Suspected Mastermind Of Oil Pipeline Attacks In The Niger Delta Region Paraded By Nigerian Navy

The Nigerian Navy yesterday June 8th, paraded the suspected mastermind of the recent attacks on NNPC, and Chevron oil and gas installations in Delta State. Parading the suspect before newsmen at the Naval Base in Warri, Delta state, the Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship, NNS Delta, Commodore Ramie Mohammed disclosed that the suspect was arrested in connection with the attack on SPDC 48-inch export pipeline onshore Forcados.

Speaking to journalist, Commodore Mohammed said
“The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other security agencies, has arrested the main coordinator of attacks on NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities we have witnessed since May 4 with the attack on Okan Valve Platform offshore Escravos. This arrest came after several weeks of trailing and arrest of several of his foot soldiers. This suspect is also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism to steal crude oil. He steals crude from about 35 abandoned oil well heads and pipelines in Okpoko and Obodo, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State. Navy believes with his arrest, attacks on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate.”
The Navy commander also paraded one Micheal John, a suspected murderer who partook in the gang killing of a soldier, police officer and a civilian at Batan in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state on May 29th. Commodore Mohammed explained that the suspects were covered in hoods so as not to compromise ongoing investigations that would lead to the arrest of their accomplices.

Atiku Abubarkar, Peter Okoye, Banky W, Julius Agwu, Sound Sultan, Others Mourn The Death Of Stephen Keshi

Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Keshi died after a Cardiac arrest in the early hours of today Wednesday June 8th. Former Vice President and many Nigerian celebrities have been sharing tributes and mourning his death on Social Media. See more screenshots of their tributes below...

Veteran Actor Jide Kosoko Mourns Loss Of Wife Henrietta..Says She Is His Third Loss...

In the afternoon of Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Encomium Reporter paid a condolence visit tothe residence of adorable actress, Henrietta Kosoko, 52, who died in the morning of Monday, June 6 and the atmosphere was sober.





The widower, veteran actor Prince Jide Kosoko, 62, was distraught. He was being consoled by actors and marketers, but he appeared lost.


Dressed in white kaftan and slippers, Kosoko was mumbling and talking, in apparent distress.
He told those present, ‘Iyawo Keta; s’e awon aye oni m’aka fun mi?’ ( This is the third wife l have lost; won’t people be counting, keeping records?

In October 1992 and November 1993, he lost two wives in about 13 months, and described the episodes in an interview with Encomium Weekly when he turned 60 in June 2014 as a very sad period.


And now in 2016, another wife, his most popular better half died from diabetes complications at home in Bariga.

Indian Politician Asks His Government To Ban Nigerians From Entering India, Says Nigerians Cause Problems Everywhere

A former Minister in India, Ravi Naik, has asked the Indian Central government to "ban" Nigerians from entering India, saying his country does not need Nigerian tourists. According to Times of India, Naik said this while speaking to some reporters recently.

Referring to Nigerians as "Negroes", Naik who is also a senior Congress leader, told the reporters that Nigerians have been causing "problems" in Goa, a western state in India as well other places.


"They create problems everywhere... We do not want Nigerian tourists. The Central government should ban Nigerians,"
Naik said he demanded for a probe into the activities of Nigerians in Goa who he alleged masquerade as students.
“Nigerians come here and do ‘dadagiri’ in Delhi, Bengaluru and the entire country. We should move Nigerians out of here… Have they come here to study? Are they really studying? Are they really going to college, schools? This has to be probed. It is very important,” he said

Attacks On Oil Installations: FG, Niger Delta Govts Evolving Common Strategy To End Economic Sabotage

In a meeting summoned on the instruction of President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government and Niger Delta states have started developing a common and united strategy to deal with the recent resurgent militant attacks on the nation's oil installations.

According to the Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity In the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande,at a meeting held yesterday at the Presidential Villa, and presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, governors from Niger Delta states, three ministers and military service chiefs met behind closed doors to discuss the situation, and forge a common strategy to halt what is considered by both federal and state governments as acts of economic sabotage by the militants.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted over two hours, it was made known that the federal government is proceeding on a collaborative strategy with the governments, communities in the Niger Delta region and other relevant stakeholders towards tackling the situation holistically.

