Corrupt politicians still celebrated in Nigeria, Osinbajo laments

Despite the different campaigns against corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has lamented that Nigerians still celebrate corrupt politicians.

He therefore emphasized the need to stop Nigerians from celebrating corrupt politicians, and urged anti-corruption agencies in the country to step up their engagement with the Nigerian public and find a way to ensure that those who still justify and celebrate corruption when it involves their kinsfolk stop from doing such.

He stated this on Tuesday during a meeting with a delegation of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) led by its Chairman, Prof. Itse Sagay at the Presidential Villa, the outcome of which was made available to newsmen by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

He said, “How we communicate what is going on regarding corruption is important. There are still those who think a politician who steals, is some kind of Robin Hood, instead of being vilified. Some people believe that if ‘my kinsman’ steals it is ok.”

Osinbajo therefore stressed that it was important to completely delegitimise corruption through the way it is communicated to the public.

The Vice President while noting that it is important that corruption trials once commenced should be concluded promptly, appreciated efforts so far made by PACAC in the ongoing anti-corruption war in the country.

“I commend the excellent work you have done so far from the beginning,” he said, adding that the committee has done very well in removing scepticism as to whether an anti-corruption initiative can work well in the country.

Prof. Sagay in his comment at the meeting said PACAC has engaged with all anti-corruption agencies in the country, including the police and the judiciary.

“We are cooperating effectively well with them,” he said.

The vice President’s position is coming on the heels of the release of a former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who recently regained his freedom after serving time in a London prison after his conviction for corruptly enriching himself and draining his state’s resources.

He was celebrated by many people from his state, among them, a serving senator, Peter Nwaoboshi who was caught on camera praising the ex convict, and saying Ibori still influenced Nigeria’s politics even while in prison.

JJC reveals how and when he started dating Funke Akindele

Singer and music producer JJC Skillz has revealed how and when he started dating his actress wife, Funke Akindele in an interview published by a popular Nigerian newspaper.

JJC who unbelievably has three baby mamas and three grown kids and who once said he couldn’t marry any of his three baby mama’s because of emotional ties, revealed in the interview that he met and fell in love with Funke when she was initially searching for a good director and cameraman for her TV series.

“In fact, it was love at first sight. I saw her, she saw me and, we saw stars. From that point on, everything was aligned. She had an idea called Jenifa’s Diary that she wanted to do, and she was looking for a good director and cameraman, so she called me to help her shoot the TV series, and that was how we met.” JJC said.

No doubt, the stock of the pair have both risen after the couple said “I do” at a secret wedding staged in London last year which took the industry by surprise.

Now basking in the euphoria of being called man and wife the pair recently launched their mansion located at Amen Estate, Lekki and also unveiled a new record label during their recent house warming ceremony.

Neighbours in court for fighting with faeces

A hairdresser identified as Gbemisola Adejumo and a 30-year-old driver Michael Godwin have both landed in court after they were both involved in a public fight which saw them both smear themselves with faeces.

The pair who were arraigned on a two -count charge of public fight and polluting the atmosphere with faeces appeared on Tuesday before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan.

The accused both of NW6/116 Ayorinde Street, Queen Cinema, Adamasingba area, Ibadan, according to the Prosecutor, Sgt. Salewa Hammed were engaged in a public fight on January 5, at about 7:30am at their residence.

While addressing the court, the Prosecutor said; “During the fight the two accused persons allegedly fought each other by pouring faeces on themselves thereby polluting the atmosphere with faeces.

“This makes it noxious to the health of the general public.” He said that the accused persons engaged in the fight over the use of toilet in the compound. It was Godwin that first entered the rest room before Gbemisola knocked and asked Godwin to come out as she was pressed, later it led to a fight between them,” he added.

Hammed said the offence committed by the accused persons who however pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to them in court, contravened section 83 and 247 (a) of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol.II Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The pair were however handed bail in the sum of N75, 000 with two sureties each in like sum by the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Abiona Richard who adjourned the case to March 3rd for further hearing.

Apple now charging Nigerian users in naira

Luxury phone and gadget makers, Apple has started charging Nigerian users in naira.

In changing the transnational currency to naira for Nigerians, Apple is seemingly towing the same line that Facebook took in October.

iTunes sent out a mail to its Nigerian subscribers informing them of an imminent currency change in the iTunes Store and Apple Music weeks ago.

“Dear Subscriber, The currency of the App Store, the iTunes Store, and Apple Music in Nigeria will soon be changing from U.S. dollars to Nigerian naira. This change requires no action from you.

