Basketmouth says exchange rate is set to spike as he shares his thoughts on CBN’s new money transfer policy


CBN has stopped all privately owned money transfer companies from wiring money, leaving only three foreign owned companies to do it. Comedian Basketmouth thinks this is a wrong move as it will make life more difficult for Nigerians




Ethiad Airways sponsors winner of ‘The Voice Nigeria’


Etihad Airways has joined with DSTV, one of Africa’s leading providers of premium entertainment, to sponsor the winner of The Voice Nigeria, a Nigerian version of the internationally acclaimed reality singing competition.

As part of the sponsorship, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is providing the winner and their partner with air tickets to Abu Dhabi to experience some of the best entertainment and attractions the capital of the UAE has to offer. The winner will also be provided with four-night’s complimentary stay at one of the city’s leading premium hotels.

Around 50 of the best singers and bands in Nigeria took part in the competition – which was whittled down in the preliminary stages to a line-up of just eight contestants taking part in the finale, which took place at Sasani Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday, 31st July.
Following the closely fought competition, which was determined by public vote and verified by Deloitte, Agharese Emokpae, popularly known as A’rese, was announced winner of The Voice Nigeria.

George Mawadri, Etihad Airways’ General Manager, Nigeria, said: “We are delighted to support the first season of this show, which has proved to be a tremendous hit with the Nigerian public.
“I congratulate A’rese on winning the competition, and am sure that she and her companion will have a marvellous time when they fly with Etihad Airways, and during their stay in Abu Dhabi.”

Abu Dhabi is a unique and modern city which is fast becoming one of the world’s most exciting cultural and commercial tourism hubs, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the best of traditional and modern Arabian hospitality.

Etihad Airways launched its service between Lagos and Abu Dhabi on 1 July 2012 and currently operates four-times-per-week using an Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured to carry 254 guests, with 18 in Business Class and 236 in Economy Class.



2face Idibia hosted at home of Legendary Italian inventor & Tycoon Gaspare Campari



His career is full of many splendid firsts. And he’s now added another remarkable one.
The pop giant is being hosted this week, at the Campari house situated on the outskirts of Milan, on the invitation of the respected Italian Organisation.

The singer and his team kept the news on the low, refusing to let the cat out of the bag, even after word leaked that they were spotted arriving in Milan.
2baba is a brand ambassador for Campari, the first African act to be so decorated in over 200 years. He now joins a global elite list of celebrities who have been invited to the home of Campari, where he toured the Campari museum, brewed his own Campari cocktails and had lavish lunch at the summer home of the company’s founder Gaspare Campari.

Two generations of Camparis lived at the sprawling property, which housed the first ever Campari bar. The property is now enveloped by the massive Campari global headquarters, housing corporate offices, a multi-purpose venue, first-class museum, and an academy.

Idibia joins the list of global celebrities like Eva Mendez, Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Milla Jovovich, Benicio Del Toro, Eva Green and Kate Hudson, that have either paid a visit or participated in signature Campari activities since the drink was first brewed in 1860.

The visit, Idibia says, is a continuation of his amazing relationship with Europe where he won his first-ever international award at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Portugal 11 years ago.

While in Milan, he has participated in a workshop at the Campari academy, visited Italian landmarks, taken a tour of relevant facilities and work with select experts to create his own special Campari cocktail.
He is accompanied by his friend and manager of many years, Efe Omorogbe. Also on the trip is Campari Head of Marketing Abayomi Ajao and public relations expert, Ayeni Adekunle from Campari’s PR agency BHM.

The team is expected back in Lagos by the weekend.




Budget padding: Probe Jibrin – Northern students tells Buhari


Northern Nigerian Students’ Association, NONSA, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate the alleged padding of the 2016 budget championed by the former Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Mr. Abdulmuminu Jibrin.

The students’ body also said the timing of the allegations against the members of the House of Reps by Jibrin, indicated that he had ulterior motives.

