Subzilla unveils music club tour

 While his hit single “Sisi Eko” is still topping Radio charts & making waves on the street, Lams Records Singer/Songwriter Bodunde Emmanuel Boboye popularly known as “Subzilla” is set to unveil a promotional club tour.

The budding artist said the club tour will kick off from Club Vegas, Ikeja Wednesday, 23rd of March, and proceed to Wind Lounge, Lekki, then Ibadan and Ilorin aftermath in April 2016.

Recall that Subzilla is no longer a stranger in the showbiz industry after the release of his two widely acclaimed songs Jangilova, featuring fuji cum pop act, Pasuma and Nghelu.

Subzilla has also performed in numerous reputable events with unique styles and creativity channelled through his trendy music and fashionable lifestyle. He is fast growing into a music act whose style of music will allow him develop into a force to be reckoned with in the music scene.

Pharaohs more stable than Eagles – Enyimba coach

Coach of Enyimba, Paul Aigbogun, has predicted a tough game against Egypt and admitted that the north Africans are in an advantageous position because the squad is stable unlike the Super Eagles, who are building a new team.

However, the manager of the NPFL champions is optimistic that the Super Eagles can get a win in Kaduna and play for a draw in the return leg in Alexandria, stressing that the players in the squad deliver most when they are under pressure.

“Will be a tough game certainly, I know that the Egypt team is in good condition now while there are a number of changes in Nigeria, “ Paul Aigbogun told reporters.

“In contrast, the team of Egypt is in a state of stability now, which would benefit any team for sure.

“But at the same time the Nigeria squad is known to me , they offer the best performance when playing under pressure. “

Aigbogun continued: “But Kaduna match will not be easy on the Egyptians.  I think the best for Nigeria is a win here and trying to get a point off the second game.

“But all that will be determined according to the result of the first match. “

Nigeria will face group leaders Egypt in the third round of qualifying in Kaduna on March 25 before the Pharaohs host the West Africans in Alexandria four days later.

No plan to convert $20 b in Dom Acct to Naira – Emefiele

Bureau Chief
Responding to questions, the governor said that there were no plans to convert the $20 billion held by Nigerians in domiciliary accounts.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the bank will continue to allow domiciliary account holders unfettered access to the funds in their accounts. I need to seize this opportunity to explain that these funds are not idle as have been wronged reported. Those funds on the balance sheet are funding assets on the other side of the balance sheet,” he said.

Mr. Emefiele urged a speedy passage of the 2016 federal government budget in order to halt the depressing effects of the uncertainty that engulfed the waiting period. Knowing that the implementation of the budget will go a long way in boosting business confidence and re-invigorating the financial market.
According to him, the fiscal challenges facing the nation was not peculiar, as according to him, all other oil exporting nations were in similar situation.

His words, “We have been meeting with the fiscal authorities and we have been discussing the direction of the economy and the challenges that face us at this time especially, realizing fully well that this challenge is not peculiar to Nigerian and this is a challenges that confronts practically all economies in the world, whether you are a commodity exporting country or not.”

On Deposit Money banks’ refusal to lend to the private sector, the governor said that there has been rising cases of Non-Performing Loans and that the apex bank was in discussion with the DMBs with a view to working out strategies that would give rise to increased lending without undue risks exposure among the banks.

Why auto companies collapse in Nigeria – Onu

 The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has blamed the collapse of automobile companies in the Country on the absence of developmental research.

The Minister made the observation yesterday, when the management team of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria PAN paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Dr. Onu, who flashed back to the memories of the positive impacts made by the automobile companies on the economy in the 80,s and 90,s noted that all the auto companies that existed then, collapsed because they did not invest on research and development projects.

He therefore called on the surviving and new automobile industries in Nigeria to invest in developmental research efforts that will enable them withstand developments that may arise as a result of competitions and unforeseen market forces.

He noted that every successful multinationals companies all over the world always site research institute in their laboratory and factory to enable them plan and carry out their developmental projects.

