I’m inspired by the love of my fans – Tiwa Savage

Beautiful, classy and blessed with the voice of a nightingale, Tiwa is singing and the world is listening. Despite the personal issues she has had to contend with, the mother of one is still making waves with her career.

Speaking with Sunday Scoop, she spoke on what drives her. “Music is what I like to do best so I am primarily motivated by my love for music. Beyond that, the love of my family and fans spurs me on. I am inspired whenever I get beautiful messages from people who have been blessed by what I do. It gives me the assurance that yes, I’m doing something right. And that is why I am constantly working to put out new and refreshing materials,” she said with an infectious smile.

So what happens when she gets ugly messages? “I don’t let it get to me. Of course, not everybody would like you. However, I have also learnt that many of the people who say mean, hurtful things about you are not really mad at you. They just probably have some unresolved issues in their lives. To people like that, I try to respond with love or just move on without dwelling on it,” she said.

On what sort of impact motherhood has had on her as a singer and person, she said, “Being a mother is the most awesome feeling ever.”

Source : Punch

Son Kidnaps father , collects N1million as ransom

A 20-year-old young man identified as ,Ibrahim Babatunde, has been paraded by the Oyo State Police Command for the abduction of his father.

The suspect confessed to the crime, taking responsibility along with three other accomplices identified as Babuga Salihu, 20, Aura Sands, 20 and Amuda Yusufu, 19.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, said Aliyu Babatunde was abducted in Igboora and spent three days in the den of his abductors. He added that he was released after the family paid N1 m ransom.

The 20-year-old said he was lured into kidnapping after his father turned a blind eye to the welfare of his children.

“My father married many wives and he doesn’t care for us. We are left to fend for ourselves.  So, I think the only way to get money out of him is to organise his abduction and force him to part with the money. We collected N1m as ransom from our family.”

While revealing how the crime was planned and executed, Babatunde said he invited his friends after he was sure that the plan would succeed.

Odude said, “The victim was eventually taken to an unknown place where he was kept for some days by his abductors who later demanded ransom as a condition for his release. Initial arrest of one of the suspects by combined efforts of the local vigilante group , the police and further discreet investigation carried out by operatives of the Special Squad led to subsequent arrest of the kingpin and other members of the gang at their various hideouts in the state.”

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )

Woman Attempting To Smuggle Cocaine To Saudi Arabia Arrested At Lagos Airport

 the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have intercepted a 54- year- old single mother of four children.

She was going on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia with substances that tested positive for cocaine.

The suspect who hails from Kwara State was apprehended during the outward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight to Saudi Arabia after testing positive to drug ingestion.

Preliminary investigation revealed that she ingested 32 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 330 grammes.

The suspect who hawks tea and bread to earn a living in Lagos was found to have collected N300,000 to smuggle drugs to Saudi under the pretext of going for pilgrimage. She was also going to Saudi as a private pilgrim and not as a group.

NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba, said that this was the second arrest of a pilgrim at the airport. One Odeyemi Omolara Morayo a.k.a. Ariyo Monsurat Olabisi was caught with 1.595kg of cocaine on her way to Saudi Arabia in February.

He also added that the suspect, Owolabi Oluwayemisi Modinat, was cooperating with investigating officers and that she will be arraigned as soon as investigation was concluded.

The suspect in her statement explained that poverty led her into drug trafficking. According to her, “I have never traveled outside the country before now. I am a single mother of four children. I sell tea and bread to earn a living.

“At present, I have no money to continue with my tea business due to family problems. A man met me and promised to help me by sponsoring my trip to Saudi Arabia. As a Muslim, I was happy but he later asked me to swallow the drugs. I agreed because he promised to pay me N300,000. I have too many problems and nobody to help me.”

The NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (rtd.), while commenting on the arrest of Oluwayemisi Modinat said that the agency is working to prevent those hiding under the cover of pilgrimage in trafficking narcotics.

“There is no hiding place for drug traffickers. We are prepared to stop their ignoble acts and prosecute them to serve as deterrent to others. It is even more disturbing that despite the death penalty for drugs in Saudi Arabia, these criminal elements still recruit mules on a suicide mission.”

The NDLEA boss called on members of the public to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to drug barons.  The suspect will soon be charged to court. 

Source : Sahara news

BUHARI REPORTEDLY SECURES $50M FOR ENUGU, NSUKKA WATER SCHEME

Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly secured a loan of $50 million from African Finance Corporation (AFC) for the upgrade of Enugu, Nsukka Urban Water Scheme.

