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Thursday, July 9

Uniport Students Forum - USF.ng

Uniport Students Forum - USF.ng

Are you a UNIPORT student and you haven't join Uniport Students Forum yet? You are mising alot here, on Uniport Students Forum, you can access learning resources that will help you in your courses, communicate with other students and friends, share day to day campus lives, share opinions on issues ans everything in between. Visit the forum here usf.ng

Tuesday, April 4

Big Brother Naija: Show’s Top 5 finalists thank Nigerians for voting

Big Brother Naija: Show’s Top 5 finalists thank Nigerians for voting

Big Brother Naija: Show’s Top 5 finalists thank Nigerians for voting




Big Brother Nigeria (#BBNaija) 2017 five top finalists have expressed gratitude to viewers for their votes in the ongoing TV reality show which has entered its final week.
The show which started on January 22, generated 11 million votes from viewers during the April 2 eviction show.
Bisola, Tboss, DebbieRise, Marvis and Efe the last man standing, took turns to bear their minds during their diary sessions on Monday evening with `Biggie’, owner of the house.
DebbieRise said that the last week in the house was different from the others calling it exciting and positive.
She said it was her discipline and compassion that brought her this far adding that she would give her best to ensure she took home the grand prize.
The guitar girl mentioned her friend, Tboss as her main competition, “because she is an amazing, caring, beautiful and homely person and she has everything it takes to win.
Another housemate, Bisola said the mood in the house was calm adding that everyone felt a strong sense of relief and accomplishment after making it to the last week.
She stressed that they (Five finalists) are winners in respective of who emerges the winner on Sunday April 9.
Bisola recounted how she had auctioned for Big Brother countless times and smiled broadly when she was picked to participate in the ongoing series adding, “I don suffer for this life and I really don’t want to go back to that.”
Marvis on the other hand thanked and appreciated Biggie for the experience and that she was going to miss everything.
She said Bisola though a friend, remain her toughest competition; she also said she was grateful for the opportunity to be in the show which according to her has fast track her career in showbiz as an actress.
Tboss on her part said Big Brother had made her a fighter and that she was realising what it takes to be a fighter.
She said Marvis was her biggest threat in the game.
Efe, the only man among four ladies said he had a fighter’s spirit and added that Bisola was his biggest threat.
He also commended her (Bisola) for being a competitive, honest and outspoken person just like he is.
Earlier, the housemate had hosted Nigerian popular song writer, singer and performer, David Adeleke.
He came with ‘sushi’ and champagne in tow to pay the housemates a visit.
The usual tour of the house was done before everyone settled down in the dining area and popped open the bottle of champagne.
Davido discussed the merits of being true to oneself and pointed out that he made more money in mere months than he had made over the years after deciding to go local and champion his course.
He asked the housemates what they planned to do with the N25 million naira after winning.
Bisola said she would like to go to a film school.
While Debie-Rise and Efe said they would want to push their music career to the next level, Tboss revealed that if she won, she would like to have her own talk show.
Marvis who was a protocol officer at an oil and gas company before coming to the house said she would like to open a bar.
After listening to them, the self acclaimed ‘Omo Baba Lowu’ told them that no matter what their dreams were, it was imperative that they make careful choices and not get overwhelmed.
According to him, if overwhelmed they would wake wake up and not realise where the money went.
“You make all these plans and then when the money comes, its different; I spent one million dollars in three months.”
At that point the buzzer sounded and everyone said their goodbyes.
The winner will take home the grand prize of 25 million naira and a Kia Sorrento SUV.

