Friday, 24 June 2016

Unilever PLC Launches Lipton Ramadan Campaign Across Nigeria




Ramadan is here again! As Muslims all over the world including Nigeria, embark on the annual Ramadan fast, Unilever Nigeria Plc. is encouraging consumers to take action in line with the spirit of Ramadan through the just launched Ramadan campaign for her flagship Lipton Yellow Label tea brand.


The Lipton Ramadan campaign is about encouraging our Muslim brothers and sisters to #ThinkLessDoMore by taking actual, concrete actions this season without expecting anything in return. The campaign kicked off first week in June with some popular social media celebrities using the hashtag #ThinkLessDoMore on their twitter and Instagram handles and this will continue through the Ramadan period on television, radio, social media and other communication channels.

Speaking about the rationale behind the campaign during one of the mosque activation at Markaz Central Mosque Agege, the Category Manager Tea and Spreads, Vivian Ihaza explained that the Ramadan period is a very important one for Muslim Lipton consumers across Nigeria. It is not only a time of reflection and prayers but also a time to reach out to someone in need. She added that
 “It is a fundamental human truth that we all have good intentions and thoughts that are related to social goodness but most times, our busy lives get in the way of turning these thoughts into actions”.
This week, the Lipton mobile Ramadan lounge is stationed at select mosques in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna, where refreshments are being provided to Muslim faithful’s at IFTAR every evening. There was a lot of excitement and smiles on the faces of the Muslim faithful’s, as they received their refreshments from the Brand Ambassadors.
As the Lipton Brand Manager, TayoAdesokan also pointed out, “It’s not just about Lipton preaching but also taking concrete actions too. This is Lipton’s way of also “Doing” in line with the campaign idea”.
For more information, visit https://web.facebook.com/LiptonNigeria
https://twitter.com/LiptonNG
See below pictures from the Lipton Ramadan Campaign activations in various mosques in Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna:


Unilever’s Brand Building Director Food, Mrs. NsimaOgedi-Alakwe engaging with Consumers at a Lipton Ramadan Lounge in Lagos.


Category Manager, Tea & Spreads, Vivian Ihaza being interviewed by Channels TV


Brand Manager Lipton, AdetayoAdesokan, presenting a gift to the representative of the Chief Imam of National Mosque FCT Abuja.


                             
                                                   Lipton Brand Ambassadors in Jos


                 Muslim faithfuls queuing up to collect their refreshments at the Lipton Lounge


Field Sales Manager GbengaFolorunsho, presenting a gift to the representative of the chief Imam of Jos Central Mosque, AlhajiSamboShuaib


               
 Muslim faithfuls in Jos with their refreshments from Lipton Yellow Label

                                     Muslim faithfuls at Oluyole Central Mosque, Ibadan.

   
The National Mosque Executive Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Jeda, being interviewed by AIT.

 The National Mosque Executive Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Jeda, handing out refreshments to Muslims in the Lipton lounge at Iftar.


                             
  Muslim faithfuls queuing up in Abuja at the Lipton Lounge.

                             
A gift being presented to the mosque representative in Kaduna

               
  A Muslim faithful appreciating the brand for the refreshment given to him at Iftar.

Muslim faithfuls queuing up to collect their refreshments at the Lipton Lounge.


 
    Muslim faithfuls queuing up at the National mosque Abuja to collect their refreshments at Iftar.

Lipton Activation Team presenting a gift to the Chief Imam in Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna.

Ooni Of Ife Honored By The Congressional Black Caucus




The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, was recently honored by the Congressional Black Caucus, an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. More pictures below...



Dino Melaye Speak On The Alleged Forgery Of The Senate Standing Order By Saraki And Ekweremadu




Dino Melaye on Tuesday June 21st on the floor of the senate, spoke against the planned arraignment of the Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate's standing orders during the election that made them emerge senate leaders in June 2015.

Dino condemned the suit filed by FG against the senate leaders, arguing that the act is a grand design to distract the National Assembly and also to intimidate it into silence and enthrone a one-man rule.

Court Sentences Man To 7 Years In Prison For Posing As An EFCC Operative


Gabriel Charles

Justice U. P. Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court, Apo, Abuja has sentenced a man to 7 years in prison for posing as an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officer.

Gabriel Charles was arrested for posing as an EFCC operative and obtaining money by false pretence from Dr. Precious Gbeneol, a former Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Abuja under the guise of helping her to close a supposed case brought against her.

