Mizzy 360 Blog

Photos: Rotimi Amaechi & Wife All Loved Up After His Ministerial Screening

2015-10-23T07:19:00.003+01:00

Lol. I dunno what style this is......but what I do know is, she’s smiling and so is he… meaning she’s enjoying every bit of her husband’s love, even though it’s in the weirdest way possible.
Former governor and ministerial nominee, Rotimi Amaechi had his ministerial screening at the senate yesterday.
They probably are the most adorable political couple we have in the country.
Another photo below

Forecasts For Global Oil Prices Lowered by World Bank

2015-10-22T13:30:00.000+01:00

The World Bank in its latest commodity update yesterday lowered its 2015 forecast for crude oil prices from $57 per barrel in its July report to $52 per barrel.

The revised forecast reflects a further slowing in global economic performance, high current oil inventories, and expectations that Iranian oil exports would rise after the lifting of international sanctions.
According to the Bank’s new Commodity Markets Outlook, a quarterly update on the state of the international commodity markets, energy Price Index tumbled 17 per cent in the third quarter of 2015, from the previous three-month period, led by a renewed plunge in oil prices prompted by expectations of slower global growth, particularly in China and other emerging markets, abundant supplies, and prospects of higher Iranian exports next year.The reversed forecast notes that energy prices were expected to average 43 per cent lower in 2015 than in 2014.
For commodities excluding energy, the World Bank reports a 5 per cent decline in prices in Q3, and forecast that non-energy prices would register a 14 per cent decline in 2015, from the previous years’ levels.

“We see a five-year-long slide in most commodity prices continuing in the third quarter of 2015. There are sufficient inventories of oil and other commodities and demand is weak, especially for industrial commodities, which is why prices may stay persistently low,” said John Baffes, senior economist and lead author of Commodity Markets Outlook.
“Despite expectations of one of the strongest El Niño episodes on record, the weather pattern, which affects winds and water temperatures of the Pacific Ocean and changes precipitation levels, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, is unlikely to cause a spike in global agricultural prices because of ample supplies of most agricultural commodities and weak links between global and domestic prices,” said the report.

This is consistent with the limited impact on global markets of past El Niño episodes.
To date, global agricultural prices have declined while those of key domestic markets have not shown large deviations from trends due to El Niño.
However, El Niño could be a source of significant local disruptions in the most affected regions, the Outlook said. In particular, the weather pattern is likely to have a greater impact on more isolated local food markets, which are not linked to international markets.
On the possible effects of the Iran Nuclear Agreement on global energy markets, the forecast said that within several months, Iran could increase crude oil production by 0.5-0.7 million barrels per day (mb/d), potentially reaching a 2011 pre-sanctions level s.of 3.6 mb/d.

source

Aggressive enforcement of traffic laws to begin in Lagos

2015-10-22T12:30:00.001+01:00

Lagos State Government, yesterday, said it had begun intensive enforcement of traffic laws, just as it declared war on men of the underworld who seize traffic situations to rob unsuspecting citizens.
Also, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, has declared what he termed “zero tolerance for potholes” across the state while also establishing a task force to execute patching of bad spots.
Meanwhile, Lagos State government, yesterday, made a donation of N50 million each to Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, worst hit by activities of the Boko Haram sect, just as Governor Akinwunmi Ambode condemned the insurgency in the North-East.
Governor Ambode, who made the donation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, spoke at a press conference he addressed in company of his colleagues from Adamawa, Senator Bindo Jibrilla; Borno, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; Sokoto, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; Abia, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; and Yobe, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam.
He commiserated with the governments and families of those who either lost their loved ones or had been displaced from their homes by terrorists’ activities.
He said they were not alone in their current plight as the prayer of every Nigerian is for the insurgency to end so as to enable them return to their normal lives.

Potholes repair
On the matter of potholes, Johnson, who disclosed the new move at a meeting with the management staff of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and its sister agencies, announced the constitution of 40 gangs to execute the maintenance and patching of roads with a mandate to drastically improve commuters’ experience across the state.
He noted that all the engineers in the ministry would participate in the exercise, which targets all parts of the state.

Culled From Vanguard

Man, 78 Slits Own Throat In Kano.

2015-10-22T12:30:00.000+01:00

A 78-year-old man has left many taken aback after he reportedly committed suicide in Kano state.
A Mr. Hassan Chiroma, slit his own throat at the city abattoir in Kano, yesterday, 20th of October, 2015.
Eyewitness said the man was earlier sighted at blacksmith section of the market around midday where he allegedly purchased a knife which he used to commit suicide.

The eyewitness said:
“We mistook him as one of the numerous butchers plying their trade, but we were shocked soon as he turned the same knife against himself. ”

The witness, who preferred anonymity, stated that the desperate cry of a man in danger triggered pandemonium among traders who didn’t have the courage to watch the horror.
But the police authorities which suspected foul play over the development, has taken into custody four persons in connection with the tragic incident.
The police spokesman in Kano, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, told Vanguard on phone

“We rushed to the scene and met the septuagenarian in his pool of blood, rushed him to the nearest medical facility where he gave up the ghost.
“We are working on two leads and the likely outcome of our investigation would certainly reveal whether it is suicide or otherwise.”

The police spokesman said the command had requested the hospital authorities to carry out autopsy to ascertain factors that led to his death, adding that the corpse would only be released for burial after investigation was completed.

