Lagos Raids Beggars, Prosecutes 39

Symbol of Justice

The Special Offences Court sitting in Alausa Monday ordered that 39 beggars raided in different parts of Lagos State be remanded in Kirikiri and Badagry Prisons for allegedly soliciting for alms on the streets and constituting nuisance in the public places.

Some of the beggars currently facing prosecution for allegedly constituting nuisance in the public include Fatima Jubril, Sanusi Muhammed, Lado Amadu, Badayani Garuba, Denyaya Isali, Beto Manu, Garuba Ibrahim, Aruna Yau, Dauda Amadu, Magada Salisu, among others.

Former Senatorial Aspirant Impersonates EFCC Director

Ekpeyong Ita, the Director-General of the Services (SSS)

 *SSS Recovers Fake $1.5m 

*Abia gov’s wife was blackmailed by one of the fraudsters

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Lagos State Command of the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested two suspected fraudsters, Uche Onwuka and Azeez Bello, for attempting to lure one Livinus Yakubu, a Nigerian-based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), with the intent of defrauding him of $7 million as well as impersonate a director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) respectively.

Police Interrogate Boyloaf, Arrest Aides in Lagos

Victor Ebikabowei

 

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, at the weekend interrogated one of the leading ex-militant leaders in the Niger Delta, Victor Ebikabowei, popularly known as Boyloaf.

The command also arrested his aides.

Ebikabowei was invited over his alleged connection in the battering of the Special Adviser, Special Duties to the Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr. Henry Ugbolue, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Baby With Two Holes in the Heart Needs N7M for Corrective Surgery

By Chiemelie Ezeobi

When baby Janaelle Erhiga-Efenarhua, was born a month ago, precisely on December 29, 2012, the parents gladly welcomed their bundle of joy with thanks in their heart. However, barely two weeks after her birth, her parents have been thrown into anguish and pain. Their baby was born with a defect; she has two holes in the heart.

After weeks of turmoil and uncertainty, the doctors said baby Jana needs about N7M which includes the cost of the corrective surgery, accommodation and flight tickets for the baby in an Indian Hospital.

Finally! Ground Victims of Dana Crash Get $30,000 Each

Dana Airline

Daniel Omowumi, a pastor and owner of the two-storey building where the Dana air plane crashed into at the Iju-Shaga area of Lagos State and other ground victims have been paid $30,000 each as compensation.

A few weeks ago, Omowunmi in conjunction with the Committee for the Defence of Human Right (CDHR) had protested with other victims of the accident blocking the entrance to the Dana Air head office at Allen Avenue, demanding the sum of N500 million for his property that were destroyed by the crash.

Google Bloggers Forum in Lagos

Yeah!!! Thatz me with my sometimes best friend forever (BFF), Ada Igboanugo. hehehheheheheheh. We were invited to the Google Bloggers Forum held at Radisson Blu in Lagos. *Winks.

more pix after the cut (photos; courtesy of Google's own Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade)

TUNDE BAKARE DEFENDS EL RUFAI

Pastor Tunbe Bakare has reacted to statements describing former FCT Minister, Nasir el-Rufai as a religious bigot saying this is not so. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had warned the former minister to be watchful of his comments as regards the Christian faith. It accused el-Rufai of trying to whip-up sentiments around religion for a selfish agenda.
Bakare, the pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly and Convener of the Save Nigeria Group reportedly responded to these statements in his church today while preaching the sermon titled, ”The head that refuses a life-giving rebuke will be thrown down the cliff of perdition.”

Money Laundering: Federal High Court Grants Lamido’s Son Bail

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido

A federal high court sitting in Kano on Tuesday, presided over by Honourable Justice Fatu Riman, granted bail to Aminu Sule Lamido, son of the Jigawa State Governor for the sum of N8 million with two sureties.

Justice Riman said the sureties must each deposit N4m and should be civil servants on grade levels not lower than 14.

Jonathan off to London, Paris

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, yesterday departed Abuja for London and Paris where he is expected to confer with the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron and the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande on matters of vital interest to Nigeria, Britain and France.

A statement by the spokesperson to the President, Dr Reuben Abati indicated that the talks with the British Prime Minister in London are expected to focus on the expansion of trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Britain as well as the enhancement of cooperation between both countries on the war against terrorism.

In Paris, President Jonathan will confer with President Hollande and French Government officials on the ongoing deployment of Nigerian and ECOWAS troops to Mali to support the current military action against insurgents and terrorists in Northern Mali.

Early Scramble for Babatunde Fashola’s Job Begins

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Intense lobbying and jostling have picked up among political actors currently serving in different capacities at the federal and state levels wanting to succeed the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), after the expiration of his tenure in 2015.

Prominent among the aspirants are Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Senator Ganiyu Solomon, representing Lagos West Senatorial District; Senator Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East Senatorial District; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji; and ex-Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire.

Cabinet Shake Up Imminent as New Ministers Are Sworn-in

 

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan Monday swore in two ministers but delayed the announcement of the ministerial portfolios the duo of Prof. Chinedu Nebo from Enugu State and Alhaji Kabiru Turaki from Kebbi State will oversee.

The delay in announcing the portfolios for the two ministers who are coming in as replacements for the former Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, and former Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, strengthened speculations of an imminent cabinet reshuffle that will see some ministers swapping positions.
Nnaji resigned his position in August last year, while Mohammed was sacked two months earlier along with the then National Security Adviser (NSA), the late General Andrew Azazi.

Kolade: SURE P Expends N70 billion

Dr Christopher Kolade

 The Presidential Subsidy Removal Re-Investment Programme (SURE-P) has expended about N70 billion on the provision of different categories of employment to the people of the country.

Chairman of the intervetion body, Dr Christopher Kolade gave the figure Tuesday when his organization submitted its 2012 report to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House Abuja.

Kolade, who said the body expected the apex government to give it more funds, stated that even with the amount so far made available to it, the body has been able to make a  serious impact in many areas.

Centenary Anniversary: FG Earmarks Centenary City in Abuja

SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim

The Federal Government (FG) has concluded plans to develop a Centenary City in Abuja as one of its endearing legacies of the  centenary celebration.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim the City, which will be the first of its kind in Africa, will be modelled after the success of such cities like Dubai, Monaco, Singapore, Shenzhen, China and lately Sondo in South Korea.

El-Rufai: CAN, a Propaganda Arm of PDP

 

Former Minister of Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Monday took on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which had last week criticised him over his irreverent re-tweet on Jesus Christ. El-Rufai in a tweet, dismissed CAN’s reaction, describing the organisation as a “propaganda arm of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)."

The former minister, obviously responding to another attack on him by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, in his article published in the media last weekend, also ignored the negative comments about him. He also flayed the way CAN is being ran by its President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.