Welcome to Geophilworld's blog: 05/27/15

Wednesday 27 May 2015

Police Arrest Men Who Offered Them N1million Bribe

Police Department in Niger State paraded three suspects over allegation of offering N1 million bribe to operatives of the State’s Anti-Robbery Squad {SARS}.

The suspects, Abdulmumini Ala, Bala Abdullahi and Samuel Marafa, from Agwara Local Government Area of the state were paraded while N540,000 was also displayed by the police as part payment of the bribe.

According to the police, the bribe was offered by the suspects so as to remove from the police records some firearms recovered from their relatives who were earlier arrested by SARS over robbery allegations and possession of three AK-47 rifles.

Addressing newsmen, the Police Public Relations Officer {PPRO}, Niger State command, Mr Bala Elkana, said some three-man gang of suspected trans-border armed robbers and cattle rustlers who were relatives of the suspects offering the bribe had earlier been arrested by the operatives of SARS and were charged to court.

"We have three persons in our custody who approached SARS and offered to give a bribe of N1 million for the police to remove from the records firearms recovered from their relatives who were earlier arrested by SARS and charged to court," he said.

The Nigerian Tribune

AIT's Grand House reception for President Jonathan

DAAR Communications, owners of AIT station hosted President Jonathan to a Grand House Reception in Abuja this evening.

Chris Brown celebrates daughter's first birthday

Chris took to instagram today to wish his daughter a happy 1st birthday. He shared a cute pic of Royalty sticking out her tongue on his Instagram page and wrote "Happy birthday to my lil lady Royalty!! I love u". Happy birthday Royalty.

Rivers State governor-elect Nyesom Wike releases official portrait

The official portrait of to-be-sworn in Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has been unveiled. He will be officially known as His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON)

President Jonathan receives Peace-Loving Global Citizen Award (See photos)

President Jonathan yesterday May 26th received the Peace-Loving Global Citizen Award at the State House, Abuja. See more photos below

The Rock sets world record for taking the most selfies in 3 minutes

According to Guinness World Records, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson set a new record last week for the most selfies taken in 3 minutes. The actor reportedly took a whopping 105 selfies with fans at the London premiere of “San Andreas” to achieve that title.

A Guinness World Records adjudicator was reportedly on hand to ensure that “selfie rules were followed.” The full face and neck of participants had to be visible in all the shots, with no blurring

PRESIDENCY: Valedictory Session of the Federal Executive Council

President Jonathan took group pics with his ministers, Council Secretariat members and State House press corps after the Valedictory Session of the Federal Executive Council at the State House Abuja today May 27th. See more photos below

Mr President bows out...

Kim Kardashian undergoes IVF treatment for 2nd child

Kim Kardashian has never hidden her desire to have another child and has been undergoing IVF treatment to increase her chances to conceive a second child, according to a news report.

According to Us Weekly, Kim will reveal an implanted embryo did not take during Sunday’s Keeping Up With The Kardashians mid-season finale. A preview clip for this week’s episode shows Kim lying down on a doctor’s table in tears with her mother Kris Jenner, as they look at an ultrasound together.

She said she was told a few years ago by 3 different doctors that she could never get pregnant so she decided to have her eggs frozen.’

Kim said: ‘I was just about to do that when I found out I was pregnant with North. I want a boy and another girl; I want it to start happening straightaway.

‘I loved being part of a huge family – and I want that for North. We'd do IVF if nothing happens, but we both want to keep trying naturally.’ she said.
Another option they are considering is surrogacy, she said, they will do surrogacy over adoption.'

Senator-elect Dino Melaye wants allowances, salaries of legislators reduced

Read the press statement below...

Senator-elect, Otunba Dino Melaye, said he has never been a government contractors and will not be one. He also called on Nigerians to pressurize the incoming Assembly to reduce exuberant salaries and allowances of Nigerian legislators.

Melaye who will be representing Kogi West Senatorial District under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke in Abuja on Tuesday night during a reception organized in his honour his friends and relatives.

According to him, the high cost of running the National Assembly is unacceptable because Nigeria is in a serious financial crisis.

