GTBank Official Exposes Saraki's Dirty Laundry in Public

An official of Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, who is a witness in the fraud trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki, has stated that Saraki made foreign funds transfer of over $3 million to himself while he was governor of Kwara State.

The Nigerian code of conduct bars public officials including state governors from operating foreign bank accounts.

Nwachukwu Amazu, a banker with the GTBank said Mr. Saraki made several transactions, including a transfer of over $73,000 from his dollar account, maintained with the GTBank to his foreign account in the American Express Service Europe Ltd.

He said the purpose of the transfer was to fund a foreign credit card, belonging to the American Express Bank and owned by the defendant.

“He has a domiciliary account, with the GTB in US dollars and in pounds sterling. The domiciliary account is domiciled in Ilorin,” he said.

When asked to explain the mode of operation of Mr. Saraki’s foreign credit card, the witness said he did not know how the card operates.

“I don’t know anything about the card, except if I explain with my knowledge of the GTB credit card in the Nigerian perspective,” he said.

Mr. Amazu who worked with the funds transfer unit of the GTB, between 2006 and 2009 before he was transferred; then returned to the unit in 2011, as its head, said Mr. Saraki made other transfers including the transfer of £761, 904. 76 in February 2010.

He also said another sum of £632, 411.7 was also transferred for the defendant to Fortis Bank in London.

Gambian president, Jammeh declares state of emergency

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday declared a state of emergency, citing foreign interference in a presidential election he lost to opponent Adama Barrow last month. Jammeh made his announcement on state television, two days before Barrow is due to take power.

John Mikel Obi named new captain of Tianjin Teda and given No 10 jersey

Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, has been handed the Number 10 jersey and captain band at his new Chinese club, Tianjin Teda by coach, Jaime Pacheco.

The former Chelsea midfielder scored his first goal in the 36th minute for the club in his team’s 6-2 loss to St. Pauli over the weekend. Congrats to him!

Davido Sacks Manager; Said He Is Fed Up Chasing Int’l Fame

Nigerian music export, Davido, has reportedly fired his manager Kamal Ajiboye.

Obviously, David Adeleke is pained ever since he inked a deal with Sony Music. Davido made the surprise sack known from his SnapChat. The DMW boss said he is fed up chasing international fame. This are his words.

“Fuck all that international shit! It’s cool but fuck it. I am back to the basics”, the singer poured on SnapChat.

That’s not all, he also announced that he would not entrust his career into the hands of anybody henceforth. It all clear that Davido has been let down since his chase for international breakthrough. Here is his shocking statement.

“I am my own manager in 2017! Don’t put your life in another man’s hand,” he also announced.

While the DMW boss is frustrated with the international music deal, Tekno and Wizkid seem to be at the moment relishing the opportunity to hit the global music market.

The bomb that exploded on Monday morning, it’s our brothers responsible for it – Shekau

Abubakar Shekau, the elusive leader of the terrorist Boko Haram has said his group was behind Monday’s twin suicide bombing at the University of Maiduguri. One of the suicide bombing at a mosque claimed a veterinary Professor Aliyu Usman Mani, from Katsina State. Seventeen other people were injured. 

A video featuring an audio recording purporting to be Shekau was posted on social media late on Monday. “The bomb that exploded on Monday morning, it’s our brothers responsible for it,” the recording said. President Muhammadu Buhari described the mosque attack appalling. He said the fact that the Shekau bombers chose to stage the attack on a revered place of worship and Ivory Tower shows that they have no true understanding of Islam. He said their despicable acts of terrorism are cowardly, criminal, unjustifiable and punishable before God Almighty and the laws of the land. Boko Haram’s insurgency has killed about 15,000 people and displaced more than 2 million.

Did Kylie Jenner get butt injections or has she just mastered the art of posing right?

Yok! Her butt is looking noticeably bigger these days

The 19-year old’s butt looks bigger every day and as expected, people are asking questions. Did she get work done on it?