The Minister who tasked the auto companies to ensure 40 per cent inclusion of local content, pledged Federal Government’s committed to support the sector in creating jobs, retain existing one, create wealth and diversify the economy, insisting that they must source their component locally in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.

For him, this would bring many small scale industries that would supply the component and also build capacity.

He however, appealed to Nigerians to look inward and patronize locally made goods, to enable the local companies survive, describing the nation’s population as an added advantage for the auto manufacturers.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director/CEO of PAN, Ibrahim Boyi, told the minister that PAN is the only automobile company in Nigeria that remains in operation up till today and wants active government policy for its continued survival.

He disclosed that PAN was set up in 1972 through joint venture between the Federal Government of Nigeria and Peugeot Automobile of France as part of government deliberate policy to boost industrialization.

Boyi also informed that the Company which produced reliable vehicles in the past and also achieved 40 per cent local content in the 80’s has assembled two plants locally.

He added that the company is not only interested in creating employment and entrepreneurs by training youths in the society but also committed to reducing cost of ownership for their customers and also embark on community Social Responsibility Programme.

As a way forward, the PAN revealed that the company had packaged ICT back up training programme and are looking for organization that share the same commitment for partnership to open garage across the country for the training of youths on the skills required to manage the new products.

NEMA trains people ahead of 2016 flooding

 The Owerri Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has trained 487 National Youths Service Corps, NYSC, members that will serve as Emergency Management Vanguards, EMV, ahead of this year’s likely flooding.

The NEMA Coordinator, Imo/Abia Operations Office, Mr. Evans Ugoh, who disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Owerri, also disclosed that the corps members would help in sensitizing the citizenry on disaster risk reduction.

“Preparations are also in top gear to inaugurate another group of EMVs in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas, which are the most vulnerable areas in Imo for flood disaster”, Ugoh said.

According to NEMA Coordinator, the main aim of the retraining and inauguration of EMVs was for them to help the Agency to propagate the campaign on disaster risk reduction at the grassroots level.

“The campaign will enable the Agency send across the early warning measures, which would go a long way in preventing or mitigating flood disaster”, Ugoh said.

Answering a question, the Coordinator disclosed that NEMA has distributed relief materials worth over N150 million within three months to no fewer than 5,000 victims of disasters spread across Imo and Abia state.

While stressing the need for the people to quickly report any unusual rise in water level to NEMA, the Coordinator however opined that in case of any disaster, the Agency would always identify with the plight of disaster victims.

“Between January and March 2016, the Agency’s Owerri Operations Office in collaboration with other stakeholders in disaster management have intervened in various disaster occurrences, which includes the fire outbreak at Pictorial Hotel, Nekede Market fire and Mofil Filling station”, Ugoh said.

Continuing, the Coordinator said that his team also intervened at a fatal road traffic crash, involving FRSC staff in Aba, Abia State, the flood disaster in Ohafia, Aba South, Obowo and Ihite/Uboma local council areas.

Alleged N32bn fraud: Dasuki declines to appear in court

Alleged refusal by the erstwhile National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, to appear in court on Wednesday, stalled hearing on the 19-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and ‎four others.

‎The anti-graft agency had in the charge it filed before an Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama, alleged that Dasuki connived with the erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu and a former Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, ‎Aminu Baba-Kusa‎, and diverted public funds to the tune of N32billion.

Two companies- Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referal Hospital Limited, which allegedly served as conduit pipes through which the fund was allegedly siphoned from accounts the office of the NSA operated with both the Central Bank of Nigeria and other financial institutions, were also joined as defendants to the charge.

The prosecution insisted that the N32bn was distributed to delegates that attended the Presidential Primary Election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held in Abuja, a process that saw the emergence of ex-President ‎Goodluck Jonathan as the sole candidate of the party.

Trial Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf had on February 8, okayed full-blown hearing to commence on the matter, even as he gave EFCC the nod to produce its witnesses.

