Monday 31 August 2015

Liverpool sign Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi for £400,000

Liverpool have completed the signing of Nigerian striker, Taiwo Awoniyi from Imperial Academy in his homeland for £400,000 deal.

The 18-year-old U-23 player has immediately been sent to second-tier German side FSV Frankfurt on loan because he does not qualify for a work permit.

''This is the biggest club in the world and I’m privileged to be here,''Awoniyi told Liverpoolfc.com. ''I’ll try to develop myself very well so that when I come back to Liverpool I’ll be able to add value to the team. When I’m in the red shirt, I will always give my very best to make the fans happy.''

Awoniyi had also been targeted by Monaco and Porto, but the Reds have moved quickly to secure his signature.


Benue militant leader surrenders 84 rifles to govt

A renowned gang leader in Benue State, Terwase Akwaza, popularly known as Ghana, has surrendered 84 guns to the state government, embracing the amnesty programme declared by the state government for residents of the state to surrender illegal weapons in their possession.

State Governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, said this on Monday in Makurdi, the state capital, after the State Executive Council meeting.

Ortom, who announced that the amnesty window to surrender illegal weapons in the state had been extended to the end of September, said Akwaza had surrendered the illegally stockpiled weapons with him and had promised to desist from his violent activities in Benue and Taraba states communities.

The governor stated that the extension of the amnesty window became necessary following a plea by the gang leader that he needed time to persuade some of his friends in the underworld to also surrender their weapons.

Akwaza stated, however, that he became a militant leader to secure his community, adding that he had decided to genuinely embrace the calls by Ortom for people in the state, holding illegal weapons, to surrender them and embrace peace.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Col. Edwin Jando(retd.), disclosed that he received 135 assorted rifles and 770 rounds of ammunition from those who voluntarily surrendered their weapons with 84 rifles submitted by Akwaza.

The governor expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari; Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku; the Catholic Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Peter Adoboh, and others for their support for the amnesty programme.

According to him, it has become imperative to secure the state so that a conducive environment would be created to attract investors as well as boost the economic fortunes of the state.

Ortom explained that at the end of the extension of the programme, security agencies would go after those who were still in possession of illegal arms so as to put an end to crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping and cultism in the state.

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez signs with Bayer Leverkusen for £7.3m

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has joined Bayer Leverkusen for £7.3m  on a 3-year deal.

The 27-year-old Mexican forward was on the bench for United's 2-1 Barclays Premier League defeat at Swansea on Sunday but last started for the team more than a year ago.

"I know two of the biggest leagues in Europe in the English Premier League and the Primera Division in Spain and now I want to experience the Bundesliga,'' Hernandez told the Leverkusen website, www.bayer04.de. "I've heard a lot about the fantastic stadia in Germany and about the unique fans they have there. The Bundesliga is an extremely attack-minded league and it's particularly enticing for me. It's fantastic that I can now play for a club like Leverkusen, who are obviously known to me from the Champions League. Bayer Leverkusen is a big opportunity for me and I can and want to achieve a lot here."

He spent most of last season on loan at Real Madrid.

Hernandez scored 59 goals in 156 appearances for United after joining from hometown club Chivas de Guadalajara in 2010.


Chris Brown’s baby being raised by a wanted man! (Video)

According to a post by TMZ on YouTube, Chris Brown’s Baby Royalty is reportedly being raised By a wanted man! See video below...




Ne-Yo is engaged to his fiancée Crystal Renay and she is pregnant!

Ne-Yo took to Twitter on Monday to surprise his fans when he announced that he and his fiancée Crystal Renay, not only tied the knot, but they are expecting a baby together, too!

''Clearing the air..@mscrystalrenay and I are ENGAGED to be married next year. And yes we are expecting. #FromTheHorsesMouth'' the 35-year-old singer tweeted, after reports surfaced that they were already married.

Ne-Yo also cleared the air about some false rumors regarding his ex Monyetta Shaw.

''Clearing the air..I didn’t force Mo to tie her tubes. Mutual decision. And the procedure is reversible. #SheCanHaveKids

The singer has two children -- 4-year-old daughter Madilyn Grace Smith and 3-year-old son Mason Evan Smith -- with his ex-fiancée, actress Monyetta Shaw, who currently stars on VH1's Atlanta Exes.

White House responds to Kanye West's 2020 presidential bid

Kanye West announced that he would be running for president in 2020 while accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on Sunday August 30 at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, California.

In a swift respond to the 38-year-old rapper's bid for the seat in the 2020 election, the White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says he's looking "forward to seeing what slogan (West) chooses to embroider on his campaign hat."

Earnest was traveling to Alaska aboard Air Force One with President Barack Obama on Monday August 31.

This isn't the first time the outspoken rapper has dabbled in talk of politics. West is noted for criticism of President George W. Bush and the federal government's response after Hurricane Katrina. He has also compared the world's fascination with his wife, Kim Kardashian, to its interest in first lady Michelle Obama.

Borussia Dortmund sign Adnan Januzaj from Manchester United on loan

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Adnan Januzaj on Monday on a season loan from Manchester United.

The 20-year-old Belgium winger who will wear the Dortmund shirt No 9, posted a photo on Twitter shortly after his contract was sealed with the message: ''Pleased to sign for Dortmund! Looking forward to new season.''

"Adnan is a high quality and versatile player who complements our attack," Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc said.

Januzaj made four appearances for United this season, scoring in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa this month.



Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan apologizes for racist comments on GMA

Hulk Hogan was on Good Morning America on Monday in an exclusive interview with ABC News' Amy Robach, where he discussed the racial row he says has left his entire wrestling career completely erased from the history books.

Here's what the 12-time world champ had to share with ABC News' Robach that aired on Monday.

''Oh, my gosh. Please forgive me. Please forgive me,'' the 62-year-old pleaded--both to America as a whole and to his daughter Brooke Hogan, whose black boyfriend was the focus of his racist attack. ''I'm not a racist but I never should have said what I said. It was wrong. I'm embarrassed by it. I was upset about something that happened between her and her boyfriend. People need to realize that you inherit things from your environment. And where I grew up...Port Tampa...was a really rough neighborhood, very low income. And all my friends, we greeted each other saying that word.

