Ex-minister Ojo Maduekwe is dead

                        

A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, is dead. He died in Abuja on Wednesday evening.

The cause of his death was however unknown, but the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Walid Jibril, confirmed his death.

Until his death, Maduekwe was the secretary of the PDP BoT.

He was said to have died at his Ministers’ Estate residence, Abuja.

Sources close to him said he had a health challenge on his way back to Nigeria from the United States of America.

Jibril, in an emotion-laden voice, told our correspondent that the death of his secretary came to him as a rude shock.

He said he got the news from Saudi Arabia, where he is currently observing the Lesser Hajj.

Jibril, who alongside Maduekwe and other members of the Board of the PDP took over the running of the party following the crisis that engulfed the PDP after its national convention in Port Harcourt on May 21, said the party had lost a loyal member.

He said, “He was a worthy man; a very dedicated member of the party, who operated with an open mind. He was a very resourceful man, a dependable ally who tried his best for the country, his party, his family and everyone around him.

“It is a great loss to the nation, the PDP and his family. He was a national secretary of our party, a former ambassador. In fact, I have lost a friend and a loyal party man.

“He was one of the best secretaries of the party and a great manager of men. It will be very difficult to have someone like him. “

Also, a former Minister of Transportation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said he received the news of Maduekwe’s death with shock.

He said it was difficult for him to believe that his colleague in the BoT had died, saying that “he was a nice man. He was very intellectual in all his ways.

“He was a plain person, he had no animosity towards anyone. We spoke about three weeks ago and I never knew that we were speaking for the last time. “

While serving as the minister of transportation, Maduekwe popularised the use of bicycle as a means of transportation. This made people to refer to him as “Ojo oni keke,” which means Ojo, the bicycle man.

Born on May  6, 1945 in Abia State, the deceased was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister on July 26, 2007 by the late President   Umaru Yar’Adua

He left office in March 2010 when the then Acting President Goodluck Jonathan  dissolved his cabinet

No respite for Honeywell as Ecobank files appeal against Justice Dagat's judgement

                          
Ecobank Nigeria Limited has appealed a ruling by Justice Jude Dagat of the Federal High Court in Lagos striking out its winding-up petition against Honeywell Group Limited and its sister company Anchorage Leisures Limited.

Justice Dagat delivered the ruling on Monday on the basis that Ecobank’s suit was an abuse of court process.

But, Ecobank, through its lawyer Kunle Ogunba (SAN), has lodged two appeals at the Court of Appeal in Lagos against the companies on seven grounds each.

The bank is praying the court to set aside Justice Dagat’s consolidated ruling striking out the petition, as well as an order directing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to re-assign the petition to another judge for hearing.

Ecobank also filed a motion for an order of injunction restraining Honeywell and Anchorage or their agents from taking advantage of Justice Dagat’s ruling as it relates to their funds of all the banks in Nigeria pending the determination of the appeal.

The appellant, in a June 28 letter to Justice Dagat, urged the court to “urgently assign a date for hearing of the duly filed injunction in the interest of justice and in pursuance of the abiding tenet to always hold the scale of justice evenly and balanced between contending parties.”

Ecobank filed the winding-up petition against Honeywell Group’s inability to pay an alleged debt to the tune of N5.5billion.
But the companies filed motion on notice seeking to strike out the petition, following which the court ruled in the companies’ favour.

Ecobank is praying the appellate court to allow its appeal because Justice Dagat erred in law on several grounds.

In one of the grounds, it said the judge occasioned a gross miscarriage of justice and erred in law when it struck out the winding-up petition on the ground that the indebtedness is disputed.

“Learned trial judge occasioned a gross miscarriage of justice by striking out the appellant’s petition on grounds of an alleged repayment made outside contract and on terms vehemently opposed by the appellant,” the bank said.

Ecobank said the judge also erred in holding that its petition amounted to an abuse of court process because of a suit by the companies pending before Justice Mohammed Idris of the same court.

“The exercise of a right to commence a fresh action rather than counter-claim in a previously commenced action by an adversary is not an abuse of court process,” the bank said.

The appellant said Justice Dagat also erred by holding that it did not observe all preconditions in commencing the suit because “there is no precondition to be fulfilled before a party can exercise his constitutional right of recourse to court.”

The bank added: “Rights guaranteed by the Constitution are inalienable, fundamental and ranks higher to all statutory provisions including the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act.”

Prophet Arole Abass On Two Weeks Ministration To The UK

Prophet Raphael Arole Abass, the Superior Sheperd In-Charge, Latter Day Glory Ministries, Ogba, Lagos State, is presently in the United Kingdom with his wife, Lady Evangelist Olubunmi Arole Abass, for two weeks ministration.

The special crusade which the happening crowd of Celestial Church members in England have been yearning for years will take the respected cleric to the several cities in London before returning home.

Before now, the well-travelled pastor had been to many countries around the world chatting the course of the Most High God. His Canada special programme is still a reference point to many who attended the programme as the Canadian residents could not stopped asking for more.