Meanwhile, at‎ the resumed sitting on Wednesday, EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court that the former NSA who has been in detention since November 3, 2015, refused to be brought to court.

“My lord, yesterday (Tuesday) the 1st defendant was notified that this matter will come up today (Wednesday) for hearing and that he ‎should prepare.

“However, this morning, ‎the 1st defendant refused to come to court on the ground that his lead counsels Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, and Ahmed Raji, SAN, will not be in court.

“We persuaded him to at least come to court first but he refused and insisted that he cannot be abducted. He said that nobody can ‎ad but and bring him to court”, Rotimi added.

He argued that section 267(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, allows the court to commence hearing on a case against a defendant who is in custody, so far such person is permitted to have unfettered access ‎to his lawyers.

“I asked the DSS whether any of his counsels ever made any attempt to see him and they said none of his lawyers ever did. My lord I submit that it is not the law that once a defendant is in custody his trial cannot go on. That is the misconception that the defendant has been given out.

“This recent action is a deliberate game-plan ‎by the defendant and his counsel to ensure that this trial does not go on today. My witnesses are here and ready to testify. The blatant refusal by the defendant to appear in court amounts to misconduct”, Jacobs insisted.

Nevertheless, the lawyer who announced appearance for Dasuki, Mr. Wale Balogun, told the court that he was not aware of any of the allegations the prosecution raised against his client.

He contended that the onus was on the prosecution to produce the defendant who has been in its custody, in court ‎for trial.

‎”We are not in custody of the 1st defendant, they are the ones that have him in custody. We are not ordinarily allowed to see him, so there is no way we can confirm all the allegations.

“It is elementary requirement of law that the defendant must be present during his trial, the prosecution has not made any application for his presence to be excused. The allegation the prosecution raised are very serious. He said someone told him, that DSS officer ought to have deposed an affidavit.

“The learned silk cannot give evidence from the bar. His allegations should have been supported by an affidavit duly deposed before this court”, Balogun argued.

Similarly, counsel to the other ‎defendants agreed with Dasuki’s lawyer that EFCC ought to have backed the allegations with an affidavit evidence.

Breaking: Senate passes 2016 budget

The Senate on Wednesday, passed the 2016 Appropriation Bill sent to joint session of the national assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, on December 22, 2015.

Details later…

YABATECH expels six final year students

The Academic Board of the Yaba College of Technology has expelled six final year students for presenting fake or altered National Diploma (ND) and National Certificate of Education (NCE) results for admission.

The expulsion notice is contained in a circular signed by Mrs Taiwo Obadimu, the Deputy Registrar of the college, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to the circular, the authorities of the institution considered the report on verification of the affected students’ results and found them culpable.

“Their expulsion was approved, having found the students guilty for presenting fake/altered ND/NCE results, as their conduct violated the college’s rules and regulations.

“The students are advised to hand over all college property, including student identity cards in their possession, to the heads of their department, the Polytechnic Librarian and the Dean of Students’ Affairs, with immediate effect,’’ the circular stated.

NAN reports that the affected students were in the departments of Food Technology, Mathematics and Integrated Science, Physics Education, Estate Management and Valuation, Industrial Technical Education and Industrial Maintenance Engineering.

Buhari urges West, Central Africa to mobilise youth for agric devt

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged West and Central African countries to mobilise youth for agricultural development to generate employment, food production and wealth creation.

The president, who made the call at the opening of the 9th regional implementation forum for International Fund Agricultural Development, IFAD, supported projects in West and Central Africa, said population rise in Africa could only be sustained by young people in the sector.

Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said measures to curb rural-urban migration and rural development have to be on mobilising and engaging young people in the agric sector by providing the needed technology and provision of basic infrastructure in the rural areas.

Ogbeh said a study undertaken by the Brooklyn Institution in 2012 underscored that at the continental level, Africa’s estimated population of 1.2 billion would double by 2050, with the attendant fact that about 70 percent of the population would be constituted by those within the age bracket of 30 years or less.