He added, ''I was to the point where I wanted to kill myself. Just because a person makes a mistake, just don’t throw them away. You don’t throw good people away. People get better every day.''




Buhari congratulates D'Tigers, assures them of full support ahead of Olympics

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the national men's basketball team, D'Tigers, on their victory over Angola in yesterday's final of the FIBA Africa Basketball Championship in Tunisia.

President Buhari joins other sports-loving Nigerians in applauding D'Tigers' exhilarating 74-65 victory over their Angolan opponents which also secured Nigeria's qualification for the men's basketball event at next year's Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

The President commends the players for displaying exemplary strength, courage, determination and patriotism as well as great skills and creativity to dethrone Angola, the perennial African basketball champions.

President Buhari urges members of the team and their handlers to work very hard to surpass their extraordinary heroics in Tunisia before a global audience at next year's Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro and bring even greater glory to Nigeria.

The President assures the team, its managers and the Nigerian Basketball Federation that his administration will give them and Nigeria's other representatives at the next Olympic Games, the fullest possible support to ensure that they are well prepared to excel against the champions of other countries and regions in Rio De Janeiro.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 31, 2015 

Nigeria beat Angola 74 - 65 in AfroBasket 2015 Final, qualify for Rio Olympics

Nigeria's national male basketball team, D'Tigers beat rivals Angola 74 – 65 to win the 2015 Afrobasket Championship for the first time in history on Sunday night in Rades, Tunisia.  .

Chamberlain Oguchi, a 29-year-old American Nigerian basketball player scored 19 points and was rewarded for his impressive tournament and huge individual performance in the Final by receiving the Most Valuable Player award, presented by Tissot.

''It's the best moment of my life, to be able to come here after missing the last AfroBasket, to be able to come here and do this with my brothers, it feels amazing,'' Oguchi said afterwards. ''I'm happy to be able to share this moment with them and for me personally, it's just really great.''

The historic win for D’Tigers also gave Nigeria a ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Before Sunday’s final Nigeria has never beaten Angola in nine meetings dating back to 1987.



80 people reportedly killed after suspected Boko Haram attacked a Village in Borno

Nearly 80 people were reportedly shot and killed in separate attacks after members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect stormed three villages in Nigeria’s restive northeast Borno state over the weekend.

According to Vanguard, Vigilant Babakura Kolo said 68 people were killed in the attack on Banu village late Friday while residents said another 11 people were shot dead in two other villages in the state on Saturday and Sunday.

BREAKING: Ex- Governor Akpabio rushed to hospital after car crashed

The immediate past Governor of Akwa Ibom State, now Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio has been rushed to the National Hospital in Abuja after his car got involved in an accident along the Airport Road on Monday morning, according Premium Times.

''My wife and I were coming from the NNPC Mega Station and we stopped at the traffic light by Bolingo Hotel Junction,'' an eyewitness told Premium Times. ''When the green light showed and we made to move, there was this siren blaring Mercedes Benz jeep that came from the town and almost crashed onto my car. I don’t know how we dodged but another that was behind the jeep hit the car behind me and tumbled on its side. I and my wife rushed out of our vehicle and helped the driver bring out his boss. When we brought him out, we found that it was former governor Godswill Akpabio. At the time we brought him out, the siren was still blaring. We put him in the other vehicle and he was rushed to the National Hospital.''

Two hours after Premium Times arrived at the National Hospital and met a security official, he said the former governor was at the National Trauma Center. Thereafter the driver was contacted and he confirmed the accident and said his boss was in a stable condition.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, J. Momoh has refused to comment on former governor's case.

''I cannot speak about a patient in admission without getting approval from his family. You should therefore excuse me,'' Mr. Momoh told PT.

According to Premium Times, at about 12.25p.m. Mr. Akpabio’s predecessor, Governor, Udom Emmanuel, arrived in a three-vehicle convoy, led by a Toyota Jeep, with registration number, Yab 474 BG. Mr. Udom was driven in a BMW salon car with the number plates covered.

More of the story visit Premium Times

VMAs 2015: Kanye West announces 2020 presidential candidacy

Kanye West received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award held at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday night August 30 in Los Angeles, California.

The 38-year-old rapper surprised the crowd during a long acceptance speech at the MTV VMAs on Sunday, announcing he will be running for President of the United States of America in 2020 – much of it was about his infamous Taylor Swift interruption at the VMAs many years ago.

''Listen to the kids. Jeremy, I gotta put it down for a second. Jeremy Scott designed it.

First of all, thank you Taylor for being so gracious and giving me this award this evening, thank you. And I often think back to the first day that I met you also. You know, I think about when I’m in the grocery store with my daughter and I have a really great conversation about fresh juice, you know? And at the end they say, ‘Oh, you’re not that bad after all.’ And like, I think about it sometimes. It crosses my mind a little bit like when I go to a baseball game and 60,000 people boo me.

It crosses my mind a little bit. And I think if I had to do it all again, what would I have done? Would I have worn a leather shirt? Would I have drank a half a bottle of Hennessy and given it to the rest of the audience? If I had a daughter at that time, would I have went onstage and grabbed the mic from someone else’s? You know, this arena, tomorrow, it’s going to be a completely different setup, some concert or something like that. This stage will be gone. After that night, the stage is gone but the effect that it had on people remained. The problem was, the contradiction is, I do fight for artists. But in that fight, I somehow was disrespectful to artists. I didn’t know how to say the right thing, the perfect thing.

I just, I sat at the Grammys and saw Justin Timberlake and Cee Lo lose. Gnarls Barkley and the ‘Sexyback’ album… Justin, I ain’t trying to put you on blast but I saw that man in tears bro. And I was thinking like, he deserved to win Album of the Year. And the small box that we are as entertainers of the evening, how could you explain that? Sometimes I feel like, you know, all this shit they run about beef and all that, sometimes I feel like I died for the artist’s opinion, for an artist to have an opinion after they were successful. I’m not a politician bro!

And look at that. You know how many times MTV ran that footage again because it got them more ratings? You know how many times they announced Taylor was presenting the award because it got more ratings? Listen to the kids bro! I still don’t understand award shows. I don’t understand how they get five people who work their entire life, one sold records, sold concert tickets, to come, stand on a carpet and for the first tie in their life, be judged on a chopping block and had the opportunity to be considered a loser. I don’t understand it bro! I don’t understand what the biggest album or the biggest video… I’m conflicted bro. I just wanted people to like me more.

