OBASANJO - Buhari Not Sound In Economy And Foreign affairs,

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says President Muhammadu Buhari may not do well in economy and foreign affairs, except in military matters.

“Buhari is not a very hot person on the economy and foreign affairs,” Obasanjo said.
The former President stated this on Monday at the third International Conference on African Development Issues — themed, “Driving inclusive and sustainable development in Africa: Models, methods, and policies” — organised by Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.             
While reacting to a question posed to him by a member of the audience: “Is there any hope for Nigeria under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari?”, Obasanjo replied, “Is there any hope for Nigeria under this administration? I came back from Geneva, Switzerland a few days ago to attend a conference titled, ‘Are elections giving democracy a bad name?’ We had an election; we elected a leader and the good thing about democracy is that the power you have to

FG Unveils N.5 trillion Economic Palliative Package, ‎

The Federal Government has unveiled a social investment package designed to impact on the lives of over eight million Nigerians. This was disclosed on Sunday by Dr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President, during an interactive session with journalists in Abuja. Akande explained that some parts of this package would become operational in the coming weeks.

             
One of the highlights of the package, said Akande, is the feeding of 5.5 million school children, who are  to be fed for 200 school days in the first phase of homegrown school feeding programme for which N93.1billion was budgeted.

Another element of the package is the proposed provision of soft loans to over 1.76 million traders, market women, men,  artisans and those involved in agriculture.  The loans, he explained, will not require to be conventionally  collateralized.  Some traders, he said, may get about N60,000. A total sum of N140.3billion  has already been appropriated for this in the budget‎.
Also, one hundred thousand artisans are to be trained in a programme for which N191.5 billion has been budgeted.

Also, one million desperately poor and vulnerable Nigerians are to be paid N60,000 stipend this year in a monthly installment of N5000.‎

Five hundred thousand ‎unemployed graduates, the presidential aide added, will be paid between N23,000 to N30,000 per month. They will be trained and deployed to work as volunteer teachers, public health officers, and extension service workers among other responsibilities.
Beneficiaries of the scheme will also be given electronic devices to empower them technologically both for their assignments and beyond.

In tertiary institutions, 100,000 tertiary students in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) and Education, Akande further disclosed,  will benefit from education grants for which N5.8billion has been already provided for in the budget. This payment, he added, will be directly made to the students.
‎
"When added together this year alone, more than 8 million Nigerians would be benefiting from the Social Investment budget.

"Long before now, the Presidency has made adequate arrangements in the 2016 budget to ensure that Nigerians are lifted from poverty and hardship," said Akande, who operates from the Vice President's office.

He added that jobs would be created by the launch of fresh infrastructural projects and restoration of existing ones.

 "The Buhari presidency is keen to ensure that Nigerians are lifted and that if necessary, on an ongoing basis, palliative measures would always be considered to address the conditions of the people," he declared.

Enugu Attack:Commissioner of Police Enugu warns rumour mongers

                                                                                            
 The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, has warned people spread rumour of impending attack of some communities in the state to desist from it, saying there was no substance in the story.
In a statement signed by the Police Spokesman in the command, Ebere Amaraizu, on Sunday, Ojukwu said that anybody found to be spreading the rumour would be

'Anambra North APGA Zonal Executives inaugurated by Willie Obiano'

                                                                                                   Governor Willie Obiano of  Anambra State  has inaugurated the Anambra North All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Zonal Executives at Otuocha Mini Stadium in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
The governor ,who alongside  the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Victor Oye, charged the new executives to remain committed and continue with the effort of increasing the membership of the party especially, in the grass roots and mobilizing support for the governor who has continued to develop Anambra state through his transparent government and developmental programmes and projects scattered in all the three senatorial zones of the state.
He commended the