Monday, March 27

Holy Apostles Church Members Protest Against Closure Of Their Church By Police

Holy Apostles Church Members Protest Against Closure Of Their Church By Police

Sacred Apostles Church individuals in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have rioted to dissent the proceeded with conclusion of their congregation. Individuals from the Holy Apostles Church, Ayetoro in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State turned out in their numbers on Sunday to challenge the proceeded with conclusion of their congregation by the police. As per Punch, the congregation was shut around the request Ondo State Police Command in January 2016 after an authority emergency in the group. The individuals say that the congregation is the main church that all individuals from the group go to and whoever is the leader of the riverine group is the leader of the congregation. They asked the administration to reach their guide and end the emergency. It was likewise accumulated that continuation of the conclusion, individuals from the group were not able love. Amid the dissent on Sunday, admirers who were in their formal attire conveyed notices with various engravings, for example, 'Open our place of love', " Freedom of love is our privilege here,' 'All we are stating, we require a position of among others. An individual from the group on state of namelessness unveiled that the congregation was at first shut down for a while yet was revived on November 8, 2015 and later shut down again on January 11, 2016 for the second time by the police. One of the pioneers of the congregation, Mr. Lawrence Lemamu, who talked with writers on the advancement bemoaned that the legislature and police specialist were denying them of their key human appropriate to venerate in the place where there is their fathers. He stated, "Serving God in love is vital and fundamental to the foundation of this group by our ancestors. Ayetoro is about adoring God." In any case, another pioneer of the congregation, Bishop Eretan, said the congregation was put under secure in light of the fact that the issue in the group bothered from the congregation, taking note of that it was a piece of the measure utilized to quiet the wronged parties before government swims into settle the emergency. Eretan said that the conclusion was prescribed as a brief answer for the issue to deflect comparative emergency which initially emitted in 1986, when a life was lost in the common distress. "Religious emergency is extremely hazardous. In the event that we are not cautious many lives might be lost. A similar instrument utilized then we have connected." he clarified.
‘Expel Students With Less Than 0.5 CGPA’ – Buhari Orders VCs Through Minister

‘Expel Students With Less Than 0.5 CGPA’ – Buhari Orders VCs Through Minister

President Muhammadu Buhari has advised vice chancellors of universities to expel students with less than 0.5 cumulative grade point average (CGPA). Speaking on Sunday at the 31st convocation of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Buhari said such students should not be allowed to loiter around in higher institutions. Buhari, who was represented by Anthony Onwuka, minister of state for education, said: “We must stop to continue housing adventurers, who have no business remaining in the universities beyond the time specified for their studies in the universities.” “In that wise, it is being proposed that at the end of this academic year, any student with less than 0.5 CGPA should cease to be a student of the university and should be shown the way out. “The universities must continue to have people who are serious in what they have come to do. “If you have less than 0.5 in your CGPA, you are out. You are out for good so that the space will be left for those who have come to do serious business.” Buhari also expressed his commitment to the 2009 agreement entered into with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Susan Peters: See What Happened When I Answered Call Near 3rd Mainland Bridge

Susan Peters: See What Happened When I Answered Call Near 3rd Mainland Bridge

Actress Susan Peters narrated the scenario she experienced after coming down her car to answer a call along 3rd Mainland Bridge. She says about 100 cars parked just to beg her not to commit suicide, while some concerned fans started transferring money to her to take care of her problems. SUSAN PETERS : SEE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I ANSWERED CALL NEAR 3RD MAINLAND BRIDGE
 Dino Melaye's Certificate Scandal: Senate Summons ABU VC To Appear Today

Dino Melaye's Certificate Scandal: Senate Summons ABU VC To Appear Today

THE Senate has summoned the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ibrahim Garba, to appear before it today and explain his side of the story regarding the certificate scandal allegation levelled against Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), that he did not graduate from the institution. Also to appear before the Senate today is the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd), over allegation that Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki was on a vengeance mission against the NCS, following failure to pay Customs duty of N74 million on a N298 million Range Rover SUV. Speaking with Vanguard yesterday, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East), said the immediate past Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume who raised the issue on the floor of the Senate would appear today before the committee. According to him, Hizmark Inc, Mr. Latif Olajide, a licensed and registered clearing agent in Nigeria as well as Tokunboh Akindele, who was given the contract, would also appear before the committee today. Count Buhari out of certificate scandal — Presidency Meanwhile, Presidency, last night, dissociated President Muhammadu Buhari from any certificate scandal in the country, saying he has none hanging on his neck. The reaction followed a chronology of certificate scandals rocking various Nigerians in the corridors of power past or present published by a national daily (not Vanguard), yesterday. In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Shehu Garba, who was incidentally the Director, Media and Publicity of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Committee, APCPCC, stated that the issue was a campaign of calumny deliberately launched against Buhari to stop him from contesting.
MAPOLY To Be Upgraded To University