But f—k that bro! 2015. I will die for the art, for what I believe in, and the art ain’t always polite. Y’all might be thinking fright now, did he smoke something before he came out here? The answer is yes, I rolled up a little something. I’m not dead y’all. I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight, I don’t know what’s going ot happen tomorrow bro, but all I can say to my artists, my fellow artists, just worry about how you feel at the time. Just worry about how you feel, and don’t never…

I’m confident. I believe in myself. We the millennials, bro. This is a new mentality. We not gonna control our kids with brands. We not going to teach hate to our kids. We’re going to teach our kids that they can be something, that they can believe in themselves. If my grandfather was here right now, he would not let me back down. I don’t know what I finna lose after this. It don’t matter though, because it’ snot about me. It’s about ides, bro, new ideas, people with ideas, people who believe in truth.


And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020, to run for president.''



Nigerian workers in Ekiti state subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment by Gov. Fayose for coming late to work - Report

''Nigerian workers in Ekiti state subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment by Governor Ayodele  Fayose for coming late to work,'' Sahara Reporters posted on its Twitter handle.


2015 MTV Video Music Awards winners list!

Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj showed off their awards at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Microsoft Theater on Sunday night August 30 in Los Angeles, California, and hosted by Miley Cyrus.

Nicki, 32, took home the Best Hip-Hop Video award for Anaconda while Taylor, 25, took home the biggest prize of the night, winning the awards for Video of the Year and Best Collaboration for ''Bad Blood'' and Best Female Video and Best Pop Video for ''Blank Space.''

Winners List below...

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” – WINNER
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”

BEST MALE VIDEO
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
The Weeknd – “Earned It”
Nick Jonas – “Chains”

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space” – WINNER
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Sia – “Elastic Heart”
Ellie Goulding – “Love Me Like You Do”

BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda” – WINNER
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
Big Sean ft. E-40 – “IDFWU”

BEST POP VIDEO
Beyoncé – “7/11”
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud”
Taylor Swift – “Blank Space” – WINNER
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Maroon 5 – “Sugar”

BEST ROCK VIDEO
Hozier – “Take Me To Church”
Fall Out Boy – “Uma Thurman” – WINNER
Florence + the Machine – “Ship To Wreck”
Walk the Moon – “Shut Up and Dance”
Arctic Monkeys – “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?”

ARTIST TO WATCH presented by Taco Bell®
Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen” – WINNER
Vance Joy – “Riptide”
George Ezra – “Budapest”
James Bay – “Hold Back The River”
FKA Twigs – “Pendulum”

BEST COLLABORATION
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” – WINNER
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – “See You Again”
Ariana Grande & The Weeknd – “Love Me Harder”
Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj – “Bang Bang”

VIDEO WITH A SOCIAL MESSAGE
Jennifer Hudson – “I Still Love You”
Colbie Caillat – “Try”
Big Sean ft. Kanye West and John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World” – WINNER
Rihanna – “American Oxygen”
Wale – “The White Shoes”

SONG OF THE SUMMER
5 Seconds of Summer — “She’s Kinda Hot” – WINNER
Fetty Wap (featuring Monty) — “My Way”
Fifth Harmony (featuring Kid Ink) – “Worth it”
Selena Gomez (featuring A$AP Rocky) — “Good for You”
David Guetta (featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack) — “Hey Mama”
Demi Lovato — “Cool for the Summer”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake (featuring MØ) — “Lean On”
OMI — “Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)”
Silentó — “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”
Skrillex and Diplo (featuring Justin Bieber) — “Where Are Ü Now”
Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar) — “Bad Blood”
The Weeknd — “Can’t Feel My Face”

BEST ART DIRECTION
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Charles Infante)
Snoop Dogg – “So Many Pros” (Jason Fijal) – WINNER
Jack White – “Would You Fight For My Love” (Jeff Peterson)
The Chemical Brothers – “Go” (Michel Gondry)
Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer)

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Chris Grant, Additional choreography: Gabriel Valenciano)
OK Go – “I Won’t Let You Down” (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano) – WINNER
Chet Faker – “Gold” (Ryan Heffington)
Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Nappy Tabs)
Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Keone and Mari Madrid)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Flying Lotus ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Never Catch Me” (Larkin Sieple) – WINNER
Ed Sheeran – “Thinking Out Loud” (Daniel Pearl)
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Christopher Probst)
FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (Justin Brown)
Alt-J – “Left Hand Free” (Mike Simpson)

BEST DIRECTION
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Joseph Kahn)
Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy)
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright” (Colin Tilley & The Little Homies) – WINNER
Hozier – “Take Me To Church” (Brendan Canty, Conal Thomson)
Childish Gambino – “Sober” (Hiro Murai)

BEST EDITING
Beyoncé – “7/11” (Beyoncé, Ed Burke, Jonathan Wing) – WINNER
Ed Sheeran – “Don’t” (Jacquelyn London)
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Chancler Haynes at Cosmo Street)
A$AP Rocky – “L$D” (Dexter Navy)
Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Bad Blood” (Ingenuity Studios)
FKA Twigs – “Two Weeks” (Gloria FX, Tomash Kuzmytskyi, and Max Chyzhevskyy)
Childish Gambino – “Telegraph Ave.” (Gloria FX)
Skrillex & Diplo – “Where Are U Now” with Justin Bieber (Brewer) – WINNER
Tyler, The Creator – “F****** Young/Death Camp” (Gloria FX



Serena Williams on Illustrated Sport Magazine cover issue

Serena Williams is on the front cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine, sixteen years after she first appeared.

For the first time in her career, the world No. 1, superstar who will turn 34 years old a month from Wednesday, is in the running for a chance to win a calendar Grand Slam, which would make her the first player to accomplish the feat since Steffi Graf in 1988.

If Serena takes home the U.S. Open title, it would mark her FIFTH straight Grand Slam title and her FOURTH consecutive U.S. Open title.

Sunday 30 August 2015

Maria Sharapova withdraws from US Open, Daria Kasatkina to replace her!

Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the US Open following a leg injury, according to a statement she released on her Facebook page on Sunday August 30.