Disclosing this at the end of the meeting, Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa who briefed State House Correspondents said the meeting identified the need for synergy between the federal and the state governments as a very important step going forward. Elaborating on the collaboration, Governor Okowa said “one thing that we have identified is the synergy between the federal government and states is very important and this meeting has actually revealed a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration between the Federal Government and States would help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta” Governor Okowa disclosed that a lot of decisions were taken at the meeting after they were briefed by Service Chiefs.

He said “we have taken a lot of decisions which we think will help us to mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly in Delta and Bayelsa”, reiterating the belief that “we are going to find a solution very soon”.

Still on the outcome of the meeting, he added that it was decided that military presence in the region should be de-escalated, though it was agreed that the forces should be kept to provide security and presence while government begins immediate engagement process with the communities in the affected areas.

Asked by press about the fate of the amnesty programme, Governor Okowa noted that the Presidential Adviser on the Amnesty Programme briefed the meeting and stated that the programme was actually still on-going.

He added that“we have a Special Adviser in charge of Amnesty and he is doing a lot of work.” Those at the meeting were Governors from the Niger Delta states which include Governors of Edo, Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, and the Deputy Governor of Cross River. On the side of the federal government were the Minister of Defense, Rtd. Major General Mohammed Dan Ali, Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

Military service chiefs were also in attendance led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lt.Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin and all the Service Chiefs who briefed the meeting on the security situation in the region.

Former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi Passes Away At 54

Early this morning, former Nigerian Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi passed away.

According to reports by The Cable, Keshi’s death was announced by members of his family, and we are yet to confirm the official cause of death.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of this great footballer who has represented Nigeria so gallantly at home and abroad.

Rest in peace, Stephen Keshi.

'I've Met All My Bail Conditions, Charge Me To Court' Femi Fani-Kayode

Femi Fani-Kayode said yesterday that he has met all his bail conditions, that the EFCC should release him or charge him to court. A statement signed yesterday by his media assistant, Jude Ndukwe reads;
This is to refute the false information being peddled by a section of the media that former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who has remained illegally detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since May 9, 2016, has not met his bail conditions as set by EFCC. Chief Fani-Kayode has since fulfilled the conditions for his bail but rather than take the honourable path of releasing him pending any charge brought against him, the anti-graft agency moved him from Abuja to Lagos where they obtained a questionable warrant to further detain him illegally for another three weeks.
This is all in a bid to forcefully extract statements from him that would implicate his principal, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and other PDP leaders including serving governors whom he served as Director of Media and Publicity of the PDP Campaign Organisation. It is obvious that the EFCC have other opposition leaders whom they have referred to as “big fish” in their radar and see Fani-Kayode as the only avenue through which they can “nail” such leaders, hence, the anti-graft agency’s puerile attempt to keep him in their custody beyond the legally required length of time in order to break him, his family, and force him to implicate innocent people just to achieve a more sinister motive of further silencing the opposition.

It is even more worrisome that the activities of the anti-graft agency has reached an all-time low as they are insisting that the former Minister of Culture and Tourism should name publishers, editors, journalists and bloggers he allegedly gave money to during the election campaigns. What has journalists who covered the PDP campaign as much as that of APC got to do with this? This is the height of it all!

The further insistence by EFCC that Chief Fani-Kayode should deposit a sum of $1m before he could be let go shows how desperate the agency is to keep him in their custody and deny him his fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 33,34,35,37 and 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) and Articles 4, 5, 6 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.

This further confirms our position that even though he has met his bail conditions, the EFCC have no intention of letting him enjoy his bail nor do they have any intention of playing by the rules. While we have copiously acknowledged in the past and still do that EFCC have a constitutional and mandatory duty to carry out their statutory function as empowered by our laws, it is also our sincerest belief that these functions can be carried out within the ambit of the law and without being tainted with vendetta, vindictiveness and politics.

These are what discredit the agency and cast doubts in the minds of Nigerians about the sincerity of the fight against corruption. In other climes where the fight against corruption has been largely successful, suspects are thoroughly investigated discretely, arrested after investigation has been concluded, charged to court and punished if found guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. But here, we declare our targets guilty in the media, arrest them before commencing investigation and use the courts to obtain contentious orders to keep the suspects in custody indefinitely in lieu of a court-imposed post-prosecution sanction.

