NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY LECTURER KILLED BY KIDNAPPERS

A lecturer at the Igbinedion University, Okada, in Edo State, Kelvin Izevbekhai, has been killed by kidnappers.

AKWA IBOM GOVERNOR SUSPENDS TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL

The Akwa Ibom government has suspended the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission in the state, Valentine Attah.

2019 UTME: CANDIDATES NOW ABLE TO ACCESS RESULTS ONLINE – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says candidates are now free to also access the results of their UTME online.

ALLEGED N450M FRAUD: EFCC PRESENTS MORE EVIDENCE AGAINST BELGORE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, presented more evidence against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dele Belgore, in a N450 million money laundering charge filed against him in a Federal High Court in Lagos.

DADDY SHOWKEY PLEAS FOR NAIRA MARLEY'S RELEASE

Daddy Showkey has come out to speak on Naira Marleys recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as he appeals for his release even though he thinks he made a mistake by insulting his elders.

HOW I WAS DRUGGED, GANG-RAPED IN LEKKI HOTEL, WOMAN TELLS COURT

A 24-yr-old woman (name withheld) narrated to an Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 about how she was allegedly drugged in a nightclub and gang-raped in a hotel in Lekki, Lagos.

DAVIDO APPEARS ON NICK CANNON'S WILD N' OUT

Davido has since joyfully shared footage from his appearance on Nick Cannon’s Wild n’ Out on his Instagram stories.

EDO SET TO INTRODUCE HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME – OBASEKI

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says the proposed State Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) will provide social justice for the aged, persons with disability and other vulnerable persons in society.

The governor said this while receiving the work plan for the implementation of the Edo SHIS in Benin on Monday.

RUGGEDMAN SAYS HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WTH NAIRA MARLEY'S ARREST

For those who think Ruggedman has anything to do with Naira Marleys arrest, he wants them to desist from making that assumption.

UNDERGRADUATE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BROTHER

A 33-year-old undergraduate, Allen Abiodun, was, yesterday, sentenced to death by a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja for killing his younger brother, Wale, with a broken bottle.

POLICE ARREST NINE KIDNAPPERS TERRORIZING ABJA-KADUNA ROAD

The Force Headquarters, yesterday, said operatives of Operation Puff Adder arrested nine kidnappers terrorizing commuters along Abuja-Kaduna highway, coming on the heels of the reported killings of six members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara, by bandits on Sunday.

NIGERIA CAN GENERATE $2BN ANNUALLY FROM DUNKIES — INVESTORS

The Donkey Skin Processors Marketers and Export Association, DSPMEA, has refuted claims by a United Kingdom-based group, the Donkey Sanctuary, that the Nigerian donkey species are going into extinction.

TROOPS RESCUE 29 WOMEN, 25 CHILDREN IN BORNO

The Army has rescued 54 Boko Haram kidnapped persons in Borno, including 29 women and 25 children.

In a statement on Monday, Col. Sagir Musa, the Acting Director Army Public Relations said the victims were freed after troops cleared Ma’allasuwa and Yaa-Munye villages in the state.

NIMASA DONATES RELIEF MATERIALS TO 2018 FLOOD VICTIMS IN KANO

Presenting the materials to the Kano State Government, the Director General of the Agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said the donation was part of their corporate social responsibilities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the materials include food items such as bags of rice and beans as well as grinding, sewing and pumping machines.

Others are detergents, mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets and other items.

Represented by the Deputy Director Finance of NIMASA, Mrs Odusanya Olamide, Peterside said the donation was coming late because certain due process had to be followed before the disbursement of the fund.

"WHY I REMOVED MY WOMB"- ACTRESS NSE IKPE-ETIM

The award-winning actress while speaking at an event tagged “Conversation With Nse” in Lagos said she won’t be able to have a kid because she has removed her womb.

SANWO-OLU'S DEPUTY LOSES FATHER

The deputy governor-elect of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, on Sunday lost his father, Mufutau Hamzat.