The 28-year-old Russian world no 3 hasn't appeared in a WTA tournament since her semifinal defeat at Wimbledon back in July.

''Unfortunately I will not be able to compete in this years US Open,'' the statement read. ''I have done everything possible to be ready but it was just not enough time. To all my amazing fans, I will be back in the Asian swing in a few weeks and look forward to finishing the year healthy and strong.''

This is the second time in three years that Sharapova has had to withdraw from the US Open.

Fellow Russian Daria Kasatkina will replace Sharapova in the draw as a qualifying lucky loser.

We wish you a speedy recovery, Maria!



Nelson Shanks, painter of presidents and royalty, dies at 77

Nelson Shanks, a painter renowned for his portraits of prominent figures ranging from presidents to a pope to royalty, has passed away on Friday of complications from cancer at his home in Andsalusia, in Bucks County, according to Bill Wedo, spokesman for the Studio Incamminati art school Shanks founded with his wife, Leona.

He was 77.

"I try to push portraits as far as I can beyond the academic, traditional, straightforward boardroom style," Mr. Shanks said in a 2001 interview. "I try to bring the art out''

President Obama renames Mount McKinley as Denali

President Barack Obama will change the name of North America's tallest mountain peak from Mount McKinley to Denali, the White House said Sunday, a major symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives on the eve of the president's historic visit to Alaska.

By renaming the peak Denali, an Athabascan word meaning "the high one," Obama waded into a sensitive and decades-old conflict between residents of Alaska and Ohio. Alaskans have informally called the mountain Denali for years, but the federal government recognizes its name invoking the 25th president, William McKinley, who was born in Ohio and assassinated early in his second term.

"With our own sense of reverence for this place, we are officially renaming the mountain Denali in recognition of the traditions of Alaska Natives and the strong support of the people of Alaska," said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell.

The announcement came as Obama prepared to open a three-day visit to Alaska aimed at infusing fresh urgency into his call to action on climate change. To the dismay of some Alaska Republicans, the White House has choreographed the trip to showcase melting glaciers and other cherished natural wonders in Alaska that Obama says are threatened by warmer temperatures.

But Obama's visit is also geared toward displaying solidarity with Alaska Natives, who face immense economic challenges and have warned of insufficient help from the federal government. As his first stop after arriving in Anchorage on Monday, Obama planned to hold a listening session with Alaska Natives. The president was also expected to announce new steps to help Alaska Native communities on Wednesday when he becomes the first sitting president to visit the Alaska Arctic.

It was unclear whether Ohio leaders or others would mount an effort to block the name change. There was no immediate response to inquiries seeking comment from House Speaker John Boehner and other Ohio lawmakers.

At 20,320 feet, the mountain stands as the continent's tallest, and is still growing at a rate of about one millimeter per year, according to the National Park Service. Known for its majestic views, the mountain is dotted with glaciers and covered at the top with snow year-round, with powerful winds that make it difficult for the adventurous few who seek to climb it.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who had pushed legislation for years to change the name, said Alaskans were "honored" to recognize the mountain as Denali — a change in tone for the Alaska Republican, who had spoken out against Obama's energy policies in anticipation of his visit to her state.

"I'd like to thank the president for working with us to achieve this significant change to show honor, respect, and gratitude to the Athabascan people of Alaska," Murkowski said in a video message recorded atop the mountain's Ruth Glacier, with cloudy snow-capped peaks behind her.

Gov. Bill Walker joined Murkowski and other Alaskans in praising Obama for the change. The state of Alaska has had a standing request to change the name dating back to 1975, when the legislature passed a resolution and then-Gov. Jay Hammond made a request to the federal government.

But those efforts and legislation in Congress have been stymied by members of Ohio's congressional delegation. Even when Mount McKinley National Park was renamed Denali National Park in 1980, the federal government retained the use of Mount McKinley to refer to the actual peak.

The White House cited Jewell's authority to change the name, and Jewell issued a secretarial order officially changing it to Denali. The Interior Department said the U.S. Board on Geographic Names had been deferring to Congress since 1977, and cited a 1947 law that allows the Interior Department to change names unilaterally when the board fails to act "within a reasonable time." The board shares responsibility with the Interior Department for naming such landmarks.

The peak got its officially recognized name in 1898, when a prospector was exploring mountains in central Alaska, the White House said. Upon hearing the news that McKinley, a Republican, had received his party's nomination to be president, the prospector named it after him and the name was formally recognized.

Obama won't personally visit the mountain during his tour of Alaska. He'll spend much of the trip in Anchorage, south of the peak, where Obama will speak at a climate change summit on Monday. While in Alaska, Obama also planned to meet with fishermen in Dillingham, hike a glacier in Seward and cross the Arctic Circle to visit the rural town of Kotzebue.

Source: AP

10 major Boko Haram leaders in Lagos, Enugu arrested - SSS

Press Statement:

In line with the Department of State Services’, DSS, re-strategised Counter Terrorism measures to combat the menace of the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria, the Service has continued to make significant breakthroughs in this direction. This followed the rounding up of notable commanders and frontline members of the notorious group from different parts of the country. It should be noted that the group’s new pattern of movement and spread is necessitated by the pressure being put on them in their core areas of strength in the North East.

2. Consequently, a number of them have been arrested in Lagos, Kano, Plateau, Enugu and Gombe States between July 8 and August 25, 2015. Of particular note was the arrest on July 8, 2015 in Gombe State of those responsible for the coordination and execution of the suicide attacks in Potiskum, Kano, Zaria and Jos. They are:

Usman SHUAIBU (a. k. a. Money):
3. SHUAIBU revealed that he coordinated the attacks under reference with the sum of N500,000 which was provided by his Amir, one Isa ALI. He claimed that the said Isa ALI has links to the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar SHEKAU, from where he collects monies to fund operations undertaken by their Markaz.  Also, he revealed that he has participated in several Boko Haram attacks, including the attacks at Gwoza Divisional Police Station in 2014.

4.  SHUAIBU admitted being the leader of the team of nine (9) sect members that was dispatched from Sambisa Forest to carry out the attacks. He disclosed that four out of the nine of them were used as suicide bombers in executing all the (suicide) attacks.

Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR):
5. Suspect, an IED expert, confessed to the preparation of the IEDs used for the mentioned attacks. He also averred that he was the one who strapped the suicide bombers, notably SULE and his wives, with IED vests, which they used in the attacks in Jos.

