates, Tatiana (Head of House) and Biggie; Eventually, the guards were let go and Big Brother rewarded the housemates with an abundant supply of food.
Back to the evictions, Tatiana and Kaone were evicted because they got the lowest amount of viewer votes. However, Big Brother nullified the evictions and reinstated them into the house. That wasn’t all, they were allowed to issue two ‘daggers’ to the other housemates.
The first dagger this season, makes the chosen recipient dress up like a pig, clean the kitchen, bathroom and toilet three times a day with ear-buds and a toothbrush.
Tatiana chose to throw this dagger at South African Housemate Lerato and explained that it “will be funny to see!” Lerato will have to keep this up for a week.
The second dagger was thrown by Kaone. This forfeit forces a Housemate to dress up in a French Maids costume, remain awake after all the other Housemates are sleeping and make sure that the House is spotless before going to bed. Kaone chose Uti as the unlucky recipient.
The Housemates that have received a Dagger in the Back from the two Evictees will have to perform these duties for an entire week.
An interesting week in the BBA All Stars house. Big Brother also unveiled a mysterious ‘barn’, we wonder who will be sent there. ‘Ekaette’ singer Maye Hunta also performed the official BBA All Stars song – African Star at the eviction show.
Back to the evictions, Tatiana and Kaone were evicted because they got the lowest amount of viewer votes. However, Big Brother nullified the evictions and reinstated them into the house. That wasn’t all, they were allowed to issue two ‘daggers’ to the other housemates.
The first dagger this season, makes the chosen recipient dress up like a pig, clean the kitchen, bathroom and toilet three times a day with ear-buds and a toothbrush.
Tatiana chose to throw this dagger at South African Housemate Lerato and explained that it “will be funny to see!” Lerato will have to keep this up for a week.
The second dagger was thrown by Kaone. This forfeit forces a Housemate to dress up in a French Maids costume, remain awake after all the other Housemates are sleeping and make sure that the House is spotless before going to bed. Kaone chose Uti as the unlucky recipient.
The Housemates that have received a Dagger in the Back from the two Evictees will have to perform these duties for an entire week.
An interesting week in the BBA All Stars house. Big Brother also unveiled a mysterious ‘barn’, we wonder who will be sent there. ‘Ekaette’ singer Maye Hunta also performed the official BBA All Stars song – African Star at the eviction show.
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The concerts are part of the Brazilian Consulate’s ongoing promotion of Brazilian culture globally that has now taken a bigger dimension with Brazil’s back-to-back hosting of the world’s two greatest events, the World Cup and the Olympics in 2014 and 2016 respectively..
The Brazilian musical ambassadors comprise Tiago Bernardes, a composer and percussionist who plays different instruments; Daniel Filho (Uncle Chico), a general percussionist; Renan Junior, who plays different string instruments; Diego Garcia, the lead vocalist; Alcides Pereira, who plays all kinds of percussion; Mario Jorge, guitarist; Jaqueline Xavier, a dancer who has travelled all over Brazil and also overseas, showing her swing and talent as a dancer and Deiseane de Jesus, who is part of the famous Samba school called Imperio Serrano.
The band, which has been together for a while, is expected to offer the most typical of Brazilian music—the seductive rhythm of Samba.
The peace meeting resulted in the setting up of a Committee of all the stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki as well as the concessionaire – Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to work towards the amicable resolution of all the issues at stake.
Giving an insight into the immense benefits of the Lekki-Epe Expressway project after listening to representations made by the stakeholders, Governor Fashola who spoke at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Alausa venue of the meeting on the 22nd of July, explained that the tolling of the road is in order to enable the concessionaire recoup the investment it made adding that although it may not be easy initially, the long-term benefits to the community far out-weigh the challenges.
Citing an example with Boston in the United States of America, Governor Fashola said although it is a novel idea in Nigeria, tolling has been employed across the globe to execute multi-million dollar projects with far-reaching socio-economic gains adding that the Boston Underground Road which initially raised agitations and resistance from the people has today become a place to behold.
“Change does not come so easily, but the gains outweigh the pains”, the Governor said adding that the road will open up access to the on-going Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Lekki Seaport including the refinery which the Federal Government plans to site in the area.
“I implore us, we are not building only road; our agreement is more than just building a road. It is not for the development of Eti-Osa alone but the entire Lagos State”, the Governor pleaded pointing out that the Concessionaire sought assurance from the State Government that there would be no breach of agreement.
According to Governor Fashola, even after the assurance by the State Government, the Concessionaire still did not commence work until the Government supported the agreement with a law passed by the representatives of the people in the State House of Assembly and the Federal Executive Council deliberated and passed a resolution on it.
On the gains already being recorded as a result of the road, the Governor said the road project has led to the appreciation of property value in the area adding, “The completion of the road is what the area is expecting. It is for the future development of the area”.
On the likely consequences of any breach of the agreement on the side of the State Government, Governor Fashola warned, “If we say we do not want the project to continue, it is not about money alone; it is about our reputation. The project is funded by international finance institutions. A breach of the contract will not be good for Lagos or Nigeria”.
He recalled the multi-billion dollar metro line project proposed for Lagos by former Governor Lateef Jakande pointing out that when another government truncated the contract even after the design had been completed; the State Government not only lost the project, it also lost money because the contractor went to court and sued the Government for breach of contract.
“Stopping the Concessioning agreement of the Lekki-Epe Expressway now will obviously affect other concessioning agreements in Nigeria”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Federal Government has already given a guarantee on the project.
Promising that all grey areas on the issue will be resolved soon, Governor Fashola called for nominations into a committee being set up by the State Government for that purpose adding that the Committee would comprise of stakeholders, traditional rulers, and elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki.
Earlier, a representative of the stakeholders, Mr. Adewale Sanni, had articulated their grievances to include the erection of three toll-gates and the fencing off of some communities in the area.
Present at the well attended meeting which lasted for over two hours, were stakeholders, elders and leaders of thought, traditional rulers and representatives of Lekki-Epe Expressway concessionaire as well as State Government officials including the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Francisco Abosede, the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Olalekan Ifemode.
The meeting attended by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, also had in attendance a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jide Akinloye and the local government chairmen of the area.
Among the traditional rulers present were the Alara of Ilara, the Ojomu of Ajiranland, the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Naforija, the Onilekki of Lekki, the Onibeju of Ibeju, the Alaketu of Ketu, the Onise of Ise, the Onitedo of Itedo, the Olofin of Orugbo, representative of Oba Oniru of Iruland, representative of Abowa of Agbowa and the Omola of Odomola, Chief Razaq Falana, Chief Mudashiru Lawal, the Baale of Aromire, among many other traditional rulers and chiefs.
On the stakeholders’ side were Hon. Yahaya Adeniyi Dosunmu, Major General Paul Toun (rtd), Mr. Lawal Fatai Olalekan, among others while the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) had in attendance its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, among other officials.
Governor Fashola who spoke at the Business Roundtable organized by the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein) in Hamburg, listed such areas of partnership and investment opportunities to include the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Power sector, Water supply, Rail Network, Water Transportation, Housing and Health Care.
In his presentation titled “Investment Opportunities In Africa’s Emerging Model Mega-City”, Governor Fashola explained the rationale behind the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the proposed Lekki Airport, Deep sea multi-purpose port within the Zone, Light Industrial and manufacturing estate, Petrochemical plants and oil refineries, Housing and Power Supply as well as the incentives which have been provided for the benefit of investors.
Such incentives include 100 percent repatriation of capital, profit and dividends, 100 percent tax holidays, custom duties and levies, tax-free imports of raw materials and components for goods destined for re-export waiver on all import and export licenses and waiver on all expatriate quotas for companies operating within the Zone.
The Water supply, Governor Fashola pointed out to the German Business Community, also offers huge returns on investment as Lagos has over 18 million people and a growing population.
Other areas of investment in this sector, according to the Governor, include construction and management of water plants, water distribution and bulk metering of 31 zones and waterworks.
“In the Transportation sector, there is a huge commuter demand of 10 million passengers per day with the prospect to increase to 20 million daily in 2011”, the Governor said, pointing out that investment opportunities also exist in the State’s proposed Seven-Rail Network Lines.
Investible areas in this sector, he said, include the Blue Line (27 km) and the Red Line (31 Km), Station Parking, Rail Infrastructure development which requires USD787MM, with projected returning annual revenue of USD400MM.
“With the capacity to transport 37 million people annually with projected yearly revenue of USD37MM, our four ferry routes is also another investors haven where investors can also take on jetty construction and management, operator services as well as ferries”, Governor Fashola said.
In the Housing sector, Governor Fashola explained that there is a huge demand of 40, 000 housing units annually which involves the construction of low and middle income housing estates with the State providing land as Equity and facilitating the provision of Mortgages.
Inviting the business and others to come and experience Lagos especially during the Lagos Carnival now fixed for the week of every Easter, Governor Fashola said there are also vast opportunities to develop tourism infrastructure along the 180 kilometers of the Atlantic Coastline and in the Tourist City which the State proposes to build in Badagry which offers ample opportunities for investors in Hotels and Beach Resorts .
Responding to questions from members of the audience comprising German business men, members of the German-African Business Association, representatives of various multi-national business concerns, journalists from the international media and Nigerians resident in Hamburg, Governor Fashola gave clarifications on issues relating to alleged double taxation, rail development, housing for the poor and funding for the various projects embarked upon by the administration.
According to the Governor, describing the tax regime in a federation with three tiers of government and each having constitutionally prescribed areas of responsibility would not be quite accurate adding that he had often challenged anyone alleging double taxation to produce record of the same tax heading being charged by two different tiers of government. He also gave an insight into the various steps being taken by both the executive and legislative arms in Lagos to streamline and come up with a uniform list of levies chargeable by local government councils in the State.