NATIONAL CHAIRMAN ,PDP : Sheriff apologises to aggrieved stakeholders

                                                                                                    
 The National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Sheriff has apologised to aggrieved stakeholders of the party over statements credited to him by his personal aides and associates.
Sheriff, who gave the apology at a media briefing in Jalingo on Sunday, said “as a well cultured and astute politician, I would never make any comment that would ridicule the party.”
He added that it was not in his character to join issues with highly respected elders of the party, noting that he never authorised any of his aides or political associates to react

'' Corruption in donor funds disbursement''

Corruption in donor funds disbursement

— 15th May 2016

IT is heartwarming that the Eco­nomic and Financial Crimes Com­mission (EFCC) has commenced investigation of the alleged misman­agement of funds donated to Nige­ria for the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (TB) by the global health grants organisa­tion, Global Funds. The shocking allegation of financial malfeasance relate

Ibori’s Ally - 3 Top Oil Operators Linked To Diezani’s $115 million Election Bribe

Three major players in Nigeria’s oil sector – Kola Adesina, Onajite Okoloko, and Abubakar Tambuwal – have been linked to the $115 million (N63 billion) allegedly distributed as bribes to some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, during the 2015 general elections.

Mrs. Allison-Madueke, who is currently in the UK where she is being investigated for money laundering, allegedly gave the bribes to the officials in the build-up to the elections to ensure the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Mr. Jonathan was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28, 2015, presidential election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River State, Gesil Khan, who was then in Rivers State, allegedly got N185, 842, 000 from the money.
Others allegedly bribed were

Buhari Bows To IMF Pressure To Devalue Naira 290 To Dollar

After months of insisting that he had no plans to devalue the naira, President Muhammadu Buhari has caved to pressure to change course;.
A day after the Buhari administration increased the price of the pump price of fuel by 67%, from N86.5 to N145 a liter, our sources disclosed that Mr. Buhari has also agreed to

John Dumelo joins Prez John Mahama in London

                                                                                                   
Ghanaian actor John Dumelo will be at the Jumeriah Hotel today to show solidarity with John Mahama as the president interacts with Ghanaians.

Mahama is already in London attending the World Anti-Corruption Summit at the behest of the UK government.

Dumelo, who has more than five million fans following him on social media, hopes to use the opportunity to pull a lot of crowd to the gathering.

Popularly called JD, John said

The body tape of my dress at the VGMAs ripped before I got on stage - Actress Nadia Buari

           
Actress Nadia Buari was one of many personalities who presented an award at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards held at the Accra International Conference Center last week.
The audience at the event venue and viewers at home noticed that Buari kept holding on her dress, prompting the question of why she wore the dress if it was uncomfortable.
She revealed during an interview with Bola Ray on Starr Talk on Starr 103.5 FM Wednesday evening that her dressed ripped

JUST IN - Buhari,APC Leaders Engage In Closed-door Meeting In Aso Villa.

                                                                                             
At Presidential Villa, Abuja. Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the National Chairman of the APC, John Odegie-Oyegun are in attendance.
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume are also in the meeting. Others are the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, and former Minister of Information, Tony Momoh, APC Deputy National Chairman North, Shuaibu Lawali, and the Deputy National Chairman South, Segun Oni. The agenda has not been disclosed yet, The meeting is still in progress at the time of filing this report.”

Just in - ANAMBRA STATE REVEALS HOW TO STOP FULANI HERDSMEN,

                                                           IGBO’S ARE TOO MUCH!!! ANAMBRA STATE REVEALS HOW TO STOP FULANI HERDSMEN

The Anambra state Agriculture Team headed by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanization, Processing and Exports, Mr Afam Mbanefo has praised the owners of Eagle Farms and Cattle Ranch for their entrepreneurial spirit saying that their efforts will help in transforming not only agriculture but the economy of the state.

He was speaking during a facility visit to the farm and cattle ranch located at Umuchu in Aguata local government.

At the ranch, cattle are raised within a confined perimeter and do not need to wander about in search of pasture.

