EMBEZZELMENT: N30trn fraud at ports: Senate gives those involved 4 days to come clean

• THE Senate, yesterday, gave those it described as “port cabal” that swindled Nigeria of over N30 trillion in recent times, four days to come clean or face prosecution. 

• According to the Senate, the said money, which cannot be accounted for, is more than four times the country’s current national budget, adding that it was prepared to prosecute all those involved in the scam.

Disclosing this, yesterday, in Abuja during the Public Hearing of the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, Senator Hope Uzodinma (PDP, Imo West) said preliminary findings by the committee into activities of Customs, financial leakages and malpractices in the nation’s ports and revenue system had shown evidence of how “a group of unpatriotic persons brazenly constitute themselves into a cabal to inflict infractions at the nation’s sea ports.
 According to him, the infractions have become daily occurrence at the nation’s sea ports, just as he accused commercial banks, shipping companies, terminal owners and operators of conniving with officials of Customs and Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to defraud the country in trillions of naira.
 The infractions come in various forms, beginning with abuse and violation of foreign exchange issued by Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, incorrect classification and under valuation of vessels coming into the country. The Senate asked the management of NPA to account for 282 missing vessels and urged the NPA and Customs to explain why they did not collect charges on the vessels and who authorised the release of the vessels from the ports. Senator Uzodinma said: “The Senate has mandated us to carry out a holistic investigation into the scandalous financial leakages that have become the norm in our ports. Quite worrisome is the fact that these leakages are costing our dear country trillions of naira in revenue and inversely constitute a clear and present security threat to our nation.
“It is common knowledge that infractions abound in daily transactions at the nation’s sea ports. Commercial banks, shipping companies, terminal owners and operators connive at ease with officials to defraud our dear nation in trillions of naira.” “Preliminary evidence before us suggests that this is the case in all sea ports. lndeed, initial evidence at our disposal clearly suggests that the port cabal has in recent memory, defrauded the nation of well over N30 trillion.
“It is distressing to note that while our nation is undergoing an exhausting recession, a group of unpatriotic persons, who brazenly constitute themselves into a cabal, is determined to deepen the pains of the nation through very repugnant practices.” “The Senate, determined to put an end to this villainous assault on the economy of our nation, has now taken the bull by the horn, and set out to get to the bottom of this organised crime, and come up with future proof ways at eradicating this gruesome menace.
 “In doing so, we shall be minded by the reality that those who want to bleed the nation to death without remorse. must be dealt with without reprieve. Consequently, all those indicted in this crime will be made to face the full wrath of the law. Meanwhile, the Senate has given the CBN up to Monday to verify claims of remittances by commercial banks, just as it was, however, disappointed at how Customs has over the years managed the Free Trade Zone, accusing it of allowing the free trade zone to be used for smuggling goods into the country. Declaring the event open, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who was represented by Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, who asked the committee to do a thorough job, said the Senate intended to use this oversight function to expose corruption and ensure that all the loopholes and leakages in the revenue systems were fully and comprehensively sealed. Saraki said, “The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at its sitting on Thursday, 4th May, 2017, mandated the Joint Committee on Customs, Excise & Tariff; and Marine Transport to carry out a holistic investigation into the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service with a View to identifying the financial leakages, malpractices and infractions within the import and export value chain as well as the causes of the declining revenue profile of the Service and come up with recommendations that will reinvigorate the revenue profile of the Nigeria Customs Service.
 “A recent report has suggested that trillions of Naira in revenue are lost annually within the import and export value chain as a result of financial leakages caused through various malpractices and infractions within the system.
“These anomalies are perpetrated by various stakeholders such as importers and exporters, authorized dealers, shipping companies, terminal operators, cargo handlers and their collaborators/conspirators such as Custom officials, ports authority officials and other agency officials.
 “This Senate intends to use its oversight functions to expose corruption and ensure that all loopholes and leakages in our revenue systems are fully and comprehensively sealed.
The 8th National Assembly will not sit idly by and watch things continue to go wrong no matter whose ox is gored. Especially not in the era of economic downturn resulting from declining oil revenue.
 “We are determined to reverse these financial leakages to enable us get the much-needed resources to fund our children’s education, health care and fix the potholes on our roads through the budget.
 “Therefore, I urge this hearing not to leave any stone unturned to ensure that We incrementally eliminate waste and corruption in the management of our national resources. “Of a truth, this assignment is enormous but we are confident that the committee is composed of eminent personalities who will ensure we put an end to this bleeding of the nation.
The Committee is to do a thorough legislative investigation to expose the widespread abuses inherent in import and export businesses; which had greatly undermined and stunted the national economy.”

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BREAKING NEWS: Naira depreciates to N363.57/$ at NAFEX

• The naira yesterday depreciated to N363.57 per dollar at the Nigeria Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) window. 

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ), showed that the indicative exchange rate for the NAFEX window rose from N362.21 per dollar on Monday to close at N363.57 per dollar, indicating N1.63 depreciation for the naira in contrast to the 50 kobo appreciation recorded on Monday. 
The naira however remained stable at N367 per dollar in the parallel market yesterday, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold $20,000 to each of the 3,145 bureaux de change (BDCs) across the country. 
This complements the $195 million injected by the apex bank into the interbank market on Monday.

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BREAKING NEWS: I am down with strange illness after my pastor, his sister lured me to Russia – Florence, Nigerian trafficked lady

• The war against human trafficking intensified in Edo State last week after whistle blowers informed security agents about the arrival of a Russian based alleged human trafficker,Vivian Ehioze.