"Leaders must make sacrifices in order to move the country forward. Contrary to suggestions from certain quarters, I will not relinquish my activism while in the Senate. I will continue to oppose anything that is not in the interest of Nigerians.

"‎I have never done government contracts in my life, from local, state to federal levels. I have never done any. I will never do it. Some people said I should abandon activism. We have gotten to a stage in this country where people from the grassroots can win elections. Politics is not elitist. For me, in the Senate, anyone that is expecting me to go there and become quiet, your dream will not come to pass.

"Where we need to say no, we will say a capital no. Where we need to say yes, we will say yes. For me, in a just society, silence is a crime. We have no other country to call our own, but Nigeria," Melaye stated.

Speaking specifically on the need to reduce allowances of legislators, he said:‎ "Until we get to an acceptable level in this country, no legislator should keep quiet. This may not be palatable to my colleagues, but I am using this opportunity to call on all Nigerians that in the 8th National Assembly, we must cut the pay of legislators. It may not be okay. But we all need to make sacrifices. He who must come to equity must come with clean hands.

"If we must tell agencies of government to call down expenses, we must lead by examples. I want to appeal to my colleagues to support me so that when we get down to the floor, we will cut down all our allowances. Already, we are on perilous times. There is need for correction. We cannot do it. It will take the people to energise us.

"Nigerians must rise up and tell their legislators to support pay cut. The executive too should cut down its expenses. For instance, in the art budget, N3 billion was budgeted for the president's travels. Where is the president travelling to? Is he the president of the world? The people need to encourage us to do the right things."

What! FIFA Executives Arrested In Switzerland?

In an early morning raid, Swiss authorities today arrested no fewer than 12 top FIFA officials. They are to be extradited to the United States to face corruption charges, money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud

They were arrested at the baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich, where members of FIFA governing body are gathered for their annual meeting.

An election, expected to be a coronation for Mr. Sepp Blatter, its president seeking an unprecedented fifth term, is scheduled for Friday.

The charges, according to the New York Times, allege widespread corruption in FIFA over the past two decades, involving bids for World Cups as well as marketing and broadcast deals, according to three law enforcement officials with direct knowledge of the case.

The indictment names 14 people on charges including racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

In addition to senior soccer officials, the indictment is also expected to name sports-marketing executives from the United States and South America who are accused of paying more than $150 million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for media deals associated with major soccer tournaments, according to one government official briefed on the matter.

The official said the soccer officials charged are Jeffrey Webb, Eugenio Figueredo, Jack Warner, Eduardo Li of Costa Rica, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Rafael Esquivel, José Maria Marin and Nicolás Leoz.

Charges were also expected against the sports-marketing executives Alejandro Burzaco, Aaron Davidson, Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis. Authorities also charged José Margulies as an intermediary who facilitated illegal payments.

The arrests were a startling blow to FIFA, a multibillion-dollar organization that governs the world’s most popular sport but has been plagued by accusations of bribery for decades.

The inquiry is also a major threat to Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s longtime president who is generally recognized as the most powerful person in sports, though he was not charged. Law enforcement officials said that the investigation is ongoing, and that Mr. Blatter was not yet considered cleared of any wrongdoing. An election, seemingly pre-ordained to give him a fifth term as president, is scheduled for Friday.

“We’re struck by just how long this went on for and how it touched nearly every part of what FIFA did,” said a law enforcement official. “It just seemed to permeate every element of the federation and was just their way of doing business. It seems like this corruption was institutionalized.”

Finally Cyclists Riding For Buhari Have Arrived Abuja (Photos)

The group of cyclists rode from Katsina to Abuja to witness the inauguration this Friday. They were spotted along Central Area this morning.

See more photos

Any Petrol Station Caught Selling Above The N87, Will Have Its Licence Revoked – Federal Govt Warns

The Federal Government yesterday moved to enforce the regulated pump price of petrol at N87 per litre days after a biting scarcity, occasioned by the disruption of the supply system, forced price to rise as much as N500 per litre.

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), in a statement, warned filling stations against selling above the official pump price or risk being shut down.