It would be recalled that irresponsible cattle grazing by Fulani herdsmen has led to

$15 Billion Stolen in Fraudulent Arms Deals - Osinbajo

               
Nigeria's vice president says the previous government stole some $15 billion of public money through fraudulent arms deals.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said Tuesday the money was lost to "corrupt practices in... security equipment spending" during the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Current President Muhammadu Buhari won last year's election on promises to

Farmer-Fulani Herdsmen Conflict Rises Across Nigeria

NIMBO, NIGERIA —  The people of Nimbo knew an attack was coming. A villager who said he was kidnapped by nomadic herdsmen had returned home with a letter threatening bloodshed.
Villagers mobilized young men and hired police to protect their farming community.
But at daybreak on that Monday in late April, the police left, and the attackers emerged, shooting and hacking 15 people to death.
“I never believed they can enter the town,” said Patrick Uze, who escaped the attack with machete wounds all over his body. “We were running and running and running.”
Villagers from Nimbo had been feuding with herdsmen in the area for years.

We Wants Ban On Used Tyre Importation - FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Friday, urged the Federal Government to place full prohibition on the importation of substandard and used tyres into the country.
   this is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of two-day stakeholders’ forum on Substandard and Used Tyres in Abuja.
In the communiqué signed by Corps Marshal of FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, the forum attributed majority of road crashes to substandard and used tyres and said that it had become necessary to bring the issue to the front burner of national discourse.
This, it said, was with the view of stemming the development to ensure compliance with the pillar 3 and 4 of the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety.
It said the aim was to share vital information and ideas among stakeholders towards curtailing incessant tyre-induced crashes in the country.
According to it, there is need to properly educate all road users to

Fuel Price increment,: Dino Melaye gives Buhari 7-day ultimatum to reverse policy

                                                  President Muhammadu Buhari should ‘immediately reverse’ the new policy measure he announced for a deregulation of Nigeria’s petroleum downstream because of the “unbearable” effects it will have on Nigerians, a senator from Kogi State, Dino Melaye, has warned.
Mr. Melaye, writing on his Facebook page Thursday night, said the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress should intervene in the matter, threatening to mobilise Nigerians for mass protests if his demand is not met.
Mr. Melaye posted the demand from London where he’s currently

Osinbajo - Fuel Price Increase Not About Removal Of Subsidy

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said that the recent increase in the price of petrol is not about removal of subsidy.
According to Osinbajo, in a statement released by his media office, at $40 a barrel there isn’t much of a subsidy to remove.
He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari is probably one of the most convinced pro-subsidy advocates.
In the statement titled “The fuel pricing debate: Our story”, Osinbajo said, “I have read the various observations about the fuel pricing regime and the attendant issues generated. All certainly have strong points.
“The most important issue of course is how to shield the poor from the worst effects of the policy. I will hopefully address that in another note.
“Permit me an explanation of the policy. First, the real issue is not a removal of subsidy. At $40 a barrel there isn’t much of a subsidy to remove.
                                                                                             
 “In any event, the President is

EFCC operatives invade Fani-Kayode’s home again – Aide,

                 
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday invaded the residence of the embattled former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, his media aide said.
The EFCC could not be immediately reached and PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm the claim.
If true, Thursday’s raid on the former minister’s home would be the second in less than a week.
Mr. Fani-Kayode has been in the agency’s custody since he submitted himself to investigators on Monday.
A panic email distributed by Jude Ndukwe, Mr. Fani-Kayode’s media aide, said

Cameroon Urges Religious Leaders to Fight Boko Haram

                
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON —  Boko Haram reportedly is working to enlist traditional and religious leaders in northern Cameroon to recruit new members amid continued military pressure on both sides of the border.
Abdouraman Ousman, a Muslim religious leader, says members of the militant group kidnapped him from his home in Kerawa on the border with Nigeria last year.
The militants told him that he could go home if he would recruit for them, Ousman said. He refused, but was freed in February during a raid by soldiers.
Imams and traditional rulers are being manipulated by Boko Haram fighters