His style is so ingrained in Nigeria’s social consciousness that several people would rush down to his Ogba, Lagos based church not to only listen to his sermon but catch a glimpse of his grandiosity on the pulpit. Latter Day Glory Ministries’ Prophet made no pretence about the predilection for prosperity. Prophet Abass preached what he practiced. His lifestyle is an opposite synonym of ostentation.

He really took the Celestial Church of Christ community by storm. All of a sudden, and like vapour that evaporates under the sun with high intensity, the self -acclaimed strategic preacher of practical Christianity.

 

Photo News: PREZ BUHARI BREAKING OF RAMADAN FAST WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI (4TH L) WITH  MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AFTER BREAKING RAMADAN FAST AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON MONDAY

Sonia Ibrahim and her Soldier Beau look Beyond Stunning In Their Pre-Wedding Photoshoot

Back in November 2015, Actress/model Sonia Ibrahim got a surprise proposal from her soldier beau. Months after, the couple who are set to tie the knots soon have released their spectacular pre-wedding pictures. The pre-wedding photo shoot was done in Accra, Ghana and we must say, the couple look absolutely great

Alleged unpaid N5.5bn loan: Court directs parties to await judgement filed in earlier Suit

                   
Justice Jude Dagat of a Lagos Federal High Court, on Monday, stopped a winding up petition filed by Ecobank Plc, against Oba Otudeko's three companies, over alleged unpaid N5.5 billion loan.
In his ruling, the judge said it would be premature to entertain winding up application against the respondents, saying that when a judge is aware that the case before him is also before another  judge, such judge should act with care.
The companies are Honeywell Flour Mill; Anchorage Leisures Limited and Siloam Global Services Limited.
He said Justice Idris had in suit number FHC/CS/L/1219/2015, ordered parties to maintain status quo, pending the hearing and determination of the suit before him.
He said the order of Justice Idris is still subsisting.
He therefore ruled that the application to wind up Honeywell Plc and its two sister companies constitute abuse of  court process, and consequently upheld the preliminary objection filed by Otudeko's team to strike out Ecobank Plc's suit.
Before the winding up application was struck out, the judge had earlier thrown out the committal application filed before the court by the Honeywell Group against Ecobank Plc, for disobeying a Justice Idris's ruling which ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo, saying that the application had earlier been struck out by Justice Idris.

Whistleblower promises to expose major corruption in the EFCC

                          

[EXCLUSIVE]

By Adenike Lucas

A well-informed source who vowed to expose the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) agency has denied that there is any "cover up" being orchestrated by the Presidential ‘kitchen cabinet staffs.'
In a twist of event, the former anti-graft officer who spoke to Adenike Lucas on the condition of anonymity, claimed that Ibrahim Magu who was allegedly linked to the ongoing arms fraud is "neck-deep" in corruption and is "trying really hard to secure his clearance from the Senate hence his reason to tarnish the image of the Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, along with the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS)".
A recent report accused Ibrahim Magu of being connected with a member of the Arms Probe Committee, Air Commodore Umar Muhammed (rtd.), who is said to have been arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) for alleged fraud.
The news story published by This Day claiming that Muhammed (rtd.) was a front for an EFFC official stopped short of mentioning Magu and the current National Security Adviser Mohammed Babagana Monguno as the officials of the anti-graft agency whom Mr. Muhammed was allegedly fronting for.
This allegation has since been debunked by Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC's head of Media and Publicity.
In a statement issued by Uwujaren, Magu expressed that the act to link him to the arms fraud was corruption fighting back. He urged the Presidency to set up a high-powered inquiry to verify the claims of the report in view of the gravity of the issues."
But the source made it known that the current DSS DG Lawal Musa Daura was a kinsman of Nigeria's Commander-in-Chief of Armed forces, who would never sabotage the work of the President.
"This is not corruption fighting back, the brave whistleblower said. "Magu is only trying to preserve his job and that of his Godfather, Monguno who acquired a lot of properties in Abuja during Dr Goodluck Jonathan's administration." To elaborate on how embedded corruption is in the EFCC, he spoke on the matter that happened not too long ago when Senator Ike Ekweremadu was appointed an Defending the EFCC National Assembly Liaison Officer, Suleiman Bakari who gave the award, this informant who is known to Magu asked "why was the press team from the organisation invited if it was not authorised by Magu?"

Regular cadets at the commission have been unfairly laid off since the sack of the former chairman. The brave whistle blower known to Mr Magu revealed the depth at which things had taken for worse and the cover up attitude used by failing police staffs within the anti-corruption agency.

"Magu is not really serious about the anti-graft war". Otherwise, why did he suspend with impunity, five Regular Operatives of the EFCC, with one of the most senior even to Mr. Magu himself, for exposing the atrocities of the erstwhile boss of the agency, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde.
Describing the recent arrest of corrupt people as mind twisting, the source revealed that the acting chair is using the fight against corruption to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning.
He claims that Magu is covering for his police colleague, Mr. Lamorde, who encouraged corrupt staff such as Suleiman Abdul, the Head of Intelligence and Special Operations Section, and one DCP. Mohammed Wakili, who fraudulently collected money from Pension cases under his investigation.
anti-corruption ambassador, the source revealed that the letter would have been seen and corrected by the chairman, Magu.The source established a link between Saharah Reporters who recently claimed that Magu was about to be forced out by the DSS saying the the online news medium had always gotten its news from the EFCC since the days of Nuhu Ribadu.
According to him, Magu and Lamorde are "both Nuhu's boys". "They have Sahara in the palms."

Juliet Ibrahim the 'Greek Goddess' Hosts the Nigerian Queen Beauty Pageant

                  

 

Actress Juliet Ibrahim smoldered in an exotic, white flowing gown as she hosted the  8th Edition of The Nigerian Queen 2016 Beauty Pageant which held in Port Harcourt on the 25th of June 2016.

Styled by  the award-winning stylist, Jeremiah Ogbodo of Swanky Jerry, Juliet surely left a lasting impression on the attendees as she channeled a 'Greek Goddess' look at the event and complimented it with her great hair, beautiful makeup and of course 'Shades by Juliet Ibrahim'; the most voluminous lashes this side of the continent.

The Nigerian Queen Beauty Pageant (Formerly known as Queen of Trust) is an annual event organised by 001 ENTERTAINMENT.

Photos of Aisha Buhari trying to shake Alaafin’s hand go viral

                          

Photos of the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, trying to shake hands with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, have gone viral, with Nigerians reacting differently to the photographs.

The photos formed major discourse on Facebook and Twitter.

The photos, which were posted on the monarch’s Facebook page on Tuesday, showed Mrs. Buhari trying to shake the hand of the king at an occasion in Borno State.

Oba Adeyemi is the Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri.

Since the photos went viral, they have elicited various reactions from social media users, some of whom felt the monarch snubbed the wife of the president, while others thought her shaking hands with the monarch was disrespectful.

Abdussalam De’eburnian, on the monarch’s Facebook page said, “Iku baba yeye (Alaafin) fears a woman’s handshake.”

But Abayomi Oloyede and others did not see the photos as being funny. Oloyede accused Buhari’s wife of bad manners in trying to give the monarch a handshake.

He said, “No manners because she is the President’s wife. Yoruba people respect the culture. Can she do that to Emir of Kano or the Emir of Katsina?”

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, commenting on the photos, said on Twitter, “Can Aisha Buhari greet the Emir of Daura with a handshake as she is doing here to the Iku Baba Yeye, Alaafin of Oyo?

Eze Eziokwu, @Tomyboiz, said, “Aisha Buhari is very disrespectful. How can she extend a hand to the great Alaafin of Oyo?”

Sega L’éveilleur, @segalink, said it was a “Sacrilege; how uncouth can you be, trying to shake the Alaafin? Do you shake your Emirs?”

However, Ayo Ajibola in a Facebook post, commented, “We are from different tribes, different cultures and different traditions. I really don’t know much about the Hausa. But please let us stop all the propaganda geared at causing division.”Some others were concerned about whether the monarch snubbed the president’s wife’s handshake

 

‘Why we cut petrol price to N139 in Calabar’

                          
A fuel station in Calabar, Prosperous Oil and Gas Limited, on Wednesday reduced the price of Premium Motor Spirit from N145 per litre to N139, citing the need to lighten the burden on consumers as the main reason.

This is coming barely one week after an outlet owned by Basol Petroleum Limited located in the Calabar-South axis of the Cross River State capital had also brought down the unit price of PMS for the same reason.

Group Managing Director of Prosperous Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Abiodun Isinkaye, said the company was in sympathy with consumers that suffered so much hardship during the period of extreme fuel scarcity.

As an independent petroleum outlet, Isinkaye noted, however, that the reduction in price also meant small profit for his company.

“This reduction in price of PMS to N139 per litre is starting with our Calabar headquarters. It will extend to other stations of ours across the country. Loyal customers will also get gifts when they buy fuel.  It is meant to ease the burden of consumers,” he said.

Isinkaye also noted that following the removal of subsidy by the Federal Government, there had been steady supply of products to the Calabar depot.

“Subsidy removal is a welcome development. No nation can survive subsiding petroleum products. Unfortunately, most of the fuel subsidised by the government is not consumed by Nigerians and this is a big waste.

“In the past, you see hundreds of trucks loading from Calabar depot to be taken out of the country, but the situation has changed. The bulk of the product which was subsidised by government found their way out of the country. The field is now level for those who genuinely need to invest. Now I am coming down to N139, another can go below,” he said.

In reducing the cost of PMS to N139, Managing Director of Basol Petroleum Limited, Mr. Bassey Sunny-Abang, had noted that the removal of subsidy on PMS had brought about sanity in the depots.

He also said that the quantity of tankers loading the product from Calabar depot had dropped since the removal of subsidy.

Missing Abuja businesswoman fear killed as friends allege cover up

                           

Friends of missing Abuja-based businesswoman, Charity Eiyadogbon, say they believe she might have been killed shortly after she was abducted on May 11, 2016.