Florence Inset: •Pastor Ehozie … suspected recruiter

 Consequently, she was arrested alongside her brother, Pastor Endurance Ehioze, said to be her recruiter. One of their victims was alleged to be a 23-year-old-lady, Florence Abu, said to have been trafficked to Russia for prostitution when she was 17. 
They were alleged to have been involved in trafficking several girls to Russia with Endurance allegedly using his position as a pastor to facilitate the recruitment of the girls from church. 
The state Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, whose men arrested the suspected traffickers, described the raid as a boost to the fight against human trafficking. 
While victim Florence, who was deported to Nigeria after she had suffered some strange ailment, is being treated at a hospital, Vivian and Emmanuel are cooling their feet in prison after a magistrate court in Ekiadolor asked them to be remanded.
They were remanded on a two-count-charge by Chief Magistrate E I. Bazuaye. The suspects, and two others still at large, were said to have committed the offense sometime in January 2013 at Idunwina Quarters, Ekiadolor, near Benin-City. 
They were alleged to have connived to procure Florence for the purpose of prostitution and other sexual exploitation. Meanwhile, Florence narrated her story to Sunday Vanguard. 
“It all started in 2012 when a pastor in my church, Endurance Ehioze, called me to say he wanted to see me.  
He asked me if I will like to travel out of the country and I said yes. I told him that I was constrained financially; so he said money was not the problem and that he had a sister abroad that will finance my trip. 
He further told me that I could pay off the sister off in less than two months after my arrival abroad. He added that I shouldn’t be afraid of making money abroad since and I am a good singer and hair stylist. 
The pastor further told me that I might be lucky to even come across a white man that will support me”, the victim started. 
“Later, he (Endurance} gave me her sister’s number in Russia called Vivian Ehioze. 
 When I flashed her, she called me and introduced herself. She asked me if I  was interested in leaving the country, saying as long as I was interested I should get my passport ready which I did by borrowing N30, 000 from LAPO, and I called her to tell her that my passport was ready.
 “She asked me to give the passport to Pastor Endurance (the brother) as he will handle everything. 
She gave me words of encouragement that everything will be fine. Few days later, she called again to say I should pack my luggage and take it to her mother’s place enroute to Lagos. 
But when I got to the mother’s place, she told me it was late to travel to Lagos that same day. 
The next morning, she woke me up and said there must be an agreement between us because many girls, when they get to Russia, don’t often pay her daughter back the money spent to take them abroad. 
So, she said, she must take something from me as an oath and that once I finished paying her daughter, I will have to pay her some money as well. 
I was surprised that Endurance, who is a pastor, encouraged me to undertake such oath. I had thought that as a Christian we will do it the Christian way. 
Finally, the mother took strands of hair from my head, armpit, private part and she also collected my pant for the oath taking”. 
She went on: “When I arrived Lagos, the next day, an elder brother of Madam Vivian (name withheld) came to pick me from the park and took me to a hotel. 
He brought out a slip of paper from his pocket and said it was my visa application and that it was genuine. 
He told me to relax and  that I should use what I have to get what I wanted. I was shocked when he took my phone according to an order from Vivian so that nobody might call to discourage me from proceeding on the trip. 
 I asked him how I will be able to communicate with my mother since he had collected my phone and he assured me that Endurance (pastor) will be the link man if I wanted to speak to my mother. 
“Immediately thereafter, he brought out a condom and asked that I should pull off my dress. I resisted him but he forcefully had his way. 
He said it should be a secret between the two of us and threatened that if I disclosed it to any one, something terrible will happen to me. He took me to his house and asked me to pretend about it. 
For the two weeks period I waited for my visa, it was hell for me in the house. He molested me regularly but thankfully my visa came in February 2013”. “When I arrived in Russia, Vivian came to pick me up at the airport and she took me to her place in Moscow. 
The first thing she did was to take my passport away from me. She said the passport now belonged to her.  The third day, at about 9pm, she asked me to dress up. She took me on a road walk during which I met several Nigerian girls prostituting on the street and that was how I was lured into prostitution.
 I started paying the money ($45,000} and once I finished paying, I was deported to Nigeria. Apart from that, I was inflicted with a strange ailment. Life was so unbearable for me so much so that I was put under medication for almost one year.
 The doctors treating me couldn’t handle my case. The doctors said other people with worse health situations had been treated and wondered why my own case was different. 
When I couldn’t bear it, I had to tell my mother about it. It was my mother that used to send me black soap and cream from Nigeria through courier to treat the ailment. At a point, it was my mother that was sending money to me to pay my house rent. 
Life there became difficult so much so that I had to go to Nigerian embassy in Russia for help before I was deported”. Asked if she was aware she was being trafficked for prostitution, Forence said: “I was 17 years old then. My madam lied to me that life was far better over there and that if I didn’t want to stay in Russia, I could travel to another country. 
I made all the  credits I needed at O’ level but there was no money to further my education; so when the opportunity came, I jumped at it. Besides, my mum was owing a huge debt and I wanted to help her because of the embarrassment. 
But what my madam told me was completely different from what I met in Russia. I was molested to point that I took ill. 
I was using gas water because of acute chest pain arising from the torture I received from my madam. Sometimes I will just collapse. I was always on drugs. And the she abandoned me in Russia and came to Nigeria to look for other girls to traffick. I couldn’t cope with life; so I was deported with other girls who were going through the same situation as l. If it is possible, some of our girls in Russia will trek back home because the suffering there is huge, some of them are beggars there. “ I want to advise young girls hoping to be taken abroad to work that all that glitters is not gold. 
Yes, abroad is beautiful, but if you are going to be trafficked by someone, you should cry out. Life there is not what they paint to you. Many girls out there are dead and their parents think they are alive. 
Out of the 300 girls deported in the last one year, about 100 of them are HIV positive. Our girls should learn trades and empower themselves rather than going abroad for prostitution. 
I want to thank Edo State Commissioner of Police because he has fought for me by apprehending my traffickers (madam and her brother). I came in contact with an NGO (Solomon Okoduwa) through one girl called Gift when we were at the NAPTIP detention centre in Lagos. 
Okoduwa has been helping me to settle down and was instrumental to the arrest of my madam and her brother” Corroborating the victim’s story, her other, Madam Josephine Abu, who wept profusely, said, “My daughter was assisted to travel through Endurance our pastor, who is the second in command to the senior pastor of our church. 
The suffering was too much for me to bear. He said since I was indebted to some people and I could not pay, he would help my daughter to travel abroad. He (Endurance) assured me that since my daughter is a hair stylist, she will make money in Russia. 
 For a long time, I didn’t hear from my daughter until she called to say she was seriously ill and could not bear staying in Russia any longer and had to be deported”. The National Coordinator of the Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR), Comrade Okoduwa Solomon, who described Florence’s story as very pathetic, narrated how the suspected traffickers were arrested. 
“Information reached us that her madam was in town to recruit young girls to be taken to Russia. So, we contacted the police who swung into action by arresting the said madam and her brother.
 The Commissioner of Police and the NAPTIP acted wonderfully. Apart from this girl, we have other victims and that is why we are trying to reach out to Governor Godwin Obaseki to help us rehabilitate these girls. “They are our children and sisters, so that they can be assisted to be useful to themselves and the society. Parents should also caution their children against illegal migration”.

