Photos: Buhari Turns Down Proposal for N400 Million Bullet-proof Vehicles

President Muhammadu Buhari has turned down an offer by the Federal Government to procure five new armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars for his use.

The cars which total cost is put at about N400m were planned to be purchased by the State House.

A Presidency source told journalists on Thursday that Buhari got to know of the plan when the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi, was briefing him of his ministry’s activities on Wednesday.

IMPEACHMENT PROTEST:Hoodlums Attack Anti-Aregbesola Protesters

Two days after hoodlums suspected to be sympathetic to the All Progressives Congress, APC allegedly unleashed terror on anti-Aregbesola’s protesters in Osogbo, some residents of the state capital were again yesterday attacked over an alleged opposition stance against the governor.

The fresh attack took place at a popular news-stand, Makson Junction, opposite old Governor’s Office in Osogbo with several innocent people sustaining various degrees of injuries.

The thugs numbering about 25 stormed the place in six mini-buses and with all kinds of arms such as guns, axes and cudgels started chasing and beating up anyone at sight.

PROTESTERS SHUT DOWN S/EAST STATES OVER B/HARAM DETAINEES

All major markets in the South East geopolitical zone were yesterday shut down by traders against alleged decision of the Federal Government to transfer Boko Haram prisoners from the north to Ekwulobia prison in Anambra State.

The one day protest was agreed upon during a well-attended meeting of the South East Amalgamated Traders Association held at 52 Modebe Street in the commercial city of Onitsha on Saturday, July 4.

Participants at the meeting were reportedly drawn from various traders’ unions and associations in the South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

They condemned the alleged transfer of the Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia prison and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, order the removal of the terrorists from Igbo land.

Top Nigerians who Are Worth Following on Twitter

With about 302 million people on twitter, you can’t possibly follow everyone. But these statistics prove that these five Nigerians just might be worth your click. (@obyzeks)  Earlier this year, @Time Magazine named Nigerian political activist and writer ObiageliEzekwesili as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

Her activism and writing has gotten her worldwide renown and accolades. With her 310,000 followers on Twitter, she is constantly reaching out to them, advocating for various campaigns and speaking on current affairs.

Darey back with two new singles

Popular RnB artiste, Darey Art Alade has returned to reckoning as he drops two new singles.  The songs, ‘Pray For Me’ featuring Soweto Gospel Choir and ‘Àsìkò Laiyé’ featuring Olamide, premiered during the week on major radio stations across the country.

With the release of these songs, Darye  has relaunched himself into the mainstream music world. He has also given his fans a taste of what they should expect from his fourth album.  In  Àsìkò laiyé’, the singer blends the afrobeat tune with elements of hip-hop, funk and high-life.

Building Collapse: Court indicts Joshua’s Synagogue church, says aircraft not cause of collapse

After 10 months of sitting, the Lagos Coroner’s Inquest into the collapse of a six-storey building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), yesterday, in Ikeja indicted the church for “criminal negligence” and recommended that it be prosecuted. 116 people died in the tragic incident.
The court said the Church did not get the necessary permit or approval before commencing  construction of the building.
The Lagos State Government inaugurated the Coroner’s Inquest under the state’s Coroner’s System Law No. 7 of 2007 to investigate the cause and circumstances leading to the death of 116 people, mostly South Africans,  following the building collapse of September 12, 2014, and bring its findings and recommendations to the appropriate authorities.
 TB Joshua-Synagogue Church

Money Laundering: Ex-Gov Ohakim, Gets N270m Bail

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, July 9, 2015 admitted former governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, to bail.
Ohakim was arraigned on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Moving the bail application today, Ohakim’s counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, adding that the charges are bailable.
However, prosecuting counsel, Festus Keyamo, urged the court to refuse the application.
After listening to both counsels, Justice Adeniyi admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N270m (Two Hundred and Seventy Million Naira) with one surety who must be resident in Abuja. The surety, who must have landed property within Abuja, must swear to an affidavit of means. The surety is also to deposit his/her international passport with the Deputy Registrar of the court.
The case has been adjourned to October 20, 2015.

WAIVERS: SENATE ASKS CBN, CUSTOMS TO RECOVER N30BN FROM RICE IMPORTERS •Foreign reserves now $31.89bn —CBN

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (middle); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (left) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, after Emefiele's visit to the National Assembly.
SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, asked the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) to recover the sum of N30 billion allegedly granted as waivers to rice importers by the administration of former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
Saraki, who made the call when he spoke to newsmen after a three-hour meeting with the Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the agencies should recover the funds meant for the country.
He stated that the CBN must take steps to diversify the nation’s economy and reduce import dependency.
“We must also show the big signals in things that will bring out success of this policy, for example, you (CBN team) brought to our notice the issue of the waivers on taxes and duties, especially on rice, which is about N30 billion that were granted to certain companies, this money must be paid back to the Federal Government.

CLAIM BY PDP THAT BAILOUT FUNDS WAS FROM JONATHAN’S SAVINGS IS FALSE, LUDICROUS – PRESIDENCY

The Presidency has rubbished claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that President Muhammadu Buhari’s bailout funds for the state was gotten from savings of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan.
In a statement issued by Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity to Buhari, he noted that Nigeria’s main opposition party’s claim was false, banal and ludicrous. “The Presidency deplores the attempt by the PDP and its agents to create an unnecessary controversy over the well-intentioned effort by President Muhammadu Buhari to give some relief to state governments and long-suffering public sector workers,” the statement said.
“We also reject the banal and ludicrous demand by the PDP Spokesman, Olisa Metuh that the PDP Government which was ousted by Nigerians at the last general elections for running the country aground, be given some credit for “saving” the funds that were disbursed as part of the intervention package approved by President Buhari.
“Mr. Metuh’s claim that a significant amount of the funds came from savings accumulated in the Excess Crude Account and handed over to the Buhari administration is completely false and deliberately intended to mislead the public.

BUHARI BLAMES JONATHAN FOR DELAY IN RESCUE OF CHIBOK GIRLS

President Muhammadu Buhari today blamed the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the delayed response to the rescue of the over 200 schoolgirls of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State abducted since the night of April 14, 2014.

Speaking when he met members of the BringBackOurGirls campaign at the Presidential Villa, Buhari said there was no way government can rationalize the incompetence in dealing with the issue of the abducted schoolgirls.

“I don’t think representing the government of Nigeria, we cannot rationalize the government incompetence in dealing with this issue. We only ask for your patience. It is unfortunate that the security and federal government’s conflicting reports initially presented the government and it’s agencies in a very bad light but nationally and internationally because the law enforcement agencies and the government were conflicting each other sometimes within hours or within weeks, that is not very impressive,” Buhari said.