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Presidential Aide explains why Buhari signed NFIU law separating it from EFCC

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Mr Ita Enang, Buhari’s legislative adviser, has explained why the president signed the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Act into law separating it from the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, while stating that it will strengthen the recently signed Executive Order 6, aimed at consolidating the fight against corruption in the country.

The presidential aide explained this, while Briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja, that the signing of the Act, the NFIU will now be independent of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said the NFIU will now be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but will remain “autonomous and Independent”.

The establishment of the NFIU is based on the requirements of Recommendation 29 of the Financial Action Task Force Standards and Article 14 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, he said.

The Egmont group, an informal network of 156 financial intelligence units (FIUs), had suspended Nigeria due to the alleged inability of the country to grant autonomy to the NFIU.

To this end, the two chambers of Nigeria’s National Assembly passed the NFIU bill on March 7 this year.

National FIUs collect information on suspicious or unusual financial activity from the financial industry and other entities or professions required to report transactions suspected of being money laundering or terrorism financing. Such information and then shared with relevant anti-crime or regulatory agencies.

Mr Enang on Wednesday said the new NFIU is now “independent and operationally autonomous body institutionally domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.”He also said the new act has now dissolved “the Nigeria financial intelligence unit established in the EFCC Act and consequentially amends the Economic and Financial Commission Act, the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act among others.

“One of the key objectives of the Act is the creation of a legal, institutional and regulatory framework to ensure transparency, effective and efficient and management administration and operation of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

“Also the bill will institutionalize best practices in financial intelligence management in Nigeria and strengthen the existing system for combating money laundering and associated predicated offences, financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”

“The Act, which makes the unit an autonomous body, makes provision for the unit to exchange information with financial intelligence institutions or similar bodies in other countries in matters relating to money laundering, terrorist financing activities and other predicated offences.”

Wrong Decision?

The EFCC and some anti-corruption experts were opposed to the total separation of the NFIU from the EFCC.

For instance, the pioneer chairman of EFCC, Nuhu Ribadu, in March this year warned against removing the NFIU from the EFCC. He described the proposal as a setback for the Nigeria.

Speaking at an Anti-Corruption Situation Room organised by the HEDA Resource Centre in Abuja, Mr. Ribadu recalled how the NFIU was conceived, and nursed by the commission.

He said the NFIU achieved milestones because of the institutional backing and the enforcement effect of the EFCC.

“I feel sad that they want to take the NFIU away from EFCC. This will set us back,” he said.

Recalling his time as pioneer chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ribadu said “what we did with NFIU was to bring Nigeria at par with the rest of the world in terms of financial regulations and tracing suspicious deals.”

In the same vein, the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, said at an interactive session with editors in August 2017 in Abuja, that efforts to create a “stand-alone’’ NFIU was needle.

“This is another way of corruption fighting back; people are fighting and pretending to be in support of what is ongoing, but they are not giving a face to the fight against corruption,” he said.

Mr Magu said he was “not opposed to the autonomy of the NFIU; in fact the NFIU has always been operationally autonomous.

“I understand the workings of Financial Intelligence Units around the world and they are domiciled in law enforcement agencies based on their credibility”

Also, the Director of the NFIU in EFCC, Francis Usani, who spoke at the occasion said the Egmont Group was not calling for the removal of NFIU from the EFCC, but simply asking for amendment of Section 1(2)(c) of the EFCC Act.

“The section says that the EFCC is a designated FIU, but the group is saying the provision is not clear to them.

“What the group is saying is that we should create the NFIU as a unit under the EFCC by amending that provision of the EFCC Act. It is as simple as that.

“But it is unfortunate that the perception generally is tending towards abusing what the Egmont Group is asking us to do,” he said.

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Ekiti Guber: Police reveals why it stopped Fayose, PDP from holding rally

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The Police command finally revealed why it stopped the Governor of the State Ayodele Fayose and party, from holding a rally, while attributing it that it was to forestall the outbreak of violence between the two leading political parties.

Caleb Okechukwu, the Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement he signed on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Habila Joshak, on Wednesday, said the public should ignore the allegations that it attacked the governor and invaded his office- while claiming that, it was not true that its personnel invaded the government house or blocked the entrance to the complex.

The statement described the allegation as “misleading and aimed at causing anxiety in the minds of the public.” reads: “In furtherance to the presence of police officers around the Prof. Olusola Eleka Pavilion at Fajuyi today, two political parties intend to have their rallies at the same date and in Ado-Ekiti metropolis,” the statement said.

“But the Commissioner of Police advised the political parties in writing on the need to have their political activities at different time and because of its security implication.

“ police will, at all times, continue to maintain law and order and also rise up to their responsibility to perform their mandatory and statutory duty of protection of lives and property of innocent citizens before, during and after the election.

“The police would also want to use this medium to alert the general public that they should expect more of this misleading information from person(s) who do not mean well for the good people of Ekiti State.

“The police enjoin the general public to confirm the source of their information before circulating same to their friends or loved ones.”

However, According to online reports, when newsmen reached the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Taiwo Olatunbosun, he denied knowledge of any plan by his party to use the pavilion on Wednesday for a rally given that the party held its grand rally on Tuesday.

