Saraki Files Appeal Against Code Of Conduct Tribunal Ruling

The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, has filed an appeal
challenging the ruling of the Code of Conduct Tribunal which ordered
the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, to arrest and
produce him before the tribunal on Monday, September 21.

In his ground of appeal, Senator Saraki through his counsel, Joseph
Daudu, submitted that the tribunal erred in law and also acted without
jurisdiction‎ by assuming jurisdiction over the criminal trial of the
appellant at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for a charge which is being
challenged at the Federal High Court.

Senator Saraki, in his appeal, stated that as at the time the tribunal
overruled the appellant's application to discharge the order for bench
warrant for his arrest by the respondent, there was an order of the
Federal High Court which was served on the tribunal.

He further submitted that the appellant filed an application‎ dated
September 17, challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to
adjudicate on the charge brought before it.

The Senate President also submitted that it was trite that when an
accused files an application challenging the jurisdiction of a
court/tribunal to adjudicate on a charge brought before it, the
accused need not be in court.

The appellant therefore asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the
order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Code of Conduct Tribunal had earlier ordered the arrest of the
Senate President for failing to appear before the Tribunalto answer
charges of alleged false declaration while he served as Governor of
Kwara State between 2003 and 2007.

Delivering a ruling on the suit filed by the Code of Conduct Bureau,
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar ordered the
Inspector-General of Police to produce the Senate President on Monday,
September 21, which is the next adjourned date.

The Tribunal held that no court of coordinate jurisdiction can
restrain the Tribunal from performing its constitutional duties.

-ChannelsTV

EFCC Declares Saraki’s Firm MD, Izuagbe, Wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday declared
wanted the man managing Senate President Bukola Saraki's property
company, Mr. Kennedy Izuagbe, for alleged N3.6bn money laundering.

Izuagbe, managing director of Carlisle Properties and Investment
Limited, a firm said to be owned by Saraki, was alleged to have
conspired with others to launder the said amount while he was the
Managing Director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank.

The Deputy Director in the office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation, M.S. Hazzan, had, in charges filed against the Senate
President, said he owned Carlisle Properties Limited.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said
in a statement on Thursday that Izuagbe, a 45-year-old banker, was
declared wanted because he could not be reached by the anti-graft
agency.

Uwujaren said that Izuagbe, a native of Iviukhua village, near
Agenebode, in the Etsako Local Government Area of Edo State had fled
the country.

He said, "Kennedy Izuagbe, a former director of Societe Generale Bank
Nigeria Plc and Managing Director of Carlisle Properties and
Investment Limited, has been declared wanted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission.

"Izuagbe, 45, who is being investigated in a case of conspiracy and
money laundering to the tune of over N3.6 bn, has gone into hiding and
all efforts to reach him have proved abortive.

"He is linked to the several shady deals and gross financial
misconducts that took place in the bank, in which several millions of
Naira were granted as loan without due diligence.

"The suspect, who is believed to have fled the country, is a native of
Iviukhua village, near Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of
Edo State."

He urged the members of the public with information on the whereabouts
of the wanted banker to contact the EFCC offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port
Harcourt, Gombe and Kano or the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, the Senate President on Thursday dragged the Code of
Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to court in a bid to
stop his arraignment for alleged false assets declaration on Friday
(today).

Saraki, in an exparte motion filed at a Federal High Court, Abuja,
asked the court to stop the Federal Ministry of Justice, the CCB and
the tribunal as well as a director in the office of the Attorney
General of the Federation, M. S Hassan, from taking any further step
at the CCT pending the hearing and determination of the substantive
suit he filed before the court.

Hassan, in a 13-count charge filed at the CCT on September 11, had
among others, stated that Saraki made anticipatory asset declaration
of a house in Ikoyi in his asset declaration form he submitted to the
CCB in 2003.

Saraki was said to have declared that the said house was possessed
through Carlisle Properties, the company headed by Izuagbe, who was
declared wanted on Thursday by the EFCC.

In his exparte motion, the Senate President is praying the court to
declare that the Ministry of Justice has not complied with the
provision of the 3rd Schedule of Section 24(1) of the Code of Conduct
Bureau and Tribunal Act to act before proffering a charge against him.

Arguing the motion on behalf of the senate president, Mahmud Magaji
(SAN), said based on the provision of Section 24 of the CCB and CCT
Act, Saraki's prosecution before the CCT ought to have been initiated
by the Attorney General of the Federation or any officer directed by
the AGF.

He argued that, "In the absence of any subsisting AGF in the time
being, this court has the jurisdiction to direct parties to maintain
status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice."

He argued further that since there was no subsisting AGF, the charge
against him by the official of the Federal Ministry of Justice before
the CCT is void as the provisions of section 24 (1) of the CCB and the
tribunal was not complied with.

Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, in a ruling in his chamber, summoned the
chairmen of the CCB and the CCT to appear before him on September 21,
2015 to show cause why they should not be restrained from arraigning
Saraki.

The judge ordered that the respondents in the motion should be served
with all the court processes, including the motion on notice for the
interim order or injunction and motion exparte, and that the hearing
notice should be served on all the respondents.

The order, the judge held, was made pursuant to the provision or Order
26 Rule 10 of the Federal High Court (Civil procedure) Rules 2009.

The other allegations contained in the suit filed at the CCT against
Saraki include alleged failure to declare property on Plot 2A, Glover
Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; failure to declare property on No. 1, Tagus
Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja) and
failure to declare property No.3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot
2481, Cadastral Properties Limited).

Others are claiming to own property on No 42 Gerard Road, Ikoyi and
earning N110, 000,000.00 per annum at a time the said property was
under construction; failure to declare N375m GTB loan converted to
1.5m Pound Sterling and used to purchase property in London; operating
a foreign bank account; transfer of $3.4m from GTB to foreign bank
account during his tenure as governor and failure to declare leasehold
interest in No. 42, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, Ikeja.

-PUNCH

Mikel Obi Welcomes Twins

Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi, welcomed twin daughters this morning.

He announced this via his Instagram page an hour ago and shared this
adorable picture of his newborn twin babies.

"My whole world in my arms Welcome to the world my angels #pooh3
#pooh4 #twins".

Mikel and his longtime girlfriend, Olga Diyachenko, never dropped any
indications that she was pregnant for 9 Months! – so this definitely
comes as surprise for everyone.
-GistReel

Assets Declaration: Court Orders Saraki's Arrest

Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal has ordered that
a bench warrant should be issued on the Senate President, Dr. Bukola
Saraki, for failing to appear to answer charges bordering on assets
declaration.