Forty-four-year-old Charity, who is said to be separated from her husband, David, vanished without a trace, without informing anyone of any trip even though a curious message was found on her Facebook wall saying she was going on a road trip.

Her friends who believe she might have been forced to write this on Facebook to make it look as if she indeed travelled, said unpacked luggage in her apartment and a full pot of soup in her kitchen showed that she did not plan to go anywhere.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that Charity, who got married in 1988 at the age of 16, had been separated from her husband, David, for about two years, while her children live with their father.

The police said David had been invited over the whereabouts of his ex-wife, but did not reveal if he is seen as a suspect.

A US-based lawyer, Mr. Emeka Ugwuonye, who has taken up the campaign for the search of the mother of three and popularly called Deepdeal-Chacha-Dehammer, said in a statement that some people had been arrested over the case, but feared the police were arresting people for all the wrong reasons.

“I am sorry to disappoint those who have hoped that Chacha would be found alive and rescued. Without ruling out completely the miracle of her being found alive, our investigation and analysis of the facts, events and occurrences in this case indicate that Chacha is probably dead. We presume she was killed within a few hours of her estimated time of disappearance,” he said.

Why the lawyer reached this conclusion is not immediately clear but the woman has been missing for one and a half months without any word from her.

But Saturday PUNCH learnt that a close business associate and friend of the missing woman Mr. Tochukwu Ejiagwa, alias Kelven, has been arrested in Kaduna State by the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit.to Abuja and sent to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, where he feared he might be tortured. Apart from Kelven, the lawyer said the police have also arrested the missing woman’s lawyer. He said the police also arrested a man identified as Joe who is Charity’s confidant and lover.

A police officer familiar with the investigation told our correspondent that the men were invited based on information given by “parties who have been invited for questioning.”

“Are we going to conduct an investigation without making any arrest or inviting anybody for questioning? We cannot hold an innocent person forever. When our investigation shows someone has nothing to do with the case, they will be duly released,” the officer, who pleaded anonymity, said.

Ugwuonye said Kelven was transferred

Juliet Ibrahim Announces Lashes, Lipstick Line

                            

Award-winning actress Juliet Ibrahim is on to something new! Known for her head-turning red carpet looks, the gorgeous and business savvy actress/producer is set to launch her very own lashes and lipstick line.

 

While this is her first makeup line, it is not the first beauty venture for the entrepreneur who already runs a fashion house, House of Glamour.

 

She will be launching two products; the Juliet Ibrahim’s Moda Lipstick line and Shades by Juliet Ibrahim lashes line.

The fabulous eyelash extensions feature three different versions; mink fur, 3D lashes and Horse hair lashes. It’s reusable, very comfortable even with extended wear and feels 100% natural. 

While the hotly anticipated lashes line is already selling, the lipsticks which will be in different exciting shades will hit the shelves soon and you will get to experience all the beautiful hues she loves wearing and more.

The products which are designed to bring your beauty to the fore are wallet friendly.

 Shades by Juliet Ibrahim lashes is currently available on konga.com.

Distributors in Nigeria:

Lagos: Call Omobolanle on 08027998130 to order or follow her on @mbmatic

Abuja: Suite A7 TJ 1406 Plaza , behind AP Plaza Wuse. Follow @prince4nails or call 07063572434 for directions.

 

38 Gana street, Mataima Abuja. Follow @inmyshoesng to order or call Inem on 08077299149 for directions.

Portharcourt: Call Timi Rogers on 08157729057/ to place orders or follow @rogerstimi

Distributors in Ghana:

Melanie Crane Couture - Opposite Nogahil Hotel, Dzorwulu, Call 0303965384

Rubies House of Beauty - Near American House, East Legon. Call 0204081619 

Natural Day Spa - 24 Garden Road, Near  A & C Mall, East Legon. Call 0502711655/0302521944 for directions.

I am not in business with Halliburton, linking me with the bribery is wicked-US Based Ms Aisha Buhari

                              
Ms Aisha Buhari has finally broken silence on her alleged involvement in the Halliburton bribery scandal.
Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose had claimed on Monday that the wife of the President was linked to the scandal which an American member of Congress was jailed for 13 years in 2009.
However, the lady who shares the same name with the President’s wife, said she was not the person referred to in the bribery scandal.
Ms Buhari, speaking exclusively with The Street Journal Tuesday night, said she was never involved in the scandal and linking her name with it was most malicious and wicked.
According to Ms Buhari, the allegation “is like pouring water on a sleeping person. I have never done anything with Halliburton, I don’t know the colour of the company. I am not in the line of business with Halliburton, so linking me with the bribery is wicked”, she fumed.
Speaking further, Ms Buhari said the details contained in the write up, which were displayed side by side with the story were croned from her stolen passport.
“They are desperate to cover their dirty track and link my name with the scandal that they have to first of all steal my passport. My passport was stolen early this year. And to give credibility to their story, details from the passport were used. They should come to the US, to find out If they are curious about the case”, she said.
She reminded her detractors that once a crime is committed in the US such a person is brought to book, noting that she is a member of organisations in the US and she goes in and out of the States at will.
“If somebody commits crime in the US, he or she must face trial. Have you heard I am being tried in the US?”, she queried.
She continued:”Let them stop this malicious allegation against me that they do not have proof of, I hate people who do not cross check facts before talking, they should find out in the US the kind of person I am beause I belong to organisations there”, she said.
“If they think they are politician and can break the law and go free, they should realise that nobody is above the laws of a country including me”, she asserted.
On whether she is going to take legal action, she said:”I am talking with my L

PhotoNews: Buhari congratulates new IG

President Muhammadu Buhari Congratulating the New Acting Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Kpotun Idris at the Presidential Villa yesterday.

