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NFF Offers Keshi Fresh Deal

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM52LBYYflwNwT43xrwzMAQTnGyetV9vIzgKbR7QfXRRMxep4dx-CZcNVj7nRAawgNr0YBvaL6lh_bEX0m9sfVyuivHrM6Qh3Xjy4VVkWb_-MxShoJmUDs8SnSTdQRIChkdjb4lZBM6Ar/s1600/Keshi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEM52LBYYflwNwT43xrwzMAQTnGyetV9vIzgKbR7QfXRRMxep4dx-CZcNVj7nRAawgNr0YBvaL6lh_bEX0m9sfVyuivHrM6Qh3Xjy4VVkWb_-MxShoJmUDs8SnSTdQRIChkdjb4lZBM6Ar/s1600/Keshi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Even as there are ongoing moves by Stephen Keshi to step into the vacant Burkina Faso national team job, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, confirmed Monday that a fresh deal for the ex-international to return to the Eagles job would be ready for signing by next week.</b></div>
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Pinnick similarly disclosed that a draft copy of the contract would be sent to Keshi today or latest by tomorrow morning for his consideration.</div>
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The Burkina Football Federation (BFF) last week announced Keshi as one of the three individuals on the shortlist for the national team job. Keshi is bidding for the contract alongside German Gernot Rohn and Milovan Rajevac.</div>
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But the NFF president who recalled that the Technical Committee of the federation had approved the reappointment of Keshi said that the delay in his re-engagement  was done in order to protect both parties from litigation that might arise in the future from contractual disputes.</div>
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"We want to protect Keshi and the federation from the clutches of litigation. We have done everything about the contract and will send the draft to Keshi on Tuesday for his inputs. This is the cause of the delay why we have not formalised an agreement. Hopefully by next week, the contract will be signed and he (Keshi) will be appointed as Super Eagles coach, "Pinnick observed monday.</div>
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He however admitted that Keshi has the final say whether to accept the Burkinabe proposal in the event he considers the Stallions offer to be more competitive than the package NFF is offering.</div>
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"Keshi is a man and ultimately he has the final say if he is not satisfied with what we are offering in relation to what Burkina Faso is placing on the table," Pinnick said.</div>
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The NFF chief recently parleyed with Arsene Wenger on the prospect of some exciting young Arsenal players with Nigerian roots, playing in the stripes of the Super Eagles in the future .</div>
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He said he intended to travel to England in a fortnight for exploratory talks with Liverpool Manager,  Roger Brendan on the future of winger Jordon Femi Ibe.</div>
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He also plans to discuss with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea as well as Man City gaffer, Manuel Pellegrini on the future of Kelechi Nwakali and Kelechi Ihenacho.</div>

NFF Offers Keshi Fresh Deal

Even as there are ongoing moves by Stephen Keshi to step into the vacant Burkina Faso national team job, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, confirmed Monday that a…

23 Feb 2015

Obasanjo Holds Talks With The Gambian, Sudanese Presidents

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjKxPqC26q-6YXZKe76kdAZC7BuMe-I_1QTgkzVSV4Vsa-WD_rRQfMceR2Dw8t3AAfkmKXb51I1FO2qCLKBrOrcIiOWSyr4tMTHeoRScmwQ9ACXKz46wCvMCAd3cAfru_2RjA5JYbnzML/s1600/Obasanjo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjKxPqC26q-6YXZKe76kdAZC7BuMe-I_1QTgkzVSV4Vsa-WD_rRQfMceR2Dw8t3AAfkmKXb51I1FO2qCLKBrOrcIiOWSyr4tMTHeoRScmwQ9ACXKz46wCvMCAd3cAfru_2RjA5JYbnzML/s1600/Obasanjo2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has held crucial talks with President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia and his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir. </b></div>
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Obasanjo, who was one of four African leaders invited to private talks with President Jammeh after the 50th Independence Anniversary of The Gambia, briefed reporters on his visit saying discussions centered on the recent coup attempt, security in The Gambia and the future of the nation’s economy.</div>
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“One of the points that we looked at together is what this country has going for it,” Obasanjo said. </div>
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“There is relative peace, relative stability, relative continuity and relative security. These are necessary ingredients to fast track development and growth as a democratic country.</div>
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“This is why I said to my brother (President Jammeh) that nothing stops The Gambia from being the Switzerland of West Africa. Switzerland is a small country but it is a great country. Gambia is a small country but it is on the path of being great.”</div>
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He added that it is in the interest of all Africans that The Gambia grows to become a great country. “I, therefore, hold myself ready to be a partner in pursuance of that great objective,” he said.</div>
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After the meeting with Chief Obasanjo, President Jammeh held further talks with the Presidents of Ghana, Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea.</div>
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The President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, also hosted Obasanjo in Khartoum to discuss insecurity and instability in Africa, especially the crisis in Libya which has adversely affected other parts of Africa.</div>
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Briefing local and international media after the private meeting which lasted over 30 minutes, Chief Obasanjo said the meeting provided both leaders opportunity to examine peace and security issues in Africa, particularly the situation in North Africa.</div>
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“Peace, security and stability which are fundamental to the development of any nation must be our preoccupation,” Chief Obasanjo said. </div>
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“We must do everything possible to ensure that all over Africa, and particularly in North Africa, efforts are made to guarantee peace, security and stability no matter where the need arises.</div>
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“My brother (President al-Bashir) and I have agreed to work together with other partners to ensure that stability is achieved in the region and across the continent,” he added.</div>
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Obasanjo chairs the Africa Union’s commission of inquiry on South Sudan and has been a leading advocate of peace and security in Africa, a <b><a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obasanjo-holds-crucial-talks-with-the-gambian-sudanese-presidents/202544/">ThisDay</a></b> report says.</div>
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In the 1990s, he initiated the Conference on Security, Stability Development and Co-operation in Africa (CSSDCA), a policy development process created to function within the framework of the African Union and adopted at the 36th Session of the Assembly in Lome, Togo, in July 2000.</div>

Obasanjo Holds Talks With The Gambian, Sudanese Presidents

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has held crucial talks with President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia and his Sudanese counterpart, Omar al-Bashir. Obasanjo, who was one of four African leaders invite…

23 Feb 2015

VIDEO: Buhari In Chat With Tinubu In London

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9rXLIQba-co2SHgP1YLavYh-iYBifzzELxLVxEMgqkAPHqrDLt-HkyMB3RM9fmcvPMukYlqRL9Z45Qh48g9aUz8nYpT9ucLChDfzMvmNS7s1waGvMXUws5wavjtPuw6gk_zyXJjB25_T/s1600/GMB+Tinubu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9rXLIQba-co2SHgP1YLavYh-iYBifzzELxLVxEMgqkAPHqrDLt-HkyMB3RM9fmcvPMukYlqRL9Z45Qh48g9aUz8nYpT9ucLChDfzMvmNS7s1waGvMXUws5wavjtPuw6gk_zyXJjB25_T/s1600/GMB+Tinubu.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari can crack a joke when the moment is right. This one may be on Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, remotely 'stalking' him on his visit to London, even when what he gets is a completely false picture.</b></div>
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The video was shot on Monday 23 February, 2015 at Cavendish Road, London.</div>
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<b>Credit: SaharaReporters</b>

VIDEO: Buhari In Chat With Tinubu In London

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari can crack a joke when the moment is right. This one may be on Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, remotely 'stalking…