Senate President Bukola Saraki's trial for alleged false declaration
of his assets when he was governor of Kwara State has begun at the
Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Muslim Hassan, asked the tribunal to
issue a bench warrant against Saraki for failing to appear before it.

Hassan faulted the Federal High Court for granting the ex parte motion
halting Saraki's arraignment.

He argued that the Federal High Court had coordinate jurisdiction with
the tribunal and as such, had no powers to halt trial of the Tribunal.

The Defence Counsel, Mr. Joseph Daudu, however, prayed the tribunal to
adjourn the case until after the Federal High Court sitting on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Chairman tribunal, Mr. Umar Danladi, adjourned the case
till 1.30pm for a decision to be taken.

-PUNCH

Gas Explosion Kills Four In Rivers

FOUR persons were killed on Thursday after a gas explosion occurred
around Eliozu axis of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The incident, which occurred at a panel beater's workshop, shattered
various objects in and around the workshop.

Shattered pieces of tools such as helmets, containers and welding
machines littered the scene.

Our correspondent, who was at the scene of the incident, gathered that
one of the gas cylinders used by the panel beaters exploded at about
5pm, killing four persons.

The explosion severed the legs of two of the victims, who died
instantly while another victim died inside the vehicle taking him to
the hospital.

It was learnt that the fourth victim died at a nearby hospital after
the medical personnel on the ground insisted that the sum of N35,000
must be deposited before they could commence treatment.

At the scene of the incident, a group of sympathisers and passersby
was still gathered discussing what happened.

An eyewitness said, "One of the panel beaters was working and maybe
there was a leakage in one of the cylinders and it exploded. We saw
two persons without legs. Their legs were blown off by the impact of
the explosion.

"One person died in the hospital because the people at the hospital
said N35,000 must be deposited before they can begin treatment. The
other person who was also badly injured died as they were rushing him
to the hospital."

The state Police Public Relations Officers, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad,
confirmed the incident, but added that he could not confirm the number
of casualties.

-PUNCH

Burkina Faso Military Confirms Coup, Dissolves Transitional Government

The military in Burkina Faso has taken to the airwaves to declare it
now controls the country, confirming that a coup has taken place –
just weeks before national elections.

In the announcement aired early on Thursday on national television and
radio, the statement said that the transitional government had been
dissolved.

The statement came a day after members of the elite presidential guard
unit of the military arrested the transitional president and prime
minister.

Fanny Noaro, a journalist based in the capital Ouagadougou, told Al
Jazeera gunfire could be heard on the streets of the city.

"There is a lot of military on the street […] there is also no
information about the transitional president and prime minister and
there is no information if they are dead or alive," she said.

Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11 that many hoped
would strengthen democracy.

The transitional government came to power after the president of 27
years, Blaise Compaore, was toppled late last year in a public
uprising.

-NAN

Northern Leaders Demand Fresh National Conference

PHOTO: Chairman of the NRF, who is also a former member of the House
of Representatives, Alhaji Mohammed Umara Kumalia | credits:
http://www.northernreawakening.org


NORTHERN leaders, mainly former political office holders from the
zone, on Tuesday canvassed against the implementation of the
recommendations of the 2014 National Conference convened by
ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

The northerners said the Jonathan's government had its agenda for
setting up the confab and that the government of President Muhammadu
Buhari could not work with the outcome of the 2014 conference.

The northern ex-political office holders, under the aegis of the
Northern Reawakening Forum, asked Buhari to convene a fresh National
Conference, specifically to address some pertinent issues affecting
the North-East and other parts of the region.

The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the
forum's summit and retreat with the theme, "Rebuilding a safe, secure
and economically inclusive Northern Nigeria."

Chairman of the NRF, who is also a former member of the House of
Representatives, Alhaji Mohammed Umara Kumalia, read the communiqué in
Abuja.

The NRF summit was declared open by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN)
and in attendance was the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim
Shettima, who presented a paper entitled: "Development of a Marshal
Plan for Northern Nigeria: Specific Agenda for Northern Governors."

Also at the summit were the Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed
Abubakar; Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom; and Governor of Kebbi
State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.

Although Kumalia and other members of the NRF participated actively
during the 2014 confab, the group insisted that the nature of the new
confab the group was advocating would focus on how to rebuild the
North-East region, which has been destroyed by activities of the Boko
Haram Islamic sect.

According to him, the demand is necessary because the North East has
been marginalised.

He said, "The North has the highest number of people below $2.00 a
day; 71.5 per cent of the population in the North-East live in poverty
and more than half are malnourished. A 2013 World Bank Report showed
that poverty in 16 out of the 19 Northern states have doubled since
1980. The North has the lowest literacy rate in the country. Lagos is
at 92 per cent, Kano 49 per cent and Borno less than 15 per cent.
Sixty Five per cent of Northern girls and 53 per cent of boys are not
in school compared to only 20 per cent for the South-East.

"We call on the Federal Government to convene a National Conference
for the development of the North-East to put together a short, medium
and lon-term vision for the development of the zone. The last National
Conference was convened by the Peoples Democratic Party government.
You do not expect this (All Progressives Congress) government to take
hook, line and sinker what was put in place by the last government. It
was convened by the PDP government and unfortunately the PDP lost the
election. You do not expect the opposition then (APC) to accept the
resolution of the previous government, which had its own objectives
and of which this government is not aware.

"What are the problems in the North-East? Has anybody tried to
ascertain the problems in the North-East? The essence of the national
conference is to analyse the extent of damage done to the North-East.
The working document would be used to rebuild the region. There is no
resemblance between the conference we are proposing and the 2014
National Conference. Many things have been destroyed and we need
people with experience to discuss how the area will be settled."

The NRF also resolved that issues of health care, youth empowerment
and education, security and human suffering, good governance and
accountability, as well as IT and Infrastructure should be pursued by
the Federal Government within the next 12-24 months.

The summit asked the Northern governors to facilitate the development
of an economic blueprint for the region.

The group commended the Dangote and T.Y. Danjuma Foundations and
encouraged other individuals to participate in philanthropic
activities in Northern Nigeria. It also promised to collaborate with
relevant health care agencies with a view to engendering the use of
best practices in health care delivery and the deployment of modern
facilities and equipment.

The forum said it would encourage Northern states to deliver health
care support and services by engaging existing structures and
programmes, such as indigenous Non-Governmental Organisations, the
National Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross and international
organisations for migration.