Culled from Vanguard.

NR's List Of 21 Most Corrupt Nigerians Ever

2015-10-22T11:00:00.002+01:00

I came across list on Facebook and thought i should share it here. I know this has been making the rounds for a while but since we are on an anti corruption drive it just seemed relevant to the discussion.
The question here really is the role these men and women are playing currently in Nigeria. They all talk a good game and it is easy to forget that they have had the opportunity to fix this country with many of them having multiple chances.
Enjoy the list and your comments would be greatly appreciated.
The List of Top 20 Most Corrupt Nigerians (dead/alive)

Oluesgun Obasanjo - He stole $25 billion from 1999-2007 ($16.4 from power sector alone)

Ibrahim Babangida - He stole $15 billion from 1985-1993 ($12.4 billion from oil wind fall in 1990)

Abdulsalam Abubakar - He stole $9 billion from 1998-99

Sani Abacha - He stole $7 billion from 1993-1998

Ahmed Bola Tinubu - He stole and continues to steal from Lagos State treasury since 1999 till date.

It's estimated that he has stolen $6 billion so far.

Muhammadu Buhari - He stole $2 billion from NNPC accounts in the '70s and the money was traced to Midland bank (now HSBC), London. Under his watch as PTF Head, N25 billion got missing according to PTF Situation Report submitted to Abdusalam in 1999.

TY Danjuma - He fraudulently got enriched through oil blocks from the Niger Delta worth $20 million in the 70s after the counter coup. Those oil blocks worth billions of dollars in today's value.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi - He stole $1.2 billion as CBN Governor from 2008-2014.

Bukola Saraki - Through his father, Olukola Saraki, their bank, Societe Generale and as a governor of Kwara State (2003-20111) he stole $1.1 billion

Nasir El Rufai - Before he was made the FCT Minister, El Rufai was broke, homeless and was looking for loan to import taxis from the UK. After he was made the minister, he seized landed properties that belonged to Nigerians and resold them with huge profit. It's estimated that he stole $1 billion from 2003-2007.

Tunde Fashola - He is the poster boy of Tinubu. Boht of them looted Lagos dried and left it in debt of about N1 billion. Fashola, among other thing built his personal website for N78 million, drilled borehole for over N100 million per each and built a kilometre road for N1 billion. He stole $900 million from 2007-2015. He'll soon be a minister to continue the looting.

Chubike Rotimi Amaechi - From 2007 to 2015, he stole $700 million and $150 million from that money was used to sponsor Buhari and APC.

Atiku Abubakar - When he as asked by our reporter how he made his money, he simply said "he was always at the right place at the right time." Atiku is an astute businessman, but through shady deals, he stole $500 million from 1999-2007.

James Ibori - He stole $150 million from 1999-2007 as governor of Delta State. He's serving his term for money laundering in the UK.

Amina Mohammed - This woman was the founder of Afri-Project Consortium (APC) that was in charge of all PTF Projects during Abacha's regime. About $125 million was stolen from PTF accounts from 1994-1998. Buhari has just nominated the same woman as a minister to continue to stealing.

DSP Alamieyeseigha - He stole $120 million and was arrested for money laundering. He pleaded guilty and long served his term.

Sule Lamido - He stole $110 million between 2007-2015 and out of that amount, $50 million was found in his sons' bank accounts. He was arrested and detained for days together with his sons.

Rabui Kwankwaso - He stole $100 million as a governor of Kano State. EFCC has arrested many of his aides and they are "singing" how they siphoned the money

Kashium Shettima - this governor has stolen about $80 million and still counting.

Rauf Aregbesola - he has milked Osun State to the tune of $60 million.

Kayode Fayemi - this former governor stole $40 million and stashed some part of the loot in Ghana. He was reportedly bought a bed for N50 million.

source

Five reasons why a dual SIM phone is what you need

2015-10-22T11:00:00.001+01:00

A dual SIM phone is exactly what it sounds like: a mobile phone with slots for two SIM cards. This means your phone holds two numbers and two identities simultaneously and allows you to make and receive calls on either number.

If you’re still not sold on the idea, think about these five scenarios when it comes to choosing your next smartphone. You can also stand a chance to win one of five Microsoft Lumia 640 by entering Microsoft’s competition on the Microsoft Africa Facebook page.

*uggle your professional and personal lives
If you’ve ever been on the hunt for a new job, you’ll know how nerve wracking it is waiting for that important call. Now, imagine the horror of your potential new boss hearing your embarrassing voice mail message that only your friends appreciate.
If you had two SIM cards, with two separate numbers, you could reserve one just for your work life. That could mean the difference between landing your dream job or not.
It also just might allow you to maintain work/life balance when you do get the job – reserve one number for business purposes only and you’ll be able to decide when to take those calls from your boss and when to let them go to your (non-embarrassing) voice mail.

*Juggle the people in your life too
Finding the perfect partner is just as important as finding the perfect job. If you’re playing the field to find “the one” then your dual SIM phone is your wingman.
It’s as simple as giving one number to one date and one to another to avoid any awkward encounters and always know who is calling.
Just don’t get any ideas about your wingman becoming your evil sidekick… your dual SIM phone wants no part in any secret affairs.