The offence is punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.

Justice Kekemeke found him guilty of the two-count charge brought against him by the EFCC.

The trial judge sentenced him to six months in prison on count one and seven years in prison on count two without an option of fine.

The sentences are to run concurrently. The judge also ordered that he refund the N880,000 to his victim.

Alleged Forgery: FG Cannot Be Faulted For Its Decision o File Charges Against Saraki, Ekweremadu – AGF Abubakar Malami


Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Thursday said that charges filed against senate president Dr. Bukola Saraki, and deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu were in order, insisting that the duo and two other defendants in the charge are not above the law.

The minister, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Salihu Isah, decribed the allegations by the senate that the case is a coup against the legislature as “totally untrue and baseless”.

The statement read:

For the benefit of doubt, as stated above, there was a petition bordering on allegations of forgery against the defendants. The petition was investigated by the police and the police recommended the case for prosecution.

At this point, the question is how initiation of criminal proceedings against Dr. Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu, Salisu Maikasuwa and Bernard Efeturi violated the principle of separation of powers as contained in the constitution?

The action of the Attorney General of the Federation cannot obviously be said to be a coup against the National Assembly as the Senate has claimed.

By preferring the charge, the accused persons are entitled to fair hearing under the law while the prosecution is obligated to prove its case against them beyond reasonable doubts.

Therefore, the Attorney General of the Federation has not violated any known law in the land. Or is the Senate suggesting that its principal officers, members and staff of the National Assembly are above the law or enjoy same immunity as do the nation’s President and Governors?

It is common knowledge over the years since the nation embraced democratic system of governance and backed by the current constitution those elected officers of government, who are exempted from legal encumbrances, whether it is civil or criminal, are known to all.

It is pertinent to be reminded too, that forgery of the Senate Standing Rules cannot be described as the internal business of the National Assembly that is exclusively only in its purview.

The Attorney General of the Federation cannot therefore be faulted for his decision to initiate legal actions against the accused persons for alleged forgery after a thorough police investigation of the issue, whether there was an amendment to the Senate Standing Rules in 2015 or not.

The case of Adesanya vs Senate, which has been seriously touted in its (Senate) press statement does not support them and they should rather take their plea and defend the action accordingly.

Credit: PUNCH

Thursday, 23 June 2016

Masked Gunman Shot Dead By Police After Opening Fire At A Cinema In Germany


VIERNHEIM, GERMANY – JUNE 23: Heavily-armed police outside a movie theatre complex where an armed man has reportedly opened fire on June 23, 2016 in Viernheim, Germany. According to initial media reports, the man entered the cinema today at approximately 3pm, fired a shot in the air and barricaded himself inside.

An unidentified man was on Thursday shot dead by police after he opened fire in a German cinema complex.

The incident took place at the Kinoplex Cinema in the town of Viernheim, near Frankfurt at about 3PM, CNN reports.

According to Hesse Interior Minister Peter Beuth, Police received reports of four shot fired at the cinema by a masked man.

“The assailant moved through the cinema complex, according to the information we have now, and appeared confused. There were hostages inside and there was a struggle (with police) until in the end he was dead,” Beuth said.

Police spokesperson Bernd Hochstaedter said that the police deployment lasted around three hours.

German security services currently believe the gunman to be a “confused individual” rather than a terrorist.

Photo Credit: Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images

Soldiers And Police Exchange Gunfire Over Food Items Distributed By Borno State Govt.


At least one person was injured Thursday at the Borno State government house when soldiers and police exchanged fire as they fought over food items distributed by the government to mark the Ramadan fast, PREMIUM TIMES reports.

The government since on Monday have been distributing large amounts of rice and semovita to poor residents.

According to the report, police officers barred vehicles from accessing the venue of the distribution.

An eyewitness said that an Army truck showed up at the venue at about 11AM insisting on gaining entrance.

The police officers, suspecting that the soldiers were trying to get their own share of the foodstuff, turned them back.

The angry soldiers allegedly opened fire, shooting a police officer on the leg. The police also responded with gunshots, causing chaos as people ran for their lives.

The report also said that angry policemen beat up a soldier who was drafted to help control the crowd during the distribution, saying he instigated the crisis.

The commander of the operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor, was called in by the Borno State Attorney General, Kaka Shehu Lawan, to restore order.

Irabor described the incident as “shameful and highly unbecoming of uniformed officers”.

