Lawyer in EFCC net over N66 Milion Property Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Wednesday July 31, 2013 arrested one Barrister Ambrose Owuru over an allegation of obtaining the sum of sixty-six million naira (N66, 000,000.00) from one Ikechukwu Eze under false pretence.

EFCC in a press statement said the complainant alleged that sometimes in March 2011, he paid the sum of sixty million naira (N60m) through Skye Bank, Olu Obansanjo Road branch, Port Harcourt, to Barrister Owuru of Owuru for a property located at Nzimiro Street, Amadi flat, Port Harcourt.

In the process of taking possession of the property, it was discovered that a portion had been sold to another person. At this point, Barrister Owuru allegedly asked for another N6m to settle the other buyer, one Chief Austin Omire, which Eze allegedly obliged him.

Since then, every attempt to take possession or develop the said property met with resistance.
Upon receipt of the petition and commencement of investigation, the Commission invited the suspect severally but he refused to honour the invitations which culminated in his arrest.
Investigation into the matter continues.the statement said

Archaeologists in Turkey discover 'a piece of a cross' associated with Jesus

Archaeologists in Turkey have found a fragment of a cross, which they claim is associated with Jesus's crucifixion.
The archaeologists were excavating at the 1350-year-old Balatlar Church in the Black Sea province of Sinop, reports the Hurriyet Daily News.
They unearthed a stone chest, containing the cross fragment, along with the skeletons of more than 1000 people.
"We have found a holy thing in a chest. It is a piece of a cross." said Professor Gülgün Köroğlu, head of the excavations.
"This stone chest is very important to us. It has a history and is the most important artifact we have unearthed so far," she said.

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Archaeologists in Turkey have found a fragment of a cross, which they claim is associated with Jesus's crucifixion.

The chest has been taken to a laboratory for further examination, according to NBC.

"During the excavations, we have seen many things that we didn't know about before," Professor Köroğlu said. "Sinop has gained a very good ancient site that we will show visitors."

We wont dissappoint Nigeria - APC Publicity Secretary

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Nigerians on the emergence of the new party, saying with the birth of APC, Nigerians now have an alternative to a ruling party that has taken the people for a bad ride in the past 14 years.

In a statement issued by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on Wednesday, APC said its emergence is a victory for Nigeria and for democracy, and that it has now also propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two major political parties.

”The journey has been long and tortuous. All sorts of obstacles were thrown into our path by anti-democratic forces, but we were painstaking, determined and unrelenting in our quest for a formidable platform that will allow our country, Nigeria, to achieve her full potentials and join the league of respectable nations.

”With the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new dawn for our country and her long-suffering people. We thank Nigerians both here and in the Diaspora for standing by us. We thank the media for their fairness, and we commend INEC for doing the right thing and for not succumbing to pressures from phantom political associations that sought to force it to circumvent the law.

”We promise not to disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much confidence in us. We say that contrary to the lies being peddled by the naysayers, we are not seeking political power for the sake of getting it, but in order to use it to empower our people and allow their long-nursed hopes and dreams to become a reality.

”And to those who have vowed to change their names if APC survives for a year, we hope they will live up to their words,” it said.

APC said Nigerians can now look forward to a truly democratic party in the best traditions of what the world considers as the best form of government.

The party promised to unveil, in the days ahead, its membership registration plans to give all Nigerians, especially those who have become disenchanted with the way things are going in the country, the much-awaited opportunity to be part of the country’s democratic process in the true sense of the word.

”We will also be unveiling our plans to turn today’s hopelessness into a time of great opportunities, to reverse the downward slide in our socio-economic development, and to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the commonwealth, instead of the present situation in which a few fat cats are milking the system dry at the expense of the citizenry,” APC said.

APC will bring succour to Nigeria’s political pain- Ajimobi

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has hailed the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing the new mega party as succour to Nigeria’s political pain.

The governor, who stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said with the development, the progressives were now set to rescue the country from the abyss which it had been plunged into by the reactionary elements.

He said that with the registration of APC, history had been made as it is the first merger to be midwifed in the annals of political parties in Nigeria.

According to the governor, the coming on board of APC was the resultant effect of the commitment, doggedness, political sagacity and the resolve of people of like minds across the country to come together and create a platform through which the country could be liberated.

``With APC, it is a new political dawn in Nigeria and a fresh air in the Nigerian political waters,’’ Governor Ajimobi said.

He added that the stage was now set for the progressives to spread the gospel of APC to all the nooks and crannies of the country and reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians on the need for change.

The governor gave kudos to patriots cut across the merger parties and Nigerians in general who stood by the proponents of the new political party to ensure its eventual registration by INEC.    

External forces, cause of Ekiti PDP crisis - Professor Adeniran

A former Minister of Education and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Tunde Adeniran, have said that it is not impossible that external forces were behind the crisis rocking the Ekiti State chapter of the party.

