Happy Birthday Miss Osumenyi 2016

19years Ago;a beautiful damsel was born into the family of:Mr&Mrs Geofrey Umeh of Obiofia Village,Osumenyi;Little did they know that their daughter(Umeh Faith Chinaza) would become the first Celebrated and Crowned Osumenyi Queen(Miss Osumenyi)some day.Today she marks her birthday.At this Juncture,We celebrate with you Our dear Queen as you mark your birthday Today.May your future be filled with Joy,love,laughter and success.

JIM IYKE'S Tribute to Stephen Keshi

Popular Nigerian Actor-Jim iyke join his fellow Nigerian to mourn the death of Ex super eagle coach-Stephen Keshi.

Below is his Tribute to the great football icon:

 

I was reluctant to say something. Words truly fail me now. I don't know where to begin. Barely a couple of months ago, Victor and I were on the phone to offer our condolences and respect on the passing of your lovely wife. About a month ago, I was at the office in Atlanta, enthusiastically discussing with your son Steve Jnr, about how to start up this great business idea we all hatched up. Then this happened!! How does one go about eulogizing a giant; a national and global icon. An amazing father and steadfast leader.

You were the best amongst equals. A man that weathered fame and victory with the same seamless grace and guts as failure and criticism. You gave everything in your soul to my countrymen even when some chose to suffer temporary amnesia when you faltered a few times. I have blatantly refused to make sense of this senseless loss. Gone too soon. The bonfire in the desert storm. God grant your family the strength and fortitude to bear this heart-rending loss. You were the pioneer that stood at the door of international acclaim and opened it for generations to follow.

You sacrificed so that others can dare to dream and achieve. You redefined being a boss on the international stage long before we even wrapped our heads around the concept of the word and its eminent potentials. You will always be my hero coacha! Adieu BIG BOSS! Your legacy and philosophy are indelible on the sands of time. God is in charge now. #Gladysboi #Harvpapa #BigBoss #RIP #CallToGloryChronicles

CCT adjourns Saraki’s trial over motion seeking judge’s disqualification

The Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday adjourned the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, till June 21.
The tribunal adjourned for the hearing of a fresh motion filed by Saraki seeking an order of the CCT disqualifying its Chairman, Danladi Umar, from further presiding over the case.
Saraki filed his fresh application accusing Umar of bias based on the remark made by the tribunal chairman at the last proceedings on June 7, 2016, while warning the defence against delay tactics.
Umar made the statement that was picked up while warning the defence that their delay tactics would not “reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial”.
Saraki, in his fresh application filed by his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), alleged that Umar’s statement would prejudice the outcome of the trial.
At the resumed hearing in the case on Wednesday, lead defence counsel, Agabi, informed the tribunal of the motion which he said had yet to be opposed by the prosecution.
“We have a motion before your lordship. No processes opposing the motion have been served,” he said.
But in response, the lawyer, Mr. Pius Akuta, who stood in for the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),said the prosecution had some moments before the tribunal started sitting, filed its opposition to the motion.
He said despite that, the business of the day was for further cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas, and not for the hearing of the motion.
Akuta said, “The business of today actually is continuation of cross-examination.
“We have filed our response to the motion this morning. We were served with this process two days ago arround 6pm. Yesterday, we were served with further affidavit.
“To that extent, we have instruction from the lead counsel (Jacobs) to proceed with the cross-examination.
“We are so sorry to inform the tribunal that the lead counsel received two hearing notices from the Court of Appeal yesterday. As we speak now he is before the Court of Appeal.
“So, we are opposing the application. The fact that they have filed a motion cannot stop the business of the day.”
He also cited section 396(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to corroborate his contention that the application could be heard anytime and thus should not be allowed to
stall the business of the day.
But Agabi responded again, arguing that the provisions of the ACJ Act cited by Akuta, were only relevant when the defendant is challenging the validity of the charges which he said was not the case with the fresh motion.
He insisted that the scheduled business of the day had been overtaken by the motion which he said bordered on the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the competence of the presiding chairman.
Agabi, who was handed  a copy of the prosecution’s opposition to the motion, asked for an adjournment of the case to enable him to file a response to the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution.
The tribunal chairman agreed with Agabi and fixed the hearing of the motion for June 21.
The fresh application is the second filed by the Senate President asking the CCT chairman to withdraw from his trial.
The Umar-led CCT had on April 28 dismissed the earlier application which sought the withdrawal of the CCT chairman from the trial on the basis of alleged ongoing investigation o‎f his involvement in a N10m bribery allegation.
Saraki is being prosecuted by the Federal Government on 16 counts, including false and anticipatory asset declaration, which he allegedly made between 2003 and 2011 when he served as the Governor of Kwara State.
He is ‎also accused  of operating foreign accounts as a public officer and of receiving governor’s salary or emoluments  in addition to his salary as a senator for some periods after completing his two terms as governor and got elected as a senator‎.
Source:The Punch News

