I can no longer pay workers’ salaries – Niger State Governor

By Seun Opejobi on June 1, 2016

The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello on Wednesday declared that he is finding it difficult to pay workers’ salaries due to the currently economic hardship the country is facing.

Bello made the disclosure while addressing State House correspondents shortly after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Bello, “We have laid the cards on the table; we are not hiding anything. We are very transparent as much as we can but the truth of the matter is that I cannot give what we don’t have. I wish I had; personally if I had, I would have paid (salaries) from my pocket but I can’t.”

Noting that his government as at May ending was indebted to the tune of N3bn, the governor said the state government had been borrowing from banks since January to augment whatever comes as Federal allocation.

Bello while stressing that should the trend continues till December, his state’s debt profile will have risen to N10bn, maintained that it was not healthy for the state government to continue borrowing to pay salaries.

“I think we should go back to the table. Of course, we can’t give what we don’t have.

“We are facing difficult times now, so let us sit down and see what we can do.

“I really think it is unhealthy to keep on borrowing just to pay salaries. Apart from that, we are not just there to pay salaries, there are a lot of issues.

“I got a call this morning from one Girls’ Secondary School that their roof is off in six out of seven dormitories. Where will they sleep? Now if I take the whole revenue and pay salaries, how am I going to fix schools, hospitals?” the governor wondered.

The governor revealed that with N1.5bn from federation account, the state still had to borrow to pay 40,000 civil servants against over three million people that needed to be catered for.

He, however, called on people of the state to make sacrifices, saying nobody should be blamed for the sharp drop in oil price which has brought untold hardship on the state.

“I am willing to make sacrifices, all my appointees are willing to make sacrifices.

“We have shown example by cutting down our expenditure, we have cut down the expenses of the Government House from N150m a week to between N20m and N25 million a week.

“So we have cut down Government House expenditure by over 70 per cent and I mean these are all sacrifices,” he said.

How FIRS director collected 5million naira bribe-witness

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday opened trial with two witnesses – Umar Dalhatu and Abdulkadir Saidu – in a case of alleged bribery involving Abumere Joseph Osagie, a former Deputy Director of the Federal Inland Revenue, and one Jamila Ojora before Justice O. O. Goodluck of the FCT High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

Dalhatu and Saidu, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Joseph Uzor, as PW1 and PW2 respectively, gave detailed account of how the accused persons conspired to obtain N5 million as gratification from the Pro-chancellor, Base University, Senator Datti Ahmed.

The accused persons claim the money was meant to appreciate their services for “arranging tax assessment” for the university.

The act contravenes Section 17(1)(a) and punishable under Section 17(1)(c) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

In his evidence, Dalhatu, a bursar at Baze University, told the court that some of his core duties were to keep records of financial transactions of the University, pay salaries and liaise with regulating bodies like the FIRS and National Universities Commission among others.

Narrating how Osagie and his accomplice, Ojora, collected the money, Dalhatu said: “I joined the University on November 9, 2015.

“That time, I was made to understand that the tax assessment and audit exercise had been concluded.

“The registrar told me to go to FIRS and see Jamila and Mr. Osagie.

“I contacted them, went to their office and arranged for the Pro-chancellor (Senator Datti Waba Ahmed) to meet with them.

“On December 20, 2015, I received a text message from the Pro-Chancellor informing me that Mr. Osagie was in the University on a familiarization tour.

“I conducted him round the University.

“During the familiarisation tour, Osagie told me that: ‘You people’ have to appreciate us with the sum of N5 million.

“I called the Pro-Chancellor and gave the phone to Osagie to speak with him.

“Two days after, the University received a letter of intent from the FIRS to pay the sum of N20,029,496.00 (twenty million, twenty –nine thousand, four hundred and ninety-six naira).

“The money was paid in installments to a UBA account.

“The university requested for the tax clearance, but we were not given.”

Asked why they were not given, Dalhatu said: “The accused persons insisted that we had to pay ‘appreciation fee’ before it can be issued.

“I reported to the Pro-chancellor (Senator Ahmed) who called Mr. Osagie on January 27, 2016.

“At about 4:30 pm that day, the Pro-Chancellor instructed me to go to our accountant, Mrs. Juliet Oture, to collect the sum of N5 million.

“I collected the money and joined him (Senator Ahmed) in his car.

“While driving with him, he informed me that he was taking the matter to the EFCC and we drove straight to the EFCC Head Office at Wuse II.”

