“I Am Not In Exile… I Am Resting” – Jonathan Tells THISDAY

Former President Goodluck Jonathan who THISDAY said has gone into exile in Cote d’Ivoire “following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may arrest him on his arrival in Nigeria from his overseas tour on allegations of corruption and misappropriation of billions of dollars in the five years during which he was Head of State,” has called to rebut the claim.

Jonathan spoke to THISDAY‘s correspondent on phone, confirming that he was actually in Cote d’Ivoire, but not in exile.

According to the report, when the former president was reminded that THISDAY had tried to reach him several times last week to verify allegations that he was in exile, he said: “So what… I am not in exile. I am here resting”.

“Yes I am in Cote d’Ivoire, I have been here for a week resting and this is my second trip to the country since I stepped down as president.

I have made sacrifices for Nigeria. I am praised all over Africa for averting bloodshed and for the peaceful transition from one government to another, but it seems Nigeria does not appreciate my efforts.

I have done my best for this country and if I have to die for it, I will do so. However, I am taking it easy here (Cote d’Ivoire) and when I am ready, I will come back,” Jonathan said.

This is coming after Reno Omokri who is a former media aide to Jonathan debunked the reports in a series of tweets yesterday.

El Rufai Names Hospital After Late Governor, Patrick Yakowa

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has approved the naming of one of the state's General Hospital in Kafanchan after a former governor of the state, late Patrick Yakowa pictured above, who died in a plane crash in December 2012. This is contained in a statement signed by the media aide to Governor El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan. Read the statement below...


“The Kaduna State Executive Council has approved the renaming of the Kafanchan General Hospital. The hospital will henceforth be known as Patrick Yakowa Hospital. This in honour of the service rendered to the state by the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa. “Governor Yakowa capped a distinguished career in public service with the two highest political offices in Kaduna State. He was Deputy Governor and then Governor, before his unfortunate demise in an helicopter crash. “The general hospitals in the major cities in Kaduna State are named in honour of citizens who had made notable contributions to the state. The general hospital in Zaria bears the name of Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, an activist who fought for Nigeria’s independence. The eminent name of Dr. Barau Dikko, the first medical doctor from Northern Nigeria and first president of the Northern Peoples Congress, graces the hospital in Kaduna that was recently accredited as a teaching hospital. “General hospitals in Kaduna are also named after the revered late Chief of Kagoro, Gwamna Awan, and Alhaji Yusuf Dantsoho, a respected public servant. “The only exception to this naming trend among the general hospitals in the major cities of Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria is the one in Kafanchan. That has now been remedied by the action of the Kaduna State Executive Council.”

Kaduna Declares State Of Emergency On Tomato

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry in Kaduna state, Manzo Daniel today disclosed that the state government has declared a state of emergency on tomato following an attack of tomato blight that has wiped out about 80percent of tomato farms in the state. Manzo stated this while spealing at a press briefing to mark the administration's one year in office.


"The tomato blight is caused by an insect called the leafminer, scientifically called tuta absoluta. What it does is to eat up the tomato leaves and the soft parts. Unfortunately for us, this infestation occurred last year on a smaller scale but it was not documented. And when we came in, we didn't know about it until it hit us hard. A team of officials have been dispatched to Kenya to seek intervention. We have it on authority that there is an extract of a plant that is effective against the developing stages of the moth. Unfortunately, the adults are not susceptible to any chemical, if you spray them, within three hours, they develop resistance. It is a serious issue and we have had to declare a state of emergency on the commodity. To underscore the seriousness of the infestation, the Dangote Tomato factory in Kano has shut down due to lack of raw materials," he lamented.
Mazo said over 200 farmers have incured losses to the tune of N1 billion as a result of the disease. A basket of tomato now cost N42, 000.

Former PDP Chairman In Bauchi State, Ex SSG, Others Return Looted Funds

Former PDP Chairman in Gombe State, Nuhu Poloma, former Secretary to the Bauchi State government, Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija, and the zonal coordinator of the PDP in Gombe, Taraba and Adamawa states, Bunu Mulima, have reportedly returned N2m, N10m and N5m respectively to the EFCC. The monies are from the reported Diezani Alison-Madueke's 2015 election largess.

An operative of the antigraft agency who spoke to Daily Trust, said the politicians deposited the money in bank drafts made out in the name of the Commission for the aforementioned sums yesterday May 23rd.

While the former SSG paid N10 million through a bank draft of FCMB; the state's PDP chairman paid N2 million through a Zenith Bank draft while Mulima issued a Union Bank draft. The former SSG is reported to have admitted in a written statement that N20m passed through him to some other beneficiaries but accepted liability for the refund of the whole sum. He reportedly promised to bring another bank draft for the balance of N10m today.

The former PDP chairman said he got N450m from the electio campaign fund which he was meant to be disbursed.He admitted that N2m was his personal benefit from the fund while Mulima, according to him, reaped N30m from the campaign fund. They have pledged to refund the balance, the EFCC source stated.

President Obama Eats Chinese Food With Celebrity Chef & CNN Host, Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain posted the photo on his IG page and captioned it; 'The President's chopstick skills are on point . #buncha #hanoi'

VP Yemi Osinbajo Arrives Zambia For The Annual General Meeting Of The African Development

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo arrived Lusaka Zambia yesterday night to represent Nigeria at the 51st Annual General Meeting of the African Development Bank, holding this week. He is pictured with AfDB President and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, Dr Adewunmi Adesina.

Among other activities, Prof. Osinbajo would be participating in the AGM'S High Level Panel/African Leaders Roundtable on Energy and Climate Change, which will also feature other African leaders. He would also speak on the High Level Panel on Jobs for African Youth-Turning the Demographic Dividend into Economic Dividend. He returns to Abuja on Wednesday, May 25.

Minnesota State Governor Mark Dayton Declares 23rd Of May As Beyoncé Day

Who runs the world? Girls. Who runs Minnesota? Beyoncé. At least, for a day! In a proclamation posted on social media yesterday, Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith made it clear that May 23, 2016 can and should be dedicated to all things Queen Bey for 24 hours.


"Beyoncé has influenced many young girls and women with powerful, positive messages in her songs and thousands of Minnesotans will gather at TCF Bank Stadium to hear Beyoncé perform," the proclamation wrote. "Now, therefore…I hearby proclaim Monday as Beyoncé day."

We Will Go And Dialogue With Niger Delta Militants – Ibe Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu has said the Federal Government is considering opening a robust dialogue with the Niger-Delta militants on the need to stop militancy in the oil rich region.

He made the statement in an interactive session with a coalition of civil societies in Lagos. Also present was the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed.

“The military tanks cannot stop or solve problem of militancy in the Niger Delta region. I will have to go back to my brothers; they are our brothers. We will go and dialogue with them,” Kachikwu said.

Kachikwu also pointed out that the fuel subsidy regime is not sustainable, hence its removal.

On why queues disappeared immediately the price of petrol was hiked, Kachikwu said:

“Queues disappeared because everybody who had incentive to hoard were no longer hoarding and those who were in the business other than hoarding petroleum business for hoarding sake left the business because there was no need to hoard. Again we were having pretentious number of consumption for subsidy payment.”

Credit: TODAY.ng

Lovely New Pictures And The Amazing Weight Loss Of Comedienne, Lepacious Bose

She looks amazing. She had a photoshoot with her colleague, Owen Gee, recently. Her  weight loss is really amazing. See more pictures below..

Arase Warns Factional PDP Loyalists Planning To Attack The Party’s HQ To Desist Or Be “Promptly, Firmly And Decisively” Dealt With

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has warned factional party loyalists of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that they will be “promptly, firmly and decisively” dealt with if they threaten public peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He issued the warning in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olabisi Kolawole, saying that it has gathered intelligence indicating plans by aggrieved members of the party ” to infiltrate Abuja and attack the National Headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party with intent to forcefully occupy the facility”.

The statement read:

Intelligence at the disposal of the Force leadership indicates that some aggrieved factional leaders and members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have perfected plans to engage thugs from across the country to join them in threatening public peace and security in Abuja. This is sequel to the on-going intra-party leadership crisis in the party and further fallout of the recent political engagements of the Party.

The plan of the brains behind this development is to infiltrate Abuja and attack the National Headquarters of the Peoples’ Democratic Party with intent to forcefully occupy the facility. Towards perfecting this criminality, credible Police sources confirm that the actors will mobilise into Abuja with effect from Monday 23rd May 2016 and they intend to march through major streets in Abuja before proceeding to the PDP Secretariat to manifest their intention.

Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police has directed the deployment of Police assets to secure the PDP Secretariat and protect the staff until the threat to internal security that is being occasioned by the intra-party crisis within the PDP is stabilised. The police action is a proactive initiative which is being emplaced in furtherance to the statutory Mandate of the Nigeria Police to prevent breakdown in law and order and protect lives and property.

The Inspector General of Police, however, warns all actors in the crisis as well as their loyalists to refrain from any act that may threaten public order as the Police shall deal promptly, firmly and decisively with such persons or group in line with their legal obligations.

The Lagos State Government Has Announced Plans To Rebrand The Transportation System In The state.

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According to PUNCH, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the announcement during the 2016 annual ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, saying that the initiative would involve replacing the mini-buses, popularly called “Danfo”, with high-capacity buses.

Mobereola said that the state government would introduce commuter protection number plates and body tags on buses to show their routes and enforce colour uniformity on all public transport systems in the state.

“Lagos State motor parks would be restructured in such a way that alcohol and illicit substances would not be there. We are going to teach transport operators in the state behavioural etiquette and how to talk to commuters,” he said

He also said the state government would introduce commuter protection number plates and body tags on buses to show their routes and enforce colour uniformity on all public transport systems in the state.

According to him, the transformation arrangement which will cover the taxi scheme, rail and water transport systems, is aimed at having a public transport system that supports its megacity status where tendencies for violence are curbed, while drivers and conductors are retrained and registered.

He said that arrangements were almost concluded to phase out the 14-seater commuter buses being used by commercial drivers and replace them with 30-seater buses with air conditioners. He also hinted about plans to enforce the use of approved uniforms for commercial drivers and conductors.

According to the commissioner, the “new vista of professionalism and identity anchored on unique number/dress code” would be implemented by the next quarter.

He also said that the state government is planning to restructure motor parks in the state and introduce holistic ticketing system, through which people could download from the Internet and use for any mode of transport in the state without any hitch.

Nigerian Man And Woman Arrested For Possession Of Cocaine In South Africa

A 29 year old Nigerian woman and a 31 year old Nigerian man were yesterday May 22nd at different times arrested at the Cape Town International Airport for possession of cocaine. According to South African Police Service officer, Van Wyk, the police were conducting random stop-and-search duties at the domestic arrivals at about 11.20am when they approached two African women.

One of the women’s bags was searched by a constable who discovered five small packets concealed in a pair of socks, wrapped in black pieces of plastic.

"When police members unwrapped the packets they found white powder in the small see-through plastic packets. When they asked the suspect about the substances she explained that she is using the substances which is known to her as the drug cocaine. Members decided to physically search the suspect further and discovered more cocaine in about 11 packets wrapped in black pieces of plastic.

The packets were concealed in various parts of her body and also inside her shoes. Prior to searching the suspect, when she was asked to declare anything, she said nothing and when she was asked if she is aware of every item in her bag, she agreed and said that she had packed her bag herself."

The 29-year-old woman was arrested for alleged possession of 30 gram of drugs with estimated street value of R7500. She would appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court soon. About an hour before the lady was arrested, a 31 year old Nigerian man was also arrested at the domestic arrival of the airport for alleged possession of a substance presumed to be cocaine.

The police officer says said police officers were “doing profiling” at domestic arrivals when they spotted a man picking up a pink suitcase from the carousel and walking away in the direction of the exit. Police officers approached him and asked to search his suitcase. The search revealed a hidden compartment with 22 plastic bags containing a “suspicious white substance”.

A sniffer dog reacted positively to the substance. "The weight of the substance is estimated to be 2.36kg with a street value of approximately R708 000. The suspect was detained and is due to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court soon,".

Senator Dino Melaye Rolls On The Floor During Thanksgiving Service

Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dino Melaye, pictured rolling on the floor during a Thanksgiving Service at Church. He also shared a photo of his parents at the service. See more pictures below..

NNPC Did Not Remit $12.9bn To The FG Account From 2005-2-13- NEITI Report Alleges

An audit report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) which was released today May 23rd, has alleged that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) did not remit $12.9bn to the federation account between 2005 and 2013.

The audit report was read out by the Minister of Solid Minerals and Chairman of NEITI, Kayode Fayemi, at a press briefing in Abuja today May 23rd. “The audit revealed that NLNG paid the sum of $1.289bn as dividend, interest and loan repayment for 2013. NNPC acknowledged receipt of ‎this amount, but did not remit it to either the federal government or the federation.

However, it is important to also note that the 2013 figure brings to $12.9 bn the total NLNG payments received by the NNPC between 2005 and 2013, but not remitted by the NNPC to the federal government or the federation. Government should investigate the status of NLNG dividends; NNPC should discontinue alternative importation arrangements and limit itself to export of crude and import of refined products; NNPC should abide by the federal government financial regulations, and always comply with the 90-day credit period,” he said.

Okonjo-Iweala Responds To Missing N30 Trillion Allegations | Says She “Was Never Served With Any Court Processes In Relation To The Said Matter”

 Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has responded to reports saying that she should account for an alleged missing N30 trillion during her tenure as Minister.

Iweala who spoke in a statement signed by her Media Adviser, Paul C. Nwabuikwu said that she was never served any court processes in relation to the the allegation.

The statement titled, “Missing N30 Trillion: Okonjo-Iweala Rebuts SERAP, Takes Legal Action”, read:

Our attention has been drawn to media reports regarding a court judgment alleged to have been entered against the Federal Government of Nigeria and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in respect of an action by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

The High Court, according to the media reports, ordered the Federal government and Dr. Okonjo Iweala to provide information relating to N30 trillion Naira allegedly unaccounted for.

Please note the following: Dr Okonjo-Iweala hastens to state that she was never served with any court processes in relation to the said matter. She has not read the judgment and would therefore defer any comments on the matter.

However from the media reports, the case was instituted in February 2015 but was not served until July 2015 after Dr Okonjo-Iweala had already ceased to be the Minister of Finance.

By the date the said papers were purportedly served Dr Okonjo-Iweala was no longer a public officer and could therefore not be the subject of a request for production of any documents or information under the Freedom of information Act.

The Court processes must have been served on others because the attention of Dr Okonjo-Iweala was never drawn to the matter in which she appears to have been sued personally. She therefore did not engage any lawyer to act for her in the matter.

The decision of SERAP to anchor its case on a baseless and unsubstantiated allegation by former CBN governor Professor Charles Soludo that N30 trillion – about seven times the total annual budget during the Jonathan administration – is missing confirms SERAP’s dubious motives and its role as a tool for politically motivated actors.

It is curious that the first time Dr Okonjo-Iweala is being made aware of a matter filed against her in court is in news reports reporting the delivery of judgment. She has instructed her lawyers to take steps to set aside the judgment as it affects her.