CHRIS ATTOH'S WIFE WAS ALLEGEDLY STILL MARRIED TO A DRUG LORD

Chris Attoh's late wife, Bettie is reported to have been still married to a drug lord.

 

Chris Attoh and deceased wife, Bettie

CBN SCANDAL; BANK CLAIMS NO MONEY LOST AFTER LEAKED AUDIO

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Sunday scrambled a rebuttal to deny media reports that it lost over N500 billion after a private investment by some of its top officials went awry.

Sahara Reporters had reported earlier a telephone conversation involving the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele; his deputy, Edward Adamu; the Director of Finance, Dayo Arowosegbe; and the Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Emmanuel Ukeje.

The online medium said the discussion of the top CBN officials was about a plot to cover up the huge loss after a private investment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, went bad.

But, the bank in a statement by its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, denied any money was either stolen or missing from is vaults.

It admitted the audio was authentic but said they were “selective conversations.”

Mr Okorafor said contrary to insinuations that the audio recording of selective conversations by Mr Emefiele and the officials were about a fraudulent transaction, it was “simply to proffer solutions to a misunderstanding that affected the Bank’s balance sheet.”

According to Sahara Reporters, in the audio, Mr Emefiele was heard saying “To avoid any serious problem is just, the government to have to agree to give us at least 100 billion cash but the government will not agree. They will kick against it.”

The officials also discussed the possible reaction of the opposition as well as the impact of their actions on the economy.

“I’ll have to think of a way out because we cannot afford it at all.

“The implications are just too many to even think about and damaging. We cannot allow this like this, we cannot,” Mr Emefiele was quoted as saying in the audio.

CBN EXPLAINS AUDIO

According to Mr Okorafor, the National Economic Management Team and the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had approached the CBN in 2015 to assist state governments with Conditional Budget Support.

The support was to assist states to pay the salaries, pensions and gratuities of their workers in the aftermath of the significant drop in global oil prices and associated Federation Accounts allocations.

He said to facilitate the recovery of the economy from the continuous impact of the recession, the CBN provided about N650 billion in loans at 9 per cent with a two-year grace period to 35 states of the Federation.

“These monies were distributed to the states monthly with documented approval of the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Presidency.

“In closing the Bank’s 2018 accounts, external auditors in their Draft Account, erroneously classified about N150 billion of these loans as bad, which negatively affected the Bank’s Balance Sheet and shareholders fund,” Mr Okorafor said.

He said the ‘selective conversation’ referred to in the online report was simply a discussion to ascertain why the auditors took that position and next steps to resolve it.

The CBN spokesperson said following the discussion, it became clear to the officials that a state government’s loan cannot be classified as “bad” or “irrecoverable” when the state still exists and receiving monthly allocations from FAAC.

Consequently, he said, the CBN reached out to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which jointly confirmed to the auditors who accepted the discrepancy in writing that these monies would be repaid.

He said on this basis, the auditors reversed the negative entry and certified that the CBN’s 2018 accounts were a true reflection of the state of affairs.

“Reconciliation of Balance Sheet items are regular conversations amongst senior management of many agencies and should not be misconstrued as anything but that,” Mr Okorafor said.

He urged all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the “audio and continue to trust that the Bank is doing everything it can to represent their interests in the best possible way.

“Under the leadership of Governor Emefiele, the CBN has always stood for, and vigorously pursued transparency in its stewardship of public resources and policies. NO MONIES ARE MISSING OR STOLEN.

“The integrity of the CBN Governor remains unassailable. He has no account in Dubai or anywhere in the world and would never convert the funds of CBN for personal use. Not in the past, not now and not ever.

“The use of selective wiretapped conversations of the Bank’s Management, to malign his character and integrity will never stand. The Bank will pursue every legal means to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

WINDSTORM KILLS 3, DESTROYS 200 HOUSES IN BAUCHI

Three people have died and 200 houses destroyed, following a rainstorm in Misau Town in Bauchi State.

NIGERIA SPENDS N2 TRILLION ON NASS IN 21 YEARS

BY the end of 2019, Nigeria would have spent the sum of two trillion naira on the National Assembly, going by budgetary allocations since 1999.