Kylie Jenner‘s latest photo shows the reality star dressed in matching black top and pants which had ‘juicy’ written boldly on the butt area, and her derriere looked particularly more massive than usual.

Do you believe she really had them worked on? Or she’s just a pro at posing right?

14 world entertainers who have turned down performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration

So who are the A Listers who’ve ruled out performing at Donald Trump’s Inauguration balls?

For his part, Trump denies that he cares. After stories circulated that top names were refusing to perform at his January 20 inauguration, Trump tweeted last year that he preferred to party with ‘the people.’

Check out the list:

Celine Dion

TMZ reported that Dion turned Trump down because she is already booked to do shows the night of the inauguration in Las Vegas and doesn’t want to let down fans who are looking forward to seeing them.

Andrea Bocelli

The opera signer was going to perform but backed out after getting heat from fans, according to Page Six, adding that a boycott movement ignited on social media.

KISS

Gene Simmons’ wife has made it clear that KISS will not perform at the inauguration.

Elton John

CNN reported that John’s spokesperson says he will not perform at the inauguration, ‘denying a claim made by a vice chair of Trump’s presidential inaugural committee’ who said John would perform to highlight gay rights.

Chainsmokers

The band’s manager denied a magazine’s report they were performing.

Ice T

Ice T tweeted that he had blocked a call seeking to have him play at the inauguration. But then he clarified that it was all a joke:

YG

The rapper said for $4m he’ll perform his hit song, ‘Fuck Donald Trump’ at Trumps inauguration

Beyonce & Jay Z

Beyonce and Jay Z performed with Clinton in the fading days of the presidential election so you already know what’s up.

Katy Perry

It’s hard to see Trump asking because Perry performed for Clinton at the Democratic National Convention.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez performed for Clinton in Miami during the presidential campaign.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga is a Hillary fan

Rebecca Ferguson

British singer Rebecca did consider Trump’s alleged offer but only on one condition – that she be allowed to sing ‘Strange Fruit’ – ‘a song that has huge historical importance, a song that was blacklisted in the United States for being too controversial.’

David Foster

The Canadian singer took to Instagram to pooh-pooh any reports he would be at Trump’s inauguration

Dixie Chicks

If the Chicks were critical of former President George W. Bush there was no way they were going to perform for Trump, but their manager Simon Renshaw cleared up any lingering rumours by admitting it would be the last cheque any one gets if they say yes.

Relocation of Nnamdi Azikiwe airport to Kaduna to cost N1.1b

Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika has said that the relocation of operations of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to Kaduna would cost over N1.1 billion. Sirika while briefing the senate on the logistics implication of the relocation said that the ministry had taken into account relevant agencies that would be deployed to facilitate the relocation.

Recall last week, the Senate could not reach a conclusion with the ministry as issues such as the cost of the relocation could not be answered. However, while briefing the lawmakers on Tuesday, Sirika said that the relocation will gulp N1.134 billion. Of the amount, the Nigerian Railway Corporation is to gulp N100,326,400, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) will take N237,247,216.21 while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) will take up N325,000,000. A total of N358,517,700 billion was allocated to the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigeria Immigration Service is to take N29 million Naira. The ministry is also going to hire the buses of the Federal Ministry of Transportation for N84 million naira, which brings the total figure to N1.134 billion. The Abuja Airport is expected to be closed for six weeks from March 8. However, many of the senators who spoke still expressed displeasure with the closure of the airport stressing that it could be done without total closure of teh airport.

Read more 

No Officer Has The Right To Check Your Phone – Lagos Police

The Lagos State Police has reiterated that officers of the force are not empowered by right to search mobile phones during routine stop and search exercise on the road.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, made this known in an interview.

She said: 'Your phone is private, it's your private property because people do alot of private stuffs on their mobile phones so it's wrong. Police officers have no right to do that except there is a reasonable ground to do so'.

Has Lindsay Lohan converted to Islam?

Speculations about Lindsay Lohan converting to Islam have flooded the Internet after she deleted all her Instagram posts over the weekend and wrote ‘Alaikum salam’ (peace be upon you) as her Instagram bio.