The EFCC should allow Femi Fani-Kayode his freedom especially after having met their set bail conditions or charge him before a court of competent jurisdiction forthwith. He is not afraid to defend himself! - Jude Ndukwe SA Media to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

#JusticeForBridget# - Nigerians React To The Murder Of The Woman Over Alleged Blasphemy

Nigerians on Twitter are demanding for Justice for Bridget Patience - the woman murdered by thugs in Kano state for allegedly insulting Prophet Mohammed. Senate President Bukola Saraki, his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu, Former Minister/Activist, Oby Ezekwesili, Former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega and others have reacted. See more tweets below

Nigeria Publishes Details Of Recovered Assets, Withholds Names Of Looters

The Nigerian government through the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed today Saturday June 4th partially released list of funds recovered from corrupt former government officials as part of the government's war against corruption. Although names of the people the assets were recovered from were left out of the list. Read the official statement below...

The Federal Government made cash recoveries totaling:

N78,325,354,631.82 (Seventy eight billion, three hundred and twenty-five million, three hundred and fifty-four thousand, six hundred and thirty one Naira and eighty two kobo);

$185,119,584.61 (One hundred and eight five million, one hundred and nineteen thousand, five hundred and eighty four US dollars, sixty one cents);

3,508,355.46 Pounds Sterling (Three million, five hundred and eight thousand, three hundred and fifty-five Pounds and 46 Pence) and 11, 250 Euros (Eleven thousand, two hundred and fifty Euros) from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also disclosed that Recoveries Under Interim Forfeiture (cash and assets) during the period totaled
N126,563,481,095.43 (One hundred and twenty six billion, five hundred and sixty three million, four hundred and eighty one thousand, and ninety five Naira, forty three Kobo;

$9,090,243,920.15 (Nine billion, ninety million, two hundred and forty three thousand, nine hundred and twenty Dollars, fifteen cents; 2,484,447.55 Pounds Sterling (Two million, four hundred and eighty four thousand, four hundred and forty seven Pounds, fifty five Pence) and

303,399.17 Euros (Three hundred and three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine Euros, 17 cents)

According to the statement, which is based on the interim report on the financial and assets recoveries made by the various government agencies from 29 May 2015 to 25 May 2016, the Funds Awaiting Return From Foreign Jurisdictions total $321,316,726.1 (Three hundred and twenty one million, three hundred and sixteen thousand, seven hundred and twenty six Dollars, one cent); 6,900,000 Pounds (Six million, nine hundred thousand Pounds) and 11,826.11 Euros (Eleven thousand, eight hundred and twenty six Euros, 11 cents).

It showed that Non-Cash Recoveries (Farmlands, Plots of Land, Uncompleted Buildings, Completed Buildings, Vehicles and Maritime Vessels) during the period total 239.

INTERIM REPORT ON FINANCIAL AND ASSET RECOVERIES MADE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA FROM 29 MAY 2015 TO 25 MAY 2016...


Cash Recoveries
Serial Items Naira US Dollar GB Pounds Euro
1 EFCC Cash at hand 39,169,911,023.00 128,494,076.66 2,355 11,250
2 Royalty/tax/payment to FGN account in JP Morgan account New York 4,642,958,711.48 40,727,253.65

3 ONSA Funds Recovery Account in CBN 5,665,305,527.41 8,000,000.00

4 VAT recovered from companies by ONSA 529,588,293.47


5 EFCC Recovered Funds Account in CBN 19,267,730,359.36 455,253.80

6 ICPC Revenue Collection Recovery in CBN 869,957,444.89


7 Office of the Attorney General 5,500,000,000 5,500,000

8 DSS Recoveries 47,707,000.5 1,943,000.5 3,506,000.46
9 ICPC Cash Asset Recovery 2,632,196,271.71



Total 78,325,354,631.82 185,119,584.61 3,508,355.46 11,250Recoveries Under Interim Forfeiture
Serial Items Naira US Dollar GB Pounds Euro
1 Cash in bank under interim forfeiture 8,281,577,243.92 1,819,866,364.73 3,800.00 113,399.17
2 Amount frozen in bank 48,159,179,518.90 7,131,369,498.49 605,647.55
3 Value of properties under interim forfeiture 41,534,605,998.00 77,844,600.00 1,875,000.00 190,000.00
4 Value of cars under interim forfeiture 52,500,000.00