Adamu ABDULLAHI (aka Babpa)
6. Suspect confessed that Usman SHUAIBU motivated him to work closely with Ahmed MOHAMMED (aka ABUBAKAR) in the preparation of the IEDs used in the attacks under reference.

Ibrahim ISA
7. Suspect confessed that he was the one who carried out reconnaissance on the targets in Jos ahead of the attacks.
Muttaqa YUSUF (aka Mohammed SANI/Mudtaka):
8. Suspect disclosed that one ALIYU, believed to be Aliyu GOMBE, in Sambisa forest, was the one that ordered the serial attacks which the syndicate carried out. He further confessed that he assisted Usman SHUAIBU in planning and executing the said attacks.

9. Other arrests include:
i. Bakura MODU:- He was arrested on July 20, 2015, at Kara, Isheri Berger, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State;

ii. Mustapha Alli JAMNERI:- He was  arrested on July 24, 2015, at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State;

iii. Abuyi SHERRIFF:- suspect was arrested on August 7, 2015, at Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State;

iv. Babagana ALI and Babagana KOLOYE:- were arrested same day (August 7, 2015), at Eric Moore, Bode Thomas Street, Surulere LGA, Lagos State;

v. Abba Modu SAGMA: He was arrested on August 9, 2015, at Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

vi. Grema ABUBAKAR and Tijani BAGUDU: were arrested on August 10, 2015, at Amukoko, Ijora Badiya, Apapa LGA, Lagos State;

vii. Baba Alhaji and Abass IBRAHIM:- were arrested earlier on the same day (August 10, 2015), at Alaba International Market, Alaba, Ojo LGA, Lagos State;

viii. IBRAHIM AUDU: Suspect was arrested on August 192015, at New Artisan Market, Enugu, Enugu State;

ix. Ibrahim HARUNA: The 30-year old suspect from  Kanawa village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State was arrested on August 21, 2015, at Kwomi village, Kwami Local Government Area, Gombe State;

x. Mal Ali MOHAMMODU: The 33-year-old suspect was arrested on August 22, 2015, at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Fagga LGA in Kano State;

xi.   Adam Wakil Abdul JILBE: was arrested on August 23, 2015, at  Obanikoro Area, Mushin LGA, Lagos State; and

xii. Mohammed USMAN: was arrested on August 25, 2015, at  Atuashe Estate, Gbagada, Kosofe LGA, Lagos State.

10.  Nigerians and indeed the general public have to note that the arrest of Usman SHUAIBU aka Money and the core members of his cell, stemmed the spate of bombings by the extremist sect. It would be recalled that MONEY and his group were arrested on their way to Bauchi State where they had planned to execute another heart-rending bomb attack and this was frustrated by the arrest.
Furthermore, the sudden influx of Boko Haram members into Lagos State points to the determination of the sect to extend its nefarious terrorist activities to the State and in fact, other parts of the country.
The arrest of these confessed terrorist elements has however helped in no small measure to avert devastating attacks in the area. However, the Service is making efforts to conclude its investigations and commence prosecution of the suspects.

11. Drawing from the above, the DSS reiterates its avowed determination to work with other stakeholders in the fight against terror and other forms of criminality in our country. Citizens and residents are therefore called upon to rise to the occasion by volunteering useful information to the Service and relevant security agencies.

Tony Opuiyo
Department of State Services

UNDERSTANDING BUHARI IN 100 DAYS by Garba Shehu

THE ENORMOUSLY popular talk show,Berekete on WazobiaFM radio, Abuja station told the incredible, yet true story of the hardworking and respected school teacher somewhere in Plateau state who hanged himself.

He hadn't been paid salary for seven straight months. He came home to find that no one had eaten and two of the children had medical prescriptions for which there was no money.

He sneaked out without talking to anyone.

After a long while, news came home that he had strangely been caught with a stolen goat.

On his day in court, the teacher confessed to the offense. The reason he stole, he told the local judge, was that he hadn't been paid for seven months and when he got home to see what he saw, he just couldn't stand it.

The judge allowed him to go home on bail on self-recognition given, as he said, the good impression the entire village had of the otherwise respected teacher.

All were shocked to find his body dangling from tree the morning after. He couldn't live with the shame.

In the recommendations and notes the Ahmed Joda transition committee presented to him as President -EIect, Muhammadu Buhari was informed that a section of the Fedaral government as well as 27 states hadn't paid salaries, in some case for up to a year.

The Joda committee advised that this was a national emergency and should be treated as such.

It is on account of this that one of theactivities- please note the choice of this word:activities, not achievements- of President Muahammadu Buhari in these past three months is the settlement of unpaid salaries. This is going on right now.

Like the proverbial blinking of the eye, Saturday September 5th will mark the 100th day of the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC government which took office on May 29th after the new party became the first in opposition to unseat an incumbent government in an election adjudged by everyone as free and fair.

There are many out there who say that the performance of a president and his government in terms success or failure cannot be judged in 100 days and I agree with them.

But history will be written anyway. In the coming week or two, a rash of commentaries and analyses to commemorate the event will be made.

I myself don't deny that 100 days is long enough to know and understand the man who is the head of a government.

Buhari arrived power with strong support from young men and women and this country's poor. The new government was not favored at election by the monied power-brokers although that did not stop the President from taking measures such as improving security that are good for business and investment.

This government is business-friendly but not one that is for crony capitalism.

The new government inherited enormous problems created by the tainted PDP administration, largely caused by the lack of governance,corruption and lawlessness. This was mostly evident in the last two years of the Jonathan Goodluck administration. As the President continues to point out,the drift is most evident in the oil sector.

I believe that there is enough on the ground in those 100 days to understand President Buhari, his government and what it stands for.
I will cite a few of these.

Before I do that, I will make a little confession.

In the course of electioneering, the presidential campaign had so many centers of public communication which, for whatever reason were on the loose.

There is a certain document tagged "One Hundred Things Buhari Will Do in 100 Days" and the other, "My Covenant With Nigerians." Both pamphlets bore the authorized party logo but as the Director of Media and Communications in that campaign, I did not fund or authorize any of those. I can equally bet my last Kobo that Candidate Buhari did not see or authorize those publications.