The summit was also attended by representatives of the Northern
Governors Forum, civil society groups, corporate organisations, NGOs
and key development partners, such as DFID, World Bank, African
Development Bank and the UN.

There were also representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, NEMA,
National Population Commission and National Planning Commission, among
others, at the summit.

Some of the executive members of the NRF areKumaila, a former Minority
Leader, House of Representatives; Mr. Jack Yakubu Pam from Plateau
State, who is forum's deputy chairman; Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, a
business man; Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, former Member, House of
Representatives; Aisha Dukku , a former Minister of State, Education
and currently a member of the House of Representatives; and Mallam
Saidu Malami, a former commissioner in Nassarawa State.

Others are Alhaji Adamu Modibbo; Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, a former
Executive Secretary, Petroleum Trust Development Fund; Salam M.K.
Ahmed, a former Director General, Pension Commission; Suraj Yakubu, a
former Executive Secretary of Nigerian Investment Promotion
Commission; Dr. Bilkisu Magoro, Hajiya Amina Jambo and Hajiya Fatima
Saleh.

-PUNCH

Assemblies Of God Church Members Clash In Enugu

PHOTO: Assemblies of God Church, Mount Street, Enugu


MEMBERS of two factions in an Assemblies of God Church in Enugu
clashed during service on Sunday.

The incident occurred at the church premises on Mount Street in the
Awkunanaw area of Enugu.

It was learnt the church had been locked for two months after a bloody
clash between the factions over the alleged transfer of the senior
pastor.

Southern City News also gathered that the two factions were church
members loyal to the Senior Pastor, Reverend Amaechi Agbo, and those
backing another pastor, Reverend Nathan Udeze, who was said to have
been posted to the branch to take over from Agbo.

The disagreement between the two factions, which was said to be linked
to the leadership tussle at the church's national headquarters, led to
the intervention of the police.

The police had reportedly locked the main worship hall of the church
building to avert further clashes over which pastor had the authority
to head the branch.

The two factions, it was gathered, had been holding parallel services,
simultaneously, within the premises of the church building.

Another clash reportedly occurred on Sunday when one of the factions
broke into the church building and held a service in the main hall.

Reverend Agbo, who insisted that he was not transferred out of the
branch, explained that the police was notified of the alleged invasion
of the church building by Reverend Udeze and his supporters.

Agbo said, "The crisis started on July 19, 2015 when one man in my
church, who claims to be a lawyer, imported Nathan Udeze to come and
overthrow me.

"We resisted them that day. The matter went to police and from there
to court; the police advised us to lock the church and we did. We
started worshiping outside.

"They went to court for us to open the church for them; they have not
allowed the court to decide the case and they came and broke the
church entrance contrary to the agreement we reached with the police
that we will wait for the court to decide.

"I called the DPO to inform him that these people have broken into the
church. I am still in charge of this place; I came here on 12th April
2013 and till date, I remain the Senior Pastor in charge of this
church branch. We are calling on law enforcement agencies to do the
needful and avert trouble this place."

But Reverend Udeze dismissed Reverend Agbo's claims and insisted that
he (Udeze) was the authentic Senior Pastor of the church.

Udeze said, "I was posted here as a Senior Pastor on the 9th of July,
2015, and the former pastor, who has been transferred became wild. He
refused to go on transfer. He began to mobilise sympathisers, taking
advantage of the national crisis."

Udeze denied breaking the sealed door, saying, "This one month time we
have been outside, we took to prayers, asking God to open this door.
This morning we came and we saw that the door was open and we came and
held church service. We have taken possession of what God has given to
us.

"We shall protect our church; nobody gave them the order to lock our
church. Neither the police nor the court did. We shall secure our
church, the women, the youths, the men, the children, all of them will
secure this church."

-PUNCH

Saraki Lampoons Code Of Conduct Tribunal Over Assets Declaration

Saraki lampoons Code of Conduct Tribunal

El Rufai Shuts Down Churches, Seminary, Church Hospital

Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has orderd the immediate
closure of two churches, a seminary and a church-owned hospitals and
secondary school all in Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna
State.
He said the closure was to avoid the eruption of violence among
factions of the congregations whose leaderships' positions he
described as, "principally to preserve their personal interests with
little concern for the common good, and the peace and security of
Kaduna State".

A statement on behalf of the governor sign by his spokesman, Samuel
Aruwan Wednesday in Kaduna named the affected bodies as:

Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria, (TSNN), Shalom Comprehensive
College, Assemblies of God Church, AGC, Nmbare all in Saminaka.

The rest are: Assemblies of God Church (Jerusalem) and AGC Evangelist
Hospital, also in Saminaka:

Reads the statement:

"The Kaduna State Security Council at its 15th meeting, held on the
15th September, 2015, deliberated on the leadership crisis in the
Assemblies of God Church, AGC, Saminaka District, Lere local
government area of the state.

"The council discussed this matter in the context of preventing
threats to the peace and stability of the State.

"The Council noted that the leadership crisis has led to
disintegration of order in the church, and raised tensions between the
followers of the rival camps.

The crisis has also widened to the students of the church-owned school
and seminary, who are now split and divided on factional lines.

"The Council reviewed previous efforts made to resolve the crisis. It
noted that these were aborted by those involved in the leadership
tussle, principally to preserve their personal interests with little
concern for the common good, and the peace and security of Kaduna
State.

"The Council unanimously agreed that if left unchecked, the growing
tension may degenerate into total breakdown of law and order in the
said area, with the potential to spread to other parts of the state.

"Therefore, the Council has taken steps to preserve the peace. It has
unanimously directed the immediate closure of the following:

"Theological Seminary of Northern Nigeria, (TSNN) Saminaka. Shalom
Comprehensive College, Saminaka Assemblies of God Church, Nmbare,
Saminaka and Assemblies of God Church (Jerusalem) Saminaka AGC
Evangelist Hospital, Saminaka
"As a result of these measures, those who may be affected will be
admitted into government schools or hospitals, if they exercise the
option.

"The Council also directed that the status quo with regard to
farmlands, houses and other assets of the church be upheld pending
resolution of the leadership crisis, which is a matter before the
Supreme Court.
"Kaduna State Government wishes to reiterate that it will not tolerate
the use of religion and ethnicity to cause crisis in the state.

"The government has also announced that it will prosecute anyone, no
matter his or her standing, that is implicated in fomenting crisis in
whatever form in the State", the statement concluded.

