Omo-Agege Takes Senate, AGF To Court

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday fixed April 30 to hear a suit filed by Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege against the Senate, the Senate President and Attorney-General of the Federation.

Omo-Agege, who represents Delta Central Senatorial district, filed the suit to challenge his suspension from the Senate.

The judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba fixed the date after refusing to vacate an earlier order he made granting accelerated hearing of the matter.

The Counsel to Omo-Agege, Mr Alex Izinyon, (SAN) had approached the court with an ex parte motion seeking an injunction against the Senate, but the court declined.


The court then asked Izinyon to put the respondents on notice. Justice Dimgba ordered that the Senate and Senate president to show cause why the reliefs sought by the senator should not be granted.

The court gave the respondents seven days to show cause, ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter and adjourned to April 27, for definite hearing.

However, when the matter was called, Izinyon informed the court that he was ready to move his motion saying that the matter was slated for hearing of the substantive case.

Izinyon also told the court that the respondents had been duly served with the originating summon.

But Mr Mahmud Magaji, (SAN), counsel to the Senate and Senate president, raised an objection, saying that he had filed a memorandum of conditional appearance.

Magaji said he filed an application, seeking the court to set aside its order which granted abridgement of time to hear the matter.



The counsel maintained that he was just briefed of the matter on April 19, and that he had not sighted any of the originating processes.

The judge, however, said that the court had proof that the Senate and the Senate president had been served through clerk of the Senate.

“I have to protect the integrity of the court. On two occasions, this court has respected the Senate and as well, I expect the Senate to respect the court,” Dimgba said.

He directed the respondents to serve advance copies of their counter affidavits and other processes on the plaintiffs through email, not later than 7 p.m, April 27.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 30 for hearing of the substantive suit.

Omo-Agege is asking the court to among other reliefs; grant an order restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with his rights and privileges as a Senator.

“An order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, privies or officers from interfering with the plaintiff’s rights and or privileges, as a Senator.

The reliefs also including ‘’preventing him from entering or remaining within the precinct or chamber of the Senate or National Assembly”, among others.

NAN

#BBNaija: ''People voted out of pity for Efe and not because he had potentials or values'' Tobi

This is what Tobi had to say about Efe, the winner of #BBNaija season 2.''Personally, I think that in the last Big Brother that held, people voted for the winner out of pity not because they really saw value or potential in the winner, that is just my personal opinion, I stand to be corrected. But as for me, I wanted to go to the house and let people love me to the extent that when I leave the house, I would be a mentor to other people based on my behaviour in the house. I wanted people to still want to know about the Tobi brand after the show and that was my driving force''he told Punch....

Military parades captured armed herdsmen

Commandant, 72 Battalion in Makurdi, Lt Colonel Suleiman Mohammed, on Saturday paraded the three militia herdsmen captured by troops while keeping the peace in Benue State.

The herdsmen were said to have been captured last Thursday while they were planning another deadly attack in Guma Local Government Area of the state by soldiers who were on patrol.

The commandant said that the armed herdsmen had engaged the troops in a gun battle before three of them were captured. One of them was wounded.

The captured herdsmen were identified as; Abubakar Umaru, Yusuf Alhaji Yaro and Adam Likita.

Mohammed said, “The three militia paraded were arrested in Guma area where they were planning another attack.

“Immediately they sighted the troops, they engaged them in gunfire, but the troops were able to arrest these suspects.”

Paraded along with the militia herdsmen were; AK 47, charms, handset and ammunition.

Two of the suspects; Umaru and Yusuf during an interview with newsmen claimed that their meeting point was near a river under a mango tree in Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa state.

They denied involvement in the killings in Benue state, the duo said that they were not the actual culprit but were handed guns by their colleagues who ran away when they sighted soldiers.

However, our correspondent reliably gathered from one of the troops that engaged the herdsmen in the bush that the injured one, who claimed to be 20 years old, Umaru, was shot several times but felt no impact.

According to the officer, who did not want to be mentioned who called them ‘these little boys’, added that, “you only see them small, they are very deadly, the one with injury did not blink an eye when the soldier was firing at him, in fact, thirty bullets were pumped on him until he turned and faced the soldier before bullet could hit his left arm.”

The anonymous officer said that the gun used was MG which he said was more powerful than AK47.

Lagos 2019: 14 Parties Form Alliance To Remove Governor Ambode

Fourteen opposition parties in Lagos State have formed an alliance to challenge Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections.
The Chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the state, Mr Kola Ajayi, made the disclosure on Saturday in an interview News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He said that the “Star Alliance “was recently formed with the objective of providing what he called a credible alternative to the APC.
Ajayi, who also chairs the alliance, listed other parties in the coalition as MEGA, Action Alliance and New Nigeria People’s Party.
According to him, the others include People’s Progressive Party, People’s Redemption Party, Democratic Alternative and Accord.

