Nigerian art taken in 1897 British raid returns to Benin Kingdom

Oba of Benin

Two statues from among thousands of works of art looted by British soldiers in the 19th century have been returned to Nigeria, prompting calls for other “stolen” treasures to be repatriated.

 

For more than a century, the artifacts from the “Benin Bronzes” collection had been in the family of retired medical consultant Mark Walker, whose grandfather was involved in a 1897 British raid in which they were taken.

 

Otaru of Igarra Seeks Impostion of Full State of Emergency

Otaru of Igarra



With the security challenges in parts of the country remaining unabated and general elections few months away, the Otaru of Igarra in Edo State, Oba Adeche Saiki, has called for total implementation of the state of emergency declared in three states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa with the removal of all democratic structure and appointment of sole administrators to enable military and other security personnel take charge of the security of the states.

 

Besides, he advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to conduct election in the affected states.

 

Speaking to journalists in his palace in Igarra, Oba Saiki said, “As regards the insecurity that the country is going through, my candid opinion is that it looks more political as it seems ordinary otherwise the emergency rule that is placed on three states in the North East should be total in the sense that, all the civilian governors should be removed and put a sole administrator there preferably a retired military man so that the military can actually have control of the situation otherwise some politicians will still try to do other things negatively on the issue.

 

Kingsley Ugabi Laud Edo State APC Leadership

Kingsley Ugabi

Edo State House of Assembly Aspirant in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, Hon. Kingsley Ugabi has applauded the leadership of the All progressive Congress (APC) for the successful conduct of the state congress.

In a chat with newsmen in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area Kingsley Ugabi said the conduct of the congress was legendary, against the backdrop of the peaceful orderliness and democratic nature.

6 Nigerians Arrested for Forging Ghanaian President’s Letterheads

Six Nigerians have been arrested for allegedly forging letterheads of the Office of the Ghanaian President and other state institutions to defraud people, a Ghanaian newspaper reported on Friday. They are Paul Kelvin, 20; Wallace Darden Odon, 28; Osamidiamwen Ikechukwu Emeka, 24; Prince Ejime, 19; Charles Chinedu, 32, and Adebayo Alaba Saheed, 21.

They are all unemployed. They have since been charged with forging documents and signatures and posing as state officials, and because they gave false names to the police during interrogation, they have also been charged with deceit of public officers. The Accra Regional Crime Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Paul Kontomah, said the suspects were arrested in a house at Ayensu Estate, near Adenta in Accra, on June 9. Among the letters retrieved from the suspects was one directing a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to take his compulsory leave for Mr Mohammed Alhassan, the current IGP, to take over the position. There were also certificates signed by the Minister of Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, to prove the origins of some American citizens, as well as High Court disclaimer forms. Mr Kontomah said the police, acting on intelligence that the young men were involved in criminal activities, swooped on them in the early hours of June 9 “and we found them busy browsing the Internet in their room with laptops.”

Again APC Members Decamps To PDP in Benin- Watch The Video

The People’s Democratic Party in ward four Oredo Local Government has received some members of the All Progressives Congress who defected into the PDP fold.

A large number of defectors were received by party leaders in PDP ward four secretariat in Oredo Local Government.

Ekiti 2014: Obanikoro In Ekiti, A Cause For Concern?

Since the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro arrived in Ekiti Monday night preparatory to the Saturday governorship election in the state, there has been some sorts of uneasy calm as to why he was in town. Such a misgiving was however made plausible owing to some of the recent undertakings by the minister.

The Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro

Already, there is a growing suspicion of alleged conspiracy amongst key government institutions in the state. From the police to INEC and even the military in cohort with their political allies, there is said to be a grand plan to invade Ekiti come Saturday. Should Obanikoro be a part of that if true? Maybe not!

However, those close to the minister have dismissed any such misgiving, noting that apart from the fact that Obanikoro believes in democratic ethos, he also has a name

Pix of Governor Amechi Challenging Soldiers for Disallowing Him Entrance Into Ekiti

Governor Amechi at a barricade by Soldiers barring him from driving into Ekiti State on Wednesday June 18, 2014

Ekiti 2014: Busted!!! PDP Members Caught Secretly Thumb-Printing Election Ballot Papers

Eleven members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti state were reportedly arrested by officials of the Department of State Security after they were allegedly caught thumb-printing ballot papers in advance for the approaching gubernatorial election in the state.