“Arising from this development is that the youth issues need to be addressed in both the rural and urban sectors to enable us avoid future problems. One of the ways to address this urgent concern is to accord priority attention to the transformation of agricultural production in the rural areas, with the youth population as agent of change and transformation, “ he stated.

During the forum, themed: ”Investing in Rural Youth, How do we Plant Seeds for the Future?”, IFAD President, Kanayo Nwanze, in his keynote said governments of West and Central Africa should heavily invest focus on young farmers to curb the unprecedented rise of youth restiveness and social vices.

Lamenting that over the past three decades, agricultural productivity has stagnated or declined, he said the development was not good for the continent or for young women and men and women.

“It is time to reverse decades of neglect of African agriculture. It must be reversed because when you abandon agriculture you abandon your nation’s ability to feed itself.”

Nwanze said to meet demand, young people need to be the farmers and food processors of tomorrow, not just to feed themselves and their villages, but to grow the food to feed African cities.

“But without investment in infrastructure, in economic activities and employment opportunities, there is an equally big risk that Africa’s demographic dividend will be squandered.

“If we want young people to stay and work in rural areas, there needs to be considerable investment in infrastructure. These include investment in processing plants, electricity, warehouses, roads and ports,” Nwanze stated.

Lagos magistrate’s car damage: Mother of 3 released on bail

Osijo Yetunde, the woman, who allegedly drove her car recklessly and damaged a magistrate’s vehicle in Lagos on Monday, has been released on bail.

The Chief Magistrates’ Court 4, Ogba in Ikeja presided over by Mr A. Elias, under whose jurisdiction the accident occurred, gave the ruling on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osijo, a mother of three, was admitted to a bail of N100, 000.

She had pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of dangerous driving causing damage and attempt to pervert the course of justice by escaping from the scene of a crime.

The offences contravened Section 18 and 19 (1) of the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State, 2012 as well as Section 97 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Osijo reportedly hit the Toyota Corolla car of Ogudu Magistrate, Mrs Sule Amzat, driven by her driver on Monday at Alapere-Ogudu towards the Third Mainland Bridge and drove off.

Donald Trump, Ted Cruz split wins in Arizona and Utah

Leading Democratic and Republican contenders have split major wins in presidential nominating contests in Arizona and Utah.

Donald Trump rolled to a victory in the Arizona Republican primary, capitalising on his anti-immigration stance - a position that has long been popular with conservative voters in the state. With the win on Tuesday, Trump takes all of the state's 58 delegates to the Republican National Convention.

In the Democratic Arizona primary, Hillary Clinton was projected to easily account for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

But Sanders flipped the script by beating the former secretary of state in the Utah caucuses. He doubled up by also taking the Idaho caucuses on Tuesday.

Trump won more than 45 percent of the vote in Arizona, compared with about 21 percent for his main rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

The billionaire businessman made three trips to Arizona and had the support of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former Governor Jan Brewer - a pair of politicians best known for leading immigration crackdowns.

However, Cruz - like Sanders - looks countered his party's frontrunner by winning Tuesday's Utah caucuses.

Early in the count, Cruz was leading with nearly 70 percent of the vote. By winning more than 50 percent, he will carry all of the state's 40 delegates.

Clinton padded her delegate lead with her win in Arizona.

With 75 delegates at stake, Arizona is the biggest prize of the night in the Democratic race.

Clinton stands to gain more than half of those delegates - at least 40, compared with at least 16 for rival Bernie Sanders. That means she will add to her delegate lead of more than 300. She now has 1,203 to Sanders' 860.

By winning the Utah and Idaho caucuses with about 75 percent of the vote, however, Sanders will not suffer too much in the overall count.

Cruz won the Republicans' Idaho caucuses earlier this month.

Obama pushed human rights at historic news conference in Havana

U.S. President Barack Obama pushed Cuba to improve its record on human rights and sparred with President Raul Castro during a historic visit to the Caribbean island on Monday (March 21), while Castro hit back by decrying U.S. "double standards".