“I am not aware of any planned rally,” he said. “Nothing of such has been brought to my notice.”

Nigerian Pilots, reported how hundreds of police officers barricaded the venue of the PDP rally, close to the Ekiti government house on Wednesday morning. In videos of the incident that have since gone viral, the police used tear gas to disperse the PDP supporters, many of whom were putting on while based on the request by Governor Ayodele Fayose, who was also affected by the police action.

Although Mr Fayose is not a candidate in the election, his deputy, Olusola Eleka, is. Mr Eleka is the candidate of the governing PDP in the state. His major opponent is Kayode Fayemi, who was until a few weeks ago, the minister of solid minerals.

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180 children gain freedom from Boko Haram – UNICEF

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The United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF,  has welcomed the release  of 183  children aged 7- 18  with  from Nigerian Armed Forces, in Maiduguri, Borno State, northeast Nigeria.
According to a release from UNICEF office made available to Nigerian Pilot  yesterday said that  the release comes after the children were cleared of ties with Boko Haram insurgents.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Mohammed Fall said, ” These 8 girls and 175 boys are first and foremost victims of the ongoing conflict and their release is an important step on their long road to recovery. ”
“We will be working with the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and partners to provide the children with all the assistance they need. I also want to commend the action taken by the military and the authorities, it demonstrates a clear commitment to better protect children affected by the conflict.”

Fall assured that after having been held in administrative custody, the children will receive medical attention and psychosocial support before the process of reuniting them with their families and reintegrating them into society begins.

Nigerian Pilot reports that since 2017, UNICEF has supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8,700 children released from armed groups, helping trace their families, returning them to their communities, and offering them psycho social support, education, vocational training and informal apprenticeships, and opportunities to improve livelihoods.

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Duchess of Sussex’s Boatneck Neckline Signature

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From the time she married Prince William, Meghan Markle has been the centre of attention. All eyes are on her and any move of her breaking the Royal code, she is splashed all over the news. But amidst all the drama, we see a fashion signature in her boat-neck dresses.

Meghan was a fan of the neckline style before she officially became a royal. She wore a plaid top with a bateau neckline during a visit with school children in Wales in January.

She was spotted in a navy, boat-neck dress the day before the royal wedding, as she and her mother finalized preparations for the big event.

Starting with her wedding gown which was a beautiful piece in satin, of course, with a boat neck aligning.

Here she gave us another Audrey Hepburn moment in a little black dress with boatneck neckline by Dior.

Next is when she made an appearance at ‘Trooping The Colour’ 2018 ceremony at The Mall. It was a boat-neck/off-shoulder dress in pretty pink.

The cap-sleeved, boat-neck dress in blush she wore to an event last month with Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth.

She also looked chic and sunny in a bright yellow, bateau neck dress at a recent reception in London.

Then the Duchess was spotted during her tour of Ireland with her husband in an olive bateau-neck dress by Roland Mouret.

Last but not the least, at Prince Louis’ christening ceremony that took place recently, Meghan chose to wear an olive green A-line dress with a belt. The hat got her all the Royalness that she needed.

With these outfits, it seem like Meghan is developing somewhat of a pattern. And we see a fashion icon born!

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Ekiti Election: APC, PDP, others current face-off will favour us- SDP

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Ahead of the Ekiti State Gubernatorial election slated for Saturday July 14, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has claimed that the current face-off between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), will work in their favour.

This was revealed by the SDP National Secretary, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen, during a retreat for state party chairmen in Abuja.

Gabam insisted that Ekiti people were already tired of the APC and the PDP.

“SDP will sweep the poll with a bang; just watch out. We are going to spring surprises by sweeping the poll.

“The people of Ekiti State are tired of PDP, APC and others. They are seeing us as their messiah and we shall not fail them, come Saturday. Our candidate, Yemi Ayegbusin, a seasoned banker will be victorious and become the next governor of the state.

“SDP will gain a lot of sympathizers with the increasing feud between the leading political parties in the state, the PDP and the APC. Our candidate is not controversial as the candidates of the two political parties. The goodwill will work for us,” he said.

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Joe Jackson ”chemically castrated” his son- singer’s ex-doctor claims

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The late King of Pop, Micheal Jackson’s former doctor, Conrad Murray, has recently revealed that his recently deceased father Joe Jackson, was chemically castrated as a child.

The former cardiologist added that when Jackson was his patient, the singer told him about the “many sufferings” he experienced “at the hands of his father” as a child.

Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and served two years in prison for delivering a fatal dose of the painkiller propofol to the singer in 2009, called the Jackson family patriarch “one of the worst fathers to his children in history” in a video obtained by The Blast.

“The fact that he was chemically castrated to maintain his high-pitched voice is beyond words,” Murray continued, echoing a claim he made in his 2016 book, This Is It! The Secret Lives of Dr. Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson, in which he accused Joe of forcing Michael to get hormone injections at age 12 to cure his acne and prevent his voice from changing.

“I hope Joe Jackson finds redemption in hell,” Murray said in The Blast’s video, which was released just days after Jackson’s father died of pancreatic cancer on June 27.