Ajayi said that the People’s Party of Nigeria, People ‘s Alliance for National Development and Liberty, People’s Democratic Movement and Legacy Party of Nigeria were also part of the alliance.
He claimed that APC had yet to meet the aspirations of Lagos residents, hence, the need for a credible alternative.
“We formed this coalition to provide a credible platform on which to deliver good governance to the real people at the grassroots.
“We think Lagos residents deserve better and we should come together and give them the kind of government they want,’’ he said.
He urged the residents to embrace the coalition which, he said, was formed for the masses.
The coalition chairman said that the parties in the alliance had been
meeting regularly on the strategy to employ to win Lagos in 2019.
He said that the coalition would soon reach out to residents especially those at the grassroots on its development agenda.

The state Chairman of NNPP, Malam Shakirudeen Olofin, also told NAN that the alliance was formed to give residents a `better deal’.
He said that the coalition was the `Lagos Third Force’ with the intention to bring real governance to the state.

Also confirming the alliance, the state Chairman of MEGA Party, Mr Oladele Idowu, said that the coalition was formed to deliver `real’ change to the state in the interest of residents.
Lagos State Chairman of Action Alliance, Mr Shola Omojola, also told NAN that the opposition parties were discussing strongly in the alliance to give the state residents a better deal.

Obasanjo blasts Buhari for calling Nigerian youths 'LAZY'

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has faulted the comment credited to President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerian youths are lazy, saying that following the difficult situations the youths are passing through in the United States, Libya and other parts of the world, “their great grandfathers would never say our youths are lazy”.


The ex-President spoke in Ibadan, Saturday, when the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) held a Town Hall meeting in Ibadan. Obasanjo said, “But let me assure you of one thing. Having gone this far, I will not leave you high and dry, and I know God will continue to be with us. But don’t ever think that it will be easy. Men of valour don’t run away from challenges and it is the same thing with women of honour, except lazy men and women. But they said our youths are lazy. 

“Recently, I was in the United States and I said our youths have gone through many things in the Sahara Desert, in Libya and the Mediterranean, and somebody would say they are lazy; their great grandfathers would never try to go that far”. Meanwhile, the CNM declared that it would tell its over three million members the platform it would use in the forthcoming general elections. The former President said since he had been through several difficult times in the past due to his unshaken belief in the progress of Nigeria, nobody could intimidate him again.

The Town Hall meeting attracted many notable Nigerians, including a former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who is the national coordinator of the movement; a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; and two former secretaries to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo and Mr Ayodele Adigun. Obasanjo said,“Don’t be afraid or be discouraged. 

They will try to intimidate you individually or collectively. For me, I don’t think there is anyone that can intimidate me. Let me remind you, I have gone through many things. I have been jailed without committing any offence. Where is the person that jailed me?”

Even In Detention, Dino Melaye Defeated Them" - Faleke Mocks Governor Bello

Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, has reacted to the verification exercise conducted on Saturday in Kogi West, to recall Senator Dino Melaye.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Saturday, conducted a verification exercise in 552 out of the 560 polling units in the seven local government areas that make up Kogi West.

Despite the fact that Melaye was being admitted at the intensive care unit of the National Hospital and also placed on arrest by the Nigerian Police; the exercise in Kogi West was said to have witnessed a low turnout.

Aside the apathy that marred the exercise, officials of INEC were also said to have witnessed protests from electorate in some council areas, who said they were surprised to find their names and purported signatures on the said recall register.

As at the close of the exercise on Saturday, no polling unit was said to have recorded 50 per cent verified signatures of the total names on the register.

Reacting to the seemingly failed exercise, Hon. Faleke, who was the deputy to the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2016 election in Kogi, late Abubakar Audu; carpeted Governor Yahaha Bello of not being popular in Kogi state.

Faleke, who took to his verified Twitter handle, wrote, “The recall project has failed. The people won. The outcome today is not just about Dino but the open rejection of the Yahaha Bello led state government.

“Even in detention, @dino_melaye defeated them. Clear sign that Yahaha Bello is very unpopular in Kogi state”.

Photos: President Buhari, Tinubu, Saraki, others attend wedding reception of SGF Mustapha Boss' daughter, Amanda

President Buhari today led other members of his cabinet to the wedding reception of Amanda, daughter of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, at the Banquet hall in the presidential villa, Abuja.Amanda got married to her man, Otelemaba Westwood, at the Family Worship Centre, Abuja. Other dignitaries at the wedding reception included National leader, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senatre Presidnet Bukola Saraki and APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Source LIB 

No Town Is Under Boko Haram Control – Presidency

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says there is no single town in the country that is under the control of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Adesina stated this during a live interview on television.