5 ONSA Funds under interim forfeiture 27,001,464,125.20 43,771,433.73

6 Value of Assets Recovered by ONSA 512,000,000.00


7 ONSA Assets under interim forfeiture 260,000,000.00


8 DSS Recoveries Frozen in Banks 658,929,000.00 226,476.20

9 EFCC Cash in Bank under final forfeiture 103,225,209.41 17,165,547.00




Total 126,563,481,095.43 9,090,243,920.15 2,484,447.55 303,399.17

Grand Total 204,888,835,727.25 9,275,363,504.76 5,992,803.01 314,649.17Funds Awaiting Return From Foreign Jurisdictions

Jurisdiction US Dollar GB Pounds Euro
1 Switzerland 321000000

2 UK
6900000
3 UAE 310501
11826.11
4 USA 6225.1







Total 321,316,726.1 6,900,000 11,826.11Non Cash Recoveries      
Serial Items Quantity
ICPC EFCC ONSA
1 Farmland 22
2 Plot of Land 4
3 Uncompleted Building 1
4 Completed Building 33 145 4
5 Vehicles 22 3
6 Maritime Vessels 5

Total 82 153 4Segun Adeyemi
SA to Hon Minister of Information and Culture
Lagos
4 June 2016

Police Arrest Woman Captured By CCTV With Stolen Child

A woman, Zainab Salisu, who allegedly disguised as a customer to abduct a one-year-old girl, Fehintola L., in the Abule Egba area of Lagos State has been arrested by the police, PUNCH reports.

She was arrested on Wednesday by policemen attached to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, SDCI Yaba, Idimu area of Lagos state.

Another toddler was rescued with the one-year old Fehintola, the report said.

Zainab was said to have abducted with the child when her and the child’s mother were on their way to the market in Agege.

It was also reported that Zainab and the child’s mother, were on their way to the market to get items that Zainab had requested for the previous week.

The abduction was said to have taken place at Olaniyi Street in Oko Oba area after Zainab offered to strap Fehintola to her back when the girl fell asleep while she handed over her bag to the girl’s mother as they proceeded to Agege.

Prior to a arrest, a Closed Circuit Television Camera at a supermarket in the Abule Egba area captured the suspect with the one-year-old girl on her back before allegedly escaping with her.

Lola Oseni, the aunt to the abducted child confirmed the arrest in a telephone conversation with PUNCH’s correspondent saying:

The woman was arrested on Koleade Street, Council bus stop in the Idimu area. She was arrested around 1 PM on Wednesday. She has confessed to the abduction. She told the police that she wanted to make  Fehintola her own child.

Another child was found in her apartment. Some other suspects were picked up along with the woman. The police did a good job. The family members are happy.

Lagos Police Command’s spokesperson SP Dolapo Badmus also confirmed the arrest. “I confirm that the abductor has been arrested. The girl has also been rescued and she is with the family members. Other details will follow later,” she said.

FG Scraps Post UTME As JAMB Pegs Cut-Off Mark For 2016 Admissions At 180

Minister of Education – Mallam Adamu Adamu

The Federal Government Thursday scrapped the conduct of Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into higher institution, The Nation reports.

This was announced on Thursday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, after declaring open the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.

“As far as I am concerned the nation has confidence in what JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) is doing. The universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complain against JAMB let them bring it and then we address it.

If JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted test then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission,” Adamu said.

The Minister also asked JAMB to stop extra charges on several categories of changes on admissions such as the change of course, change of school and others.

Meanwhile, JAMB has put the cut-off mark for the 2016 admissions at 180 into all universities and higher institutions in the country, including polytechnics, colleges of education, and others.

Professor Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, after a long debate with delegates from various institutions, told journalists that no institution would go below the 180 cut-off set by the board.

He said: “180 is given, no institution will go below 180 this year, And some universities can go above it, I know University of Ife will not go below 200 and University of Lagos will not go below 200 and also UI. All these ones stand but 180 as bench mark for others.