Reps want 10-year validity for Nigerian passport

The House of Representatives on Tuesday sought the reversal of the validity period of the Nigerian Passport to 10 years as was the case before the introduction of the current e-Passport regime.

Under the current passport policy, the identity document expires after a period of five years and it leaves holders with no renewal option.

Rather, holders are required to process a new one.

But, the House noted that in the pre-e-Passport era, the travelling document had a validity of five years in the first instance and could be renewed for another five years.

Lawmakers said this indicated that the passport had a “life span of 10 years” as against the e-Passport regime that limited the validity period to five years without an option of renewal.

A member, Mr. Samson Olugbemi, had moved a motion on the matter, drawing the attention of the House to the “harrowing” experiences of Nigerians who got caught up abroad with the challenges posed by the current validity period of five years.

The resolution noted that the House could not see any further value in the validity period of five years “other than the selfish intentions of the Nigerian Immigration Service to increase its internally generated revenue profile and by extension, increase the funds it is permitted to offset its operational costs.”

Part of the motion read, “The House recalls that before the introduction of the e-Passport, the Nigerian Passport had a five-year validly period, subject to re-validation for another five years only; indicating that Nigeria’s passport had a lifespan of 10 years.

“The House also recalls that the process of renewal of the old passport was very simple and efficient, as it required mere stamping by an authorised immigration official, indicating a new expiration date.

“Convinced that the 10-year lifespan sits very well with international best practices because countries issue travelling visas, which vary from two weeks to 10 years;

“Concerned that the Nigerian Immigration Service, for reason only known to it, decided to limit the validity of the new Nigerian Passport to five years without any option of renewal; therefore, instead of renewal of the passport on expiration, a new one is to be issued.

“The arbitrary change in policy is inflicting untold hardships and inconveniences to Nigerians at home and abroad.”

The House called on the NIS to “initiate measures aimed at reverting to the 10-year lifespan policy for the Nigerian Passport.”

Although, members passed the resolution in a majority voice vote, they admitted an amendment by the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, to give “fair hearing” to the NIS to speak on the importance of the current policy.

Source:Punch News

Saraki files fresh motion to disqualify CCT Chairman June 15, 2016

the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has filed a fresh application, asking the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, from further presiding over his ongoing trial.

The fresh application is the second filed by the Senate President asking the CCT chairman to withdraw from his trial.

The Umar-led CCT had on April 28 dismissed the earlier application which sought the withdrawal of the CCT chairman from the trial on the basis of an alleged ongoing investigation of his involvement in a N10m bribery allegation.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that Saraki filed his fresh application accusing Umar of bias based on the comment made by the tribunal chairman at the last proceedings on June 7, 2016, while warning the defence team against delay tactics.

Umar had said, in response to the complaint by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), during the June 7 proceedings, “I am not happy at the delay tactics by the defence counsel and I must say this thing out that this delay tactics will not reduce the consequences the defendant will meet in this tribunal at the end of the trial.”

Saraki, in his fresh application filed by his lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), alleged that Umar’s statement would prejudice the outcome of the trial.

Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that the application had been served on the prosecution.

Meanwhile, as Saraki’s trial resumes on Wednesday, it is not certain that the application will be heard as the prosecution has yet to respond to it.