He also believes President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has won the war against the insurgency to a notable extent, except for the ‘strike and vanish’ activities of the insurgents.

Adesina said, “In 2015, by the time this administration came, not less than 17 local governments were under Boko Haram occupation.

“By occupation, they (the terrorists) were running the local governments; they were actually sitting in emirs’ palaces and administering those domains but today, not one local government, not one town is under full control (of the group).”

He argued further that if not for the recent security challenges in different parts of the country, President Buhari’s administration has done very well to secure the nation and its people.

CKN News Receives Another Award In US (Photos)

Barely five months after winning an award at Washington DC as Nigeria's most outstanding online media practitioner, the Editor in Chief of CKN  News Media LLC (USA) Chris Kehinde Nwandu yesterday received another SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD at the just concluded 7th edition of the YOUNG CEO'S  BUSINESS GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT  SUMMIT held here in ATLANTA GEORGIA ,USA.

The event which was organized to round up the three day  world class  global Economic summit was put together to celebrate some emerging and outstanding young entrepreneurs and CEO'S across  the globe .

It was attended by several dignatories from across the globe including USA, India, Poland, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Canada, Congo etc.

The award was presented to CKN News Nigeria for its role as an emerging force to reckon with in the disemination of accurate news and information across the globe through its online media platforms and its CEO'S  performance as a an outstanding Media Personality across all media platforms (TV analysis ,media engagements) etc.

Chris Kehinde Nwandu CEO of CKN NEWS  is seen here receiving the award on behalf of his Media Group from the immediate Past CEO of the London Stock Exchange Group,Sir Xavier Rolet (KBE)

$462m Aircraft: American Government Quiet Over Payment, Delivery Timeline

The United States Government has quiet over the delivery date and payment options involved in the purchase of the $462 million A-29 Tucano light attack aircraft by Nigeria. It referred all inquiries on the issue to the Federal Government, noting that the latter was in a better position to disclose the payment and delivery options.

“We refer you to the Government of Nigeria to discuss payment and delivery options,” the US Mission Information Officer, Russel Brooks, said in an emailed response on Friday. According to report, He explained that the acquisition of the aircraft was facilitated by the Embassy’s Office of Security Cooperation, which worked closely with the Federal Government on the purchase and associated training, which Brooks said would deepen the US’ security partnership with Nigeria, boost closer cooperation and develop the capabilities needed to share the burden of defeating terrorist organisations.

The mission stated that the training included in the comprehensive package was designed specifically for Nigeria and would help build the skills and procedures to effectively and responsibly operate the aircraft in accordance with international human rights law and the law of armed conflict. Explaining the parameters for the aircraft purchase, the US Mission spokesperson said, “The parameters of the sale were designed in cooperation with Nigeria to meet its unique security needs. The aircraft offers improved targeting capabilities, allowing Nigeria to more effectively mitigate civilian harm and lead the fight against Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.”

The aircraft’s purchase has been a subject of controversy in the country following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of $462m for the deal without legislative approval. Some senators had on Thursday called for the impeachment of the President over an alleged breach of the 1999 Constitution for the withdrawal of the funds without due process.

Ladies, can you rock this on your wedding day?

LASG Releases Avenues To Report Domestic And Sexual Violence To

Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) is a collection of professional service providers and officials that respond as a group and in a timely fashion to the various needs of domestic and sexual violence survivors by providing legal, medical, emergency assistance, Counselling and psychological and psycho social support.

It is to encourage and create unprecedented level of collaboration among professionals working to end sexual and Gender Based Violence.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) is an organisation under Lagos state Government committed to ensuring total eradication of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the State. Our mission is to provide sensitive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence while promoting healthy relationships as we strive to enhance our coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State and indeed in Nigeria.



Mandate Of The Lagos DSVRT 
Utilizing a team model that includes all the relevant agencies, the Team provides timely follow up services in select domestic sexual violence cases where high risk factors are present or in cases where there is an elevated level of risk to victims, and/or children accompanied by a need for intensive victim support.

Vision
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team coordinates with agencies to overcome negative societal norms, gender inequalities and systemic oppression to victims of domestic and sexual violence through providing quality services and enriched programming.

Mission
To provide sensitive services; to victims of domestic and sexual violence; while promoting healthy relationships as we strive to enhance our coordinated community response to domestic and sexual violence in Lagos State and indeed in Nigeria.

Core Values
• Upholding victims’ privacy and confidentiality.
• Honoring cultural, physical, mental, emotional, and language needs of victims.
• Committing to domestic sexual assault prevention education.
• Valuing victims’ voices within the criminal justice system.
• Remaining professional and innovative.
• Working openly and collaboratively.
• Treating everyone with respect.