As a consequence of these publications, expectations have been raised unreasonably, that as President, Muhammadu Buhari will wave his hand and all the problems that the country faces- insecurity, corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure would go away.

But that notwithstanding, President Buhari has given the job his best shot and the whole country is saying that we never had it so good. He has re-instituted the values of hard work and administrative efficiency. The President says times without number that this country needs to fix governance and that he won't tolerate laziness.

Some of the other activities I wish to enumerate also include the fact of his taking relations with the country's immediate neighbors to new heights. By their open admissions, this country's neighbors did not have someone they could talk to on the deteriorating security situation in the Lake Chad Basin area in Aso Rock.

Buhari embarked on his foreign policy on Day Four of his administration.

When he met Barack Obama, the U.S president told the Nigerian leader that he was getting it right and that it is only when Nigeria gets it right that Africa will get it right.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon who came calling this week said that our president is "courageous, focused and firm."

Relations with the "G 7" group of industrialized countries have since been "reset" and the dividends of this have begun to flow inwards.

In the area of economic management, Nigerians are already seeing things happen that they thought were not possible in so short a time.

He didn't put a Kobo to finance the power sector. Yet, reading his body language alone and knowing that there are things you cannot do and get away with under Buhari, electricity supply all over the countries has risen to unprecedented heights.

Actually, some cities are on the verge of calling 24-hour, round the clock power supply. The country generates more power than can internally be taken by the deplorable distribution system we have on the ground, which points to the next challenge that the country faces.

Framework for the management of the country's finances has been put in place. The wobbly Naira is being stabilized and inflation is headed towards a single digit.President Buhari is keeping a close eye on the government treasury.

Agriculture is getting its own shot in the arm.

Rice importation has been curtailed and seven governors whose states are priming a massive local production of the commodity have had a strategy meeting with the President on the next steps that are coming. Americans say their intervention in our agriculture will come next year.

Boko Haram, which had more or less been allowed to fester for about five years is about being ended but what is even more interesting is that intelligence coming from the fired-up armed forces who now work in synergy with each other is raising hope that the Chibok girls may, repeat may be found in good numbers in a geographic location of interest somewhere in the North-East.

President Buhari is being praised at home and abroad for his ongoing fight against corruption. He said from the beginning that his government will not tolerate this vice.

Borrowing the words of India Narendra Modi's, he said himself that "I won't steal and I'll not allow others to do it." President Buhari has walked his talk since he come to office.

Himself and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have not only given up half of their salary, they have cut a good number of funding lines to their official homes and offices.

President Buhari also takes the environment seriously. He blames the lack of security in the Lake Chad region on the recession, almost drying up of the lake. He has undertaken to clean up the Ogoniland.

In this country, appointments and removal from office are done usually in accordance with a spoils system.

A new government sacks officials on the basis only that it did not appoint them, by the predecessor-adminstration.

President Buhari has shown that his government is different. He wants to look at each case on its own merit and it is clear by now that he is not ready to surrender the country to burnt out politicians. Technocrats will have a big place in his administration.

He has appointed no ministers yet, but the government is running smoothly.

In this period of three months, government certainly deserves a pat on the back for improved power, reform in the energy sector, foreign relations fight against corruption and insurgency and the fact of Nigerians being at peace, not only among themselves but with their neighbors and the rest of the world.

In think in summary, I would like to end this piece by saying that President Muhammadu Buhari will turn out to be a leader in the tradition of Lee Kuan-Yu and India's current reform-minded Prime Minister Modi with strong and clear emphasis on detail and execution. He may however differ with them by not micro-managing things.

GARBA SHEHU
SSA MEDIA AND PUBLICITY TO THE PRESIDENT


PDP insists APC lacks capacity to create and manage wealth

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has noted the deliberate resort to diversionary blackmail and overused excuses by President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government to shy away from providing answers to the salient issue of unprecedented damage it has done to the nation’s economy in its 90 days in office.

The party said that rather than hide their heads in shame for poor performance in the last 90 days that has resulted in the sudden economic retrogression, the worst ever experienced by the nation, the APC and Presidency continue to grope and look for excuses.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Sunday, said discerning minds were appalled that instead of providing answers to issues of economic retrogression, the Presidency and the APC have resorted to wild allegations and insults to attempt to cover their ineptitude and divert attention from their list of bogus promises, which they have no intention to fulfill.

“The PDP has severally expressed its support for a holistic fight against corruption and we have challenged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute all corrupt persons irrespective of ethnic and political affiliations. We are therefore appalled that instead of getting serious with the challenges of governance, the APC is bent on inventing excuse for its crass incompetence to create and manage wealth, to the detriment of the nation.

“We challenge the APC and the Presidency to be honest enough to respond to issues instead of resorting to propaganda. Is the so-called mess clearing an answer for the adamant stance of the APC and President Buhari in running a government without a cabinet and precise fiscal policy direction, a strange totalitarian approach that have taken serious toll on the economy and the polity in general?

“Is it an answer to the resort to constitutional violations, abuse of financial regulations, halting of development projects and the pervading uncertainty that resulted in the retarding of domestic and foreign direct investments with attendant avoidable losses to Nigerians?

“What has the APC and the Presidency to say to the official report by the National Bureau of Statistics that while they are busy celebrating imaginary achievements, the economy is running aground with real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunging with about 2.35%, with job creation dropping by 69 percent under their watch?

“Are we not already experiencing the consequences of abuse of rules such as the foisting of foreign exchange transaction restrictions in violation of the the Foreign Exchange Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions Act, otherwise known as Decree No. 17 of 1995?

“What is the APC-led government’s answer to the report by Fitch Rating, which alerted that Nigerian banks and other businesses in the sector are now at risk following the economic slowdown occasioned by the incompetence of the President Buhari-led APC government?

“Why have the government and the APC refused to provide answers to the recent depleting of funds inherited from the previous administration without recourse to appropriate statutory arms of government, while no corresponding improvement has been witnessed in the economy?

“We challenge this administration to present to Nigerians a score card of investments it has made in any critical sector of the economy in the last 90 days. What investment has the Buhari administration made in power, health, education, the railway or petroleum sectors in the last 90 days, to warrant its posturing on achievements?