The Director General of VON, Osita Okechukwu, announced this on Saturday.

The DG spoke in Enugu at the inauguration of Enugu State Caucus of the APC. 

Okechukwu, who is a member of the 37-man caucus headed by the State Chairman of the APC, Ben Nwoye, also explained efforts being made to key Enugu State into the Social Investment Programme of the President, Daily Post reports. 

 “We are making efforts to see that our members in Enugu here benefit from the Social Investment Programme. If you are a plumber, barber, electrician, motor mechanic you forward your name through the leadership of the party. If you are not but you have somebody, you come forward with his name because we want to make sure that the money when it comes will be channelled to those who will make proper use of it. We also have the cooperative scheme as part of the Social Investment,” Okechukwu said.

Among members of the 37-man Enugu State Caucus of the APC are His Excellencies, Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo, Group Captain (retd) J. Orji, Chief Sullivan Chime, Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs, GeoffreyOnyeama, Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, Special Adviser, Justice Reform, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku, G.B. Onoh, Sam Onyishi, Okey Ezea and others.

TENSION in Umuahia as security vans flood Nnamdi Kanu’s hometown

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Saturday, June 3, said the Department of State Services and the Nigeria police Force was out to cause trouble in Umuahia, Abia state’s capital city, NAIJreports.

IPOB alleged that the security institutions are focused on intimidating its members and leader Nnamdi Kanu.  In a statement, the group said Isiama Afara Ukwu, the hometown of its leaders was currently flooded with vans belonging to the Nigeria police and the DSS.

The IPOB said the numerous vans were patrolling the streets of Afara Ukwu and were also seen at strategic positions close to the resident of IPOB leader. The IPOB said security institutions are focused on intimidating its members and leader Nnamdi Kanu Also, sources within the Kanu’s family said that the vans were used to convey the security operatives in plain clothes around the hometown of the IPOB leader.

“Since morning, they have been patrolling here and director is not happy. “When we were talking about it, he said if they (security) continues like this, he will mobilize IPOB members from all states in Nigeria and shut down Umuahia,” a source said.

NAIJ.com .

Biafra: Stop living, doing business with other ethnics if you want a country – Yakasai mocks Igbos

Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former Special Political Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari, has chided Igbos agitating for their own country, Biafra.

He said it amounted to playing to the gallery if the same people clamouring to be on their own, still live and do business in other states of Nigeria, which they are seeking to exit.

Yakasai noted that even if Biafra is achieved, “everybody is aware that the major ethnic groups in Nigeria are Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. The day there is no Nigeria, the Igbo will have no alternative than to relocate to their states.”

“The reality is that the three major ethnic groups, Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo, need Nigeria. Every one of them needs Nigeria”, he told Daily Trust.

“In Yoruba land, Most of the industries are located in the South-West, mainly in Lagos, some in Ogun and some in Ibadan. According to a letter written by the late General Adeyinka Adebayo, the industries in Oyo are owned by Lebanese and Indians, but 70 per cent of the industries located in Lagos State are owned by Igbo.

“So the industries that are manufacturing goods in the South-West and some in the Eastern Region have the whole of Nigeria as their market, a market of about 200 million people. If there is no Nigeria, there would not be that market and what would be the consequences of lack of market? 

“First, the goods cannot be sold, there will be no production and there will be unemployment, and the people that are employed in industries located in the South-West are largely Yoruba. The day there is no Nigeria, there will be massive unemployment in the South-West.

“This is apart from the food and livestock they are getting from the North. If there is no Nigeria, they will not get them, and if they are going to import, it will take time and will be costly. By nature, they cannot grow livestock and some food items in their area. The geographical situation in South-West is different from that of the North; the animals they are growing do not enough meat and milk, unlike the ones in the North.

“For the Igbo, at present there is no village where there is a flourishing market where you cannot have the Igbo conducting their own businesses. And they are living in peace; nobody is harassing them. They live within thousands of other ethnic groups and nobody is attacking them.

“It is a well known fact that the business of building materials is surrendered to Igbo people, as well as electrical appliances, fittings and spare parts. Commuter transportation; those luxury buses that are plying our roads from one state to another are owned by the Igbo. 

“Two, we need the current oil revenue. In Nigeria, only six states can survive with the oil revenue they are getting. There are four oil bearing states that cannot survive with the quantity of oil located in their areas.