Adeniran, who addressed newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, on the crisis rocking the Ekiti chapter of the party, expressed the belief that the disagreements among the members of the party was not as bad as
it is being painted, saying it was not impossible that some of the actors in the disagreement were being influenced by forces outside the party.

Adeniran, who served as minister under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also disclosed that he was still in the race for the position of National Secretary of the PDP in the coming national convention of the party.

He stated that it was lamentable for the PDP to have opened its flanks, for the opposition party to operate over controversies on the adoption of consensus in selecting the governorship candidate.

He said his aspiration for the position of secretary of the party is enjoying wide support from the six geo-political zones of the country.

It would be recalled that the party had been embroiled in crisis over consensus issue, culminating in the suspension of the former governor Ayodele Fayose, PDP Chairman in the State, Mr Makanjuola Ogundipe and four others from the party.

Adeniran, who described the crisis rocking the party as needless, stated that there is need for Nigeria to rework its electoral process to stamp out monetisation of the process and the purchase of the electorate or delegates by moneybag.

NCPC RECIEVES SERVICOM COMMENDATION

Exe. Sec. NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Opara (R) Receiving a letter of Commendation from the National Coordinator (SERVICOM), Mr. Sylbriks G. Obriki unbehalf of the commission at NCPC Corporate HDQRS Abuja 


The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has been commended by SERVICOM Office for providing excellence  service and admnistration

 Presenting the letter of commendation to the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, the Senior Special Assistant to the President and National Coordinator of SERVICOM, Mr. Sylbriks Obriki  said  “in line with your vision of providing excellent services and administration to Nigerian Christians, the public has testified of great improvements in the conduct of pilgrimages”. 

He added that “it is an honour to have been identified as a SERVICOM Champion through your citizen focused activities, ability to achieve and exceed set service standards, goals and targets and being able to make a difference despite existing challenges”.
Mr. Obriki further commended the performance of NCPC under the able leadership of Mr. John Kennedy Opara for the introduction of open bidding for Air Carriers which he said was commendable because the Commission had been able to set a standard for bidding processes. 

He equally commended the Commission for achieving zero mortality rate and zero abscondment for pilgrims. In his words: “we realize that those that you transport to the Holy Land were given adequate attention’.

The National Coordinator told the NCPC boss that he was grateful to pay a visit to NCPC with his Team as a SERVICOM Champion. He stressed that this commendation was coming at a time when most Agencies have not been delivering service, thus it was commendable to note that NCPC has lived up to its mandate of taking pilgrims to the Holy Land, which complements the President’s transformation agenda of reforming the minds of Nigerians to be able to contribute positively to the growth of the nation.

He maintained that the achievements recorded by NCPC was a collaboration between the customers and the Commission. He posited that customers’ satisfaction is the index to measure the rate of services of any organization because customer is key.

The National Coordinator also stressed that there was need to encourage each other to make sure that services are delivered in line with the President’s transformation agenda.  

Responding, the Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Opara said he was deeply moved by the action of SERVICOM Office to honour the Commission for its little contribution to the growth of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria. He said he would continue to draw strength and aspiration from this recognition.

Mr. Opara also stressed he was always conscious of what he would be remembered for while in office .Consequently, he said his major concern has been to make pilgrimage a tool for moral and spiritual transformation, because he believed that if those who go on pilgrimage are spiritually transformed, they would in turn impact on others. His words: “I want to use pilgrimage as a tool for change”.

The NCPC helmsman further explained to the National Coordinator of SERVICOM that the Commission under his leadership had been able to introduce quite a number of innovations which include open bid process of Air Carriers and Ground Handlers without undermining the law. He further revealed that the Commission was able to reduce the pilgrimage package for the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage from 11% to 3%. He affirmed that he would not rest on his oars to ensure that pilgrimage is affordable by all Christians, thus making it possible for all Christians to embark on Holy Pilgrimage.

The NCPC boss assured the SERVICOM Team that the Commission would not compromise standards. In the words of the Executive Secretary, “we promised that we cannot let you down. We must keep the flag flying”, he assured.
The presentation of letter of performance was witnessed by all the Management Staff of NCPC, including the SERVICOM Nodal Officer, Mr. Isaac Otuorimuo.

Mimiko names Ademujimi, Iroju as Commissioners

Mimiko names Ademujimi, Iroju as Commissioners

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has announced and sent the names of two other Commissioner nominees to the Ondo State House of Assembly.

Mrs Adenike Ademujimi and Mr. Iroju Ogundeji, whose names were sent earlier today, are from Okitipupa and Odigbo Local Governments Areas respectively.

The Governor in a statement by Eni Akinsola, his Chief Press Secretary requested the Honourable House of Assembly to consider the two as commissioners in the State.

It will be recalled that 18 commissioners had earlier been sworn-in by Governor Mimiko on June 17 after they were screened by the House of Assembly.