The Lagos DSVRT Team Leads

Mr Adeniji Kazeem
He is the current Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State. Mr Kazeem is a graduate of Political Science and Law from the University of Lagos. He also has a Masters Degree in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law from the University of Strathclyde.





Mr. Adeniji Kazeem is passionate about technology and the important role IT plays in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based Violence crimes. He is the Chairman of DSVRT.



Mrs. Clara Omotilewa Ibirogba
She graduated from the University of Lagos in 1980. She was called to bar in 1981 and started work at the Ministry of Justice, in 1983. She was a one time Director of the Department of Legislative Drafting. She also worked in the Directorate for Public Prosecutions. Presently she is the Director of the Directorate for Citizens’ Rights, where she has been since 2006.

She has also held a few ad- hoc positions such as the Legal Adviser for Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA). Mrs. Ibirogba is a full member of the Institute for Chartered Mediators’ and Conciliators.
She serves as Alternate Chairman of DSVRT.

Mrs Itoro Eze-Anaba
She is the Managing Partner of Partnership for Justice, a non profit organization of professionals that share a commitment to equality, justice and globalization of human rights standards. She is the founder of the Mirabel Centre, a sexual assault referral centre that provides free counseling and medical services to survivors of rape and sexual assault. Itoro holds an LL.B from University of Calabar and an LLB from American University Washington College of Law, specializing in Gender and the Law.




Contact The Lagos DSRVT
http://www.facebook.com/DSVRT

http://www.twitter.com/DSVRT

info@dsvrtlagos.org

112, 08137960048

http://www.dsvrtlagos.org

President Buhari to inaugurate Nigeria’s first seven-star hotel

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to inaugurate Nigeria’s first seven-star apartment hotel, the Fraser Suites, located in the Central Business District, Abuja on May 9, 2018 at an exclusive guests-only ceremony.



He will be supported by members of the diplomatic corps, heads of international multilateral agencies, regional bodies and international non-governmental organisations accredited to Nigeria.

Fraser Suites’ Marketing Communications Advisor, Haroun Audu, in a statement on Friday, said business executives had been invited to view the hotel’s facilities, enjoy the refreshments, soft entertainment and network.

He stated that the 126 guest rooms in the Fraser Suites were designed for the contemporary business traveller, replete with modern facilities and complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and Internet-enabled television, among others.

“Created to convey a sophisticated residence in the city, the hotel’s 126 suites each come with Nespresso coffee machines, kitchenette and luxurious L’Occitane bathroom amenities,” the statement added.

Guests are to be entertained by the blazing fast Wi-Fi, the Internet-enabled television and the welcoming ambience of the hotel.

Fraser’s Suites also has swimming pools for adults and children, a gymnasium for the health-conscious, as well as a lounge and a restaurant offering Nigerian and continental dishes.

Developed and promoted by the international real estate developer and investor, Royal Pacific Group, the hotel has won within six months of operation the globally acclaimed World Luxury Hotel Awards and was adjudged the Global Winner for Luxury Business Serviced Apartments, both in 2017.

I don't own Visionscape - Tinubu cries out

A former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says contrary to rumours flying around, he has no stake in Visionscape, a foreign company recently engaged by the state government to manage waste in the state.

“I beg to correct something and I think I have to do it publicly; the rumour I’ve heard all over the state and the social media is that I am the one who brought a foreign company. I am not the owner of Visionscape. Categorically, I’m telling you today, I have no penny…Yes, that is the truth,” Tinubu said on Friday evening while addressing the members of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, also known as PSP operators, who visited him to submit a petition to him.

The PSP operators, which met Tinubu near his Bourdillon, Ikoyi home, had called on him to intervene to help them to save their means of livelihood and those of about 25,000 people which they said were in their employ.

They also expressed concern over the surge of waste on the streets.

Addressing them, Tinubu also decried the spread of waste on Lagos streets, as well as the continued emission of smoke from the burnt Olusosun dump, saying there was a need to address the situation.

He said it was time he engaged with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode over the waste situation in the state.

I graduated from university when I was 18 years old

Tobi Bakre was the second runner-up in the just concluded Big Brother Naija Double Wahala reality television show. He was one of the most interesting housemates and in this interview with Punch Newspaper he shares some of his experiences on the show


What prompted your decision to be a part of Big Brother Naija Double Wahala show?