23 Feb 2015

Buhari Will Never Rule Nigeria Again - Fayose

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowwIgxS4PeZIjOWj735ABWPCQ9fYTS1v5YceZ5F6u5auNlbbOiVEewpeWzpUd3htx9y7EfaoazVlLWfOKjHB4N2tplsBNmIKo_Elgu-bDl6O1i6N15u4ajz4bRQis7ik9mI4Gd9GQFr0w/s1600/fayose-court-ekiti.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowwIgxS4PeZIjOWj735ABWPCQ9fYTS1v5YceZ5F6u5auNlbbOiVEewpeWzpUd3htx9y7EfaoazVlLWfOKjHB4N2tplsBNmIKo_Elgu-bDl6O1i6N15u4ajz4bRQis7ik9mI4Gd9GQFr0w/s1600/fayose-court-ekiti.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday boasted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), “will never be Nigeria president again.”</b></div>
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The governor also challenged the former Head of State to swear by the Holy Quran that he did not visit the hospital in the United Kingdom last week.</div>
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Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, “I wish they can see spiritually what I am talking about that Buhari, despite the hullabaloo will never be president. I predicted my return as Ekiti State governor and I am saying it again that Buhari will never rule Nigeria again.</div>
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“After President Goodluck Jonathan, there will be a young element in his late 50s from the North that will be Nigerian president. I want to liken this revelation to the story of Elijah and Elisha. I am the Elijah while my followers are Elisha.”</div>
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He said he never wished Buhari dead.</div>
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He added, “I owe it a duty to Nigeria and its people to expose the antics of the APC cabal whose only interest is to seize power to further selfish interests.</div>
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“Without doubt, it is obvious that members of this cabal in the APC is trying so hard to deceive Nigerians on Buhari’s health status. That is the reason they have been using photoshop pictures to defend their lies on Buhari’s UK trip.</div>
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“First, they used a March 5, 2013 picture, claiming that Buhari was taking a walk in London on Thursday. Later they came up with another poorly cropped picture of Buhari with former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.</div>
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“The same people who lied in September 2012 that they received a gold card invitation to attend the Democratic National Convention in the United States of America are behind the dressing of Buhari in the garment of lies and I challenge Buhari to swear by the Holy Quran that he did not visit hospital in the United Kingdom last week.”</div>
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But, a group in the Ekiti State has described Fayose as a “political stalker” whose actions should be viewed as a threat to the life of Buhari.</div>
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In a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Segun Dipe, the Action Group operating within the APC in Ekiti, asked Fayose to tender an unreserved apology for having the general on his death-wish list.</div>
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Dipe said, “Everyone should put Fayose on notice how his words and deeds have been threatening the life of General Buhari.</div>
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“The indecorous governor is bent on seeing the APC presidential candidate dead before the March 28 presidential election because his party is sure of losing the election, and he feels he will stew for it.</div>
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“That a Fayose could be hounding Buhari with death threat is quite unwarranted and unfortunate. He has sent spies after our presidential candidate and may soon start toying with the idea of snipers, that is, if he has not already.</div>
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“That Fayose is fraudulent, corrupt, inept, indecorous and uncouth is not in doubt. That he is unambiguous in his wish for Buhari’s death is not in doubt either. What is worrisome to us is why the twice-lucky governor should be trailing the General even beyond the shores of Nigeria, to ensure that his wish against him comes to pass.”</div>
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Dipe hinted that his group was aware that Fayose in his alleged desperation to see Buhari dead had travelled to UK just about the same time that Buhari travelled and had been trailing the movement of the General abroad.</div>
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He said, “He wants to hold on to power by all means possible and he knows that an integrity-driven person like Buhari as president would clip his wings.</div>
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“Our group is calling on all well-meaning persons in Nigeria and across the globe to call Fayose to order as his actions and words amount to not only wishing Buhari dead but driving the General to his death. God forbid.</div>
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“The group also calls on all sons and daughters of Ekiti who are desirous of rejecting the toga of indecorous and gluttony, which Fayose has brought on them, to come out enmasse and vote General Buhari in as president come March 28, as well as the candidates presented by APC for all the other political positions at the polls.</div>
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“A vote for APC is a vote against Fayose’s indecorous ways and PDP’s clueless impunity.”</div>

Buhari Will Never Rule Nigeria Again - Fayose

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday boasted that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), “will never be Nigeria president agai…

23 Feb 2015

Bash Ali In Kuje Prison Over Brawl With NEXIM Bank

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<b>Nigeria’s oldest boxer, Bash Ali, was last Thursday, taken into police custody after a prolonged row with Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, over the sponsorship of a Guinness Book of World Record fight.</b></div>
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The boxer, in his seventies, was taken away on Wednesday after the bank accused him of threatening to bomb its premises in Abuja before calling in the police.</div>
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Mr. Ali has denied the allegation.</div>
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“I never said I will bomb their office", Mr. Ali said. “If any institution owned by government disobeys the order of Mr. President because of corruption, that institution should be closed down. That is what I said.”</div>
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He said his arrest was an attempt to silence him from exposing the bank's management's demand for bribe.</div>
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The boxer and three members of his team were arrested and charged for nuisance the following day, after spending a night at the notorious SARS unit. The court subsequently remanded them in Kuje prison custody.</div>
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The boxer’s ambition to place his name in the Guinness Book of World Record has seen him picket many institutions over the last decade, including the Nigerian Police Force, headquarters of the ruling People’s Democratic Party and the National Assembly.</div>
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In the last decade, Mr. Ali lived for several days on the street corners, bus stops and gates of institutions he targeted. When Mr. Ali chooses a target, he camps there, occupies the office and pickets them until he is heard.</div>
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His cause climaxed in 2013 when the National Sports Commission set up a Local Organizing Committee for the fight. NEXIM Bank was offered a seat on that committee. Mr. Ali claims it was at the inauguration of the committee on January 7, 2014 that NEXIM got a “presidential” directive to provide $30 million for the fight.</div>
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“That’s their role on the committee,” he said.</div>
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The Bank denies knowledge of the directive and said it demanded copies of the directive severally from Mr. Ali, but he was “never able to produce” them.</div>
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“NEXIM does not finance sports activities. Notwithstanding this explanation, Bash Ali did not relent but decided to adopt every means to extort the $1,000,000 from the Bank.</div>
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Mr. Ali argues that, neither the “directive” nor NEXIM’s claim that it does not fund sports activities, is the reason the bank refused to provide funding for the fight.</div>
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He said the Managing Director of the bank, Robert Orya, demanded 10 percent of the $30 million support funds in bribe and “I said no.”</div>
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“He also demanded $100 million in bribe from the projected pay per view revenue from the match and I said no,” Mr. Ali said.</div>
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The boxer said after he turned down the bribery demands, since February 2014, the bank began withdrawing from the project - the reason he targeted the bank.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/177382-ex-boxing-champion-bash-ali-arrested-over-row-with-bank.html">PREMIUM TIMES</a></b> reports that the bank denied the allegations.</div>
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Hearing on the nuisance and threat to life charges, as well as Mr. Ali’s bail application, begins on March 4.</div>

Bash Ali In Kuje Prison Over Brawl With NEXIM Bank

Nigeria’s oldest boxer, Bash Ali, was last Thursday, taken into police custody after a prolonged row with Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, over the sponsorship of a Guinness Book of World Record f…