*Stay in touch wherever you are in the world
Maybe that dream job is sending you on a trip overseas, or maybe you’re travelling the world with the date that turned into something more. Either way, you want to take your phone with you to keep in touch with new local friends and stay in contact with your loved ones back home.
With a dual SIM phone, you no longer have to decide whether to use your existing number and pay expensive roaming fees, or exchange it for a local number and cut yourself off from people back home – there’s room for both. That means you can stay in touch with everyone, wherever you are in the world, without it costing you the earth.

*Get the best (deal) of both worlds
Have you ever subscribed to one network and then had “buyer’s remorse” when you saw the great deal another network was offering? With a dual SIM phone, there’s nothing to stop you having two SIM cards from two different mobile networks.
So you can find the network offering the best call rates and another network offering the best data rates, and save yourself a lot of money by managing your two SIM cards effectively.

*Have a back-up in case of emergency
Not only do different networks have different rates for their services, their coverage also varies from area to area. Anyone who’s ever been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tyre and no signal can vouch for this.
Having SIM cards for two different networks is like having a safety net – if one isn’t picking up a signal, there’s a chance the other will.

*Two SIMS, two identities, countless uses
Whatever your reason for needing two different numbers – for work, for play, to save money or for emergencies – dual SIM functionality is a useful feature and more than just a “so what”.

Women Like HID Awolowo Are Needed In Nigeria - Aisha Buhari

2015-10-22T11:00:00.000+01:00

Wife of Nigeria’s president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has said that the country needs good and honest women like the late Mrs Hannah Awolowo, Vanguard reports.
Hajia Buhari was in Ikenne, the hometown of Awolowo to pay homage to the family over the death of the matriarch of the family on Wednesday, October 21.
She was accompanied by wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, former deputy governor of Plateau state, Pauline Tallen , Judith Amaechi wife of the former governor of River state, among others.Mrs. Buhari was received by the eldest child of Awolowo, Omotola Oyediran and some grand children of the Awolowos.
President Buhari’s wife in her remarks described the death of mama Awolowo as sad, noting, she was informed of the planned centenary celebration for the first time when she visited mama during the elections.

She said: “We pray for the family, we pray for Mama, may her soul rest in perfect peace and may God give the family strength to bear the loss, because, it is a great loss to the nation. She is the type of a woman that Nigeria needs, she was a backbone of the family”.

The eldest daughter of mama, Omotola Oyediran while welcoming the wife of the president and her entourage, assured her of support from the Awolowo family to her husband’s government, saying, the family was overwhelmed with the her.

source

Black Students Get Protected By Fellow Whites From Police Violence

2015-10-22T10:30:00.000+01:00

A group of white students formed a human shield around fellow black students to prevent police from dispersing the protest using violence in Cape Town, South Africa.
A group of black demonstrators were protesting a rise in student fees near their Eastcape Midlands College when police officers started moving in. They reportedy used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

But before police could reach them, a group of white students from the neighbouring Rhodes University formed a human shield around them pushing police officers aside.
They say while some of them can afford higher university fees, they want to support the majority of black South African families with lower income and whose children would be excluded.

Students forced their way into the parliamentary complex in Cape Town

Proposed tuition fee hikes of between 10% and 12% have sparked protests at universities across the country. Students say the proposed fee hike amounts to discrimination in a country where the average income of black families is far less than that of white families.

source

Falz To Release Sophomore Album Next Month

2015-10-22T10:00:00.000+01:00

Falz is set to drop his long awaited album next month. The son of ace lawyer Femi Falana has been making headlines these days.

See the tweet he posted below....

‘20 fixes’ adopted to reform operations, improve profitability by NNPC

2015-10-22T09:30:00.002+01:00

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has adopted what it described as “20-fixes” with which it hopes to reform its operations, guarantee profitability and perhaps run a transparent national oil company.
NNPC through the “20-fixes” which are however embedded in five cardinal business objectives that it intends to pursue, plans to amongst other initiatives, attain zero tolerance for corruption, restructure its major subsidiaries as well as enhance probity in its operations across board.
Contained in its monthly financial and operational reports for the month of August, the corporation’s “20-fixes” also include its intentions to restructure Joint Venture funding and reduce cash call demands; improve retail profitability; deploy and attract focused investments; expand crude oil marketing and generate electricity profitably.Also to be done within the initiative are, reduction and audit of running costs; restructuring of corporate centres and staff; renegotiation of existing contracts including Production Sharing Contracts (PSC); streamlining of subsidy management as well as improve security of the country’s critical petroleum pipelines.
The report, which was obtained in Abuja, also indicated that three of the corporation’s subsidiaries, the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC); Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) would either be unbundled or re-kitted.
The corporation will also restructure its refining business; improve on its use of information technology for its businesses and demand for topnotch service performance from all its staff.
Accordingly, the “20-fixes” make up 20 critical issues that the corporation’s current management headed by its Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu had identified and would need to be addressed in order to re-position it on the path of profitability.
Kachikwu had on his appointment stated his intentions to undertake sweeping reforms at the corporation.
He explained that the reform measures to be initiated, would be in line with the government’s intentions for the country’s oil and gas sector.
Notwithstanding its pursuit of the “20-fixes”, oil workers under the auspices of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have asked the federal government to consider complete opening up of the forest of Arepo in Ogun State and set up a new military barrack there to tackle incessant breaks on petroleum pipelines that pass through the axis.
The National President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson made the call at the triennial delegate conference of the PPMC unit of PENGASSAN yesterday in Abuja.
Johnson explained that the challenging topography of Arepo where pipeline vandals have consistently sabotaged petroleum flows could continue to grant overriding advantages to the vandals, thus ensuring that government’s efforts at minimising products cuts would remain inadequate.