For me, I have always watched the Big Brother reality television show while growing up and it had always been somewhere I had dreamt to be. I had always seen myself as an interesting personality but I always felt that you needed to have the right connection or know people before you could get into the Big Brother house but this time around, it was an open audition. You did not even need to buy a form. All you needed to do was to get to the venue of the audition with your Nigerian passport. I got to the venue of the audition late on a Saturday and it rained on that day, so I had to return. The next day, I got to the venue as early as 5am and that was how the journey started. It’s a show I had always wanted to be a part of especially at this particular point in my life when I want to switch from the corporate life to entertainment. It just seemed like the perfect platform for me.

But you were working in a bank and later resigned because of the show. Didn’t you nurse any fears while making that decision?

For me, the corporate life has not been so lucrative and I have been on the same salary pay for about four years. I had not really had that job fulfilment because banking is a routine job. Based on my personality, it was not the kind of thing I enjoyed because I do not like a routine life. At the time, I had been frustrated with the corporate world, so it seemed like the opportunity came at the right time. I am still young and I felt that if things do not go as planned, I am just 23 years old, I have a good CV and I could still get another job that would pay me relatively well. I knew that to achieve greatness in life, you have to take risks and I needed to take that risk.

How did your parents feel when you took that decision?

My father was very concerned because he wondered why I would leave a paying job for something like Big Brother but he also knows my personality. I tried as much as possible to keep the job before I went for the show but it seemed quite impossible so I had to quit. Initially, I did not inform my father about my decision, I had to hide that fact from him but after I have got to this stage, I cannot go back to banking immediately.

When you said that you were 23 in the house, Nigerians did not believe you…

It is not surprising that they did not believe me. I feel that the reason they did not believe me is because of my accomplishments, not many people of my age have done what I have achieved in life. I graduated from school at 18, I worked for about four years and within that time, I have also done my Chartered Financial Analyst level one qualification; it is a reputable finance qualification. I still have two more levels to go. To a lot of people, it is really hard to believe especially if they compare it with their life or other people’s standard. I have not always been the smartest kid but I have always been smart in my own way. I graduated from school with a Second Class Upper degree even though I was the youngest in my class. I come from a family where you are taught to be hard working. At that young age, I had some distractions but I knew that I could not attend the university without finishing without a very good result.

Did you ever believe that you would make it to the top five of the reality television show?

When I entered the house, I actually planned for the worst case scenario and that was to leave in a week or two. I compared myself with other contestants and felt I would leave within two weeks but I felt that it was a platform that within two week if you are able to sell yourself and potential you would still be okay. So I knew that even if I had a week to participate, I would try my best to sell myself so that when I come out, there would be something I can do in the outside world.

How did you feel when you made it to the final three of the game show?

I was so happy when I made it to the final three. I was very happy because I knew that at that stage, anyone of us could emerge as the winner. We did not know the amount of love people had for us outside the house. I particularly wanted people to love me and see the values that I had because I knew that whenever I left the house, that is what people would still love about me. Personally, I think that in the last Big Brother that held, people voted for the winner out of pity not because they really saw value or potential in the winner, that is just my personal opinion, I stand to be corrected. But as for me, I wanted to go to the house and let people love me to the extent that when I leave the house, I would be a mentor to other people based on my behaviour in the house. I wanted people to still want to know about the Tobi brand after the show and that was my driving force.

When you were asked to leave the house, were you disappointed in yourself for not winning the prize money?

At that point, I had already won. In fact, when I was part of the last five people in the house, I had already seen myself as a winner. So when I was asked to leave the house, my next question was, ‘who is going to take the money home?’ I felt that I could not go into that house, make N45m and not double the money by the end of the year. Right now, my goal is that by the end of the year, N25m should be the least amount I have in my account based on the platform. Not winning did not weigh me down; beside the person that won equally deserved to win.

For a long time, your love interest in the house was CeeCee, what did you see in her?

Going into a place and being stuck with about 20 people, you would get to know everybody on the surface level and later bond with some other people on a deeper level. Initially, when I was the head of house, she opted to stay with me and I chose her, we started talking and it was a very natural bond because we had genuine conversations. I felt that she was a smart girl and we could flow mentally which is something I find very attractive in a woman. But I think over time, we saw other parts of us we did not quite like, so we had our several fallouts. Now that the game show is over, I am hoping to have a better relationship because I think the house put some of us under a certain pressure and we did not act as we would normally do in reality.

How did you cope with the verbal abuse she subjected you to?

I was raised in a family where violence is never an option and I am also in a society where violence can never be an option. Personally, I do not believe in violence and I have learnt that in life, you should respect women because they go through a lot of emotions. Sometimes they do not have the full capacity to maintain or control their emotion; so with all that in mind, I was able to hold back. Honestly, there were times when we would get at each other and I would say a word but later regret it especially when I went to bed; I felt very bad. I know that there was a time I called her silly and when I went to bed at night, I felt very bad about it. That was a learning process for me because it taught me that no matter how angry I get, I should never react in a negative manner. Even when she was spitting fire at me, I would not want to say things to hurt her feelings because you don’t call your friends names. If I expressed my anger the way I was feeling, I would have said things that would hurt her and that is not what friends do; friends make excuses for each other and that is what I did in the house and it made it easier for me to cope with every other thing.

