Why FG dropped forgery charges against Saraki, Ekweremadu – Lawyer

The Federal Government has explained why the forgery charges it leveled against the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, and two others was withdrawn.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, as well as a former Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, and a former Deputy clerk, Ben Efeturi, were first arraigned before Justice Yusuf Halilu on June 10, 2016 on charges bordering on forgery of the Senate rules, to which they all pleaded not guilty.

Reports however emerged yesterday that the government has decided to withdraw the charges leveled against the principal officers of the National Assembly.

German government gives Nigeria €47.6m to resettle Boko Haram victims

The German government has doled out €47.6m as financial support to Nigeria to resettle victims of Boko Haram attacks.

Leader of a German delegation, Mrs. Renate von Boddien, made this revelation during a meeting of the Nigeria-Germany Consultations on Development Cooperation, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning in Abuja on Thursday.

According to a statement issued by the ministry, Boddien was quoted as saying that the commitment was part of bilateral technical cooperation and special project initiative aimed at tackling the root causes of displacement of refugees and speed up their integration under the ‘One World No Hunger Green Innovation’.

She said the action will also strengthen Germany’s support for the Green Innovation Centre for Agriculture and Food Sector.

ormula One heiress Petra Ecclestone Stunt puts opulent 14-bedroom LA mansion on sale for huge $200m

Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone Stunt has put her sprawling Los Angeles mansion on sale for a huge $200million.

Petra's put her lavish pad up for sale

The 56,500-square-foot home, set on 4.7 landscaped acres in the Holmby Hills neighborhood, was custom built in the late 1980s by and for late television titan Aaron Spelling but is currently owned by the 27-year-old heiress Petra.

She bought the faux-French chateau from Spelling's widow, Candy Spelling, in 2011 for $85 million.

When it was built, its 100-plus rooms reportedly included a flower-cutting room, a humidity controlled silver storage closet, a barbershop, doll museum, and several gift-wrapping rooms

Assets declarations: CCB set to probe Fashola, Amechi, Ogbeh, others

The Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, has expressed its resolve to verify all assets declared by top serving and former public officers at the federal, state and local government levels.

A statement by the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba on Thursday, said all officials concerned are expected to appear physically before the commission for the verification.

He stated that by virtue of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “every public officer is required to submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

He added that any statement in the declaration, found to be false by any authorities or persons authorised to verify it, “shall be deemed to be a breach of the code”.

Saba said, “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter Cycle of Conference and Field Verification of Assets of top public officers. Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, service chiefs and other top public officers.

Earpiece conspiracy theory sweeps internet - Hillary Clinton CHEAT during US presidential debate

Hillary Clinton was widely declared the winner of the first US presidential debatewith a confident, impressive performance against rival Donald Trump.

Following the clash on Monday, conspiracy theorists have set the internet ablaze with rumours that the Democratic nominee may have secretly had help.

Eagle-eyed observers claim to have spotted Clinton, 68, wearing what appears to be an hidden earpiece during the debate.

Footage from the 90-minute discussion at Hofstra University in New York also appears to show the outline of wires and a battery pack under Clinton's jacket.

Catholic Online website asked: "What is it for? Is it so a team can feed her answers? Is it an anti-seizure device? A hearing aid?"

Kim Kardashian slips into bizarre boob tube and trouser ensemble while Kourtney is seriously sexy in lingerie look

Kim Kardashian opted for something a little bizarre as she switched up her outfit for the third time on Thursday. The reality star, hubby Kanye West, Kourtney and Kris Jenner all headed to the Off White fashion show in an array of eye-popping looks

A very slim Kim, 35, stood out for all the wrong reasons in an odd ensemble made up of a metallic boob tube, a pair of cut-out trousers (which she wore over tights) and a long drape-inspired fur coat.

This time it was Kourtney's turn to steal the limelight from her sister as she opted to wear a sleek black lingerie-inspired dress which could have easily also been worn as an undergarment.

National Assembly demands ministry handles recruitment of 500,000 teachers

The Presidency and the Office of the Vice President lack the expertise to oversee proposed recruitment of 500,000 teachers and should therefore hand the job over to the Ministry of Education.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Senator Jubrin Barau, made this demand in Abuja, yesterday.

“Tell the Vice President that you are not taking his power but that the ministry is the right place to handle the recruitment. Tell him the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed that the project be domiciled in the ministry,” Barau told Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu.

“I will pass your request to the Vice President,” Adamu replied.Barau was speaking at the 61st meeting of the National Council on Education (NCE). The Council is the highest decision-making body on education in Nigeria, and is chaired by the Minister of Education.

