Olugbo-in-Council debunks Oba Akinruntan's EFCC arrest

There were reports online yesterday that the traditional ruler had been arrested for money laundering but his chiefs say this is not true. Read the press statement below...


The Olugbo-in-Council which is the Highest Traditional Body of Ugboland in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have debunked rumours of the arrest of the Olugbo of Ugboland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Frederick E. Obateru Akinruntan, CON.


Speaking through the Secretary of the Kingdom, Chief I. A. Demehim, the Olugbo-in-Council, asserts that the reported arrest of the Highly Revered Monarch, who is the Paramount Ruler and Prescribed Authority of Ugboland as well as Founder of the Multi-Billion Dollar Obat Group is completely false. According to High Chief Isaiah Demehin, “the news report by Sahara Reporters which is also being peddled by several soft sell bloggers that Kabiyesi was arrested by EFCC for MoneY Laundering is not only laughable and false but also a sacrilege to the traditional stool of our land.

The Olugbo is domiciled in Ugbo, and Kabiyesi was dutifully attending to traditional matters as well as the needs of his subjects on Friday” Furthermore, Chief Isaiah Demehin stated that it is pitiful that such a blog as widespread as Sahara Reporters would tell a lie against a Monarch while throwing away all ethics which places the onus on them to confirm from the Palace of the Olugbo which is always filled with throngs of people and activities which the Olugbo presides upon by himself or cross check their write up with the EFCC as a mark of professionalism.

In conclusion, he stated, “I wish to advise our journalists to always cross-check their facts and stop embarrassing innocent persons. It is especially sad that any journalist would embark on a path to destroy the great image of Nigeria’s Doyen of Industry who has contributed immensely to the socio economic and human capital development of Nigeria. Our Monarch is a great father and would not join issues with any media house, however, I think it is dutiful of any journalist that is sound to learn how to accord honour to revered traditional stools, and avoid being used by disgruntled persons to tarnish the images of global icons as the Billionaire Monarch whose business conglomerates have transformed Ugboland and Nigeria as a whole.

Nigerian troops rescue 195 hostages from Boko Haram

Nigerian troops have rescued 195 Boko Haram hostages and killed a number of "terrorists" in raids on villages across the restive northeast, the army said on Thursday.

Troops descended on towns suspected to be controlled by the Islamist group in the state of Borno and "rescued 195 persons held hostage," it said in a statement.

"Quite a number of Boko Haram terrorists were killed," it added, while a spokesman also listed a range of equipment and livestock seized.
Photos released by the army show a modest camp with shelters made of logs and thatched grass and shacks constructed with rusted corrugated steel.

Seized equipment included two trucks, 180 motorcycles, 750 bicycles and a generator. The militants have recently been using bicycles to attack villages in the absence of better vehicles.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Usman added they also recovered 300 cows, 200 sheep and 130 goats rustled by the insurgents.

The offensive follows a major assault against a key Boko Haram base in Nigeria by the Cameroonian army, who seized heavy machine-guns, rocket-launchers, AK-47s, grenades and training rifles.

In Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, the group has killed at least 17 000 people and made more than 2.6 million others homeless since their six-year campaign for an independent Islamic state began.

Boko Haram's continued attacks in the region come despite the government's insistence it has "technically" defeated the ISIS affiliate.

EFCC accuses lawyer of bribing judge

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday filed a counter-affidavit opposing Rickey Tarfa’s fundamental rights application case he instituted against EFCC and others. In a counter-affidavit, the anti-graft agency alleged that Tarfa bribed a judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos with N225, 000.

It alleged that Tarfa, on January 7, 2014, transferred the money to the judge, which he acknowledged the payment.The counter affidavit, along with exhibits, including MTN call logs, were filed by counsel to EFCC, Wahab Shittu.The affidavit was sworn to by Moses Awolusi of the EFCC.