23 Feb 2015

Gbagbo's Wife Appears In Court Over Election Violence

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<b>Ivory Coast’s former first lady Simone Gbagbo on Monday questioned the charges against her as she appeared in court for the first time accused of undermining state security.</b></div>
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"I don’t know exactly what the concrete actions are that I am being accused of", Gbagbo said, insisting also that her husband Laurent Gbagbo was the legitimate winner of a 2010 presidential election that sparked five months of violence that claimed some 3,000 lives.</div>
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Ahead of her appearance, police moved to separate supporters and opponents of the Gbagbos as scuffles broke out outside the courtroom.</div>
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To shouts of “Murderers!” from opponents referring to the post-electoral bloodshed, supporters shouted back “Liars!”</div>
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Simone Gbagbo, 65, and 82 fellow defendants are accused of playing roles in violence that broke out in Abidjan when Laurent Gbagbo refused to admit defeat in the December 2010 election.</div>
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The former president himself is in The Hague awaiting trial in July for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court.</div>
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The defeated regime allegedly used brutal militias to attack supporters of the declared winner of the poll, Alassane Ouattara, but some of his backers are equally accused of atrocities, at a total cost of more than 3,000 lives.</div>
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The Gbagbos were arrested in April 2011, with Simone taken into custody in the north of the west African country while her husband was eventually turned over to the ICC.</div>

Gbagbo's Wife Appears In Court Over Election Violence

Ivory Coast’s former first lady Simone Gbagbo on Monday questioned the charges against her as she appeared in court for the first time accused of undermining state security. "I don’t know exactly wha…

23 Feb 2015

Skales, Wizkid In Hot Twitter Brawl

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxNfqqh9L1ZpVAns1W_muXKBGDf3wkWuWf00RDH5hnqVEIwqjsfEiB9rolSUty_8V0-X10zxa9cSMqM9plkssmTAGzRR4zwrgcxK7yEecIoWhBlam7gQ_KhishDbPdS6TNQzmFY_au3xX/s1600/wikk3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxNfqqh9L1ZpVAns1W_muXKBGDf3wkWuWf00RDH5hnqVEIwqjsfEiB9rolSUty_8V0-X10zxa9cSMqM9plkssmTAGzRR4zwrgcxK7yEecIoWhBlam7gQ_KhishDbPdS6TNQzmFY_au3xX/s1600/wikk3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Former EME act who is now signed to Baseline Music, Skales has launched an attack on his former EME label mate Wizkid.</b></div>
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In this twitter brawl, <i>Skales</i> claims he wrote songs for <i>Wizkid</i>, and that the Star Boy does not support him.</div>
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<b><i>“@wizkidayo no bad blood bro we family but show support to ur own for real it’s not by tweeting or bare words…..”</i></b> he tweeted.</div>
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<b><i>“@wizkidayo I don’t nid p.r from u bro das d least ting let’s call a spade a spade..ure a fake ass nigga…dat is scared of ppls sucess”</i></b> he further tweeted.</div>
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It was a back and forth between both stars. Wizkid immediately replied Skales. The Star Boy act said Skales is merely looking for publicity for his new album <i>Man of the Year</i>.</div>
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Wizkid and Skales were signed to EME in 2010.</div>
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While Wizkid’s fame rose, Skales’ career stalled. Both acts left EME in 2014 under different circumstances.</div>
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More tweets:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51dc_ielRaZcHnshQiRUCUiyvHxve3Wj7xB-bCqLEy3PcUwv4cYjiJRQL6w-9J1XMC_efKeMQTfcDcWWZoWqnZwP9coIUMW8Z-UwZTTep67AVOMl5zDqVxlet8g9CDVNyjtz8v3iB3IrJ/s1600/wik1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51dc_ielRaZcHnshQiRUCUiyvHxve3Wj7xB-bCqLEy3PcUwv4cYjiJRQL6w-9J1XMC_efKeMQTfcDcWWZoWqnZwP9coIUMW8Z-UwZTTep67AVOMl5zDqVxlet8g9CDVNyjtz8v3iB3IrJ/s1600/wik1.png" width="614" /></a></div>
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Skales, Wizkid In Hot Twitter Brawl

Former EME act who is now signed to Baseline Music, Skales has launched an attack on his former EME label mate Wizkid. In this twitter brawl, Skales claims he wrote songs for Wizkid, and that the Sta…

23 Feb 2015

Court Orders Akingbola's Retrial Over ₦47 Billion Fraud

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<b>The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday ordered the retrial of the former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, on the criminal charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court in Lagos.</b></div>
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Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court had, in April 2012, set Akingbola free from the 26-count charge for lack of diligent prosecution.</div>
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Consequent upon an appeal filed against the decision, the Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision, held that the lower court’s ruling was a nullity, and that the case be remitted to the lower court before another judge for accelerated hearing.</div>
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In a judgment read by Justice Y. B. Nimpap on behalf of Justice Amina Augie, who was unavoidably absent, the court held that any bystander who watched the proceedings that necessitated the appeal, cannot possibly come to a conclusion that there was fair hearing.</div>
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While noting that the court must decide on the merit of every application before it, the judge observed that it could not be said that the prosecution was not ready to move its application for stay of proceedings on the day that the charges were dismissed. </div>
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Referring to Justice Archibong, who had long been compulsorily retired from the bench partly on account of the manner he handled the case, the appellate court noted that a judge must have a sound basis for any judgment, as a judgment cannot be made in vacuum.</div>
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In giving a judicial nod to the famous quote of Socrates on the four virtues that a judge must possess: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially, the court held that Justice Archibong overreacted in his state of anger and fell short of the composure, decorum and standard expected of judges in the discharge of their judicial duties.</div>
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In the appeal argued by Dr. K.U.K. Ekwueme from the law firm of Olaniwun Ajayi LP, the  court held:  “A community of an angry people is a danger-centre; a judge must ensure that his court is not a danger-centre in order not to depart from administering justice.”</div>
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Justice Archibong, who was visibly angry with the frequent adjournments of the case on the request of the prosecution, in his ruling in April 2012, did not only dismiss and discharge Akingbola from the financial impropriety accusation, but also accused the team of the  five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) of indulging in professional incompetence in the way and manner they handled the case.</div>
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He also accused the team of being a drain to the public purse, and directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, to disband them.</div>
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“This prosecution team or any part of it shall not be given further audience in this court in relation to the charges against the accused either before this presiding judge or any other judge of the Federal High Court, for the reason I have given in the foregoing.</div>
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“Furthermore, I take judicial notice that the accused (Akingbola) herein is presently facing charges before a Lagos High Court emanating  from his tenure as the managing director and chief executive officer of the Intercontinental Bank Plc, the AGF may wish to regain control of this process and his untrammeled right to prosecute the accused  in another charge he chooses before  any appropriate court, as he can of course  do so at any time of his choosing.</div>
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“The prosecuting team presently employed, indulging in professional incompetence to the extreme, had been unmindful of the accused’s right to have the case against him clearly stated. They have been dismissive of his right to a ‘speedy’ trial, which in reality should be the credible procedure.</div>
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“I, therefore, dismiss the charges amended or otherwise for this incompetent and abusive prosecuting team. I discharge the accused accordingly and leave the AGF to consider his options,” he held.</div>
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The federal government had quickly responded with the appeal against the decision, accusing the judge of bias, recklessness in arriving at a decision to discharge Akingbola from the criminal charges.</div>
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It asked the appellate court to set aside the entire decision of the judge which dismissed the 26-count criminal charges against Akingbola before setting him free, <b><a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/n47bn-fraud-appeal-court-orders-akingbola-s-retrial/202512/">ThisDay</a></b> reports.</div>
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It also sought an order of the appellate court to remit the case back to the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for re-assignment to another judge for retrial on merit.</div>
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Court Orders Akingbola's Retrial Over ₦47 Billion Fraud

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday ordered the retrial of the former Managing Director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Erastus Akingbola, on the criminal charges preferred …