“What is a bag of rice that will give you the cause to be angry? Bag of rice? It is shameful. If the world hears that it is because of bag of that made police and soldiers to be fighting, is it not shameful? Let us not behave like children: all of us have children at home. Soldiers and policemen should be seen to be matured in their dispositions at all times.

While everyone is clapping for good that we have been doing, let us not also do things that will make them to begin to stone us. I want you to calm your nerves, because in a family you are likely to find incidents of misunderstanding,” he said.

The state government has suspended the distribution till further notice.

Photo Credit: Instablo9ja

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

Aggrieved Lawmakers Allegedly Cancel Invitation To Break Ramadan Fast With President Buhari




Aggrieved members of the National Assembly have allegedly turned down an invitation by President Buhari to join him in breaking his Ramadan fast at the presidential villa in Abuja. According to some sources in the presidency, the lawmakers are angry with the presidency over the recent row between the two arms of government. They are against moves by the presidency to try Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, on allegations of forgery of the Senate Standing Orders during the senate election in June last year.

President Buhari on Monday hosted service Chiefs to the Ramadan dinner while he hosted members of the Federal Executive Council yesterday. He was billed to host members of the National Assembly today June 22nd.

Pictures From The Press Conference Where PDP Senate Caucus Announced Their Decision To Stop Cooperating With The APC-Led Federal Govt




At a press briefing at the National Assembly yesterday June 22nd, PDP senators announced that they will cease to cooperate with the APC led Federal government after the continuous victimization of its members by anti-graft agency, EFCC.

DNA Test Proves That Colorado Prison Inmate Is Not Prince's Son




A DNA test has proven that Colorado prison inmate, 39 year old Carlin Q. Williams is not Prince's son. Hence he is not entitled to inherit a fortune worth up to $300 million. Williams claimed that his mother, Marsha Henson had unprotected sex with singer, Prince at a Kansas City, Missouri, hotel in 1976 but the DNA proved that there is no way Prince is his father.
Williams has a long criminal record including drug and domestic violence charges and is currently serving nearly eight years in federal prison for unlawfully transporting a firearm in a stolen vehicle.
His mother, Marsha Henson, however maintains that Legendary singer, Prince is Williams' father. When she was approached to give her reaction to the DNA result on Wednesday afternoon she said:
'I don't believe that. I think they're positive.'
TMZ first broke the news of the DNA result.


41 Nigerians Deported From The US Today




41 Nigerian men were deported from the United States for drug, police and immigration related offences today June 22nd. The deportees landed Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos at about 12pm on a chartered aircraft operated by Miami Air International. Nine of them were deported on drug related offences, 26 for police offences while six had immigration related problems.

EFCC Arraigns Area Court Judge For N58.5m On Charges Bordering On conspiracy & Obtaining Money By False Pretence




The EFCC has arraigned the duo of Suleiman Elkana, an Area Court Judge in Adamawa State and chairman, Justice Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Limited, Adamawa State and Solomon Philip, the Cooperative’s Secretary, before Justice Balkisu Aliyu of Federal High Court Yola, Adamawa State on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N58,550,555.

The complainant, Isreal. C. Nwagbo, an employee of Coscharis Motors, allegedly entered into a contract with the Justice Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society for the supply of 1,846 units of TVC motorcycles for its members. According to him, there was an agreement for payment of the motorcycles through monthly deductions from members’ salaries. However, they allegedly diverted the said amount for their personal use. The Federal High Court Judge, Justice Aliyu granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N5 million each and adjourned the case to September 26, 27 and 28, 2016 for commencement of trial.

Full Text Of Rtired IGP, Solomon Arase's Speech At The Formal Handing Ceremony To Ibrahim Kpotun Idris At The Force HQ Today




Valedictory Remarks by former IGP Solomon E. Arase, at the formal handing ceremony held at the Force Headquarters, today June 22nd. It reads,
It is with a feeling of deep appreciation of the Almighty God that I address you on this occasion marking my formal exit from the Nigeria Police Force and transition of leadership to a new Inspector General of Police.

2. Ladies and Gentlemen, exactly fourteen months ago, destiny reposed on me the fortune of being appointed the 18th indigenous Inspector General of Police. Today, natural sequence of history has not only occasioned the successful completion of my tenure, but has also beckoned on Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris to step into the leadership space as the 19th Indigenous Inspector General of Police.