-Vanguard

Don Jazzy Confesses, I’m Cherubim & Seraphim

Mavin record boss Don Jazzy has grabbed an award from The Eternal
Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim church.
This was gathered on the music boss' Twitter handle where he tweeted
his fans telling them that he's still a proud member of the church.
See Don Jazzy's photo, tweet and throwback photo of his family.

Don Jazzy receiving his award from the Church.

Don Jazzy
Michael Collins ‏@DONJAZZY
And then?? Till now sef. get it right sha "Cherubim & Seraphim"

-GistReel

Facebook To Add ‘Dislike’ Button Soon

Facebook's famous "like" button, with its silhouette of an upturned
thumb, will soon be accompanied by an alternative: a way to "dislike"
a post.

On Tuesday, Mark Zuckerberg, the company's co-founder and chief
executive, said that Facebook was "very close to shipping a test" of a
dislike button. He suggested that the new button would probably be
more nuanced than a simple thumbs-down option. His comments
nevertheless raised the possibility that Facebook, the world's largest
forum for self-expression, could soon become a less friendly place.

"You don't want to go through the process of sharing some moment that
was important to you during your day and have someone down-vote it,"
Mr. Zuckerberg said as he announced the project during a
town-hall-style discussion with users at the company's Silicon Valley
headquarters.

But Facebook users — there are now 1.5 billion, the company says —
have long requested a way to express negative emotions or empathy with
something sad or tragic posted on the social network, he said.

"Not every moment is a good moment, and if you are sharing something
that is sad, whether it's something in current events, like the
refugees crisis that touches you, or if a family member passed away,
then it may not feel comfortable to like that post," Mr. Zuckerberg
said. "So I do think it's important to give people more options than
just like."

The prospect of a new dislike button has been polarizing among Facebook users.

"There is already enough hate on Facebook and social media," Atiq
Haneef of Pakistan commented on an earlier version of this article on
the Facebook page of The New York Times. "I'm gonna dislike this
dislike button!"

But Roger Anderson of Atlanta, a former government microbiologist,
wrote, "What's wrong with a dislike button? Let's have varying
opinions on Facebook posts! If some feelings get hurt, then so be it
and just grow up."

Debra Aho Williamson, a social media analyst at the research firm
eMarketer, said that it was difficult to imagine a single button that
could convey the complex range of negative emotions someone might want
to express in response to a Facebook post.

While there is already plenty of negativity in the comments on
Facebook posts, making it easy to dislike something with the flick of
a finger could make the social network a meaner, uglier place.

"We're about to enter the busiest time of the election season. Good
Lord — 'dislike' on that would be a huge flaming mess," Ms. Williamson
said.

As for Facebook's business — selling ads — a dislike button could cut
both ways. It could increase the level of engagement that people have
with posts, and therefore the number of ads they eventually see. But a
dislike button could also be disconcerting to marketers, who prefer
their messages to be surrounded by happy emotions.

"Over all, it's probably a good thing to enable people to express
feelings and emotions that they can't express through a like button,"
Ms. Williamson said. "But Facebook needs to be careful as to how they
enable that capability with regard to advertising and all the
potentially inflammatory discussions that could occur online."

Mr. Zuckerberg clearly has such concerns in mind. He stressed that
Facebook would test the new button before introducing it broadly, and
refine it based on user feedback. "Hopefully we'll deliver something
that meets the needs of our community," he said.

Facebook's decision to experiment with a new button came after much
deliberation. In December, Mr. Zuckerberg told a similar meeting of
users that the company had been working on the idea but had not
figured out how to add a dislike button "so that it ends up being a
force for good and not a force for bad."

Gina Bianchini, chief executive of Mightybell, which builds and runs
social networks for businesses, said that Facebook had been smart
about making it easier for users to express more nuanced feelings, and
that she expected the new button would be a positive addition to
conversation on the social network.

"All social networks are getting more sophisticated about this," Ms.
Bianchini said. "People want to express more through a button. It's so
much easier to press a button than typing a lot."

See Photos Of Pupils Who Survived In The Jos School Building Collapse

On Sunday, September 13, a one-storied building belonging to the Abu
Naima Primary and Secondary School in Jos, Plateau state capital,
collapsed.

As a result of the tragic accident, 10 pupils died, while 24 others
were injured and admitted to the Plateau Specialist Hospital in Jos.

These are two of the survivors of the accident, who are currently
receiving medical treatment.



Mohammed Sani, a teacher at the school, said that about 38 pupils
were in two classrooms when the incident happened. Sani was also in
the collapsed building but suffered minor injuries on his left leg.

"The incident is devastating. We had a total of about 50 pupils, but
due to continuous rains yesterday (Sunday), most pupils were absent,
but about 38 were present.

"Some were rescued unhurt. I personally rescued some. In the process,
I got an injury on my left leg. But we thank God, we can say it is
minor, considering the number of rescue persons alive. I appeal to all
parents to take consolation in God, " he said.

Meanwhile, Musa Tijani, a father of a boy who died in the accident,
called on the state government to assist in rebuilding the school to
enable pupils to continue their studies.

"It's free, the owner of the school built it to help coach our
children in Islamic studies, but now that it has collapsed we do not
know the fate of our children. I'm calling on government to help
rebuild the school," he said.

The cause of the collapse is not clear, but investigators are trying
to determine whether it may have been due to extra floors being added
to the one-storey building.

See the photos of the collapsed building:

-Naij

NUC Accredits 39 Programmes For IMSU

The authorities of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, have
offered 53 programmes to the National Universities Commission (NUC)
for accreditation with 39 programmes securing full accreditation form
the commission.

The acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adaobi Obasi, made the
disclosure during a chat with journalists in her office at the weekend
and stated that out of the 53 programes presented to NUC for
accreditation, in June, eight programmes had received an interim
accreditation, while six programmes were denied accreditation.

She described the university as the most subscribed state university
in the country based on the number of prospective students jostling to
secure admission to it.

Daily Times gathered that Law, Accountancy and others were among the
courses accredited by the commission.

The Hopelsssness Of Our Anti-corruption War

By Yinka Odumakin

"The fight against corruption mobilizes all of us because we want to
do away with evil and injustice. But we should remember that casting
the bad into the sea does not imply the sudden appearance on our
shores of the good that we need."
-Prof. Ricardo Hausmann, Faculty Chair of Leading Economic Growth .

I will never forget that sunny afternoon at the Polo Ground Ibadan
sometime in 1984 as we all massed to watch the public execution of
three armed robbers who were condemned to deatth.