23 Feb 2015

Chatham House Confirms Buhari's Talk Engagement

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<b>The Royal Institute of International Affairs, better known as Chattam House, has confirmed that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will be speaking at its event billed for Thursday in London.</b></div>
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This was contained in a statement on Monday by the Directorate of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Garba Shehu.</div>
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A post on the website of Chattam House on Monday stated that Buhari, who is on a working visit to the United Kingdom, would speak on the topic ‘Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition’.</div>
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The programme, to be chaired by former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Sir Richard Gozney, will commence at 10am London time and last for just one hour.</div>
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"The postponement of Nigeria’s fifth election since its return to civilian rule in 1999, together with fierce political competition, a security crisis and severe economic challenges linked to the drop in oil price, have thrown into sharp relief the challenges of conducting this essential process in such a complex environment.</div>
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"While there is widespread speculation as to the reasons for the delay, there is also widespread acknowledgment of the necessity that national elections do now take place as scheduled on 28 March,” Chatam House said in its website while announcing the programme on Monday.</div>
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"General Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler (1983-85) and now opposition presidential candidate, will discuss the importance of democracy for Africa’s future, and in particular why delivering dividends of elected government matter both to Nigeria and internationally".</div>
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The statement added, "There would be a live streaming of the event commencing at 10am GMT and all those wishing to pose a question to General Buhari are advised to do so via Twitter, using the hash tag #CHAfrica".</div>
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<b>Source: <a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/chattam-house-confirms-buharis-speaking-engagement/">Punch</a></b></div>

Chatham House Confirms Buhari's Talk Engagement

The Royal Institute of International Affairs, better known as Chattam House, has confirmed that presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will be spe…

23 Feb 2015

Obasanjo's Exit Is PDP's Death Warrant, Says Kwankwaso

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<b>Kano State Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described the exit of  Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a fatal blow which points to the fact that the death warrant of the party is about to be signed.</b></div>
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Kwankwaso said the former president is a personality of great substance whose influence as a politician and elder statesman is too important to be ignored, adding that top notchers in the party underrating his exit are only shedding crocodile tears.</div>
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In an interview with journalist in his office on Monday,  Kwankwaso stated that the five governors that have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress were vindicated for seeing the futility of remaining in the party that had lost credibility and steam.</div>
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Kwankwaso said the PDP is on the road to extinction in the face of the abysmal rot in its leadership.</div>
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He however stated that the five governors had proven to everyone that they have political might to decide the fate of the party given the spectacular role they played in making it formidable affirming that the party had failed to live up to its billing in giving democracy a human face.</div>
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"At the time we were telling people that we can pull a surprise when we left the party, it appears that many people did not believe us. Now that we have left they have started realizing the fact that a great damage has been done".</div>
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He added that "We have already realized the fact that the party had completely derailed at the behest of a cabal whose egocentric ambition was only making matters worse. we cannot just wait and allow things to drift".</div>
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On the postponement of elections, Kwankwaso said he was not suprised by the decision taken as it was informed by the fact that the PDP was poised to suffer a crushing defeat at the polls saying no amount of postponement could ever make the electorate to change their mind.</div>
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According to <b><a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obasanjo-s-exit-is-pdp-s-death-warrant-kwankwaso/202539/">ThisDay</a></b>, he further said that change is what is badly needed in the country in the face of the appalling mess rocking the country saying the issue of insecurity could be used as a bargaining chip to defeat the PDP at the polls.</div>

Obasanjo's Exit Is PDP's Death Warrant, Says Kwankwaso

Kano State Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described the exit of Olusegun Obasanjo from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a fatal blow which points to the fact that the death warran…

23 Feb 2015

Nigerian Troops Working To Capture Shekau Alive

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<b>Following successes recorded in the war against Boko Haram in Nigeria’s North-East zone, the Armed Forces have intensified efforts to capture alive, the leader of the insurgent group, Abubakar Shekau.</b></div>
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Already, troops have been placed on alert to apprehend Mr. Shekau, who is said to be desperately trying to escape the warzone.</div>
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Military formations engaged in the war have been ordered to do everything in their power to capture Mr. Shekau alive in order for him to face justice; PR Nigeria, an agency that circulates press statements for Nigerian security agencies, quoted a senior military source as saying.</div>
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The order to capture the leader of insurgent group alive, PR Nigeria said, is borne out of the fact that on at least two different occasions, the military laid claims to killing Mr. Shekau and even flaunted videos just for the man to resurface and debunk the reports.</div>
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Mr. Shekau is, therefore, ordered to be taken alive to ensure that the military is no longer fooled by the gimmick of the insurgents.</div>
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Sources also told PR Nigeria that the rumour about Mr. Shekau’s invincibility is one of the factors that have made troops afraid to confront the terrorists.</div>
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But with the arrival of sophisticated armaments and the decision of top military brass to lead the onslaught against the terrorists, the troops’ morale has been greatly boosted.</div>
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Intelligence sources told PR Nigeria that the reclaiming of key towns in the North-East was due to deployment of new strategies, new equipment, improved discipline, and sincerity of the force fighting the insurgents.</div>
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In the past, colonels were said to have led direct attacks in accordance with military tradition but because of the large scale desertions recorded, generals decided to directly lead the war.</div>
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"It was even learnt that many of the troops that earlier deserted have returned while others have expressed desire to return to the front,” a source told PR Nigeria.</div>
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"With acquisition of new equipment from various sources and the specialized training of the troops on guerrilla warfare, the military indirectly called the bluff of some deceptive western countries who are now trying to save face by claiming to work with our neighbours.</div>
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"The effective collaboration and mutual relationship with our neighbours is paying off as they now realise that inactions can pose disasters to their countries too,” the source was quoted as saying.</div>
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President Goodluck Jonathan had on Saturday vowed that the Federal Government would regain parts of the country seized by the Boko Haram terror group.</div>
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Mr. Jonathan gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy visit to traditional rulers in Epe, near Lagos.</div>
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"I have made all the tools and machineries available to fight Boko Haram. I want to ensure that Boko Haram will not disturb or cause any violence during the forthcoming elections", Mr. Jonathan told the monarchs.</div>
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“Not even the strategy of mining over 1500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops", the Director of Defence Information, Chris Olukolade, a Major General, said in a statement.</div>
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He added, “All the land mines were skillfully cleared one after the other. Eventually, the resistance of the terrorists collapsed and the land forces finally stormed the town in the early hours of Friday.</div>
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"Many of the terrorists died while an unknown but substantial number of them fled with various degrees of injury, in the series of encounter along the routes of advance as troops headed for Baga.</div>
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"Apart from the 5 anti aircraft guns and the rifles captured from the terrorists, over 34 motorcycles and 5 vehicles including trucks being used for operations by the terrorists were destroyed in the course of the fighting as troops headed for Baga. The troops finally began clearing the terrorists from Baga on arrival in the town early Saturday morning.</div>
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"A comprehensive cordon and search phase of military operation has now commenced to enable troops mop up arms and ammunition and also apprehend any terrorist who might be hiding in the vicinity.</div>
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"The exercise will also determine details of the casualties inflicted or incurred in the course of the operations to clear Baga and environ of terrorists.</div>
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"Similar exercise is being carried out in over 12 locations namely Gajigana, Ngaze, Ngenzai, Marte Junction, Mile 90, Yoyo, Kekeno, Kukawa, Cross Kauwa, Kangarwa, Amirari and other localities where troops have flushed out the terrorists in the operations preceding the entry to Baga. The troops are now dominating and conducting aggressive patrols in the locations. The morale of troops remains high".</div>
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<b>Source: <a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/177339-nigerian-military-working-to-capture-boko-haram-leader-shekau-alive.html">Premium Times</a></b></div>

Nigerian Troops Working To Capture Shekau Alive

Following successes recorded in the war against Boko Haram in Nigeria’s North-East zone, the Armed Forces have intensified efforts to capture alive, the leader of the insurgent group, Abubakar Shekau…