"We continue, as President Castro indicated, to have some very serious differences including on democracy and human rights. President Castro and I have had very frank and candid conversations on these subjects. The United States recognizes progress that Cuba has made as a nation, its enormous achievements in education and in health care and, perhaps more importantly, I affirm that Cuba's destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation. Cuba is sovereign and rightfully has great pride and the future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans, not by anybody else," Obama said.

"As we do wherever we go around the world, I made it clear that the United States will continue to speak up on behalf of democracy, including the right of the Cuban people to decide their own future. We will speak out on behalf of universal human rights, including freedom of speech, and assembly and religion," he added.

Obama, the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years, is under pressure from critics at home to push Castro's government to allow political dissent and to further open its Soviet-style economy. Some opponents of the visit say he has already given away too much as he improves ties, with too little from Cuba in return.

Castro responded sharply to the pressure over his record on rights, saying the U.S. stance reflected a double standard as a country that also violated human rights. He said no country met all international rights agreements, and that Cuba was strong on many areas such as health, access to education and women's equality.

"But as you heard, President Castro has also addressed what he sees as shortcomings in the United States around basic needs for people and poverty and inequality and race relations. And we welcome that constructive dialogue as well because we believe that when we share our deepest beliefs and ideas, with an attitude of mutual respect, that we can both learn and make the lives of our people better," Obama responded.

Human rights remained an impediment to strengthening ties with Cuba despite the rapprochement reached by the two leaders in December 2014, Obama said, adding a "full flowering" of the relationship could happen only with progress on the issue.

"One of the impediments to strengthening those ties is these disagreements around human rights and democracy and, to the extent that we can have a good conversation about that and to actually make progress, that I think will allow us to see the full flowering of a relationship that is possible. In the absence of that, I think it will continue to be a very powerful irritant," Obama said at a sometimes tense joint news conference that was broadcast live on Cuban state television.

Castro appeared at times uncomfortable and showed flashes of anger as he made the rare step of taking questions from journalists.

Obama said the two countries had made progress on business and were actively negotiating increased opportunities.

"I am also joined by some of America's top business leaders and entrepreneurs because we are ready to pursue more commercial ties which create jobs and opportunities for Cubans and Americans alike," he said.

"U.S. Airlines will begin direct, commercial flights this year. With last week's port security announcement, we removed the last major hurdle to resuming cruises and ferry service, all of which will mean even more Americans visiting Cuba in the years ahead and appreciating the incredible history and culture of the Cuban people," Obama added.

The U.S. president also said he had discussed regional issues with Castro related to Colombia and Venezuela.

"I want to thank President Castro and the Cuban government for hosting peace talks between the Colombian governmen for hosting peace talks between the Colombian government and FARC and we remain optimistic that Colombians can achieve a lasting and just peace. And although we did not have an extensive discussion on Venezuela, we did touch on the subject and I believe that the whole region has an interest in a country that is addressing its economic challenges, is responsive to the aspirations of its people and is a source of stability in the region," he said.

Castro said the two countries could achieve much better ties if the United States lifted its 54-year-old trade embargo on the island and handed back the Guantanamo base to Cuba.

"The embargo is going to end. When? I can't be entirely sure but I believe it will end and the path we are on will continue beyond my administration," he said.

Obama has urged Congress to rescind the economic embargo but has been rejected by the Republican leadership. He now has both Democratic and Republican elected officials with him on his Cuba trip and hopes Congress may act after the Nov. 8 presidential election.

The White House had pushed for a joint press conference between Obama and Castro for some time, in line with U.S. practice on other foreign trips, but the Castro government resisted.

For decades, Obama's trip would have been unthinkable. It became possible after secret talks led to a 2014 agreement to normalize relations between the two Cold War-era foes.