He averred that EFCC’s investigation of Tarfa’s Access Bank account number 0000964760 “shows that before the institution of the above proceeding, particularly on 7th January 2014, the applicant bribed His Lordship with the sum of N225, 000, a copy of the applicant’s firm’s account details showing the transfer of the sum of N225,000 from the applicant’s firm to the judge is hereby shown to me and marked Exhibit ‘O’.”

Tarfa had filed a N2.5billion suit against the EFCC on February 9 at the Federal High Court, Lagos following his arrest by the commission.
EFCC arraigned Tarfa Tuesday on a two-count charge bordering on obstruction of justice and attempting to pervert the course of justice by communicating with a Federal High Court judge that was handling a suit filed by him against the commission.
Tarfa also asked the court to compel the defendants to release his two mobile handsets which he said were “deceitfully collected” from him for the purpose of destroying all information, data and other retrievable materials stored on them.

He sought an order directing respondents to release his Mercedes Benz SUV which he sad was unlawfully seized from him.

Airtel now launches a 3GB for N1000 data plan – works on all devices

Hehehe!!!

Not quite long after the introduction of the Airtel #100 for 1GB weekend data bundle , Airtel then decides to take on their rivals by launching a 3GB internet data plan which would only cost you #1000.


The newly introduced Airtel internet package isn’t a blackberry plan, unlike other Airtel blackberry plans that works on other devices. This plan is the Airtel normal internet package that is recommended for all internet enabled devices, and using the plan can last you a full month as long as you’re not a downloading or streaming addict.


What do you think? Are you a big fan of social networks, all you do is chat, download little files and browse through the internet? If so, then it’s advisable to go for this Airtel package. Maybe, whenever you wished to download some huge files or got huge task to perform online which requires voluminous data, then you can subscribe for the MTN unlimited daily plan.



**To opt-in for the Airtel 3GB for N1000 internet package, simply dial *431# . To check-in for balance, then dial *140# .**

Duration: 30days

This plan works on all devices which includes your smartphones (android, windows phone, iPhone & iPad) symbian devices, Java phones, computers and other internet enabled devices.

Enjoy!!!

E-Money Gifts Street Hawker Brand New Car And N300,000

CEO Five Star Music, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, was a year older yesterday, and decided to give back to the street to celebrate his birthday.

E-Money, reached out to a shoe rack hawker along Ikeja along, whom Kcee had met while he himself was on the streets of Lagos selling recharge card. Promise, the said guy upon being contacted was discovered to have been picked up by KAI officials.

The team immediately set out for the office where Promise was eventually released after several hours of pleading and promise to never hawk again.

E-Money in his generosity, gave Promise a brand new Toyota Corolla car, and the sum of N300,000 to get himself a new apartment. A young man who also hawked with Promise, also benefited form E-Money’s generosity.

Kcee was contacted to confirm this story and he said it was common with the team as they loved to give back to the street.

According to Kcee:

If you follow the Five Star music family you’ll know this is what we do, it’s my brother’s birthday and he decided to give back to the street and we are grateful to God for his mercies and grace upon us.
See photos:

Apply for Chevron/NNPC Scholarship Awards – 2016

Chevron Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is offering a number of University Scholarship Awards to suitably qualified Nigerian students.

Chevron/NNPC Scholarship Awards Requirements / Eligibility

E-applications are invited from full-time SECOND YEAR (200 LEVEL) degree students of the under-listed courses in Nigerian Universities:

1. Accountancy

2. Agricultural Engineering/Agricultural Science

3. Architecture

4. Business Administration/Economics

5. Chemical Engineering

6. Civil Engineering

7. Computer Science/Computer Engineering/System Engineering

8. Electrical/Electronic Engineering

9. Environmental Studies/Surveying

10. Geology/Geophysics

11. Law

12. Mass Communication/Journalism

13. Mechanical/Metallurgical & Materials Engineering

14. Human Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy

15. Petroleum Engineering

How To Apply for NNPC/Chevron Scholarship Awards

Registered existing awardees need not apply but refer to the steps outline in the invitation email.
Unregistered existing awardees should apply using the steps below:

1. Before you start this application, ensure you have clear scanned copies of the following documents;

Passport photograph with white background not more than 3 months old (450px by 450px not more than 200kb)
School ID card
Admission letter
Birth certificate
O’ Level result
JAMB Result

2. Ensure the documents are named according to what they represent to avoid mixing up documents during upload.

3. Ensure you attach the appropriate documents when asked to upload.

‡To apply, visit www.scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards and follow the steps below:

1. Click on “Apply Now” tab.

2. Click on “Register Now” to create an account.

3. Proceed to your email box to activate your account

4. Click on http://scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards to return to Scholarship site

5. Enter your registered email and password to upload your information.

6. Enter your personal information, National Identification Number (if available), educational information, other information and upload required scanned documents.

7. Ensure the name used in applications matches the names on all documentation in same order. Upload a sworn affidavit or certificate if otherwise.

8. Ensure you view all documents after uploading, to eliminate errors during uploading.

9. When asked to upload photo, upload a pass-port photograph with a white background.

10. Recheck application information to avoid errors

11. Click “Apply Now” to submit information

12. You will receive an email and a sms that confirms your application was successful.

13. Return to www.scholastica.ng, enter your Email and Password to download your profile and proceed to have your Head of Department sign the document.

14. Upload a scanned copy of the signed profile, this would be used for verification.

15. If National Identification Number (NIN) number was not available in step 6, to obtain your National Identification Number (NIN)

Visit http://ninenrol.gov.ng to register and learn more about the National Identity Number

Click “Create Account” and fill in the required fields

Login with Email and Password to complete the form

After completion, schedule a date for photo and finger print capture

Visit any of the 37 capture centres http://www.nimc.gov.ng/?q=nin-registration-centres to complete the registration process and obtain your National Identity Number
You can also do your total registration at the NIMC office

16. Return to http://www.scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards and update application with National Identification Number (NIN) to ensure completion.

Note: Multiple applications attract a disqualification penalty from the Scholarship board.

In line with our e-scholarship administration system, selected students will be invited for computer-administered qualifying tests in selected examination centers nationwide. Short-listed candidates for the qualifying test will be invited by email and SMS text messages. All applicants are therefore advised to ensure that GSM telephone numbers and personal email addresses are properly entered into the e-forms on the web site.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER VALID PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS

Please note that applicants for the NNPC / CNL JV scholarship are ineligible to apply for any other scholarship program sponsored by Chevron Nigeria Limited, its JV Partners, or any of its affiliates, including the Agbami scholarship program published simultaneously with this NNPC / CNL JV scholarship program.

Application Deadline Date
Closing date for receipt of e-applications is strictly 9 March, 2016.

MUSIC: Intimate Souls - let it rain_luz koinz × dj loxzy × 2steps

body...let it rain is a super dope jam by intimate souls.


Download & Stream new song ‘let it rain’ from luz koinz x dj loxzy & 2steps.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Lil Kesh Is The King Of The Street – Singer Covers Mystreetz Magazine’s Latest Edition

Talented singer, Lil Kesh, is the cover for the latest edition of Mystreetz Magazine.

The YBNL act, was basically chosen as the cover for his immense talent.


According to Sesan Adeniji, the publisher of the magazine:


There have been quite a few moments that stood out in the history of the Nigerian music industry but none gathered more conversations and created solutions to several nagging questions like the moment after the winner was announced during the 2015 Headies.

While several media outlets jumped on the bandwagon to elaborate on who’s right, who’s wrong, who dissed the most and who deserved to win the award, we at Mystreetz Magazine took a different outlook to what that moment uncovered. That moment goes beyond who won and who did not.

That moment revealed to us that the Nigerian music industry has transformed to a huge global village with unprecedented numbers of followers exchanging conversation in supersonic speed. It was also an indication that the ‘Streets’ have become the major yardstick dictating who becomes endorsed, which artistes’ caller tunes transform organization’s account sheets into millions of Naira.

That moment told us that the Nigerian music industry has suddenly become one of the most viable sectors in the socio-economic activities in the country. That moment justified the saying, hard work pays. With several facts to deduce from this story, in our own words we can say: ‘….And The Award Goes to Lil Kesh.,’

M.I Releases “ILLEGAL MUSIC 3” Tracklist

The Yung Denzel, M.I Abaga took to social media to share the track list of his soon to be released mixtape titled “ILLEGAL MUSIC 3”.

Check out below and we anticipate the premiere soon

Buhari orders mass sackings at Budget Office

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the complete purge of the Budget Office because of the discrepancies and padding of the 2016 budget, The PUNCH has learnt.
Our correspondent gathered on Wednesday that the President handed down the directive following the embarrassment that the budget discrepancies had attracted to his government.

It will be recalled that Buhari had on Monday sacked Mr. Yahaya Gusau as the Director-General of the Budget Office for the same reason and approved the appointment of Mr. Tijjani Mohammed Abdullahi as his replacement.

But a top government official who pleaded anonymity told The PUNCH on Wednesday that the President was not yet done with the issue.

The source said Buhari had been properly briefed of the activities of government officials in the Budget Office who were described as “budget mafia” and accused of sabotaging the budget process.

He said that a decision had been taken that while many of the identified officials would be sacked, the remaining ones should be posted out of the office.

He added that the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, had been directed to implement the presidential directive and communicate the decision to the affected officials.

The source said, “The President is really angry over the discrepancies discovered in the 2016 budget. It has been confirmed that it was a clear case of sabotage. It was said to have been carried out by a budget mafia whose members are strongly enshrined in the office.

“The President’s decision is that the former Director-General should not be the only casualty in this matter.
“He has ordered that the Budget Office should be purged. Many of the officials there will be sacked while others will be transferred to other places other than where they have already constituted themselves to a mafia.”

When asked when the President’s directive would take effect, the source said “it is with immediate effect.”
In sacking Guasu as DG, Budget Office on Monday, Buhari had also approved the appointment of Mr. Ben Akabueze as the Special Adviser on Planning to the Minister of Budget and National Planning.

Sources in the Presidency had, on February 6, alleged that a budget mafia planned to scuttle the innovations introduced by the current administration into the budget by inflating the figures.

A mafia was alleged to have proposed a budget of N9.7tn for capital and overhead spending, excluding personnel cost, as against the Presidency’s initial estimate of about N8tn.

The group was said to have proposed N3tn as overheads alone out of the N9.7tn, a figure the Presidency later slashed to N163bn.

The Ministry of Budget and National planning had also promised to investigate and punish those responsible for the errors and strange figures found in the budget, which was presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in December, 2015.

The errors had delayed the passage of the budget with the federal legislature, saying the February 25 deadline it set for its approval was no longer feasible.

Buhari Sacked Me As Director General Because I’m An Igbo – Onyeka Onwenu

Singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu, who was fired this week as Director General of the National Centre for Women Development has released a disturbing allegation of how tribalism held sway in the agency and how she was persecuted because she is Igbo.



Read her story below:

When the call came on Sept 13 2013, to serve the Nigerian people as DG National Center For Women Development, I took it as a call from God and I answered in the affirmative.

I served for 2years and five months and did my best under very difficult conditions. We hardly had money to operate and the place was badly run down. Worst, there was low moral and lack of commitment among the Staff. Most spent the day loitering and gossiping. Many would not show up for work or arrive 11 am, only to leave before 3 pm. Some were absent for months and were just collecting their salary at home.

My administration changed all that. Most Staff were turned around and became passionate about the work, appreciating also the changes they thought were not possible but were happening right before them.