The fresh application is one in the string of the motions Saraki had filed to stop his trial since the charges were filed against him last September.

The first prosecution witness, Mr. Michael Wetkas, is expected to return to the witness box for the 12th day of cross-examination by the defence on Tuesday.

During the last proceedings on June 7, the prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, accused the defence of deliberately delaying the case.

In his response, the tribunal chairman said he had taken note of the delay tactics being deployed by Saraki’s lawyers.

Umar warned that the tactics would not in any way affect the outcome of the trial.

The comment by Umar was the basis for the fresh application by Saraki.

Meanwhile, Saraki’s lead counsel, Agabi (SAN), had during the proceedings expressed shock at the comment by the tibunal chairman and asked Umar what he meant by the “consequences” awaiting his client in the tribunal.

 Agabi told the tribunal chairman that he and his client were worried over “prejudices.”

He advised the tribunal against influence from “enemies”, adding that the defence team was standing against “prejudices.”

Source:Punch News

EFCC Seizes Ex-Oil Minister Diezani’s N3.58bn Abuja Home

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a mansion worth N3.58bn ($18m at the official exchange rate of N199 to a dollar) in the Asokoro area of Abuja allegedly belonging to the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said this during an interview with Al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based news network.
Magu, in the interview, monitored by our correspondent on Monday, noted that the items in the house included jewellery, furniture, and a bulletproof gym worth about $2m.
He stated that the house was part of the $10bn in cash and assets that had been seized by the Federal Government in the last one year.
“We have been able to take on a lot of big shots that were hitherto untouchable in the three arms of the military, political class. We have recorded 164 convictions in just one year,” he said.
He denied claims that the fight against corruption was politically-motivated.
“No, not my EFCC; not the EFCC of today. We are not politicized. If there is an allegation against anybody, we will go after them,” he said.
The Commission had revealed in April that it seized wristwatches worth £2m from the wife of the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Mr. Jide Omokore, and Diezani.
The anti-graft agency seized a wristwatch worth £1.4m from Omokore’s wife, while a wristwatch worth £600,000 was seized from Diezani.
The wristwatches were said to have been seized during various raids on houses of some suspects on Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, and other places.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Monday, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had the right to seize properties believed to have been acquired with stolen funds.
He said, “In recent times, a lot of interest has been generated by the action of the commission in freezing the accounts of suspects that were investigated or are currently being investigated. Some commentators have tended to ascribe vindictive motives to this action.
“In order to prevent misinformation, it is imperative to explain the reason behind the commission’s actions in this regard. Freezing of accounts suspected of being used for the commission of financial crimes is a mandatory investigative step backed by law.
“Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the Commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.
“The section stipulates that ‘the chairman of the commission or any officer authorised by him may, if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence under this Act or any enactment specified under Section 6(2) (a)-(f) of this Act, apply to the court exparte for power to issue or instruct a bank examiner or such other appropriate authority to freeze the account.”
He argued that the aim of these provisions was to ensure that the commission safeguarded suspected proceeds of crime pending the completion of its investigation.
Court adjourns hearing in Kola Aluko, Omokore’s suit
In a related development, a Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned till June 29, 2016, hearing on the seizure of assets belonging to Diezani’s associates, Kola Aluko, and Jide Omokore, and their company, Atlantic Energy.
Aluko and Omokore have been accused of suspected business transactions that illegally transferred the country’s oil assets to them and their companies.
The Federal Government had approached Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo, seeking a global freeze of $1.8bn in assets allegedly stolen by Aluko and Omokore.
Their company was allegedly granted enormous contracts from the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company on the instructions of Diezani.
According to reports, when Diezani granted Atlantic Energy contracts through the Strategic Alliance Agreements, the company did not legally exist.
According to legal documents, Aluko and Omokore took more than $1.7bn from the Federal Government.
While Aluko is a subject of an INTERPOL investigation, Omokore had been arrested several times by the EFCC.
Some of the assets the government seeks to specifically freeze include three mansions in Los Angeles; two high-end apartments in New York City; properties in Santa Barbara, California; numerous properties in Lagos, including 43 apartments on Banana Island, 58 vehicles, the Galactica Star yacht and three aeroplanes.
Jonathan denies owing £15m house in the UK
Meanwhile, former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied owning a £15m property in the United Kingdom.
A former Editor of the UK SUN, Kelvin Mackenzie, had said in his weekly column on Saturday that Jonathan had bought a property in Surrey.
He had said, “I hear the aptly named Goodluck Jonathan, the former President of oil-rich Nigeria, has bought a 12,000 square foot house on the ultra-expensive and well protected St George’s Hill estate in Weybridge, Surrey.
“I’m sure he gained his wealth legitimately but these houses are £10-£15million a pop, so, perhaps the ex-President could explain where his money came from as he has been at the forefront of the fight against his country’s corruption. Surely, it can’t all have been good luck.”
However, Jonathan, through his media aide, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, denied the report and demanded a retraction from the newspaper.
The statement read in part, “Nothing could be further from the truth. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan takes pride in the fact that he does not have any property or accounts outside Nigeria. He stated this publicly while in office and his commitment to Nigeria’s economy remains total even after he left power.
“As the Nigerian President who signed the Freedom of Information bill into law, Dr. Jonathan is well aware that the United Kingdom is a nation with good record keeping at county and national levels and as such, it will not take a serious and responsible media long to verify ownership of property before rushing to the press with potentially libellous publications.
“It is hoped that this publication will correct its error and do a retraction and that other media will likewise follow up on this story to put the lie to the details it contains.”
Source:Sahara Reporters