Also testifying, PW2, Saidu, who introduced himself as the Personal Assistant to the Pro-chancellor, told the court how he was involved in handing over the sum of N5 million to Ojora at Sheraton Hotel car park, Wuse Zone 4.

According to Saidu: “I was called by the Pro-chancellor around 6pm on January 27, 2015 to come and meet him at the EFCC Head Office in order to run errand for him.

“When I got there, he gave me a multi-coloured medium size ‘Ghana-must-go’ bag containing the sum of N5 million.

“He called Ojora on phone to inform her that I was coming.

“I met Ojora at the left wing of the Sheraton car park standing by her white Peugeot 408 car.

“She instructed me to drop the money at the back seat of her car, which I did.

“She promised to call my boss to confirm that she had received the money.

“Then, I left.”

The case has been adjourned to June 13 and July 12, 2016 for further hearing.

Niger Delta Avengers bomb Chevron oil wells again

By Seun Opejobi on June 1, 2016

The Niger Delta Avengers has launched a fresh attack on Chevron’s oil pipeline in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The separatist which claimed responsibility for the attack said they blew up two vital Chevron oil wells in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State in the early hours of Wednesday.

The affected pipelines were identified as Chevron Bibi Oil Well RMP 23 and RMP.

It was gathered that Chevron noticed the incident at about 4am following a drop in pressure during production. The wells have been shut down.

The militant group which took to its twitter account @NDAvengers, confirmed the attack.

See tweet below:

I gave Lagos banker fake special soap to get rich, defrauded him of N2.5m – Herbalist

By Danielle Ogbeche on June 1, 2016

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old herbalist, Seye Olufokunbi, who defrauded a Lagos banker, simply identified as Lekan.

Olufokunbi defrauded the banker to the tune of N2.5m after he asked him to pay for a ‘special soap.’

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Dolapo Badmos, on Tuesday paraded the suspect before newsmen at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

She said the suspect would be arraigned in court at the end of investigation.

Badmos advised members of the public to be wary of those they transacted business with.

“We are still hunting for the fleeing members of the syndicate and at the end, we will make them face justice,” the PPRO added.

In his confession, the herbalist said he told Lekan, who worked in one of the banks on the Victoria Island, that the soap, when kept in a box for two days, would produce a lot of money.

The money magic reportedly failed, leading to a petition to the state Police Command Rapid Response Squad, RRS, in February 2016.

Officials of the Command were said to have trailed and arrested Olufokunbi in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Olufokunbi said he was initially selling herbs to Lekan before the banker told him to perform money ritual for him.

“I have known Lekan for a long time and he is my customer. He was initially patronising me for herbs for his ailment but he later approached me for money ritual, saying the money he was making as a banker was not enough for him. I said I could do it if he could give me N2.5m.

“He brought the money and I gave him a bar of soap. I told him to keep the soap in a box for two days, after which he should check the box and he would see a lot of money.

“He did that, but it failed, he then reported me to the police, who arrested me,” the suspect added, noting that he had been into the job since 2011.

“I don’t work alone, I have members. I got N500, 000 from the money the victim paid, while the rest of the money was shared among the group members.

“I was initiated into this job by my brother. My ex-wife, whom I divorced after a disagreement, is not aware I am doing this.

“I was doing this because after I finished studying Business Administration in 2002 in a polytechnic in Oyo State, I couldn’t get any good job,” the herbalist stated. 

Man seeking spiritual help defiles 7-year-old daughter of prophetess in Lagos

By Danielle Ogbeche on June 1, 2016

The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday arrested a 52-year-old man, Moruf Mohammed, for defiling the 7-year-old daughter of a prophetess whom he had gone to for spiritual help.

The incident happened at the prophetess’ residence at 5, Samsudeen Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, area of the state, Vanguard reports.

The unnamed minor had just returned from school and was home alone when the suspected rapist came by their home and upon realizing that her mother was out to the market, Mohammed allegedly had canal knowledge of the girl.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim said Mohammed pushed her behind the door, inserted his fingers first into her vagina before he penetrated her.

She said, “Immediately I came back from school, Baba Mohammed came to the house and asked after my mother. I told him that she was not at home. He then gave me N1, 000, pushed me towards the door and removed my pants.

“When I tried to shout, he used his hands to cover my mouth. He first inserted his hands inside me before using his manhood on me,” the victim added.

Mohammed was taken to the Juvenile and Women Centre, JWC, Igbogbo Divisional headquarters, Ikorodu, where he had allegedly said he did not know what came over him and that it was the work of the devil.

