N6.4 Billion Fraud: You Have A Case To Answer, Court Tells Sylva

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A Federal High court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an application by the former governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva asking the court to quash corruption charges against him on grounds that evidence submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) does not in any way link him to the allegations laundering the sum of N6.4 billion.

The trial Judge, Justice Adamu Bello had refused Mr Sylva’s application to quash the charge against him on the ground that it lacked merit, having held that the former governor has a case to answer. Similarly, Justice Bello also refused Mr Sylva’s application for the release of his international passport to enable him travel abroad with his wife who is scheduled for surgery at a United Kingdom hospital tomorrow.

Update: Ibragim Todashev's death is extrajudicial killing - lawyer

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In an interview with the Voice of Russia, the lawyer of Abdulbaki Todashev, Zaurbek Sadakhanov, qualified what the FBI agents did with Ibragim Todashev as a deliberate murder. “Today, we saw photos of the killed Ibragim,” Mr. Sadakhanov said. “Judging by these photos, they shot at him 7 times. One of these shots was at the back of his head, so, this shot was obviously unexpected by him. It is hard to say which shots were made earlier and which later.”

“This incident raises many questions,” Zaurbek Sadakhanov continued, “and I hope that all of them will be thoroughly investigated. Thus, it looks very strange that the FBI agents came to Todashev’s place instead of ordering him to come to a police office. Then, why was he integrated without a lawyer, although this was already his third interrogation? Todashev was going to leave for Chechnya on May 24, and he already had a ticket, but the FBI did not allow him to leave the US, saying that he will have another interrogation. Then, why did they shot at him as many as 7 times? There were 5 policemen, and Todashev was alone in his flat, so one bullet was quite enough to kill him.”

Congratulations: GT Bank Named 2013 African Bank Of The Year

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Guaranty Trust Bank PLC has been named the 2013 bank of the year by the African Banker magazine.

The award recognizes financial institutions that have emerged as industry leaders and continent trend setters, due to good corporate governance practices, exceptional service delivery within the financial services industry of their country and innovative products.  Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank PLC, Mr Segun Agbaje attributed the recognition to hard work, discipline and a well-defined operating strategy.

Last year, the bank was named the best bank in Nigeria by the Euro Money magazine for the fourth consecutive year while it earned the 2011 Best Bank in Nigeria award from EMEA finance.  Guaranty Trust Bank also emerged as the first Nigerian financial institution to cross the N100 billion profit before tax milestone from operations at both bank and group levels.

SAD: Father Of 3 Commits Suicide After He Loses His Job

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BENIN— A father of three, who was identified as Patrick Essien, was reported have committed suicide, yesterday, in Benin after he was allegedly sacked from the transport company where he worked.
His dangling body was found in the roof of the toilet at the residence at Imasabemwen Street, off Siluko Road.

AGAIN!! Two Drug Trafficking Nabbed at Lagos Airport

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Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA) yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos arrested two men in connection with unlawful exportation of narcotic drugs.

The first suspect was arrested with 3.700kg of narcotics hidden in a false bottom of luggage.

The drug, according to a statement by the Head, NDLEA Public Affairs, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, was detected during the outward clearance of Arik Air passengers to Monrovia.

The second suspect, Ifeanyi Okafor, was arrested with two kilogrammes of cannabis concealed in dried bitter leaf during the search of goods meant for export on board Qatar airline flight.

Terrible: Train derails in Lagos

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A section of a train returning from Ijoko in Lagos State to its base at Ebutte Metta, Lagos on Wednesday derailed at Agege.

The incident which occurred between 11.30pm and 12.30am was said to have been caused by defective tracks.

As of 11am on Wednesday, the scene of the accident had been cordoned off by policemen from the Railway police.

An employee of the National Railway Corporation told PUNCH Metro, on the condition of anonymity, that the driver of the locomotive also shared the blame in  the accident.

Black Democracy Day: 18 students die in Head On Collision Accident In Bayelsa

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It was a black Democracy Day celebration in Bayelsa State yesterday as no fewer than 18 students died in a head-on collision between two 18-seater commercial buses.

The incident occurred at about 8:03pm on Amassoma Road in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The deceased’s bodies have been deposited at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Okolobiri.