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BREAKING NEWS: Osinbajo okays 19 new National Industrial Court

• The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on Tuesday, approved the appointment of 19 new Judges for the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NIC.

Pro. Yemi Osibanjo

Appointment of the new NIC Judges was based on recommendation of the National Judicial Council, NJC. 
According to a statement by the Director of Information at the NJC, Mr. Soji Oye, the new NIC Judges are Targema John Iorngee (Benue State), Namtari Mahmood Abba (Adamawa State), Nweneka Gerald Ikechi (Rivers State), Kado Sanusi (Katsina State), Adeniyi Sinmisola Oluyinka (Ogun State), Abiola Adunola Adewemimo (Osun State), Opeloye Ogunbowale A. (Lagos State). Others are, Essien Isaac Jeremiah (Akwa-Ibom State), Elizabeth Ama Oji (Ebonyi State), Arowosegbe Olukayode Ojo (Ondo State), Ogbuanya Nelson S. Chukwuneta, Enugu State, Bashir Zaynab Mohammed (Niger State), Galadima Ibrahim Suleiman (Nasarawa State), Bassi Paul Ahmed (Borno State) Danjidda Salisu Hamisu (Kano State), Hamman Idi Polycarp (Taraba State), Damulak Kiyersohot Dashe (Plateau state) Alkali Bashar Attahiru (Sokoto State) and Mustapha Tijjani (Jigawa State) The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen who is equally the Chairman of the NJC, will swear-in the new Judges on July 14.

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BREAKING NEWS/CRIME: Badoo Strikes In Lagos Again, Kills Three

• The cultists attacked the wife of the founder of Crystal Church of Christ (C&S) Aladura, Mrs. Ajidara, her two-year old daughter and another woman who lived in the church with her daughter.

Nigeria Police

The Badoo ritual gang has reportedly killed three people in Owode-Ajegunle area of Lagos.

The cultists attacked the wife of the founder of Crystal Church of Christ (C&S) Aladura, Mrs. Ajidara, her two-year old daughter and another woman who lived in the church with her daughter.

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BREAKING NEWS/CRIME: Ogun College Suspends Lecturer For Impregnating Nursing Student

• A lecturer with the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese Ijebu, Dr. Seyi Adu, has been indefinitely suspended by the college for allegedly having sex with a nursing student of the school, Mosunmola.

• PUNCH Metro learned that the suspension was posted on a notice board at the administration block of the college, where the academic community was asked not to have any dealings with him.

• Our correspondent had reported that Adu and Mosunmola had sex in a hotel sometime in August 2016, which both parties did not deny.

Dr. Seyi Adu and impregnated Dental Nursing student at the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese Ijebu

However, while Adu, who is married with two children, accused the 28-year-old of seducing him, Mosunmola said the lecturer coerced her into the relationship as a precondition to passing his course which she failed.

 A human rights lawyer with the state ministry of justice was said to have successfully brokered a deal between the duo, wherein Adu agreed to pay Mosunmola a monthly stipend of N5,000 in addition to N7,000 for her ante-natal registration.

Within two months, the agreement broke down after Mosunmola presented a list of items required for her delivery, which she valued at N50,000.

Adu was said to have refused the payment, saying she wanted to turn him to a cash-cow.

 The 28-year-old lamented that she had been abandoned to her fate, adding that she could not raise money for the baby items.

Mosunmola was later delivered of a baby boy at the General Hospital, Epe.

A source at the college told PUNCH Metro that a notice was posted at the administrative block of the school, announcing Adu’s suspension.

He said, “The notice stated that he had been suspended and nobody should have any dealings with him. Everybody in the school has been talking about the notice.”

The college spokesperson, Ayodele Alaga, confirmed the development.

He said, “It is true. The suspension is indefinite. We have severed the relationship with him. He was an adjunct lecturer. We will await the final outcome of the investigation by the ministry of health.”

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BREAKING NEWS: Police Detain Alhaji Usman Adamu In Connection With Suspicious Death Of Joy Odama

• The police in Abuja have detained one Usman Adamu as a suspect in the death of a young woman, Joy Odama.

• According to a statement released earlier today by a police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, Mr. Adamu is being detained as the police continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Odama’s death in the suspect’s apartment in Abuja.  Apart from Ms. Odama’s death, another young woman in the suspect’s residence, Victoria Ezekiel, fell gravely ill but was resuscitated at the Federal Medical Center in Jabi, Abuja. 

Late Joy Odama

The police spokesman disclosed that the Mr. Adamu’s investigation for culpable homicide began after a law firm representing Philomena Odama, the mother of the deceased young woman, wrote a petition to the Inspector General of Police. In the petition, dated January 5, 2017, Mrs. Odama urged the IGP to order an investigation into her daughter’s death in Mr. Adamu’s apartment.

The late Joy Odama was a second-year student of Mass Communication at Cross River State University of Technology. The police statement said she “died mysteriously in the flat of Alhaji Usman Adamu located at Ibro Quarters, Karmo, Abuja on 21/12/2016.”

According to the police report, on December 18, 2016, one Elizabeth Okpata James asked Ms. Joy Odama to go with her to Mr. Adamu’s house along with another woman, Martha Hassan. The report added that Mrs. Philomena Odama later met Mr. Adamu “who promised to offer her a job with the

Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).” On December 20, 2016, the suspect requested that Joy Odama come to his apartment to help take care of his ill house-help while he sought the services of a medical doctor.

However, when Joy Odama’s mother called the suspect the next day to ask after her daughter, Mr. Adamu reportedly pretended not to know the young woman. The next day, the distraught mother was invited to Karmo Police Division where she was informed that her daughter, Joy Odama, and Victoria Ezekiel had become unconscious the previous day in Mr. Adamu’s home and were rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Jabi where her daughter Joy Odama was pronounced dead but the other young woman regained consciousness.