“This year we have more than enough candidates, we have over 1.5 million candidates so we will get enough candidates to take in all the schools if they are serious. Re-distribution is already ongoing, because it is embedded in the registration procedure,” he said

Horrified Couple Discover Decomposed Body In Cupboard Of Their New Apartment

A young couple from the Bronx, New York got a nasty surprise when they moved into their dream home. An unpleasant Smell led them to a cupboard where they discovered the decomposed remains of a man along with a note, apparently left by the killer, that read: "Sorry for the smell."

According to the New York Daily News , they were allowed to move in because the landlord had not seen Sidney Harris (pictured above), the original tenant, for some time. But on Monday night, ex-convict Harris, 64, was found dead and wrapped in plastic and sheets in a cupboard by the couple.

The couple spotted a foot sticking out of a pile of blankets, investigators arrived to find blood and the bizarre note.

A tenant thought to be the building manager told police he thought Harris was in hospital and “wouldn’t be back” while a neighbour said the smell was so bad they could not sleep.



Harris is understood to have died from multiple skull fractures but it is not clear how long he had been dead. A murder investigation is underway.

Niger Delta Avengers Claim They Have Attacked Oil Facilities In Bayelsa, Promise To Bring Nigeria's Oil Production To Zero

According to the militant group, they attacked oil installations in Bayelsa state in the early hours of today June 2nd.

“Davido Is My Child, All He Is Doing Is To Sell Records” Dele Momodu Explains In A New Interview

Veteran Journalist Dele Momodu has finally come out to address Davido‘s comment on social media from last week in an interview with Joy TV Ghana.

Quick recap: A fan tweeted at him saying “@DeleMomodu deep down I know you still want to go to Dubai. Tell Uncle @iam_Davido you’re sorryy”. Davido then replied the tweet saying, “Nah my Boy”.

Now the publisher has come out to address the issue among others including how those concerning Sophie Momodu.

Here’s an excerpt of the clip:

“I have never responded to any of Davido’s comments, this is the first time I would do that. After ‘Osinachi remix’ video, I called his father… Success is a very tough thing to manage, and your fans can mislead you sometimes. I know that what he is doing is what most artists do all over the world, to sell their record. so you have to create controversy. I don’t think David ill see me face-to-face and say I’m his boy. I’m his father.

Even the video… That’s what is selling his record, and I’m very comfortable with it. while will i fight my own child? I can’t fight him. Now, we’re connected together for life through that baby. I can never fight David. He is too small to me.

He didn’t call me a thief , he called me a boy. Why should I react to something that’s not true, do I look like anybody’s boy? That would mean I’m childish”

Fayose Urges Striking Ekiti Workers To Call-Off Action | Blames Past Administration For Putting The State In Debt

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state on Wednesday urged workers in the state to call off their eight-day-old strike to allow for dialogue.

The governor made the call in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi in Ado Ekiti.

He said it was not possible to pay all the workers at once because civil servants who were on strike had critical roles to play in the disbursement of the funds.

The governor noted that until the workers resumed, nothing could be done about payment of their salaries.

Fayose, who expressed sympathy with the striking workers and the inconveniences the current financial situation in the country was causing them, said everything would be done to ameliorate their sufferings.

While saying that the issue of irregular payment of workers was not limited ‎to Ekiti alone, the governor urged the workers to note t‎hat the country was in a recession and that the state depended much on statutory federal allocation.

He said that he foresaw the current situation which made him to be transparent in the handling of finances of the state since his swearing in for a second term in office

He added that “I did not hide anything from the labour leaders; what our dear state is experiencing now had been aggravated by th‎e mindless borrowings of the immediate past administration in the state”.

“Ekiti State pays about N1 billion monthly to service the bond and the commercial loans the last administration took, if that did not happen, we would have had such money to add to our monthly allocation.

During my first term in office, I was paying salary regularly and on the 22nd of every month and workers never went on strike.

I sympathise with the workers and regret the inconveniences the current financial situation in the country is causing them.

However, workers need to come to term with the reality on the dwindling allocations coming to the state because even two months allocations can no longer pay one month salary.

I implore workers and their leaders to note that even the recent nationwide strike on fuel price increase was called off for the two sides to go into negotiation and dialogue,” he said.