“What we are saying is that Arepo is a very thick forest and those guys see us but we cannot see them, once we try to work there, they will level anybody they see there. What we are then saying is that they should look for a way to deforest that place.
“They can ask Julius Berger or anybody to clear there, sand-fill it and then situate a military barrack there with military personnel on rotation and not on permanent basis because when they are permanent, there could be possibilities for them be compromised,” Johnson said.
He further noted: “That place is a very thick forest and from there products are supplied to Mosimi Depot and other parts of the country, hence, it is important that the government should take such step. For us, at PENGASSAN, we want to see a solution because lives are consistently lost there.”

Speaking on the union’s expectations from the government’s incoming minister of petroleum resources, Johnson noted that PENGASSAN would want a fervent push for an immediate passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

On this he said: “We know that the president has said that he is going to hold the portfolio for 18 months and then have a minister of state which is likely going to be the current GMD of NNPC.
“What we also like to be done is that we get a legal framework for the industry. The PIB must be passed fast. The GMD of NNPC stated recently how much we lose as a result of the non-passage of the PIB.
“We must have a legal framework for the industry or else people will lose interest and divest. That is what the government should address now, thank God the government in power have a majority in the National Assembly.”

[ThisDay]

TINUBU UNDER PRESSURE TO FLOAT NEW PARTY

2015-10-22T09:30:00.001+01:00

THE future looks bleak for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as indications emerged that the ruling party is beginning to develop cracks among its leaders.
The National Daily gathered that certain APC leaders are under pressure to float a new political party over lingering disaffections on emerging decisions and actions in the control of the Federal Government under the party’s hegemony.
A gale of wranglings over many issues may eventually be responsible for the breakup. For starters, the way and manner President Muhammadu Buhari went about appointing people into his cabinet does not seem to have gone down with the party stalwarts. Currently, the north has taken over 80% of the appointments Buhari has made so far. And his ministerial nominees, are also perceived essentially as by-product of his one-upmanship.“To a large extent, the governors were not consulted on those picked from our states,” quipped an Aso Rock source last week. “But the leaders have to bear with the president because it is his constitutional prerogative.”
That Buhari “jobbed” certain southern politicians who were in the trenches when the APC was in the thick of the opposition war is another sore point. Of course, names which were neither members nor sympathisers of the APC suddenly cropped on the list of 37 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate among who 18 have been confirmed. And Bola Tinubu, APC’s national leader, is said to be somewhat upset about that as his nominees were flagrantly disregarded by President Buhari.
Again, the flank of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) which comprised to form the APC feels sidelined in nominating members of the Federal cabinet, leading to discontent between the likes of Tinubu, and the party’s guardian angel, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. Obasanjo had ostensibly been openly hobnobbing with Buhari to entrench his personal influence and thereafter run down Tinubu in the new government structure. National Daily learnt that Tinubu, as an example of trying to peddle influence reportedly tapped Wale Edun, his former finance commissioner in Lagos, for the Federal Ministry of finance but was blocked by Obasanjo. Though Edun hails from Ogun, but has lived main Lagos, he was considered not fit to be a nominee of the state, hence his nomination was blocked by Obasanjo who was said to have additionally insisted that the former Lagos governor wouldn’t fill the Ogun federal slot for them. And Tinubu’s candidate was dropped for Kemi Adeosun.
Clearly, the APC financier’s hold on Buhari’s appointment is no longer as vice-like as expected—in and outside Lagos, especially, in filling the southwestern slots in the federal cabinet. In Lagos, Tinubu’s estranged godson ex-Gov. Babatunde Fashola also slipped off his godfather’s grip. There were speculations that the APC national leader was against Fashola, and therefore doing everything to throw dirt on him in the run-up to the cabinet selection. The idea was to rubbish his credentials before Buhari obsessed with corruption rating as a ground rule in selecting his ministers. But in spite of all the mudslinging, Fashola still made the cut; likewise the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He too was said to have struck out of the Lagos crowd kowtowing to Tinubu, and was almost kissing his political career a goodbye with that decision.
Tinubu might have lost the reins in Osun, too. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former governor and protégé of Obasanjo, has been nominated. The former president has expanded his reach that far. Obasanjo now seems to be having the upper hand over Tinubu. And that is already generating a lot of furore in the party.
The plot for the APC split into smaller pieces has reported been further exacerbated because of how President Buhari is carrying on the current war against corruption. There might be no sacred cows.
Senate President Bukola Saraki was dragged before the Code of Conduct Tribunal over a 13-count charge of false declaration of assets in 2003.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that the Tribunal is acting under political influence and external pressure. This is dangerous to our democracy,” said Yusuph Olaniyonu, his media publicist.
Furthermore, the president at different times indicated he would not close his eyes on any APC member linked to corruption. This has been sending deep fear into many APC leaders, particularly, when the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee, Professor Itse Sagay, declared that the committee will revisit previous lost cases.
The southern elements in the party, especially, of the south-west stock, are said to have been frustrated. Having worked for the party during the electioneering campaign, many of them believe they have nothing to show for it now that it is pay time. Moreover, they were said to been provoked over perceived sidelining of their leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, from the major scheme of activities in the party since the inauguration of the current administration on May 29, 2015.
“It is not like this in other climes. Even in the U.S. and the U.K., people are always rewarded with positions in government, having worked for their respective parties. But with this administration, the president is working alone appointing his old associates and people of the northern stock who he claims are upright and he can comfortably work with,” some of the politicians said.
They protest that the ministerial list contain persons not recommended by Tinubu, while the president opted for those the national leader was purportedly not supporting initially.
Apart from being frustrated, many APC members, especially, governors who are suspected to have dipped their hands into public coffers to sponsor either their elections or other candidates, including the president himself, are now jittery. They fear coming under probe for their inability to pay workers’ salaries.
A source close to Tinubu also hinted that the APC leader, reputed for building bridges across tribes and political leanings that led to the emergence of Buhari, is under intense pressure and likely contemplating floating another political party. He was said to have discovered that his alliance with the northern politicians to kick out former President Goodluck Jonathan was a marriage of convenience after all.
According to our source, he had, two months ago, started reaching out to former associates, especially those in the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and leaders of other political interests in the south-west, with a view to presenting a united Yoruba front in future political arrangements in the country.
He was said to have read the handwriting on the wall early enough when the northern elements close to Buhari convinced him to shed the south-west agenda for a loose federal republic based on six autonomous geopolitical zones. This structure, many believe, has never been popular with the north.
It is believed that the AD will consider its future in its national convention slated for later in the year.
A top AD source told The National Daily that the party has not met formally since the general elections were concluded.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also said to have gone back to the drawing board to nurture his Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), a political platform he inherited from the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. The general died in prison on the allegation of planning a phantom coup against the administration of late General Sani Abacha.
According to sources close to the Turaki Adamawa, his calculation is to align with like minds among the breakaway faction of the PDP, the likes of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Sokoto Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
Meanwhile, the PDP has zoned its presidential candidate to the north for the 2019 general elections. This may be appealing to some APC leaders interested in the presidential race.
But some aides to Tinubu denied any plan by their principal to float a new political party. “It’s a lie from the pit of hell. There’s no way our leader can throw away his efforts to build the APC from formation to victory in the elections and abandon it for a new party. What else does he want to achieve,”