It was a period when the Buhari-Idiagbon regime was in a frenzy to
clean up Nigeria of all the vices plaguing it.

The executioners appeared on the scene and within minutes despatched
the armed robbers with hot lead shot into their chests with uncanny
accuracy.As we made to leave the execution ground,there was a shout of
"oooleee".Within a jiffy the security men in view had arrested one of
those who just watched the Polo Ground execution picking money from
the pocket of a fellow spectator.

The incident flashed to my mind last week as I watched in the news the
protest marches by a faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
which emerged from the corruption of the electoral process of the
labour body calling for death penalty as the cure for corruption in
Nigeria.

That the protest marches had a tinge of official endorsement was seen
in the elaborate receptions accorded the marchers by the Chairman of
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) who is having a running
battle with the Senate over allegations of looting of recovered loots
and the Secretary to the Federal Government.It was only at the
National Assembly Assembly that they had some initial raw deal
(understandably so) before House spokesman Sani Zoro appeared to
address them.

On the surface of it.the protest march was a big endorsement of the
anti-corruption campaign that is currently going on in the country.
But those who understand the depth of the Nigerian corruption and its
tap root would see the whole show as no more than of nuisance value.

Corruption as hydra-headed monster

We are all agreed that corruption has become a hydra-headed monster in
Nigeria limiting all the growth potentials but it is elementary
knowledge that no doctor can cure any disease he has not diagnosed.

The Wabara faction of the NLC could have been listening too much to
the chief propagandist of the media fight against corruption,Adams
Oshiomole to pay heed to fundamental currents in the polity which
should inform that dealing with corruption in Nigeria today requires
more than dancing to the gallery and orchestrated circus shows.

A few incidents in our present reality are enough to show that Nigeria
is built on the foundation of corruption and it is the very oxygen it
breathes.

The Saturday Independent of 5th September,2015 had a screaming
headline on how scammers have hijacked the on-going anti-corruption
war.

According to the report:
"The anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari may have
become the subject of a new wave of scam targeted at high-ranking
civil servants, especially those supervising various directorates in
the federal ministries.

Scammers hijack anti-corruption war
Investigations by Daily Independent have revealed that the
perpetrators, with the help of their collaborators in the ministries
are capitalising on the vulnerability of some officials and other
unsuspecting persons outside the system due to Nigeria›s poor record
keeping culture to rip them off.

It has also been gathered that they now go about sneaking out records
of transactions from official files in government departments and
using such to concoct petitions, which they confront them with it.

Sources close to Saturday Independent have also revealed that, apart
from those who do this for instant gratification, another set of
people engaged in this activity are those working for officials who
are scheming to be posted to lucrative ministries."

One of the measures being canvassed in the fight against corruption is
the proposed looters courts. Perceptive people have opined that this
may turn out another goldmine like the election petitions tribunals
which have added to the list of our billionaires.The Nigerian Tribune
of August 23,2015 icon firmed their fears with the report that most of
the nominee-judges woefully failed the integrity test.According to the
newspaper""MAJORITY of the judges nominated for probable appointment
as heads of the proposed anti-corruption specialized courts failed the
integrity test being conducted by security agencies, Nigerian Tribune
learnt on Sunday evening.
One hundred judges selected from courts across the country by the
leadership of the judiciary were reportedly placed before security
agencies for a deeper look into their stewardship, before the final
pick for the sensitive assignment.

Feigned insolvency

An involved security source told the Nigerian Tribune that the
assignment was yet to be concluded, because majority of those picked
for screening failed the integrity test."

I have a friend who had always argued that Nigerian political elites
would invoke natural disasters on their people if it was within their
powers to make money and Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State just
reinforced that going by the report by PREMIUM TIMES that he obtained
N11b bailout under false pretense .According to the online medium"The
governor of President Muhammadu Buhari's home State, Katsina, Aminu
Masari, lied to the president to get more than N11 billion bailout
supposedly to pay workers' salary arrears, PREMIUM TIMES can
authoritatively report today.

Feigning insolvency, Katsina State applied as one of the 27 states in
need of bailout from the Federal Government to pay workers owed
salaries for months.

In a letter to the speaker of the state's House of Assembly, titled:
"Bailout on Outstanding Salary for Workers of the State and Local
Governments" with number S/SGKT/154/3 dated August 26, 2015, Mr.
Masari said when he took office on May 29, his government inherited
two months outstanding salary of workers of the state and local
government from the previous Ibrahim Shema administration.

"I would like to request for the Honourable House's consent for the
State government to collaborate with the Central Bank of Nigeria for a
Bail Out of outstanding workers' salary in the State and Local
governments," Mr. Masari wrote.

"Mr Speaker may wish to know that at the time of the take-off of this
administration, the State and Local Governments in the State owed
workers two months' salary to the tune of N11,086,632,741.32 broken
down as follows:

Katsina State: N3,646,943,099.80; 34 local government councils:
N7,439,689,641.32; Total: N11,086,632,741,.32.

"It is in the view of the need for the State Government and Local
Governments to meet their obligation in the payment of outstanding
workers' salary, considering the lean resources inherited from the
former administration, that it has become necessary for the State
Government to apply for the bail out on behalf of the State and Local
Governments." he added.

However, PREMIUM TIMES' investigation revealed that the state had no
business being among the group of insolvent states in need of federal
bailout to pay workers salary arrears.
Katsina State civil servants as well as workers in the state's 34
local governments received their full salaries and allowances up to
May when Mr. Masari became governor.

Masari vs Katsina Civil servants

In fact, the governor's chief press secretary, Abdul Labaran,
confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES that workers were not owed and that their
salaries had been completely paid up to August.

"Katsina State government doesn't owe anybody any salary," Mr. Labaran
said over the phone after a long pause."

He also answered in the affirmative when asked if he meant that the
state government had paid workers in the state up to August. "That is
correct," he said.

"The hopelessness of our current situation was dramatised in Lagos on
14th May when Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka at the presentation
of two books on Rotimi Amaechi of "I don't like money" fame canonized
two architects of hope"The political atmosphere, whatever you call it,
be it change or hope, whatever name, I recognise two individuals in
this particular process that led the chart for change.

"These two individuals are Bola Tinubu and Rotimi Amaechi; I call them
the architects of the process of change"
If the contents of a documentary on Amaechi by Rivers Integrity Group
which reduces the "Lion of Bourdillon" to a child's play comes to the
view of the highly cerebral Prof today he probably would wish he was
more careful in his choice of words.

To be concluded.