Toyin Aimakhu replies fan who calls her a prostitute

Lagos - Yoruba Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu is quick ,to clap back at fans who insult her on social media.
The embattled actress who trended for almost the wrong reasons for months now took to her Instagram page to share a video which she captioned “iya yin ni baller”
An angry fan, clearly dissatisfied at the view proceeded to call her “Ashewo” a derogatory word in Yoruba which translates to “Prostitute”.
Toyin wasn’t having and she went hard on him calling his mother a prostitute, and labeling him an imbecile.

Tinubu - Petrol price hike pain necessary;

Lagos - National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has appealed to Nigerians to take the difficulties that might arise as a result of the new pump price of fuel as a sacrifice for a better future reported Vanguard.
In a statement issued by his media office, the two-term governor of Lagos state commended President Muhammadu Buhari for taking “a bold step”, telling Nigerians that “this pain is necessary”.
According to BBC News,

We will not support policies that will makes Nigerians to suffer - Dogara on new petrol pump price

                               
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said on Thursday that the House would take a second look at the decision of the Federal Government to remove the subsidy on petrol with a view to finding better alternatives.
Dogara said this in Abuja when he met with a delegation from the National Council of Ulamas of the Jamatu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatis Sunnah at the National Assembly.
The group was led by its National Assembly (Administration), Sheikh Nasir Abdulmuhyi. Dogara said lawmakers would not support any

No igbo land is for Ranch or grazing, Fulani's should leave our land-Enugu protesters

The people of South East today rose in one voice to condemn in totality the incessant attack on their land and the destruction of their property by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.

Speaking at the peaceful protest organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria Enugu State, Bishop Obi Onubogu of Grace Cathedral Enugu described the attack as a bad omen. He declared that

NFF BAN GIWA FOR 5 YEARS

                                  
 The nation’s soccer governing body, NFF yesterday wielded the big stick by slamming a five- year ban on Chris Giwa and other members of the football family that took their case to a regular court for anti-football activities.
The decision was taken after a meeting of the NFF disciplinary committee in Abuja. The body also upheld all the sanctions imposed on Giwa’s club, Giwa FC by the League Management Company (LMC).
The NFF disciplinary body amongst other things, stated that  Giwa and his group breached Article 69 (1) of the NFF Statutes by taking football matters to the ordinary court and failing to submit

EFCC - Magu Not In Contempt Of Court,

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to media reports on May 12, 2016 accusing its chairman, Ibrahim Magu of refusing to obey an order of court in the fundamental right enforcement action brought against the Commission by an Austrian businessman, Wolfgang Reinl, who is being investigated for his role in the now infamous $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

                                                   
Contrary to the insinuations in the media, there is no disobedience to any court order by the EFCC and its chairman as the commission had since May 9, 2016 filed a notice of appeal at the appellate court challenging the April 20, 2016 ruling by Justice Peter Affen of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
The appeal thus nullifies any claim of contempt.
It is trite law that judgement  cannot be

Britain And Nigeria Are “Fantastically Corrupt” By Chidi Oguamanam

One of the off record welcome hospitality that the Conservative Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. David Cameron extended to Nigeria’s President who attended the May 10 Anti-corruption Summit in London is Cameron’s sneaky remark to the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II and a few privileged others ahead of that summit that Nigeria (and one other) are “fantastically corrupt” countries.

My impression is that Her Majesty may have a better sense of history than Cameron regarding the British ingenuity and bad faith in its relationship with its African and other colonies around the world. In the particulate case of Nigeria, the British were the architects of corruption through their disruption of ethnic nationalities and the political and cultural cohesion that existed. The British did not think twice to disrupt and force respected African traditional political structures into its political vision, slave trade and other resource exploitation and mercantile agenda. Since then, things have fallen apart as eminently captured by Chinua Achebe and many others.
           
