I left Femi-Fani Kayode’s house with pregnancy -Femi-Fani Kayode’s Ex Wife

Mrs Yemisi Wada who recently clocked 50 and has also been the talk of the town because of her beautiful figure at 50, has revealed to Nonye Ben-Nwankwo how her marriage to former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode was orchestrated, and how she had two babies and left his house with one more pregnancy in less then three years making their children three altogether. She also spoke about her new love, Mr Dahiru Wada and how they met in London. One of her children to FFK will be getting married in July and Mrs Yemisi is too excited about it. If FFK would be there is something she did not mention. The interview below...

How do you feel having a daughter who is getting married?

I am ecstatic. My daughter is getting married in July by the Grace of God. I got married at 24 and I am reaping the benefits as I have had the opportunity to grow up with my girls. I feel it has made us closer. I am happy because people are different and in her case, she is mature enough to take up that role. She has also found a good man by the grace of God from good stock and surely that must be every mother’s prayer.

Why did you choose to study law?

My father was a lawyer but that was not my motivation. It was the courtroom drama I used to watch on television and the whole wig and gown that attracted me. My father worked for the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. He was State Prosecutor at some stage and in those days, if I was home and he was trying any interesting case like the ‘Iyabo Olounkoya’ drug case, my mum and I would go and watch.

Your parents must have been very comfortable for them to send you to study in the UK.

To be honest back then, our economy was okay. The year I went abroad to school was when the Naira became N3-1 pound. Life was easier. My father came from quite a wealthy family and he inherited property but didn’t really like the idea of receiving income from them. He used to go out of his way to tell us he would not leave any property in his will and that we should work for our own money. He had property in Ikorodu and Ogba, which some companies were renting. My mother left work when I was still young and till today she’s a very successful business woman. So between them, we got by.

Would you still remember those days you used to work in your ex father-in-law’s law firm?

I actually never worked in Chief Fani-Kayode’s Law firm. When I got married straight after Law School, my father wanted me to work. After my youth service when it seemed my then husband didn’t want me to work, my father threatened to pull me out of the marriage. Chief had some election petition cases in Kano, so he drafted me into his team to work on them and later the appeals in Kaduna. That was how I met Mr. Raji Ahmed who was in the team as well and we later set up a law office together, along with Mr. Robert Emukpoeruo. Working on those cases were the best times I had at the time. That was also the first salary I earned as a lawyer.

Why did you even quit practising?

Law is a long-term earner. At the time, being a single mother with three children and wanting to give them the best like I had as a child, I could not afford to stay in practice. Besides, I needed to be the boss of my own time to be available for my children when I was needed.

  

What inspired you to establish Haven for Nigerian Children?

Seeing that there were children living on the streets and I was going up and down cuddling mine made me sit up and think. I decided to do something about it and pray my own children if they were ever in need, would meet a helper. I have often wondered if this is a selfish notion. If it is, well I am not a saint and that’s my Achilles heel. At least, it has created a passion and I intend to keep running Haven as long as God grants me life.

Why are you so passionate about the street kids?

I’m passionate about rendering assistance in any way. I counsel very well. Nothing gives me more joy than knowing whoever meets me or comes into my life in any way gains something from my experiences. That’s where I derive my joy.

How is life being Mrs. Dahiru Wada?

It’s very interesting. My father in-law loves me very much and my husband has many brothers who are like him, very loving. So you’re living in an atmosphere of love. It’s a very nice feeling. The best description of my husband is that he is a gentleman’s gentleman. He is also very cultured and well travelled. He loves good food and travelling. He is very well read and extensively knowledgeable in all things. He is very generous and for us kind almost to a fault.

You reportedly said your husband doesn’t like partying and dancing but these are things you love doing. So how do you manage this?

If I want to party and dance, he is not in my way. We understand each other perfectly. Many times, you will see us at parties and before long, you will not see him because he would have left quietly. Having said that, my husband observes more at that same party and when we analyse the proceedings after, I would be amazed. Seriously we complement each other nicely.

Can you tell us about growing up?

Growing up for me was awesome. We lived in GRA Ikeja, we walked and cycled about in clean and safe environment by ourselves. Most of our activities were centred on the home and the street. We climbed trees, raised dogs, rode bicycles. It was bliss.

What fond memories do you have when you were still growing up?

I have several. The best was how my paternal grandmother ‘Iya Alaje’ would come and stay with us when our parents travelled. She was very wealthy but not literate and she loved a good life. She would ask us what we would normally eat and my brother, Bayo and I would lie that we didn’t eat pepper. That would mean no eba and amala. She would take us to Kingsway Stores and buy us ham and all the nice things for sandwiches. The funny thing though was only Bayo had a palate for those things. I preferred my eba, so why I went along with it still baffles me. I guess it was the thrill of getting away with such nonsense.

As a young girl, if anybody had told you your marriage would break up, would you have believed it?

No, I would not have. That is why even after three children, I knew I would remarry. I don’t know if it is that love of being a wife or to run a home. Whichever, I love being married.

Can you still remember those days you were with your ex-husband, Femi Fani-Kayode?

I have no fond memories of then except having my daughters, as I am sure he would say same if asked. What people do not seem to realise is that we were together for only a very short while. The marriage itself lasted less than three years. The fact that I have three daughters makes it seem longer but I left just when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter.

Did you decide to marry him because his family was influential?

I don’t know what that means because I grew up in a home where I had all I wanted. There was nothing I got there that I didn’t have before. Actually I had more at home.

What was the attraction back then?

It was a long time ago but I think at the time, all the men I knew were clubbing like I was but he was already serious in politics. He was a national youth leader of his party and the proposal was very direct as he said, ‘I am in politics and I need a homemaker.’

Since the marriage produced beautiful kids, would you ever say you regret it?

No way. In fact, I always say if I came back in another life, I would do it again to have these same beautiful and dramatically intelligent daughters. I would just have a better exit plan.

How did you meet Mr. Wada?

Dahiru and I met at a party in London. It’s funny how we met. I thought he was someone else and planned to tease him but his incredible wit got the better of me and in the end, the joke was on me. He actually insinuated that I was a airhead!

What do you love about him?

He’s gentle, he is patient and he is kind. He has a wicked sense of humour and he can gist. He has an infectious laugh and like me, he loves to entertain. Like me also, he is a very good cook. He is the king of roasts and curries. He is an amazing father. He loves his kids to bits. I am always complimented about how well behaved my boys are but it is because they live with a gentleman father and they live by example.

Ambode Set To Get Okada Riders Off Lagos Roads Again

The Lagos State Government has made its intention known that Okada riders will from now hence forth stop plying major roads in the State. While speaking yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Oluseyi Coker had noted that the riders were restricted from 475 routes out of the 9,100 roads in Lagos in 2012 but they soon came back.

He says the fresh restriction is a renewed attempt to check their excesses. He also frowned at the rate the riders have been flouting the traffic law of the state, saying that government would no longer fold its hands and allow the impunity to continue.

He further explained that the ban would benefit citizens, stating that since it was banned in 2012 the state has witnessed over 81% reduction in the number of motorcycle-related accidents and over 80% reduction in motorcycle-related deaths reported at public hospitals.

Joda Committee Wants 19 Ministers For Buhari

The Cable also reported that the advisory committee recommended that Buhari should have only 19 senior ministers and 17 ministers of state, bringing the total to 36 in fulfillment of the constitutional requirement of one minister per state.  

The Ahmed Joda-led Transition Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, to keep the number of federal ministries at 19, nine less than the proposed 28.