The police said the hospital placed Ms. Ezekiel on oxygen and treated her for conditions that included carbon monoxide poisoning, dehydration, vomiting, and headaches.

The police spokesman disclosed that two autopsies were done at the National Hospital, Abuja to ascertain Ms. Joy Odama’s cause of death. He said the first autopsy, done by Dr. Jibrin Paul, was inconclusive, but the second, carried out by Dr. Wilson Akhinwu, determined that the cause of death was “carbon monoxide poisoning from generator fumes” aggravated by “a pre-existing cardiomyopathy.” The autopsy ruled out the presence of cocaine in the deceased.

The police spokesman revealed that Mr. Adamu would remain in detention, adding that the case file would be sent to Federal Director of

Public Prosecutions for legal advice and further action.

The police urged the family of Ms. Odama to remain patient, promising that police investigators would do a thorough job and ensure that justice was done in the case.

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BREAKING NEWS: Kidnap Kingpin, Evans, Files Fresh Lawsuit Against Nigerian Police Seeks N300m In Damages

• Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has again dragged the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention.

• In the new suit filed on Thursday, Evans is claiming N300m as general and exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial. Joined as respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

Evans

Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike aka Evans, has again dragged
Joined as respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command.

Evans had on June 28 filed an ex parte application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, before the same court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him to court.

He had also in the alternative sought an order directing the respondents to release him unconditionally where no charge is preferred against him.

In an affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, it was averred that the applicant has been subjected to media trial without any court order by the respondents.

Onwuamadike further averred that the media trial and news orchestrated by the respondents have continued to generate reactions in both print and electronic media without his son being afforded fair hearing before a court of law.

Evans contended that his continued detention by the respondents since June 10, without a charge, or release on bail, is an infringement on his fundamental rights.

In his new suit also marked FHC/L/CS/1012/ 2017 and with the same persons as respondents, the applicant is seeking a declaration that his continued detention since June 10 without arraignment, violates his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

He is also seeking a declaration that his parade on June 11 before journalists in Lagos, at the Lagos Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, without any court order, is unconstitutional and illegal.

He is consequently, seeking an order, compelling the respondents to immediately arraign him before a law court, or release him from custody forthwith.

‘Evans’’ is also seeking an order, compelling the respondents to jointly and severally, pay him the sum of N300m as exemplary damages for illegal detention and alleged harm caused by the alleged media trial.

The suspect is also seeking an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the respondents from further arresting, detaining, harassing, investigating or inviting him in relation to the facts of his case.

He is also seeking further orders as the court may deem fit, to make in the circumstances.

No date has been fixed for hearing in his latest lawsuit.

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Sallah Message To Muslims Reveals Buhari's Speech Impairment

Sammynews4u had revealed in a report that Mr.
Buhari’s speech was impaired while receiving
medical treatment for what is believed to be
prostate cancer. Days after the report was
published, the president’s aides claimed that his
speech impairment was a temporary side effect of
the medical treatment he was receiving. They also
said he was experiencing temporary lapses in
memory.

Sammynews4u learned that, rattled by our
reporting, a cabal using President Buhari to
manipulate the political process at home prepared
a handwritten text for him to greet his admirers in
Hausa and released it to a select group of
journalists. In choosing to deliver the greeting in
the Hausa language, the cabal behind Mr. Buhari
wanted to whip up sentiments within the northern
parts of Nigeria and to create the impression that
the president was in good health, contrary to the
claims of Sammynews4u .
The audio recording of the greeting was released
today, and the manner in which the president
rushed through the text was indicative of his failing
health and further proof that after 49 days in
London, the president's health has not improved as
much as being bandied by his handlers.
Two of the aides had told Sammynews4u that Buhari was on his way back
to Nigeria, "stronger and fitter" than he was when
he left the country, but the audio has proved
otherwise and shows that President Buhari is in
poor health.
A presidency source also told

Sammynews4u that
the president enjoys a few moments when he is
lucid between hours of being administered drugs
for his treatment. The audio recording, just over a
minute long, was possibly recorded during that
period.

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BREAKING NEWS: President Buhari “Not As Bad Anymore”—Aides

• Two aides of President Muhammadu Buhari last night said the ailing Nigerian leader might head home within a week, subject to clearance by his doctors.

• In an interview on the condition of anonymity, one of the two sources also claimed that some of the president’s latest health symptoms revealed in our recent reports arose as adverse reactions to drugs prescribed for Mr. Buhari since he arrived in the UK. The symptoms include memory loss and speech impairment.

Pesident Muhammadu Buhari

“Mr. President [Buhari] is getting better and wanting to return to Nigeria very soon,” one of the two sources said. Despite our correspondent’s pressure, the source declined to disclose any specific date for Mr. Buhari’s return, saying the matter “totally depends on his doctors.”

There were earlier speculations that President Buhari would return to Nigeria by today, but our two sources said they were not sure about the source of such speculations.

Asked why the President had not spoken to his vice or revealed the true nature of his sickness to Nigerians, despite his avowed transparency and honesty, one of the sources told SaharaReporters, “Sickness is not a matter you just start broadcasting to everybody. Remember that Mr. President, after his return to Nigeria in March, told Nigerians that he had never been so sick in his life. I think that statement has already disclosed enough about his health.”

The latest claims by the presidential sources that Mr. Buhari was on the cusp of returning to Nigeria seem triggered by our latest report that the chronically sick leader had suffered speech impairment and a worsening of memory loss in the course of his medical treatment in London.

One of the Presidency sources said he was in no position to discuss the specifics of Mr. Buhari’s treatment, but disclosed that part of the president’s treatment had led to “some side effects.” Asked if the side effects included speech problems memory loss, the source obliquely acknowledged those side effects. However, he claimed that “the issues [side effects] are temporary. They occurred after the medical team administered a particular medication on Mr. President.” 

The same source revealed that President Buhari had been receiving blood transfusions to help improve his health.

