BREAKTHROUGH FINANCIAL

 Despite the tears and deaths he dished out to Nigerians, Abubakar Shekau needs prayers from Nigerians - Muslims and Christians. The was revealed by Desmond Yunana, a reverend of Anglican Church Nigeria based in Borno state, The Cable reporAccording to him, the Boko Haram leader is critically ill and wants prayer from NigeriansDesmond Yunana, a reverend of Anglican Church Nigeria based in Borno state, says Abubakar Sheaku, Boko Haram leader, is critically ill and wants prayer from Nigerians. Photo: The Cable He disclosed this while delivering a sermon in church on Sunday, January 10. He said he had a “revelation” that the Boko Haram leader’s health condition is very bad. Going further, the cleric insisted that Shekau is ready to ask for forgMeanwhile, Nigerians have quickly reacted to the development with many people dismissing it. Mercy Nwoko wrote on Facebook. "What about his followers, are they also asking for prayers too? Una think say wey no sabi say una wan distract us, waka...

 Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said those insinuating that graft and corrupt tendencies are more prevalent under the Muhammadu Buhari administration are being political and petty. Lawan said this on Monday while addressing State House Correspondents after the second National Summit on Diminishing Corruption and launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Senate President noted that when prosecution of a case of corrupt practice drags into years, such is an indication that something is wrong and a tacit support for corruption. According to him, no government in the history of Nigeria has hinged its campaigns on fighting corruption like the present administration. Lawan said: “I don’t know who they are and I don’t know what their facts are. But I will not speak to speculations; I speak to facts. I want to see the facts that there’s more corruption in this administration than the previous ...

 The Vice Pesident, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that Nigeria could be heading for a break up if urgent actions are not taken, collectively, to address the identified cracks that could quicken such break-up. Osinbajo said on Sunday in Abuja at the 60th Independence Anniversary interdenominational church service held at National Ecumenical Centre, themed “Come, let us rebuild…” that, though, the task of mending the cracks could face severe opposition, it can only be achieved by consistent focus and prayers by Nigerians who desire more peaceful and prosperous nation. The Vice President, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made reference to the story of Nehemiah in the Bible, and his role in rebuilding the broken-down walls of Jerusalem. The Vice President urged Nigerians to study the story of Nehemiah and replicate same in Nigeria for a better country. “The story should be a challenge to every Christian in Nigeria who is desirous of f...

 It was gathered that the deputy governor’s office was burgled four times in two months, leading to the loss of three television sets, one window-sized air conditioner among other valuables. The office complex of the deputy governor of Adamawa State, Crowther Seth, has been burgled and valuables carted away, SaharaReporters has learnt. It was gathered that the deputy governor’s office was burgled four times in two months, leading to the loss of three television sets, one window-sized air conditioner among other valuables. A senior administrative officer in the office, Audu Kirya, confirmed the incident to journalists. He said, "The office had recorded four different burglaries in two months. "Three television sets, one window-sized air conditioner, among valuables carted by the thieves." He attributed the reoccurrence of the burglary to poor security measures. Commenting on the frequent theft, Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, George Kushi, described it as re...

 UK Takes Legal Action To Seize $39m From London Lawyer Who Assisted Ibori Move Stolen Funds From Nigeria confiscate $39.3m from Bhadresh Gohil, a London lawyer, who assisted James Ibori to loot and launder funds from Nigeria. Ibori, ex-governor of Delta State, was convicted in 2010 in the United Kingdom for money-laundering. Gohil was also convicted in 2010 of 13 counts of money- laundering and other offences linked to his role in the case. Reuters reported that Gohil also masterminded a fraud in which $37m in fake consultancy fees was stolen from two Nigerian states in connection with the sale of their stakes in a telecoms company. Then a partner at a firm in the London district of Mayfair, Gohil had helped Ibori channel stolen funds through shell companies and offshore accounts and buy assets such as an English country house and a $20 private jet -- although police caught up with the men before the jet was delivered. Banks have been fined and scandals revealed by leaks such as t...

 There was drama Thursday at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, COOU, Igbariam, Anambra State yesterday as gun-wielding security men from the institution’s anti-cultism outfit chased away lecturers of the institution, preventing them from holding a scheduled meeting. The lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) recently dissociated themselves from the planned reopening of the institution by its management, a development that irked the Vice- Chancellor, Prof Greg Nwakoby. ASUU in the institution, led by Prof Alphonsus Aniebo and the zonal coordinator of the group, in Owerri Zone, Dr Uzo Onyebinama had made to commence a meeting at the congress hall of the university, when gun-wielding security men from the institution’s anti-cult outfit stopped them, asking all members of the group to leave. The group left the hall and converged under a mango tree in the institution, but were also stopped from meeting but they insisted. The immediate past coo...