MAPOLY To Be Upgraded To University

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has signed into law a bill to upgrade Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) to a university status, thus bringing the number of universities in the state to 11. The addition of MAPOLY would bring to three the number of universities owned by the state. Already it owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode. The institution was formally established in 1980 as Ogun state Polytechnic during the military administration of Harris Eghagha.The state is a host to eight others out of which seven are privately owned. They are, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Babcock University, Ilisan- Remo, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Covenant University, Ota, Crawford University, Igbesa, Crescent University, Abeokuta, McPherson University, Abeokuta and Mountain Top University. Governor Amosun also signed into law the bill to re-establish the Ogun State Polytechnic in Ipokia Local government area of the State.Amosun who gave his assent to the two bills at the state executive council meeting said the two institutions would be run on different campuses. Besides, he added that government would engage necessary think tanks and qualified academics to provide the technical guide for the successful take- off of the institutions so as to compete favourably with others. The Governor commended the efforts of the state House of Assembly for the timely and successful passage of the bills and assured that all necessary documents has been put in place and sent to the appropriate quarters. In a chat with reporters after passing the bills, the speaker, Ishola Adekunbi, said the Assembly acted promptly considering the prospect and opportunities the institutions would attract to the state. He added that the decision would also create employment opportunities for the people in addition to providing easy access to tertiary education in Ipokia and its environs.
Five Persons Killed As Speeding Drunk Driver Crashes Into People In Akwa Ibom. Photo

Five Persons Killed As Speeding Drunk Driver Crashes Into People In Akwa Ibom. Photo

Five persons were on Sunday killed at Ukana Ikot Etim area of Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, when they were knocked down by an alleged drunk driver. The man driving a Ford utility sport vehicle with registration number GCE 342 CX was trying to avoid two children that were crossing the road. The driver, whose identity had yet to be revealed, was said to be speeding, when he suddenly crashed into the seven people who were waiting at a bean cake (akara) spot at the Ukana Ikot Etim Junction. An eyewitness, Mr. Godwin Anthony, said the driver crashed into the five pedestrians who died instantly while the remaining two sustained serious injuries. According to him, when they approached the driver, they discovered that he was drunk. He added the driver with the vehicle had been taken to the Ikot Ekpene Police Command, SARS Department. Anthony said the seven persons were returning from church on Sunday. Efforts to speak with the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Donald Awunah, proved abortive as prompt from his telephone indicated that his line was unavailable. But the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Road Safety in the state, Mr. Uwen God’sgift, said they had yet to confirm the story.
How Saraki And His Aides Embezzled N3.5B From Paris Club Loan Refunds