“After the currency change occurs, any pre-orders or subscriptions you have will be billed in Nigerian naira. Learn how to manage your subscriptions or send iTunes Gifts via email. If you have any other questions, visit Apple Support.” The mail by Apple read in full.

Nigeria has seen a reduction in online dollar purchases from app stores, content streaming platforms and paid ads since the increase in the exchange rate, and obviously, iTunes is not left out of the dearth of online patronage from Nigeria prompting the change.

Pawpaw clears the air on rift with Aki, says no hostility between them

Nollywood actor Osita Iheme also known as pawpaw has come out to clear the air over a rumoured rift between him and Chinedu Ikedieze, also known as ‘Aki’.

In an interview he granted a Nigerian newspaper, the actor says he has no axe to grind with his friend noting that they are both on good terms.

Continuing, Pawpaw said the rumour is just a figment of the imagination of some writers.

 

“There is no hostility between Aki and me. We are still best of friends, and we are on good terms,” he said in the interview.

The comic actor further noted that; “We talk when we need to, and any report of fights between us is the figment of the writer’s imagination”.

Justice Ademola eager to end ordeal, demands quick hearing on his alleged fraud case

Nigerian Federal High Court judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, has prayed the court to quicken hearing on allegation of fraud levelled against him and his wife, Olubowale, who is also the Lagos State Head of service.

The couple were arraigned on an 11-count charge on December 13, part of which were alleged acts of criminal conspiracy to receive gratification contrary to section 26 (1) (C) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) Act, and punishable under the same section.

They were accused in the first count of the charge to have allegedly conspired to collect gratification from a company, Joe Agi and associates, belonging to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe Agi, to the tune of N30million, in March 2015.

Their trial was brought before Justice Jude Okeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja and was earlier scheduled to continue January 18.

However, Justice Ademola approached the court on Monday with a fresh application for an accelerated hearing.

But the counsel to the Federal Government, Segun Jegede, informed the court of his client’s resolve to amend the charge to include Mr. Agi and subsequently prayed for time to allow his client amend the charge.

He said the amended charge would be ready by Tuesday at the latest.

The trial judge, Okeke, consequently adjourned the matter till January 11 for presentation of the amended charge. He promised that the case would be slated for daily hearing, after Mr. Agi has been arraigned, from January 16 to 18.

Wife of President Buhari, Aisha Buhari, has disclosed that former First ladies of Nigeria spent £32,000 as jet landing fees whenever they travel out of Nigeria which is a far cry from what is spent whenever she travels out of Nigeria.

Mrs Buhari stated this in a new statement addressing allegations by Sahara Reporters that her office receives monetary and material favors from the Nigeria High Commission in the UK during her visits. Read her statement after the cut...

The continuous publication of unfounded stories by Sahara Reporters against the Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, is becoming a great concern. After our last rejoinder, we expected the paper to come out with concrete evidence of deliberate fraud or abuse of privileges, or be bold enough to own up and apologize for such hazy and unsubstantiated report. Alas, what Sahara Reporters came up with was another conjecture of a purported internal memo within the Consulate, which has no direct link to Her Excellency. The new accusation, however, has still not been able to substantiate where Aisha Buhari made any direct contact with the mission for anything. The High Commission has its internal administrative procedure, and it’s not within the purview of the wife of the President to ask for diplomatic files. Furthermore, that the said memo showed little or no knowledge of Her Excellency’s itinerary proves the simple fact we earlier submitted that she had no direct business with the embassy to warrant the accusation of waste or corruption insinuated in the report. Part of the wife of the President’s trips abroad are for her NGO, which is not funded by the Government, and It is not uncommon to have stop over in Britain like any other country as the case may be. According her VIP treatment is simple protocol for a personality of her status, which is done all over the world, and at no point was she offered anywhere else. The High Commission provided the lounge and Hajiya Buhari was not involved in the transaction. This is even a far cry from the £32,000 expended in the past as landing fees for private jets of former first ladies. Attending an international women function with the Governors' wives couldn’t have been linked to the bogus allegation of corruption made by Sahara Reporters' spurious headline earlier on, as these are approved trips. It will be to the credit of Sahara Reporters to carry out a thorough check if the so called monies (£3,500) spent for whatever reason by the High Commission has any direct link with Hajia Aisha Buhari. That is responsible journalism.

Adebisi Olumide Ajayi,
S A Media
Wife of the President