The DPR’s position came a day after a deal by fuel marketers and the Federal Government led to the restoration of lifting the commodity, leading to the easing of the fuel short age that worsened in the last two weeks.

However, a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has considered the deal between the marketers and government as a short-term solution to the frequent fuel shortage in Nigeria and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to urgently remove subsidy before he hands over to the President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday.

This came as the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), an association of marketers and importers, disowned one of its members, Capital Oil and Gas Limited, for being “mischievous,” over claims that the association was on strike, an allegation, he claimed caused fuel scarcity.

The DPR, in a statement by its Head Public Affairs, Dorothy Bassey, tasked Nigerians to report any marketer who sells the product above the regulated price to its officials or law enforcement agents.

“While the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is making every effort to ensure that fuel is available and reaches every part of the nation, it is hereby emphasized that the Federal Government has not increased the price of fuel. “The price remains at N87. Any station caught selling above the stipulated price, will have its licence revoked.

“No station should sell in jerry cans as there is enough fuel and for safety reasons. Any station caught dispensing into jerry cans will be sealed. “We ask that the public exercise caution and cooperate with all guidelines and processes for the safety of all,” it said.

However, in his reaction to the fuel crisis, Kalu, while calling on the president to float fuel price, said if Jonathan should fail to stop the subsidy regime, which has cost Nigerians over N6.354 trillion in the last five years, Buhari should implement it immediately he is sworn in on Friday. Kalu, in a statement yesterday,

Said:

“The Federal Government has spent N6.354 trillion as subsidy on petroleum products in the last five years, when President Goodluck Jonathan assumed leadership of Nigeria. Penultimate week, it paid N156 billion to oil marketers, bringing total payment to over N500 billion in five months, including over N300 billion in two installments in December last year and N31 billion in interest differentials recently.

“In 2010, a total of N673 billion was paid on subsidy, rising significantly to N1.3 trillion in 2011, before being revised upwards to N2.19 trillion by the Ministry of Finance, after arrears were paid in 2012 for products consumption in 2011.

“In 2012, the sum of N888 billion was allocated to subsidise petroleum product imports in the budget, but in December, a supplementary budget of N161.6 billion for payment of arrears of fuel subsidy was submitted by the president and later approved by the National Assembly. “By the following year, 2013, the government earmarked N971 billion for petroleum subsidy.

For 2014, the Federal Government again budgeted N971.1 billion for payments of subsidy, keeping it at the same level with that of 2013.

“Though, despite insinuations and reports that there was no provision for fuel subsidy in the 2015 budget, the Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Ahmed Makarfi, cleared the air, saying that a total of N100 billion was provided for as subsidy for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), while N43 billion was approved for Dual Purpose Kerosene for the 2015 fiscal period.

“You can imagine what the N6.345 trillion spent on subsidy can be used for in terms of infrastructural development in this country.”

According to Kalu, it is high time Nigeria stopped wasting public funds on subsidy, which benefits only the rich. He described the fuel subsidy regime as nothing but fraud, which is only benefitting a few people.

“The subsidy is not benefitting the poor because the marketers smile to the bank after collecting the full benefit on the over 40 million liters of products (PMS and DPK) consumed by Nigerians per day, leaving a lopsided distribution network, where not all Nigerians are able to get the products at the regulated price of N87 per liter. “In fact, a recent study showed that it is only in Lagos and a few urban centres that the products are sold at regulated prices.

The larger chunk of the populace buys the product still at exorbitant prices despite subsidy.” Kalu, who lamented the agony and suffering Nigerians who voted Jonathan into power four years ago have had to go through, said the subsidy regime could not be sustained. Besides, he urged the Jonathan administration to stop playing politics with the apparatus of government by using it to intimidate and embarrass innocent citizens. Rather, he said, such agencies should be used to fight corruption. “All these intimidation is damaging a lot of serious business people in this country.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) knows who those corrupt people are and where to get them. How would a public officer wake up one day and buy a house in Maitama and hop on private jet every minute? Nigeria should get serious,”

He added.