“These states are Abia, Imo, Ondo and Edo, they have oil, but it is not as much as they could rely on for survival. But Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom and one other state can survive with the oil located in their respective areas.

“So, during the first Biafran agitation Ojukwu entered agreement with France whereby he gave concession for the entire oil and gas resources in the Biafran region. If Biafra succeeded, there was no way the Niger Delta people could claim ownership of oil and gas located in their areas. 

“Three, the North also needs education. Today, in most of our universities the lecturers are mostly from the South – even the students. We need education and we cannot get it without teachers, so we need Nigeria to get teachers from southern part of the country to come and teach us. 

“Four, we need the technical know-how the South has. So we need them for that. 

“Five, we also need the South for investment. The only northerners that have huge investments are three – Aliko Dangote, T. Y Danjuma and Alhaji Abdulsamad Isyaka Rabi’u. But if you go to the South you will get thousands of them with huge capital. 

“The Igbo, unfortunately, are lacking in diplomacy. This is the weakness of the Igbo and that is what the Yoruba are capitalising on to manipulate their way of thinking. 

“During the first declaration of Biafra, it was a public knowledge that when Gowon sent Awolowo to persuade Ojukwu not to embark on secession, they met on the River Niger bridge and discussed.

“Later on, the media said that according to unofficial report, Awolowo assured Ojukwu that if they seceded, the West would also secede. When he came out, he declared publicly that if by any act of commission or omission the East was allowed to go, the West would follow.

“This is the public announcement he made and the record is there, which means the West would also secede from the rest of Nigeria. The Igbo believed in him and Ojukwu told all the Igbo to go back to their respective areas.

“At that time, the Igbo were holding various positions in government, but they all left. When they came back after the civil war, they found that the Yoruba had occupied their positions, and till today, they have not regained such positions, and they will never regain them”

Daily Post 

Presidency replies allegation that Osinbajo appoints Yorubas, RCCG members

The presidency has dismissed as smear campaign, allegations of nepotism and favouritism against Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

The presidency was reacting to an article by one Dr. Ismaila Farouk, who cited the composition of the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council, and key appointments like the chief executive officers of Bank of Industry and Pension Commission.

The article had also accused Osinbajo of ensuring that all his aides were either Yoruba or members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. It compared him with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who he said appointed his aides from other parts of the country.

Osinbajo was specifically accused of appointing Yoruba men, Mr. Funso Doherty as the Director-General of Pension Commission (PenCom), and Mr. Olukayode Pitan as Managing Director of Bank of Industry.

He was accused of appointing his brother in law, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, who is the Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, into the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council.

The Acting President was also accused of appointing his deputy when he was the Pastor of RCCG, Banana Island, Lagos, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who is minister of Trade, as the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council which he inaugurated in the Presidential Villa last Monday.

While further accusing him of strategising for 2019 with the hope that Buhari would be unable to contest, the article accused Osinbajo of filling the advisory council with either his kinsmen in the South-west or members of RCCG.

On the appointment of the Director-General of PenCom, a presidency source told Thisday that “There has been much talk about failure of government to replace the former Pencom Director General with someone from the same zone as hers. It is argued that this ran contrary to Section 21(2) of the Pension Reform Act 2014. However, that section only applies ‘in the event of a vacancy.’

“Indeed, in that case, the President shall appoint a replacement from the same geo-political zone of the immediate past member who vacated the office to complete the remaining tenure. This is to ensure that no geo-political zone loses out in the event of a removal and replacement of one particular member, when others from other zones remain in office.

North Cries Out to Sick President Buhari Over Latest Appointments by Vice President Osinbajo Since He Became The Acting President

The North has cried out to President Muhammadu Buhari, over the latest appointments made by Yemi Osinbajo, since he became Acting President.

This came through a renowned Northerner, Dr. Ismaila Farouk, who posted on the internet, an article accusing Osinbajo of nepotism and favoritism, in the appointments he has so far made as Acting President.

The article cited the composition of the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council, and key appointments like the Chief Executive Officers of the Bank of Industry and Pension Commission.

The article had also accused Osinbajo of ensuring that all his Aides are either Yorubas, or members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Osinbajo, was specifically accused of appointing Yoruba men, Mr. Funso Doherty as the Director-General of Pension Commission, PenCom, and Mr. Olukayode Pitan, as Managing Director of the Bank of Industry.