Mr. Buhari left Nigeria for the UK some 47 days ago to continue medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment believed to be cancer. Since arriving in London, Mr. Buhari has not been seen in public, but has been ensconced in the Nigerian Presidential Guest House in London known as “Abuja House”. The President has hardly spoken to his vice, now acting President Yemi Osinbajo, since he left. The lone exception was two weeks ago when the gravely sick president held a short-lived telephone conversation with Mr. Osinbajo. Mr. Buhari spoke with such incoherence that the conversation had to be ended abruptly.

This year alone, President Buhari has spent more than 100 days outside of Nigeria on account of his failing health. There remain major concerns that Mr. Buhari would remain frail as he suffers from age-related infirmities in addition to the chronic health condition that took him to London. Officially 74 years old, the president is believed by some to be much older.

Even if President Buhari returns to Abuja within a week as claimed by some of his aides, including the ones we interviewed, it is almost certain that he would soon need to return to the United Kingdom to continue treatment.

An opposition politician told SaharaReporters that members of a cabal close to the ailing President have renewed their plan to return him to Nigeria to assume office after his current prolonged absence.

Some members of that cabal were last week in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj. The opposition politician, who asked for anonymity, said the group “used the lesser hajj as a cover to hold clandestine meetings with Senate President Bukola Saraki as part of their design to control power.” He identified Issa Funtua, an in-law of the President, as the leader of the cabal in Saudi Arabia.

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BREAKING NEWS: US Govt. Did Not Grant Apostle Suleiman "Honorary Citizenship"

• A widely publicized claim that controversial Nigerian preacher, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has been granted 'honorary citizenship" by the US government is absolutely false Sammynews4u can authoritatively reveal. Apostle Suleiman is the founder of the Auchi-based Omega Fire Worldwide Ministries.

• Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, the preacher's publicist, had claimed extravagantly that the US government granted Apostle Suleiman “honorary citizenship” as a non-resident of  South Carolina.

Apostle Johnson Suleman receiving a letter and plaque from South Carolina State House of Assembly member John Richard King

Contrary to the claim, Sammynews discovered that the alleged honorary citizenship is an insignificant gesture usually made by state legislators in the US.

According to our investigations, John Richard C. King, Chairman South Carolina Legislators Black Caucus representing a South Carolina county in the state house of assembly issued a letter to Apostle Suleiman conferring on him the honorary citizenship of the state of South Carolina.       

Made in the letter was a promise to confer the “honor” on Mr. Suleiman at the State Capitol building in Columbia. However, the lawmaker hurriedly took the award to Inglewood in California to present to Apostle Suleiman, where he was having a church program.

US state legislators routinely give letters and plaques that carry official proclamations with no real value. Sometimes, such gestures are used to raise campaign funding. SaharaReporters cannot confirm whether or not Apostle Suleiman paid for the letter and plaque. In its entire history, the United States has only granted  8 honorary citizenships, the last one was granted in 2014 posthumously to Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of Gálvez, a Spaniard American war hero.

Apostle Suleiman is currently nursing a reputational injury arising from allegations of sexual liaison made by Canada-based singer, Stephanie Otobo.

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BREAKING NEWS: INEC Confirms, Acknowledges Dino Melaye Recall Petition

• In a press statement dated June 22, the electoral body announced that it would begin the process of recalling Mr. Melaye after verifying that the petitioners are registered to vote in Kogi West Senatorial District.

Dino Malaye

In a press statement dated June 22, the electoral body announced that it would begin the process of recalling Mr. Melaye after verifying that the petitioners are registered to vote in Kogi West Senatorial District.

The verification exercise will hold on July 3, 2017.

INEC stated that it has informed Mr. Melaye and the petitioners' representatives of its receipt of the petition.

Read the press statement below:

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BREAKING NEWS: President Muhammadu Buhari Suffers Speech Impairment In London

•  President Muhammad Buhari, who left Nigeria 45 days ago to resume treatment for an undisclosed medical condition believed to be cancer, has developed speech difficulties, presidency sources said today.
   

• Previously, Mr. Buhari was also said to be suffering memory lapses.  The latest revelation stems from recent attempts to return the President to Nigeria by members of a cabal managing his health and using it to deceive Nigerians.

President Muhammadu Buhari

Several of President Buhari’s aides who traveled with him are reportedly not in touch with him, reports say, while others were ordered to return to Nigeria, with nobody having any certainty about the prospects of Mr. Buhari’s date of return.

During his last trip Saharareporters revealed that his London doctors rejected the idea of his returning to work.  They asked that he remained in London for four months to see how best they could treat his illness.  Nonetheless, the cabal managing the president brought him back to enable him to undertake a number of acts including military postings and appointments that would have been impossible with an acting President on seat.

At that time, Buhari revealed he had been very ill and had received blood transfusion, and indicated he would soon return to the UK for further treatment.  During the period he was in Nigeria, he was rarely seen outside, but managed to attend a few Federal Executive Council meetings which he left as soon as the photo opportunities were done with. Two weeks after that return, his condition deteriorated and doctors had to be flown in from the UK to embark on treatment, but that phase lasted only for a few weeks.

The president then stopped attending the weekly FEC altogether, but to maintain the ruse that he was healthy, members of the cabal would shepherd him to the mosque on Fridays hoping to generate sentiments within the core Muslim north where a rumor had circulated that the president had been “poisoned”.

 Buhari eventually left for the UK abruptly on the evening of May 7, shortly after meeting with some Chibok girls who had been released the previous day by Boko Haram. Although Buhari spoke at the event, his voice was barely audible, as he had lost a lot of weight, his condition reportedly complicated by Crohn’s Disease.

When the President was leaving for the airport, he shocked his aides when he asked if they were going to Sokoto, perhaps one of the first signs of his deteriorating memory.

It has now been learnt that President Buhari has not spoken to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo by telephone since his departure.  Only last week, the Acting President was asked to await a phone call from Mr. Buhari but when a call eventually came in, nothing coherent was heard from Mr. Buhari, despite the cabal having kept telling people of his “tremendous” improvement.

The cabal is also reportedly behind the rumors of a possible coup by some military officers a couple of weeks ago, as well as the recent quit notice by some Northern youths to the Igbos in that area, which they figured would make western countries view such an attempt with understanding if they thought the action would protect Nigeria as an indivisible entity.