-Vanguard

Dele Momodu Is Next Ooni Of Ife -- Nigerian Pastor In Ghana

A Nigerian pastor based in Ghana who simply identified himself as
Pastor Paul has declared that Dele Momodu, the founder of Ovation
Magazine, is the next Ooni of Ife.

The pastor warned that if Momodu was not installed as Ooni of Ife
there would be bloodshed in the country, he also added that, his
proclamation was a prophecy he got from God.

In a telephone conversation with Bayo Onanuga, the CEO of PM
News/TheNews he said: "If the Ife people refuse to crown Momodu, there
will be bloodshed," the Pastor said.

But Onanuga disagreed with him, saying: "Although Dele Momodu was born
in Ife, his connection is as near as Gbongan and as far as somewhere
in Edo State."

Momodu a graduate of University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife) 1982, holds a degree in Yoruba and a master's
degree in English Literature in 1988.

In 1986, Momodu served the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade
Olubuse II, managing the Motel Royal Limited owned by the monarch.



3. because although #DeleMomodu was born in Ife, his connection is as
near as Gbongan and as far as somewhere in Edo State

— Bayo onanuga (@aonanuga1956) September 14, 2015

Enyimba Extends Lead At Top Of Table

Nigerian league leaders, Enyimba of Aba, further cements their lead in
the Nigeria Professional Football League, with a two nil win over
struggling, Dolphins of Port Harcourt.

Two goals from substitutes Andrew Abalogu and Ifeanyi Anaemeka was all
the team needed to take their points to 55 points from 29 games.

Sharks of Port Harcourt further moved away from the relegation zone
following a one nil win against Ifeanyi Ubah while Taraba FC also
edged out Giwa FC by a lone goal.

In other games also decided on Sunday, Enugu Rangers beat Shooting
Stars two goals to one.

The title hopes of Sunshine Stars of Akure suffered a massive setback
when they lost at home to Nasarawa United 3-2.

Defending Champions, Kano Pillars beat Abia Warriors 3-0.

Police Arrest 43 MASSOB Members In Anambra

Forty-three persons suspected to be members of the Movement for the
Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the
Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) have been arrested by the State
Joint Security Operations and paraded at the Headquarters of Anambra
State Police Command in Awka.

The suspects who have been arrested in Nnewi and Okpoko in Ogbaru
Local Government Area of the state are said to be on a mission to
wreak havoc, but intelligence report filters helped the police.

Twenty-eight of them were arrested at Nnewi where they attacked a
Police patrol team while 15 were nabbed at Okpoko, a territory that
could be referred to as their stronghold.

Items found on them included MASSOB ID card, tellers used for payment
into the group's account and charms.

Some of the suspects who did not deny their involvement with the
group, said they went for thanksgiving to mark the 16th year of
existence of MASSOB.

Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to Anambra State
Governor, Chikodi Anara, reiterated the readiness of the state to
stamp out any form of criminal activity by any group that would hold
the people of the state to ransom.

Though the suspects were arrested, they still maintained that they are
a non-violent group that are only committed to the cause of the Igbo
nation, maintaining that 'no matter what happens, Biafra is like a sun
that cannot go dim'.

However, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Karma, said the
Joint Security Operations will stop at nothing to ensure that the
state is safe for its citizenry, while surveillance operations aimed
at supporting what the state government wants to achieve for the
state, in terms of security, will continue.

-ChannelsTV

Ministerial list: DSS Screens Odimegwu, Falana, Utomi, Others

A FORMER Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Limited, Mr. Festus
Odimegwu and a former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, are
among the ministerial nominees that have been screened by the
Department of State Service, The PUNCH reports.

Those already said to have been screened as nominees for President
Muhammadu Buhari's cabinet also include a former Governor of Osun
State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and a Lagos-lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).

Also on the list are a former Chief of Army, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman
Dambazu (retd.); an ex-chief executive of the Federal Inland Revenue,
Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okaru; a former finance commissioner in Lagos
State, Mr. Wale Edun; and a former National Legal Adviser to the
defunct Congress for Progressive Change, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The PUNCH learnt that the screening of the nominees had been concluded
on Friday. Buhari had last week at a press briefing in Accra, Ghana,
that he would name members of his cabinet this month.

Our correspondents gathered that some of the nominees had appeared
before the DSS.

None of the names on the list however confirmed that they had been
screened when our correspondents contacted them on Sunday.

It was gathered that they had been instructed not to leak details of
their screening to the media.

''What was done was not physical screening but mainly background
checking," one of the already-screened nominees told one of our
correspondents late on Sunday.

Multiple sources within the All Progressives Congress told our
correspondent on Sunday that Falana was favoured by a camp in the
party to emerge as the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the
Federation.

A top APC chieftain said the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and
the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had convinced
Buhari to appoint Falana.

Tinubu and Osinbajo were said to have told Buhari that appointing
Falana, who he jailed over 30 years ago, would boost his image as a
'converted democrat.'

It was, however, learnt that Malami was being favoured by the President.

A source within the party added power blocs within Falana's home
state, Ekiti, might not be disposed to the choice of the human rights
lawyer because he is not a member of the APC.

The APC has three former governors in Ekiti State: Niyi Adebayo, Segun
Oni and Kayode Fayemi.

An APC top official said, "Falana has already been screened by the
DSS. However, Buhari is closer to Malami who is from the North."

Sources within the party also told our correspondent that Utomi, a
renowned economist and former presidential candidate of the African
Democratic Congress, had been screened by the DSS and the police.

Utomi, who is now a member of the APC, was one of biggest critics of
former President Goodluck Jonathan's government.

It was learnt that Edun, who served under former Tinubu as Lagos State
governor, had also been screened by security agencies.

It was learnt that Edun was being considered to emerge as the Minister
of Finance while Utomi for Minister of Economic Planning.

Sources within the party told our correspondent that Tinubu convinced
Buhari to appoint Edun based on his antecedents.

He said the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde
Fowler, Edun and Utomi might be given the task of reviving the
economy.

A source said, "Oil prices are dwindling and Nigeria will need to
diversify but in the short term, increasing the nation's Internally
Generated Revenue is the key. Tinubu explained to Buhari that when
former President Olusegun Obasanjo withheld Lagos State allocations,
Edun and Fowler helped to ensure that the state's IGR increased
exponentially.''

It was learnt that Odimegwu, was nominated by the President.

Odimegwu fell out with former President Goodluck Jonathan when he
openly criticised the Federal Government. He had resigned and then
travelled to the United States.