NationalDaily

I got nominated as minister not because I’m Okorocha’s in-law - Prof. Anwukah

2015-10-22T09:30:00.000+01:00

ABUJA – FORMER Vice Chancellor and ministerial nominee from Imo State, Professor Anthony Anwukah, yesterday,said his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari was based on competence rather than his relationship with the state governor,Rochas Okorocha.
He said the appoint was based on the president’s belief that he can deliver services to Nigeria contrary to reports that its was because he was the governor’s in-law.
Speaking yesterday,in Abuja,when he appeared before the Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions to defend petitions written against him by a group from the state,Prof. Anwuka insisted that he was not the candidate of the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha because he was an in-law of the governor.The nominee, though admitted that he was indicted by a panel sst up by the state government to probe his tenure between 2000 and 2005, he said the panel chairman, Professor Anyawu was among the 25 candidates that contested to be vice chancellor with him,saying the alleged indictment which said,was quashed by a Federal High Court in the state,was done out of vengeance.
He told the committee that the white paper by the panel which indicted him was later declared null and void by a Federal High Court.
Answering question on whether he was an in-law of Okorocha, Anwukah said he had known the governor for over 20 years long before they became in-laws, stressing that he was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on personal grounds.

Hear him:”Though I am going to represent the people of Imo State if I am cleared to become a minister, I was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari on my person.
“My first son, a medical doctor met the governor’s daughter in London and told me he wanted to marry her.
“I approached the governor, who told me that if my son has unbending principle like me, he will not allow his daughter to marry him.
“He (Okorocha) later directed me to his elder brother, which I did and the children later married. Two weeks ago, to the glory of God, they gave me my first grandchild”, he explained.”

The nominee, while speaking on his indictment as contained in the petition, said the visitation panel set up by the state government could not found any incriminating thing against him and submitted its report.

He went on: “After the panel, headed by Professor Anyanwu, who was among 25 candidates that sat for the interview of vice chancellorship position with me, submitted its report and could not found anything against me, the government asked the panel to do another investigation.
“At the end, all they could found against me was that I went away with a 13-seater bus, which cost N3.6million instead of a brand new (Peugeot) 406 car at the cost of N4.8million. I decided to ask for the bus because 406 was my official car as the vice chancellor.
“I decided to go for the bus, which was less than a million naira to the car due to the financial situation of the university.
“When I resumed as the vice chancellor in 2000, I inherited only N42, 000 and by the time I was leaving in 2005, I left N846million in the coffers of the university”, he stressed.