Meanwhile, DAPPMA in a statement yesterday by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, criticised Mr. Ifeanyi Uba’s Capital Oil and Gas Industries for its claim that marketers were on strike. It said the company was being mischievous as it “had been disqualified from the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF) scheme by the government regulatory agency and does not import PMS (petrol).”

“The company is not owed a kobo under the ‘PSF scheme as they cannot make any claim, hence they do not feel the impact of non-payment of subsidy reimbursements; instead, the company stores petroleum products for NNPC/ PPMC under a ‘throughput arrangement’ as do a few other members of our association,” it added.

It was also learnt yesterday that the outgoing government has agreed to pay $800 million debt to fuel marketer to resolve the fuel crisis crippling the economy. The ABC News, in a report, quoted an Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) source to have said that the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, agreed on Monday to pay the marketers the $800 million.

There was no immediate statement from the minister, who accused the suppliers of holding Nigeria to ransom over the disputed debt, bemoaning, “so much fraud allegations and scams in this business of oil marketing.”

See Wizkid's EXPENSIVE Power Bike

The bike is estimated to cost about N8million.

Congrats to him.

Kashamu Is Free...Court Bars NDLEA, Police, SSS, Others From Arresting And Extraditing Him

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has barred men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Nigerian Police Force, SSS and other security agencies from arresting and extraditing embattled Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu to the US over alleged drug related offense.

While presiding over a case brought before him by the legal team of Senator Kashamu this morning, Justice Okon Abang described as illegal, the attempted arrest and extradition of Kashamu in relation to drug-trafficking allegations which he had been previously exonerated by two British courts. Justice Abang ordered the NDLEA, Attorney General of the Federation, National Adviser to President on Security and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to pay Buruji Kashamu N20,000.

Photos From The Ghastly Accident At Lekki 6th Roundabout By Mobil

What ever happened to drink and DON'T drive! Some guys in a Toyota Camry skidded off the road around the Lekki 6th roundabout near Mobil not long ago.

According to an eyewitness, the car was on a full speed and from the photo description, seemed like the guys were also drunk because there was a bottle of alcohol and cup in the front seat of the car.

So far the driver is claimed to be lifeless while another has a been badly injured and couldn't move his legs. It was also reported that the only person who came out unhurt is the girl in yellow short dress. She told people they were coming from a club and she was picked up and doesn’t know them.

See more photos below

Student of MAPOLY Shot Dead During Cult War

A student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, was shot dead in broad daylight in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, on Tuesday by people suspected to be cultists.

The victim was identified as Agoro Omokoleola, whose Facebook ID is Omokoleola Cool Cash.Pm News reliably gathered that the manner he was lured out of his family house and killed, suggests that the operation was carried out by suspected rival cult group.

The motive for the dastardly act could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.It was gathered that the incident has been reported to the police.

Family sources disclosed that Omokoleola was invited from his home through a phone call he received at about 12 noon on Tuesday.

Unknown to him, the phone call was a bait for him to come out of his home.

On getting to where his killers made the call asking him to meet with some of his friends, he was shot in the head and his attackers escaped.

The assailants went away with his phone after shooting him apparently to prevent the victim’s relatives from discovering the identity of the caller who lured him out of home.

Family sources said further that he was preparing to take his breakfast when the call came and by the tone of his response, the caller was a familiar person to the deceased.

It was gathered that passers-by who knew his parents reported the incident to them.

By the time his parents and relatives arrived the scene of the attack, he was still breathing and was rushed to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu where he later died.

Omokoleola was in Ijebu Ode to attend the wedding of his sister which took place last Saturday and was about going back to school with his bags packed before he was shot dead.

We Deceived Nigerians, There Is Nothing Like SURE-P Fund – Gov. Aliyu

On Tuesday, Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, maintained that fuel subsidy is a major source of corruption in the country.

Aliyu added that funds believed to be coming from SURE-P are actually from the federation account.

The governor said this in Minna at the inauguration of a three-star hotel constructed jointly by the Niger State Development Company Limited and the State SURE-P.