BREAKING! CYRIL RAMA RE-ELECTED AS SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ruling ANC won re-election on Friday with an absolute majority in parliament, results showed, but with diminished support, complicating economic revival and anti-corruption efforts.

EFCC ARRESTS NIGERIAN ARTISTE, NAIRA MARLEY

Although the reason behind his arrest is yet to be made public, it might be in connection with his statements on social media which glorifies internet fraudsters, popularly called Yahoo boys.

CHELSEA DEFEAT FRANKFURT, TO FACE ARSENAL IN EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Eden Hazard hit the winning penalty kick for Chelsea to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-3 in a shootout on Thursday to reach the Europa League final.

I SURVIVED BY SLEEPING IN BATHRROM FOR WEEKS IN OMAN- TRAFFIC SURVIVOR

A human trafficking victim, Oyinlola Solanke, yesterday, in Abuja narrated how she escaped from Oman through sheer guts and the help of a good Samaritan after 10 months of slavery.

The mother of two  and  a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, stated  that she was lured to the Arab nation by her in-law who convinced her that she could earn N150,000 as a maid in Oman.

OYINLOLA SOLANKA

SENATOR VOWS TO OPPOSE CREATION OF NEW UNIVERSITY

The Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, on Thursday said he would continue to oppose bills that seek to create new universities in Nigeria.

EMEFIELE TO BE REAPPOINTED AS CBN GOVERNOR

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have forwarded Godwin Emefiele’s name to the National Assembly for reappointment as Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.

POLICE HARASSMENT: GROUP PLANS PROTEST IN ABUJA

A group of women have called out residents of Abuja to join in a protest at the Eagle Square on Friday against police harassment of women in recent weeks.

LAGOS STATE SPORT TRUSTFUND TARGETS N10bn

The Lagos State Sports Trust Fund, LSSTF, is set to raise about N10 billion to invest in sports infrastructure and development across the state.

POLICE ARREST EIGHT SUSPECTS OVER KILLING OF ABUJA WOMEN

The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested eight suspects in connection with the death of an Abuja woman, Esther Okah.

OSINBANJO FLAGS OFF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME IN EKITI

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday flagged off the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, tagged Ekiti-Kete School Meal in Ekiti State.

With the flag off in Ekiti, the number of states now participating in the programme has increased to 31.

BUHARI REJECTS TWO MORE BILLS

President Muhammadu Buhari has conveyed to the Senate his decision to withdraw two bills.

FOUR PEAPLE KILLED IN A RAID BY BOKO HARAM; BORNO RESIDENTS

At least four persons were killed on Tuesday evening in Molai and Bukarti villages after gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram attacked the outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, residents said.

SANWO OLU TAKES LEADERSHIP COURSE AT HARVARD

The Governor-elect of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, is currently undergoing a leadership course at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, United States of America, ahead of his role as governor of Lagos State.

BUHARI INAUGURATES NORTHEAST COMMISSION BOARD

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday inaugurated the North East Development Commission, NEDC Board for rebuilding of the zone ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

Inaugurating the board before the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC. meeting at the Council Chamber Presidential Villa Abuja, the President said that the establishment of the commission was in fulfilment of the pledge he made to the people, adding that the aim was to rebuild the place

For the successful take-off of the commission, the President said N10 billion was provided in the 2019 budget and he urged the commission to make judicious use of the fund. He also mandated the commission to conduct a comprehensive survey on the magnitude of damage.

President Buhari explained that it was in appreciation of the massive electoral support he received from the zone in 2015 and 2019 that encouraged him to inaugurate the board

The Senate had in April confirmed the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd.) as Chairman of the North East Development Commission. The Senate had also confirmed the appointment of Mohammed Alkali as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NEDC, alongside nine members. 

This followed the presentation of a report by Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Sen. Abdul Aziz Nyako on confirmation of nominations into the board of the commission.

The other nominees are Musa Yashi, Executive Director Humanitarian Affairs; Muhammed Jawa, Executive Director Administration and Finance; Omar Mohammed, Executive Director Operations.