Earlier in his remark, the President of the Nigerian-German Business Association, Dr Valentine Obi said it was his pleasure being in the company of Governor Fashola whose hard work had set a benchmark which is currently driving governance progressively in the country. According Dr Obi, he looks forward to a deepening of the relationship already existing between Nigeria and Germany in terms of trade and investments.
Also speaking on the occasion, the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Abdul-Kadir Bin Rimdap commended Governor Fashola for coming on the trip solely to advance the cause of the State which he governs in the area of business relations with Hamburg in Germany adding that some of his colleagues whose visits he got to know about in the past either came for vacation or to seek medical treatment. The Ambassador also praised Governor Fashola for the impressive reception his administration gave the former German President when he visited Lagos as part of his official visit to Nigeria adding that the memorable experience was cited by the former President in his recently presented book.
Governor Fashola was accompanied on the trip by some members of the State Executive Council and the State House of Assembly including its Chief Whip, Honourable Dr Abdulrazaq Balogun , Chairman, House Committee on Commerce and Industry, Honourable Sanai Agunbiade and Chairman, House Committee on Health, Honourable Dr Babatunde Adejare. Among the State Executive Council members on the team were the Commissioner for Transportation, Professor Bamidele Badejo and his health counterpart, Dr Jide Idris as well as the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Ganiyu Johnson and his Commerce and industry counterpart, Mrs. Olushola Oworu.
Who will be promoted & who will join Bode George ? Who is your favourite mallam ?
Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday told a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, that it lacked the power to try him over allegations of abuse of office as minister. He said that the proper court to try him was the Abuja High Court.
Counsel to the former minister, Akin Olujimi, filed a preliminary objection saying that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Matters Commission (ICPC) Act of 2000, which his client had been charged on, had been repealed and so the federal court lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter. “The prosecution acknowledges that the charges stand on nothing,” said Mr Olujimi. “The effect of a repealed law is that it is a nullity, and no charges founded on it can stand.”
In response to the preliminary objection, the prosecution said that the court could assume jurisdiction in the matter because it involved an agency of the federal government and a former minister in the federal cabinet. Trial Judge, Adamu Bello, adjourned ruling on the case to 13th October.
Mr. El-Rufai and two others were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of illegally allocating land in the FCT to friends and relatives, some of whom included Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. The other accused persons are Altine Jubrin, former director general of the Abuja Geographical Information System, and Ismail Iro, former general manager of the agency. All three men pleaded not guilty.
AC Ribadu & Oshiomole ticket : as Asiwaju Tinubu Drops Vice Presidential Ambition
If he had held Fash close to his breast who knows as Alamiyesegha is reaping the rewards of patient GodFatherhood
Bola Ahmed Tinubu is no longer interested in the vice presidential race and is, instead, strategising on how the Action Congress (AC) would team up with another party to claim the presidency as well as win all the South Western States, Sunday Independent can reveal.
It also emerged that AC may have concluded plan to field the former anti-graft czar, Nuhu Ribadu as its presidential candidate, with Edo Governor and former Labour leader, Adams Oshiomhole, as his running mate.
That appears to be a fantastic political masterstroke, designed to woo the disenchanted Northerners who appeared certain to lose the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s presidential ticket to President Goodluck Jonathan and draw the organised Labour and younger elements who see Ribadu and Oshiomhole as emerging leaders they could count on.
Tinubu, former Lagos Governor and AC foremost financier, has long been rumoured to be in alliance talk with Muhammadu Buhari to float a joint presidential ticket, a very risky arrangement that would have repeated the Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 1993 presidential ballot.
Late Moshood Abiola and Baba Gana Kingibe were Muslims, but the ticket won a landside across the country widely split along ethno-religious lines.
Tinubu’s rumoured VP ambition has seen him criss-cross the length and breadth of Nigeria in the last two years to build bridges as he consulted with top opposition leaders and political parties, including the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
He is said to have resolved to sit back and map out strategies for the AC to regain all its lost states in the Yoruba-speaking South West geopolitical zone as a bargaining chip for the party in its merger talks with other political parties in the country.
This agenda is believed to enjoy the backing of the five former governors of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) with whom he had been involved in series of mobilisation for the new party to be consummated from the years of consultations.
He was also said to have revealed the new move to his political associates and groups in the South West and across Nigeria in the last one month, a decision believed to be behind the lull and change of strategy in the political consultations among the opposition parties.
Sources close to the godfather of Lagos politics said he backs the decision by AC to support a younger element from the North with a running mate from the oil-bearing South South geo political zone, a deft move to dwarf the influence of Jonathan whose support base political scientists say is weak.
Tinubu and AC favour the candidature of Ribadu and Oshiomhole, two fellows whose support bases they believe could jolt the PDP in the ballot, sources said.
The choice of Ribadu over some other young Northerners like former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir El Rufai, is said to have been informed by the high profile and public sympathy over his performance in the anti-corruption crusade, regardless of his romance with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and allegations that the latter used him to hound adversaries.
The choice of Oshiomhole as a running mate, sources added, flow from his coming from the same region as Jonathan and his wide appeal among Nigerians who relished his presidency of workers’ movement, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