Meanwhile, several top western diplomats including the Ambassadors of the US and the UK, are scheduled to meet with Acting President Osinbajo in the coming days. It is unclear if at that meeting the UK will brief Osinbajo regarding Buhari’s exact condition, but a State Department official told Saharareporters that they are more concerned about Nigeria’s indivisibility than the question of Buhari’s health.  A source at the British Embassy told this website they don’t think Buhari could continue to govern in the condition he is in London.

President Buhari left Nigeria flew into Luton airport on a Presidential jet with registration number 5N-FGT in the first week of May.  The jet was then flown on a 17-minute ride from Luton to London Stansted Airport, where it remains parked for over a month.

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Igbo quit notice: Here are 15 things Osinbajo told northern leaders

• Yemi Osibanjo has warned northern youths that the federal government will not take lightly the three month quit notice issued to Igbos

• The acting president held a consultative meeting with elders and leaders in northern states

• Osinbajo said any hate or divisive speech, or divisive behaviour, where it is illegal, will be met with the full force of the law

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, June 13, warned northern youths that the federal government will not take lightly the three month quit notice issued to Igbos to leave the region.
The meeting which had in attendance the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief of Staff, Service Chiefs and other top officials of government was held at the old Banquet hall, State House, Abuja.

Below are 15 key things the acting president said at the meeting:

1. First let me say how honoured I am, by your response to my invitation to attend this special consultation. I’m pleased to welcome all who are here today, cross-section of elders from the Northern states of Nigeria. It is also important to point out that there are, of course people who would qualify for the same description, the description of very respected thought leaders, but certainly, we cannot have everyone. Some we could not even reach but, more importantly we wanted to have a small number of people for this first consultation, so that we will not have an unwieldy number.

 2. Besides, I will also be meeting with traditional leaders from the North and I will be meeting with respected thought leaders and religious leaders from the South-East. So this will be very broad series of consultations but, let me say again that I am extremely grateful that you responded to this meeting at very short notice.

3. Living in a diverse country such as ours of course as most of us who are here know, is one that will give rise to unique challenges, several challenges and several issues. Most, who are here today have been witnesses to practically all phases of Nigerian History which, is one of the reasons we have asked that you come today. There is hardly anyone here who has not witnessed the most important landmarks in our history, some tragic, some joyful and, many times unable to put together.

4. This is one of the reasons why I thought that, this particular group of people are important to be here today. In the past few weeks, I’m sure many of us have noticed that there have been louder noises of hate, of division, especially from the younger persons in our society. Much louder noises than perhaps had been the case in the past.

5. Recently of course there was the loud agitations about secession from some of the groups of some young people in the South-East, IPOB and groups that are affiliated with them but also and perhaps more recently, the call by a group of young persons from the North, who claim to have given an ultimatum to all of those who are from the South-East who live in the North to vacate the North by October 1st, 2017. Now, there are those who may deride these sort of statements that these hate speeches that may show intolerance and promote divisions are not important, that they should be ignored.

6. However, I believe that we should address them quickly and that especially leaders of thoughts and elders, persons with experience, persons who have been through several phases of Nigeria’s history should be able to advice and should be able to give some directions as to how many of those in our midst, especially younger people in our midst who may believe that perhaps the way and means they are going about their frustrations or their personal grievances is the right way to go.

7. I want to say that our defining strength is what our constitution calls the sovereign “nation under God.” There are multitudes of people from the North and multitudes of the people from the South who live in either the South or the North. There is no homogenous society in Nigeria; the North has several people living there from different parts of the country.

8. Every form of violence, every form of hate speech, every stone that is thrown in the market place will hit targets that are not even intended. And I believe that the Nigerian people must be made very conscious of that, so that we do not create a crisis that is unintended.

9. As part of the reasons of living together, we must know that misunderstandings and frustrations would always arise and that people would always complain that they are not getting the best part of the deal. But we must be careful to recognize that we can only even begin to talk about getting any part of anything (only) if we are together in peace.

10. These days, wars do not end and I am sure that all of those who have seen or experienced war in any form would not wish it on their worst enemies. This is not the time to retreat behind ethnic lines. Moments like this are not for isolating ourselves and I want to urge all of us who are here, and of cause the entire Nigerian populace, that it is a time for us to come together and to work together. As a government, we are of cause determined to ensure the unity of the country along the lines of our constitution.

11. I want to say that hate or divisive speech, or divisive behaviour, where it is illegal, will be met with the full force of the law. And I want to ensure that there is no doubt of the resolve of government to ensure that no one will be allowed to get away with making speeches that can cause division, or that can cause violence.

12. Especially because when we make these kinds of pronouncements and we do things that can cause violence or disruption of lives and property, those who make those speeches are no longer in control.

13. So, I want to just emphasise that government will take very seriously any attempts to cause violence or to disrupt the peace of this country. That, I think is very important because we cannot control violence once it begins.

14. So today I am extremely grateful that you have responded to this meeting and I know that those who are around this table will be frank and constructive in all of our engagements. It is a very important engagement and I hope we will be able to get the kinds of fruit that we desire from it.

15. God helping us, our country will always be a place where we can always be proud of, where we can always live peacefully. And we always owe it as a duty to the next generation to hand over to them a peaceful and prosperous nation.

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Check This Out: Senator Melaye Caught On Tape Revealing How He Framed “Suspects” In His Alleged Assassination Attempt

• Senator Dino Melaye has revealed how he deliberately framed others in his alleged assassination case, using the police.

•  In yet another phone audiotape obtained exclusively by Saharareporters, he tells Muhammed Audu, the son of late former Governor of Kogi State Abubakar Audu how he used his connections with the police to frame someone referred to as "Edward" (believed to be Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to the current Kogi State Governor), in the alleged assassination attempt on him at his country home. 

Dino Melaeye

The Kogi State Senator reported an assassination attempt on his life at his home in Ijumu on April 15, and on April 29, the police paraded six persons, including the chairman of Ijumu Local Government area, one Taofik Isah, who were allegedly involved in the crime.
On the new audiotape, Melaye, speaking mostly in Hausa, reveals to Muhammed that the assassination story was carefully orchestrated to rope in his opponent, and how his access to the highest echelons of the police facilitated his effort to frame “Edward” in the alleged plot to assassinate him.