Two weeks to the March 28 presidential election, however, Odimegwu
openly supported Buhari

Buhari and called him 'the best man for the job.'

Odimegwu is also close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Oyinlola, a one-time secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party,
defected to the APC shortly before the Osun State governorship
election and he is a close associate of Obasanjo.

Repeated calls made to the telephones of Odimegwu and Utomi were not
responded to.

One of the nominees who picked his call, simply said, "I don't know if
screening has been done or completed."

Another nominee, who pleaded anonymity, said, "Although I have met the
director-general of the DSS twice, I don't think such visits could be
regarded as screening.

"I understand the service has done its research on ministerial
nominees. For now, nobody is sure of anything until the names are
announced."

The PUNCH learnt that the report of the DSS screening would be sent to
the President this week.

A top DSS operative, who confided in The PUNCH, said the agency had
conducted extensive checks on the nominees, including their financial
transactions and their records with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission and the police.

The Special Adviser (Media) to the President, Femi Adesina, had on
Wednesday told The PUNCH that security screening "is naturally a
behind-the-scenes matter."

The DSS could not be reached for comment on Sunday as it had yet to
appoint a spokesperson.

The PUNCH had on Thursday reported that the DSS had commenced the
screening of ministerial nominees sent to it by the President.

-PUNCH

PDP Condemns Abduction Of Sun Deputy MD’s Wife

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expresses shock over the abduction
of the wife of the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspapers, Mr.
Steve Nwosu.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Monday said the
party was deeply saddened by the news of the abduction of Mrs. Toyin
Nwosu, decrying it is as a devilish and barbaric act.

The PDP said it is deeply worried by the recent spate of abductions in
the country, adding that the perpetrators cannot justify their actions
under any guise whatsoever.

The party said its thoughts and prayers go for the safe return of Mrs.
Nwosu and for other victims of this social vice. It also expressed
confidence that the security forces would track down the abductors and
expose those behind the crime.

"Finally, the PDP declares its support for each and every policy
undertaken by the present Federal Government to limit to scourge
kidnapping and other criminal activities. We stand together with the
government against all enemies perpetrating criminal acts against
lives and property in dear nation", the party said.

We’ll Meet In The Battlefield — Asari Dokubo Tells APC

Alhaji Mujahideen Dokubo-Asari, leader of Niger Delta Peoples
Volunteer Force,has vowed that the Ijaw nation will not allow Governor
Henry Seriake D***son and former President Goodluck Jonathan to be
disgraced by losing the December 5 gubernatorial election to the main
opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress, APC.
Dokubo spoke on Tuesday when Governor D***son formally declared his
intention to seek re-election on the platform of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).

"We Ijaws don't run away from our enemies. Jonathan did a lot for all
those who have turned against us. Nobody, wherever he is, can move the
Ijaw nation. We've never been conquered, the British knows this fact.
This fight is beyond Henry Seriake D***son, it is beyond you and me,
it is for all. He will never be disgraced on December 5. They have
boasted that they have control of the Army, INEC, Police, Navy and
SSS. But we will meet in the battlefield on election day."

While speaking at the occasion, Governor D***son vowed that his
government will wind up the APC on December 5 when the election would
take place.

In his declaration held in Yenagoa, at the popular Samson Siasia
Stadium, the governor said even though the opposition is relying on
federal might, security agencies and and the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) to assist them to rig election,"Bayelsa
has no room for APC."

The governor's declaration was attended by senior citizens including
ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan; former First Lady, Dame Patience
Jonathan; former governor of Bayelsa State and Governor-General of
Ijaw land, Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha and 12 PDP governors led by
chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun
Mimiko.

-dailyreportersngr

See What Became Of Woman Who Donated N1m Savings To PMB's Campaign

Hajia Fadimatu Mai Talle Tara, the 90-year-old woman who donated her
N1million savings to support Muhammadu Buhari's presidential campaign
is reportedly critically sick and gradually paralyzing.

This was disclosed by one Idris Kuringafa, who knows about her illness.

According to Kuringafa, who shared the news on his Facebook page,
Fadimatu has been ill since after she came back from attending the
inauguration of President Buhari in Abuja.


Kuringafawas with Hajia Fadimatu in her residence at Koko in Kebbi state.
He accused the All Progressives Congress of abandoning Fadimatu,
adding that her daughters informed him that the governor of Kebbi
state, Alh Atiku Bagudo had promised to take her to Dubai for medical
treatment but is yet to fulfill his promise.

Hajia Fadimatu at her residence.
"Could it be that the governor has forgotten about the brave woman who
gave her hard earn money for buhari to clinch power?" he asked.

Kuringafa therefore, called on the APC to something about Fadimatu's condition.

Kuringafa visits Haji Fadimatu at her residence.

Hajia Fadimatu had donated her savings of N1m to support Buhari's campaign.


Buhari had received a lot of donations in support of his presidential
campaign for the 2015 elections. He had received about 54million from
different groups and ordinary people.

Among those who supported Buhari's campaign was a 9 year old girl
named Nicole Eniiyi Benson. She had donated her lunch money savings to
the Buhari Presidential Campaign.

-Naij

Okorocha Didn’t Campaign For Buhari – S’East APC

The South East Chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Sunday said
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, did not "truly" campaign for the
party and President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 general elections.

The spokesman for the APC in the South East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said
this in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu.

The statement was a reaction to a recent interview in which Okorocha
blamed Igbos for their exclusion in recent appointments made by
Buhari.

In the interview, Okorocha reportedly said, "Some of the appointments
we lost were caused by our people."

Okorocha, also in the interview, claimed that Igbo leaders refused to
listen to him when he cried like "a lonely voice in the wilderness"
while urging the Igbos to embrace Buhari and the APC.

The Imo State governor accused Igbos of putting their eggs in one
basket despite his admonitions that such a decision was unwise.

But, reacting to the interview, the spokesman for the APC in the South
East, Okechukwu, stressed that "Okorocha should take responsibility
for Igbo exclusion in the appointments, rather than passing the buck
to Ndigbo."

In the statement titled 'Governor Rochas Okorocha neither truly
campaigned for President Buhari nor APC,' Okechukwu said, "All one can
say is that to the best of knowledge, he (Okorocha) neither truly
campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari nor the All Progressives
Congress.

"I thinks that while we blame Ndigbo for putting all our eggs in one
basket, we should blame our leaders who genuinely didn't campaign for
President Buhari nor APC candidates in their domain.