 The meeting between the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Trade Union Congress, Nigeria Labour Congress and members of the Nigerian Governors Forum to avert the proposed strike slated for September 28, has just ended on an inconclusive note. After much deliberations, both arms of Labour agreed that the meeting be adjourned till Monday next week to enable the Executives consult with their various organs. But Ngige believes the meeting was successful and that the strike would be averted. He told reporters shortly after Thursday’s meeting which held at the Banquet Hall of the State House that government has agreed to a proposal to make provision for palliatives to cushion the effects of the increment in fuel and electricity hike. Ngige said: “Fruitful meeting. They are going back to their organs. When they consult their organs tomorrow, next tomorrow maybe they will take a new decision. “We have requested them to shelve the strike. We have appealed to them to shelve...

 It is a huge traffic relief for residents and road users around Iru and Victoria Island axes of Lagos State. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, commissioned Victoria Island-Lekki Traffic Circulation Project in which seven gridlock-prone roads were completely re-designed and re-constructed with concrete slabs. The improved roads are within the commercial areas of Iru and Victoria Island. The Victoria Island-Lekki Traffic Circulation Project was delivered through the Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership (PIIP) framework, under which the State Government collaborated with Access Bank Plc and Planet Projects Limited to bring the project to reality. Last December, Sanwo-Olu flagged off the construction of the roads, which were notorious for heavy traffic congestion that affected the growth of businesses and reduced productivity. Cutting the ribbon to officially declared the roads open for public use on Thursday, the Governor said it was another promise fulfilled by his ...

FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement for the transfer of the player Luis Suárez. The Madrid club will pay FC Barcelona 6 million euros in variables. FC Barcelona would like to publicly express their gratitude to Luis Suárez for his commitment and dedication and wishes him all the best for the future. On Thursday 24 September from 12.30pm CEST there will be a farewell event for the player and following that a remote press conference. You can see all the day's event surrounding the Uruguayan striker's goodbye live on Barça TV+, FC Barcelona's official digital streaming platform. 13 titles in six seasons Luis Suárez is leaving Barça after six glorious seasons. He has played a key role in winning no fewer than thirteen major trophies: La Liga: 4 Champions League: 1 Copa del Rey: 4 Clubs World Cup: 1 European Super Cup: 1 Spanish Super Cup: 2 He joined the club in the summer of 2014 and made his competitive debut in the Clásico against Real Madrid. He score...

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved N745 million for the hiring of additional forensic field auditors for the audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, also disclosed that the council approved the hiring of auditors to ensure that whatever comes out of the forensic audit is acceptable not just in Nigeria but to the international community. Akpabio said: “The memo that was presented by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was a concluding memo on the procurement of Field Forensic Auditors for the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission and today the council approved additional forensic field auditors at a total sum of about N745.2 million. “This brings the total number of field forensic auditors to 16 in addition to the earlier approved Lead Forensic Auditors, Messrs Olumiluwa Bashir and Co. “These people are now going to be in charge of the nine states of the Niger Delta whic...

A Nigerian, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who is wanted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for his alleged involvement in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 different businesses in the United States, has turned himself in to Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Mr Okpoh, 31, who allegedly conspired with five others to defraud their American victims of over $6million, was led to the Lagos office of the EFCC by his father, retired Colonel Garuba Okpoh and his mother Justina Okpoh. A spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspect surrendered on September 18 and that investigations into his case had since commenced. Mr Uwujaren quoted Mr Okpoh as saying, during interrogation, that he decided to surrender himself to the Commission out of respect for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright. The FBI accused the suspect of allegedly providing hundreds of bank accounts to Richard Izuchukwu U...

The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Monday, commissioned a modern chocolate factory in the ancient city of Idanre in Idanre Local Government Area of the state. The factory, though initiated by his predecessor in partnership with a United States-based firm, Spagnvola Chocolatiers, was completed by the Akeredolu led administration. The factory, estimated to be worth #9billion, will produce 2.8 million tons of Chocolate per annum. The governor said his dream for Ondo “is to be a state that doesn’t rely on allocation from the federation account to pay salaries and fund infrastructure before the year 2024”. He said, “I will work to hand over a State that does not rely on allocation to pay salaries by the year 2024. “I want to change our narrative. Enough of Ondo being tagged as a civil service state. We are a hidden wealth of Nigeria. We shall explore all our potentials. “Let me assure all the good people of Ondo State that this factory shall run independently of politic...

Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has taken a swipe at the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, saying that their positions in the party were not constitutional. Obaseki, who appeared on Arise TV news on Tuesday morning disclosed that he was surprised when he heard learnt that 'someone' was being referred to as party leader. "Tinubu and Oshiomhole are not constitutional actors. I was surprised when I was in the APC, that someone was described as party leader. It is out of respect, but it does not give constitutional roles". "They try to overlord themselves over people that have constitutional authority." he said. POLITICS NIGERIA learned that Obaseki went further to state that both politicians constitute a threat to Nigeria's Democracy.Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has taken a swipe at the National Leader of the Al...

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says many people believe governors are corrupt and ineffective. Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, he said being a governor is one of the most difficult things in the world. He also highlighted some of the challenges he faced when he assumed office. “We came into office at a very bad time in terms of economic viability. We came in when oil prices were crashing into the twenties and we had inherited bureaucracies that were designed and structured around $100 per barrel oil. We had inherited wages at that level as well. And all of a sudden, there was this collapse and Nigeria went into a recession,” he said. “Governors are the most suspected elected officials. Everyone thinks governors are just thieves and we are wasting state resources, we are not doing anything. Governors are assumed to be taking security votes. When people hear security votes, they think it is a slush fund for governors. So we have a very negative imag...

 Thunder struck on Saturday evening and killed 15 cows in Ikogosi community in Ekiti West Local Government area of Ekiti State. The Asaoye of Ikogosi-Ekiti, Chief Ayo Ademilua, described the incident as a natural occurrence and strange in the town. Ademilua told jourrnalists that the incident happened at the Ikogosi Warm Spring site along Ipole – Ekiti road. Ikogosi Warm Spring is a notable tourism and recreational centre where warm and cold streams met in Ekiti. The Ikogosi high chief said that the thunder struck during a torrential downpour between 4:00p.m. and 6:02p.m. on Saturday. “The whole town shook when the thunder struck. Later, some commuters coming into town and those returning home from their farms saw the Fulani herders lamenting that it was the thunder that killed their cattle,” he said. Also speaking on the incident, the Onikogosi of Ikogosi Ekiti, Oba Abiodun Olorunnisola, said that the herders were making spirited efforts to sell the dead cows to residents, saying ...

 Mil Mi-35M Gunship. One of the most sophisticated attack helicopters in the world. https:///sk42HM8JsB https://twitter.com/DefenseNigeria/status/1307858006047105024?s=19 In September 2015, Nigeria ordered for 12 of these "flying tanks" from Russia. As at April 2019, 6 was already delivered Nigeria confirms order for a dozen Mi-35 helicopters from Russia Russia and Nigeria have confirmed a contract for the delivery of 12 Mi-35 attack helicopters, with six having already been delivered. Nigeria ordered 12 Mi-35Ms in September 2015. Deliveries began in December 2016, with half of the order presently fulfilled. Nigerian Ambassador to Russia Steve Davies Ugbah earlier said that securing the delivery of the remaining six was being discussed. In October the Ambassador said defence cooperation between Moscow and Abuja was largely hindered by anti-Russian sanctions. “Sanctions against Russia do not help this matter, as you can imagine. Russia is a reliable partner that always fulfils...

 Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, said the Federal Government removed subsidy on petrol because of fraud. Kyari said some cabals which he failed to identify perpetrated the fraud in the oil industry. The NNPC boss also said over N10tn was spent on fuel subsidy between 2006 and 2020 without significant impact on the Nigerian masses. He said the beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy regime were the marketers who smuggled the subsidised product to neighbouring countries. These marketers, he explained, made more profits with fake documents to collect subsidy for fuel they never imported. The NNPC GMD spoke in an Hausa programme on Liberty FM, Kaduna, monitored on Saturday. He said fuel subsidy was the root of all the atrocities and frauds in the oil sector. According to him, the government removed the subsidy with a plan to reinvest on projects that will have direct impact on the masses. He said, “The crude oil is...

   Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said on Sunday that Saturday’s Edo State governorship election had demonstrated the possibility of a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. Fayose, in a tweet, congratulated Edo State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the election, Godwin Obaseki, urging the governor “to see this victory as a challenge by the people of Edo State to do more for them. “Most importantly, I wish to remind him that PDP came to his rescue in his hour of political need and he should remain in the party, not minding the pressure that will be mounted on him,” Fayose tweeted

   Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, said on Sunday that Saturday’s Edo State governorship election had demonstrated the possibility of a free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria. Fayose, in a tweet, congratulated Edo State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the election, Godwin Obaseki, urging the governor “to see this victory as a challenge by the people of Edo State to do more for them. “Most importantly, I wish to remind him that PDP came to his rescue in his hour of political need and he should remain in the party, not minding the pressure that will be mounted on him,” Fayose tweeted