Only last week, SaharaReporters published another audiotape in which Senator Melaye was caught bribing Justice Akon Ikpeme of the Cross River State High Court in the election petition tribunal process which brought him to the Senate two years ago.

All the persons alleged to have participated in the assassination are currently on bail.
Pls Click On The Below Link To Watch The Conversation
https://youtu.be/1mQogu_285w

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BREAKING NEWS: Northern Youths Declare War On Igbos In The North, Ask Them To ‘Leave’ Within Three Months

• Some Northern Nigeria youth groups on Tuesday in Kaduna issued what they called a 'Kaduna Declaration' in which they declared “war” against all Igbos residing in the North, demanding they leave the area within three months. 

•  They also asked Northerners in the South-East to leave the area, warning that as from October 1, which happens to be Nigeria’s National Day, they will commence implementation of ‘visible actions’ to prove they are no longer part of a federal union that includes the Igbo.

Pro-Biafran Protes along Onitsha bridge

The groups that signed the declaration include Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network, but it is unclear if known officials of any of the groups actually signed the document.

They cite as reason for their decision the pro-Biafran activities of some Igbo, centred around the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying their latest action and similar confrontational conducts “amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of those termed as non-indigenous people residing and doing lawful businesses in those areas illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo.”

The groups held that their conclusion is “necessitated by the realization that it since ceased to be comfortable or safe to continue sharing the same country with the ungrateful, uncultured Igbos who have exhibited reckless disrespect for the other federating units and stained the integrity of the entire nation with their insatiable criminal obsessions.”

They said that rather than certain sections holding the whole country to ransom at every stage, each should be allowed to go its own way.

They warned the government that as from October 1, they will embark on what they called “peaceful and safe mop-up of all the remnants of the stubborn Igbos that neglect to heed this quit notice,” towards “finally eject them from every part of the North.”

The federal government had issued no response as of the time of this report.

Below is the text of the declaration:

THE KADUNA DECLARATION BEING A JOINT POSITION PAPER ISSUED BY THE AREWA CITIZENS ACTION FOR CHANGE, AREWA YOUTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM, AREWA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AREWA STUDENTS FORUM AND NORTHERN EMANCIPATION NETWORK ON THE IGBO PERSISTENCE FOR SECESSION 

June 06, 2017

PREAMBLE

The persistence for the actualization of Biafra by the unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria has lately assumed another alarming twist which involved the forceful lockdown of activities and denial of other people's right to free movement in the South-East by the rebel Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its overt and covert sponsors. 

This latest action and similar confrontational conducts which amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of those termed as non-indigenous people residing and doing lawful businesses in those areas illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo, are downright unacceptable and shall no longer be tolerated. 

OBSERVATIONS

Concerned by this persistent Igbo threat to national integration, the above-namedPan-northern groups met with several others and reviewed the current position of the North and jointly came up with the following observations:

1. IGBO PROVOCATION

a. The Igbo people of the South-East, without remorse for the carnage they wrought on the nation in the 1960s, are today boldly reliving those sinister intentions connoted by the Biafran agitation that led to the very first bloody insurrection in Nigeria's history.

b.  Emboldened by the apparent indifference of the Nigerian authorities, the Igbo secessionist tendency is widening in scope and action at every stage, with adverse effects on the law-abiding people of other regions residing in or passing through the East, while the Igbo leaders and elders by their utterances and direct action or inaction appear to support and encourage it.

c.  This is happening irrespective of the undisputable fact that:

i.  The cruel Igbos have done and are doing more damage to our collective nationhood than any other ethnic group; being responsible for the first violent interference with democracy in Nigeria resulting in a prolonged counter-productive chain of military dictatorship.

ii. The Igbos similarly orchestrated the first, and so far, the only civil war in Nigeria that consumed millions of lives and sowed the seed of the current mutual suspicion and distrust.

iii.  The Igbos are also responsible for Nigeria's cultural and moral degeneracy with their notorious involvement in all kinds of crimes, including international networking for drug and human trafficking, violent robberies and kidnappings, high-profile prostitution and advanced financial fraud.

iv.  At the peak of the devastating Boko Haram violence in some parts of the North, available records show that the Igbo people have variously been apprehended while attempting to convey catches of dangerous arms and ammunition to the troubled regions.

v.  There are today sufficient reasons to suspect that some Igbos masquerade as Fulani herdsmen to commit violent atrocities across the country in order to cause and spread ethnic disaffection.

vi.  It is also on record that since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, the Igbos have shown and maintained open contempt and resentment for the collective decision expressed by majority of Nigerians at various stages via generally acceptable democratic processes.

2.  DOCILE NORTHERN RESPONSE

a. While these provocative acts of aggression persist and grow in dimension with each new move, leaders of the North whose people are at the receiving end of the threats, appear helplessly unperturbed.

b. Rather than endorsing a concise framework for pre-emptive action to protect and safeguard the interest of the North and its people, leaders of the region at every stage tend to seek the cover of a flimsy and long-discarded excuse of having fought in the 60s to keep Nigeria united.

c.  Without pursuing a resolute action-plan, these northern leaders have adopted and have been dragging its people into a pitifully pacifist position in order tosustain an elusive national cohesion that has long been ridiculed by the Igbos.

OUR STAND

1.  From today, June 6, 2017, when this proclamation is signed, the North, a critical player in the Nigerian project, hereby declares that it will no longer be disposed to coexisting with the Igbos and shall take definite steps to end the partnership by pulling out of the current federal arrangement.

2. This conclusion is necessitated by the realization that it since ceased to be comfortable or safe to continue sharing the same country with the ungrateful, uncultured Igbos who have exhibited reckless disrespect for the other federating units and stained the integrity of the entire nation with their insatiable criminal obsessions.

3.  Rather than certain sections holding the whole country to ransom at every stage, each should be allowed to go its own way as we categorically proclaim today that the North is fed up with being the same country with this pack of acrimonious Igbo partners.

4.  The North hereby openly calls on the authorities and other national and international stakeholders to acknowledge this declaration by taking steps to facilitate the final dissolution of this hopeless union that has never been convenient to any of the parties.

PRELUDE TO FINAL SEPARATION

1.  RECOVERY AND CONTROL OF LANDED PROPERTY

As a first step, since the Igbo have clearly abused the unreciprocated hospitality that gave them unrestricted access to, and ownership of landed properties all over the North, our first major move shall be to reclaim, assume and assert sole ownership and control of these landed resources currently owned, rented or in any way enjoyed by the ingrate Igbos in any part of Northern Nigeria.

Consequently, officials of the signatory groups to this declaration, are already mandated to commence immediate inventory of all properties, spaces or activity in the north currently occupied by the Igbos for forfeiture at the expiration of the ultimatum contained in this declaration.

In specific terms, the groups are directed to compile and forward an up-to-date data of all locations occupied by any Igbo in any part of Northern Nigeria including schools, markets, shops, workshops, residences and every other activity spaces.

 

 2.  RELOCATION NOTICE

Secondly, with the effective date of this declaration, which is today, Tuesday, June 06, 2017, all Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria are hereby served notice to relocate within three months and all northerners residing in the East are advised likewise.

 

3. ENFORCEMENT

All northern civil society and pressure groups are by this declaration mandated to mobilize for sustained, coordinated campaigns at their respective State Government Houses, State Houses of Assembly, Local Government Council Secretariats, and Traditional Palaces to mount pressure for steps to be taken to ensure enforcement of the directives contained herein.

 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we are hereby placing the Nigerian authorities and the entire nation on notice that as from the 1st October 2017, we shall commence the implementation of visible actions to prove to the whole world that we are no longer part of any federal union that should do with the Igbos.

From that date, effective, peaceful and safe mop-up of all the remnants of the stubborn Igbos that neglect to heed this quit notice shall commence to finally eject them from every part of the North.

And finally, all authorities, individuals or groups are hereby advised against attempting to undermine this declaration by insisting on this union with the Igbos who have thus far proved to be an unnecessary baggage carried too far and for too long. 

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I would never give up on Biafra – Nnamdi Kanu

• The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOP, Nnamdi Kanu, Monday vowed to challenge his stringent bail conditions, saying they were unconstitutional.

Nnamdi Kanu

He also said that he would never give up his agitation for the restoration of Biafran Republic, pointing out that he wanted the reward for his agitation in this world and not when dies and goes to heaven. Kanu spoke in Enugu when paid a “Thank You” visit to the leadership of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA. The ECA appointed Kanu its leader in absentia when he was being detained at Kuje Prisons with Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwo as his deputy among others. The IPOB leader was received by top members of the ECA, including Mrs. Okwor and Evang. Elliot Ugochukwu-Ukoh, among others.

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BREAKING NEWS: Osinbajo will take charge in my absence – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari who departed Nigeria for London Sunday night for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors has said that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will take charge in his absence and that Government will continue to function smoothly and efficiently. Buhari made this known on his twitter handle.

1. I'd like to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry. I appreciate your prayers & kind wishes.May God continue to bless Nigeria

   a day ago

2. 

   Muhammadu Buhari@MBuhari

   Vice President @ProfOsinbajo will take charge in my absence. Government will continue to function smoothly and efficiently.

   a day ago

   ReplyRetweetFavorite

3. 

   Muhammadu Buhari@MBuhari

   We've always made it clear that we will do everything in our power to ensure the freedom & safe return of our daughters,& of all BH captives

   a day ago

4. 

   Muhammadu Buhari@MBuhari

   I have sent the required letters regarding my trip to @NGRSenate and @HouseNGR, in line with Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

   a day ago

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Ooni of Ife reacts to burning of Oba of Lagos palace

•  The Ooni of Ife expressed sympathy over the fire incident at the palace of the Oba of Lagos
   

• He said the incident had nothing to do with the relationship between him and the Oba

 

• The Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi, has said that he has nothing to do with the fire incident that happened at the palace of Oba of Lagos and expressed sadness over it.

Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi

 The Oba was taken to a safe place while officials of Lagos state fire service put out the inferno. There was report that traditional relics might have been affected by the mysterious fire.

 Considering the incident happened just a week after an incident between the two kings where the Oba of Lagos snubbed the Ooni at a public function, there was speculation that the fire incident was not unconnected to it.

Premium Times reports however that Moses Olafare who is the spokesperson of the Ooni palace said the fire incident had nothing to do with the kings’ relationship

. He said: We are not happy over the fact that the palace of Lagos king got burnt, we can only sympathise with the palace on the development

 “People are entitle to their own views. But what people say doesn’t mean that is the position of the palace.” “What happened is mere coincidence and should not be traced to the incident in Lagos, we send our sympathies.”

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I did not snub Ooni of Ife - Oba Akiolu FINALLY reveals what truly happened

• Oba Akiolu of Lagos has finally reacted to the allegations that he snubbed the Ooni of Ife at a function in Lagos

• He said each tribe has their own peculiar way of greetings and that the Oba of Lagos was basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos with his greetings

• He said Yoruba has a very rich culture. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife

Eleko Of Eko Land Oba Riliwan Akiolu

 His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos says he did not in any way snubbed the Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi at a public function in Lagos as being painted in the media.

  

Sammynews4u learnt that this was according to Chief Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa Onido of Lagos, one of the white cap chiefs.

Oni Of Ife

He argued that Oba Akiolu did not ignore Ooni of Ife. According to him, the response of Akiolu to Ooni’s greetings was the standard response and the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a Lagos monarch, Nigerian Tribune reports. He said each tribe has their own peculiar way of greetings and that the Oba of Lagos was basically trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos with his greetings. “The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies, ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos. if Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni,” he said.

He said: “There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered Monarchs in Yoruba Land”. According to him, the relationship between both Yoruba kings is peaceful and mutual. “Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye.

 

How Eleko Of Eko Land Snub Oni Of Ife

Going further, Chief Ajose said Oba Akiolu waited till this time to react after meeting with other chiefs. “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. As we met it that is the way we are doing it. Kabiesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind.”

“What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action” “We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information. They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out most especially by traditional rulers” “Yoruba has a very rich culture. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife,” he said.

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