23 Feb 2015

Agbaje Admits Tax Default, Pays ₦0.5 Million Out Of ₦1.6 Million

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldEytbpr8n20p71P8hjiT80uEk1IWz214mGHTs_eSesoLpIli-dlK32OcoX5TcBWB52E5JhJTuXmLzSvQvTAfQn0EI4RSx-kUFf_45mnB1kdn6BoGYZHP5m5vftdiB8U0pWfcKxLnXrdr/s1600/Agbaje2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldEytbpr8n20p71P8hjiT80uEk1IWz214mGHTs_eSesoLpIli-dlK32OcoX5TcBWB52E5JhJTuXmLzSvQvTAfQn0EI4RSx-kUFf_45mnB1kdn6BoGYZHP5m5vftdiB8U0pWfcKxLnXrdr/s1600/Agbaje2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend said the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, had paid ₦500,000 out of ₦1,629,000 being the cost of the Land Use charge his firm, Jaykay Pharmacy Limited, owed the state government for a period of four years.</b></div>
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Besides, the governor said a high level of moral authority was required to fight the country’s scare index of endemic corruption, which he said, was the real reason Nigeria had been witnessing socio-economic downturn since independence.</div>
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He gave an update on the allegation against the PDP governorship candidate at a session with journalists which he addressed at the weekend in Lagos House, Marina alongside the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Dr. Lateef Raji.</div>
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At the session, the governor disclosed that Agbaje had paid the sum of ₦500,000 out of ₦1,629,000 his company, Jaykay Pharmacy Limited, was owing the state government as the land use charge for a period of four years, <b><a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/agbaje-admits-tax-default-pays-n500-000/202505/">ThisDay</a></b> reports.</div>
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Fashola explained that the payment of ₦500,000 showed that Agbaje actually did not pay land use charge on his property located at 34/35 Calcutta Crescent, Apapa in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 contrary to Agbaje's claims that he did not owe the state government land use charge.</div>
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The governor said: "we said his pharmacy owes ₦1.629 million land use charge, he said it was all lies. He said that he has resigned his position from the company. But today, he has gone to pay a sum of ₦500,000.</div>
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"I have to remind him that he is yet to complete his payment. He must pay because that money belongs to the councils. His payment showed that what we said was true. I have listened to some of the interviews of Agbaje.</div>
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"I did this because all the allegations made by Agbaje about performance were my records and I must defend them. I do not listen to him because he has no content. I engaged him in debate in 2007. I am disappointed that his level of preparation he has exhibited after 8 years. He is not prepared to be the governor of this state."</div>
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On anti-graft war, the governor explained that though corruption “is a heinous crime which capital punishment will not stop it perpetration in the country. As for corruption, I have my own views that I have expressed consistently about corruption. I have always said corruption is the symptom of a more serious problem.</div>
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“There are so many levels of corruption and I think Nigerians or to country must reach an agreement about what we want to do about corruption. When we say we must stop corruption who is ready to lead by example? Corruption is not only taking money that is stealing and it is corruption and I disagree that stealing is not corruption.</div>
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“If you are driving against traffic, though it is an infraction against the traffic law to get to where you do not deserve, it is corruption. If you go to the commissioner to get a promotion for your sister before promotion examination in the ministry, is that fair? These are cases of corruption. Can you sentence somebody to death for that?</div>
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“So I do not think sentencing people to jail or death is the answer to the problem of corruption. The answer first is to provide enough for people and to lead them with a moral authority that is everybody knows that it is bad to cheat and when they break the rules that there will be consequences,” the governor explained.</div>

Agbaje Admits Tax Default, Pays ₦0.5 Million Out Of ₦1.6 Million

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend said the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, had paid ₦500,000 out of ₦1,629,000 be…

23 Feb 2015

Jonathan Distributed Dollars To Lagosians, Says Fashola

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<b>Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan had spent five days in the State, holding meetings with different people and doling out monies in hard currencies them.</b></div>
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Consequently, the Governor described the president’s alleged outreach to different groups including traditional rulers, cooperative societies and market women among others as an act of desperation.</div>
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Fashola, who spoke after inspecting some ongoing projects in Ibeju-Lekki and on Lagos Island yesterday, expressed disappointment at some statements credited to the president at meetings with the interest groups at the State House, Marina.</div>
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He said: "I want to assume that he did not make a statement that he would deliver Lagos residents from bondage. The question to ask Mr. President is whether he had come to free them from bondage.</div>
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“He was here for five days meeting with different people and groups, distributing money in dollars. It is an un-presidential statement made in an act of desperation. That means he lived in bondage in five days if he had come into the state to free people.</div>
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“If he can live here for five days moving with patrol vehicles that we paid for, let him go and spend five days in Chibok and he will know what bondage is,” the governor said while reacting to statements credited to the president.</div>
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While inspecting a new cemetery in Ibeju-Lekki, the governor openly disclosed that he bought his own vault where his remains would be buried when he joined his ancestors more than four years ago, reports <b><a href="http://saharareporters.com/2015/02/23/fashola-jonathan-distributed-dollars-lagosians">SaharaReporters</a></b>.</div>
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He observed that death “is a necessary end that will come when it will come”, quoting Shakespeare, saying there is need for people to prepare for it. </div>
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“We are here to inspect a cemetery. We often do not like to talk about, but there is a need for it because the population continue to expand and the Lekki sub- region is growing very fast.</div>
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“If you look at Ikoyi Cemetery, Abari Cemetery and all of that are more than 100 years old, they were built by colonialists and left behind for us. When you look at the way they have also managed them, many families cannot even visit the vaults where their loved ones are resting.</div>
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“We have this strategic partnership now with private sector. The investors are going to deliver a cemetery like no other. They will manage it and make the cost also competitive. There will be high, medium and low density vaults for people who really want to make a statement at their exit.</div>
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“It is the truism of life that everyone who comes must go so as we are building hospitals, roads, schools imbibing survival strategy we must also plan for the end. This sounds as something people do not want to discuss. I have bought my vault. It surprises people. I paid for it four years ago. As I always tell people if you come here for life you must plan to go. Those who do not want to go should not come.”</div>
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At the inspection of Lagos Court of Arbitration, the governor noted that plans had been concluded by his administration to unveil the first international arbitration court in West Africa sub- region, saying the compelling need to resolve trade disputes locally rather than travelling to London and Paris informed the setting up of the centre in the state.</div>
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According to him, “this is the place for dispute resolution. It is the Lagos Arbitration centre. We could save a lot of money and create employment through this court. We have lost a lot of funds to other countries in terms of arbitration in the past. When dispute arise in Nigeria, the preferred place is either Paris, France or London, United Kingdom.”</div>
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He, therefore, observed that the centre “is nothing special there. All we need is to create a centre that will have the necessary reputation. We have the personnel because some of the best arbitrators in the continent are Nigerians.  We also have the economy for the arbitration because a lot of construction, development and Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects are ongoing. Dispute from there could be resolved here.”</div>
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Jonathan Distributed Dollars To Lagosians, Says Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan had spent five days in the State, holding meetings with different people and doling out monies in hard …