Briefing newsmen on Thursday, in Sokoto, President of NONSA, Comrade Basheer Gorau wondered why Jibrin did not make such revelation until he was fired ‎as chairman of Appropriations’ Committee.

He said, “The allegations made by Hon. Abdulmuminu Jibrin is quite surprising because he was the head of the committee.

“However, Jibrin as the former chairman of Appropriations Committee is constitutionally in charge of the budget and whatever happens to it, he should be able to tell the teeming population of Nigerians how the budget was padded.

“Jibrin as chairman of the Committee on Appropriations for one year failed to raise his allegations against the principal officers until he was removed; that shows that his intentions are not in the interest of the nation.’’




Military uncovers weapons in Lagos creek



No fewer than 95 arms and ammunition were picked up in the Isawo and Igbo Olomu creeks, Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Wednesday during the military’s mop up operation in the area.

There was tension in the area on Thursday when the acting Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, visited Isawo and Igbo Olomu communities to see the joint operation going on.

One of our correspondents gathered that in the operation codenamed Operation Awatsa, and headed by Lt. Col. Julius Ogbobe, the arms were found in camps destroyed by the Nigerian Air Force and other camps abandoned by the militants.

It was learnt that apart from the arms, the soldiers found the Independent National Electoral Commission’s voter cards, an Ecobank withdrawal booklet, and deposit slips of FCMB.

One of our correspondents gathered that 11 suspected militants had been arrested since the military intensified its activities in the last one week.

Ogbobe, who noted that the operation had challenges moving into some parts of the creeks, was, however, silent on the corpses recovered.

He said, “In the last 24 hours, we recovered eight locally-made guns, 33 live cartridges, two mobile policemen’s uniforms, one AK-47 fully loaded magazine and one GPMG gun. We also recovered two laptops, two generators, a pair of handcuffs, two mobile policemen badges, INEC voter cards, FCMB deposit slips and an Ecobank withdrawal booklet.

“We want to find out who the depositors and the owners of the phone numbers on the slips are. There are parts of the creeks which are inaccessible. We call on the state government to assist in bringing cutting machines to clear some parts of the creeks.”

Ogbobe said the operation was extended to the Arepo creek in Ogun State in an operation codenamed Target Alpha where the soldiers picked up more arms.

One of our correspondents learnt that the naval base in the Isawo area had arrested 11 suspected militants since the mopping up started.

The IG, Ibrahim, who met with the elders of Isawo community briefly, said the residents must work with the police and other security agencies in fighting the militants to a standstill.

He said, “Security is everybody’s business. It is not everywhere you see a policeman or a soldier. If you see any bad person, you report to us. I want to thank all of you for the cooperation and the support you are giving us.

Source: Punch Newspapers

“I urge residents to cooperate with the police by providing us with information on the activities of criminal elements within their vicinities. I want to encourage residents to support the police activities in the area.

“Every one of us has a responsibility to move the nation forward. I thank you for your cooperation and support to ensure that peace returns to the community.”

Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, told one of our correspondents on the telephone on Thursday that the troops involved in the ongoing Operation Awatse at Arepo had profiled the 11 suspected vandals now in the custody of the military.

Abubakar said the defence authorities had put in place elaborate measures to ensure that some of the vandals who were on the run were apprehended.

According to him, efforts have been made to put in place all the necessary military checkpoints to deprive the fleeing suspects free movement and to arrest them around the Arepo general area to as far as Tungezi, off the Badagry Coast.

The Acting Defence Spokesman said the security forces had also seized over 1,000 equipment used by the vandals to carry out their illegal activities.

He said, “The operation is ongoing. This is a gang now, that is why we are there, the ground troops are there now, and we will continue to dominate that general area to as far as Tungezi Island. Definitely, they will react, it is a few of them that remain.

“But definitely, they cannot go far because we have cordoned off all the areas and we have established all necessary machineries, all necessary checkpoints to ensure that the fleeing vandals are apprehended.