AFCON : Ill Iwobi, Onazi, others participate in first Eagles training

Arsenal youngster Alex Iwobi and latest arrivals Ogenyi Onazi and Daniel Akpeyi were part of the Super Eagles first training in Kaduna on Tuesday evening ahead of Friday’s must-win AFCON qualifier against Egypt.

Iwobi, who was hospitalised overnight in Abuja after he suffered food poisoning after team dinner on Monday, trained alone with the Eagles physiotherapist.

Earlier today, he missed the team’s first training in Abuja on account of the food poisoning.

However, Lazio midfielder Onazi and South Africa-based Akpeyi were fully involved in Tuesday evening training which was mainly tactical.

A total of 21 players trained in Kaduna with Monaco defender Elderson Echiejile now the only player still being the only player to join up.

Ivory Coast names suspected leader of beach attack

Ivorien authorities have arrested 15 people in connection with an attack claimed by al Qaeda that killed 19 people at a beach resort earlier this month.

They are yet to arrest the suspected ring-leader, who prosecutor Richard Adou named as Kounta Dallah.

Gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming into several hotels when they burst onto the beach in the town of Grand Bassam, 40 km (25 miles) from the commercial capital Abidjan, on March 13.

Alleged N3.1bn fraud: Court okays Suswam for medical treatment abroad

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, permitted the former governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam who is facing criminal trial, to travel abroad for medical check-up.

Suswam who piloted the affairs of Benue State from 2007 to 2015,‎ is facing trial ‎alongside his erstwhile Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Omodachi Okolobia.

The duo were docked before trial Justice Ahmed Mohammed on November 10, 2015.

‎

They were alleged to have diverted about N3.1billion, ‎being proceeds of shares owned by the Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Ltd.

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Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the nine-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against them, Suswam, through his lawyer, Mr. J. B. Daudu, SAN, begged the court to okay the release of his international passport to enable him to go for medical treatment outside the country.

Even though he did not disclose the nature of his illness or the country he intends to travel to, however, the former ‎governor told the court that he would promptly return to face his trial.

Following a no objection stance by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, trial ‎Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered the Registrar of the Court to release the travelling documents of the defendant which was seized as part of the conditions upon which he was granted bail.

Jacobs had in his response to Suswam’s application dated January 14, said he would not raise any opposition so far the defendant would go for the medical treatment within the period the court would be on vacation.

The prosecutor ‎said he was however uncomfortable with Suswam’s request for his travelling documents to be given to him periodically for the same purpose.

Jacobs said he was convinced that with the advent of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, th matter would be expeditiously determined.

Justice Mohammed has adjourned the matter till April 28 and 29 for continuation of trial.

He ordered the defendant to immediately surrender his passport to the Registrar upon his return to the country.

‎

Earlier, an EFCC witness, Mr. Aliyu Victor, who is a portfolio manager of Elixir Investment Partner Limited, a brokering firm the defendants engaged to help it sale the Benue State shares, concluded his testimony before the court.

Victim told the court that sequel to instructions from Suswam, proceeds from the sales of Benue State shares which amounted to the tune N9,411,078,000.61, was paid into three separate bank accounts.

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Though the accused persons pleaded not giulty to the charge, however, EFCC, said it has sufficient evidence to prove that they committed an offence punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012.

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In another development, scheduled arraignment of a former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, ‎could not commence before a high court of he Federal Capital Territory at Wuse Zone 2 yesterday.

Kuku who was the former Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, is facing ‎a two-count ‎charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and fraudulent acquisition of

property.‎

He was to be arraigned alongside one of his aides ‎Mr. Lawrence Pepple who served as his technical assistant.

Their arraignment was stalled by the absence of Kuku who was alleged to have fled the country on the pretence that he is undergoing medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

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Aside allegation that he fraudulently aquired property in October 2013, Kuku ‎was in another charge, alleged to have conspired with his Special

Assistant on Media and Communication, Mr. Henry Ogbolue‎ and ‎awarded contract worth over N27million to ‎a private company which has Ogbolue as the sole signatory to ‎the account of the company.