23 Feb 2015

Ritualist-Politicians Back In Ogun Politics, Amosun Alleges

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<b>The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday alleged the influx of ritualists in the state politics with the elections fast approaching.</b></div>
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He stated this during his meeting with various associations and professional bodies in the state, which took place at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.</div>
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The Governor accused one of the opposition parties, which he did not mention, as responsible for the acts.</div>
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He said one of the stock in trade was forcing electorates and party members to take oaths inside a coffin.</div>
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Mr. Amosun, who just returned from London, having accompanied the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari there, drove straight from the airport to the venue of the meeting.</div>
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He cautioned residents and electorates to be wary of the ritualists. He said he was baffled that some politicians could descend so low to engage in rituals in the name of power seeking.</div>
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"I can tell you that the era of rituals is back in our state. Ritualists have started again, all in the name of election. They take oath inside the coffin. For those who engaged in such in the last administration, where are they today", Mr. Amosun said.</div>
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The Governor encouraged his supporters to rely on God, and shun any attempt to be deceived into rituals, the <b><a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/177388-%E2%80%8Bpoliticians-forcing-voters-to-take-oath-in-coffins-gov-%E2%80%8Bamosun.html">PREMIUM TIMES</a></b> can report.</div>
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"For me, I will continue to approach God for my needs", he said.</div>
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The Governor cursed those behind the rituals, calling on God to dismantle their evil plans, which he pointed out, are meant to draw back the state from development.</div>

Ritualist-Politicians Back In Ogun Politics, Amosun Alleges

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday alleged the influx of ritualists in the state politics with the elections fast approaching. He stated this during his meeting with various associ…

23 Feb 2015

Tambuwal In 'An Hour-Long' London Meeting With Buhari

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<b>Following the intense exchanges on the social media as to the propriety or otherwise of the claims that General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was rushed abroad over a kidney-related illness, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, met with him in London and confirmed that they had fruitful discussion regarding the future of Nigeria.</b></div>
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According to Tambuwal, who quickly opened a twitter account to sanitise the murky debate about the true condition of the presidential standard bearer, he had an hour-long private discussion with the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate.</div>
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Although he did not reveal what they discussed, he tweeted his first tweet that the parley was "productive and lively", signifying that: "CHANGE is coming".</div>
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The tweet, in full read: "I just had an hour-long meeting with @ThisIsBuhari in London. It was productive and lively. CHANGE is coming."</div>
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Tambuwal, who is running for the governorship seat of Sokoto State on the platform of the APC, is among many global and local leaders who Buhari met in London.</div>
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He also <b><a href="http://nigerianewsroom.blogspot.com/2015/02/buhari-meets-british-prime-minister.html">on Saturday met with former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair</a></b>, in company of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and a former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki.</div>
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But proactive social media 'antagonists' are still insisting that Buhari was rushed abroad for treatment.</div>
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The APC presidential candidate will on February 26 speak at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in London. This engagement too has been under the periscope of social media watchers, many of who communicated that Buhari and APC lied about it as he didn’t feature on the institute’s speaking list or that he sent his wife and daughter to represent him.</div>
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Meanwhile, allegations in the social media that Buhari was rushed to Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Centre, located in Baltimore, Maryland, has been debunked.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/tambuwal-meets-buhari-in-london-for-one-hour/202507/">ThisDay</a></b> reports that a source indicated that workers and specialists in hospitals confirm that Buhari was never brought to the hospital.</div>

Tambuwal In 'An Hour-Long' London Meeting With Buhari

Following the intense exchanges on the social media as to the propriety or otherwise of the claims that General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was rushed abroad over a kidney-related illness, the Speaker of …

23 Feb 2015

We'll Catch Shekau Before Elections - Jonathan

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<b>President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes the leader of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, responsible for thousands of deaths, will be apprehended by government forces before Nigeria’s elections starting March 28.</b></div>
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Mr. Jonathan disclosed this in an interview with <b>ThisDay</b> newspaper on Friday.</div>
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"God willing we will catch Shekau before the elections", Mr. Jonathan said in response to a question on what his government is doing about Mr. Shekau's threat to disrupt the elections.</div>
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Mr. Shekau, whose group has killed over 15,000 Nigerians, has remained elusive since the sect launched its series of deadly attacks in 2009.</div>
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In September 2014, claims by the Nigerian military that Mr. Shekau had been killed during a shoot-out turned out to be a hoax.</div>
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Efforts by the Nigerian government to improve the capacity of the army through arms procurement have been repeatedly frustrated by foreign authorities as claims of human rights abuses loom over the military.</div>
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But government forces have made significant gains in the war against Boko Haram in the last two weeks, reclaiming some areas seized by the militants.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/177362-well-catch-shekau-before-elections-jonathan.html">PREMIUM TIMES</a></b> reports that Mr. Jonathan admitted that the strength of Nigeria’s military was not commensurate with its position as Africa’s largest economy, adding that his government is determined to look inwards for arms procurement.</div>
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"Concerning the military strength being not at par to that of Nigeria’s economic development, there are some countries that don’t have powerful military,” Mr. Jonathan said.</div>
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"I don’t think Switzerland has a very powerful military. There are some countries that were even doing away with their military until this issue of terror, and now some of them are reconsidering.</div>
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"What happened in Nigeria is that after the civil war we had no reasons to buy sophisticated weapons. Since after the civil war, all what we have been doing is peace keeping, apart from stabilising Liberia and Sierra Leone, where our soldiers really fought war to stabilise those countries.</div>
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"Back home, we were at peace with our neighbours. It is now that we are witnessing Boko Haram that we see that fighting them is not what we do with AK 47, and now we have to look for money. I totally agree with you, if Brazil can manufacture commercial helicopter, what stops us from going into manufacturing."</div>
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The president further said that if re-elected, his administration would focus on local technologies for arms production.</div>
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"Recently, we wanted to buy tear-gas from a country and they were bragging and saying that Nigeria has human rights abuse issues. I kept wondering what is tear-gas? I vowed that God willing if I return, Nigeria must produce tear-gas", he said.</div>
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"What is the technology of producing tear-gas for God’s sake? What is the technology of producing APCs and armoured tanks? I agree with you that in terms of manufacturing, we must and we have no choice than to get into it as a nation. That is why we are emphasising about local content in production; that you can witness in the automobile industry which has come back."</div>
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Mr.Jonathan also said that more companies would be issued licenses to produce arms, to complement the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON.</div>
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"Just last week a company that bought over the machine tools in Osogbo came to show the bullet proof vest that they produced and I asked them, can’t you produce weapons and they claimed that they can manufacture weapons if they could be patronised and there is a guarantor,” said the president.</div>
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"Yes we have our own DICON, but DICON alone cannot produce all our weaponry. We must have more than two, three companies in a big country like Nigeria.</div>
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"I told the company that immediately after the elections, if I’ll be here for the next four years, before they start going for weapons, all the tear-gas that we’ll use in Nigeria, will have to be produced in Nigeria."</div>

We'll Catch Shekau Before Elections - Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that he believes the leader of the insurgent group, Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, responsible for thousands of deaths, will be apprehended by government forces bef…