It took a long while before you kissed her but when it finally happened, what went through your mind?

I actually did not see us kissing because I felt she had a picture she wanted to paint to the world, so I never really expected a kiss despite the fact that we played around the house and it was almost as if we were flirting with each other. Even when she kissed me, I thought she was playing a game with me and this is me being honest. The kiss came to me as a surprise and for a few days, I was worried because I began to wonder what game she was playing. That was a situation I did not understand.

After you realised things were not working between you and CeeCee, you moved on to Alex….

I did not move on to Alex; neither was it a fast move. Within the first three weeks, CeeCee and I had a very good relationship but for another six weeks, we began to have issues but Alex and I had always been casual friends from the onset. When Leo left, we decided to talk a lot more and in the house, typically, you always had that one person you always confided in and both of us happened to be each other’s confidant. So we got closer and got to understand each other better. It was a case if us getting to know each other better and it was a gradual process. It was not until the last two weeks to the end of the show that we became very close and a week to the end of the show, we realised that we shared some feelings with each other. It did not happen instantly. It was a very gradual process. Three months is a long time for a lot of things to happen.

Are you and Alex in a relationship?

The truth is that we like each other but the Big Brother has presented us with a very big opportunity we could actually dilly dally with our relationship and work but this is not the best time for anybody to be in a relationship. Personally, I advised her that this is not the time to be in a relationship, it is a time to focus on your goals and everything you want to achieve in life. When you get to that comfort zone that you have achieved everything, you desire you can entertain a relationship. That was my advice to her. I told her that I like her and I am sure she likes me as well but we should maintain a cordial relationship at the moment and keep our friendship going as we achieve things both collectively and individually. When we get to a stage in our friendship where we feel that we have done well and we have grown together, then maybe we could be together. When we get there or if we ever get there, the world would know.

There was a time you came out of the pool and the structure of your man.hood showed. It caused a frenzy on the internet, especially among the women. How have you been coping with them?

I was shown the video clip of that moment by a few people but I would not lie to you, I do not know how much love I have from the female folk because since I left the house, I have been working. For a very long while, I would be entrenched in my work so I do not think there would be time for me to entertain anything that resulted from that video clip or picture. I am just focused on attaining new goals.

Are you saying that you are not ready to be in a relationship?

Honestly, right now, a relationship is that last thing on my mind because that would demand my attention and time which I can put into other use. I have a timeline with this opportunity that has been presented to me. I am trying to build a brand that would never die regardless of what is happening because I know that with time, the need to see Tobi would fizzle out. So I need to milk it while it is here and make my face a constant feature. I have a lot of work to do. So a relationship is not on my plate.

When you saw your parents for the first time after the show what was the first thing they told you?

They told me that they are proud of me and my father called me his role model and that meant a lot to me. Not every man gets such words from his father. It was a great moment for me.

APC reveals Ali Modu Sheriff’s ‘ill intentions’

 

The Borno State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described the planned defection of former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to the ruling party, as “a rumour.”

The State Chairman of the party, Ali Dolori said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The report came that the former PDP chairman was set to join the ruling party on Thursday.

The leadership of the APC, however, asked him to join from his ward.

Reacting, Dolori said, “I want to assure you that the news remains a rumour, because somebody is only trying to fly a kite that is capable of causing confusion during the state congress.

“We are aware of the well articulated plan and we are ready to defend any attempt towards destroying our party at the ward level and in any state — not just Borno.

“We shall conduct our congresses peacefully without any rancour and I assure you that nobody can create any faction for our party in Borno during the congress expected to hold in less than two weeks.”

He noted that Article 9 .1 of the party’s 2014 amended Constitution was specific that application “for membership shall be made to and cleared by the party ’s ward executives in the Local Government Area where the person was born, resides , works or originates.”

Dolori added, “Online registration shall also be acceptable, provided that it was cleared by the party ’s National Working Committee.

“Where an application is refused, the applicant may, as of right, appeal to the Local Government Area Executive Committee of the party or to the National Secretary or National Chairman in case of online registration.”

“I, therefore, don’t see how the party’s national chairman can receive any person into the party, when the constitution is clear about the process in that regard,” Dolori said

Singer, Cynthia Morgan sued over unpaid rent, tax evasion; landlord to kick her out

 

Nigerian reggae artiste, Cynthia Morgan, is facing financial difficulties at the moment.