“As you know, they are on the run. See what we are having now in terms of materials, the things that they abandoned, over 1,000 facilities were captured and the equipment they used in siphoning fuel. We have got a lot of equipment and facilities they are using to perpetrate their crime.

“So far, many of them were arrested in the place. As of yesterday, 11 of them were arrested after we profiled them. Eleven are in our custody and a lot of equipment and facilities they used in siphoning their fuel were recovered.”

He said the vandals operated at Arepo as a syndicate with different people supplying equipment and loading the stolen fuel.

Source: Punch Newspaper



Abducted Lagos monarch’s family says govt have abandoned them



Abducted Lagos monarch’s family says govt have abandoned them

The family, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, said the government had not called them for any update or briefing on the extent of investigation 19 days after the kidnap, alleging that the government was becoming indifferent to the matter.

About 16 gun-wielding militants had, on Saturday, July 16, stormed Oseni’s palace at about 8.30pm, shooting into the air, after which they whisked him away in two speedboats.

During the attack, four residents were shot dead, including a palace guard, identified as Sunday Okanlawon, and a barber, identified as Rilwan.

Six days after the abduction, the militants were said to have contacted the monarch’s family, demanding N500m.

It was reported on Sunday, July 24, that the family members pleaded with the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to assist in raising the ransom and securing their father’s release.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Thursday, one of the monarch’s daughters, who did not want her name in print, said the family had yet to hear from the state government or the police.

She said, “Baba (Oseni) has not been released. We are making efforts, but we do not know what the government is doing about this. Even if an animal gets missing, you look for it, let alone the king of a town, who has spent over 40 years on the throne.

“Having contributed much to the growth of the community and the state in general, his matter should be treated with more concern. The governor and his officials have not said anything lately about what is being done on the matter. As a family, we have not seen any green light from the government; we are in the dark.”

Another relation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kidnappers were willing to release the monarch if some money was paid.

He said, “If the state government expedited action on this, Baba should have been released.

“The kidnappers are not saying they will not release him. If the government does what is necessary, the abductors will let go of the monarch.

“The state government is not serious about this. What the government is doing now, we do not really understand. For now, God is our hope.”

When asked whether the kidnappers had reduced the ransom, the family source said he would not want to make that public.

“The ransom is not the issue now. The kidnappers are ready to release Baba, but they want to get something. If one of the foremost rulers in the state has been abducted for 19 days and at that age, nothing significant has been done, this calls for serious attention,” he said.

The monarch’s son, Saheed, said he was not willing to comment on the incident.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said on Thursday that the police were still on a rescue mission.

She said, “Investigation is ongoing. The police are on a rescue operation.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, did not pick the calls by our correspondent.

A text message sent to his phone on the incident had also yet to be replied to as of press time.

Source: Punch Newspapers





Woman tells court husband disappears whenever she is pregnant


A 40-year-old petrol attendant, Seun Olaleye, Thursday told a Lagos Island Customary Court that her second child became crippled due to her husband’s negligence.

court

Seun, whose husband, Gbenga Olaleye (43), had approached the court for the dissolution of their 16-year-old marriage, told the court that her husband would abscond whenever she was pregnant.

The mother of three, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), told the court that her marriage was blissful until she was pregnant with their first child and her husband left the house to rent another apartment. She said: “Whenever I am pregnant, my husband disappears; he leaves me with no money.

Most times, I was going to his parents who could do little because they were aged. “I had three children for him, two girls and a boy, and once he knows I am pregnant he leaves the house only to return when the child is about a year or two.

“I needed to undergo surgery to be able to give birth to our second child but my husband refused to help. Eventually, the child was forced out of my womb and it affected him because he was born crippled. “Our boy, Matthew, is now 11 years old but he cannot do anything on his own.

“I and the children had been evicted from our rented apartment and now squatting with a friend while my husband stays in a three-bedroom flat at Egbeda with another woman.” Seun told the court that her husband had never been there for her when she needed him and urged the court to dissolve the marriage.