Anwukah also stated that the N800, 000 oral approval he gave the school bursar for the repairing of a perimeter fence at his official residence while he was attending a conference of commonwealth vice chancellors in Cape Town, South Africa, was within his powers as contained in the extant law of Nigerian universities.
In his remark,Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Samuel Anyanwu,PDP, Imo East, said the committee invited the nominee to give him fair hearing on the petitions against him, adding it would submit its report to the upper legislative chamber for its consideration.
The petioners did not come to defend their petition.But Senator Anyanwu said a date another date would be set for them to defend their petitions.

source

YOUTUBE to launch $10-a-month AD-FREE VIDEO, MUSIC Plan Red

2015-10-22T07:19:00.002+01:00

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- YouTube on Wednesday unveiled a new $10-a-month subscription plan in the U.S. called Red that combines ad-free videos, new original series and movies from top YouTubers, and on-demand unlimited streaming music.
Red builds on Google's existing music streaming service by providing ad-free access to YouTube programming, along with features such as the ability to download videos to mobile devices and have music playing in the background while using other mobile apps.
Current subscribers to the Google Play Music service, which also costs $10 a month, will also get access to Red.
"It's a major, major evolution of our platform," YouTube's chief business officer, Robert Kyncl, told journalists at an event at its studio space in Los Angeles.
Red targets YouTube fans who want to skip ads, while giving them a chance to pass along some cash to their favorite video creators, who'll share in the new revenues. It comes as streaming services like Hulu, Pandora, Spotify and TuneIn offer ad-free as a paid option.
The plan, which launches Oct. 28, includes exclusive access to new videos launching next year as well as the YouTube Music Key service - to be called YouTube Music after it launches later this year - for music videos and songs. The new YouTube Music app will allow you to toggle music videos to play audio only.
But you don't have to wait for the new music app to have Red features work across YouTube platforms, with the exception of the YouTube Kids app, starting next week. The apps, including the existing YouTube app, are free to download.
The service will cost $13 a month if purchased through Apple's iTunes - but only because Apple takes a 30 percent cut, executives said. If purchased through the Google Play Store or on the Web, the subscription will still work on apps running on Apple's iOS or Safari browser.
The original videos will range in length from a few minutes to feature-length movies and come from established YouTube stars such as the Fine Brothers, who are creating a scripted 10-episode series about a singing competition show called "Sing It." Another new show stars video game-playing star Felix Kjellberg in a reality series co-created by the makers of "The Walking Dead" called "Scare PewDiePie."
Performer and comedian Lilly Singh said that while YouTube helped pay for the creation of a documentary of her world tour called "A Trip to Unicorn Island," the new service won't drastically change how she serves her fans.
"Is YouTube Red going to be the extreme make of my financial career? No," she said. "But that's not why I'm doing it. I'm doing it to give my viewers choice."
YouTube still intends for advertising revenue to remain its core business, and executives say they believe it could take a while for paid subscribers to grow significantly. Some original content will also be made available to non-subscribers later with ads.
Kyncl said the subscription will bolster YouTube's revenues and that of artists, and said $10 a month is the upper limit of what consumers would pay for such a plan. He said YouTube's advertising revenues will not be hurt, given that the number of users switching to the new service won't likely make a dent in YouTube's billion-plus users.
"It wouldn't really impact the amount of eyeballs we're providing through our platform," he said.
One challenge is getting people to pay for a service they long associated with being free, said RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney in a research note Wednesday.
The move comes amid a boom in consumer appetite for ad-free experiences.
Ad-blocking software has become popular on personal computers, and Apple's iOS 9 operating system update last month allowed ad-blocker apps to run on its mobile Safari browser for the first time. Worldwide usage of ad blockers rose 41 percent last year to nearly 200 million people, according to PageFair, a firm that seeks to counter ad blockers.
And yet content providers are finding a way to make money from eliminating ads, too.
Internet radio giant Pandora Media Inc. made $54.6 million on subscription and other revenue in the quarter through June, mainly from its $5-a-month ad-free plan, Pandora One. Its subscription revenue is growing faster than ad revenue itself.
Hulu launched a "No Commercials" plan in September for $4 more per month than its regular $8 subscription, and TuneIn added a premium tier for $8 a month in August that throws ad-free music together with audio books and sports play-by-play coverage.
Red could help boost the ranks of Google Play Music subscribers, which stood at around 815,000 in the U.S. at the end of last December, according to royalty tracking firm Audiam.
That's far short of leader Spotify with 20 million paying subscribers globally. Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook told a technology conference this week that Apple Music has 6.5 million paying subscribers and millions more still on free trials following its launch at the end of June.
YouTube is part of Google, a division of the newly created holding company Alphabet Inc.

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PHOTOS: Nigerian students at University of Houston Chill with Korede Bello

2015-10-22T06:42:00.002+01:00

Mavin act, Korede Bello is currently in the United States of America where he won ‘The Song of the Year’ award for his smash hit tune ‘Godwin’ at the 4th Annual Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards (GIAMA). He’s also paid a visit to Nigerian students at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University where he held an autograph signing sessions at both institutions.

See more pictures below....

Innocent at home, guilty abroad

2015-10-22T06:14:00.002+01:00

WERE the law of comparative advantage to be fully operational, Nigeria would have benefited tremendously from an arrangement where its criminal cases would have been firmed out to Britain and America.
There could be no better way of resolving all those high profile cases of assassination, murder, kidnapping, treasury looting and the white-collar crimes that have been lying in our courts. There would also have been no better way for President Muhammadu Buhari to give some biting teeth to his avowed war on corruption.
As currently structured, Nigeria’s criminal justice system is ponderously frustrating; and totally skewed against the state, which appears pathetically powerless against its own laws, no thanks to the cynical manipulation of the elite.
In simple truth, Nigeria is fast becoming the safest haven for high profile crimes and big-time criminals as it readily provides the best investment climate for crooks.

And incidentally, most good things go together. So innocently had Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s immediate past Petroleum Resources Minister, travelled to Britain to
access that country’s superior health-care for her alleged cancer case; when that same country’s superior justice system picked her up on bribery and money laundering allegations. The sharp-witted ex-Minister did not also forget to ask Nigerians to do for her, that which they do best – pray for her by fire and thunder! That’s one area where we enjoy some comparative advantage.
Madam’s experience is reminiscent of a rather disturbing trend that is fast developing in Nigeria: despite recurring anti-corruption storm, foreign capitals have always provided the opening of the corruption theatre of war. Why is it that people are innocent in Nigeria but guilty abroad?
We remember James Ononefe Ibori – convicted former Governor of Delta State, who got his judicial reward in London for proven sleaze after a Nigerian court under Justice Marcel Awokulehin had cleared him of all charges.
The case of Diepreye Alamiesiegha followed that same trajectory. His travail started in London, where the Metropolitan Police arrested him, even as a sitting Governor of Bayelsa State in 2005 from where he reportedly jumped bail and returned to Nigeria, where a sham impeachment process hallmarked his trial and conviction. Before his death last week, the British authorities were asking for his extradition back to Britain to resume his trial.
The ongoing saga of Buruji Kashamu, who is currently a Senator from Ogun State, also started in the United States of America.
As they say in the colloquial, “Niger Delta no dey carry last”. The funds in contention in the proven sleaze involving Ibori, Alamiesiegha and the alleged one involving Alison-Madueke are all Nigerian money. The salient question is: why do we show less enthusiasm than foreign countries in the recovery of our own stolen money and in punishing the offenders?
We are not in a hurry to forget that on 23 February 2012, Albert Stanley, then 69, the former head of the US Contracting Firm of KBR, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment over bribes offered to Nigerian officials for the award of contracts. Between 2001 and 2004, the US Firm paid $180 million to Nigerian officials to secure $6 billion contracts for Bonny Island Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG, Project.
Apart from the term of imprisonment, Albert Stanley was also required to pay $10.8 million in restitution under the judgment, which was handed down in Houston Federal Court. Stanley pleaded guilty to violations of the Foreign Corruption Practices Act and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. KBR and its parent body, Halliburton, also agreed to pay $579 million fine after pleading guilty to corruption charges in Nigeria.
What is most confounding is that years after the bribe givers have been languishing in jail back home, the bribe takers in Nigeria are moving about in full freedom, accumulating national merit awards and chieftaincy titles of all description.
Enter the German Firm of Siemens, AG: In 2008, Siemens agreed to pay a penalty of $1.3 billion to the US and German Authorities who accused the Firm and three subsidiaries of paying bribe money to Nigerian officials. The Germans came to Nigeria, bribed Nigerians and they are being punished in their country for doing so. Nigerians who took the bribes are here in Nigeria being rewarded. What an irony of fate!
All we are getting from the EFCC is, “We will get to the root of the scandal and prosecute whoever is found to have soiled his hands”. After all these years, we are still trying to get to the roots while the foreign governments have since uprooted the entire tree and they have burnt the tree and its roots to fire their criminal justice system. And their engine of social justice is moving very smoothly.
The anti-graft war faces a serious paradox: Nigerians hate stealing but you dare not punish their sons and daughters engaged in it, thus lending credence to the ugly aphorism that one man’s terrorist is another’s freedom fighter. Things get further worse when we milk ethnic emotions to justify sleaze and threaten thunder and brimstone should an accused be rightly punished.
The war against corruption is on. Failure is not an option. There is no escaping the inevitable conclusion that a situation in which the West is leading the crusade to recover Nigeria’s stolen assets, while Nigeria watches hopelessly from the sidelines, is nauseating. Our judiciary cannot exculpate itself from the ensuing confusion and any accusation of weakness.
Still more deleterious is that situation where we are unable to account for repatriated loots. See how shamelessly the recovered Abacha loot has been re-looted over and over again? Is it not more comforting and cost-effective to leave the loot where it is rather than transferring them to bigger thieves?
We must be resolute without any regard to the perceived status of whoever is accused or the tantrums of his misguided people, including some community and religious leaders. All told, Nigeria has no choice but to totally reform its people and its criminal justice system.

By Josef Omorotionmwan

Pastor Adeboye Receives Certificate of Recognition by the US Congress

2015-10-22T05:44:00.005+01:00

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye yesterday October 21st received a certificate of recognition by the Congress of the United States.
The certificate is usually given to recognize devoted service and achievement. Big congrats to him. The photo was shared on Pastor Adeboye's Facebook page.

Photos: Caitlyn Jenner Shows Off Cleavage at Kim Kardashian's Surprise Birthday

2015-10-22T05:42:00.000+01:00

Kanye West made sure his wife, Kim Kardashian got a proper birthday celebration. On Wednesday the 38-year-old rapper threw a surprise birthday party for his pregnant wife, who turned 35-years-old yesterday. 65-year-old reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner showed she's certainly one of the Kardashian girls on Wednesday and displayed her cleavage in a plunging black bandage dress for the event.

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Photos: Kylie Jenner Shows Off her PRODIGIOUS Closet

2015-10-22T04:30:00.000+01:00

Kylie officially moved into her $2.7million Calabasas mansion after turning 18 in August. And on Wednesday, she took fans inside her prodigious closet which even has a separate walk-in wardrobe just for her shoes.
The 18-year-old, shared a video showing off the closet on her subscription based website www.thekyliejenner.com, admits that she is lucky to have so many pairs of designer heels.

See the pictures below....