Punchng claims it has exclusively obtained court documents showing that she has been charged to the Ikeja High Court for failure to pay her rent at her Omole apartment. She has also been served court papers for evading tax.

A source close to the owner of the apartment where the singer currently lives told Saturday Beats the amount she owed, which tallies with the information on the court papers.

The source added that the singer’s brother has been begging the owner of the apartment for further grace period even though the initial six months grace given to the artiste ended last month.

“Ever since she moved into the apartment as a tenant, the owner of the building has described her as a nightmare.

At a point, the owner of the house didn’t even know who was staying in the flat because every day, new faces showed up at the apartment and they would leave the gate open at odd hours.

Young scary looking boys with different hair colours come around and they smoke in the compound.

They disturb the couple living in the flat upstairs, who have been complaining that they can’t even let their kids play in the compound because of the type of people they see around.

She has owed waste bills for over a year. They always play loud music at odd hours of the day. Funnily enough, the man who lives upstairs is a popular celebrity designer.

His wife always complains that her home help sweeps cigarette butts everywhere all the time. Cynthia Morgan decided at a point that she was going to be recording in her room.

When the noise was too much, the owner of the house had to talk to her about it. She has been given quit notice. The six months grace period is up and she was meant to have moved out last month. She is flat broke.

She owes N1.3m. She was also served court papers for not paying up to N3.584m in tax,” the source said.

Voters shun INEC recall process for Dino Melaye

Voters in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi have shunned the ongoing verification exercise organised by INEC to authenticate the signatures of voters seeking to recall Sen. Dino Melaye (APC/Kogi West). 
Correspondents monitoring the exercise in Melaye’s Kogi West Senatorial District, observed that the polling units were empty, with many people claiming that they were not aware of it. At some areas, youths protested against the move to recall the senator who they described as “an excellent representative”. 

An NYSC member, Miss Opemipo Solomon, the INEC officer at Akafe Lane polling unit, said that no one had shown up since they arrived the voting venue at 6.45 a.m.

“No one has come to sign the recall papers; what we have had so far are threats from people asking us leave this place. “The people do not appear interested in what we are doing. Some youths have come to warn us against staying here,” she said. Another corps member, David Adah, INEC presiding officer at the Odo Akete polling unit also in kabba, said that many youths were angry over the recall process. 

“So many youths from the community are angry; they have alleged that their signatures were forged to endorse the recall process. “Most of the youths, who saw their names among those that signed for the recall of Melaye, have disowned the signatures and insisted that they are happy with the Senator,” he said. At the embattled senator’s polling unit in Ayetoro Gbede, a traditional ruler, Chief Ojo Adekunle, who led some youths to protest against the recall process, said that they were not aware of Melaye’s offence.

“Melaye has done so well and we are happy with him; we have no reason to want to recall him,” he said. Adekunle said that Melaye was the best Senator Kogi West had ever produced, and urged his people not to betray their representative at this trying period. Mrs. Vicoria Ajewole, APC Woman Leader in Kabba Local Government, expressed surprise at the recall process, and declared that “it won”t work”. “Melaye is our son; there is no way anyone can recall him,” she said. At the central area of Kabba town, youths were seen chanting songs in praise of Sen. Dino Melaye.

They vowed to resist attempt to disgrace him. Efforts to speak with INEC officials at the commission’s office in Kabba proved abortive as they refused to comment on the exercise Stern-looking Policemen keeping vigil at the polling points also refused to comment on the exercise. (NAN)

Garba blasts APC for moving convention, speaks on best candidate for National Chairman

 

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has criticized the party’s leadership for moving the National Convention from May 14.

Garba stated that his supporters were looking forward to a credible poll and cited “tokenism and internal jostling and politicking” as the reason the convention was postponed. 

He, however, insisted that the ruling party needed a young, brilliant and credible hands in the coming elections.

“I received, with amusement, the sudden proposed postponement of the national convention of the APC, initially scheduled for the 14th of May in the coming month.

“The Nigerian people and particularly my supporters across the 36 states were looking forward to a credible and transparent process to elect the national leaders of our party.

“However, tokenism and internal jostling and politicking seem to be trumping some of our strongly held progressive and democratic values as a party. It is important that our party prioritizes the interest of the country over political bickering.

“Hence, the APC must demonstrate to the entire country that it believes in internal democracy and will be guided by the constitution of the party, outside of which might lead to the complete erosion of our party’s credibility before the Nigerian people.

“I am however leading a group of young, brilliant and capable individuals within the party, from which we will be presenting a credible alternative to run for the office of the party chairman.

“The APC without a doubt requires a new brand of leadership; one that will chart a new vision for the party, and more pertinently the Nigerian people and we are ready to produce that leadership from amongst us,” he said.