She also went to her Twitter and deleted majority of her tweets, which led fans to believe that Lindsay has become a Muslim.

To squash the rumours, a rep for Lindsay told Metro UK: ‘She is not Muslim but appreciates, respects and adores all cultures, religions, etc.’

In 2015, there were similar speculations that she had converted to Islam when she was seen holding the Koran after her first day of community service at a children’s centre in Brooklyn, New York.

The 30-year-old Mean Girls star was brought up a catholic.

‘I want to grow old with him and die beside him’ – Annie Idibia’s heartfelt prayer

Theirs is perhaps the sweetest love story ever told, and if Annie Idibia has her way it will go on forever.

The actress took to Instagram some hours ago to gush about her undying love for her husband, 2face Idibia, whilst offering an emotional and heartfelt prayer to God to keep them until they are grey and frail. 

Sharing this picture which shows a forlorn old man looking out of a window he used to share with his late lover, Annie wrote: 

‘I stared at this image for at least 15mins or even more… and realised I was tearing up.

‘The picture made me feel all ‘types of ways’ And the love in my heart towards Innocent just tripled instantly.. I know we will grow old n die someday,but God please I want spend all my days with him ,grow old with him and die beside him..next to him.. I can’t Live if I have to do that without him.. I won’t survive it! Life Without Him won’t be worth it again.. Sad that When we grow old n grey ,1 of us will go before the other,but please can we at least grow very old together and GO together.. All of our kids would have been all grown,graduates and well established by your grace Lord.. so they will be fine..when we go. Amen. #Annie’sMidnightTots.’

You gotta love their love. ❤️❤️

‘We don’t know who leaked Wizkid’s new song with Drake’ – Manager speaks

International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has taken the first step to stop media from promoting the leaked new song by Wizkid featuring Drake.

‘Hush Up the Silence’ was leaked on Saturday, January 14 and has been made ready for streaming and download on numerous online platforms

Wizkid is signed to SONY Music, which the IFPI represents – in terms of trade – along with other recording industry worldwide.

The song leaked, we don’t know from where,’ Wizkid’s manager, Sunday Are told Thenetng when we reached out to him for comments.

‘It’s better for them to take it down. Whoever that leaked it, they should take it down.’

Notable platforms that have taken down the leaked song include Complex Magazine, Miss Info, XXL, and Highsnobiety.

However, Sunday Are assured us the song ‘definitely’ didn’t leak from here (Nigeria), but possibly from the other camp.

While the IFPI and Sony Music are moving to stop global platforms from offering the music for free, millions of Wizkid’s fans would already have the record in their music library.

LASSA FEVER: NCDC confirms 9 deaths, 20 cases in 7 states

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has confirmed nine deaths and 20 cases of Lassa Fever in seven states since the beginning of the dry season in December 2016; even as it commences implementation of its plan to strengthen nationwide response capacity to anticipated Lassa Fever cases. However, in an interview with Vanguard, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Daniel Iya, confirmed four deaths and 16 cases in the state, while 38 people are now under surveillance.

the Technical Assistant, Communication, of the NCDC, Dr Lawal Bakare, alerted Nigerians on the increasing cases of Lassa Fever and the need for increased focus on prevention and preparedness. Bakare noted that Plateau State recorded three deaths out of six confirmed cases, while Ogun State recorded two deaths and two confirmed cases. He added: “In Taraba State, there was one death out of the six confirmed cases,while Nasarawa recorded three deaths. Other states that have recorded one case each, without confirmed deaths, in-clude Edo, Ondo and Rivers.” Meanwhile, NCDC in the last quarter of 2016 commenced implementation of its Lassa Fever plan ahead of the current dry season with a view to strengthening nationwide capacity to prevent, detect and respond to the anticipated cases. The deaths in Nasarawa, last week, occurred in Keffi and Lafia Local Government areas, barely one year after two persons died at the State Specialist Hospital in Lafia, including the medical doctor that was treating the patients. Vanguard gathered that two persons reportedly died at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, while the other patient, who was earlier referred to Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, also died in the course of treatment. The Chief Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ashuku, also confirmed two new cases in an interview monitored on the state-owned radio station in Lafia. He said the management of the hospital had engaged medical personnel on a one-day awareness campaign on the need to prevent further transmission of the disease . Bakare, in the statement, further explained that NCDC is working with affected states to ensure an appropriate response to these cases.