He believed that a total removal of subsidy from petroleum products by the Federal Government remains the best solution to stop the endemic corruption in the system.

Aliyu said,

“I have been vindicated. When some years back I took a principled position as one of the few governors who said ‘remove fuel subsidy’. It is a cartel for corruption.

“Many people did not understand that time, some publicists didn’t agree with me. They said ‘don’t remove it, it is the common man that will suffer’, but I said ‘which common man, when already the time you are talking about subsidy, the common man goes to buy it triple the price, that you call subsidy’.

“Earlier, we deceived ourselves that there was SURE-P money, but it was the money from our federation account that they were giving to us as SURE-P fund. But we are happy, at least they have set that aside. For me, you will remember when I said ‘remove fuel subsidy’, they burnt my town. People were imported from outside to burn Minna.

“There is no government out there, you are the government. Anything that is done, is for your welfare, own it, take it and don’t allow somebody to come and reduce you and make you a pauper and then he will go back to his village and start sinking things. Own what is yours. Government is not all about the officials alone.

“Therefore, I ask, subsidy for whom? In the whole of Niger State at that time, even the government’s fuel station were not selling at the subsidised rate. Yes, they were selling lower than the commercial filling stations, but they are also above the subsidised rate.

“Why were we having the problems? It is because those who have been enjoying the subsidy have seen the sign that it may be removed and they are afraid. Subsidy is a cartel for corruption.

“People must know how their resources are being expended. I kept crying that we could not rely on the oil revenue. Now, the truth has come in our own time. I thought we will leave the scene before the crash, but the crash has come.

“The removal of fuel subsidy will also ensure the activities of ‘mafias’ in the oil business are stopped while also guaranteeing regular supply of the product in all parts of the country.”

Source: The Punch

Tinubu VS AIT: Court Adjourns Case Till 30 June

An Ikeja High Court on Wednesday adjourned till 30 June a N150 billion libel suit filed by former Lagos State Governor, Chief Bola Tinubu, against Africa Independent Television (AIT).

Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe adjourned the suit to enable Tinubu’s counsel respond to the counter-claim filed by AIT.Tinubu had instituted the suit against Daar Communications Plc, owners of AIT, for airing of a documentary titled ‘Lion of Bourdillon’.

He had alleged that the documentary, which started airing on March 1,was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image.

At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, AIT’s counsel, Mr Jeffery Kadiri, informed the court that the defendant had filed a counter-claim which had been served on the claimant.

Responding, Tinubu’s counsel, Mr Ayodele Adedipe, said the process was served on the claimant only two days ago, adding that he needed time to respond.

Adedipe, therefore, asked the court for an adjournment and the judge aceded to his request.

In the counter-claim, AIT listed its Chairman emeritus, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and seven others as witnesses to testify against Tinubu.

Others listed to testify ae Namure Edoimioya, Chief Medan Tenke, Ajibola Adewusi, Olumide Idowu, Chief Stanley Odidi, Engr. Nwabueze and Dr Stanley Bassey.

The broadcast outfit also denied the allegation of facts as contained in the claimant’s amended statement of claim.

Dokpesi, in his statement on oath, averred that Tinubu’s claim was founded on a none existent ground because the said documentary was not titled ‘The Lion of Bourdillon’, but ‘Unmasking the Real Tinubu’.

He also averred that the documentary, in his honest opinion, was not false and was not aired out of malice to the person of the claimant.

Dokpesi said AIT, as a member of the fourth estate of the realm, was empowered by Section 22 of the Constitution to at all times, hold those in government accountable and responsible to the people of Nigeria.

He further averred that the content of the documentary were facts which had been in the public domain for over two decades.

According to him, these were published independently prior to the broadcast and had remained unchallenged to date.

White Woman Seen In The Boot Of A Car In Lagos (Photo)

See what fuel scarcity has caused in this country. Read what aneEye witness said Below: “Just yesterday on my way from a friends office, guess what I found? Packed in front of me was this car, loaded with people. There was no seat left and rather than wait for some other car…this white woman (Oyinbo) decided to chill at the “Boot”! At first, passersby thought the driver was a kidnapper.