The men, who were believed to be perpetrating the act to support the aspirations of the PDP candidate and one time governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, were arrested yesterday at the Anisulowo Resort in Are Ekiti which allegedly belongs to the Director General of the Fayose Campaign Organisation, Dipo Anisulowo.

EDHA Speaker Vows To Ensure Majority Rule

The Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe has reiterated that they will not let the minority members of the House to overrule them.

He made this statement yesterday in his office, while addressing leaders of the APC (Edo North Senatorial District) who paid him a courtesy call.

Edo State Speaker

Having thanked the visitors, for their outstanding support and for the visit especially in such a crises situation, he described the conflict in the House as unfortunate and uncalled for.

He however lamented the misconduct of the suspended lawmakers, who violated the rules guiding the House, adding that they will allow the law to take its course for the sake of peace.

The Speaker also, affirmed that he will not let some set of people to destabilize the state government led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Earlier, the leader of the group, Mrs. Malik Afegbua who noted that they were on a solidarity visit to the Speaker, thanked the Speaker for his ability to manage the crises in the House, prayed God to continually assist the Speaker to overcome.

Edo State PDP Expresses Delight at Governor Oshiomhole Grounded Helicopter

Edo State Chapter of People’s Democratic Party, PDP has expressed delight at the refusal of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to allow Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s chattered helicopter to fly out of the Benin Airport.

A statement by the Edo State Chairman of the Party, Chief Dan Orbih wondered why the governor would prefer to travel on such a short trip to Ekiti with tax payers money on chattered helicopter instead of making it by road.

Kingsley Ugabi's Goes for Edo State House of Assembly In 2015

Kingsley Ugabi

Kingsley Ugabi is a top management staff of one of the oil majors in Nigeria, he recently decided to venture into politics to positively represent his constituency in Etsakor-East LGA of Edo State. He took this decision after years of pressure by his constituency people. Some of the constituency members interviewed by our correspondences in Okpella, Ibie and Weppa-Wano respectively all spoke with unison on the leadership qualities, kind heartedness, listening ears of Kingsley Ugabi. They further disclosed that they are fully confident that he will represent them efficiently.

Ecobank Staff Dies In Police Custody, Buried As Controversy Surrounds Autopsy

Ecobank Nigeria Plc worker, Babatunde Oke, who died in the police custody, has been buried.

He was laid to rest in his hometown in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State on Saturday afternoon as the family vowed to unravel the cause of his death.

 

PUNCH Metro had reported on February 24, 2014 that Babatunde died after being detained at the Falomo Police Division over allegation of N1.2m theft. His employers had alleged that while he was the head teller at the bank’s Ladipo branch, Babatunde had stolen the sum from the Automated Teller Machine.

 

He was consequently locked up, pending when he would pay back the money.

While his relatives were reportedly making arrangement for his bail, he was said to have ordered for a bottle of soft drink which led to his death. The deceased’s widow, Ebun, had petitioned the National Assembly to investigate the cause of her husband’s death, adding that Babatunde could not have taken soft drink because he did not like it.

 

The family lawyer, Segun Akinloye, of Adeyinka Adetosoye and Co, told our correspondent on Sunday that the corpse of the deceased was released to the family on Saturday for burial.

He said relatives and colleagues of the late banker trooped out to pay him their last respect when his remains were interred around 2pm on Saturday. He said, “The body of Babatunde Oke departed the mortuary through a convoy organised by his secondary school mates.

 

“It left Lagos Island Mortuary at about 9.30am and arrived at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State around 2pm. The body was eventually laid to rest amidst wails, tears and lamentations of town folks, families and loved ones, who urged us to obtain justice for Babatunde Oke.”

 

Akinloye told our correspondent that samples had been taken from the deceased before his burial, adding that some of the samples had been sent abroad for a comprehensive autopsy test.

He said the family was worried about the delay in the release of the result.