“Is the APC not artfully seeking to appropriate the achievements made by the PDP-led administration; such as the effort in ending polio, the improvement in power supply, the reopening of the refineries, among others which are dividends from numerous investments by the previous administrations?

“While we expect the present administration to be serious about the fight against corruption by ensuring that all corrupt persons are brought to book, especially those who, as major beneficiaries of corruption and sleazes associated with themselves and their allies, believe they now are now safe, as members of the APC.

In the same vein, we restate our caution against the current drama of politicizing the issue of corruption in the country, while turning blind eyes to reports of sleazes going on unchecked in government quarters under the current administration.

Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
August 30 2015

Nigeria economy worse in 90 days of APC – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decries as alarming, the damage so far done on the nation’s economy by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) since it took office at the center, three months ago.

The party said the shambolic state of the nation’s economy within the period, which represents the worst in the nation’s contemporary history, is a direct fallout of uncertainty created by the inability of the Buhari-led government to chart a clear-cut economic policy, worsened by abuse of regulations, and flagrant violation of constitutional provisions.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement on Saturday said instead of gains, official reports show that the last three months under the APC-led government have brought a sudden decline in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with attendant losses and hardship to the citizens, while the government embarks on propaganda of imaginary achievements in addition to attempts to foist harsh economic regime to cover its ineptitude.

“If not for crass incompetence or a possible ulterior motive to subjugate Nigerians for selfish reasons, what else explains the adamant stance of this administration in running a government without the statutory components of a full cabinet and precise fiscal policy direction, even when the negative consequences of this strange totalitarian approach are taking serious toll on the economy and the polity in general?

“Whereas the APC led government is busy with its propaganda of imaginary achievements, official reports from the National Bureau of Statistics show that that the economy is being grounded with Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) plunging with about 2.35%, while job creation has dropped by 69 percent.

“In the last three months under an inept and poorly coordinated APC-led government, our nation’s economy, which before now, held the record as the largest in Africa and one of the fastest growing in the world, suddenly plummeted as officially evidenced in the lull in the capital and money market sectors which have lost billions of naira; spiral rate of inflation, and stagnation in domestic and foreign direct investments, with investors scared away due to the uncertainty arising from lack of economic direction and apparent confusion in the polity.

“This is in addition to the halt in infrastructure development projects in most parts of the country with associated massive job loss, closure of auxiliary small scale businesses, low purchasing power of citizens, among other negatives that have bedeviled the economy since the coming of this government, despite the much APC celebrated promissory notes from the President’s diplomatic shuttles, especially his recent visit to the United States.

“Nigerians would recall that we recently raised alarm on the negative consequences of the recent foreign exchange transaction restrictions, wherein this government is making it impossible for honest Nigerians to engage in free trade and regulate their personal activities as guaranteed by the constitution.

“We also warned about the consequences of foisting a communist economic regime with bans and clampdowns on free trade and the freedom of Nigerians to freely open and operate domiciliary accounts as provided by the Foreign Exchange Monitoring And Miscellaneous Provisions Act, otherwise known as Decree No. 17 of 1995 and wondered whether the nation was not heading back to the era of import duty licenses and regulation of commodity prices.

“Only recently, Fitch Rating, which, under the previous administration, affirmed Nigeria's long-term foreign and local currency IDRs as well as senior unsecured bond and Short-term foreign currency IDR ratings respectively at 'BB”s, had now alerted that Nigerian banks and other businesses in the sector would be adversely affected by the economic slowdown occasioned by the incompetence of the President Buhari-led APC government.

“This is more so as the absence of ministers have left the coordination of important government policies in ministries, departments and agencies in tatters, while creating loopholes for overzealous persons claiming closeness to the President to invade the system for inflated concessions, allocations, jobs and other financial sleazes, including misleading the President for approvals outside his limits.

“We invite Nigerians to note that whereas the Presidency has gone ahead to unilaterally deplete the funds inherited in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) and other government savings, as well as reports of engaging in discussions with the World Bank for loans without recourse to appropriate statutory arms of government, no corresponding improvement has been witnessed in the economy. Indeed, we are worried that the damage already done in the last 90 days may linger with us for years to come.

“Nigerians are no longer in doubt that they have been scammed with long list of empty promises which the APC government has no intentions or capacity to fulfill. The free meals for school children, allowances for discharged Corps Members, N5,000 monthly allowance for indigent Nigerians, free houses, bringing the dollar to the same value as the naira and other bogus promises for which they were voted into power, have become streams of mirage.

Instead, what we continue to witness is the outworn excuse of clearing the so-called Augean Stable, loud propaganda and artful move to appropriate the achievements made by the PDP-led administration; such as the effort in ending polio, the improvement in power supply, the reopening of the refineries, among others which are a dividend from numerous investments by the previous administrations.

“Finally, we state categorically that Nigerians are becoming tired and weary of the diversions and propaganda of creating imaginary achievements, dramatization of routine appointments, offering mundane excuses for crass incompetence and orchestrating a selective and witch-hunt of anti-corruption crusade.

Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
August 29 2015

OFFICIAL: Manchester City sign Kevin de Bruyne from Wolfsburg

Manchester City have completed the signing of Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne from German side Wolfsburg for a club record £55m.

The 24-year-old Belgian international playmaker who has agreed a six-year deal will wear the no.17 shirt.

"I want to reach the highest level possible as a player and I think the most important thing is that at the end of the season we can be happy and maybe have some titles," De Bruyne told the City website www.mcfc.co.uk. ''I think this is the most important for the Club, the players and for the fans of course."

Bruyne is City's fourth high-profile summer arrival after Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Nicolas Otamendi.

''We are very happy to have added Kevin to our team and I have no doubt that he will be a big success on his return to the Premier League,'' Manager Manuel Pellegrini said. ''It takes a special footballer to improve our squad and I have no doubt that Kevin is certainly one of those – he has all of the mental, physical, tactical and technical attributes required to fit straight in. We like to play attractive, attacking football and bringing in a player like De Bruyne will only aid us as we fight on four fronts.''

It is the second highest fee paid by a British club after Manchester United's £59.7m signing of Angel Di Maria.

Usain Bolt wins 4x100m relay for Jamaica at World Championships

Usain Bolt is all smiles after winning his third World Championships gold following the 4x100m relay by leading the Jamaican team of Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell and Nickel Ashmeade to victory in 37.36 seconds at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing.