The senator said, if the ministry was not allowed to handle the process, oversight and evaluation would be difficult. He noted that as beautiful as the objective was, the result might fall below expectation because the office of the Vice President lacked the technical know-how to handle the task.

Barau also urged the ministry to pay more attention to providing technical education, saying it would boost self-reliance among Nigerians.The minister, in his remark told the Council, made up of Commissioners of Education from all the states, that his strategic plan at repositioning the education sector would focus on improving teacher quality.

He said: “For teacher quality to be guaranteed, the following strategies must be considered: improving the quality of those seeking to enter the teaching profession; raising the quality of education and training received through initial education courses; continuing to develop the professional skills of teachers; and promoting, recognising and training effective teachers, while seeking to remove ineffective ones.”

He added: “I urge you to consider making the study of Christian Religious Knowledge compulsory for Christian students, and the study of Islamic Religious knowledge compulsory for Muslim students, at least up to the end of senior secondary school.”

Sony's new PlayStation VR headset 'could lead to EYE DISEASE and VOMITING epidemic', doctor warns

The PlayStation VR headset is due to hit UK stores on October 13, costing just £350 and allowing gamers to immerse themselves in a stunning 3D world like never before.

With more than 40 million PS4s sold globally, many experts are tipping PSVR to finally make virtual reality truly mainstream.

Tech giant Sony is certainly adding to the buzz by touring the hardware across Britain throughout September and October.

But while video enthusiasts are clamouring to get their hands on the devices, experts have warned about the dangers when it comes to long-term eye damage - and they could also lead to copious amounts of puke.

BREAKING: Edo election: Protesters invade INEC collation centre, says announcement of results be stopped

Some aggrieved persons from Esan West and Esan East Local Government Areas of Edo State are currently protesting at outside the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s office in Benin, the state capital

Some aggrieved persons from Esan West and Esan East Local Government Areas of Edo State are currently protesting at outside the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s office in Benin, the state capital

INEC’s Benin office is the venue for the collation of yesterday’s governorship election that held in the state.

The aggrieved voters are protesting the manner which the election was conducted in their area, insisting that the electoral umpire should stop the announcement of results from the area.

This is happening at a time the electoral umpire is announcing results collated from the various local government areas in the state .

Kim Kardashian prankster Vitalii Sediuk explains why he ambushed star - 'I was protesting against fake butt implants'

Prankster Vitalii Sediuk has explained why he ambushed Kim Kardashian as she made her way to a fashion show in Paris on Wednesday.

The serial prankster, who has also targeted Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in the past, grabbed her leg and tried to plant a kiss on her world famous rear, but he was quickly stopped by one of her bodyguards.

Writing on Instagram following the encounter, he said he did it in protest against her rumoured bum implants.

Edo election: INEC begins collation of results – live updates

OREDO LG

APC: 37,612

PDP: 30,492

Total Valid Votes: 69,401

Rejected votes: 4,311

---

ESAN SOUTH-EAST LGA 

APC: 9,554

PDP: 11,466

Total Valid Votes: 21,250

Rejected votes: 806

Number of registered voters: 66,695

Number of accredited voters: 22,522

---

UHUNWOMNDE LG

APC: 10,911

PDPN: 8,667

Total valid votes: 19,971

Rejected votes: 1,759

Number of registered voters: 62,987

Number of accredited voters: 21,927

Committee seeks Customs, FIRS merger

The National Tax Policy Review Committee has advised the Federal Government to merge the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to improve revenue generation and accountability.

The draft of the policy was presented at the Committee’s second stakeholders engagement yesterday in Abuja by Mr Taiwo Oyedele, who is the West Africa Tax Leader at Price water house Coopers.

Oyedele said the committee agreed that the current system promoted multi-taxation, tax evasion and wastage, saying ”part of our recommendation will be that FIRS and Customs should be merged; but not just them, but all revenue generating agencies at the federal level should be merged into one.”

He said what exists now is not effective, because it duplicates the collection mechanism. “All the structures you have in FIRS is replicated in Customs, so cost of collection goes up. It also makes it easier for tax evaders to manipulate the system. You can provide information for customs and FIRS is not aware of it,” Oyedele said.

Visafone’s spectrum not sold to MTN, says NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said it did not approve the sale of the spectrum of former code division multiple access (CDMA) carrier, Visafone, to MTN, adding that it was careful not to further promote the latter’s dominant operator-ship status in the country.

Its Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Prof Garba Umar Dambatta who spoke during a world press conference at the Commission’s Headquarters in Abuja to mark the one year anniversary of the unveiling the Eight Point Agenda, said the NCC only approved 100 per cent shares acquisition of the distressed telco, adding that its spectrum sale will be brought to the attention of stakeholders when the time comes.

Dambatta said already, a study commissioned by the regulator had established that MTN was dominant  in voice and ‘upstream market’ segments of the industry.

According a document titled: Determination ofDominance in Selected Communications Market in Nigeria issued by the NCC about three years ago, the exponential growth of the industry has led to the increased maturity  and  sophistication of  individual networks and has also ushered in intense competition among the industry players. “While  the Commission recognises that effective competition in the various communications markets in  Nigeria will encourage sustainable investment, growth and innovation to the benefit of the entire  Industry  and  its  consumers,  it  also  acknowledges  that  existing  market  conditions  may  preclude  effective competition in certain market segments,” it explained.

Convicted Terrorist On Fake Voter’s Register, Says Oshiomhole

Adams Oshiomhole, Edo State governor, has alleged the existence of a fake voter’s register in the state, which has the portrait of a convicted terrorist, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, popularly referred to as the “underwear bomber” ahead of the gubernatorial election holding today.

 

Speaking during a visit to him by John Bray, the United States Consul General in Lagos, Oshiomhole said he was shocked to see the portrait of the “underwear bomber” in the fake register, but with a Benin name.

Abdulmutallab was convicted of attempting to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear on board an airline from Amsterdam to Detroit, Michigan, on December 25, 2009.

Oshiomhole, who raised concern about the duplication of the voter’s register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said “the foundation for credible election is the voter’s register. Once the voter’s register is manipulated, then you have problems.

“Right now,

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Wednesday morning

1. All is not set for the Edo State governorship election, slated for today, Wednesday September 28. Electoral officials as well as security operatives are already in the state for the election.

2. Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo has called on the federal government to sell off the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to generate fund. Obasanjo said during his tenure, some governors did not allow him save for the rainy day.

3. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has asked the Supreme Court to sack Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State over age falsification.

4. President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the official who copied and paste some part of U.S President, Barrack Obama’s speech for him to deliver during the ‘Change Begins with Me’ campaign launch in Abuja. Buhari, who expressed disappointment with the unprofessional conduct of the official, wished him well in his future endeavour.

Charles Soludo, former Governor Central Bank of Nigeria, has reacted to the planned sale of national assets by the federal government. Soludo, in an article titled ‘Nigeria: Sale of assets as dangerous policy myopia?‘, said the suggestion to urgently review legislations that impede the economy and enact new ones was commendable.

The former CBN boss said “The National Assembly and the Presidency should declare an emergency on these legislations and ensure that they deliver on them over the next 100 days for the sake of Nigeria.

“I expected this to have been done within the first 100 days of this administration.

“I am not in the habit of joining issues except when  I consider the matter critical.

“Specifically, I am troubled by the proposal to sell some valuable national assets in order to ‘build reserves and provide funds for immediate spending’ and thus ensure that this recession will be the ‘shortest’ ever.

“Some people had bandied the same suggestion in the past but I largely dismissed it as a joke.

“But when the Senate and NEC joined the convenient but flawed call for asset sale, I have a citizen duty to join others in letting our voice be heard.

“Part of the legacy of the oil resource curse on matters of public finance is a mindset that resorts to easy, albeit lazy approach to ‘quick fixes’ – with a gaze on the short term even when the issues are structurally long-term.”

N/Delta Ex-Militants Threaten Shut Down Of Oil Firms’ Operations

Ex-militants in the Niger Delta region under the aegis of Undocumented Third Phase Ex-Agitators has threatened to shut operations of major oil companies in the area if the Federal Government fails to include them into the ongoing amnesty programme.

A statement by self-styled Gen. Prince Eyeyon, leader of the group, expressed dissatisfaction over the level of suffering and hardship they have gone through since they embraced peace and surrendered their arms and weapons to the Federal Government under the third phase of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme.

They explained that on August 27, 2011, Kinsley Kuku, former coordinator of the Federal Government Amnesty Programme, documented them but only paid some of them and left others unpaid.

While deploring the attitude of the former amnesty coordinator, the group said they had followed the part of peace always but were later duped of their entitlements by those in authority.

BlackBerry-xit: Why Whatsapp may lose many Nigerian subscribers

IT is no longer news that Whatsapp, the world’s most popular messaging application will not be available on the BlackBerry platform come 2017. What might be news however, especially to the Facebook owned company, is that many Nigerian BlackBerry faithful say they will choose the Canadian mobile brand over Whatsapp.

Although BlackBerry might have lost face all over the world, it is still a dearly beloved brand in the world’s most populous black nation for a variety of reasons. The easy-to-use physical keyboard associated with many of the older blackberry models is one of them. Although Android and Apple devices have relegated the physical QWERTY to the middle ages, it is still a feature loved by many Nigerians.

 Another point to note is the price factor. As a result of the BlackBerry boom in Nigeria few years ago, the country’s major networks designed special services for subscribers who used the brand.   The average customers internet needs can be met with a one-off payment of N1000 a month. This feature, unavailable on other platforms makes the use of data more expensive on other Smartphones. 

Recession: Senate Tables 14-Point Roadmap to Turn Around Economy

In a bid to find quick solutions to the economic recession in the country, the Senate yesterday commenced debate on the issue, with Senate President Bukola Saraki presenting a 14-point plan to the federal government on how to make the crisis the shortest ever in history.

The Senate’s road map out of the recession was contained in Saraki’s speech to welcome his colleagues back from their annual vacation.
Going by the importance attached to finding urgent solutions to the recession, the Senate plenary commenced at 10.10 a.m. after the presiding and principal officers of the Senate filed into the chamber.

The recommendations by Saraki, which will form the basis for an elaborate debate today by his colleagues include:
• The executive must immediately put in place leadership-level engagement platform with the private sector.
• Government must raise capital from asset sales and other sources to shore up foreign reserves.

• Consider tweaking the pension funds policy within international best practice safeguards to accommodate investment in infrastructure and mortgages.

Facebook Founder Zuckerberg's Surprise Visit to Nigeria

Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, yesterday, arrived Nigeria unannounced. The 32-year-old tech enterpreneur surprisingly made a sudden visit and inspection of activities at the Co-Creation Hub, Yaba Lagos... His arrival to Nigeria is not unconnected to the 'Facebook for developers' workshop' for Nigerian engineers, product managers and partners holding today in Lagos.

The event is expected to help the engineers build better applications and monetise them more effectively.

Before his arrival, it was earlier announced that the company's Director of Global product Partnerships, Nigeria's Ime Archibong was to lead speakers to the event where Facebook would unveil a ten-year roadmap that can help improve Nigeria's economy

Facebook is an online social networking service based in Menlo Park, California, United States, which Zuckerberg and his fellow Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes formed on February 4, 2004.

Nigeria, UK sign MoU on return of stolen assets

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British government on the modalities for the return of Nigeria’s stolen assets.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, signed on behalf of the federal government in Abuja yesterday.

Malami said the pact affected the desire and willingness of both countries to continue cooperation and mutual support in the responsible and transparent return of all recovered assets.

He outlined the objectives of the MoU to include the fact that the processes of returning stolen assets was a partnership recognizing the interest of both countries and based on mutual understanding, confidence and trust.

“That both countries recognized that they have a mutual interest in ensuring that returned assets are not at risk of being misappropriated again. And that both countries recognized they have obligations toward their own citizens for providing such assurances.

I have decided to support Buhari – Waje

Award winning music star, born Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as Waje has called on Nigerians to support the Buhari-led government.

The ‘Onye’ crooner said she made a decision to join the team, ‘Make Naija Stronger’ after he met with the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo.

The mother of one wrote on her Instagram page ‏@OfficialWaje, thus: “I joined these great minds to sign up to #MakeNaijaStronger.

“My eyes opened today. My meeting with the vice president, to the press conference, points down to one thing – We can be part of the CHANGE by involving ourselves a little more and be responsible for the things that happen in our backyard,” the 35-year-old added.

4.58 million Nigerians have lost their jobs under president – NBS

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 4.58 million Nigerians have lost their jobs since President Muhammadu Buhari came into office. The details were contained in the agency’s second quarter unemployment and underemployment report which was released on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

The NBS disclosed that 2.6 million Nigerians became unemployed within the first and second quarter of 2016.

It also revealed that 1.46 million Nigerians became unemployed in the third quarter of 2015, while another 518,102 became unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The details were contained in the agency’s second quarter unemployment and underemployment report which was released on Wednesday, August 31, 2016.

The report reads:

Presidency confirms plans to dialogue with militants

The Presidency has confirmed reports that it plans to negotiate with militants in the restive Niger Delta in a bid to restore peace to the region.

Major militant groups in the area are said to have declared a ceasefire pending the outcome of the negotiation.

The government’s position was revealed by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

“The President has charged some people with engaging the various militant groups, and now that they are waiving the white flag, there will definitely be formal talks,” Adesina told Vanguard on Tuesday, August 30, 2016.

“But before that, the NSA, service chiefs and all those involved need to bring their reports, they will be assessed before dialogue will kick-off,” he added.

Meanwhile, militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, which has accepted the peace moves, however warned Buhari that he can’t win the oil war in the region.