Obaship tussle: Fayose imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on Ekiti town

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew on Awo-Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, to douse the raging tension over Obaship tussle. The restriction, which affected human and vehicles, is to take effect from 6pm to 6am in the morning.

The community had been entangled in crisis in the last one year following the enthronement of Prince Azees Olaleye Aladejuyigbe as the new Alawo of Awo Ekiti, before it snowballed into anarchy on Saturday. In a bid to ward off any litigation that could stall his ascension to the throne last year, the State government had hastily enthroned Aladejuyigbe and immediately presented him with the staff of office. The crisis was said to be assuming a religious dimension , with princes, who are Christians claiming that some external forces were allegedly planning to Islamize the throne. The monarch was said to have been barred from palace since enthronement and had taken refuge in the mosque since the crisis escalated last weekend. …


Meantime, contrary to fears in some quarters that it might take a while before a new monarch is installed for Isan-Ekiti, the hometown of the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who is also a major opposition figure, Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has presented the Staff and Instrument of Office to the new Onisan, Oba Adejuwon Ayodele. The installation followed the selection of Oba Ayodele by all the six kingmakers in the town to fill the vacant stool and prevent a vacuum that could stall the progress of the community. Speaking on the occasion in Isan-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of the state, Governor Fayose said as the leader of the state, he had no axe to grind with anybody and would never interfere in traditional matters. A statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor as saying that he would never play politics on trample on truth or deny any group their rights. “As God has made me the leader of the state at this period, I must be fair to all and this I am doing in the handling of state matters. That Isan-Ekiti is the hometown of former Governor Kayode Fayemi does not mean the right thing must not be done. The ruling house that is next to produce the next monarch came forward with their list of candidates and interestingly, all the six kingmakers voted for one candidate.

26-year-old man kills wife over sex in Ogun

Men of Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old man, Matthew Oguntade, for allegedly killing his 20-year-old wife, Mary, over her refusal to allow him make love to her.

the incident occurred at Owode-Ijako, Sango-Ota, Ado-Odo/Ota last Friday, when the suspect invited his wife to come and collect N1,000 to prepare food for the family. A source told Vanguard that when the late wife arrived, the husband attempted to forcefully have sex with her and while they were struggling, she got strangled. The couple had been married for one and half years and blessed with one child, and had stopped living together because the wife disliked their stay in the husband’s mother’s house.

The late wife was reported to have been sleeping in her Church, a Cherubim and Seraphim parish around the area every night, to protest living with her husband in his mother’s house. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, said Mary’s death occurred as a result of a fight between the couple due to a minor disagreement. According to Oyeyemi, the CDA Chairman of the community, Iskilu Kareem, who reported the case to police, said he received a telephone call from one of the vigilante groups in the area that the couple is into serious scuffle. Before he got there, the husband had strangled his wife to death, threw the body outside through their window and escaped. He said: “The DPO, Sango-Ota, SP Akinsola Ogunwale, led detectives to the scene and took the corpse to the General Hospital, Ifo, morgue. “The suspect was apprehended and the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CIID, Eleweran, Abeokuta.”

What a good sport! Kim Kardashian gets beaten on game show Big Fan... during quiz portion about herself

It seems like her fans know her better than she even knows herself. 

Kim Kardashian went head to head with a super fan on an episode of ABC's new game show Big Fan, which was originally taped in April 2016.

On the Monday show, her fan Colt Paulsen correctly answered questions about Kim, beating the star herself.

Kim, who noted that while she knows the answers but can't hit the buzzer fast enough, lost 2-7 to Colt.

She also incorrectly guessed the carat weight for her engagement ring from Kanye West.