There remained though, a remnant who felt that the Center was their personal preserve and that the position of Director General should only go to someone from their part of the country. I was initially dismissed as just a Musician. When that did not work, I was targeted and abused for being an Igbo woman who came to give jobs to and elevate my people while sidelining them. When these detractors could not provide answers to the spate of improvement we were bringing, they resorted to sabotage and blackmail. The first such salvo was fired when a Senate Committee visited on an oversight mission a few months after my arrival. All three Generators at the Center were cannibalized, overnight, just hours to the visit.

We got over that incident and trudged on. The rest of our activities and accomplishments, modest as there is public knowledge. I have never in my life been an unfair person. I never favored any group. I carried everybody along. But I did not put up with deliberate incompetence and a refusal to learn, an attitude of entitlement which some people displayed. We brought back a level of professionalism and commitment to deliver on our mandate. Without these attributes, the Center would have fallen apart.

When the call came for me to disengage from the Center, I took it in good faith and with thanksgiving to the Almighty, Yes some stakeholders were upset and tried to make a case for me to continue. Their effort was a testimony of God’s grace on my administration, but I also knew that it was time to go. God who sent me there was taking me to a higher level of service. His infinite wisdom is unassailable. That is my faith.

Besides, I was exhausted and had abandoned many personal projects to devote myself, 200% to the Center. The abuses and lack of cooperation from a mother Ministry, from those who felt that the Center overshadowed them, to the extent that they tried to discourage others from working with us, were just a bit much for my comfort. I did not lobby for the job in the first place and I was not going to lobby to keep it. I actually looked forward to leaving. But some people were going to exact their pound of flesh.

They organized some staff, mostly Northerners, invited the Press and set about to disgrace themselves. By mid afternoon, while the Heads of Departments were putting together the handover notes, they seized the keys to my official car, even with my personal items still inside. Threats began to fly. “That Igbo woman must” “we will disgrace her”. Their Chief organizer, the Acting DG, went about whipping up ethnic sentiments against me. Late 2015, the same officer had gone to the Center’s Mosque to ask for the issue of a Fatwa against me, claiming that I was working against the interest of the North. We nipped that in the bud by calling a townhall meeting and asking that proof be provided.



The Fatwa was denied and peace reigned for a while.
Police was called in to the Center to escort me out and avoid blood shed as I disengaged. Eventually, in the midst of insults and name calling, with an angry baying crowd, some of whom were brought in from outside, I entered my official car and left. At no time during this melee did I threaten to sue Mr President for asking me to disengage. Why would I? Is it not within his authority? Even if it were not, is the Center my personal property? I had done my best and if it was time to go, it was that simple. Life continues. I had a thriving career before my appointment. The Center did not make me. I have so much to do. I am a multitalented, multifaceted and multitasking child of God. By His grace, the future is greater. So what is the problem?
Let me say here that The Federal Government should really look into the Parastatals and take note of the fact that many people who work on them do not have the requisite qualification. Many contribute nothing and many see their job as personal entitlement. They are owed because Nigeria belongs to them and them alone. Somehow, these people were given the impression that they could attempt to do what they did to me and nothing would happen. That is very sad indeed. The Ministry also has a case to answer. They helped to create that impression. A situation where the Ministry could invite a Management Staff to a trip abroad without informing the DG and the Staff would only inform her principal via text message, from the Airport as she is leaving the country, creates an atmosphere of indiscipline and anything goes. The Ministry should restrain itself to its spelt out function and not undermine the authority of the DG.


Finally, I declare that I am a Nigerian citizen who should enjoy the rights attendant to that privileged. I am Onyigbo and proud of it. I respect myself and I love and respect all for who they are. We are all God’s children. No one has the right to insult or abuse me or deprive me of my rights. Nigeria will not hold unless and until we all come to that realization.


Thank you and God bless.
Onyeka Onwenu (MFR)

Dieziani Alison-Madueke's husband arrested by EFCC

Husband of former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations of laundering more than $600,000 through his personal accounts. According to Channels TV, he was quizzed for many hours and was released on administrative bail. He is expected to return to the anti-graft agency headquarters tomorrow.