Buhari Appoints Ibrahim Idris As New IG

                   

Ibrahim Idris may have been named the Acting new Inspector General of Police, IGP.

He replaced Solomon Arase whose tenure officially elapsed on Monday 20th June,2016.Both had just left President Mohammadu Buhari’s office at thr Villa, where a brief meeting held.

Official statement is being awaited as to replacement.

Until his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, Idris served as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of federal operations, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

He understandably hails from Niger State.

EFCC To Fayose, We Have Right To Freeze Your Account

                   
The spokesperson of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, says the agency has the right to freeze the accounts of Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose, even though he enjoys immunity under the constitution.
Speaking with Vanguard, Uwujaren said the immunity being enjoyed by any governor doesn’t prevent the commission from investigating suspicious movements of money into his accounts.
“Immunity does not prevent EFCC from investigating suspicious accounts of those enjoying immunity and Fayose cannot be an exception, “he said Fayose’s account with Zenith bank was frozen by EFCC yesterday June 20th.

Miss Tourism Pageant Contestant, Maureen Onu Dies In Camp

            
It was a sad outing for the organizers of the Miss Tourism beauty contest as one of the girls-next-door eyeing the crown for this year’s edition billed to hold on the  9th of July in Lagos is said to have died.

The deceased, a 20 year old contestant whose name was given as Maureen Onu, we gathered died after a brief illness aspreparations for the pageant were in top gear.

According to a statement from the event’s organizers, Maureen Onu, a finalist for this year’s Miss Tourism Nigeria billed to hold on the  9th of July in Lagos passed away after a brief illness in the early hours of last Thursday. May her soul rest in peace.

The release stated further that, ‘’ the organizers of the Miss Tourism Nigeria pageant announces the death of one of their contestants, Maureen Onu who was one of the finalists representing Ebonyi State. Maureen Onu reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday. This disclosure was made known by the CEO of the organization, Mr. Santiago Roberts at the weekend.

In the statement, Roberts said, “The brand lost a true and great gem. “Maureen was always prompt to carry out instructions/tasks giving and willing to learn; she was looking forward to representing her state with pride during this year’s finals and with the hopes of becoming the first ever national tourism queen from Ebonyi State.“The organization promises to redesign the content and production of the event to honour the lost contestant,” the statement added.

Islamic Singer, Rukayat Gawat Remembers Missing Dad

                                       
In the words from the holy Qu’ran, 'if anybody in Islam declared missing and not found after four-year of missing, the family should organise a fidua prayer in remembrance of the person, either dead or still alive.'

It is exactly four years after the missing of Nigerian Television Authority NTA's popular broadcaster, Alhaji Aremu Rasqak Gawat; declared missing in a controversial circumstance of Lagos, the daughter Alhaja Rukayat Gawat-Oyefeso has picked 10th of July 2016 to stage fidau prayer and big remembrance party for her missing dad.

The event takes place at Muri International Television ‘MITV’ premises Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, while Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello and Sheik Daud Abdul Majeed Eleha (Alfa Nla) will be the distinguished cleric of the day.

From the time, his sudden disappearance has remained a mystery to many, with so many unanswered questions, while series of special prayer sessions were organised for the missing ace broadcaster and former staff of NTA, Tejuosho, Yaba, Lagos. The circumstances that led to the sudden disappearance of Gawat, was described as 'mysterious' by many, but with optimism and prayers, the missing TV presenter could be found.

Meanwhile, the daughter Alhaja Rukayat Gawat-Oyefeso who is the current rave of the moment in Islamic music circuit, recently released a threefold album called ‘Ramadan Special’ which consists of ‘Alao Jowujowu’ featuring Suleiman Alao aka Malaika, Temitope and followed by a joint effort which features over 20 Islamic actors is titled ‘Ramadan Kareem.’
The easy-going singer made her name with the release of her first album and since then has performed at several big Islamic functions. Her musical albums include ‘Imole,’ ‘My Father’, ‘Arinakore,’ ‘Aye Le’, Iyawo Obun and ‘Agboko L’Ori,’ as well as ‘Ogbe-Okan’.

Alligator kills two-year old boy at Disney resort

                         
A United States family’s desperate search for their toddler son, who was snatched by an alligator off the shore of a lake at a Disney resort, ended Wednesday when divers found the two-year-old’s body in murky water.
The nightmare at the Disney World complex is the latest horror to hit the central Florida vacation town of Orlando reeling from Sunday’s massacre at a gay nightclub in which 49 people were killed the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
Walt Disney World said it has shut down all of its Florida resort beaches and marinas out of precaution after the incident – the first such death in its 45-year history.
The boy’s father tried frantically to save him after the attack Tuesday night at a lakeside beach at the Grand Floridian Reso
“His body was completely intact… The body has now been turned over to the Orange County medical office for an autopsy,” Sheriff Jerry Demings told reporters.
He said the toddler most likely drowned. The body was found just 10 or 15 yards (meters) from where he was taken, in murky water about six feet (1.8 meters) deep, the sheriff said.
The two-year-old victim was identified as Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska – a suburb of Omaha. His parents are Matt and Melissa Graves, Demings said.
“Of course, the family was distraught but also, I believe, somewhat relieved that we were able to find their son with his body intact,” Demings said.
The gator struck at around 9:00 pm Tuesday (0100 GMT Wednesday) as the child was playing in roughly a foot of water at the Seven Seas Lagoon outside the Grand Floridian, which is right across the lake from the Magic
The lagoon is man-made but connected to a natural lake. And alligators – common to Florida – can travel over land. Both help explain why there were gators in the body of water.
The boy’s father fought the alligator – estimated to be between four and seven feet (1.2-2.1 meters) long, according to reports – but the animal and child disappeared underwater, officials said.
AFPKingdom.rt and Spa, but could not pry the toddler from the gator’s grasp.

Friends, Associates Clear Mahmood Ahmadu From Money Laundering Allegation

                       
Friends and associates of Nigerian businessmen, Mahmood Ahmadu who was recently designed with a meritorious award by the British government have described an allegation linking Ahmadu with money laundering as fictitious and a filth meant for the garbage.
Against a newspaper report stating Mahmood as a money launderer came the reaction which gave the writer the freedom to present an evidence to prove Mahmood was indeed charged for money laundering and ‘wanted’ in the United Kingdom as specified.
The Chairman of the Association of Online Media Practitioners(AMPON) Wole Arisekola described the report as malicious with the intent of damaging the businessman’s hard-earned reputation.
Arisekola called for caution in the practise of investigating journalism and also advised thorough professionalism in daily news reporting.

Photo News: Zimbabwe's ZAMCO Top Exco Visits Nigeria's AMCON

L-R: Mr. Kola Ayeye, Executive Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON); Dr. Cosmas Kanhai, Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation (ZAMCO); Mr. Aminu Ismail, Executive Director, AMCON; Mr. Webster Madera, ZAMCO Company Secretary and Mr. Chatwel Ncube, ZAMCO Head of IT, when ZAMCO delegation led by Dr. Kanhai paid a business visit to AMCON on Tuesday in Lagos

 -L: Mr. Aminu Ismail, Executive Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON); Dr. Cosmas Kanhai, Chief Executive Officer, Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation (ZAMCO) and Mr. Kola Ayeye, Executive Director, AMCON when the Zimbabwean corporation paid a business visit to AMCON in Lagos on Tuesday

 

AFRIMA President set to address ministers and experts in Ethiopia

                     
In recognition of AFRIMA's roles and contributions to inspire African youths and raise the consciousness of African identity and renascence through Music, Culture and Entertainment for continental growth and 
development, the African Union has invited the President and Executive Producer of All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada to address the meeting of the Ministers of Youths, Culture and Sports in Africa at the 
African Union 2nd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS2) which will  hold at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 13 to 17,2016 with the theme : “African Year of Human Rights: Promoting Ethics and Cultural Diversity as an Essential Right for the People of Africa’’.

According to the Head of Culture, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission, AUC, Angela Martins “The 2nd session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sport is holding a few days after the celebration marking the 10th Anniversary of the African Union Youth Charter (the Banjul+10) which was an opportunity to advance the agenda for youth empowerment and development in all member states. The outcome documents of the Banjul+ 10 celebration will be presented to the STC-YCS2 for consideration, adoption and implementation by AU Member States.”

“The Charter for African Cultural Renaissance adopted by the 6th Assembly of the African Union held in Khartoum, the Sudan in January 2016 is the guiding policy tool for the promotion of the cultural and heritage sector in the continent.  However, the Charter has only been ratified by eight (08) AU Member States even though thirty one (31) have signed it. The entry into force of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance will enable that the sector takes its rightful place and contributes significantly to the development of the continent through heritage and its cultural and creative industries sector.” She concluded.Reacting to the Invitation to present a paper on the journey so far of The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA to the meeting of the Ministers of Youths, Culture and Sports, The President and Executive Producer of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, Mike Dada who is also the Chief Brand Strategist of PRM Africa Marketing and Communications states that “On behalf of the International Committee of AFRIMA, I express my sincere  appreciation to the AU for this invitation as it indicates that AFRIMA is on the right path of communication the true narrative of Africa to the world through the instrumentality of music,art and Culture.”

Dada, a Public Relations and Brand Management expert with strong love for art, will also dwell on the economic power of Music, Culture and Entertainment as a tool for job creation and perception management of 
Africa during the summit.
The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, is a music property developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the globe about the great potentials and values of the African musical and artistic heritage for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, calling attention of world leaders to Africa and promoting the positive image of Africa to the world for global competitiveness.

For the 2016 edition of the continental awards, AFRIMA remains steadfast to the AUC’s objectives of promoting African unity and celebrating her cultural uniqueness through programme of events on the AFRIMA 3.0 calendar (with entry submission opens on May 30, 2016) which was officially unveiled on Tuesday May 24 at the AUC-AFRIMA joint Stakeholders/media conference in Banjul, The Gambia. The 2016 edition of 

Panama Paper Fall out! Why Gov Ambode may sack Folly Coker

                      
Beware of keeping secrets,because surely,what's done in the dark will eventually come to the light. It's better to be honest and confess, rather than hide from the truth." The reality of these words of D. Smith should now be dawning on the stupendously rich Lagos Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Folarin Coker (aka Folly Coker),after he was reportedly linked to choice properties worth over N476million in Fulham, UK. Urban Life magazine gathered that, with this damning allegation, his principal, the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, may be considering relieving him of his job as commissioner in order not to stain his highly-commended government with the alleged corrupt antecedents. Following a published report by the UK Guardian, Folly Coker was reported to be one of the famous Nigerians whose anonymous ownership of different properties in London have been exposed by the massive leak of the Panama Law firm on offshore companies. The former Head of Central Business District during former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s tenure, reportedly owns posh Town Houses worth 1.65million pounds in Kensington and Chelsea, but shown as belonging to BVI, a company, whose sole shareholder is reportedly believed to be Folly Coker. The report further noted that Coker’s lawyer said he had multiple sources of income and had always declared his interest in Satori Holdings to the Nigerian authorities. The UK Guardian also reports that the offshore companies and trusts can also enable investors to keep assets hidden, while potentially reducing capital gains and inheritance tax or stamp duty in a manner not available to ordinary home owners Meanwhile, back home, Folly is known to own Browns’ Café, with branches inside Ikeja, GRA and another in Victoria Island, La Casa Private Beach House Club, Ilashe. The circumstances surrounding Folly Coker’s stinking riches have however been traced to certain backing and soft landing he enjoys from a powerful force in Lagos. Many say his relationship with the APC National, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that spans so many years, may have given him the advantage to acquire such humongous wealth. For instance, he was the Personal Assistant to Tinubu in his days as Governor of the state. Fondly called Folly, this man, just in his 50s, has operated at the very top level of Lagos State Government since Tinubu took over office. He has held so many plum positions in the state in the past 17 years; from Deputy Chief of Staff to Head, Number Plate Producing Company to Commissioner of Tourism. The luck he has, according to insiders, is his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And so, if not for Guardian UK that published his London house ownership and some damning facts, we would have been in the dark, said an Alausa inside source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Apart from La Casa and Robert's Café, no one knows of any of his visible businesses, yet he could afford a £1.65m house in upscale Chelsea, which he got through a British Virgin Islands Shell Company. And the talk in town now is that he may actually have been fronting for Asiwaju, though this is unsubstantiated. What has however been amazing or rather demoralizing to many, is the unusual quietness in the highest quarters of authority to these very allegedly corrupt acquisitions by Folly, who still continues in office with brazen confidence and unperturbed, even with the ultra gravity of the allegations that have been thrown in his face. Some are even saying that, as a super Tinubu boy and senior foot-soldier, there is little or nothing the Governor can do for him, even if he tries as much to do anything, in relation to the UK Guardian report on Folly Coker. There is a score of super Tinubu boys in Ambode’s cabinet whom he dares not touch, except he wants to bite the fingers that had fed him, said another inside source at Alausa. Folly Coker was to exhibit this trait days back, when this magazine visited him in his office to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of this Uk Guardian report. The commissioner was so boastful and arrogant to the extent that he alluded to the fact that where was the reporter 17 years ago when he has been in government and has continued to be without any break. He said, if for that long he has continued to be appointed into one office or the other without being indicted of any misdemeanor or illegal financial dealing, he sees no reason why such a baseless report should move him any bit. He went on to brag that, if the EFCC, for all he cares had found any propriety in the report, they would have since come for him or at best have invited him for questioning, or what are we talking about here, he bragged. Our people say, a motherless child does not get himself injured at the back, may be this is what is giving our commissioner the effrontery to flagrantly be behaving as if there is no single atom of fact in the report against him by the UK Guardian report, which is one of the leading tabloids in the UK. One thing we however know for a knowing, is that the sitting governor, who does not brook any nonsense, is allegedly contemplating firing Folly Coker, before people begin to accuse him (Ambode) of complicity in the massive gale of corruption in the Panama debacle. Even as rumour are rife in Alausa, the seat of Lagos State Government about Folly Coker’s imminent sack from office, he had continued to tell anyone who cares to listen that he remains in the good books of the Governor, and there is no shaking for him.

-Source-Urbanlife

     

      

 

Ace music producer,OJB Jezreel is dead

                     
 A reliable source has confirmed that Music producer, Babatunde Okungbowa aka OJB Jezreel has died. He passed on about an hour ago at Isolo General Hospital, Lagos.
A source who confirmed his death revealed  that he had a relapse for about  two weeks and the family had to keep him on N35k dialysis before his need for oxygen yesterday.
He finally gave up the ghost about an hour ago…so sad!  His body has been deposited in a morgue at Isolo General Hospital Details.. later

Wale Adeoba set to stage 4th OYA Award in grandstyle

                      

Wale Adeoba Productions Incorporated in conjunction with Kanbitoons Company is most delighted to present the fourth edition of the Ogo Yoruba Award (OYA) 2016 Awards to YOU!  

The Ogo Yoruba Award (OYA) project which is in its fourth year considered by the industry watchers now to be bigger and better has concluded plans to stage the Nigeria edition in Lagos to herald the United States of America version projected to take place after the Lagos, Nigeria award ceremony on the 26th of June 2016 at the prestigious White House Hotels & Conference Hall, Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos.

Information has it that the indigenous popular award positioned in celebrating glory beyond heritage and culture is a special exclusive event arranged to unite and amplify Nigerians that are doing good works irrespective of tribe, but not limited to Yoruba stars, entertainers and individuals to create fun, glamour and reward by honouring creativity and exemplary individual talents basically related to Yoruba tradition and culture in Nigeria and abroad by promoting the people that have secured high perception for Yoruba heritage in their respective talents and professions.

The epoch making award and event promise to have in attendance  notable  celebrities, other professionals e.g. actors, musicians, comedians, fashionistas, entertainers, models, media personnel, and  other achievers  from different walks of life to felicitate and associate with the recipients and awardees that are making the Yoruba tribe proud and unwind in a lighter mood .

The high octane award night would feature renowned artistes and comedians to add colour to the occasion as they give the top honourees, stars and personnel in various profession the award and mileage they deserve.

This project comes with huge opportunities to competitively position Nigerians and basically the Yorubas to take advantage of the Award to gain more recognition and create new cultural opportunities and basically interact and connect with other Nigerians in diaspora.

According to Mr. Wale Adeoba, the executive president of the OYA award 2016, he squealed that ‘the award has come to stay and he’s proud to say that, it is simply the best award for the best recipients’.

Participants at Goldberg forum seek concerted efforts for Fuji development

                        

Participants at the maiden edition of the Fuji Roundtable, powered by Goldberg Lager Beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, have identified Fuji music as a unifying factor for Yorubas living in the western part of Nigeria and beyond. As a result, they agreed that the music deserves due attention and concerted efforts towards taking it to the next level.

 

The participants, who converged in Lagos on Monday at the event held at the corporate headquarters of Nigerian Breweries, said the music has, over the years, contributed to the socio-cultural development of the people living in the region.

 

In his keynote address, Olawale Obadeyi, a published Poet, writer and newspaper columnist; noted that Goldberg had appropriated Fuji music as a veritable platform through which cultural values could be used to validate the essence of Yorubas living in the region and beyond.

 

Obadeyi traced the origin of this genre of music to the period when Were, the local brand of music was in vogue among the Muslim faithful. He acknowledged that the music has grown astronomically over the years featuring different artistes who have contributed in different dimensions to its development.

 

He said the innovations brought into Fuji by those artistes have deepened ties across boundaries in the region. “Each Fuji artiste, evidently, is pushing the limits of creativity. The horizon of Fuji music has been astoundingly widened”, he stated.  

 

In his opening remarks at the programme, Emmanuel Agu, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout brands, Nigerian Breweries Plc; said the importance of music to any country cannot be over-emphasised. According to him, the role of music in nation building is monumental as it fuels the mind and the creativity of listeners.

 

 

 

His words: “Music transcends all boundaries of communication. Music and its rhythm define our humanity considering the universality and essentiality beyond language barrier. I believe it is important for one to have an open mind in order to be in touch with that sense of understanding. Music cannot be separated from our socio-cultural life and as such it is a social connector which has the power to suggest circumstances, moods, and moments. It has general appeal to human senses.”

 

Agu said that Fuji music exerts a strong influence on the social life of the Yorubas. He stated that through the music foreigners can easily feel and connect with the culture of the Yoruba people. The influence that Fuji music exerts on the social life of the Yorubas is therefore very strong irrespective of their locations.

 

Giving the rationale for the event, the Portfolio Manager said the company always strives to champion, promote and associate with the culture of its host communities. His words: “This is what Goldberg has been doing with its initiative of Fuji t’o Bam since 2012 when it inaugurated the concept. We respect people’s cultures and values.”

 

He stated that the Goldberg Fuji t’o Bam initiative has successfully brought to life the twin socio-cultural tradition of companionship and celebration. “The initiative readily identifies and celebrates the rich musical tradition of sustaining the cultural values of the people in the region. The indigenous musical platform, which is currently in its fourth edition, had in the last three editions led to the discovery of budding Fuji talents and artists.