"I challenge Governor Okorocha to tell the world how far he assisted
Senator Osita Izunaso for his bid for Orlu Senatorial District, his
own constituency, and that of Honourables Uche Onyeguocha and
Uwajumogu of Owerri and Okigwe districts respectively."

Noting that a little assistance from Okorocha could have earned APC
two senatorial seats and other legislative positions in the South
East, Okechukwu made it clear that the governor should blame himself
first before blaming Igbos.

He stressed that Okorocha undermined the APC zoning arrangement when
he decided to contest the party's presidential election primaries.

"This is a man some of us advised not to run against the zoning
convention, that it will deny Ndigbo the chance of producing either
the chairman or the vice presidential slot and he refused.

"He thought we are in Nollywood," the APC zonal spokesman said.

Okechukwu said Okorocha should henceforth "desist from the blame game
and accept responsibility for the fate of Ndigbo in Buhari's
appointments."

Continuing, Okechukwu maintained that Okorocha lied when he claimed
that he was crying like a lonely voice in the wilderness for Ndigbo to
vote for Buhari.

He insisted that if Okorocha really cried like a lonely voice in the
wilderness, Buhari would have gotten at least 30 per cent of the votes
cast in Imo State, and not 18 per cent.

"If Okorocha worked for APC in the South East, how come we did not
even win a single senatorial seat in Imo and the entire zone?

"He should stop this blame game and accept responsibility for the fate
that has befallen Ndigbo," Okechukwu said.

-PUNCH

One Dies As Building Collapses In Imo

A two-storey building under construction at Okwu Umuoma village in
Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, on Friday collapsed,
killing one of those working on the site.

The incident was said to have occurred after a heavy rain downpour.

According to eyewitness accounts, four workers were still in the
building doing their various jobs before the incident, and three of
them were fast and lucky enough to escape unhurt, while the last
person, simply identified as Ugo, got trapped and killed.

The people of the community, however, blamed poor and substandard
materials used for the construction.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, Emma Ibediro, said a
quick response has been set up to commence a rescue search for the
trapped victim.

Mr. Ibediro, who lamented the incident, said that government will
investigate the remote cause of the collapse and called on other
builders to always put the safety of the people first, while building
and constructing buildings in the state.
-ChannelsTV

We Can’t Jam Radio Biafra’s Frequency — Police

The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Mr. Joshak Habila, has
said the force is depending on members of the public for information
on the location of Radio Biafra.

He also said there is an agency of the Federal Government that is
responsible for clamping down on frequencies of illegal radio
stations.

Joshak, who said this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH
correspondent in Umuahia on Saturday, said the police alone could not
track down the radio station without useful information from members
of the public.

He said, "There are those responsible for tracking down operators of
unapproved radio frequencies. Police do have some roles to play but I
don't think the police are the ones that will be able to jam the
frequency.

"There is an agency of government responsible for that. I think
members of the public have a better role to play in volunteering
information to security agencies to clamp down on the radio station.

"I think it is the duty of everyone to help trace them because if they
exist they don't exist in the blues. They exist among members of the
public. Thus, it is those who reside around here that should be able
to volunteer information.

"The indigenous people of Biafra are said to be the people operating
the Radio Biafra. We are gathering information but you should know
that they are subversive and have also spoken against constituted
authorities."

While Joshak described the activities of the guerrilla radio as "a
very big issue to be decided by the Inspector General of Police, he
stated that the law was very clear about those who engaged in
subversive activities to run down a nation and how they should be
handled under the justice system.

Radio Biafra, which broadcasts on the FM frequency, has continued to
freely operate despite recent claims by the Nigerian Communication
Commission that it had jammed its frequency.

The radio station is said to be gaining more audience in Aba, Port
Harcourt and Enugu where its signals are very strong.

-PUNCH

Floyd Mayweather Retires From Boxing

Last night, Floyd Mayweather beat Andre Berto by unanimous decision
and reiterated that he is retiring with a 49-0 record.

The boxers went 12 rounds but there was no upset, with Mayweather
winning by decision at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Though the hype for the fight had been subdued throughout the week,
Mayweather has stated the bout would be the last of his career.

He reiterated his intention to retire after the fight.

The fight was scored 117-111, 118-110, and 120-108, all in favor of Mayweather.

Mayweather came out throwing a high amount of punches, atypical of his
calculated style.

But his defense remained tough and he retained the upper hand
throughout much of the early going, escaping Berto's aggressive jabs
and dancing around while sneaking in solid shots.

Late in the fight, the boxers exchanged verbal jabs, Mayweather
telling Berto to "shut up."

In the end, Mayweather survived a flurry of Berto jabs in the fight's
final minute and held on, coasting to victory.

He dropped to his knees at the center of the ring and took in the moment.

-GistReel

David Mark Under EFCC Investigation For Alleged Money Laundering

This may not be the best of times for former Senate President, David Mark.
The ranking lawmaker is currently being investigated by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering
offence.

The Sun news online reports that the probe of the former number three
citizen started soon after President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on
May 29. A reliable source within the anti-graft agency disclosed that
the investigation borders "on a huge inflow into a bank account linked
to Senator Mark, which was immediately flagged as suspicious
transaction."

"We have done a lot of work on the case but tracing the source and the
purpose of the huge inflow which runs into several millions are posing
some challenges. We were sure of filing charges against the Senator
but we are yet to get the final instruction", the source who refused
to give further details stated.

It was gathered that operatives handling the case had scheduled
interrogation of Senator Mark as the last stage of the investigation
but the former Senate President was already aware of the development.

"He must have been alerted by his bankers from whom we have demanded
some documents in relation to the transaction", another source in the
anti-graft agency added.

Efforts to get Senator Mark's reaction through his spokesman, Kola
Ologbondiyan proved abortive as his known GSM lines were all switched
off as at the time of filing this report.


In the same vein, calls and text messages to the EFCC spokesman,
Wilson Uwujaren for official confirmation of the development, were
also ignored.
A source close to Senator Mark however told Saturday Sun that the
embattled EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde launched the investigation to
blackmail the former Senate President "for failing to speak against a
public hearing being conducted by the Senate Committee on Ethics,
Privileges and Public Petitions over allegations that Lamorde
misappropriated billions of naira and properties recovered from former
IGP, Tafa Balogun and ex-governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye
Alamieyeseigha, among others.

"The former Senate President is not the only target, Lamorde is
desperate to hold on to any straw and drag down along with himself as
many as possible should the Senate proceed with his probe. He can rest
assured that we will resist his blackmail and make him and his agency
accountable", the source added.