APC accuses Fayose of killing Ekiti with taxes

2015-10-22T03:00:00.000+01:00

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has criticised the Governor Ayodele Fayose administration over the imposition of various taxes the development which it said is forcing businesses in the state to close down, saying the forced closure of businesses over alleged refusal to pay taxes would compound the state’s economy’s woes.

The party said the governor’s policy was a wrong signal to investors, willing to do businesses in the state and a disincentive to local business operators who struggled to cope with cut-throat taxes being imposed by the governor.Publicity Secretary of the opposition party in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, said the taxes imposed on business owners were too harsh, outrageous and exploitative.
Describing Fayose administration’s policies as lacking human face, he said “the prevailing economic situation in the country doesn’t support high taxation”.

He said: “Locking out traders, shop and busi-ness owners without allowing them opportunity to remove their valuables is most degrading, wicked, ungodly and inhuman.
“The task force men working with some thugs refused the business owners along Bank Road to take the keys to their homes, cash, cheque books, passbooks and other documents as they were locked inside, which resulted in Igbo traders that drive the economy of the state to stage a protest.
“Zenith and Diamond banks were illegally and forcefully locked up against the customers and the workers at the banks, thereby causing panic as in armed robbery scene.”

PHOTOS: Kenya’s Hottest Video Vixen, Vera Sidika Before Bleaching

2015-10-22T00:30:00.000+01:00

Ya'll should know the famous Vera Sidika. If you don’t, she’s one of Kenya’s Celebrity and Hottest Video Vixen. The 26 year old socialite has gotten lighter and lighter in complexion as her fame increases. LOL

See more pictures below....

Now, take a look at her throwback photos below thats gonna surprise you.
Pictures of her before a complete complexion makeover has now emerged on the internet

Get In Here Ladies: Would You Date this Man?

2015-10-22T00:00:00.000+01:00

Be totally honest, would you???

Wonders: Khloe Kardashian CALLS OFF DIVORCE to Lamar Odom!

2015-10-21T20:00:00.000+01:00

According to the breaking news on TMZ, Khloe's lawyer went to court to have a judge to withdraw the divorce papers, which had already been signed by both stars and was waiting to be processed.
The judge granted the request and the divorce is now officially off.
The reality star has remained by her NBA star ex's bedside ever since he was found unconscious in a
Las Vegas brothel last week. He has since been moved to Cedars Sinai LA hospital, where Khloe is thought to be keeping a bedside vigil and supporting him as he begins to recover.The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star originally filed for divorce in December 2013 after the pair split, but there was no movement in the case as they battled to save their marriage.
Khloe is reportedly taking time away from Keeping Up With The Kardashians to support her ex husband's recovery.
“She has no plans to resume filming Keeping Up With The Kardashians, and will continue to be at the hospital every day with Lamar,” a source told Radar Online. But Kris wasn’t happy about Khloe’s decision because she is a huge part of the show,” the source added.
“For now, she’s hoping Khloe will change her mind. Kris isn’t ready to play hardball with her daughter by reminding her that she is contractually obligated to do the show.”
There were fears for Lamar Odom's life last week when he was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel, but after coming out of a three-day coma last Friday, the former NBA star is now believed to be on the road to recovery.

STRANGE: Dead Man "Attends' His Own Wake Keep

2015-10-21T19:30:00.000+01:00

The images after the cut may be disturbing for some readers. A 23-year-old man, Jomar Aguayo Collazo, was shot dead on Sunday, October 18, 2015 days after his birthday, and his mother decided to make his wake keep memorable by having his embalmed body propped up and kept like someone playing dominos and having a drink in his corner at her bar where he was killed.

From the propped photos, Jomar Aguayo Collazo appears to be deep in thought as he plans out his next dominoes move while his friends party around him in a bar in Río Piedras in Puerto Rico.
Collazo was killed in what was believed to be a drugs related murder and the police had found a gun on his corpse.
Dressed in a blue tracksuit, Collazo’s corpse was kept with a bowed head as friends and family took turns to sit on the chairs surrounding him, while dance music played from the juke box.

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BREAKING: Tribunal Orders Governorship Election To Be Re-conducted In Akwa Ibom

2015-10-21T19:28:00.004+01:00

An uneasy calm enveloped the residents of Uyo today, October 21, following the final verdict which was passed concerning the petition against the Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, at the state governorship election tribunal.

Umana and APC had alleged that election did not hold in Akwa Ibom showing both pictorial and video evidences that there was ballot box hijacking, massive thump printing and rigging across the state. Umana challenged the conduct of the poll and declaration of Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the governorship election.Giving its verdict on Wednesday, the Tribunal said it was satisfied that there were discrepancies during the governorship election held on April 11. So it ordered Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct re-run election in 18 local government areas of the state. There are 31 LGs in Akwa Ibom.

Pictures: Lamar Odom Being Transferred To Helicopter With Khloe Kardashian

2015-10-21T18:41:00.004+01:00

Pictures of a frail Lamar Odom being transferred by helicopter from Las Vegas to a hospital in Los Angeles emerges.
Lamar Odom's condition is graphically illustrated by these photos from TMZ, which show him hooked up to various machines as he was wheeled into Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in L.A.
His helicopter landed on the roof of Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas on Monday and Khloe leads the way as the group headed towards the chopper, while Odom was seen with multiple tubes coming out of his nose and body.

See more photos below.....

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