 

A letter addressed to the Chief Pathologist, Department of Pathology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, and dated March 13, 2014, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, expressed the anxiety of the family over the delay in the result of the autopsy.

 

“We hereby request a comprehensive detail on what has been going on so far. And also to know what is the cause in the delay of the result if the samples were actually taken,” the letter reads in part.

Liz Anjorin’s revelation: ‘I ceased to be a Christian 18 yrs ago’

Popular Yoruba actress, Liz Anjorin who converted to Islam last year after embarking on pilgrimage to Mecca has made a stunning revelation, saying that she ceased to be a Christian about eighteen years ago.

 She also said that she converted to Islam as a result of the love she has for late mother.
Liz disclosed this, ahead of preparation for the launch of her new movie, “Kofo:The First Lady” and the marking of the 2nd year anniversary of her foundation, Lizzy Anjorin Foundation, which is billed to hold on Sunday, May 11, at Anchor Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the actress, who now bears the name, Aisha, she converted to Islam because of her late mother. “No man can make me  convert to Islam. I converted to Islam because of my late mum. Something happened the day she passed on. I wouldn’t disclose that here. So, I went to Mecca to pray on her behalf,”she said. Describing life after her trip to Mecca as beautiful, Liz revealed that for the past eighteen years, she has never gone to any church to worship. “I have been a Muslim for  long time now. You can never spot me in any social function wearing suggestive clothes.”

On her forthcoming event, Liz disclosed that, it would be the first of its kind in the annals of film premiere in Nigeria. According to her, legendary musician, King Sunny Ade will be on hand to entertain the cream of society who will grace the occasion with his evergreen songs.

Other line up includes staging a 10-minute magic show by Nike and Zitto Pellar as well as a drama (comedy) by herself, Ijebu and Baba Ijesha among other side attraction

Culled from The Vanguard Newspaper

Nigerians are Corrupt - Robert Mugabe

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, has taken a swipe on Nigeria, labeling the country and her citizens as corrupt. He made the remark during his 90th birthday luncheon hosted by the service chiefs and the public commission.Mugabe said Zimbabweans are now almost behaving like Nigerians who have to be corruptly paid for every service.“Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done,” he said. “You see we used to go to Nigeria and every time we went there we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything.

 

You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dulling without taking off as they wait for you to pay them to fly the plane,” said the president followed by a huge laugh from the delegates attending his birthday bash.

 

The current corruption rankings in the world rank Zimbabwe’s corruption a lot worse than Nigeria. Nigeria is ranked 163 worst corrupt country in the world while Zimbabwe is an embarrassing 170 third from the bottom.

 

The report was carried by Bulawayo24 News, based in Zimbabwe.

Akon To Electrify Over One Million Houses In Nine African Countries

 US-based Senegalese musician and entrepreneur, Akon has entered a public-private partnership with various entities across the globe to help bring energy into one millions homes in West Africa this year.

 

The ‘Akon Lighting Africa’ project covers nine West African countries including Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo and the Ivory Coast and includes installation of solar equipment in households as well as the promotion of their energy sufficiency which will allow millions of Africans access to electricity.

 

This month, the superstar visited 9 African countries in nine days to meet with global leaders about the project. Most African countries, especially in the rural areas, lack access to electricity.

“We wanted to focus the project on rural areas because we often forget that our parents in these remote areas need electricity,” Burkinabe President Blaise Campore was quoted as saying in a meeting with the ‘Akon Lighting Africa’project partners.

REVEALING: A LETTER FROM DR ERASTUS AKINGBOLA OFTHE DEFUNCT INTERCONTINENTAL BANK PLC TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN - A MUST READ!!!

SAN FRANCISCO, February 21, (THEWILL) – THEWILL has exclusively obtained a letter addressed to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan detailing how Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Senator Bukola Saraki and Mahmoud Lai Alabi took over the now defunct Intercontinental Bank from its founder and deposed Group Managing Director, Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

The 7-page letter dated February 09, 2014, which was written by Mr. Akingbola revealed the intrigues and private conversations between himself, billionaire Aliko Dangote, Senator Saraki and Mallam Sanusi before Sanusi eased him out of the bank.

The letter is reproduced below: