Beggars stab man six times for not giving them money

Two homeless beggars have been jailed for stabbing a man who refused to hand out a few coins to them in Newcastle.

The man reportedly was making his way to a cash machine to get some money for a cab when the beggars attacked him.

According to Metro UK,  they punched and kicked him before stabbing him six times while he curled up in a bid to protect himself for refusing to give them cash.

Keith Newbold was drenched in his blood, staggered to a nearby takeaway and drifted in and out of consciousness before he was picked up by an ambulance to the hospital.

While Newbold was fighting for his life, the attackers, who had taken his belongings, passed on his bank card to Sean Kelly, 23, who tried to use it at McDonald’s.

They were jailed for 12 years and 14 months respectively.

#RiversRerun: Police recovers over N111m bribe from electoral officers.

Police today recovered over  N111 million naira from electoral officials allegedly bribed by the Rivers state government during the December 10 2015 rerun parliamentary elections in Rivers state.

 

According to the report by the IGP investigative panel tasked to investigate the violence during the election presented to the IGP today, the money was recovered from 23 suspects who were allegedly bribed by the Rivers state government to rig the elections.

 

Source: Daily Trust

Opinion: Obazee and Accounting for God’s Money On Earth – By Jibrin Ibrahim

His rashness aside, Mr. Jim Obazee has raised issues of accountability that should not be disregarded in the review process that is to follow. He argued that: “In keeping other peoples’ money, you have to prepare accounts. That is why churches fought me so badly, took me to court as a person and then my office too…”

Jim Obazee, the recently sacked Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria is a man with unlimited capacity to provoke agency. He got an alarmed President Buhari only a few hours to leap into action and sack him over an impending war he was provoking between the Administration and Nigeria’s Christian Community when people woke up to realise that the revered general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was not retiring from office due to divine revelation but due to injunctions from Mr. Obazee.

It would be recalled that when the Emir of Kano was governor of the Central Bank and made major revelations of mega corruption against the then Jonathan Administration, in the comfort of law which guarantees the tenure of central bank governors, it was the same Mr. Obazee who emerged out of no where to create conditions for the sack of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Obazee had no qualms or fear in accusing him of financial recklessness and seeking to interrogate him.

In October 2015, the FRC under Obazee also suspended Atedo Peterside as the chairman of Stanbic IBTC, citing infractions in the 2013-14 financial statements of the bank as the reason for its decision. He directed the bank to restate and to re-issue its 2013-14 financial statements and imposed a fine of N1 billion on the bank. He also suspended Sola David Borha, the group managing director and other staff. He is a man with no fear of action, even if often the actions he takes are misguided or not clearly thought out.

One of Obazee’s most dramatic actions was in relation to civil society and religious organisations. Late last year, he directed not-for-profit organisations, including churches and mosques, to comply with a corporate governance code stipulating a maximum term of 20 years for heads of such entities. It was a decision that normally should have been considered and taken by the Corporate Affairs Commission, which regulates charities in Nigeria, but as they were not willing to act, Obazee acted. On the basis of his action, Enoch Adeboye, who had spent over 20 years as the general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), decided to hand over the baton to Joshua Obayemi to head the Nigerian church. When people realised that the change of guard was an Obazee, and not a spiritual, revelation, there was deep anger, which President Buhari understood immediately, and for once acted fast by removing Obazee and approving the reconstitution of the board of FRC. The government also immediately suspended the Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria pending a detailed review and extensive consultations with stakeholders.

Nigeria, according to Forbes, is the world leader in terms of the wealth of pastors… There is a debate to be held in Nigeria about the accountability of public resources collected by religious organisations. Can such resources just be disbursed as the boss decides?

His rashness aside, Mr. Jim Obazee has raised issues of accountability that should not be disregarded in the review process that is to follow. He argued that: “In keeping other peoples’ money, you have to prepare accounts. That is why churches fought me so badly, took me to court as a person and then my office too. Mosques and orthodox churches freely complied, but those Pentecostal churches called me to ask questions. They said: ‘This church is church of God and we are accountable to God.’ And I told them: ‘Very good, so you must take this church to heaven, you can’t operate it here’. When public funds are involved, government needs to ensure proper accountability.” We should think about this.

In this regard, it’s worthwhile recalling the story of Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, general overseer of a pentecostal church then based in a disused cinema in north-east London. He was running one of the United Kingdom’s richest religious institutions, the Kingsway International Christian Centre, in Walthamstow. It emerged in 2009 that he had filed company accounts, which revealed a £4.9 million profit over the previous 18 months. It also had asset of £22.9 million – more than three times the amount held by the foundation, which maintains St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. As the boss, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo had placed himself on a salary of £100,000 in conformity with his preaching that God wants his people to be rich. The British asked some questions. The Church was registered as a charity and its wealth was derived mainly from its 8,000 congregation that gave £9.5 million in tithes and offerings in the 18 months to April 2008, dwarfing the £33,000 that the average Church of England congregation gave over the same period. Maybe the British were jealous. While British Churches were dying, this Nigerian Church was flourishing with active members who were paying money to the Church.

The British Charity Commission objected to how the Church leadership was using the money of the Church, which they believed belonged to members and not the leadership. They ordered Ashimolowo to repay £200,000 after it emerged he used church asset to buy a £13,000 Florida timeshare and £120,000 on his birthday celebrations, including £80,000 on a car. The Charity Commission ordered the Church to appoint new trustees and removed Ashimolowo as chief executive of the Church. The Charities Commission also queried Ashimolowo for earning royalties from sermons published in books and on DVDs through his own company – Matthew Ashimolowo Media Ministries, which was making a lot of profit. They insisted that as Churches were charities, it was public money for the benefit of members and people in need not Church bosses. Obazee’s script was therefore not totally crazy. Nigeria however is not the UK and Ashimolowo moved back to Nigeria and God blessed his Nigerian Church with even more wealth than the one he left in the United Kingdom.

Nigeria, according to Forbes, is the world leader in terms of the wealth of pastors. They claimed three years ago that our richest pastor is Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka Winners Chapel with an estimated net worth of $150 million. He is followed by Chris Oyakhilome of Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy with an estimated net worth of $30 million to $50 million. Then comes Temitope Joshua of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN) who is worth $10 million to $15 million. They are followed by Mathew Ashimolowo and Chris Okotie. There is a debate to be held in Nigeria about the accountability of public resources collected by religious organisations. Can such resources just be disbursed as the boss decides?

TB Joshua blasts fake prophets, says they are after money.

The founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua, has bemoaned the rise in fake pastors and prophets in Malawi.

 

The prophet made this known in a message through Malawi’s Apostle Linette Matope, during discussions at the SCOAN in Nigeria.

 

According to Malawi24 News, Joshua told Matope that despite the fact that Malawi was a God fearing country, it had a lot of fake prophets.

 

He said it was contributing to the poverty in that country.

 

The message reads: “Joshua says Malawi is really a God fearing country but there are more prophets and pastors who are after money and not to serve which is disappointing.

 

“The man of God has urged people in the country to refrain from false prophets and pastors,” Matope was quoted as saying.

Osinbajo: Niger Delta is where we get most of the money

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the oil rich Niger Delta region is where Nigeria gets most of its money.

Speaking on Thursday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Mpape artisans’ village in Abuja, Osinbajo highlighted the resurgence of militancy in the region as one of the major challenges confronting this government.

He admitted that the pace of the current administration is slow, but said progress had been made.

Osinbajo also blamed the economic crisis on the “damages of the past”.

He told his audience of government’s plan to develop small and medium scale enterprises, and to also create sustainable jobs.

Osinbajo was accompanied by Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture.

“We are progressing but it is slow and the reason why it is slow is because there have been a lot of damages in the past,” he said.

“For instance, look at what is happening in the Niger Delta; that is where we get most of the money.

“But when the boys in the Niger Delta decided in blowing up the pipelines, production dropped from the two million barrels per day that we used to do to one million per day and we lost 60 per cent of what we used to earn from oil, that is partly responsible for the problem that you see today.

“We are trying to deal with the problem in the Niger Delta, address farming, industry and the economy so that this problem you are talking about will be fixed permanently.”

He urged the artisans not to despair, saying the government remained focused on improving key sectors that would revive the economy and create jobs for them and other Nigerians.

Woman Kills Husband In Quarrel Over N200 Soup Money

A young housewife in Sabon Gari, Zaria, is being accused of stabbing her husband to death in the heat of an argument over N200 meant for soup ingredients.

The lady, Zainab Hamisu, who was residing with her late husband, Suleiman Abubakar, 25, was alleged to have committed the act after Abubakar had demanded an explanation on her failure to cook for the family.

An elder brother of the deceased, Isa Abubakar, said: “At 9am of last week Thursday, I was called and told that Zainab had stabbed Suleiman and his intestines were out.

I rushed to the house and met him writhing in pain. We rushed to Major Abdullahi Memorial Hospital, but the doctor insisted that we must inform the police first since it was not an accident. I called the police and they arrested her.”

Abubakar said it was the deceased, before he died three days after the stabbing incident, that told them what transpired between him and his wife.

“He said he gave her N200 to buy soup ingredients to cook

for them. But when he asked for his food, she told him that she had used the N200 to pay her tailor for the clothe he sewed for her. My brother told her that food was more important than dress. The argument became heated and she found a kitchen knife and stabbed him,” Abubakar said. Zainab’s grandfather, Sama’una Maikaji, said they were disturbed by their daughter’s act, saying that the marriage was just about 14 months old.

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aliyu Usman, did not pick his calls, but a police source said Zainab was in police custody with her 30-day-old baby.

Credit: dailytrust

Vice Chancellor Docked For Alleged N800 Million Fraud Returns Money To EFCC

The embattled Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta,  Olusola Oyewole, and others accused of corruption have refunded N6.5 million to the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

Mr. Oyewole is facing criminal charges for allegedly misappropriating N800 million belonging to the university. He was charged to court alongside the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Adeseye Ogunlewe, and Bursar, Moses Ilesanmi.

The three were accused of benefitting from various illegal allowances not approved by Nigeria’s Salaries and Wages Commission.

Investigation showed that Mr. Oyewole  refunded N2.5 million on December 6 from the illegal allowances he allegedly collected to finance his daughter’s wedding. Four other staff  of the university also refunded a total of N4 million from similar illegal allowances.

A spokesperson of the EFCC zonal office in Ibadan, Ayo Oyewole, confirmed that some money was returned by suspects in the matter.

“The Commission will ensure that everybody who benefited from the illegal allowances return whatever they collected to the coffers of the university,” he said.

The monies returned so far are, however, a far cry from the N800 million that the EFCC says Mr. Oyewole and others mismanaged.

The university’s spokesperson, Emi Alawode, declined comment saying the matter was already in court.

Read More:

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/217853-vice-chancellor-docked-alleged-n800-million-fraud-returns-money-efcc.html

We spent 10 days counting the N1.2bn cash collected by Fayose’s aide – Witness

Alade Oluseye Sunday, a witness in the case against Abiodun Agbele, an aide to the governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, on Monday said it took ten working days to count the N1.2bn cash collected from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Sunday, who was the branch manager of Zenith Bank, Akure at the time, stated this during cross examination before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

Sunday, who is the first prosecution witness stated that the sum of N1.2bn was conveyed via two aircrafts and was handed over to him by the first defendant (Agbele).

“The money was mostly in N1000 notes while the rest were in N500 bills. Agbele gave us the instruction to transfer the monies to different accounts. Some were paid into De Privateer Limited, some into Spotless investment limited while some where paid into Ayodele Fayose’s account”, Sunday maintained.

The witness, while reading from exhibit AA1B stated that, N100m was credited to Spotless Investments; N219.490m was credited to De Privateer Limited; another N300m was credited to De Privateer Limited; another N200m was credited to De Privateer Limited; N200m was also credited to De Privateer Ltd; N137m was credited to Ayodele Fayose’s account and the balance N263m was taken by Abiodun Agbele to Ado Ekiti.

“I saw Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, come down from the aircraft to speak with Agbele”, he said.

Under cross-examination by Agbele’s counsel, Mike Ozekome, Sunday maintained that he had never met the first defendant and had never discussed any money matters with him prior to June 2014.

“I got worried when I saw the huge amount of money conveyed by the aircrafts that day. It took us ten working days to count the money and each day, the uncounted sum is stored in the strong room as ‘boxed’ cash”, said Sunday.

Asked whether he reported the transaction as suspicious to any authority, the witness said he did not because it was not his job to do so.

The case has been adjourned to November 17, 2016 for further hearing.
Agbele is facing an 11-count charge for allegedly diverting N4.6b from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Nigeria lacks ideas, not money – Donald Duke

A former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has said shortage of idea and not shortage of money is the problem of Nigeria.

Duke, who identified personal and collective visions as essential requirements for leading a state, said many governors in the country lacked them.

A statement on Sunday quoted Duke as saying this in Lagos at the 11th edition of the ?LEX Annual Lecture series.

The lecture, with the theme, ‘Making states work,’ was organised by ?LEX, a full-service commercial and litigation law firm, to stimulate debate on the strategies for making states in the country more efficient, self-reliant and sustainable.

Duke said, “The challenge of dysfunctional states in Nigeria goes beyond finance.

“One of the most essential factors in making states work is the framing of a personal vision and a collective vision for the state, which remains a missing component amongst many Nigerian governors.

“We are losing the essence of the federating units in Nigeria. As a leader, having a vision is essential but having a collective vision for the people is key.”

Duke added that it was regrettable that “in Nigeria, there are no consequences for doing the right things neither are there consequences for doing wrong.”

Also speaking at the event were a former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; President of Council, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu of the Africa Programme on the Open Society Justice Initiative; and the Executive Director, Corporate & Sovereign Ratings, Agusto & Co., Mr. Isaac Babatunde.

Agreeing with Duke, Obi said governors needed clear visions to be able to engineer development in their states.

“The vision must be clear, that way, the leader can drive the state to success. The reason for most failure is the absence of a plan,” Obi said.

We Are Not Aware Money Was Distributed In Edo – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is not aware that political parties distributed money during the September 28 governorship election in Edo State.

The commission said its attention had yet to be called to the alleged distribution of money to the electorates by political parties in order to attract their votes.

The Director of Voter Education and Publicity at the commission, Mr. Oluwole Ozasse-Uzi, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday.

Political parties that took part in the election had raised the issue of using money to buy votes from the voters during the election.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party, the All Progressives Congress and the All Progressive Grand Alliance had accused one another of wooing voters with money during the election.

The election, which was won by the APC’s Godwin Obaseki, was rejected by the PDP and its candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Both the PDP and its candidate had accused the APC of rigging and that it used money to induce the voters.

Ozasse-Uzi said the commission only got to know about the allegation through the media.

He said, “We are not aware that money was spent or distributed to the electorates during the election.

“We only heard about the allegation from the media and our attention had yet to be called to the matter.

“In other words, we are not aware of this allegation.”

Ozasse-Uzi said that the commission was waiting for those who knew about the allegation to send petitions to it on the matter.

He said, “We will appreciate that those who are making the allegations should send petitions to the commission on the matter.

“We have not seen any petition on the matter. All what we heard had been on the pages of newspapers and so forth.”

Thousands Of Zimbabweans Lose Money As MMM Crashes

Thousands of people, among them civil servants and vendors, have lost thousands of dollars to fraudulent online pyramid scheme MMM Global Zimbabwe after it collapsed recently. The social financial network, which relied on an accelerating number of new members to pay off the old, abruptly terminated its services last week leaving participants stranded.

This comes as Econet’s mobile financial service platform, EcoCash yesterday distanced itself from the pyramid scheme. Participants claimed they were using EcoCash for their transactions.

Zimbabweans have in the past months been joining the online investment scheme in droves in a bid “to get rich quickly”. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe warned people that the scheme was fraudulent and there was no legal recourse in the event they lost their money.

The central bank said MMM, which advertises its operations through a website and recruiting agents, was not a registered or regulated entity. EcoCash yesterday said: “We have noted that some of these pyramid schemes are allegedly advertising in a manner that suggests that the Ecocash facility is a medium for prospective members to deposit their money. This is not correct.

“We advise our valued customers and all stakeholders that Ecocash is a licensed mobile payment platform that enables customers to make financial transactions such as sending money, buying prepaid airtime as well as paying for goods and services within the confines of the law of Zimbabwe. EcoCash promotes safe and legal transactions but will not be held liable for any losses arising from the use of EcoCash to engage in illegal activities such as Ponzi schemes.”

The scheme advertises itself as a mutual aid fund under which recruited members contribute money to assist others and are promised investment returns of 30 percent per month. Some of the people left counting their losses told The Herald that they received emails that the scheme had been suspended until September 15.

“All along things were moving in the right direction and we now have nowhere to claim our investments,” said Mr Tinashe Muza of Harare.

“When we started putting our funds in the scheme one could get assistance within seven days but things later changed to 14 days and when we were shut out the waiting period was 21 days. What it simply means is that the number of people in need of help has outnumbered the number of people joining. Right now we have nowhere to get our money which we invested.”

MMM stands for Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox and takes its name from its founder, Sergei Panteleevich Mavrodi of Russia. He founded MMM in 1989 and the scheme was declared bankrupt three years later leading to the disappearance of Mavrodi until his arrest in 2003.

Another victim, Mrs Rosemary Mawonde said: “We never thought the scheme would end this way as we believed that by using EcoCash to do the transactions, things were in order. I am surprised that EcoCash is also distancing itself from the scheme and it is clear that I will never recover the $300 that I invested.”

While some people who were skeptical about the scheme started with small amounts, it is believed some poured in thousands of dollars anticipating higher returns. The RBZ said the schemes were fraudulent as existing investors were ‘paid money not from genuine market investment of their funds, but from contributions made by new investors, until a point when the scheme can no longer attract new investors,”

“The participants are made aware that they make their money by recruiting new members who in turn must recruit more members,” warned the Central Bank.

Financial Tips: Seven Ways To Boost Your Bank Account

With the right knowledge and attitude, you can make your bank account grow faster. “If you have trouble putting money aside in a savings account, maybe the solution is to stop struggling and put things on autopilot,” says a Money Talks News financial expert, Stacy Johnson.

 

Pay yourself first: Payroll deduction is among the best fixes for struggling savers. With this approach, you have money automatically taken from your pay cheque and transferred to a savings or retirement account. Your employer may even allow you to directly deposit pay cheques into multiple accounts. Send any additional income from raises, bonuses, cash awards or other windfalls straight to savings. If your air conditioner breaks down or it’s time to take that cruise, you’ll have a nice sum of money waiting for you in the bank.

 

Round up your savings: Some banks have programmes that automatically round up debit-card purchases, and then transfer the extra amount into your savings account. You get a treat now and “keep the change” to save toward another treat later.

 

Save your change: The low-tech version of the round-up programme is stashing away spare change at the end of each day. Keep it in a jar, mug, glass or piggy bank. When the container is full, turn that change into a bank deposit. Stacy says he turbo-charges this plan by stashing singles as well as coins.

 

Pay with cash: Using cash automatically makes you spend less compared to plastic. An oft-quoted Dunn & Bradstreet study says people spend 12 to 18 per cent more when using credit cards instead of cash. If you’re worried about schlepping back to the ATM to reload your wallet, you will be less tempted to spend more cash than you planned. You will be more inclined to pass on a higher-end model of a product. Also, you will stick to your shopping list and resist in-store temptations to buy more items than you intended.

 

Use rewards credit cards: If you must use a credit card, use one that offers cash back or rewards. Then, you’re earning cash or equivalents without effort.

 

Bank your discounts: What do you do with all the money you save buying bargains? Check your receipts. Most now conveniently tell you how much you saved on a sale item compared with its regular price, or how much you saved by redeeming coupons. Add them up. Did you buy a cheaper generic and save a bundle over a name brand? Track the difference. Make it a habit to reward yourself by placing all the money saved from those bargains into your savings account.

 

Automate your transfers: Check with your bank or credit union about how to set up automatic transfers from your current account to your savings account. This is another way of making sure you pay yourself first. You can even set up sub-accounts and label them for special goals, such as “college fund” or “new car fund.”

 

Now that your savings are on automatic, relax and watch your balance grow.

4 Types Of Relationships That Are Bad For Your Money (MUST READ)

1. The broke friend

Do you have a friend who always seems to be in a financial bind? When you ask about his day are you usually met with a heart-wrenching story of his never-ending financial woes? It’s not unusual to fall on hard times every now and then, but it can get annoying when you keep encountering that one friend who seems to be perpetually broke. It’s OK to help out, but if your friend is starting to make a habit of asking for money, it’s time to re-evaluate your friendship. Is he your friend because he genuinely likes and supports you, or is your friend merely looking for a handout?

2. The gold digger

Does your significant other often expect you to pay for everything? Don’t let love blind you to a possible gold digger (and yes, we know that person could be a man or a woman). If you seem to be the only one opening up your wallet, it’s a sign your partner may primarily be with you for financial support. Pay close attention to how your partner acts during times when you don’t have a lot of cash to spare. Does your partner become cold and distant or are you met with compassion and support?

3. The irresponsible family member

Watch out for the family member who is constantly asking to “borrow” money. If you decide to give some of your hard-earned cash, just know beforehand that you may never get it back. Also make sure that you can actually afford to give the money in the first place. It’s not selfish to take care of your own financial needs first; it’s smart. Our advice when it comes to lending money: don’t. However, if you feel that you must lend, make sure you have enough in savings to cover your own expenses.

4. The big-spending spouse

Being in a relationship with a shopaholic is not fun. Your days and nights will likely be filled with arguments about money, email alerts about overdrawn bank accounts, and plenty of tears. If your partner has poor financial management skills, you’ll need to nip this in the bud before things get out of control.  A spendthrift spouse could put you in a tight spot in the event you were to make a significant financial purchase, such as a home. Organizations such as Shopaholics Anonymous and Debtors Anonymous are two good places for your partner to seek help.

Credit:

http://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/types-relationships-bad-money.html/4/

Anambra Big Boy, Vincent Chidiebere, Nabbed with Drugs worth N1.78b

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Vincent Chidiebere, a 31yrs old guy in Anambra State for allegedly peddling hard drug worth N1.78 billion.

Addressing reporters in Onitsha on Tuesday, the Commander, Mr Sule Momodu said the suspect was nabbed in Awka, the state capital, on July 28 with methamphetamine weighing 25.2kg.

He said the arrest followed a tip-off that a shipment of the drug would pass through Anambra from Enugu to Lagos.

“Based on the information, we set up a team to search vehicles from a particular company. About 11am we intercepted a vehicle carrying the substance and nabbed the suspect.”

Mr. Momodu, who said the substance tested positive, described the drug as “one of the most potent illicit drugs in the world, which has a lot of destructive tendencies on the user.”

He someone under the influence of methamphetamine can be influenced to make disastrous decisions and can make criminals test the nation’s security to its limit.

The commander said besides the security threat posed by the users, the drug posed a health hazard.

He said chemicals used for the production were highly toxic and could cause permanent destruction to the eco-system.

“The waste from the drug is more toxic than the extracted substance. The people around where it is being produced are likely to be exposed to cancer and other incurable diseases, while children born in the area are likely to be deformed.”

NDLEA had discovered three methamphetamine laboratories at Nanka, Ozubulu and Obosi all in the South East, and the commander believed that more laboratories exist. They would track them.

He said Vincent Chidiebere will be charged to court according to law.

“Men, If You Have No Income, You’re Not Entitled To Have An Erection” – Toke Makinwa

Popular On Air Personality, OAP, Toke Makinwa, has waded into the much debated advice by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeoye to young men and women concerning marriage.

 

In a video, Adeboye warned women, “Don’t marry a man who has no job. Before God gave Adam Eve, he gave him a job. He said, ‘This is the garden, keep it.’ So when anybody comes to you and say, ‘Sister, thus saith the Lord, you are going to be the star in my firmament,’ ask him — ‘What is your job?’”

 

In another video, he advised men, “Marry a prayer warrior! Don’t marry any girl who cannot pray for one hour non-stop. Don’t marry a girl who is lazy! If she is lazy when she is single, what will happen if she is married?”

The warning trended on twitter, with many countering his claims while others insisted the soft-spoken preacher was on point.

 

On her part, the OAP took to her Instagram page @tokemakinwa to support Pastor Adeboye.

 

The divorced media personality wrote: “A man is to provide for his household and not the other way round. If he has no income, he should not marry #deepbuttrue.

 

“The foundation remains. Men too should pray but because women pay more attention to details, it is important to know how to pray.

 

“The issue of praying for an hour, it is said that a man is the roof and the woman the foundation.

 

“If the wind blows the roof, cooking is not an issue. He didn’t assay she must cook for you every day of her life?… Read between the lines people.

 

“Before God gave Adam eve, he gave him a job. Ladies shine your eyes. Let his vision materialize before you marry him.

 

“Pastor Adeboye did not say anything bad, if anything I would hope the women take the advice on men seriously.

 

“Matter of fact, if he has no income, he is not entitled to an erection.

 

Let him find another job, let him find something to do,” the 31-year-old added.

Father Found Guilty of Killing 3-Month-Old Son for Life Insurance Money

Moussa Sissoko was 22 when he killed his 3-month-old son Shane in 2001. A Montgomery County judge found him guilty of child abuse and murder this week, the Washington Post reports.

Sissoko met Tiffany Paris, Shane’s mom, in 1999 while she was still in high school. When she found out she was pregnant in 2000, he was at college in Florida and asked her to terminate the pregnancy. She did not, and he eventually moved in with her to help raise Shane. According to court records, it was around Shane’s birth that Sissoko got a job at a lock and security company and began pursuing $750,000 life insurance for Shane. He put himself as the sole beneficiary on the policy.

“Any reasonable person is going to ask: ‘Why would you put a $750,000 policy on a newborn infant?'” Judge Michael Mason who ruled alone on the trial asked in court. “It seems to make no sense, just on its face.” Sissoko claimed it was a form of a college savings plan for Shane.

On Sept. 15, 2001, Sissoko was watching Shane while Paris was at work. Two hours after he put the baby to bed, he called 911 because Shane was unresponsive and bleeding from his nose. According to Yahoo! News, Shane was taken to a hospital immediately, but never regained consciousness and was on a ventilator for 10 days before it was removed and he died. “Abusive head trauma … by either shaking and/or causing soft impact trauma to the child,” was determined to be the cause of death.

Sissoko has been in jail since he was originally convicted for his son’s death in 2002. He then appealed, lost, and claimed he’d had ineffective lawyering. He will remain in jail while he waits for a sentence on this re-trial.

Credit: Cosmopolitan

NYSC Supports Physically Challenged Ex-corps Members With N13.5m

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has supported nine ex-corps members who sustained various injuries during the mandatory one-year service period with N1.5 million each.
The Director-General of the NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, said this in a statement signed by the Director of Press, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, in Abuja.
The statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that the money was donated by Heritage Bank in fulfilment of its pledge to the NYSC Hope Alive Programme (NYSC-HAP).
It said that the gesture made by the financial institution was to enable the ex-corps members actualise their dreams and not be limited by their disabilities.
It also explained that it was also to reassure prospective and serving corps members that the nation would not abandon them in case of any accident leading to permanent disability during the service year.
According to the statement, the bank made the pledge during the flag off of the programme at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 NYSC President’s Honours Award Ceremony held in March 2015.
The statement said the beneficiaries had expressed joy at the development, adding that it not only restored their hope but also brought them succour.
It further quoted the director-general as saying “the fulfilment of the bank’s promise has rekindled the Scheme’s hope in the support of corporate organisations and public spirited individuals for the NYSC’’.
The statement said Olawumi called on well-meaning Nigerians, organisations and philanthropists to continue to assist the NYSC achieve its vision of a better Nigeria through the youths.
It said that the programme was introduced by the management of the Scheme in order to provide support to corps members who sustained various degrees of injury during the service period.
It said that under the programme the Scheme, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, would provide counselling for those with emotional or psychological trauma.
The statement also assured that medical rehabilitation would also be provided to those with injuries and employment for those who were employable.
It added that requisite skill training and start-up capital would be provided to those who could not be engaged in paid jobs

Credit: Nan

Kanye West Explains Why He’s Asking for Money

After what felt like an eternity away from Twitter — approximately 13 hours — Kanye West made a return to the social media platform to throw some light on his finances.

Late last night, he had made a perplexing reference to “53 million dollars in personal debt” before asking Mark Zuckerberg for $1 billion, which had everyone wondering what was actually going on with Kanye, who, it’s safe to say, appears very rich, and at the very least, is married to someone also very rich.

Kanye kicked off his latest Twitter monologue with an observation about how the wealthy behave. “I just feel rich people are always too cool to ask for help trying to impress each other at dinner parties,” he wrote.

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699307657786621952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699307776195973121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699307904893976576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699307951324958722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699308024792371200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699308079171522561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/699308521284718593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Court Rejects Kanu’s Request For His Seized Passports, Money

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed an application by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biaf?ra, Nnamdi Kanu, for the release of certain items, including his British and Nigeria passports, which are in the custody of the Department of State Service.

Justice James Tsoho dismissed the application made orally by Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Chuks Muouma (SAN), who had sought the release of the items because they would not be needed by the prosecution since they were not listed as part of exhibits to be tendered.

Apart from the passports, other items which Muouma sought to be released to the IPOB leader who is currently in detention at Kuje prison along with his two co-accuse, are cash sums of $2,200 and N87,000.

Justice Tsoho, in dismissing the application for lacking in merit, insisted that the fact that the items were not listed as possible exhibits did not foreclose the possibility of their being later used by the prosecution as exhibits.

?He then adjourned the case till February 19 for the hearing of an application by the prosecution for protection of its witnesses.

Credit: Punch

GQ Magazine Celebrates The Many Faces Of David Beckham

Football icon David Beckham is known all over the world as a great football player and has appeared on GQ several times. To celebrate the icon that is David Beckham, GQ magazine delved into the archives to show how he has changed over the years.
The March issue of the British edition of the glossy will feature five exclusive covers that explore his various guises as footballer, model, father, husband and philanthropist. More photos below…

S

Ribadu Releases Statement On Dasuki Money Scandal

former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, has denied receiving any money from the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Ribadu said those trying to discreetly plant a story against him in the media should come forward with documentary evidence to suggest that he collected money from Mr. Dasuki or had made some refunds to government.

“My attention has been drawn to insinuations in certain quarters of my purported repayment of some monies I was allegedly given by the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd),” Mr. Ribadu said.

“For the record, let me categorically state that I had nothing to do with the former NSA while he was in office. I cannot remember meeting him at anytime while he held sway.

“It is therefore shocking for me to be accused of receiving something from someone I never had any relationship with, not to talk of refunding money he gave me.”

Mr. Dasuki is currently facing prosecution for his alleged involvement in a $2.1billion arms fraud when he was the NSA.

Mr. Ribadu said he did not receive any money from the former NSA either directly or through a proxy.

“There is therefore no reason for me to make any refund,” he said.

“Also, I have not been contacted by any security agency on this matter to warrant any action of that nature on my part.”

Credit: PremiumTimes

Metuh Speaks Up On Arms Deal Money

National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, yesterday raised the alarm of an alleged  plot by the Federal Government to implicate him in its ongoing investigation of alleged diversion of $2.1 billion arms purchase into presidential campaign.

Former National Security Adviser (SA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), and others are accused of disbursing the money to some top government officials and companies. They are facing trial presently.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Metuh said he collected money from former President Goodluck Jonathan “to carry out some assignment relating to my office and which he (Jonathan)  duly funded.” He denied any  dealings with the immediate past Federal Government or any of its security apparatus.

Metuh, who refused to take questions from newsmen, did not disclose the amount Jonathan gave him and the nature of the assignment.

Credit: Sun

Dokpesi Pleads Not Guilty To Money Laundering Charges

The proprietor of Africa Independent Television, Mr Raymond Dokpesi, has pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge of fraudulent and corrupt act preferred against him by the Federal government of Nigeria.

Mr Dokpesi was arraigned on Wednesday before a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

He said he was absolutely not guilty, as the charges preferred against him were not true.

In count one of the charge, Mr Dokpesi and DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited were accused of receiving public funds to the tune of 2.1 billion Naira from the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the funding of media activities for the 2015 presidential campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contrary to Section 58 Sub-section Four B of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

In the other counts, Mr Dokpesi was also accused of collecting the said amount without a certificate of no objection to contract award duly issued by the Public Procurement Bureau and receiving payment for a purported contract without bidding for the said contract.

Having pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Justice Kolawole adjourned the hearing of Mr Dokpesi’s bail application to December 10.

Credit: ChannelsTV

Robbers Arrested While Arguing Over How To Share Their Loot

Three members of a 5-man robbery gang Tope Oyeleye, aka Elede; Abiola Yekini and Yusuf Olohuntoba, aka Ete , were arrested on Monday by policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Agbado Police Division.
It was gathered that Elede and Ramoni, had robbed some houses in Owonikoko and Ayinla areas around 2am on Monday, where they stole money and phones, among other household items.
They were said to have met on a street in Ayinla to share their loot when an argument ensued among them over how to share the loot.
A resident on the street reportedly saw them and called the police, who quickly got to the area and arrested three of them.
Items recovered from them include 16 phones, one DVD player, two cut-to-size guns with a live cartridge, two spanners, a burglar proof cutter, among others.
Twenty-one-year old Elede, who hails from Ekiti State, confessed to the crime. He said:

“I was initially selling cannabis, but I joined a robbery gang three years ago when I was not making enough money from the drug. We were seven in number bearing Oyenusi; I am Oyenusi 07. We robbed a banker of N7m early this year around RAFCO, Agbado. We killed him because he confronted us. I got N650,000 in that operation. The six others have been killed.

“We were six in the Monday night operation. I was given four phones and a sum of N2,000 as my share. There was an argument between Ramon, Sule, J.J, Absorber and I over the sharing formula. We were on it when the policemen came. Ete was not involved but he is my friend.”

Yekini, a 28-year-old indigene of Ibadan, said:

“I was introduced to the gang by a friend called Anu when I told him I needed N24,000 to pay my shop rent. I tried in vain to borrow the money from my neighbours.

“This is my first operation and my role was to stay outside to watch for other members robbing residents. I collected the four phones and N500 they gave me without arguing with them. I really regret what I did.”

Ete, who is a cobbler, said he was not a robber, adding that he was just a friend of Elede. However, the police said his fate would be determined after the investigation.

The Ogun State Police spokesperson, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest. He said the suspects would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, for further investigation.

Punch

Police Arrests Man For Beating Wife Over Feeding Money

The police in Kubwa, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have arrested a 40-year-old welder for allegedly inflicting injury on his wife. It was said that the woman had requested feeding money for the family.

The suspect, Ogwu Richard, was alleged to be keeping another woman after sending his wife away, together with their four kids.

City News learnt that the victim, simply identified as Nueke, had always gone to collect money from the suspect for the family upkeep, which he had always given her until that fateful day. She was beaten and subsequently rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

The source said that when the victim approached the suspect for the money, he refused, claiming he had no money for them.

“He even threatened to kill her if she refused to leave him alone, adding that he was ready to go to jail for that,” our source added.

When contacted, the Kubwa Divisional Police Officer, Chief Superintendent Nurruddeen Sabo, said the man had been arrested and would be charged to court.

He added that the woman had since been discharged after receiving treatment at the Kubwa General Hospital.

Read More: DailyTrust

Singapore Megachurch Leader Sentenced To Jail For Pumping Church Money Into Wife’s Pop Singing Career

The co-founder of a Singapore church and five other leaders were sentenced to jail terms of up to eight years on Friday, for fraudulently diverting millions of dollars to support his wife’s pop singing career.

The mix of faith and fraud has fascinated tightly-regulated Singapore, where such cases are rare in an affluent city-state with little tolerance for corruption.

Senior pastor Kong Hee heads City Harvest Church, one of a growing number of Singapore’s megachurches preaching a “prosperity gospel” that blends spiritual and material aspirations.

 

Six church officials were convicted last month of diverting nearly S$51 million ($36 million) in funds to advance the career of Kong’s wife, Ho Yeow Sun.

They were sentenced on Friday to jail terms of between 21 months and eight years, depending on how involved they were in the fraud. The jail terms were delayed to January next year, giving the defendants time to appeal.
Kong was arrested in 2012 and charged with criminal breach of trust and falsifying accounts. His wife, the co-founder and executive director of the church, was not charged in the case.

Colombian Farmer Finds Buried $600 Million Belonging To Pablo Escobar

If you found $600 million in cash money, what would you do? Well, what if we told you it was from the late Pablo Escobar‘s stash?

Colombian farmer Jose Mariena Cartolos came across the drug lord’s fortune when he received a grant from the Colombian government to develop a palm oil plantation on his land, according to Don Diva. While digging and tilling the soil, he found containers filled to the brim with cash – money said to be a part of Escobar’s $30 billion fortune. If you watch Narcos on Netflix, you know that many drug lords amass so much money, they opt to bury some of it as opposed to laundering the proceeds.

Unfortunately, Cartolos won’t be able to keep his treasure. It will most likely go to fund “social and economic programs.” Colombian officials think the find will generate others to search for more of Escobar’s billions. If you’re brave, test your luck – there’s plenty of flight deals to Colombia happening at this very moment. I trust my African Brothers are heading out after reading this. Please epp me Bring some i get More Blog Post to work on. 

Man Arrested With Over $1.2 Million Hidden In A Trailer

A 51 year old man, Roman M. Sanchez was driving with a trailer in tow at about 6:45 a.m. Monday in Hidalgo County, just north of the Mexican border, when he was pulled over by a Texas Highway Patrol trooper for a routine traffic violation.

However, when the trooper inspected the trailer which Sanchez allegedly was towing, he discovered 12 hidden bundles of cash, totaling $1,239,755.
Sanchez couldn’t satisfactorily explain where he got the money from and was subsequently arrested and charged with federal money laundering and taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Meet South Africa’s Youngest Millionaire (See How He Made It)

The Foreign exchange market is the biggest financial market in the world. At least four trillion dollars is traded on currency markets on a daily basis.

This market is known for its volatility and high risk nature, which is why it is mostly traded by banks and big corporate.

However a young South African trader has managed to crack it. Sandile Shezi has successfully learnt how to trade currencies and at just 23 he’s become one of the youngest multi-millionaires in the country.

He began his entrepreneurial journey at the tender age of 12 selling muffins at school.

Over the years he has managed to build business relationships that have lead him into establishing one of Durban’s most successful Forex training company which he named Global Forex Institute based at Mhlanga, Durban, South Africa

Global Forex Institute is about grooming people and making them understand that when is the right time to buy or sell and how you go about avoiding loosing your capital. Shezi and his team want to make sure that everyone understands trading.

Shezi now wants to empower other young South Africans to do the same. Sumitra Nydoo caught up with him.

Muhammad Sageer: Understanding Corruption Beyond Currency Units

“keeping an average Nigerian from being corrupt is like keeping a goat from eating yam” Professor Chinua Achebe”
The general default of the average Nigerian is indiscipline and corruption and to tackle this menace properly we must define corruption in its larger context of making it all inclusive to accommodate the leaders and larger society in all spheres and scope
There is actually nothing new to say about corruption in Nigeria, the practice of which in the Nigerian context can produce without doubt a handbook on how to raise corrupt leaders and sustain corruption. We must begin as a people to do a practical appraisal of our resolve to collectively tackle this corruption malady by giving attention to the corrupt practices traceable in our immediate domain.
 
If you properly articulate the level of corruption and its general acceptance or docile reactions in Nigeria, you will agree with me that the first ready attitude of the heart in any attempt to tackle it is to fail initially and then gradually rise to condemnation and finally ask that all should be left to GOD. That GOD wants us out of this self-inflicted poisonous situation cannot be over emphasized, but we need to march our disdain for this menace with actions articulated to produce some long term change in the psyche of the coming generation.
 
So much is said about corruption in Nigeria and presently, President Buhari is investing a lot of effort towards the reduction of this endemic cancer worm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our culture and is spreading like wildfire all over our future in Nigeria making it an uphill task to eradicate. There is this misconception among Nigerians – they believe corruption stifling Nigeria is top-down. They believe our new president who is an anti-corruption czar will change the corruption attitude of Nigerians. In the famous statement of President Buhari” If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”
 
One of the curses of Nigeria is Indiscipline and until we change our attitude, no real progress can be made. No matter the fierce fight President Buhari would put up, corruption will continue to grow if we don’t change our attitude. Nigerians must exclusively understand that Currency units are not the supreme expression and measure of corruption despite the ignorance of bleeding hearts. Now, I need to jog the memory of Nigerians by taking a walk down memory lane to buttress my position.
If late General Sani Abacha’s only sin is that he stole billions of dollars allegedly, then he is a nicer guy than General Gowon and Late Obafemi Awolowo who allegedly didn’t steal a kobo.
 GENERAL GOWON
Gowon as head of state took some measures to address foreign ownership of Nigerian companies. At the time, 65% of Nigeria’s economy was foreign owned and controlled by the European conglomerates, Lebanese, Syrian and Indian traders. General Gowon announced the indigenization decree and forced foreign owners to sell shares of their businesses to Nigerian elites instead of the Nigerian masses. The shares of foreign companies indigenized found their way into the hands of General Gowon’s friends and associates. It will interests Nigerians to know that the wealth of several well known Nigerian families today can be traced to the indigenization decree of General Gowon.
LATE CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO
The indigenization decree of General Gowon was headed by Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who at that time was the highest ranking civilian in General Gowon’s military government. Obafemi Awolowo as finance minister was responsible for giving back to the Igbo’s all monies they had left in their bank accounts before the Biafra War. He made a dreadful decision as finance minister that all Igbo’s will be given twenty pounds each no matter what amount they had previously saved in the bank pending investigations into the actual amount each person had in the bank. These investigations never took place. With Obafemi Awolowo’s dreadful action, all Igbo’s who saved money in the bank had to start from scratch. The Igbo’s were left out in the indigenization decree of General Gowon.
 
A CAVEAT; I am an unabashed citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria, using General Gowon & Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo I know will not go down well with my fellow Nigerians from the North-central and South-West. I don’t mean to infuriate anybody. However, the truth has to be told no matter whose ox is gored.
 
Corruption in Nigeria must be exclusively understood beyond currency units. Not everything that counts can be counted. The average Nigerian citizen has by way of silent contribution, partial, or proper involvement overtly or tactically endorsed the act of corruption. Nigerians are good in raising points of moral decadence while sweeping under the carpet their major nature of inherent corruption. The societal wreck in Nigeria is a tragedy of sorts in that we have to break laws and expect others to keep them. Our present leaders did not fall from sky, they were once followers. We are our own greatest enemies.
 
The issues of ethnicity, religious bigotry have drowned the essential pursuit in character formation for our citizens, thereby negating the need for the development of a national conscience. Moral institutions as it were have gradually left our schools. It is a paradox that our schools now make us stupid; we have more degrees but less sense and ostentation has replaced the good old life of contentment. We have as a people gradually allowed the culture of corruption both in and outside public service to become an accepted style of living.
 
The average Nigerian will pay touts for ticket, pay touts for vehicle particulars, pay money to be released from police custody rather than stand up for what is right. We are obviously in too much of a hurry to realize that every act of corruption that we engineer or allow to dictate us destroys a milestone in the future of our collective psyche. We must redirect our compass from mainly concentrating on criticizing and exposing corruption in government institutions to contribution of the followership in the corruption menace. We must tackle the psyche of our people through the foundation of followership. We must face the hard fact that the leaders we have today were once part of the followership and they failed and are still failing because they were not groomed to become the leaders we want. Nothing will ever change until we change ourselves, we must learn to speak the language of Nigeria in patriotism.
 
Nigeria needs people ready to stand in and stand out by saying “No We Can’t, we love Nigeria, we can’t chicken-out, we want a better society and a future for our children”. Nigeria needs citizens who will understand that the battle against corruption is not the duty of President Muhammadu Buhari alone. The battle against corruption is a battle for our soul and our nation. The citizens of Nigeria must resist and overcome corruption and this will not come by criticism alone. Nigeria needs people who will expose corruption no matter whose ox is gored. Nigeria needs people ready to obey the laws of the land and asking questions when corruption presents itself in the form of noble gratification. Nigeria needs law abiding citizens ready to say no to police extortion. Nigeria needs law abiding citizens in the civil service who will question inappropriate approvals and resist moving files with money. Nigeria needs representatives in the National Assembly who will resist committee allowance outside legally stipulated ones. Nigeria needs lawmakers that will make laws favorable to the masses. Nigeria does not need multi-millionaire lawmakers living in Porsche houses and presidential suites in five star hotels. Nigeria needs an independent judiciary.
 
A new Nigeria is possible if we change our old ways, we can do it and we must start inward. REVOLUTION STARTS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL. It doesn’t matter whether you are in government, civil service, corporate world, military, police, politics, school or a hawker in the streets of Lagos, Kano, Bauchi, Jos, Enugu, Port-Harcourt, Minna etc. What matters is that you are a Nigerian and a glorious and happy Nigeria is what you have to advocate and defend for. Let’s come together as Nigerians to wage war against corruption. We have slumbered enough, we must go in and get involved or we will go down in history as people who came, saw and complained without raising a finger. “If Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”
 
With the above statement from Nigeria’s anti-corruption czar, President Muhammadu Buhari, I rest my case. Thank you and God bless Nigeria.
@muhammadsageer is my twitter handle
Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

ATM Withdrawal Limits Reduced By Banks

The battle for defence of the Naira value has widened, affecting existing withdrawal limits on Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) and foreign transactions on all existing Naira debit cards (ATM cards).

atm2In the new arrangement, all ATMs that were hitherto enabled for domestic and foreign transactions have been restructured to limit Naira cash withdrawal at ATMs to N60,000 per day while foreign currency is $300 per day. Hitherto, the domestic withdrawal limit was N150,000 per day.

The new arrangement has separated traditional ATM from MasterCard credit card where the former has now been deactivated and can no longer be used for transactions abroad. Hitherto, a single ATM card serves for transactions for both domestic and abroad.

Also, the restructured cards now have spending limits on POS/eCommerce (online shopping) pegged at $300 (about N60,000) per day. Before this, the limit was N2 million per day.

In the new arrangement, a bank customer with multiple debit cards (ATM cards), only the one linked to the primary transactional account will be enabled for use abroad. Hitherto, such customers could transact with any of the cards that is funded.

However, banks are putting in place alternatives in these adjustments to address the concern of customers who are now being directed by their banks to reapply for a new card arrangement to suit their purposes.

For instance, Standard Chartered Bank has asked its customers to request a complementary ATM card for domestic use only so that the original N150,000 daily cash withdrawal limit can be restored and also reactivate POS/online purchase limit of N2 million per day.

The bank also required their customers to apply for a foreign currency denominated ATM linked to domiciliary account which would be enabled with no daily or annual international transaction limits.

Earlier, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc had informed its customers of its decision to reduce the daily international spending limit on their Naira MasterCard to $300 with effect from yesterday.

In a communication to the customers, the bank explained: “In view of the increased difficulty in sourcing foreign currency to settle international transactions on Naira MasterCards, we have reduced the daily international spending limit on your Naira MasterCard to $300.This means that you can only spend up to $300 daily when using your GTBank Naira MasterCard for international payments via POS and online.

“You will, however, continue to have the option of paying for medical bills, school fees, mortgages and credit cards using Form A, as these are eligible transactions for foreign currency. Simply visit any GTBank branch to complete a Form A along with the required documents to make these payments.”

These developments were coming on the heels of Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) statement on Sunday that all legitimate requests for foreign currency for eligible transactions, normally referred to as “invisibles,” such as remittances for school fees, student maintenance allowances, BTA, PTA, medical and other eligible transactions, shall be fully met at the official/interbank exchange rate.

A statement from the CBN added that already all the legitimate demands for such transactions through recognised channels have so far been fully met by CBN.

The statement stated: “The CBN hereby directs all authorised dealers in foreign exchange in Nigeria to henceforth treat as top priority all legitimate demand for foreign exchange for eligible transactions.

“The CBN once again advises individuals that wish to source foreign currency for such eligible transactions to approach their banks with their legitimate demand as the CBN has made adequate provisions of foreign currency for all such legitimate and eligible purposes.

“Furthermore, holders of Naira denominated debit and credit cards shall continue to have access to the use of their cards at ATMs in any part of the world but subject to the annual limit of $50,000. ATM withdraws shall continue to be a maximum of $300 per day.”

– Source – www.vanguardngr.com

CBN Bans Cash Deposits Into Domiciliary Accounts

The Central Bank of Nigeria has banned the payment of cash into domiciliary accounts in the country, TheCable reports.
In a circular released on Wednesday and signed by the Director of Trade and Exchange, CBN, Olakanmi Gbadamosi, the central bank said its action followed recent statements by individual banks suspending the payment of foreign currencies into domiciliary accounts.
Gbadamosi wrote, “The Central Bank of Nigeria has considered the recent statements by Deposit Money Banks concerning the large volume of foreign currencies in their vaults and the decision to stop accepting foreign currency cash deposits into customers’ domiciliary accounts as a welcome development.
“Therefore, in its continued efforts to stop illicit financial flows in the Nigerian banking system
which aligns with the anti-money Laundering stance of the Federal Government, the CBN hereby prohibits from the date of this circular the acceptance of foreign currency cash deposits by DMBs.
“For foreign currency cash lodgements made prior to the date of this circular, the account holder has the option to either withdraw his or her foreign currency cash or the Naira equivalent. For the avoidance of doubt, only wire transfers to and from Domiciliary Accounts are henceforth permissible.
“The CBN advises individuals that wish to source foreign currency for eligible and legitimate purposes such as BTA, PTA medical, mortgage, school fees, goods etc. to do so through recognised channels with the use of Form ‘A’ for “invisible” and Form ‘M’ for ‘visible’ transactions. By this circular, those who deposited foreign currencies into their accounts before the directive will now have to withdraw the cash as they are not going to be allowed to transfer the funds.”

Source: The Punch

Man Steals Money From Church Twice, Gets Caught The Third Time

A suspected church robber, Ehiosun Junior, has been arraigned before an Egor Chief Magistrate Court, over alleged attempt to steal the church offerings during its annual thanksgiving.

Testifying under cross examination at the resumed hearing of the case, the Pastor in charge of the church, Christ Apostolic Church, Rev. Igbinigie Anthony, said the alleged thief had broken into the church on 2 previous occasions and made away with N52, 000 cash.

The cleric told the court that he had a premonition that the thief would return to steal the thanksgiving collections, so he and the church’s Youth President, who was simply identified as Okoh, decided to sleep in the church that day.

He said

The first time the suspect broke into the church, he stole N40,000, but I asked the church to pray to God to forgive the thief.“On the 12th, they came back through the same place and stole N9,000 and other offering money. On the 23rd, 12 cans of malt were stolen.“After our thanksgiving on the 30th, I knew the thief will come back because we kept all the monies and items realized inside the church. At about 11:45 pm, I saw a shadow because we switched off all the lights in the church.“I pointed a torch at the person and he ran away towards the direction of the Youth President who caught him. The accused said he was the only one and we called the police who took him away to Okhoro Police Station,” Rev. Igbinigie told the court.

He told the court that they discovered that the accused was present at the church thanksgiving and was served food and drinks.

The suspect who was arraigned on a 4-count charge, pleaded not guilty.

The case has been adjourned to August 17 for further hearing.

PM News

Naira To Rise Further As Banks Reject Dollars

The United States dollar will further tumble against the naira at the parallel market this week as Deposit Money Banks continue to reject cash deposit of foreign currencies into customers’ domiciliary accounts.
The naira had appreciated against the dollar from 245 to 220 at the parallel market last week after banks started denying their customers opportunity to make cash deposits of dollar, pound and euro into their domiciliary accounts.
Foreign exchange dealers told our correspondent on Sunday that the naira would likely appreciate further against the dollar at the black market this week.
A forex trader, who chose to speak under the condition of anonymity said, “We expect the naira to

appreciate further this week at the parallel market.

“Banks have flooded the market with dollars and other foreign currencies. This is making the naira to appreciate. There is still a huge stock of dollars out there that the banks will be pushing into the parallel market this week.”
The Acting President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, also noted that large amount of dollars in the market would make the naira to appreciate further at the parallel market this week.
Banks had last week told customers that they would no longer collect cash deposits into domiciliary accounts.
Fidelity Bank Plc, in an email to customers, said the policy came from the Central Bank of Nigeria and it was only a temporary measure to curb speculative activities.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc also told customers about the development in an email statement.
“Banks no longer accept dollar cash due to large speculation on the currency,” the Chief Executive Officer, First City Monument Bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun, told a conference call last week
He said the lenders would continue to receive dollar transfers from other banks.
The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, had two weeks ago said the naira was “appropriately priced” at its current level of 197 to the dollar on the interbank market.
The local currency has lost around 15 per cent against the dollar over the past year, with an official devaluation in November and a de facto one in February.
The naira had weakened on the parallel market, falling as low as 245, on persistent dollar shortages after the central bank last month limited importers’ access to dollars in order to save the external reserves.
Early last month, the central bank fixed the spread at which bureaux de change operators could sell dollars to individuals, and also limited the amount that bank customers would spend using their debits cards abroad.
Although the restrictions have angered investors and frustrated companies that need dollars for imports, Emefiele has rejected the idea of loosening the curbs, saying the central bank could not adopt an “indeterminate policy” of currency depreciation.
Global ratings agency, Standards & Poor’s, had also said Nigeria would have to devalue its currency at some stage, possibly by more than 15 per cent, though it saw the adjustments as likely to be gradual.
FCMB’s Balogun had also noted that the parallel market was beginning to see a reversal in the naira’s weakness as banks stopped taking dollar deposits.

Bobby Brown will Not Get Any Part of the Fortune Whitney, Bobbi Kristina Left Behind

Bobbi Kristina was set to inherit at least $20 million when Whitney Houston died, but there were strings attached and it looks like most of that fortune will be determined by Whitney’s wishes … not her daughter’s.

Accordng to News We got from TMZ:

We’ve seen a copy of Whitney’s will, which established a trust in which Bobbi Kristina got 1/10 of Whitney’s estate when she turned 21.

Bobbi Kristina was set to get 1/6 of the balance when she turned 25, but that will not happen since she died tragically at 22.

Whitney’s will provided that if Bobbi Kristina died before reaching 25, all the money

would go to the people Whitney designated. Translation, Bobbi Kristina had no authority to give away 9/10 of Whitney’s fortune.

As for who Whitney designated … mother Cissy and brothers Michael and Gary. The will also gives Bobby Brown a cut, but there’s an issue. The will is worded to “my husband, Robert B. Brown.”

Obviously, the will was drafted before they divorced in 2007, and the issue is whether Bobby still qualifies since he is no longer her husband.

According to the law of New Jersey, where the will was drafted, Bobby will NOT get the money because being Whitney’s husband is a qualifier which he no longer meets.

Senior Civil Servants Demand A Minimum Wage Of N46,000

The Association of Senior Civil Servants demanded a minimum wage of N46,000 for workers.
The union’s Secretary-General, Mr. Bashir Lawal, in Lagos State, on Wednesday, said that the existing N18,000 minimum wage was too little to meet the socio-economic demands of workers.

According to him, they arrived at a minimum wage of N46,000 per month after the union met with the National Public Service Joint Negotiating Council.
He said,

“In the past one year, we presented a proposal for salary review to the Federal Government but the government said that the price of crude had fallen. “We argued that if the price of crude is 30 dollars per barrel and the resources of the country are well managed, money will be enough to pay workers decent salaries.

“From the memo we submitted to the NPSJNC, we computed what it will take for an average worker to survive and we arrive at N66,000. “So, we took 75 per cent of that and we arrived at N46,000 minimum wage.

 Lawal said that the new minimum wage demand will not cause crisis in the economic sector, he said:

“If the government believes that the amount will create crisis, we will tell them what to do to ensure that everybody will be carried along.”

CBN Has No Option But To Devalue Naira – S&P

The Central Bank of Nigeria will have to devalue the naira at some stage, possibly by more than 15 per cent, global ratings agency, Standard & Poor’s, has said.
The agency, however, said on Wednesday that it saw the adjustments as likely to be gradual.
Local and foreign investors have seen a devaluation of the naira as long overdue for Nigeria, which has been battered by the recent tumble in crude oil prices.
Following the naira devaluations in November and February, the CBN has recently focused on curbing access to foreign exchange at the interbank market for importers of some goods, introducing stringent restrictions three weeks ago.

But the Director, Sovereign Ratings, Standard & Poor’s, Ravi Bhatia, said the recent measures by the

CBN including stopping the sale of forex to importers of 41 items at the official forex markets could only delay the inevitable, Reuters reported.

“Another devaluation is inevitable… they will have no option but to devalue,” said Bhatia at a media briefing.
Many investors are positioning for a devaluation of around 15 per cent. Bhatia said that sounded “reasonable”, though even more might be needed.
Non-deliverable forwards – derivatives used to hedge against future exchange rate moves – reflect expectations of currency weakening: six-month NDFs price the naira at 233 per dollar, some 18 per cent weaker than the CBN’s pegged rate of 196.95 on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the naira hit another record low of 242.5 against the dollar on the parallel market operated by dealers in bureau de change, down 0.42 per cent from Tuesday.
The naira has been hitting record lows at the parallel market since the latest central bank measures introduced three weeks ago.
Bhatia did not expect the adjustment to be done in one go.
“I think at this stage the plan is to move in increments, not to do a ‘one big step’ devaluation like they would in the old days,” he said.
The central bank has said it is in no mood to devalue the naira, given the risks to inflation from a weaker currency, and that it will not be focusing on the thinly traded parallel market when determining the exchange rate.
Local and foreign investors have also been nervous that Nigeria may lose its place in the benchmark GBI-EM local currency debt index. Bhatia said this was a “real possibility”, although he expected the government to adjust policy enough to maintain its membership.
“At some point they have to decide: do they want to go with their policies or do they want to stay in, and at the moment they are trying to do both, and it has worked,” said Bhatia.
“But there are issues there, and it is a concern.”
JPMorgan warned in June it could eject Nigeria from its benchmark index by year-end unless it restored liquidity to currency markets in a way that allowed foreign investors to transact with minimal hurdles.
In March, Standard & Poor’s cut its rating on Nigeria to B+, changing its outlook to “stable”.

Daily Pains Of A Single Rich Guy – Lagos Bachelor Writes

Found this on Nairaland… Below are the 10 reasons he stated. Love me some relationship talk hehehe:

It’s funny to me when I read online that all that is required to get a Naija gal is money! People exaggerate the influence of money. Many guys automatically assume that once you display some cash, gals will automatically trip for you like mad. While it may be true to some extent (I have experienced that), it is not always the case.

I am not particularly stinkingly rich but I am a very comfortable bachelor working with one of the foremost multinational oil companies in Nigeria. I can afford the basic things of life with ease and with enough to spare. I also have friends & colleagues who are very comfortable and face similar
challenges I and others face. Any rich, single guy will possibly identify with some of the challenges I am about to outline, if not all. Some of the challenges are as follows:

  1. Many girls automatically assume that you are a player – Drive a nice car, wear good clothes, smell well and live in a comfortable house and many gals automatically tag you out as a player. undecided I have been told so many times by girls. One of my close friend had to quit a relationship because his girlfriend was just too insecure and didn’t trust him. sad My ex-gfs have also accused me of cheating eventhough I was never caught.
  2. Many think you have a girlfriend – You walk up to a girl, chat her up and start off a conversation. You become her friend and eventually ask her out. She tells you to your face that she knows that you already have a girlfriend, and possibly a fiancée. She tells you that it is virtually impossible for you to be single with your current status. For goodness sake, what does my financial status has to do with my relationship lifeI tire o. From that point onward, they hardly take you serious.
  3. Some girls are just interested in your money – Yes, many rich guys can testify to this. You meet lots and lots of female fraudster – we call them runs girls. angry They pretend to like you but all they are interested in is to get a share of your ‘national cake’ – your money. I can not count the number of times that girls (that I am still toasting) will be asking me to pay for their house rent, set up a business for them, etc when I am yet to start dating them. Even at the stage of friendship, some start asking for phones, Brazilian hairs and all kinds of stuffs. It’s annoying! Why is it so hard sometimes to meet a decent, good looking girl? I must confess not all girls are like that but many are.
  4. You spend more for your girlfriends – Girlfriends who have rich boyfriends expect their guys to spend more for them. You will find out that your broke male friends spend far less for their girlfriends ( and the girls appear to be contented), but in your case, your girlfriends expect that you ‘prove’ your love by spending your cash on them. If you don’t spend lavishly, you risk being tagged as ‘stingy’ cry
  5. Fine girls tend to play more ‘hard-to-get’ with the rich guys than the broke ones – YES! You heard me right. It’s surprisingly ironic, isn’t it? Fine girls tend to play hard to get with the rich guys because they want to been seen as decent and not after money. Many atimes, it’s just sheer pretence. embarassed They pretend to be decent, good, domesticated. They may sometimes hide their promiscuous and cheap lifestyle because they assume that they have finally met the serious-minded rich guy. So, they want to appear like a good girl. Some may also play hard-to-get so that you can spend more during the toasting stage. Meanwhile, you find out that these girls keep rolling carelessly and freely with the not-so-rich guys in the neighborhood.
  6. You become paranoid. You find it hard to know who really loves you. You also tend to think the girls in your circle are only around because of your money. You beome confused and it gets difficult to settle for a choice. It seems best to have settled for someone before you ‘made’ it. embarassed
  7. You may actually meet fewer number of good girls – You heard me right. You find out that you meet mostly bad and extremely extroverted girls. This is because the richer you get, the more isolated you may become. You drive your car, meaning that you do not meet ladies often in the bus or park. You do mostly online transfer meaning that you also miss out on ladies who visit the banks. You also are too busy to visit near-by higher insitutions where you can meet various chicks. We often live in very secured estates where everybody minds his/her own business further isolating us from meeting the real, ‘good’ gals out there. We tend to hang out in bars and clubs where you meet the highly extroverted, possibly bad gals. Gals in church are possibly worse-off too and not much better. Sigh…. cry
  8. You spend more than others to get a gal others would easily get with little cash – Another sad truth. Standards are set for you. While the not-so-rich guys will think twice before spending even less than 5k on a girl, you find yourself spending comparatively more for a gal. Due to your class, you have minimum standards for yourself, and you find it hard to go below it as it has become part of your lifestyle. First impression matters a lot for women. When you take a lady on a date within your ‘minimum standard’which may be very ordinary to you, she may become carried away with the lavishness. She often steps up her game so as not to appear cheap. cool
  9. Your true personality is often buried beneath your financial strength sad – Rich guys are one of the most misunderstood persons. Sometimes, we just want to be ourselves. However, friends and hanger-bys tend to be insecure and intimidated around us and think of us only in terms of our money. You jokingly tease a girl, and she is quick to point out to you that ‘is it because you think you have money?’ Not only girls, even fellow friends around you will feel very insecure. Some do not want to introduce you to their girlfriends because they are afraid that you will snatch them away. You find street guys freely talking to these fine young girls, and nobody calls them names. If you do same, people tag you as arrogant, player, disrespectful, etc. All focus is on you. Gossips are directed towards you…hmm angry

10. You find out the real, hard truth that money can not buy true love. Of course, money plays a very big role as it can fuel and sustain true love but money can hardly get you true love. Money can get you a beautiful woman, but it can’t get you a decent, faithful and loyal girl. Ever rich, comfortable or even upcoming guy out there should focus more on building a personality that is attractive to ladies. I have been poor and loved by a lady unconditionally before. I am comfortable and have been hurt by a lady recently. I have been both poor and rich in my life. From my experience, I can very well say that LIKEABLE PERSONALITY COMES BEFORE MONEY

Photo: EFCC Arraigns Two Suspected Fraudsters For $2.25m Scam

Find the EFCC Press statement below…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwem Essien Antia before Justice Lawal Akapo of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and forgery. Yerima and Antia ran into troubles, when they were arrested in March, 2015 by operatives of the EFCC for allegedly stealing the sum of $2,250,000 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) from two bankers: Aginwa Gladys and Ale Dennis.

The suspects allegedly approached Aginwa and Dennis in February, 2015, offering to sell foreign
exchange to the tune of $10,000,000 USD to them. After agreeing on the exchange rate, a sum of N672, 750, 000 (Six Hundred and Seventy Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) was transferred from BlueBeam Capital Investment Limited and Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited into the account of one of the bankers: Smiles and Light Limited.

It was from the banker’s account that the entire sum was moved into Antia’s account: Kafisto Oil and Gas Limited. Findings showed that the entire sum of N672, 750,000 actually hit Antia’s account. A Bureau de Change operator who changed the money into its dollar equivalent, told EFCC’s investigators that he went with Antia to his bank, along Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the transaction was confirmed. The Bureau de Change operator further revealed that, Antia subsequently transferred the sum of N666, 250,000(Six Hundred and Sixty- Six Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) into his own account.

He said he worked out the dollar equivalent of the money, which was $3,127,000 (Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty- Seven Thousand United States Dollar). He said he could only give $3,124,000(Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Four Thousand Dollar) to Antia, leaving a balance of $3,000(Three Thousand Dollar), which he promised to give him the next day. Immediately Antia collected the foreign exchange, he reportedly headed for Number 17A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the two bankers and his accomplice, Suleiman were waiting for him. However, rather than handing over the entire foreign exchange to the bankers, he only gave them $1,000,000(One Million Dollars), claiming that he could not source the entire amount. He allegedly promised to give them a balance of $2,250,000 (Two Million, Two Hundred and Twenty- Five Thousand Dollar) the next day.

This balance would be the dollar equivalent of the entire sum of the transaction (N672, 750,000). The bankers said that, since the day Antia and Suleman gave them the initial $1,000,000, all efforts to reach them had proved abortive. “Their cell phones were turned off”, they said. However, they lodged a complaint with the EFCC and operatives of the Commission eventually arrested the two fraudsters. The fraudsters, upon their arrest, claimed that they had given one of the bankers, Dennis the balance of the money at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, but investigations by the Commission, showed that no such transaction took place.

Count one of the charge read: “Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwen Essien Antia on or about the 5th day of February, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain money by false pretence from Dennis Ale and Aginwa Gladys. Another count read:”Alhaji Yerima Suleiman and Mr. Uwen Essien Anita on or about the 6th day of February, 2015 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud and in order to facilitate your obtaining money by false pretence from Dennis Ale and Aginwa Gladys, forged acknowledgement of receipt dated 6th February, 2015 purported to have been made by Dennis Ale.” When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Gbolahan Latona prayed for a trial date and the remand of the accused person in prison custody. He told the court that the 1st accused person was also a defendant in another fraud charge before another court.

However, 1st and 2nd defence counsel, Ali Adams and Kabril Akingbolu said they have filed applications for bail and prayed the court for a short adjournment for argument on their bail applications. Justice Lawal Akapo adjourned the matter to November 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, 2015 and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kirikiri maximum prison. Media & Publicity 24th June, 2015

U.S. Will Assist Us To Recover Stolen Money- Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said his administration had received firm assurances of cooperation from the United States and other countries in his quest to recover and repatriate funds stolen from Nigeria.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke while granting audience to members of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Adesina quoted Buhari as saying that it was now up to Nigeria to provide the international community with the facts and figures needed to drive the recovery effort.

He said he would be busy, in the next three months, getting the facts that would help in recovering the stolen funds. “In the next three months, our administration will be busy getting those facts and the figures to help us recover our stolen funds in foreign countries,” Adesina quoted the President as saying.

Citing the report submitted by the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, President Buhari said that several revenue-generating institutions in the country had been compromised.

On insecurity, the President was also quoted as telling the traditional rulers that they would play a key role in stemming terrorism and insurgency in the country.

This, he said, they would do by assisting the government with cost-effective intelligence gathering.

Read Morepunchng

Woman Collects Money, Hands 14-year-old To Rapist In Lagos

A 25-year-old woman, Nnena Okoro, has been arrested by the police after she reportedly lured a 14-year-old girl, Faith (pseudonym) to a hotel, where a man raped her.

Okoro lives in Sumoratu Estate, off Ojo Road, Lagos State, where the victim resides. She was said to have been Faith’s confidant. Incident happened on the noon of May 16, when the girl’s aunt, with whom she lives, was not around. Okoro had approached Nnenna and requested that she accompanied
her to the Barracks area to buy mangoes. Okoro rejected the mangoes available in the area and went to Wowo, a nearby street, where the hotel was located.

Punch Metro was told that Okoro, who had allegedly collected an undisclosed amount from the fleeing rapist, lured Faith into a room in the hotel and shut the door. Faith said her mouth was covered, as Nnena aided the man to rape her.

She said:

“Aunty Nnena (Okoro) said I should follow her to buy mangoes in Barracks Lane. She did not like the mangoes they had there and she said we should go to Ojo Road. We went to a hotel and met a man, who she called her friend. Aunty Nnena told me to enter a room. Suddenly, both of them dragged me to the bed. Nnena held my hand and covered my mouth with a cloth. The man pulled off my trousers and raped me. He left the hotel immediately he finished doing it and said he had paid Aunty Nnena.

I went outside crying. It was one woman around the area that helped to clean the blood coming out from my private parts when she saw me. She later took me to the Layeni Police Station.”

In her statement to the police, Okoro, who hails from Abia State, confessed to taking the girl to the hotel. She denied coercing the victim into the act and claimed that she had never met the man prior to the incident. She said:

“Faith is my friend. On the fateful day, we both went to buy mangoes on Ojo Road. On getting to a hotel at Tolu, one man called her. They both discussed and the man paid N500 to the hotel attendant and they entered the room. I later left them inside the room to ease myself. It was when I came back that she told me that she was raped. I did not know that she was a virgin. We have never discussed anything like that before. Her pants were stained with blood. I have never seen the man before that day, but I can recognise him if I see him again.”

PUNCH Metro learnt that Okoro had been arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court on two counts bordering on the crime, while the police said they had launched a manhunt for the suspect.

The charges read:

 “That you, Nnena Okoro, and one other male, now at large, on May 16, 2015, at about 3.20pm, at Graziela Hotel on Wowo Street, Tolu, Ajegunle, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; defilement, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
“That you, Nnena Okoro, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did hold the hands of 14-year-old Faith to the bed and allowed one other man at large to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

The accused pleaded not guilty.

A police prosecutor, ASP Olusoji Ojaokomo, said a medical test conducted on the girl revealed that her hymen had been ruptured.

The defendant’s counsel pleaded with the court to grant bail to his client.

Nigeria Borrows Money To Pay Government Salaries- Aljazeera

Africa’s biggest economy faces “revenue challenges” that have affected expenditure, finance minister says.

Africa’s richest economy is borrowing money to pay salaries as it struggles through a “difficult cash crunch” brought on by halved oil prices, Nigeria’s finance minister revealed.

The news comes as Nigeria prepares to welcome a new government at the end of this month and the country’s naira currency remains in a slump, hovering between 180 and 220 to the US dollar. It was trading at 160 a few months ago.

Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tried to be upbeat in a speech on Tuesday after lawmakers approved the 2015 budget – revised three times because of slashed oil prices that provide 80 percent of revenue for the government of Africa’s biggest petroleum producer.

She said “revenue challenges” had prohibited the release of any funds for capital expenditure this year but that food prices and single-digit inflation remained quite stable. And she said the economy still was on course to grow 4.8 percent this year.

“We have front-loaded the borrowing program to manage the cash crunch,” Okonjo-Iweala told lawmakers.

“Out of the 882 billon naira budgetary provision for borrowing, the government has borrowed 473 billion naira to meet up with recurrent expenditure, including salaries and overheads.”

That is bad news for the incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, who takes over on May 29 from incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari acknowledges that constricted revenue and endemic corruption threaten his will to deliver on development and reconstruction of areas devastated by a nearly 6-year-old rebel uprising in the northeast.

He says his fight against corruption should produce the money needed to bring change to a country where oil proceeds benefit a small clique while the majority of the 170 million people in Africa’s most populous nation live hand to mouth.

Critics blame the financial crisis in part on the most expensive election ever held in Nigeria, though no one knows how much politicians from both sides spent during their campaigns.

Fashola Accuses FG of Diverting SURE-P Money- Vanguard

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, accused the Federal Government of diverting Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, money for the funding of the campaigns of President Gooodluck Jonathan.

Fashola made the allegation at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Badagry area of the state. The governor, who took a swipe at the Federal Government for disappointing Nigerians, added: “The money they took for Sure-P is in Sure Pocket, that’s what Sure-P means. It has nothing to do with the people.”

He accused the Federal Government of non-challant attitude, stressing that at a time they ought to have been committed to serving the people. “They were busy doing TAN rallies. They started the campaign one year ago , they were doing Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) rallies instead of serving you.

“They were spending Sure-P money in TAN. If they had used that money to build health centres, highways and prosper your life, the story will be different,’’ Fashola said.

Read More: vanguardngr.com

Nigeria, not Kenya, is About to Become Africa’s Next Big Technology Hub

Largely off the back of Mpesa, the hugely successful mobile money-transfer system, the Kenyan capital has gained a reputation for technological innovation—and with it an influx of no-strings (or few-strings) development funding that has crowded out some of the private investment searching for tech startups to finance.

 Now investors are looking to the other side of the African continent for results. Nigeria, with nearly 200 million people, a growing economy, and no shortage of local problems, stands out as an option. It’s slowly building up a tech sector of its own. The funding circuit is still small: probably no more than 10 companies investing money, says Kresten Buch, founder of the Nairobi tech accelerator 88mph (which has since expanded to South Africa).
The biggest difference between Nigeria and other major African economies is its sheer size. With roughly four times as many people as Kenya or South Africa, Nigeria is big enough to reward products and services that are domestic in nature.

One example of that is Obiwezy, a venue for selling used smartphones. Nigeria is primarily a pre-paid market, where customers pay the full cost of a handset up front. That puts most high-end devices out of reach for all but the very rich. But the aspiration to own a high-end Apple or Samsung handset remains, as it does elsewhere in the world. Obiwezy’s founders figure that a secondhand market—with warranties—is one way to sate that demand. They have tied up with MTN, a large telco, to offer the service.

 Nigeria still has a big hole where investors willing to put in between $100,000 and $1 million should be. For now, investors are ensconced in Nairobi. But that might change as Nigeria’s companies grow larger, signaling opportunity to deeper-pocketed investors looking for returns.
Credit: qz.com

Pastor Caresses Woman’s Breast…Watch How “Fake” Miracle Pastor was Exposed

A video documenting one, Prophet Dr.  Victor Kanyari, reveals how he performs miracles and extorts money from church members and the public.

The Inside Story reveals a secret recording of how he cajours people into “acting” for his programs/ healing/ deliverance services and also the video shows how he caressed a woman’s breast because she wanted healing for her breast.

Watch Video below…