He was accused of appointing his brother in-law, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo, who is the Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, into the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council.

The Acting President, was also accused of appointing his Deputy when he was the Pastor of the RCCG, Banana Island, Lagos, Okechukwu Enelamah, who is the Minister of Trade, as the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Advisory and Competitiveness Council, which he inaugurated in the Presidential Villa, last Monday.

He accused Osinbajo of filling the Advisory Council, with either his kinsmen in the South-West, or members of the RCCG.

In a reaction however, a Presidential source disclosed that the intention was to distract the Acting President from carrying on with his commitment to ensure that issues plaguing the nation at the moment were addressed, as instructed by his boss, Buhari.

He said the Acting President had always worked according to the President’s instructions.

Source : Post Nigeria 

Don't Take Drinks From Unknown Persons_ Police Warns

Police in Enugu State have advised drivers and passengers to shun offers of drinks and suya meat from unknown persons at motor parks and other public areas.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Ebere Amaraizu, gave the advice in a statement issued in Enugu yesterday.

Amaraizu said recent intelligence showed that some unscrupulous persons were using the new contrivance to steal people’s property.

He said intelligence revealed that the swindlers usually offered passengers, tricycle and taxi-cab operators ‘‘drugged or poisoned bottled or sachet water, fruit juice, soft drinks and suya.

‘‘This usually makes their victims to feel weak and sleepy, thereby giving way for the mischief-makers to steal the tricycle or taxi-cab as well as valuables of the targeted passenger(s) or co-traveller(s) ’’, he said.

The PPRO urged the public to be properly guided by the antics of these evil-minded people so as not to find themselves in unpleasant circumstances.

‘‘Police operatives in partnership with sister security agencies and relevant stakeholders have been directed to fish out those in this unlawful habit with a view to bringing them to book’’, he added.

(NAN)

London Attack Leaves more than 30 Injured with 6 Persons Dead

At least Six people have been killed and and multiple people are injured in a terrorist "rampage" at two central London landmarks

Three attackers were shot dead by police in the attack on London Bridge and Borough Market. Police said they believed there were no more than three attackers.

A white transit van ploughed into a crowd of people on the bridge at speed shortly after 10pm. The three men then attacked people with knives at nearby Borough Market.

The London Ambulance Service said more than 30 injured people had been taken to six hospitals. The Metropolitan Police force declared the attacks "terrorist incidents."
Hours after the attacks began, a large area of central London remained cordoned off and police told people to avoid the area, leaving tourists and revelers struggling to get home.
Bursts of gunfire echoed through the streets - likely from armed police - and at least three blasts rang out as police performed controlled explosions.
One picture from the Borough Market area showed a man lying on the ground who appears to have canisters strapped to him. Police later said the men were wearing hoax suicide vests.

Holly Jones, a BBC reporter at London Bridge when the first incident happened, said a van had swerved off the road into a crowd of pedestrians.
"A white van driver came speeding - probably about 50mph - veered of the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement," she told BBC News.
Within minutes there were reports of a second incident at Borough Market on the south bank of the Thames. One cab driver said three men ran towards the market stabbing people - including a young girl - as they ran.

An eyewitness on London Bridge, told the BBC he saw three men stabbing people indiscriminately, shouting "this is for Allah" in a "rampage".

Police entered bars and restaurants in the Southwark area around 11pm and told customers to get down on the floor amid reports that the incident was still ongoing. People outdoors were told by yelling police officers to run from the area as the atmosphere turned to one of “hysteria”.
Shortly before midnight police said they were attending a third incident in the Vauxhall area, but later said it was not connected.
We are aware of reports on social media. We will release facts when we can - our info must be accurate
#LondonBridge

Prime Minister Theresa May, who was understood to be at her Maidenhead constituency when she was alerted to the news, will chair a Cobra meeting first thing on Sunday morning.

The attack comes less than a fortnight after the Manchester suicide bombing and just three months after a terrorist ploughed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a policeman to death at Parliament.

The US President, Donald Trump offered assistance to Britain via Twitter. "Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the UK, we will be there - we are with you. God bless!".

From the Telegraph

'My husband Buhari is recovering very fast, to be back soon’ – Aisha Buhari

First Lady Aisha Buhari sent some cheery news home yesterday from London about her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari who she says will return soon as he’s recovering fast from his ailment.

But she wants Nigerians to keep praying for him.