23 Feb 2015

No Alien PVCs But Edo State's Found In Ogun - INEC

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<b>The Administrative Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission, Ogun State, Dickson Atiba, has said the allegation made by the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, last week, that 600,000 'alien' Permanent Voter Cards were wrongfully sent to the state by the commission, was untrue.</b></div>
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He said this on Monday when the state chapter of the Committee for the Defence Human Rights, embarked on a protest march to the INEC office in Magbon, Abeokuta.</div>
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He admitted that some cards, meant for Edo State, were brought to Ogun, arguing that they were not fake or alien.</div>
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Atiba said the total number of registered voters in the state was 1,795,794 and the total number of PVCs brought to the state was 1,368,75 while 795,962 had been distributed.</div>
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He said, "The number distributed so far accounted for 44.7 per cent of registered voters and not 40.6 per cent as being speculated."</div>
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On the issue of 600,000 'alien' cards, Atiba admitted that a few cards from Edo State were discovered in the state, stressing that INEC had no 'alien' cards as alleged by the Governor.</div>
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He noted that people had been collecting their cards.</div>
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He, however, appealed to all concerned stakeholders to be patient with the commission as the distribution process was still ongoing.</div>
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The state chairman, CDHR, Folarin Olayinka, however, condemned the INEC for the slow pace of distribution of the PVC in the state.</div>
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Olayinka, who also condemned the sudden appearance of 600,000 'alien' PVCs in the state, said it was disheartening that as of February 17, only 40.86 per cent of PVCs had been distributed in the state.</div>
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He said, "It is disheartening that a supposed upright constitutionally-established electioneering body, saddled with the responsibility of conducting a free, fair, credible and acceptable general elections in Nigeria, having achieved a better performance in 2011, is now demonstrating retrogressive, incompetence and bias towards the conduct of the forthcoming 2015 general elections."</div>
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He asked the INEC to justify how some North-Eastern states, where Boko Haram insurgents were holding sway, recorded higher performance in terms of PVC distribution with Borno, Adamawa and Yobe having 68.28, 85.19 and 74.95 per cent PVCs distribution respectively, the <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/inec-disagrees-with-amosun-over-600000-ogun-strange-pvcs/">PUNCH</a></b> reports.</div>
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Olayinka added, "Why hoarding the Ogun State PVCs? What is the crime of the people of Ogun State to warrant the hoarding of PVCs? What is INEC’s intention to wilfully disenfranchise and deprive the people of Ogun State their fundamental rights?"</div>

No Alien PVCs But Edo State's Found In Ogun - INEC

The Administrative Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission, Ogun State, Dickson Atiba, has said the allegation made by the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, last week, that 600,00…

23 Feb 2015

Spare Us Of Your Smear Campaign Against PTF - Fani-Kayode Warned

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<b>A firm of management consultants, the Afri-Projects Consortium, has condemned what it described as a smear campaign by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to discredit the achievements of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF).</b></div>
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The firm, a PTF consultant for four years, said a statement credited to the Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, contained “irresponsible slander” against the firm and its Director, the late Salihijo Ahmad.</div>
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Fani-Kayode was quoted as saying that the late Ahmad was “the witness that could have nailed Buhari about the graft that took place at PTF…but died under mysterious circumstances.”</div>
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The firm, in a statement by its partners, Alhaji Nuruddeen Rafindadi, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu, Mr. A. Dahiru and Amina Mohammed, said after painstaking investigations, Afri-Projects and its workers were never found to have behaved in an unprofessional manner in its dealings with the defunct PTF.</div>
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It said contrary to Fani-Kayode’s claim, Ahmad died in Abuja on July 5, 1999 of complications from a long-standing heart ailment.</div>
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The firm said members of PTF’s Board of Trustees were “persons of towering character and esteem”, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the late Mallam Yahaya Gusau, the late Alhaji Ahmed Talib, the late Chief Rufus Giwa, Prof. J. P. Clark, the late Prof. Chimere Ikoku, the late Chief D. B. Zang and the late Chief Tayo Akpata.</div>
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It noted that after President Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped PTF in June 1999, he set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC), headed by Dr. Haroun Adamu, to wind it up.</div>
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“The IMC went into a frenzy of investigation of the PTF operations and submitted a report in early 2000. That Haroun Adamu’s report, which is now being referred to, was a report lacking in credibility and undertaken with the pre-conceived notion of uncovering imaginary ‘sleaze’ by any means.</div>
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“For instance, the committee report accused our firm of over-invoicing our professional fees, and recommended a refund, whereas we had charged an amount less than 1.5 per cent of the total value of PTF projects and programmes under our management, which is a very low charge by any professional fee standard.</div>
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“In March 2000, President Obasanjo in disgust disbanded the Haroun Adamu-led committee for incompetence among other reasons.</div>
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“Several hundreds of millions of Naira of public funds stolen from the PTF were actually recovered from some members of that committee. Indeed, there were indictments, court trials and convictions of the affected Haroun Adamu’s committee members,” the firm said.</div>
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According to Afri-Projects, two other committees were set up to continue the investigation of the defunct PTF, and a final report was submitted by a former Police Affairs Minister Malam Adamu Waziri.</div>
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“Not only were all our responses affirmed, but the government team also accepted the validity of our outstanding fees. Part of these fees was approved and subsequently paid.</div>
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“The PTF certainly underwent some of the most rigorous investigations carried out on any agency, particularly with a fixed mindset to uncover ‘sleaze’ that was not there,” the firm said.</div>
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It added that none of its workers was ever indicted for wrongdoing, the <b><a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/firm-condemns-pdps-smear-campaign-against-ptf/">NATION</a></b> reports.</div>
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“We wish to state that our firm, Afri-Projects Consortium, related with the defunct PTF in a professional and principled manner. We provided consultancy services spanning four years, involving over 350 highly skilled professional and support staff, at offices and sites located all over the country.</div>
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“We discharged our services to PTF conscientiously giving our best and after its scrapping stayed around and engaged to give account of our services and we did so creditably and satisfactorily.</div>
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“That was what our sense of duty dictated to us; it is what the late Salihijo Ahmad would have wished us to do,” the firm added.</div>

Spare Us Of Your Smear Campaign Against PTF - Fani-Kayode Warned

A firm of management consultants, the Afri-Projects Consortium, has condemned what it described as a smear campaign by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to discredit the achievements of the Petroleu…

23 Feb 2015

I Had Private Meeting With Buhari In London - Blair

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwZ7AYECKR23YzBKwIeR6QGyB5RxBfwfYWWrxBFScljxIPS4S7BZgkxYQ2FOT35q6_pqqg5TeJD4bLNyNRjgxGHzKFJqNiU_if1FGNwU2O-wnXizREYotIAp6MmXLGHa6CMIavjdaWEVe/s1600/GMB+UK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwZ7AYECKR23YzBKwIeR6QGyB5RxBfwfYWWrxBFScljxIPS4S7BZgkxYQ2FOT35q6_pqqg5TeJD4bLNyNRjgxGHzKFJqNiU_if1FGNwU2O-wnXizREYotIAp6MmXLGHa6CMIavjdaWEVe/s1600/GMB+UK.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>A former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has confirmed that he held a private meeting with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in London on Saturday.</b></div>
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There has been speculations in Nigeria that a picture showing Messrs. Blair, Buhari and Governor Amosun as well as a former Kwara state governor, Bukola Saraki, was photoshopped.</div>
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Mr. Buhari’s campaign office had stated that the former Head of State was in the U.K. on a working visit.</div>
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However, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State and supporters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are claiming that Mr. Buhari is in the UK for medical treatment.</div>
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To buttress their claim, some of the critics claimed Mr. Blair was not in the U.K. on Saturday and could therefore not have met Mr. Buhari.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/177371-i-met-buhari-saturday-tony-blair-apc-candidate-to-speak-thursday-chatham-house.html">PREMIUM TIMES</a></b> Monday contacted the office of Mr. Blair for confirmation and we got a response that the meeting actually held.</div>
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"Mr. Blair had a private meeting with General Muhammadu Buhari in London", said Rianne Buter in an email response to our inquiry.</div>
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Ms. Buter also said Mr. Blair "hopes to visit Nigeria shortly when he will see the President".</div>

I Had Private Meeting With Buhari In London - Blair

A former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has confirmed that he held a private meeting with the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in London on Saturday. There has been …