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has criticized the party’s leadership for moving the National Convention from May 14.

Garba stated that his supporters were looking forward to a credible poll and cited “tokenism and internal jostling and politicking” as the reason the convention was postponed.

He, however, insisted that the ruling party needed a young, brilliant and credible hands in the coming elections.

“I received, with amusement, the sudden proposed postponement of the national convention of the APC, initially scheduled for the 14th of May in the coming month.

“The Nigerian people and particularly my supporters across the 36 states were looking forward to a credible and transparent process to elect the national leaders of our party.

“However, tokenism and internal jostling and politicking seem to be trumping some of our strongly held progressive and democratic values as a party. It is important that our party prioritizes the interest of the country over political bickering.

“Hence, the APC must demonstrate to the entire country that it believes in internal democracy and will be guided by the constitution of the party, outside of which might lead to the complete erosion of our party’s credibility before the Nigerian people.

“I am however leading a group of young, brilliant and capable individuals within the party, from which we will be presenting a credible alternative to run for the office of the party chairman.

“The APC without a doubt requires a new brand of leadership; one that will chart a new vision for the party, and more pertinently the Nigerian people and we are ready to produce that leadership from amongst us,” he said.

IPOB members set to storm White House as Buhari visits Trump

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has planned to storm the White House as President Muhammadu Buhari visits President Donald Trump of the United States of America, USA, at the White House, Washington DC.
President Trump had recently invited the Nigerian leader which appears to be the first invitation from the United States President to any President in the continent of African. 

Newsmen that visited the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, reports that every arrangement has been made by the Nigerian community in America to welcome the President.

It was also gathered that the Nigerian embassy was doing everything possible to ensure that the activities of the IPOB members did not embarrass the President when he meets with his American counterpart tomorrow. 

From intelligence reports, members of the IPOB had planned to protest during President Buhari’s meeting with President Trump and had already gotten clearance from the American security operatives for the protest.

The IPOB members it was further gathered had stormed Comfort Inn Hotel at 4050 Powder Mill Road, Belts Ville, Merryland last week’s Friday where the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu had held a town hall meeting, but the governor was said to have ignored their presence. At the town hall meeting, the IPOB members had entered the venue well dressed with their Biafran flags inside their suites only for them to bring out the flags as the meeting progressed.

According to sources, the embassy found it difficult to stop any protests from any group because the IPOB had been given permit by the police and going by the American policy, the protesters will be given police protection within the period of their protest as efforts towards stopping them could infuriate the members of the group that has been outlawed in Nigeria. A source revealed had claimed that there were attempts by some of the embassy members to see whether they could identify the people behind the planned protest in order to see the possibility of using their family members to persuade them not to do anything that could embarrass the Nigerian President as well as the entire Nigerian community in the United States.

Meanwhile, some members of the President’s entourage arrived Washington early hours of Saturday. Among them include, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olanisakin, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, DG-NIA, Ahmed Abubakar Rufai, the Attorney General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, and Malam Mamman Daura who is said to be organizing the private investors. 

Also to be part of the delegation from the private sector are the Chairman and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Tope Shonubi, the governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun and his counterpart from Plateau, Simon Lalong, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu Ukeje, Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr.Okechukwu Enelamah. President Buhari who left Nigeria yesterday, will have audience with the Chief Executive Officers of United States in Blair House tomorrow after meeting with President Trump, in his bid to attract more foreign investors to Nigeria. At the official visit, he will have bilateral meeting with President Trump and a working lunch tomorrow. 

The meeting according to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina is expected to discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as: promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security. The meeting will further deepen the US-Nigeria relationship as the United States considers Nigeria’s economic growth, security and leadership in Africa to be critical aspects of their strategic partnership. 

In the area of aviation, the Nigerian officials will be meeting with Boeing, the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world, on the National Carrier Project. On agriculture, they will meet with large equipment manufacturers with focus on harvesting and post harvesting equipment. In the area of transportation, the officials will meet with the GE-led consortium for the implementation of the interim phase of the narrow gauge rail concession. 

In the interim phase, a substantive concession agreement will be negotiated and finalized to provide the consortium the opportunity to invest an estimated $2bn, to modernize the rail line from Lagos to Kano (Western Line) and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri (Eastern Line). During the meeting, the concession framework and the interim phase framework agreements are expected to be signed. The Nigerian officials will also meet with US-EXIM Bank and the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation to explore competitive financing arrangements. 

Recall that that in 2017, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and the United States Department of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote and encourage commercial and investment ties between Nigeria and the United States, with initial focus on infrastructure, agriculture, digital economy, investment and regulatory reforms.