Over 11 injured occupants of the buses are currently receiving medical treatments at a private hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Syrian forces kill 3 Westerners believed to be fighting against forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad

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Syrian state-run television reported Thursday that forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed three Westerners, including an American woman and a British citizen, who they claim were fighting with the rebels and were found with weapons.

Syrian TV identified the woman, releasing what it claimed were images of her Michigan driver's license and U.S. passport. It also released what is said was the name and passport of a British citizen. It did not identify a third person who it claimed was a Westerner. The report said the three were ambushed in their car in the flashpoint province of Idlib in northwestern Syria, where government forces have been battling rebels for control. TV footage showed a bullet-riddled car and three bodies laid out. It also showed weapons, a computer, a hand-drawn map of a government military facility and a flag belonging to the al Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

Europe is falling to Pieces - Thilo Sarrazin ( Must Read)

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Thilo Sarrazin: Financial assistance not needed

The crisis is shaking Europe. According to the most pessimistic forecasts, in the near future the Eurozone is going to fall to pieces, and already now many agree that the adoption of the Euro was a mistake. "Europe doesn’t need Euro" - this is the second book by German politician Thilo Sarrazin.

The crisis is shaking Europe. According to the most pessimistic forecasts, in the near future the Eurozone is going to fall to pieces, and already now many agree that the adoption of the Euro was a mistake. "Europe doesn’t need Euro" - this is the second book by German politician Thilo Sarrazin. It was published in May and has already caused a sensation. Press-conference, at which the author presented his work, was accompanied by demonstrations of protest.

Full Update: Delivery of S-300 hampers Syrian opposition’s victory

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The delivery of S-300 air defence systems to Syria will make the opposition’s victory more shadowy, editor-in-chief of the “Voenno-Promyshlenny Kurer” magazine Mikhail Khodarenok said in an interview with the Voice of Russia. According to him, even a supply of weapons to militants by the European Union will not help them.
It will be impossible to defeat the Bashar al-Assad regime without air support.
According to the expert, the supply of S-300 air defence systems under a contract signed earlier will cool those who demand for establishing a no-fly zone over Syria.
The expert believes that the supply of air defence systems to Syria is an obstacle for foreign interference in the Syrian conflict.

Syria's Assad vows retaliation for future Israeli strikes

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President Bashar Assad has said that Syria “will respond in kind” to any future Israeli airstrike on its territory and expressed confidence in the victory over the foes of the Syrian state. The Syrian government has been criticized for its muted response to recent Israeli airstrikes on several facilities in Syria in alleged attempts to stop shipments of missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.
Assad said there was "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights but such a move would require serious political, social and military deliberation.

Assad reiterated his support for an international conference on Syria, which Russia and the United States attempt to put together in Geneva, but stressed that any outcome of this or any other Syria-related discussions by the international community must be “subject to the approval of the Syrian people through a popular referendum.”
Asked about the the deliveries of Russian S-300 air defense systems to Syria, Assad simply said Russia is committed to honoring the existing defense contracts with Syria.
 VofR, RIA, Ọmọ Oódua news from Nigeria

Man Found Dead In House Full Of Snakes (Photos)

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Police looking for a missing man were shocked to find him dead in his home — surrounded by over forty giant snakes.

Many of the reptiles, including a 30ft anaconda and four 35ft pythons, were slithering free around the decomposing body when police entered snake fan Heiko Rieder's apartment in Straubing, Germany.

A fire service spokesman said: "At least one was as thick as a human thigh."

Worried colleagues alerted police after the 40-year-old caretaker failed to turn up to work for a week.

It is thought he died from a heart attack while feeding his pets.

Tipper crushes 16-year-old secondary school girl

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The Tipper

A tipper allegedly on top speed, on Thursday crushed to death a 16 year old girl, Moridiyat Abdullateef, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The victim was said to be a Senior Secondary One student of Government Girls Day Secondary School, Oke Suna, Ilorin.  Our correspondent learnt that Moridiyat  had gone to fetch water for her grand-father before going to school.

The source said the girl, in an attempt to cross to the other side of the road at Taiwo Isale junction, was hit by the driver, who was allegedly drunk, and had lost control of the vehicle.

The source added that the truck crushed the girl and the efforts of residents and Good Samaritans to save her life was futile as she died almost instantly.  The truck was also said to have destroyed nearby kiosks and later fell into a pit near Asa River, while the driver escaped.