The Cable also reported that the advisory committee recommended that Buhari should have only 19 senior ministers and 17 ministers of state, bringing the total to 36 in fulfillment of the constitutional requirement of one minister per state.

Previous governments, starting from 1999, appointed 42 ministers — picking one from each of the six geo-political zones in addition to one from each of the 36 states of the federation.

The immediate past president maintained 28 senior ministers and 14 ministers of state, three of the ministries were directly under presidency.

The Joda transition committee submitted its report to Buhari on June 11, but the details, which the president is expected to evaluate before taking his initial key steps, are yet to be made public.

22 Vehicles Seized From Former Governor Isa Yuguda’s Wives + More Cars To Be Seized

He said, “we have so far, recovered a total of 22 cars from the wives of the former Governor, Isa Yuguda. We recovered 11 cars from his first wife, seven from the second wife, and four from the third wife. We are yet to recover the remaining cars from his fourth wife who is currently out of the country.”

Bauchi State Government has seized 22 vehicles from the four wives of the former Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).  The seizure was part of the government’s operation to recover all properties that belong to the State.

The Chairman of the new government’s Transition Committee, Senator Mohammed Mohammed, spoke to the media at the State government house regarding the seizures yesterday.

He said, “we have so far, recovered a total of 22 cars from the wives of the former Governor, Isa Yuguda. We recovered 11 cars from his first wife, seven from the second wife, and four from the third wife. We are yet to recover the remaining cars from his fourth wife who is currently out of the country.”

Mohammed reaffirmed the new government’s commitment to clamping down on all corruption from past administrations. 

“We will ensure that whoever is in possession of government properties will be forced to return them. We urge public servants and the general public, especially those involved in the disposal and allocation of the property in question, to cooperate with the Committee for the effective discharge of its assignment.”

The new Governor of the State, Mohammed Abubakar, has promised that all funds and property that were allegedly looted during the past administration are returned to the accounts of the State government.

Buhari Has Not Ordered Sale Of 9 Presidential Jets – Presidency

“The story of the order for the sale of aircrafts in the Presidential Fleet, about which so much interest is being expressed, is not known to us,” Mr. Shehu said.

Contrary to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the immediate disposal of nine of the 11 VIP transport aircraft in the presidential fleet, the presidency on Friday denied knowledge of any such directive.

THISDAY newspaper had quoted unnamed sources as saying the president had directed the selling of serviceable and unserviceable aircrafts to cut maintenance costs in line with the government’s policy to drastically reduce its annual expenditure.

Eight of the planes in the fleet, including Boeing 737, two Gulfstream 550 jets, Gulfstream V jet, two Falcon 7X planes, the Hawker Siddeley aircraft and Augusta Westland chopper, the report said, are reserved strictly for the president’s movement.

Other aircrafts, including two Falcon 900 planes, the Dornier, the Cessna Citation, the Beechracft King Air, and two AugustaWestland choppers, are reserved for the airlifting of the Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as visiting African heads of states.

But speaking to PREMIUM TIMES Friday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, denied knowledge of such directive.

“The story of the order for the sale of aircrafts in the Presidential Fleet, about which so much interest is being expressed, is not known to us,” Mr. Shehu said.

Mr. Shehu said if anything like that was being contemplated, the Presidency would issue a statement through its official channels to announce it.

Real Reasons Why Buruji Kashamu Is Afraid For His Life

 He added that “until he received formal notification from the US that they will not pursue these charges against him, he will continue fearing for his life.”

Senator Kashamu is absolutely afraid for his life, according to his lawyer Ajibola Oluyede .

“The US has no legal right to extradite Senator Kashamu, according to their own Court,” he told SaharaReporters.

He added that “until he received formal notification from the US that they will not pursue these charges against him, he will continue fearing for his life.”

In an attempt to stop the efforts of the United States to abduct him from Nigeria, Senator Buruji Kashamu of Ogun State, has filed a suit in the Court of the Northern District of Illinois.

Through his lawyers, Kashamu recently said, "the threatened abduction violates the Treaty between the United States and Nigeria and due process under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution."

The defendants of the suit are US Attorney General, Eric Holder, the US Department of Justice, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James Comey, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and others.

Kashamu's lawyer said, "this is an action for preliminary and permanent injunctive relief based on the information received by Plaintiff Kashamu leading him to believe that he will be subject to an imminent illegal abduction in Nigeria by United States law enforcement officials, acting with Nigerian officials designed to transport him to the United States to stand trial on pending alleged drug offenses without going through the extradition procedures."

Sentar Kashamu has made two other attempts to get the charges dropped by US courts. He is facing extradition charges from Nigeria because narcotics trafficking he committed in the United States in the 1990s

Questions Loom Over Buhari And Osinbajo’s Assets As Code Of Conduct Bureau Denies Public Disclosure

The CCB told Stop Impunity Nigeria that the asset declaration in their custody did not qualify under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The CCB said that the FOIA gives it the right to deny any request that it stipulates an “invasion of personal privacy.”

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) announced they will not publicize details concerning the declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The Bureau claims that there are various limitations in federal laws which halt the release of this information.

President Buhari repeatedly promised during his presidential campaign that not only would he declare his assets to the public, to instill greater trust, but he would demand that all of his appointees would need to do the same on the condition of their appointment.

Since the May 29th inauguration, controversy has surrounded the the asset declaration for the President and Vice President. Initially, there was public outcry that President Buhari and VP Osinbajo did not declare their financial and property assets after successfully winning the presidential elections in March of this year.

Public concerns over the declaration of their assets were rekindled after Buhari’s inauguration when no action had been taken to make public those assets.

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari, issued a statement after the inauguration that President Buhari and VP Osinbajo provided details of their assets to the CCB--which would verify their assets in order to confirm the authenticity of those disclosures. 

However a civil society group, Stop Impunity Nigeria, applied to the CCB requesting copies of the completed assets declaration forms of the President and VP. This request was made on June 1, 2015.

According to reporting by The Premium TImes, the CCB responded to that request on June 10, 2015 in a statement signed by Ijeanuli Ofor on behalf of the Chairman. The response declined the request by Stop Impunity Nigeria, citing the absence of a law by the National Assembly authorizing the release of such information to the public.

The CCB told Stop Impunity Nigeria that the asset declaration in their custody did not qualify under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The CCB said that the FOIA gives it the right to deny any request that it stipulates an “invasion of personal privacy.”

The CCB also said sections 12(1) (a) (v), 14(1) (b) and 15(1)9a) of that same Act say “assets declarations by public officers contain such personal information, which falls within the exemptions to the disclosure of information in the FOIA.”

Even if the CCB do not comply with Stop Impunity Niger’s request for asset disclosure, questions still remain regarding when Buhari and Osinbajo intend to make due on their promises to demonstrate to the Nigerian public their total wealth and property.

When we spoke to Femi Adesina, he told our correspondent that “there has been no change in the President’s position regarding when he will disclose his personal assets.”

Real Reasons Why Buhari Has Refused To Meet Saraki

P
President Muhammadu Buhari has refused to meet one-on-one with Senator Bukola Saraki two weeks after the latter connived with top officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the post of Senate President in a move that both stunned and angered the hierarchy of the All Progressives Congress (APC). 
Silent Reporters has it that Senator Saraki had made several attempts to secure a private meeting with Mr. Buhari, but to no avail. One source revealed that Mr. Saraki’s latest attempt was to follow the president to his hometown of Daura in Katsina State to take in the commencement of the Islamic Ramadan period. The president reportedly rebuffed the move.

Following President Buhari’s rebuff, Mr. Saraki reportedly arranged a quiet visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to apologize for an insulting remark he had made in the heat of his high-stakes maneuver to win the leadership of the Senate by striking an alliance with the PDP. Top APC officials claimed that Mr. Saraki had turned down an invitation by VP Osinbajo to discuss his contentious pursuit of the Senate Presidency by stating contemptuously that “a mere commissioner” could not summon him to a meeting. Mr. Osibanjo, a former commissioner in Lagos State, had sought to meet with Senator Saraki in order to resolve a crisis that arose from the latter’s scheme to outmaneuver his party, the APC.

Following Mr. Saraki’s emergence as Senate President in an election described by officials of the APC as irregular, Mr. Buhari had publicly accepted his triumph. Even so, the president has refused to do anything that would amount to a public validation of Mr. Saraki’s victory.

Two associates of Mr. Buhari told Silent Reporters that the president shared the APC’s dismay with Mr. Saraki’s alliance with the PDP to snatch up the top Senate post. “The truth about the matter is that the president will not abandon the party’s position altogether,” one of our sources said. Another added, “Mr. President has never been comfortable anyway with Dr. Saraki since is well known as a corrupt person who will try to hinder the administration’s fight against corruption.”

One source in the Senate told SaharaReporters that Senator Saraki, troubled by President Buhari’s refusal to meet with him, reached out to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to broker a truce with the president. The source said Mr. Saraki had used a personal friend, Andy Uba, a senator from Anambra State, to seek Mr. Obasanjo’s intervention to mend the cold rift with President Buhari. Mr. Uba, who served as a senior aide on domestic matters to Mr. Obasanjo, was one of the closest and most powerful associates of the former president.

A source at the Presidency told Silent Reporters that President Buhari was not impressed by Mr. Saraki’s reasons for colluding with the PDP to gain power as Senate President. “The way Senator Saraki colluded with the PDP to gain power through the backdoor, what prevents him from colluding against Buhari in the future? What prevents him from even working with certain political interests to get Mr. President impeached?”

Outcome Of Saraki's Meeting With Obasanjo

We gathered that Mr. Saraki lamented to Mr. Obasanjo that although the party leaders have stated that they have accepted his emergence, there was “complete communication breakdown between him, the president and the party”

Facts have emerged showing why Senate President Bukola Saraki led a delegation of Senators to meet former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop mansion, Abeokuta, Ogun state on Friday.

A source close to the meeting revealed that the Senate President was in Abeokuta to beg Mr. Obasanjo to reconcile him with President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Mr. Saraki emerged as the president of the Senate against the decision of APC leaders. He was also elected when most Senators from the APC were at the International Conference Center waiting to hold a meeting with Mr. Buhari to discuss the election of the Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Our sources said Mr. Saraki lamented to Mr. Obasanjo that although the party leaders have stated that they have accepted his emergence, there was “complete communication breakdown between him, the president and the party”.

The national chairman of the APC, John Oyegun, had abruptly cancelled a scheduled meeting with Mr. Saraki last week without giving another appointment.

We also gathered that Mr. Saraki had tried severally to meet with Mr. Buhari after his emergence, but was always denied audience.

Another source in the presidency informed us that the President was angry with Mr. Saraki and the management of the national assembly for going ahead with their election despite adequate knowledge of an invitation for a meeting with Mr. Saraki and his colleagues.

“The president considered it as a mark of disrespect for his office for Saraki to ignore an invitation to meet with him and his colleagues,” our source said.

In his response to the Senate President’s lamentation, Mr. Obasanjo reportedly promised to do his best to “ensure communication between all parties”.

However, the spokesperson for the president, Garba Shehu, said the Senate president has never sought a meeting meeting with Mr. Buhari since his election.

“I am not aware of any request for a meeting, the president would have seen him, he represents a key institution in our democracy,” he said.

Calls to Mr. Saraki and his aide, Bamikole Omishore, were not answered.

Our source said the former president, in his usual jocular self, also joked with the delegation, saying “ you children of nowadays only run to elders when you have finished making the damage”.

Mr. Saraki and his entourage laughed.

Our source, a presidency official who pleaded anonymity has it that President Buhari was aware of the the senate president’s visit to Mr. Obasanjo’s home.

The official said Messrs Buhari and Obasanjo are constantly in touch and regularly have telephone conversations.

The official said in one of their recent conversations, Mr. Obasanjo informed Mr. Buhari that Mr. Saraki was leading a delegation of Senators to his Abeokuta home.

“I overheard President Buhari laughing and saying to Mr. Obasanjo, “you have to see them, are they not all your boys?”, our presidency source said.

Among Mr. Saraki’s delegation include former governor of Gombe state, Danjuma Goje, Senator Andy Uba, former Zamfara governor, Ahmed Sani, and former Osun governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Mr. Saraki and most members of his delegation are largely Mr. Obasanjo’s “boys”, a term loosely used in describing the former president’s staunch loyalists.

Tinubu & His Band of Bitter-men Should Swallow The Bitter Pill With Courage As Party Men- Obasanjo

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised President Muhammodu Buhari not to take APC South West, Bola Ahmed Tinubu too serious.

The message was sent out on Wednesday, when the former President urged the incumbent President not to be persuaded by Tinubu’s bitterness on the victory of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Obasanjo said; “How can Tinubu be speaking on the interest of the party as if he owns the party? Are the winners (Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara) not APC members again? APC is not a personal property of anyone. The party belongs to everybody and belongs to no single person.

“I will therefore urge the Mr. President to dwell little on the hot agitations of the aggrieved leaders and the Senators-elect. If APC as a political party is heading to court, fine. But we should know that no kind of intimacy can follow after leaving the court. And I believe you all know what that means in Yoruba culture and belief.”

Lex-President Obasanjo, also condemned the moves of the party to challenge the victory of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives respectively.

He said, “the action will amount to one pulling down his house because of unwanted occupants.

Ex-President went on to advice Tinubu and his band of bitter-men to swallow the bitter pill with courage as party men. He added, “The deed has been done. The party cannot shy away from correcting some anomalies in the processes that produced the duo as Senate President and Speaker.

Rivers Poly Workers Beg Wike To Reverse Sacking

The State Government had on Monday announced the cancellation of the polytechnic workers appointment. Those affected are academic and non-academic staff, who were recently employed by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.


The four hundred thirty-five employees of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, sacked by the state government have urged well-meaning people of the state to prevail on the government to reverse the decision and recall them to work.

The State Government had on Monday announced the cancellation of the polytechnic workers appointment. Those affected are academic and non-academic staff, who were recently employed by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.

Speaking on behalf of their colleagues, Jekey Lekue, Grace Ikue and Basil Ujobolo urged the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, not to renege on his promise during his inauguration to give hope to the people.

Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday, some of the disengaged workers lamented that they had been searching for job for the past five years before they were eventually employed at the state polytechnic.

They also stated that some of them had to resign from their former place of work after they received their appointment letters from the authorities of the State Polytechnic, Bori, Khana Local Government Area.

Explaining that they went through a painstaking process before they were employed, the sacked workers recalled that they had supervised the last examination in the school before the announcement that their employment had been cancelled.

“We are calling on well meaning Rivers people to do justice to this issue. We beg Rivers people to step in. Governor Nyesom Wike gave the state hope on May 29, 2015. We have already been captured in the database of the state. Our governor should not do this to us,” they further appealed.

In another development, the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has disbanded the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Agency known as TIMARiV.

Reacting to the sacking of the 435 RIVPOLY workers, the Special Adviser on Media to the State Governor, Sir Opunabo Inko-Tariah, stated their appointment was marred by irregularities.

Inko-Tariah said, “The appointment of the staff were marred with irregularities. Such an appointment had to be terminated to look into the whole issue holistically.

“The sacking was premised on irregularities. So many procedural obligations were breached and as a result, the exercise was deprived of due process.”

Speaking on the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Obiando Elechi Amadi, who was sent on a compulsory leave, Inko-Tariah pointed out that it was as a result of a case of official misconduct on the rector’s part.

On the disbandment of the state traffic management agency, the governor’s aide specifically said that some of the officials of TIMARIV were making illegal seizure of vehicles in order to extort money from innocent citizens.

According to him, “Many of those guys were making illegal and embarrassing seizure of vehicles on the roads and this is becoming an eyesore. Let us leave politics aside; it is a known fact all over the state that TIMARIV had constituted itself into a public nuisance.

“The action of its staff had, in most cases, brought River State into disrepute. What they do in most cases is illegal. They are not supposed to struggle for the steering with the driver of a vehicle, but this is what they often do.

“The state government can no longer cope with the excesses of this TIMARIV staff. It was on that premises that the governor decided that it should be disbanded.

“Governor Nyesom Wike also instructed that all seized vehicles should be released with immediate effect. He further instructed that nobody should pay a kobo to TIMARIV.

“If anybody should be refused or deprived of the retrieval of his/her vehicle, such a person should report to the nearest police station and the TIMARIV staff in question will be dealt with,” Inko-Tariah added.

Kashamu Files Fresh Suit In US To Stop Forceful Extradition

Nigerian Senator, Buruji Kashamu, has filed a fresh suit at the United States District Court seeking an injunction ordering the U.S. to cease all efforts to abduct him from Nigeria or any other country. In the suit Kashamu said if his relief is not granted, he is likely to be abducted and possibly killed or injured.

“The threatened abduction violates the treaty between the United States and Nigeria and due process under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Mr. Kashamu said through his lawyers, Robert Cohen and Scott Frankel.

It will be recalled that Kashamu, a Senator representing Ogun East, is wanted in the U.S. for alleged involvement in an international cartel smuggling heroin into the country. The NDLEA has recently been in battle with him wanting to forcefully extradite him to the US to answer drug-related charges. However, the Senator has been doing everything under the law to save his face.

Former Rivers commissioner whose SUV was taken by new govt releases statement

Yesterday,18th of june, the lexus SUV belonging to one of former Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi's commissioners, Ibim Semenitari was taken by the new Rivers state govt who sent police to her house to recover the car. Mrs Ibim has released a statement on the matter.

   On Thursday June 18, 2015, over 10 policemen armed with machine guns and in two trucks - One Ford Transit and One Hilux arrived my residence, No 12 A Ernest Ikoli Street, Old G.R.A Port Harcourt. Without either a search warrant, letter or precious information, they forced their way into my premises
My security guard on duty requested to know their mission and who sent them. They refused to disclose either, but went round taking photographs and videoing my premises. The security guard got in touch with my assistant who spoke with the men, explaining to them that i was out of town and again requested to know their mission and purpose,they declined insisting on seeing me first. She then got in touch with me by phone as we were uncertain as to the identity of the policemen in question.

Upon further investigation and after about 3 hours of them laying siege on my premise, I was told that they were from Rivers State Government House and had been sent to recover vehicles in my possession. They attempted to break into a Range Rover Jeep belonging to my Husband and bought long before I was made Commissioner in Rivers State Government, damaging the front door. The vehicle in question contrary to the lies being paraded is not an armored vehicle and has never at any point belonged to the Rivers State Government nor its agents including myself as Commissioner of Information.

By the time I finally made contact with them and expressed my displeasure, they insisted that they would take away a Lexus jeep duly allocated to me as Commissioner of Information and which by law I am entitled to leave with upon leaving office.

The monetization policy of the government allows public officers to leave government with their official vehicles as this is in lieu of vehicle, allowance, transport and other allowances, which they cannot draw because of the monetization policy of 2002. Mr. Nyesom Wike served as Chief of Staff, and upon departure left with all the vehicles he used as Chief of Staff. This has been the practice since this democratic dispensation when President Olusegun Obasanjo instituted the monetization policy.
Having served as Commissioner for two tenures, I am entitled to my status cars and have proof of allocation. While I understand that Mr. Wike feels a dire need to destroy the reputation of Governor Amaechi and all those worked with him, it is unacceptable that he will engage in brigandage, thuggery and underhand tactics to do so. A simple letter from any government official requesting me to make a submission or tender documentation would have been the appropriate way to go and I would have willingly tendered all the relevant documents to them.

Breaking into my home, invading my privacy, damaging my property and removing property from my premises is inappropriate and illegal.

I have chosen however to put out these details in the public space as it is apparent that for some persons only a destruction of my hard earned reputation would do and this I would not accept. My records in the Ministry of Information are crystal clear I hope that Mr. Nyesom Wike is able to say same about his tenure in every office he has held.

Forcing their home into my home unlawfully isn’t the appropriate way for any government that claims legitimacy to behave.

Ibim Semenitari
June 18, 2015

Bauchi Governor Recovers 22 Vehicles From Former Governor’s Wives

Recently Rivers State Governor, Wike Nyesom has been recovering State owned vehicles from the officials of the immediate past government, the new Bauchi State Governor; Mohammed Abubakar has also started recovering State owned vehicles still in possession of officers of the past administration. What has however turned to be amazing is that, the Governor has so far recovered 22 vehicles from the wives of the immediate past governor, Isa Yaguda with some still remaining.

Hear the Chairman of the Transition Committee, Senator Mohammed Mohammed  on this matter.

“We have so far, recovered a total of 22 cars from the wives of the former Governor, Isa Yuguda. We recovered 11 cars from his first wife, seven from the second wife and four from the third wife. We are yet to recover the remaining cars from his fourth wife who is currently out of the country.

“We will ensure that whoever is in possession of government properties will be forced to return them. We urge public servants and the general public, especially those involved in the disposal and allocation of the property in question to cooperate with the committee for the effective discharge of its assignment.”

Ben Bruce Blasts Aregbesola Again

TacKle for Tackle! Ben Murray-Bruce has insisted that he would give 50% of his wardrobe allowance to workers in Osun State and the State Governor cannot stop him. Osun State workers are yet to receive salaries in 7 months. This comes after Governor Aregbesola of Osun State hit out at Ben Bruce gestures as being ridiculous, telling him to rather give his allowances to PDP states that had similar remuneration problems.

Ben Bruce had this to say on his twitter account, “I’ll take whatever attacks come my way but nothing and nobody can dissuade me from doing what my conscience directs in helping my fellow man,”

On ridiculing the governor, he said: “The month of Ramadan is here. Many unpaid workers will fast. With what will they break their fast? I thought of that and it moved me to act”

“I may not be a Muslim, but I respect Islam and I believe that it is wrong for me to respond to any attack during the Holy month of Ramadan,” he said.

Photos: Bukola Saraki in closed door meeting with Obasanjo

Senate President, Bukola Saraki arrived Abeokuta, Ogun state this morning to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his home. The Senate president was accompanied by Senator Andy Uba, Ben Bruce and others

Nigeria's four refineries to begin operation next month - NNPC

The spokesperson of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Ohi Alegbe says that Nigeria's four refineries - two in Port Harcourt, one in Kaduna and the other one in Warri will resume production next month.

    “The refineries at Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna will resume next month after a successful turn-around-maintenance (overhaul) of their facilities. The turn-around-maintenance has been on for some time. We did not just want to make any noise about it. The refineries will start production as soon as they have delivery of crude oil for refining,” he told AFP.

Fresh crisis in APC over Senate positions

There seems to be new crisis within the ruling party, All Progressives Congress APC in regards to sharing principal offices in the Senate.

The principal offices are the Senate Leader; the Deputy Senate Leader; the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is believed to have recommended to the APC National Working Committee that the positions be allocated to the zone, however, some leaders of the party, mainly those from the South-West, want them filled by the party’s hierarchy.
On Thursday,a  senator in Abuja said that the APC NWC meeting failed to agree on the modalities for brokering peace among aggrieved party members.

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The senator warned that if the issue was not quickly resolved, the Senate and the APC might “face another round of crisis bigger than that that resulted from Saraki’s emergence as Senate president.”
He said:

    “The Senate President, had after wide consultations, suggested how the officers to occupy these posts could be appointed. He suggested the allocation of the four principal offices to some of the geopolitical zones.

    “But some leaders, who are still angry with his (Saraki) emergence, turned down his suggestion. Some of the influential leaders from the South-West are insisting that the party should fill the offices. This is in spite of the fact that the chairman of our party (John Odigie-Oyegun) and other members of the NWC are in support of allocating the principal offices to zones.

    “The South-West leaders are even saying that allowing the party leadership to fill the offices, remained the only way to allow peace to reign in the Senate.”

A Senator from the North-Central , who is loyal to Saraki, confirmed the development on condition of anonymity .
He said that it was true that some APC leaders were insisting that the party should nominate the senators who would occupy the four principal offices .

He said,

    “By the Senate tradition, the party in majority normally sends the offices to the zones where the Senate caucuses would meet and choose among themselves in the zone, who occupies the offices.

    “Some other leaders of the party are claiming that asking the party to produce the principal officers was a smart way   to impose the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip on the Senate.”

The senator claimed that a “very influential “ leader of the party from the South-West had allegedly written Odigie- Oyegun that the leaders would fill the positions. “
He said,

    “Some of us were just called by some members of the NWC intimating us of details of a letter forwarded to the body that it should just fill the remaining four leadership positions in the Senate.

    “In fact, the letter from the South-West leader is that the party must take charge and name its preferred candidates for the four offices.”

It was further learnt that some senators had already met with some NWC members asking them to ignore the letter.
They   were said to have insisted that the tradition remained that the zonal caucuses which did not produce the Senate President and his deputy should meet and nominate among themselves.
They added that it was when there were two or more nominations that,   an election could hold and that whoever scored the highest votes   would be the candidate.

Efforts to get the spokesperson for the pro Saraki group, Dino Melaye, proved abortive because he couldn't be reached on his mobile phone.

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, a group of senators loyal to   Lawan, Kabir Marafa, argued that the choice of other principal officers who are not elected on the floor of the Senate, remained the sole business of the party leadership.

He said, “How can the executive of the party at the zonal levels determine who will be made the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip   and the Deputy Chief Whip?

“It is the party executive that would determine all these. So the party would write the Senate President. That is the tradition. It cannot be done at the zonal level, it is absurd. There should be due process in whatever things   we do.”

But when contacted , the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Lai Mohammed simply said,
  “No comment.”

Punch.

late Sir Ahmadu Bello encouraging female education

Buhari set to move into Aso Villa + may announce some appointments next week

Next week,President Muhammadu Buhari will  move into the Presidential Villa  to continue his governance and may also name the first set of top government officials to start off the administration, we gathered
Since being declared winner of the 2015 Presidential election, Buhari has been operating from the Defence House in Maitama and has been conducting official business of government from there, having taken over the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2015 from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
It was leant that the President was ready to move from Defence House to the Villa possibly early next week following completion of renovation of the President’s residence.

    “It is true that the construction company has completed the President’s wing and he is set to move in any moment from now. As at today, it is only the Vice President’s residence that is yet to be fully completed.

    “We expect that the two men will move into the villa by next week since the work in the Vice President’s apartment is not a serious one,” an official in the Presidency explained.

The source explained that Buhari was set to begin naming some key officials of his government as soon as he moves into the Villa to prepare the grounds for the take off of serious work for Nigerians who have been expecting action from the administration.

As a prelude to setting up his administration, Buhari has reportedly handed over the 800-page Transition Committee Report to a trusted team of his associates, headed by former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola; former Ekiti governor,  Kayode Fayemi  and others to reduce into a sizable and workable document.

Fashola is being tipped to emerge as Chief of Staff to the President because of his pedigree as a former Chief of Staff, governor and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

An impeccable source said that it was Buhari who instructed that after all others had completed working on transition report, they should hand over the voluminous document to Fashola to reduce into an implementable format for him to read and take necessary actions.

The source said:

    “Hopefully, from next week, some appointments would be announced. Buhari is a fast reader and he will be able to take immediate actions based on the transition report.”


A member of the Buhari Transition Committee, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, confirmed that the final report presented to the president last week was a comprehensive document meant to guide him in taking decisions as to the shape and nature of his administration to bring about the needed change in the country.

The member said that what they presented to the President was more of a blueprint and how best to go about it in order to bring the country out of the woods. The member said: “The final report is very rich and we believe it will help Mr. President in putting a solid structure of his government and give him policy direction as well.”

Vanguard

mbode Approves Construction Of Pedestrian Bridge At Berger

UK Writes IGP Arase Over Kashamu’s Extradition

Senator Buruji Kashamu has been cleared from extradition  following a letter received by  IGP Solomon Arase through the British High Commission in Abuja which was dated April 27, 2015, saying that the UK government is no longer interested in any matter concerning Kashamu, having discharged him in 2003.

The letter which was signed by Mr. Robert Hunter, a Police Advisor of the High Commission in Abuja was addressed to ‘Solomon Arase, Inspector General of Police, Force CID Headquarters, Garki Area 10’ also disclosed that the accused person (Buruji Kashamu)  is not wanted in connection with any other offences within the UK jurisdiction.

“I understand that the US authorities are seeking his extradition but can confirm that we have no current interest in this matter and he is not wanted in connection with any other offences within our jurisdiction”, Robert Hunter said in the letter.

Real Reasons Why China Banned Ramadan Fasting

China has banned civil servants, students and teachers in its mainly Muslim Xinjiang region from fasting during Ramadan and ordered restaurants to stay open.

Most Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month, which began on Thursday, but China's ruling Communist party is officially atheist and for years has restricted the practice in Xinjiang, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.


"Food service workplaces will operate normal hours during Ramadan," said a notice posted last week on the website of the state Food and Drug Administration in Xinjiang's Jinghe county.

Officials in the region's Bole county were told: "During Ramadan do not engage in fasting, vigils or other religious activities," according to a local government website report of a meeting this week.

Each year, the authorities' attempt to ban fasting among Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang receives widespread criticism from rights groups.

China imposes restrictions on Muslim Uighurs

Uighur rights groups say China's restrictions on Islam in Xinjiang have added to ethnic tensions in the region, where clashes have killed hundreds in recent years.

China says it faces a "terrorist threat" in Xinjiang, with officials blaming "religious extremism" for the growing violence.

Protesters Storm National Assembly, Demand Death Penalty For Corrupt Leaders

 A group known as the voice of the voiceless yesterday stormed the National Assembly in their numbers and demanded a legislation that would prescribe death penalty as punishment for corruption in Nigeria. While speaking, the group noted that there was no way corruption could be stopped in the country until such capital punishment is instilled.

They wrote letters to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara explaining why such a law should be made.


“Corruption, as we are all aware of, has eaten so deep into the fabric of this great nation and we are strongly advocating the death penalty to anybody who is found guilty of corrupt practices, no matter how highly-placed such an individual is in the society. Nigeria has tried every other measure of deterrent but to no avail. We want this great nation to toe the path of countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, China and other world powers who have achieved so much developmental strides as a result of their zero tolerance for corruption,” the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Oliver Ezeala said in one of the letter.

They said they were confident that with the new President in power, the fight against corruption would be fast-tracked.

“We believe that he will fight this our common hydra-headed enemy to a complete standstill,” he further said in the letter.

APC Slams ‘PDP Media Watchdog’ For Asking Buhari To Resign

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as a product of poor thinking and deliberate mischief the statement credited to the so-called PDP Media Watchdog asking President Muhammadu Buhari to resign because of his comments over his age.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said if the authors of the statement had understood simple English, taken the pains to engage in deep thinking and contextualized the comments, they would not have rushed to the press to ask the President to resign.


“What President Buhari was saying, which was lost on those who issued that jejune statement, is that only his love and passion for the country could have made him, at his age, to come out of retirement to seek the office of President, over 30 years after he presided over the affairs of the country.

“For 16 years, Nigerians gave the PDP the benefit of the doubt to move the country forward, but instead, the party put Nigeria in reverse gear at a high speed, spinning it towards a doomsday that was only averted when Nigerians showed the PDP the red card. This is what necessitated President Buhari to continuously seek the country’s highest political office, so he can help put the country on a forward march again. Nothing else matters, not for him the excitement of an office he previously held and the quest for personal accomplishment. If the country had been well managed, President Buhari will not at 72 be crisscrossing the whole world seeking solution to Nigeria’s problems,” it said.

APC said within three weeks of his inauguration, President Buhari has succeeded in returning Nigeria to the comity of nations, to such an extent that world leaders are now so eager to engage him on how to assist his country in key areas, including security and the fight against corruption.

“Within three weeks of President Buhari’s inauguration, he had done what the PDP government could not do in six years: Invigorate the fight against Boko Haram by rallying a regional and global front against the terror group. Today, the US has pledged to give $5 million for the fight against Boko Haram, in addition to other material support. This is apart from the support that has been pledged by the G-7 for Nigeria’s efforts to quell the insurgency.

“Thanks to President Buhari’s shuttle diplomacy, the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) that the PDP government could not bring together for all of six years is ready to deploy next month, while the President has ordered the release of $21 million to facilitate the establishment of the headquarters of the force in N’Djamena, Chad.

“Since assuming office about three weeks ago, President Buhari has visited Chad, Niger, Germany and South Africa, winning support and friends for Nigeria all over again and returning the country to the comity of respected nations. Those who were put off by the PDP government’s resort to politicizing the fight against Boko Haram – even as the insurgents grew stronger – are now joining President Buhari to battle the terrorists. In no distant future, the results of his tireless efforts will begin to show.

“On the domestic front, President Buhari has been handling pressing issues far away from the klieg light, and his efforts to assembly a first class team to implement his change mantra, which he is personally driving, are continuing apace. We in the APC, and we are sure most unbiased Nigerians, are very proud of President Buhari and the vigour he has shown in governance, the kind of vigour we did not see in the immediate past administration that was presided over by a far younger man,” the party said.

It said only anarchists and non-democrats will ask a President who has not spent one month in office to resign, adding: “It rankles when those making these calls are from the ranks of the party that failed to avail itself creditably in 16 years.”

APC said it has deliberately refused to join issues with the PDP, which has been issuing a series of insipid press statements that showed clearly that the party is not ready to provide a robust opposition to the APC-led federal government


“For the umpteenth time, we say that the PDP and its satellite bodies must realize that in order to be relevant, credible and to make the necessary impact, they must pick on real issues and articulate them intelligently, rather than latching on to trite matters. This very amateurish display won’t get them anywhere,” the party said.

Saraki Attempts To Deflect Attention From Lavish NASS Allowances, Blames State Agencies

In his words“we must block every leakage in government revenue," comes two days after public outrage over allowances for wardrobe, vehicle, and housing for all NASS members


Senator Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, attempted to deflect attention away from the the National Assembly budget controversy by criticizing government agencies and State governments for not remitting required funds to the Federation Account.

The wardrobe allowances are placed at N506,600 per legislator each year, according to data made available to the public.

Senator Saraki made his statements after a courtesy visit from the the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Chairman Elias Mbam.

Saraki said that the non-compliance of government agencies is what set backs major processes and major progress of governance.

A spokesman from the RMAFC told SaharaReporters that Senator Saraki’s statements were made “in partnership between the RMAFC and Federal Government to see revenue mobilized according to the Constitution.”

The same spokesman also added that Senator Saraki committed to “review leakages in remittances to the Federal Government, especially from oil bunkering.”

Election Petition Filed Against Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye Dismissed

An election petition filed against the Senator of the Kogi West Senatorial District, Senator Dino Melaye was dismissed this morning at the tribunal in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital.

The Elections’ Petition Tribunals are the equivalents of high courts that handle judicial petitions. These petitions may arise from the conduct of the polls conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Aggrieved parties are allowed to file such petitions within a stipulated time frame, after which the referenced poll is deemed validly conducted.

Senator Melaye asked the Election Petition Tribunal to strike out the petition of Senator Smart Adeyemi, who is challenging his victory as winner of the Kogi West senatorial election, arguing that the pre-hearing motion was filed by the petitioner a day after the deadline.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate, Smart Adeyemi, who alleged that the election was fraught with irregularities, filed the petition. Adeyemi said that the winner-declared by INEC, Senator Dino Melaye, did not win the election.

“Melaye was declared the winner of the election because of wrong and/or incorrect computation of lawful votes cast and intentional omission of collating results of the polling units won by the petitioners and counting of spoilt ballots in his favour,” Adeyemi stated in a statement cited by Vanguard.

The petitioner, Smart Adeyemi wanted the tribunal to order INEC to conduct another election, or declare him, instead, as the winner.

The tribunal however dismissed the petition this morning, citing lack of merit.

INEC originally announced Dino Melaye winner of the election with 41,120 votes. Smart Adeyemi of the PDP had 38,148 votes.

Femi-Fani Kayode Court Judgement Postponed

The Judge told the Court today that she could not deliver judgment in the case, as earlier scheduled, owing to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in court. "It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do, it is better to have everyone present for the judgment”, she said.

Justice  Rita Ofili  Ajumogobia  of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State,  has deferred judgment in the case of a former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, till July 1, 2015.

She told the court on Thursday that she could not deliver judgment in the case, as earlier scheduled, owing to the absence of the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in court.  "It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do... it is better to have everyone present for the judgment”, she said.

Fani- Kayode is facing trial on a two- count charge bordering on money laundering. His trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the same court. He was accused by the EFCC of laundering about N100 million while he was the Minister of Culture and Tourism and later, the Minister of Aviation.  On November 17, 2014, the succeeding judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia dismissed 38 of the 40 counts leveled against him.

At the resumption of his trial on Thursday,  prosecution counsel, represented by Festus Afiyen, announced the absence of the lead counsel, Festus Keyamo, who was unavoidably absent due to his involvement in another matter where he was standing as a witness. “My lord, I regret to inform the court that Festus Keyamo who is the lead counsel in this matter, would not be able to make it, due to his handling of another important case where he is the principal witness. We regret this development, my lord”.

However, defence counsel, I.A Adedipe, sought the indulgence of the court to stand the matter down till 1p.m, hoping  Keyamo would be available by that time, “My lord, I spoke with my learned colleague, Keyamo, just now and he told me that if the court can stand the matter down till 1p.m today, he would be around. My lord, we pray that the matter will be stood down, so that the judgment can be heard as scheduled”.

After listening to the defence counsel, Justice Ajumogobia turned down his prayer and adjourned judgment in the matter to July 1, 2015.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
18th June, 2015

Zenith Bank Guts Fire

Ajose Adeogun branch of Zenith Bank was today gutted by fire. The fire destroyed one of the administrative offices located inside the bank before fire fighters came to put it out. No life was lost and the cost of damages has not yet been ascertained.

From A Street Fighter Dad

Lol,I found this on facebook,i decided to share it with you guys....what do you guys think?

I Was Forced To Sleep Under A Cocoa Tree- Ondo Regent Recounts Ordeal

"I was hit on the head several times when they kidnapped me and I slept under the Cocoa tree. It was raining and I was drenched.


The Regent of Akungba Akoko, in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, Princess Oluwatoyin Omosowon, has regained her freedom.

Princess Omosowon, who was abducted on the 2nd of June, was set free on Tuesday by her abductors from the combined efforts of the Joint Task Force (JTF).

The JTF included men of the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Army (NA), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).

A member of the JTF, who was part of the rescued team  has it that the Regent was freed at Arimagija, near a bush in Ifon, Ose LGA of the State.

"The bush burst ‎out to Edo State and it was a thick one. We have to locate where they kept them and we shot sporadically to scared the kidnappers away," the security officer said.

"A leader of kidnapper identified as "Mr. Federal" was shot dead during operation because he was dragging with one of our officers", he added.

Freed alongside ‎the Monarch was an Indian citizen-Mr. Alex John, his mobile Police escort-Sunday Obafe, a Corps member- Miss Ijeoma Azubike, and a driver- Ali Abdujelili.

Addressing Journalists, the Regent narrated how she was traumatized, bruised, and made to sleep under very hard conditions.

She disclosed that the kidnappers made ‎her to sleep under a Cocoa tree and blindfolded her for days.

"I was hit on the head several times when they kidnapped me and I slept under the Cocoa tree. It was raining and I was drenched.

"The kidnappers blindfolded us and we couldn't see their face except their feet. They chained my leg and arms. I prayed inside of me that I would not die by reciting the book of Psalm inside the bible.

"When it was 3 Am, they took us inside the thick forest. I think the place is very close to a sawmill because I perceived the sound of their big machine use in cutting logs of wood.

"At the time, their second-in-command told me point blank that those who sent them message to kidnapped me had already paid them to kill me. I was very scared.

"The second-in-command said it was because me (Princess Oluwatoyin) didn't want the community to have another king and that am on the throne enjoying the dividends. He added that they needed N200 Million ‎so that they would not kill me.

"I replied him that I don't know anything about the Obaship tussle as the case is even in court.

"‎They handcuffed me tightly and I was in pain. During that process, myself and the driver were together.

"I had a terrible experience because I was maltreated. Although, their gang-leader had a little fear of God. Even, during interactions with them (kidnappers) they told me, they were into kidnapping because there is no job in the country.

She spoke further: "They gave me Rice and Eba to eat. Although, I am an Asthmatic patients, the boys (kidnappers) accorded me that respect of being a Regent. Sometimes, they would buy me drinks. But I go through fasting and prayers for the majority times.

"On Sunday afternoon, I called one of the kidnappers and told him that by Tuesday I would be going home. He was surprised ‎and looked at me foolishly and replied me back that 'hope they would have pay the money they demanded for before they released me from their den' but told him that I can't guarantee it. I thank God. I was freed today (Tuesday). God is merciful and wonderful" she said.

Also, a ‎member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Ijeoma Azubike abducted by the same gang said‎ she was kidnapped late last month on her way to Lagos.

Miss Azubike, who graduated from the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and currently serving in Jigawa State also narrated her experience.

"I was travelling from Abuja to Lagos on 31st of May, which was on Sunday. I boarded a vehicle by the roadside. I never knew they were kidnappers.

"The experience was horrible. We were under the rain, so cold and had to sleep under the floor. We were beaten and I was handcuffed. They demanded N10 million from my parents. I thank God have been release", she said.

An Indian, Alex John, also said he was beaten severally and made to face difficult situations.

‎The two arrested suspects were: Lucky Smart, 35 year, and David Akpan, 52 year-old.

It was gathered that Akpan always drove the kidnappers for their operations.

We inherited N42.6 billion debt from bank loans and bonds from the APC government.- Ekiti Government

Ekiti has been under the media's scrutiny because it is in debt to State Government workers for an alleged three months.

Lere Olayinka, the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Governor, released a statement that said only the May 2015 salary was owed by the Ekiti Government, led by Governor Ayo Fayose.

Olayinka clarified that the immediate past government of Kayode Fayemi refused to pay workers the August and September 2014 salaries despite having the federal funds for those months.

He also stated, "the Fayose-led government had already cleared the August 2014 salary left unpaid by the APC government, leaving that of September that will be paid as soon as there is improvement in the State finances."

For the May salary that went unpaid he said, "allocation of May that was received was not enough to pay salary, leaving the government with the option of waiting for the June allocation that is expected to be released next week."

“As at the time we assumed office, unpaid bank loan was N15,831,613,425,.62 while outstanding payment from the N25 billion bond was N26,749,796,784.75, making N42.6 billion debt from bank loans and bonds alone.”

“N21, 286, 126, 729 was outstanding payment to road contractors while N5, 137, 888, 224.37 was outstanding emoluments to State public servants,” Olayinka said.

Olayinka said that the mismanagement of Ekiti State finances by the past government is the reason why the Ekiti is in such a bad state. Moreover, Governor Fayose has been fighting with legislators for a long time over many various issues.

But with optimism the aide said Fayose, with the cooperation of the workers, is expecting Ekiti and the State government to bounce back from previous financial irresponsibility.

Bomb Explosion Kills Scores In Borno

The explosions occurred in Monguno town, which was recently liberated from Boko Haram militants. Our sources stated that the explosion in town killed and injured unspecified number of people.

A late night bomb explosion killed scores of people in Borno town, a security source disclosed to SaharaReporters.

The explosions occurred in Monguno town, which was recently liberated from Boko Haram militants. Our sources stated that the explosion in town killed and injured unspecified number of people.

A local vigilante said they were trying to reach their colleagues in Monguno, but they could not reach them by phone at that time.

Monguno is about 137 kilometers away from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.‎ The area around Maiduguri has been repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram terrorists, even after towns have been liberated by the Nigerian military.

Saraki receives agency responsible for allowances of Assembly members, releases statement

Senate president this afternoon met with the management of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation & Fiscal Commission RMAFC, to clarify issues bothering on the alleged N8.64 billion wardrobe allowance the newly inaugurated Assembly members are entitled to.

At the meeting, the Chairman of RMAFC, Engr. Elias Mbam denied the media reports, stating that each lawmaker is entitled to N506, 600 wardrobe allowance per annum. A press statement from Senator Saraki on the matter after the cut ...


President of the Senate, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki today warned government agencies adamant of not remitting Federal Government revenue to the Federation account saying government will no longer condone such mismanagement act. Senator Saraki said this when he received the Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Engr. Elias Mbam and his team in Abuja that non-compliance by agencies of government has brought major setback in the processes of governance.

He reiterated the support of the Senate in bringing back justice to any erring agency that indulges in diverting government revenue to illegal channel adding, “Monetary revenue and allocation is a serious challenge to our economy. Though, diversification of economy is very important but is not an overnight issue. We must block every leakage in government revenue.