23 Feb 2015

Amosun Berates Fayose, Says He's Not Sane

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HP0g6WQ4IRjnn8stsLM7UAyefLboX2DbwuB2H08nEoStkQEZYhW8M71ghhzlQvVnIrbJG-Hw4_yfs_D3W9GxxrIRakpHMFSyfbhrDQW7iIaesYGO4-5KjvmwIiswWqXv4qupZVHupAoV/s1600/Amosun3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HP0g6WQ4IRjnn8stsLM7UAyefLboX2DbwuB2H08nEoStkQEZYhW8M71ghhzlQvVnIrbJG-Hw4_yfs_D3W9GxxrIRakpHMFSyfbhrDQW7iIaesYGO4-5KjvmwIiswWqXv4qupZVHupAoV/s1600/Amosun3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b>The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has berated the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for his continuous scathing remarks about the health status of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), saying Buhari is stronger than Fayose.</b></div>
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He said this on Monday while speaking with journalists after meeting with 705 community development associations (CDAs) and cooperative societies in the state at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta.</div>
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Fayose's recent remarks came on the heels of the ongoing visit by the APC presidential candidate to the United Kingdom, where he met former Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair, among other engagements.</div>
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The Ekiti State governor had alleged that Buhari had gone for a check-up on his alleged failing health, instead of a working visit as claimed by the APC.</div>
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But Amosun said it was not in the character of the Yoruba to wish anyone death.</div>
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He said, "It's a big shame from the quarters where the ‎allegation came from. We are Yoruba.</div>
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"There is an unwritten rule: <i>t'aba n ja, bi ti ka ku ko</i> (Even if we are quarelling, it is not to wish each other dead).</div>
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"Even in this instance, we are not fighting. We want to represent our people. How can a sane person wish somebody else dead. It is a disgrace to our race as Yoruba for somebody to be wishing another person dead.</div>
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"For your information, General Muhammadu Buhari is even stronger than the character that is saying the man is weak; maybe because of the military background."</div>
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Amosun, who was part of Buhari’s entourage to the UK, said he had to struggle to catch up with the 72-year-old retired General, despite his own age of 57.</div>
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He said, "Even because of the way I walk, it's like catching up with him. For his age, maybe because of his military background. It’s like seeing Baba Obasanjo too and say he's old.</div>
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"This is the man that is very agile; we are even telling him that 'you have to slow down'. This is the man that we met together with Tony Blair. We left the place and we went to about five different places. The man is hale and hearty.</div>
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"Even when we went to Ben Television, I told him 'you can’t follow me, you have to go home'. He was willing, he was ready even in the cold. The man was walking round."</div>
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He further berated the ruling party for going viral on the Internet with falsehood, on the purported visit of Buhari to a London hospital.</div>
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He added, "You can see the photoshop they are using; they are saying a lot of rubbish. This is not politics. It is descending to an abysmal level and I think all lovers of democracy and all lovers of humanity should caution them.</div>
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"Politics shouldn’t be like‎ this; saying that he (Buhari) has three months to live. They are just talking rubbish.</div>
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"Politics will finish. Where would they be when you begin to talk this rubbish? I think it’s a shame and I think they are descending to a level that is unheard of, that negates reasonableness and good thinking. It’s against our tradition as Yoruba."</div>
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While talking about his administration’s interaction with the CDAs and cooperative societies, Amosun said he had gone to all the 236 wards in the state and met all the CDAs in their various locations, reports the <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/news/buhari-is-stronger-than-fayose-amosun/">PUNCH</a></b>.</div>

Amosun Berates Fayose, Says He's Not Sane

The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has berated the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, for his continuous scathing remarks about the health status of the All Progressives Congress pr…

23 Feb 2015

Jega, Dasuki, Other Security Chiefs Meet On Election

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<b>Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega will today hold a stock-taking meeting with a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the military and para-military organisations on security, for the general elections.</b></div>
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Today’s session with the military is the first since the polls were postponed on February 7.</div>
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The elections will now hold on March 28 and April 11.</div>
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A top source in INEC, who spoke in confidence with the <b><a href="http://thenationonlineng.net/new/jega-meets-nsa-team-others-today-on-state-of-security/">NATION</a></b>, said: "We are holding an Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) session to update ourselves on the state of the nation’s security and the electoral commission’s preparedness.</div>
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"This is the first meeting we are having since the polls shift  due to security reasons. All the parties will lay the cards on the table and consider what still ought to be done."</div>
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"ICCES is chaired by the National Security Adviser. The INEC chairman is co-chair. Others are representatives of the Defence Headqurters (DHQ), Army, Air Force, Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Directorate of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Commission (NSCDC), Customs Service, Immigration Service, Fire Service and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)."</div>
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Another source said: "We want to know the status of the security in the Northeast. We do not want to wait till the last minute. All the National Commissioners of INEC are also expected to be in attendance.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"This explains why this session is called in the early part of the second week of the six-week window for the postponement of the elections.</div>
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"Nigerians and the international community are eager to know how far we have addressed the security challenges in the affected areas.</div>
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<br /></div>
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"Expectedly, we will also brief the session on the number of Permanent Voters Cards collected, the training of 600,000 <i>ad hoc</i> staff on the use of Card Readers and the feedback from the monitoring of preparations for the poll in all the six geo-political zones."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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There were indications last night that INEC might restrict the military and mobile police to fringe posts during the general elections.</div>
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A National Commissioner said: "Military men have no role in the conduct of the elections; they are only expected to stay at designated checkpoints to make sure people do not traffic arms, ammunition or anything that could tamper with the electoral process.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
"They also stay at these checkpoints in readiness for rapid deployment, if there is any security challenge during the elections. No soldiers will be at the Polling Units, Collation Centres or have any direct contact with the conduct of the elections. Even the mobile police will only engage in fringe patrols without coming to the Polling Units. This is our position."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The INEC chairman announced the poll shift based on advisory from security and intelligence services.</div>

Jega, Dasuki, Other Security Chiefs Meet On Election

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega will today hold a stock-taking meeting with a team from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the military and par…

23 Feb 2015

My Twitter And Facebook Accounts Are Fake - Obasanjo

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo736zY9C1Kjjx2kn03N8IzeJBF0VDYBVyY6UCAUGYzyar5OHsISXiXGg3B7SgQH9r0Kfy-mITEtKgPhSOXSY2Q_e_dP6sqP0RCQU8SKeryxkZKWN5YAMnYyzS4gP05kRy4pX9fHLg6nw/s1600/Obasanjo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLo736zY9C1Kjjx2kn03N8IzeJBF0VDYBVyY6UCAUGYzyar5OHsISXiXGg3B7SgQH9r0Kfy-mITEtKgPhSOXSY2Q_e_dP6sqP0RCQU8SKeryxkZKWN5YAMnYyzS4gP05kRy4pX9fHLg6nw/s1600/Obasanjo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he does not have any accounts on any social media networks.</b></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said this in Abeokuta on Monday.</div>
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Obasanjo was reacting to a twitter account, @newsvergeonline, which had posted a tweet on Sunday, claiming that the ex-President had described the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, as a 'democracy wrecker.'</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
He said the fake twitter account with his name, Olusegun A. Obasanjo, posted the story with caption: ‘Fani-Kayode is a democracy wrecker, who’s very fluent in stupidity. Give him food, and he will sing and do shoki dance for you’.</div>
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Dismissing the twitter account, he explained that  all his previous accounts on either Facebook or Twitter had long been blocked.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Obasanjo said, "I don’t know where this comes from. I don’t have any account on either the Facebook or Twitter again. Go and block it.”</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Obasanjo used the opportunity to caution those using his name to operate illegal social media accounts, warning that the security agencies had been placed on the alert to fish out the perpetrators.</div>
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He said, "Nemesis will catch up with anyone doing this. It is illegal and criminal. If I have to pass any message to the good people of Nigeria, I know how to go about it with no controversy."</div>

My Twitter And Facebook Accounts Are Fake - Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he does not have any accounts on any social media networks. He said this in Abeokuta on Monday. Obasanjo was reacting to a twitter account, @newsvergeonlin…

23 Feb 2015

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