3. You would recall that during my inaugural address, I noted that -
The task of blending our acclaimed quality human assets with quality leadership is the main challenge ahead of us, but it is one I am convinced we can surmount’.

I also affirmed that – ‘on my part, I can assure you that I will provide the highest possible level of professional and responsible leadership, while trusting that you shall march hand-in-hand with me as dependable professional colleagues, to advance the fortunes of the Force’.

4. One year, two months away from this assertion and clarion call, I can proudly note two significant developments. First is that I feel professionally satisfied that I enjoyed very high level of diligence, loyalty, sacrifice and professionalism from all cadres of the Force. This manifested in the great strides we collectively attained in our common march towards restoring the lost primacy of the Nigeria Police and bequeathing a Police Force of citizens’ expectations to Nigerians.

5. Secondly, I am fulfilled that a widely experienced, knowledgeable and passionate officer of the calibre of Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris has been appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation to march the Force forward. I am convinced of the capacity of Ag. IGP Idris to provide the requisite leadership for the Force at this crucial time in the history of not just the Nigeria Police Force, but of our nation. In this regard, I can assure him of my support, even in retirement, as well as my constant prayers.

6. Let me at this juncture, encourage the Nigeria Police Family to extend the trademark loyalty, diligence, and professionalism which I enjoyed from them, to the new Force leadership. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the only path to follow in our journey towards enhancing the fortunes of our beloved Police Force as well as sustaining our relevance within the national security architecture of our country. Above all, this is the only path that will guide us towards achieving the Policing Vision of Mr. President within the Change Mantra conceptualized by the Federal Government.

7. In driving this valedictory speech to a close, permit me to deeply appreciate the support of all personnel of the Nigeria Police. The journey might have been tortuous, but looking back, we should all be proud that today, through an inclusive leadership strategy which I adopted, the Nigeria Police has acquired very strong intelligence, investigative and operational capability which can and have of late been deployed to crack any crime at any location within our national geographical space. The dignity of an average Nigeria Police officer has been restored. Public confidence in our competency has been enlivened.

8. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is not that crimes will not occur. No nation is immune from criminal activities. Today, however, like other Police Forces across the world, we in the Nigeria Police can beat our chests and make a clear and bold statement to criminal elements threatening our national value that if you commit any crime, we now have the capacity not only to arrest you, but to bring you to deserved justice in the most prompt, professional, and rule of law-compliant manner. This is the profile of the Nigeria Police Force you, my colleagues and all Nigerians have aided me to bequeath to our beloved nation. This is a legacy I can assure the nation that Ag. IGP Idris will not only sustain, but will advance.

9. I, therefore, wish to heartily congratulate Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris for his well deserved appointment and to pray for God’s wisdom as he settles into his schedules. I also wish to immensely appreciate Mr. president for the trust reposed in me and the firm support extended to me, even at most difficult times in my leadership.

10. Indeed, the unique Presidential support acted as the motivation that drove me through my tenure as Inspector-General of Police. I can assure Mr. President, that I shall remain eternally grateful and will sustain my commitment to his vision and values even in retirement.

11. To members of the Press, my friends, and indeed all Nigerians, as I bow out, I must put on record my deep appreciation of your constructive criticisms, pieces of informed advice, encouragement and unalloyed support for me. I call on you to extend similar favour to my successor even as I assure you all that the network we have built over the years will remain valued and sustained as I walk into retirement life.

12. I thank you all and pray for God’s spiritual protection over Ag. IGP Ibrahim Idris and our beloved country.

Legendary Juju Singer King Sunny Ade Launches New Radio Station


Legendary Juju music  singer Chief Sunday Adegeye popularly known as  King Sunny Ade (KSA) has launched a radio station named M&C radio with frequency modulation 106.5.

He floated the station in his hometown Ondo State. with Governor of Ondo state Segun Mimiko advising the management of the station to work together as one for the benefit of Ondo people.

DSS Arrests Former Chief Of Army Staff Ihejirika




A Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), has been reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Uncomfirmed reports say it is believed that Ihejerika was arrested in connection with arms deal prove.
Details were sketchy as the time of filing this report.
General Ihejirika was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on September 8, 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He served as COAS for four years until his retirement on January 2014.
General Ihejirika was one time the Directing Staff at the Command and Staff College, Jaji and was Principal Staff Officer at the Defence and Army Headquarters.

He also held various command appointments including, Commander 41 Division Engineers, Acting General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, among other positions in the Army.