UK Prime Minister David Cameron called Nigeria "fantastically corrupt"
At all times, the British always put their agenda as an empire over the interests of the colonies whose peoples they treated as subhuman. The British laid the faulty foundation for Nigeria’s political wobbly evolution and Nigeria’s present ignominious profile of corruption, national security fragility and rickety social cohesion or lack it. One hundred and two years ago, for selfish considerations, the British decided to couple together separately administered protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria into one entity and called it Nigeria without sparing

This is what Fashola told Jonathan in 2014

            
Oil slump: Bring down fuel price immediately, Fashola tells FG ON DECEMBER 7, 2014
—As the global oil prices slid further downward, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to review downward the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS,  from N97 per litre in the country in tandem with the slump in world oil price. President Jonathan and Gov Babatubde Fashola of Lagos The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, had last Friday, on its website pegged the oil price at $66.27 per barrel. Fashola who blasted FG for its reluctance to adjust the pump price of   PMS, made the remarks while addressing hundreds of youths at the  Lagos State and After School  Graduation Development Centre,  AGDC, IGNITE Employability Project 5, Ikeja. He lamented that Nigerians were not receiving fair treatment from

Governor Wike - PDP members must sacrifice for the success of the party;

                 
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that anyone who  loves the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  will make sacrifices for  the  sustenance  of the party after the loss it suffered  during  the  2015 general elections.
The governor  stressed that only party members  with hidden agenda would work  towards  creating disquiet  in the party as committed members  struggle  to  re-position it.
Addressing  the  National Convention Planning  Committee meeting  of the party at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday night,  Governor  Wike  said

Petrol price might go down in six months – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said Nigerians will be amazed at what will become of the price of Premium Motor Spirit in the next six months.
The Federal Government had on Wednesday announced the removal of fuel subsidy, with a new petrol price band of N135 to N145 per litre, up from N86 and N86.50.
The development has been greeted with mixed reactions, with labour vowing to protest against it.
Kachikwu, who spoke on Thursday morning on Channels at the Sunrise Daily programme which was monitored by our correspondent, said the move was necessary in order put an end to fuel scarcity in the country.
He said the market dynamics would take hold fast “because

Bangladesh boils over execution of opposition leader;

                                       

The execution of the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami political party Motiur Rahman Nizami has sparked heavy protests in Bangladesh with the party issuing a strike call as local police resorted to using rubber bullets to disperse raging protesters.
Nizami was hanged on charges relating to the massacre of intellectuals during the 1971 independence war with Pakistan and the decision to execute him didn’t go down well with his party members who came out in their hundreds to protest, attacking policemen with stones in the northwestern city of Rajshahi
“There were 500 Jamaat activists who were protesting against the execution. We fired rubber bullets as they became violent,” Selim Badsah, Rajshahi police inspector, told the AFP news agency.
He said about 20 people were arrested.
Jamaat activists and supporters of the governing Awami League also clashed in Chittagong, where about 2,500 attended a service for Nizami, Masudul Hasan, the port city’s deputy police chief, told AFP.

BIAFRA MUST COME: BUHARI SHOULD GO AND COMMIT SUICIDE IF HE CAN'T LIVE TO SEE BIAFRA.NATION.

By Paul Ihechi Alagba
For Family Writers

Buhari's recent outburst that he would rather die than see Biafra restored has once again exposed his true evil features to the entire world. Civilised people across the world are beginning to ask questions whether Nigerians were actually under spell when they elected this symbol of bigotry, cluelessness and recklessness as their President. Even his best friend David Cameron- the British Prime Minister has turned around to call him a "fantastically corrupt" President.