EFCC Raids Obanikoro’s Lagos Homes

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday stormed the Lagos residences of former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, carting away cars and other valuables.

The two homes raided were the former minister’s private residence at Park View Estate and the house near Banana Island where his two sons, Jide and Gbolahan live with their families.
The Nation learnt that the officials, who stormed the two houses in the afternoon, were there till about 6:00pm.
According to Obanikoro’s media aide, Jonathan Eze, the officials took vehicles, wristwatches and other personal effects of the former minister and his sons, who are all in the United States.
Eze claimed that they harassed innocent kids and intimidated the occupants of the properties, adding that the commission has never invited Obanikoro for questioning.
“Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Tuesday in their characteristic Gestapo like manner invaded Senator Obanikoro’s houses in Ikoyi with unnecessary intimidation and harassment of occupants who are majorly innocent kids, teenagers, his wife and daughter in-laws not without carting away cars, wristwatches and other valuables.
“This is against the backdrop of the fact that the anti- graft agency has never invited him nor his sons for questioning beyond the tirades and allegations they have been propagating using the media spaces.
“We are using this medium to draw attention of all Nigerians to yet another infringement on the fundamental and inalienable rights of the Obanikoro family.
“Lovers of freedom should not wait until our democracy is put at irreversible damage. The list of human rights violations and political persecution has reached an alarming rate.
“We see this as an affront and a further show of shame and ignominy of this present administration hell bent in politically persecuting its perceived opponents in other to stoop them and rubbish their hard earned reputation of untainted public services.
“To our chagrin, the vehicles driven away were cars and trucks bought since 2006 and thereabouts when Senator Obanikoro served as an Ambassador in Ghana among others which obviously had no bearing with the purported investigation they are supposedly carrying out.
“We condemn in strong terms the brigandage and the idea of Inflicting trauma on innocent dependants and violating their privacies without recourse to the rule of Law.
Senator Obanikoro has consulted with his Lawyers and are prepared to meet them in court to stop this intrusions and persecution,”  Eze stated.
Confirming the raid, Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwajeren, said it was in line with ongoing investigations.
“I can tell you that no one was harassed in the course of the search and that it is part of ongoing investigation on the man. Our operatives who went there conducted their affairs in best practices and took some vehicles away. I cannot immediately give inventory on the things that were carted away but that will be made known in due time. I do not think we need any permission from the man to do our job. Full details will be disclosed when we get there,” he said.
Source:Sahara Reporters