Ogbolue was further alleged to have failed to ‎declare his ownership of Plot 261, Durumi,

Abuja in the assets declaration form he submitted on ‎September 4, 2015.

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Th court has deferred their arraignment till April 20.

We should ask Buhari why are Nigerians suffering – Fayose

Against the background of the violence that apparently characterized the rerun elections in Rivers State, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has lashed out at president Mohammadu Buhari, saying that God is angry with him and that Nigerians should ask Buhari why they are suffering.

According to the governor, the president superintended over elections that were remarkably bloody.

The governor who spoke with Journalists in Abuja on Tuesday chronicled the lists of elections held under the present government, stating that power belonged to the God and and should not be abused by any individual no matter how highly placed.

He said: “I am telling you the truth. Power doesn’t come from anywhere. God rules in the affairs of men. Oppressing, bringing and cutting people down, taking their blood, God is angry. The way this government is taking people down, God is angry. God isn’t happy. Go to Rivers, they kill people.

“Go to Akwa Ibom, they kill people. Go to Bayelsa, they kill people, incarcerate innocent people. God is angry with Buhari. You can’t continue to take the blood of the innocent. Look at my predictions for the year 2016 for Nigeria, everything has come to pass. This is a different ball game. He that will take me, he that will go against me must first of all defeat God. If these were the kind of violence that greeted Buhari’s election would he ever be president?”

Speaking further on the likely impact of the just concluded expanded retreat of the National Economic Council, NEC in Abuja, Governor Fayose stated that the present economic situations in the country indicated that president Buhari lacked technical competence to solve the problem of the country.

Even though he specifically praised the idea, the governor wondered if it would not the just a talk shop.

“We have had a lot of these things, we have been through such a gatherings but at the end of the day, will it not be the same old rhetorics, same strategies? Is it a diversion or diversionary move to make Nigerians think you are working on the economy because a government that has actually come, which was elected precisely a year now doesn’t know what they are doing, they don’t know what they want, they don’t know why they got there, maybe they wanted power and not to put Nigeria on the part of prosperity?

“So it is a good Idea that we should talk about the economy of the country but I think the driver should know more than the passengers but they don’t know direction. They are now fishing. They are fishing for ideas to run Nigeria because they don’t know.

“Again with all due respect, people won’t like the way I am saying it right now but they have to come to terms with reality; you can’t grow more than your pastor. You can’t grow more than your MD under the same roof. The president himself has very little capacity. He is limited by age.

“He is limited by academic competence and he is limited by exposure. If you can’t grow more than your pastor what will you offer and everybody has to look up to the president. So with his family of APC, they ought to have had an economic team, economic master plan for Nigeria.

“We should ask the president why are Nigerians suffering under him more than ever before. Look at the electricity tariff; in most cases they will never get the supply of electricity maybe once a month they will get what we call estimated bills. The people are so disenchanted, the people are not happy. There was this international body that said findings show that Nigerians are unhappy than ever before. Something must be causing all that. If you look at that last 6 elections around the federation, APC isn’t winning and it shows people are saying ‘have we not miss road?”

“The fact remains that when the disease catches up with you, you will not know until the thing is about terminating the life of the person concerned. If you look at the violence greeting our elections now it will amaze you, it will give you concern. Even the words of Jonathan abused him, say what you want to say but he promised they will be free and fair election and he delivered it against himself.

“Nigerians don’t know party, they know their stomach, they know their business, they know their economy. Let’s look back and imagine that so many middle class businesses are gone. Look at me having a daughter abroad and somebody says my daughter can’t get maintenance money in dollars abroad anymore.

“Education of my children has come to a halt after building such a child to a level of year 3 in the university. This is an indicator of incompetence, a clueless administrator. Sometime a lot of agents in APC might have clues but the president doesn’t have clue, he has no clue. You see these things, people are afraid to say it”, he said.