At Buhari's age, one would have thought that by now he would asking for forgiveness for the atrocities he committed against Biafrans during his youthful days in the military and as a military Head of State especially his magnanimous role during the Biafra genocide of 1966-1970, but the reverse is the case as

Fayose- Buhari created Hike in fuel scarcity

                                                

Buhari created fuel scarcity to enable price increase – Ekiti Governor

Ayo Fayose made the comment on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, via a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.Ayo Fayose has said that the Muhammadu Buhari administration created the fuel scarcity in order to increase the price of petrol.

Fayose made the comment on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, via a statement released by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Punch reports.

The statement reads:

“Nigerians are now left at the mercy of political liars who took over

NLC described fuel pump price increment as insensitive,

                     
The statement, issued by NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, in Abuja on Wednesday, described the increase as insensitive.
It said, “the unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products today by government represents the height of insensitivity and impunity and shall be resisted by the NLC and its civil society allies.”
It said with “the unjustifiable electricity tariff and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the naira and inflation, the least one had expected was another policy measure that would make life miserable for the ordinary Nigerian.
“The latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of

Duke, Imoke shun PDP congress in Cross River

                           
Notable chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State, on Tuesday night, shunned the congress that produced Mr. Inok Edim as the chairman of the party in the state.
Stakeholders of the party, including former governors Liyel Imoke and Donald Duke; and eight out of the 11 members representing the state in the National Assembly, among others, boycotted the peaceful but controversial congress.
Edim, who is the incumbent Commissioner for Infrastructure in the state, polled a total of 791 votes out of the 809 votes cast to emerge the winner at the congress,
It was learnt that the consensus agreement that brought about the emergence of the various candidates were not favourable to the majority of the party’s stakeholders.
However, those who attended the congress, which held at the

Buhari agrees with Cameron that Nigeria is ‘fantastically corrupt’

                                                                 President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday agreed with the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, that Nigeria “is a fantastically corrupt” country.
Buhari spoke briefly with Sky News’ Diplomatic Editor, Dominic Waghorn, after he delivered his keynote address at the Commonwealth event tagged, “Tackling corruption together: A conference for civil society, business and government leaders,” held at the Commonwealth Secretariat, London.
The brief interaction took place as Buhari was making his way out of

Angry Youths in Kano burnt lawmakers’ house over campaign promises

                                     
  An early morning violence erupted at Gaya Local Government Area of Kano State when youths set on fire, the residence of a three-time senator from Kano South senatorial district, Senator Kabiru Gaya.
According to an eyewitness account, the rampaging youths started the demonstration at about 8.30a.m. yesterday, barricading major strategic locations leading to the town, which created heavy gridlock that prevented motorists and commuters from passing through the area.