Our correspondent gathered that the truck with number plate XB 482 BDU fell directly in front of the deceased’s residence- a one-storey building beside Asa river.

The father of the girl, Mr. Abdullateef Mohammed, a teacher, said though the accident was sad, he had taken it as an act of God.

SourceL Punch Nigeria

Reps approve 14 years imprisonment for same s-ex marriage

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The House of Representatives yesterday Thursday May 29th approved 14 years imprisonment for persons who contracted same s-ex marriage in the country.  This was sequel to a clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill for an Act to prohibit marriage or union entered between persons of same s-ex, at the Committee of the Whole.

“Marriage or civil union entered between persons of same gender shall not be solemnised in any place of worship, either church or mosque or any place in Nigeria,” it said.


Introducing the bill, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa ( PDP-Taraba) said that it sought to achieve a far reaching objective by outlawing same s-ex marriage and provide punishment for offenders.
It also set out a 10-year sentence for “any person who directly or indirectly makes public show of same-s-ex amorous relationships’’.

Meet the married couples who never have s-ex but insist they're happy

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 When married couples live like brother and sister. No s-ex for years and they insist they are happy. Are they deluded - or just honest? Read and tell us what you think...

Most evenings, with their little girl safely tucked up in bed, Charlotte and Chris Everiss (pictured right) enjoy a kiss and a cuddle on the sofa in front of the television.

Happily married for a decade, the couple cannot bear to even imagine their lives without one another. Yet, astonishingly, they haven’t made love for more than two years.

Both insist that their marriage, which followed a two-year courtship after meeting on a dating website, is stronger than most. It’s just that s-ex, they say, is not important to their happiness.

We Shall Kill Nigerians In Pakistan If… – Families Of Kidnap Victims

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Families of the five Pakistani nationals on board an oil vessel, Mt Matrix 1, abducted last Saturday at 40 nautical miles off the Bayelsa coast have told the management of the company, Matrix Energy, in Warri, Delta State, not to pay any ransom to the abductors to get them released.

They are promising to take revenge on Nigerians in their hundreds in Pakistan, if any of the victims was killed.

Another Nollywood Actor Hit With Stroke, Needs N6m To Walk Again

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The veteran actor, producer, filmmaker and architect of the distribution framework of the NFVCB, Yinka Ogundaisi is bedridden.

It was gathered that he has been on admission at the LUTH for spine injuries for over two months now. 

Some of his close friends told us that, it might be partial stroke that has hit him due to his emaciated state. A source said, “Uncle Yinka needs about 6million to undergo urgent treatment in India or the UK or else he will not walk again. We need to help this practitioner 'with ideas' get his groove back. No amount of assistance will be too small.” 

Dollar may lose status as the world’s currency

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Though the US dollar continues to reign as the foreign reserve currency of choice, a new International Monetary Fund analysis shows that the currency has slumped to a 15-year low, heightening concerns that it may lose that status.

While the dollar currently constitutes 62 percent of the $6 trillion in foreign holdings by the world’s central banks, when a historical view is taken into account, Dick Bove, vice president of equity research at Rafferty Capital Markets says the dollar’s actual percentage of total money supply worldwide has gone from 90 percent in 1952 to about 15 percent today.
Bove, like many other analysts, believes that the rise of the Chinese currency, the yuan, is at the expense of the US dollar’s dominance as a safe haven.

Seven firms shortlisted for Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction

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Seven construction firms have been shortlisted for the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

This is coming at a time that the traffic situation at several bad portions of the road has worsened due to the advent of the rains. And as the condition of the road continues to deteriorate, gridlock has become a constant feature on both sides of the highway.

 

The names of the shortlisted firms, according a source at the Federal Ministry Works, have been sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement for ratification.

The source said the BPP was expected to issue a certificate of no objection, which would clear one or two of the construction companies for the project.

Nigeria Has Been Stagnant for So Long, It Is Time to Change – Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday tasked political leaders to adopt practical measures to accelerate effective utilisation of human and natural resources for sustainable development in the country.

Obasanjo gave the challenge while speaking at the maiden Jigawa Economic and Investment Summit in Dutse.

The summit was organised by the state as part of the activities to mark the 2013 Democracy Day celebration.

The major highlight of the summit was to encourage investment on agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), solid minerals and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

Obasanjo said that Nigeria was endowed with abundant natural and human resources, which could be transformed to the social and economic benefit of the people.