Hajiya Aisha, who is currently in London to be with the President, gave the update on the President’s health in a message to the 23rd Annual Ramadan Lecture of Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) held in Abuja.

TheNation reports she was represented at the lecture by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Dr. Hajo Sani.

“My husband is recovering very fast. And very soon, he will return to the country to resume his official duties,” she said.

“I thank Nigerians for their prayers for my husband. Please, do not relent in your prayers.

The President will be back very soon.”

The message sparked shouts of Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!! Allahu Akbar!!! (God is great) by the Muslim faithful.

Aisha added that she was “hopeful of observing this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival at the ADS Mosque in Maitama as she had been doing even before getting into office.”

The president returned to the United Kingdom early last month for a fresh round of treatment.

NJC recalls suspended Judges

The decision to recall the six judges that were suspended following raids on their houses last year by personnel of the Department of Security Service (DSS) was hinged on the lack of a case against them, the National Judicial Council (NJC) said yesterday.

The council announced the reinstatement of the six and other judges after its 82nd meeting held on May 31 and June 1, 2017 in Abuja.

According to a statement signed by NJC’s Director of Information, Soji Oye, the meeting had considered the cases of eight judicial officers who were directed to recuse themselves from duties on the request of the Attorney-General of the Federation, pending the outcome of investigations against them. 

The NJC noted that out of the six, only Justice N. S. Ngwuta of the Supreme Court, Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court and Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court had been charged to court. 

“The trial of Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola has been concluded and he has been discharged and acquitted of the charges filed against him.

 “In view of the foregoing, Council decided that the various heads of court should direct the following judicial officers to resume their judicial duties with effect from Wednesday June 7, 2017, as there are already a backlog of cases in their various courts for the past eight months: Hon. Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Uwani Abba Aji of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice A. F. A. Ademola of the Federal High Court, who has been discharged and acquitted, Hon. Justice Musa H. Kurya of the Federal High Court, and Hon. Justice Agbadu James Fishim of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The NJC said it asked the judges to recuse themselves with effect from November 2, 2016 on the request of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) pending the outcome of investigations in order “to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the judiciary and sustain public confidence.”

Also, the NJC issued a serious warning to Justice M. N. Esowe of the National Industrial Court, while Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the Rivers State High Court of Justice, Justice Bassey Frank Etuk of the Akwa-Ibom State High Court, were placed on NJC ‘watch list’ for different offences based on petitions against them.

The NJC however, discontinued the probe of Justice T. U. Uzokwe, Chief Judge, Abia State; Justice Okoroafor of the Abia State High Court and Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court.

The homes of the suspended judges were in the midnight of October 8, 2017 raided by the DSS, where the sum of N271.7million in both local and foreign currencies were allegedly recovered.

The DSS said the raids were conducted after a series of “sting operations” targeting judges of Supreme, Appeal and High Courts who were being watched for “corruption and other acts professional misconduct.”

“We have been monitoring the expensive and luxurious lifestyle of some of the judges, as well as complaints from the concerned public over judgements obtained fraudulently,” an official of the service, Garba Abdullahi, had said.

The development threw the country’s judiciary into chaos, with lawyers expressing divergent views.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which mounted pressure on the NJC to suspend all judges indicted by the DSS last year during the Democracy Day celebration on May 29, called for the recall of the judges who were not facing trial.

“In the wake of the arrest and detention of certain judicial officers by the DSS, the NBA had taken the view that the judges affected should recuse themselves from judicial functions until investigations and outcome of those investigations were determined. We note that nearly eight months after those investigations were launched, there are some of the judges who have not been prosecuted or charged before any court of law,” said the president of the NBA, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN).

“This situation is completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable. The NBA calls on the government to terminate the investigations against those judges to enable them resume their work as judicial officers,” he added.

Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has described the recall of the judges as the right thing to do, maintaining that it was late in coming. 

“The state should actually apologise to the judges for the public odium, embarrassment, obloquy, and shame their arrest, detention and media trial impacted on them,” he said. 

Also speaking, a Evidence Law expert, Sabastine Hon (SAN), lauded the NJC for the recall of the judges. 

“The decision of the NJC to lift the suspension of the justices and judges accused of corruption is a most welcome development,” he said. 

“No country treats its citizens the way those judicial officers were treated; and the NJC just woke up to its constitutional and moral responsibility - by taking this bold step,” he added. 

Source : Daily Trust