Witness - How i helped Badeh divert N7.8bn in 14 months,

                      
A new witness in the trial of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, on Wednesday, May 11, narrated to a Federal High Court in Abuja, the role he played in the alleged monthly diversion of N558.2m from the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, accounts by Badeh.
The witness, Emmanuel Abu, is a cashier at the NAF headquarters.
Abu said he routinely converted the N558.2m to dollars which the prosecution alleged was being handed over to the former Air Force chief monthly.
Abu stepped into the witness box after the first prosecution witness, a former Director of Finance and Account of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Aliyu Yishau (retd.), completed his testimony on Wednesday.
Yishau had testified how he was handing over the dollar equivalent of the N558.2m to Badeh at the Chief of Air Staff’s official residence on a monthly basis and also how he helped Badeh to use the money to acquire landed assets in Abuja.
Abu, who was led in evidence by the lead prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said he converted N558.2m monthly removed from NAF’s Personnel and Emolument account for 14 months between November 2012 and December 2013.
He said within the 14 months period, a total of over N7.8bn was set aside and converted to dollars.
Abu explained that he and the Financial Officer at the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force Camp, Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, Group Captain Mohammed Lawal Sini, (now Air Commodore), were the only signatories to the six accounts operated by NAF.
He said Sini gave him the instruction for the monthly setting aside of the  N558.2m immediately he (Sini) became the Finance Officer in November 2014, about a month after Badeh assumed the office of the Chief of Air Staff.
He explained that the N558.2m was a monthly leftover in the Personnel and Emolument account of the NAF after the payment of members of staff salaries and entitlements for a particular month.
He said after the payment of the staff salaries the leftover was usually transferred to the other five accounts of the Nigerian Air Force to augment NAF’s overheads and expenditures.
But he said no voucher was ever raised for its disbursement as it was done for other disbursement from other accounts of the NAF.
He said, “The left over in the personnel and emolument account are transferred to five other accounts after paying salaries, because the balance of the salaries are meant for other purposes, and the personnel and emolument account is just for payment of salaries.
“After distributing the money into five accounts, the funds are used to augment the NAF overheads expenditure. We use them to pay estacode, non-regular allowances, training and operations, also purchase of aviation fuel.
“For the expenditure for the fund, we receive approvals from the headquarters of NAF, usually approved by the Chief of Air Staff, however, in November 2012, when the new Camp Finance Officer resumed, he informed me verbally that there was a standing instruction for the sum of N558,200,000 to be set aside monthly for headquarters, NAF training and operational purposes.
“He also informed me that the amount is to be converted to US dollars, except there is any other instruction to the contrary.
“I complied with the instruction and I converted the amount monthly, from November 2012 to December 2013, within the 14 months, a total of N7.8bn plus was set aside, out of this, within the 14 months, I received, instruction to transfer a total sum of N410m to HAFCO Nigeria Limited and N875m plus to Right Builders Technologies.”
Under cross-examination by Badeh’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, SAN, Abu confirmed that he never received any instruction relating to the setting aside of the N558.2m and its conversion to dollars.
He also said he had no official record of the dollar equivalent of the N558.2m.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Badeh alongside a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited, on 10 counts of money laundering bordering on alleged fraudulent removal of about N3.97bn from the Nigerian Air Force’s account.

Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state lamented on the increment of pump fuel price

• May 12, 2016

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has condemned the increment of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as fuel from N86.50 to N145 per litre.
He described the decision as insensitive and demonstration of the level of hatred the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, government has for Nigerians.
Fayose, who made the remarks in a statement issued by his spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said the over 70% increment was another vindication of his

Nigerian's president Buhari Urges United Nations to Speed Up Recovery of Stolen Money

                                    
ABUJA, NIGERIA —  Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged other countries and the United Nations to speed up the process of repatriating stolen money held abroad, which he said was becoming "tedious."
Since taking office last May, after winning an election largely on his vow to crack down on corruption, Buhari has sought help from several nations including the United States and Switzerland to recover money he said was stolen by

BOT Should Run PDP Starting May 21, - PDP Northern Elders warn

Northern Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elders have called on the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, to hand over leadership of the party to the Board of Trustees on May 21.

The elders said the Board should run the party starting that day, when the tenure of the present members of the National Working Committee (NWC) expires.
They made his decision after their meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
The meeting was one of numerous being held by several angry groups within the party over the desire of Mr. Sheriff to remain in office beyond

Nnamdi Kalu - Buhari '‘forcing’' judges to convict me

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says President Muhammadu Buhari is influencing the court to convict him for treasonable felony.


Kanu made this allegation through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, at a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ejiofor said the president’s “pronouncement” on issues regarding Biafra was prejudicial, and that they were capable of forcing the hands of the court to convict his client.

He cited the president’s statements in Katsina, where he said that nobody could divide

Good Morning Nigeria, Petrol is now ₦145 per litre - Guru reporters

Many Nigerians will wake up this morning to the desolate reality as fuel price yesterday took a major leap, rising from ₦86 per litre to ₦145 per litre.

After the announcement yesterday of an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol to ₦145 per liter, the news did not go down well with many Nigerians, as they spent the whole day venting the perceived harsh conditions that will follow


With the new price, advocates of deregulation – the government’s antidote to