Others are David Kente, member representing North East Zone; Asmau Mohammed, member representing North West Zone; Benjamin Adanyi, member representing North Central Zone. 

Also on the board are Olawale Oshun, member representing South West Zone; Dr. T. Ekechi member representing South East; and Obasuke McDonald, member representing South South.

KIDNAPPED OAU LECTURER GAINS FREEDOM

Twenty-four hours after he was kidnapped, a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Olayinka Adegbehingbe, has been freed.

OAU PROFESSOR KIDNAPPED WHILST ON A JOURNEY

A university lecturer in Nigeria, Olayinka Adegbehingbe, has been kidnapped.
Mr Adegbehingbe is a professor at the College of Health Sciences, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

POLICE RESCUE TWO-YEAR OLD FROM KIDNAPPERS

The police in Lagos said they have rescued a two-year-old girl who was kidnapped at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries regional headquarters in Agege on March 24.

NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT OFFERS SAVINGS BOND FOR MAY

The Federal Government has offered for subscription of two-year savings bond at 11.74 per cent and three-year savings bond at 12.74 per cent per annum, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said.

POLICE ARREST SENATOR ADELEKE AGAIN, FILE FRESH CHARGES

The police on Monday said they have arrested Ademola Adeleke, a Nigerian senator. The police said Mr Adeleke will be arraigned in court on Tuesday in Abuja.

GUNMEN ABDUCT TARABA PERMANENT SECRETARY

Unknown gunmen in the early hours of Sunday abducted Suzzy Nathan, Permanent Secretary, Taraba Ministry of Water Resources, Jalingo, from her home.

UTME 2019: FIVE CONVICTED FOR EXAMINATION MALPRACTICE

As part of its effort to curb malpractice in its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) said five persons have been convicted for malpractices in Kebbi and Zamfara states.

MOON SEEN, RAMADAN STARTS MONDAY ACROSS NIGERIA

The crescent moon heralding the Islamic month of Ramadan has been seen in several states.

The sighting of the moon indicates the commencement of Ramadan for Muslims globally.

During Ramadan, Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to sunset by abstaining from food and drinks, as well as forbidden acts.

I WON’T DISCLOSE THOSE ELIGIBLE TO BE IN MY NEW CABINET – BUHARI INSISTS

On the President’s to Nigeria, on Sunday, after a ten-day trip to the United Kingdom, he said that he is ready to settle down and swear in the new cabinet.

HE WHO PAYS THE PIPER DOES NOT ALWAYS DICTATE THE TUNE BECAUSE CHANGE IS CONSTANT.

The voters have been programmed to only do what the elites asked them to. The elites deprive them of their entitlements and feed the voters with what can barely sustain them.

 Each passing day, the Masses become poorer while the elites break records in Forbes as richest African alive.

---

The politicians think politics means deceive them.

The voter attends series vigils, fast and pray for one divine helper who became rich by the commonwealth of the masses. His predicament is spiritual, never to make him understand the source of his woe.

He lives and survive in a work with salary that can barely foot his transportation to work.

With no hope for gratuity and pension, because he witnessed how for director in his place of work died of stroke, he careful changes his age declaration at work, making him younger than his last Son. 

Most unfortunately, his son graduates from school without a job for 10years because his father has refused to retire. The only available one he saw demanded 5years working experience.

The son is given a title "unemployed graduate and in a bid to make ends meet, he joins a gang of robbers and ritualist.

The society is now faced with two woes;

1. The political elites who steals to enrich himself

2.  The unemployed graduate who wants to make a living by .......

Let's not forget what the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo said,

"The children of the poor you fail to train will never let your children live in peace tomorrow."

He who pays the piper doesn't always dictate the tune because change is constant.

The elitist class of the society can't succeed by keeping the masses impoverished while they raise their own generation to keep handling things over them.

But with the great Joshua Maciver the narrative is different, a better Bayelsa State is possible.

WRITTEN BY TIMI-IGOLI TIMI.

 INSPIRED BY HON AYARA MARGARET JOE.