The 29-year-old has now won a record 11 gold medals at athletics' premier event-  also won three sprint titles at the 2009 and 2013 World Champs.

China was confirmed to have taken silver as a result of the USA slip-up in a time of 38.01 seconds, to the delight of the Beijing crowd, while bronze was awarded to Canada which finished in 38.13.

 The Jamaican quartet celebrate by taking selfies of themselves after the race with the Bird's Nest spectators



Saturday 29 August 2015

Jonathan, Diezani, CSO Obuah face probe over $6.9m 'mobile stage'

The immediate president Goodluck Jonathan, his Chief Security Officer Gordon Obuah and former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke reportedly purchased three mobile stages, costing $6.9m, according to a document Punch obtained from a presidency source on Saturday following ongoing probe.

The fund was said to have been withdrawn from one of the numerous accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The $6.9m (about N1.37bn) was said to have been withdrawn for the purpose of buying three pieces of 40-feet mobile stages for use by Jonathan during mass public speaking events.

''While the cost of mobile stages ranges in sizes and designs, only outlandish rock star musicians in Europe and the US spend hundreds of thousands on their huge stages way bigger than the 40-feet stages,'' the document read. '' Even then, those musicians and superstars would not pay over $2m per stage, according to industry sources. The process of procurement of the three mobile stages was neither known to extant Nigerian laws and due process regulations nor were the offices of the Auditor-General and the Accountant-General in the know, according to the investigators.''

The purchase was carried out on October 17, 2011, initiated by Obuah in a memo to Jonathan, asking for the purchase of three mobile stages.

He was reported to have written in that memo to Jonathan that memo referred to my earlier discussion with Your Excellency on the security implication of your public appearances and your subsequent directive on the need to procure a secured presidential platform.”

The Presidency source said on the same day, without any financial advice or purchase order reviews, the former President approved the request to buy the three stages and minuted the memo to the then Minister for Petroleum Resources.

In his minute, Jonathan was said to have written, “We have discussed this, please deal.”

According to the document, on the same October 17, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administrative Matters, Mr. Matt Aikhionbere, did another letter on the strength of the President’s approval requesting the minister to take action on the request to purchase the stages for $6.9m.

''By the next month, an NNPC payment voucher, number 3840336, was already in place, revealing that the money was released,'' it added. ''NNPC directed that the money be taken from one of its accounts in New York CITIBANK with sort code CITIUS 33, and Routing number 021000089. It was first routed from the US bank to an NNPC account in Zenith Bank account number 5000026593, Maitama branch in Abuja, from where the money was sent to a private account. The sum of $6.9m was then credited to a Sterling Bank account of one J. Marine Logistics Limited, Abuja, a company investigators said was registered by Obuah. The CSO himself, according to investigators, has not been able to show proof of the purchase and his memo irked his bosses at the SSS that he took the initiative to write requesting for the stages, an action which officials said was way above his pay grade.''


More of the story visit www.Punchng.com

Fayose says Ekiti to get N8.6bn CBN loan, criticizes Buhari’s lopsided appointment

Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose has criticized the appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari headship of the Independent National Electoral Commission by President Buhari, during the swearing-in members of the State Independent Electoral Commission on Friday, headed by a retired Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kayode Bamisile.

''It baffles me when leaders make their in-laws or friend or relations members of electoral body. This is immoral,'' Fayose told the newly sworn-in appointees after administering the oaths on them in Ado Ekiti, referring to Buhari’s lopsided appointment.

He added, ''I have criticized President Buhari for making Mrs Amina Zakari the head of INEC in the country based on certain reasons and I cannot afford to toe the same line. So, the people I have here are those that can do us proud. I urge you to discharge your duty without fear or favour.''

Mr Fayose also appointed a 72-year old carpenter, Olatunde Afolayan whom reports claimed is an ''illiterate'' as the caretaker chairman of Moba Local Government.

''Ekiti to get N8.6bn from CBN loan at 9% interest through Skye Bank to pay outstanding salary owed by the APC Govt of Fayemi,'' Fayose said on Twitter on Friday.

Nigerian Air Force Aircraft crashes in Kaduna, all passengers onboard dead

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft has crashed on Saturday morning in Kaduna killing all passengers onboard, according to Air Commodore Dele Alonge, Director of Airforce Public Relations.

''A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Dornier-228 aircraft, with registration NAF030, has crashed into a house at Ribadu Cantonment, Kaduna,'' Alonge said in a statement. ''Though no casualty was recorded on ground, there were no survivors among the passengers onboard the aircraft. The aircraft was Abuja bound and had taken-off at about 6:45am from the Kaduna Military Airfield before the mishap. Bodies of the passengers have been recovered and fire fighters are already at the crash site to curtail fire from spreading to other buildings within the vicinity. Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has aborted his official trip to Port Harcourt to visit the site of the air crash and families of some of the deceased personnel in company of the Air Officer Commanding Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Alikali Mamu. The CAS has also set up an investigation panel headed by an Air Vice Marshal to unravel the cause of the accident with immediate effect.''

Egyptian court sentences Al-Jazeera journalists to three years in prison

Egyptian court has sentenced three Al-Jazeera journalists of "spreading false news" to three years in prison on Saturday after a lengthy retrial.

Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were led away from court after the verdict.

Australian Peter Greste was deported back to Australia earlier this year and was on trial again in absentia.

The journalists were charged with aiding a terrorist organization, a reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, which was outlawed in Egypt after the army overthrew President Mohamed Morsy amid mass protests against his rule in 2013.

The journalists have said they were just doing their jobs, covering all sides of the stories in Egypt.

Bangkok bombing suspect arrested

Thai police say they have arrested a foreign man matched the description of the main suspect in the bombing that killed 20 people on August 17.

According to Reuters, Police raided an apartment in a northern suburb of the capital on Saturday afternoon and discovered possible bomb-making materials that could have been used in the evening attack in Bangkok's bustling commercial heart.

Friday 28 August 2015

Rihanna shows off new short blue hair as she visits her dentist in New York City

Rihanna rocks new short blue hair while visiting her dentist’s office on Friday afternoon August 28 in New York City.

Two nights before, the 27-year-old entertainer bumped into Cuba Gooding Jr. after grabbing dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California.






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