The 36-year-old guessed it was 12 carats, but the show's host Andy Richter revealed it was 15 carats, and that they obtained the answer from Kanye himself. 

'How many carats is Kim's engagement ring from Kanye?', the host asked Kim and Colt.

Kim, who was the first to hit the buzzer, answered with some hesitation in her voice: '12?' 

'Sorry, no!' host Andy responded, shocking Kim.

'It's 15!' Andy added. 'Well, we got the information from Kanye, so maybe he upped the number.'   

Colt, 21, correctly answered questions about the name of Kim's single - which is Jam (Turn It Up) and also where her 14th birthday took place - Michael's Jackson's Neverland ranch.

He was also right was he said the name of her exercise DVD was Fit In Your Jeans By Friday, that her middle name was Noel and that her idol was Jennifer Lopez.

Kim hit the buzzer before Colt and got the answer right for the question about her son Saint's weight when he was born - eight pounds one ounce - and who her senior prom date was - TJ Jackson. 

The Nebraska native also answered the question on what type of car Kim bought Kanye for his 35th birthday, which was a Lamborghini

Andy asked Kim if she has bought him any more cars, to which she divulged that she bought her husband an 'ATV and Spyder motor things.'

And before the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star could finish, Colt said 'For Christmas right?' 

The show was filmed six months before she was robbed in Paris of $10 million dollars worth of jewelry - including the 20 carat $4 million diamond ring that she wore during the taping.

Kim posed for a selfie with the super fan while standing in front of a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 

For the episode, Kim wore a black bodysuit with a matching colored cardigan and a cross choker; she also wore her second engagement ring - which was 20 carats. 

Colt beat out two other mega fans during Big Fan - with questions like how many selfies are in Kim's book Selfish (480) and how her character in the 2008 film Disaster Movie was killed - which was by meteor.

Another question was who - Kim, Kanye or neither - revealed that they can smell cavities - with the correct answer being Kim.

He also correctly guessed that neither Kim or Kanye exclaim that 'meatloaf is inside me' - Kris Jenner famously said that.

Lastly, in her book Selfish, there are butt selfies, cleavage selfies, nude selfies but only one of what type of selfie - the answer being a baby bump selfie. 

Senate denies plot to impeach Ike Ekweremadu

Call for his cross-carpeting stirs crisis in Enugu APC

New Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan and Whip, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, yesterday refuted reports of alleged subterranean moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus to move against Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Speaking to newsmen when he led some principal officers to the party’s national secretariat on a courtesy call on the National Working Committee (NWC) members in Abuja, Lawan described his election as an elixir for stability within the Senate and the party.

Lawan, a representative of Yobe North, was last Tuesday picked by the caucus to replace Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South).

He stressed that with his emergency, the eluded peace had finally returned to both parties, adding all stakeholders would now work to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

His words: “My election is a part of the yearning for party supremacy. The significance here is the unity and stability in the Senate, the unity of our party, and of course this will transform into the high level of productivity for our government.

“It will consolidate the unity and togetherness within our party and will consolidate unity of APC Senate Caucus and of course, we will now be operating on the same page.”

Adeyeye described the report as mere speculation, noting that such was not new in politics.

In the meantime, the reported call on Ekweremadu to jump ship in order to save his seat may have begun to bear the APC apart in his home state of Enugu.

While its state chairman, Mr. Ben Nwoye came out publicly yesterday to distance the party from a statement credited to its Publicity Secretary, Mrs. Kate Offor that the Deputy Senate President should stay put in the PDP, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu, however, backed Offor.

Offor, had in a statement on Sunday in Enugu, urged Ekweremadu to remain in his party to “help clear the mess he contributed in creating there.”

But Nwoye told newsmen that the party was opened to all genuine democrats and progressives in the Southeast, adding that its three-week registration exercise in the zone was “open to all and sundry, including Ekweremadu without any tariff.”

He hinted that notable PDP leaders in the state, including former Senate President Ken Nnamani and erstwhile Speaker of the House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, had joined the party.