“We made campaign promises to Nigerians and we must fulfill all our pledges. It cannot be business as usual. We will do everything within our capacity to elevate the living standard of Nigerians.”

Senator Saraki also cleared air on the N8.64billion bogus wardrobe allowance to lawmakers as reported in the media, saying the Commission is charged with fixing of remunerations to public office holders and advise the media to be more accurate in their reporting.

Earlier, the RMAFC Boss, Mbam said the agency have always enjoyed cordial relationship with the National Assembly while calling for continued working partnership with the view to enhance their effectiveness.

Mbam condemned the recent media report that exaggerated the wardrobe allowances of Senators and members of the House of Representatives saying, that wardrobe allowance is 25 percent of the basic salary which when broken down amounts to N506, 600 per legislator, per annum. He advised that the agency operates a functional website where information concerning the day-to-day activities of the agency is published.

Bamikole Omishore
Media Office of the President of the Senate

Osun state blasts Ben Murray Bruce

This evening Sen. Ben Murray-Bruce offered to donate his wardrobe allowance to Osun state workers who have not been paid their salaries for months.  Well, the government of Osun state didn't appreciate his 'kind' gesture and clapped back at him. They released a statement saying he is mocking Nigerian workers. Find the statement signed by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Osun state Governor below...

    My attention has been drawn to a tweet by a member of Upper chamber of the National Assembly Senator Ben Murray Bruce of the PDP from Bayelsa saying he will not reject the alleged hefty pay for members of the National Assembly but collect it and donate to Osun workers. It is saddening and tragic that Mr. Murray Bruce whom many had accorded a lot of respect is too early in the day joining the fray of politicisation and trivialising the salary issue affecting more than half of the states of the federation in this ridiculous manner. While Nigerians are in hot debate over the alleged jumbo pay and the mood of the country,Bruce seems to have turned the plight of Nigerian workers to a thing of an entertainment. Of all the states in the federation who are battling to pay salaries as a result of the precarious economic situation his party the PDP threw Nigeria into why is it that it is Osun he wants to take his pay to?

    This is certainly playing to the gallery and nothing but a mockery in the faces of Nigerian workers and not only of Osun extraction. It is not only wicked but ungodly to play politics with the suffering of the people. If the Senator’s conscience tells him his pay is too high especially in the face of the prevailing economic predicament of Nigeria the most honourable thing to do is to lead a protest for reduction and not a self serving philanthropy only in the direction of Osun workers.

    Semiu Okanlawon, Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Governor Osogbo

Ramadan Fast Starts Today

Akwa Ibom Governor Set To Sell State’s Private Jet

Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel is contemplating on disposing the private jet acquired by proceeding administration of Godswill Akpabio. Governor Emmanuel who seems not to be finding the state’s ownership of private jet a worthwhile investment is said to be looking for buyers so that the state will be relieved of the burden of fueling and maintaining it.

Since Governor Emmanuel was inaugurated on May 29, 2015 he is said to prefer travelling by chartered helicopter which he considers less ostentatious. The slash in Federal Allocation and high cost of aviation fuel are other reasons Governor Emmanuel is taking this step, Vanguard reports.

Meet D’Prince' Baby Mama

She is Sharon Oparacho and she is 26. Sharon is a graduate of Coventry University in the UK and welcomed a baby with the singer few days ago.

Challenge Buhari Over Economic Policies, Falana Tells Nigerians

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for attending the just concluded G7 meeting with a shopping list of Nigeria’s problems. Mr. Falana spoke today at a civil society round table on the state of the nation organized by the Nigerians United for Democracy in Lagos.

The group of seven industrialized nations had urged Mr. Buhari to attend the Munich event with a “wish list” for their consideration and assistance.

“Our president went to the G7 and we are happy. And he went there with a bowl, ‘please do this for us, do this for us,'” said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Continue below...


“Again we must interrogate that, has our situation become so bad that we have to ask for external support? When we have not mobilized the energy, the potentials of our people to turn this country around.

“And please, let the new regime be told that the dangerous prescriptions of the IMF and the World Bank and the G7 that we have followed since 1986 that the Structural Adjustment Programme was imposed on Nigeria, those prescriptions have reduced Nigeria to a banana republic. Since then we have been managing poverty, what they call poverty alleviation, not poverty eradication, because this system can never abolish poverty.”

The lawyer called on Nigerians to challenge the government over its choice of economic policies.

“There are alternative economic programmes to the ones that are forced on Nigerians every time,” Mr. Falana said

I say no to huge NASS allowances - Sen. Dino Melaye

APC Governors at their meeting in Abuja yesterday

Buhari says old age will limit his performance, PDPMW replies without any further delay

Press statement from PDP Watchdog. Read below...

    The PDP Media Watchdog has reacted to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari in which he declared and admitted that age will limit the rate of his performance in office as President of Nigeria.

    The group while reacting to the statement on Wednesday June 17, 2015 said the APC and President Buhari are gang of hypocrites and liars. "The PDP is again vindicated by this confession from President Muhammadu Buhari and many more that are yet to come.

Nigerians will recall that during the presidential campaigns, the PDP and other well meaning Nigerians complained on the choice of sponsoring Muhammadu Buhari as Presidential Candidate of APC and the effect it will have on the country when it comes to managing the affairs of a multi dimensional nation like Nigeria, but the APC and its leaders said that age is just a number".

The PDP Media Watchdog again reminded Nigerians of their earlier statements on the need for the people of this country to challenge the numerous inconsistencies of this APC administration and call on President Muhammadu Buhari  to resign immediately to save the country of this four years of motion without movement because according to the group, all they have done since May 29th is that  Buhari and the APC has hit the ground sitting instead of running as they promised.

"It's barely three weeks into the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and his age is already telling on him, so, what will happen to Nigeria in the remaining 1,440 days of this government. It's better to find a black goat in the day time rather than looking for it in the night and this is why we are asking President Buhari to resign now because Nigerians will not entertain further excuses of why the APC cannot deliver on their campaign promises". the group said.

The group also gave another example of how President Buhari's age is affecting his performance and reminded Nigerians of how he disgraced the country in a world forum when he referred to the President of Germany as President of West Germany. "Nigerians saw this all along during the campaigns but could not resist the broom stick voodoo that the APC used to hypnotize the people. Nigerians will also recall that this same  Buhari could not remember the complete name of His Vice Presidential Candidate and even the full name of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) under which platform he was contesting and instead referred to it as  the All Progressive Confidence during the campaigns. How long will a nation like Nigeria, the giant of Africa remained under this hypnosis of the APC" the group queried.

Finally, the Watchdog urged the people of Nigeria to wake up to the challenge and resist this daylight robbery and blackmail of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and demand the immediate resignation of Pa. Muhammadu Buhari and call for another election to elect a more competent and vibrant Nigerian to lead to the people to the Nigeria of our Dreams.

Tunde Lawal
For: PDP Media Watchdog
pdpmediawatchdog@gmail.com

Ondo governor, Mimiko emerges chairman PDP governors forum

Ondo state governor, Olusegun Mimiko has emerged the new Chairman of the PDP governors forum He was elected new chairman at the PDP governors meeting in Abuja today June 17th. He takes over from Akwa-Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, who is now a Senator.

Kidnapped Ondo regent regains freedom

The regent of Akungba Akoko township in Ondo state, Princess Mojisola Omosowon who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen along the Owo-Akure road in Ondo state on June 3rd has regained her freedom. A team of police officers and state security service officers rescued the regent in Edo.

Princess Omosowon was kidnapped along with her driver while on her way to attend the inaugural lecture of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo state capital.