However when he was paraded at the Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, Mohammed who is married with three wives denied the allegation.

He said, “I am a bus driver from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State and I have three wives. The victim’s mother called me on phone to get money for the job she was doing for me.

“When I got there, she was not at home. But I met her daughter, who had just returned from school. I went to see the victim’s mother because she is a prophetess and does some spiritual work for me.

“Unfortunately, her mother was not at home, so I gave her N1, 000. I did not touch her. A few days later they arrested me for raping the little girl,” he added.

On her part, the mother of the victim said she came home to meet her daughter bleeding and upon inquiry, the little girl told her what Mohammed did to her.

She said, “I knew Moruf Mohammed some time ago as he comes for some spiritual works. On Wednesday, I called him to get money for the work I have done for him.

“When I got home later, I met my daughter bleeding profusely with her uniform stained with blood. Immediately, I took her to the school where I was told nothing like that happened and that this was the handiwork of an adult. So I asked my daughter who did that to her?

“She said it was Moruf Mohammed, the client that gave her money to give to me. When we got to his place, my daughter identified him as the man that had defiled her and he was later arrested,” the victim’s mother added.

The state Public Relations Officer, PRO, Dolapo Badmos, while parading the suspect, said investigations were ongoing and upon completion, he will be charged to court.

DIAMOND FIRES 200 WORKERS!!

Diamond Bank Fires 200 Workers
June 1, 2016 • By Deolu
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Diamond Bank Plc has fired 200 members of its workforce as the economic challenges affecting the country continue to batter the financial services industry.

This is coming two months after the bank announced that its profit before tax for the first quarter of this year fell to N6.04bn from the N7.94bn it recorded in the first quarter of 2015.

See photographs of Actress chacha ike fanni their 3rd year Anniversary As seen on IG page

Heartbreaking News" Joy Akabuike didnt make it,She will be buried today

Umuahia Accident: Late Joy Akabuike’s Burial Plans Announced

JUNE 1ST, 2016  OLAMIDE STANLEYEDUCATION, SCHOOLS & STUDENTS

EDUCATION 

The family of Late Joy Akabuike has announced that the remains of their daughter Joy, will be buried today, Wednesday 1st, June 2016 at her home town Achi (Oji River) in Enugu state

Joy was born on the 31st day of October, 1993.

Joy’s parents are based in Minna Niger State. Kelvin Akabuike who is her younger brother stays at Minna. He is currently writing his Senior National Examinations Council, NECO.

It will be recalled that the Joy was one of the victims of the Peace Mass Transit tragic accident at Umuahia-Okigwe road On Sunday, May 22, 2016.

Out of the 15 passengers in that bus, only two people live to tell the tales, the rest died. One of the survivors is Mrs. Chidinma Eze, a 32-year-old widow and businesswoman from Ubakala in Abia State. She is based in Port Harcourt. The other survivor is a 33-year-old dealer in cosmetics based in Aba.

As at the time of the filling this report,the Management of Peace mass transit are yet to condole the deceased family.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

Family following long-standing Tradition, See husnand make love to wife for the first time

Family following long-standing tradition, watch son make love to wife for the first time . . An unusual story concerning a family living in Woodlands New Town, has taken over Singaporean social media after a photo was posted by the man’s uncle and it shows a male and a female in bed, in the middle of intercourse, while members of their family watch on. . . The uncle revealed that it was a family tradition that has been passed down through generations. His words: “While most people may consider it odd, for our family there is nothing more proud than celebrating a son, brother or nephew having sex for the first time. . . We see it as the last step on the long journey to adulthood, and it’s also a special chance to witness the moment that a new life is formed. I also had my family present to witness my first intercourse. I felt less nervous having my family there to accompany me, and also give me guidance on how to proceed. . . At first I had trouble entering my girlfriend, but my mother suggested I take things more slowly and relax, and I was able to eventually slip it in. I snapped this photo right at the moment before he came, and it was truly a beautiful scene.” The photo also shows the man’s mother and sister on the edge of the bed to provide tips and encouragement.... ds is actually commendable...."

Comedian Alibaba shared this photo on his IG page, See photo.lol

@alibabagcfr"When I said this, some idiots said stick to comedy. Now that she has said the same thing I said... I hope I can be permitted to branch into other things. Some people have just let their personal opinions becloud their rational take on issues of national interest. When you benchmarked and budgeted $45, but was earning over $130, you failed to save, failed to invest, failed to strengthen economy and failed to plan. But now want all that done with $30-50 per barrel. NA beans?"