ASUU strike: NANS exco splits, disowns president

Executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, have disowned the national president, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo, on his support for the Federal Government in the ongoing strike by the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Some members of the executive told newsmen, yesterday, that students were largely unbiased in the crisis and the inclination of Mr. Gbadebo to support the government was a deviation from the students’ collective goal of resolving the crisis.

The executive members who included national assistant secretary general, Ali Mohammed , the national sports director, Talib Abubakar Gumel,  director of travels and exchange, Olusegun Oyebisi, said there was no consultation on the issues before Gbadebo declared NANS support for the Federal Government.

The students also dissociated NANS as a body from the ongoing face off between officials of the Federal Government and the Rivers State government saying that their president did not have any right to speak on the issue.
“
The national president did not have our mandate to support the federal government over the strike as we are a neutral body. We do not support either the federal government or ASUU because it is the students that bear the brunt of the strike,” Ali who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said yesterday.

“We call on ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve the issue within seven days so that the students can return to their campuses.”

“We do not understand why the national president should support the federal government or what concerns students with what is happening between the Rivers State governor and the President. The matter is between the two of them it does concern the students.”

‎PDP‬ Can’t Elect New Secretary –Court

An Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Wednesday, granted a motion exparte stopping conduct of election to fill the vacant position of national secretary of the PDP during the planned mini national convention of the party. The order followed a suit filed by the ousted National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

Justice Oyejide Falola granted the three prayers in the motion after listening to the argument of counsel for the applicant, Barrister Realwan Okpanachi. The claimant, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola had dragged the Osun state PDP chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa and the PDP national leadership before the court over plan by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to hold a mini national convention during which some of the vacant positions in the NWC, including that of national secretary, which was last held in substantive capacity by the claimant, will be filled. Also joined in the suit is the chairman of the PDP Mini National Convention Committee, Professor Jerry Gana.

In his submission, the plaintiff’s counsel, Barrister Okpanachi, argued that his client, whose election as PDP national secretary was nullified by the declaratory judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja High Court on January 13, this year, has a pending appeal before Court of Appeal Abuja, due for hearing in September.

He contended that, despite having full knowledge of the pending appeal, PDP still went ahead to constitute a committee to plan a mini convention during which election into the office of the national secretary will be held.

Okpanachi maintained that the motion was filed to protect the right of appeal of his applicant and protect the sanctity and threshold upon which judicial system is built, stressing that if the motion was not granted by the court and the defendants are allowed to conduct election to fill the post of national secretary during its planned mini convention, no issue will be left for the court to decide in September, when hearing of the appeal will come up. He, therefore, prayed the court to favourably consider and grant the motion before it, considering the urgent nature of the issue involved.

In his ruling, Justice Falola held that the 2nd and 3rd respondents, Professor Gana and PDP national leadership be served copies of the motion outside the jurisdiction of the court, pointing out that, upon the receipt of the motion, the respondents should maintain status quo prior till 26 July, the day the action was instituted before the court.

He also ordered that, should the PDP hold its mini convention, election must not be conducted to fill vacant position of national secretary in the NWC of the party pending the determination of the motion on notice, just as he adjourned the matter till Monday, August 19.

Faceless Politicians Didn’t Benefit From My Ramadan Gifts —Akinjide

The Minister of State for the FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, has said that those who claimed not to have benefitted from the multi-million naira Ramadan gifts she splashed on members of the PDP across the 351 wards in the state can only be faceless politicians.

A member of a factional group in the party, Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adebisi, had denied knowledge of the distribution of food items to PDP faithful in the state. But the minister, speaking through her media assistant, Alhaji Kehinde Isiaka, in a statement, maintained that she doled out the items Muslims and Islamic scholars and leaders in all the 351 wards in the state, as she had been doing since assumption of office in 2011, describing the report as sponsored and a failed hatchet job.

“This rejoinder becomes compelling to set the records straight and dispel the wicked and mendacious claim. It bears emphasis to state for the sake of clarity that as it has become her tradition, to reach out to people across the state during festivities.

“This is a verifiable fact as the beneficiaries across the state could easily testify to the minister’s good gesture. However, the unfounded claim by Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adebisi to the contrary has only revealed the antics of the agents of destabilisation whose stock-in-trade is campaign of calumny against leaders with good intentions.

“It is regrettable that at this stage when Akinjide and other good-spirited party chieftains are collaborating efforts to bring back PDP to its former glorious and enviable position in the state, some faceless people without claims to any ward like Adebisi are hell-bent on destroying the party by pulling down its leaders.”

“Let it be reiterated here that no amount of mudslinging or distortion of fact can discourage Akinjide from contributing her quota in building a strong and viable PDP in Oyo State. Her commitment to the welfare of the good people of the state cannot be dampened. Moreover, the people of Oyo State know the leader they can trust,” the statement said.