How Saraki And His Aides Embezzled N3.5B From Paris Club Loan Refunds

Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have formally named Senate President Bukola Saraki, a former Managing Director of Heritage Bank, Robert Mbonu, a firm, Melrose General Services Limited, the relationship manager to Mr. Saraki, Kathleen Erhimu, the deputy Chief of Staff to Senator Saraki, Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, as targets of an investigation into the embezzlement of as much as N19 billion that accrued as refunds to state governments that had made excess payments on loans obtained from international lenders, the London and Paris Clubs. Also named by the EFCC as players in the huge scandal are Kolawole Shittu, the supplier of a controversial Range Rover vehicle to Senator Saraki, as well as one Obiora Amobi and one Oladapo Joseph Idowu. In a report forwarded to the Presidency and obtained by SaharaReporters, the EFCC wrote, “Mr. Robert Mbonu is alleged to have received the sum of N3.5 billion into his company's account (Melrose General Services Limited) from the [Nigerian Governors’ Forum] through Account 0005892453 domiciled in Access Bank.” The report identified “one Kathleen Erhimu [as] the Relationship Manager to Dr. Bukola Saraki's account with Access Bank.” The elaborate EFCC report authenticates a series of reports in which SaharaReporters disclosed that Mr. Saraki as well as numerous governors colluded to pocket most of the billions of naira in refunds. Mr. Saraki had accused our website of fabricating the report, claiming that the EFCC was not investigating him in relation to the loan refund fraud. However, the document forwarded to the Presidency by the EFCC outlined Mr. Saraki’s deep involvement in the still unfolding embezzlement saga. A part of the EFCC document reported that, at a meeting, Senator Saraki had “introduced one Joseph Oladapo Idowu and Gbenga Peter Makanjuola his deputy chief of staff to [Ms. Erhimu] and Makanjuola thereafter introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Ms. Kathleen Erhimu.” The EFCC told the Presidency that Mr. Mbonu operated corporate accounts for Melrose General Services at Access Bank. The accounts, listed as 0005892453 and 0005653500, were until December 13, 2016 operated as business accounts, according to the EFCC report. The report further disclosed that Halima Kyari, the head of “Private Banking Group” at Access Bank, “stated in a letter dated December 13, 2016, [that] Mr. Robert Mbonu requested a transfer of Melrose General Services Company account from Business Account to a Private Banking Group Platform as he was expecting huge funds into the account. SaharaReporters learned that Mr. Mbonu’s move was at the instance of Senator Saraki who desired the use of the Melrose General Services Company account to warehouse his cut of the funds that came from the London-Paris Club refunds. The EFCC report stated, “Subsequently, on December 14, 2016, the sum of N3.5 billion was lodged into Melrose General Services Company account number 0005892453 domiciled with Access Bank from the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).” According to the anti-corruption agency, Mr. Mbonu subsequently introduced Mr. Amobi and Mr. Makanjuola to Access Bank as representatives of Melrose General Services Limited. The purpose of the introduction, the EFCC found, was to enable the two men to do cash withdrawals from the account. The report stated that Mr. Amobi and Mr. Makanjuola soon made several cash withdrawals in tranches of N5 million and N10 million. The EFCC report stated that Mr. Mbonu also requested that one Oluyemi Braithwaite, the owner of Reinex Bureau de Change, Caddington Capital Limited and Westgate Limited, provide dollars in exchange for the naira-denominated withdrawals from the erstwhile Melrose account. Mr. Mbonu, a front for Senator Saraki, asked Ms. Braithwaite to hand over the dollars to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja. According to the EFCC, Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite sought out one Hassan Dantani Abubakar, a cousin of former military head of state, Abdulsalam Abubakar, to produce the dollars in exchange for the naira provided by Mr. Mbonu. Dantani Abubakar’s role in the saga is significant in establishing another tie to Senator Saraki. Mr. Abubakar, who operates a bureau de change, has had a longstanding relationship with Mr. Saraki. In 2015, several members of the senator’s security detail conspired to steal N300m that Dantani Abubakar was moving for Mr. Saraki. Most of the security operatives, officers of the Department of State Security (DSS), were subsequently arrested when it was established that they ambushed the illicit funds being transported to the senator. The EFCC report stated that Ms. Braithwaite had, over the phone, introduced Mr. Mbonu to Mr. Abubakar. In addition to operating a bureau de change (BDC), Mr. Abubakar also owns several companies, including Hamma Procurement Limited, Ashrab Nigeria Limited and Inspire Solar Application. The EFCC report added that, on December 16, 2016, Melrose paid the sum of N246 million into an account, No. 2030756168, held by Mr. Abubakar’s company, Hamma Procurement Limited, at First Bank. In return, Hamma Procurement released the sum of $500,000 to one Mr. Gbenga in Abuja. Mr. Gbenga, an aide to Mr. Saraki, acknowledged receipt of the same amount, said the EFCC. According to the anti-corruption agency, “on the 21st December, 2016, Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite contacted Hassan Dantani Abubakar requesting for another transaction of $370,000. Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N181m to Inspire Solar Application. The $370,000 was handed over to one Mr. Dapo in Abuja.” Providing more details of the intricate maneuvers used by Senator Saraki to move funds, the EFCC report noted: “That on the January 4th, 2017, Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N248, 500,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar's FCMB account, Ashrab Nigeria Limited for the sum of $500,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Mr. Kolawole Shittu in Abuja an amount reportedly used to purchase a bulletproof Range Rover luxury car recently seized by the Nigerian Customs. “That on January 10, 2017, Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company transferred the sum of N99, 820,000 to Caddington Capital Limited belonging to Ms. Oluyemi Braithwaite who transferred same to Hassan Dantani Abubakar's FCMB Ashrab Nigeria Limited for the sum of $200,000. The dollar equivalent was handed over to Peter Makanjuola in Abuja. “That on December 19, 2016 there was a cash withdrawal of the sum of N50 million from Melrose General Services account via [a] cheque by Gbenga Peter Makanjuola. “Also, the sum of $1,570,000 was received by the trio of Mr. Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Mr. Kolawole Shittu and Mr. Oladapo Joseph Idowu at various times and locations at Abuja FCT. “That on the December 26, 2016, Mr. Robert Mbonu called Mrs. Kathleen Erhimu of Access Bank requesting her to source for a customer that would have the sum of $500,000 in exchange for the Naira equivalent. She introduced Mr. Robert Mbonu to Acarast Commercial Limited and Capital Field Investment to help him source for dollars. “That on the 21st December, 2016, GCA Energy Limited paid the sum of $25,000 to Asterio Energy Services Limited which subsequently transferred the sum of $23,200 to Cactus Communication Limited account with Access Bank. “The MD of Sought-After International Synergy Limited, Julius Okedele, stated that Mr. Kelechi Edomobi of Acarast Commercial Enterprises, contacted him and requested to purchase dollars after the transfer of N73,950,000 to Sought-After International Synergy Limited. Mr. Edomobi gave him the account number of Cactus Communication Limited [at] Access Bank as the nominated account to receive the dollar equivalent of the sum of $149,000. The EFCC remarked that their investigation revealed that Cactus Communication Limited “is owned and operated by Joseph Oladapo Idowu, an aide to Bukola Saraki.” The agency further reported “Mr. Kelechi Edomobi also transferred the sum of N1m on January 15, 2017 to Joseph Oladapo Idowu's personal account number 0001679877 with Access Bank Plc. “That Asterio Energy Services Limited on 21st and 22nd December, 2016 transferred $100,000 and $85,000 to Bhaskar Devji Jewelers LLC in Dubai respectively,” noting that this was “the same company that Dr. Bukola Saraki repeatedly made transfers to from his Black Card Account.” According to the EFCC, “Cactus Communication Limited on December 30, 2016 paid the sum of $59,660.67 to Bhaskar Devji Jewelers LLC in Dubai.” In addition, the agency’s report disclosed that Asterio Energy Services Limited had transferred $46,000, $39,000 and $37,620 respectively to Cactus Communication Limited on January 20, 30 and 31, 2017. “Based on the foregoing findings, it is clear that Robert Mbonu, the Managing Director of Melrose General Services Company, and his company were used to help divert proceeds of unlawful activities under the guise of payment for contractual obligations with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF),” the EFCC wrote in the report to the Presidency. The agency’s report added “all payments received by Melrose General Services Company from the NGF have hitherto been diverted directly via cash withdrawals and indirectly through transfers by Gbenga Peter Makanjuola, Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Joseph Idowu who are principal aides of the Senate President. “Furthermore, other payments from Melrose General Services Company [have] also been linked to companies that Dr. Bukola Saraki has interest in and [carries] out transactions with. This includes the sum of $183,000 which was transferred to Bhaskar Devji Jewelers, Dubai, a company Dr. Bukola Saraki had repeatedly made payments to.” Added the EFCC: “Also, the sum of N200 million was transferred to Wasp Networks Limited that subsequently transferred the sum of N170 million to Xtract Energy Services Limited, a company that routinely made deposits into Dr. Bukola 's Access Bank United States Domiciliary Account.” In its conclusion, the EFCC stated that a “prima facie case of conspiracy to retain the proceeds of unlawful activities and money laundering contrary to Sections 15(3) and 18(9) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004 can be established against the aforementioned suspects.” It added that its operatives were investigating the personal accounts of the suspects, including Mr. Saraki.