Joe filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray in 2010, but ultimately dropped the case.

In October 2013, Murray was released from jail two years into a four-year sentence after his 2011 conviction. His license to practice medicine was suspended in three states.

Jackson opened up about his difficult upbringing with Joe in the 2003 documentary Living With Michael Jackson. “It was more than just a belt — cords, whatever was around,” the singer remembered. “[He’d] throw you up against the wall as hard as you could. He would lose his temper. … I was so fast, he couldn’t catch me half the time. But when he would catch me? It was bad. It was really bad.”

Despite the past turmoil, the Jackson family released a warm statement in the wake of Joe’s death, saying, “We want to thank you all for the support you have shown us as we grieve for the patriarch of our family. We mourn the loss of our father and celebrate the life of a man who sacrificed so much to give us the life and success we have today. Thank you for respecting our privacy during this time.”

The singer’s children Prince Michael and Paris also shared loving memories of their grandfather.

“This man is and always will be an example or sheer willpower and dedication. He didn’t choose the path that was the easiest but he chose the path that was best for his family,” Prince Michael, 21, captioned a family photo.

Paris, 20, added, “I will cherish every moment with you til the day i die, especially our last moments … quoting advice you gave me when i was a little kid and seeing your eyes light up, sharing stories my dad used to tell me about you, telling a joke and hearing you laugh for the last time.. my heart is full knowing we left each other in that way.”

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Ekiti Election: Big blow as APC Loses Own Online Poll {PHOTOS}

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Ekiti Governorship election is just a day away, our online web team stumple on APC official twitter page where it created an online poll with the question

Which party do you see winning this Saturday’s Governorship Election in Ekiti state?

APC
PDP

By 10.58am shows 18,825 people voted with PDP 59%, while APC 41%

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Serena rolls into Wimbledon Final, one year after childbirth

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American Professional tennis player, Serena Williams is one victory away from an eight championship, as she comfortably rolls her way into the Wimbledon Final, just a year away from the tour, even after a health scare while having a baby a little more than 10 months ago.

Williams is still capable of dominance, a relatively routine 6-2, 6-4 semifinal victory over 13th-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany on Thursday put Williams, into her 10th final at the All England Club and moved her closer to a 24th Grand Slam title, which would equal Margaret Court’s record.

“It’s crazy. I don’t even know how to feel, you know, because literally, I didn’t expect to do this well in my fourth tournament back,” Williams said. “I just feel like when I don’t have anything to lose, I just can play so free, and that’s kind of what I’m doing.”

After hitting five aces with a serve that reached 119 mph, delivering 16 winners to only seven unforced errors, and covering the court so well with speed and effort against Georges, Williams will face another German, 11th-seeded Angelique Kerber, on Saturday, July 14.

“Whatever happens, honestly it’s an incredible effort from me,” the 36-year-old Williams said, “and good motivation to keep going for the rest of my career.”

 

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Ekiti Guber: Meet the 35 candidates, their political parties

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Ahead of the Ekiti State, gubernatorial election slated for Saturday July 14, a total number of candidates representing the 35 political parties have been collated.

The current deputy governor, Olusola Eleka of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Ex-governor Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress are the front runners.

Nigerian Pilot reviews the profiles of majority of the candidates.

Kolapo Olusola Eleka (PDP)

He is the incumbent deputy governor of the state from Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti South Senatorial District.

Mr Olusola is a professor of Building Technology at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, with a track record of excellence in his academic field. He came straight from the academic environment to become deputy governor of the state. He is running to succeed his boss, Ayodele Fayose.

John Olukayode Fayemi (APC)

Mr Fayemi enters the race as a former governor of Ekiti State serving (2010 to 2014) on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. He hails from Isan Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti North Senatorial District.

He holds a doctorate in War Studies from the prestigious King’s College, University of London, England, specialising in civil-military relations-before his entrance into politics, Mr Fayemi served as Director, Centre for Democracy and Development(CDD) between 1997 and 2006.

He was defeated by Ayodele Fayose of the PDP while seeking re-election in 2014. He was later appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Minister of Mines and Steel Development, the position he resigned to contest the July 14 election.

Ayodeji Lawrence Ayodele (APGA)

He is a former Nigerian envoy to Greece.

Mr Ayodele is an accomplished diplomat who rose to the position of Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had a brief stint with the Mega Progressive Peoples Party. He reportedly moved to APGA as the party rushed to hold primaries.

He emerged as APGA candidate under controversial circumstances.

Abiodun Aluko (AP)

Mr Aluko was a successful surveyor before venturing into politics.

He was the leader of the Ayo Fayose Movement(AFM).

He later became Mr Fayose’s deputy before he was impeached after both politicians fell apart. He has oscillated between the PDP, NDP and recently the MPN, before clinching the ticket of the Accord Party.

Sikiru Lawal Tae (LP)

Mr Lawal, a former chieftain of the PDP in Ekiti State, was the deputy governor of the state under governor Segun Oni between 2007 and 2010.

He recently resigned his membership of the PDP after the crisis which occurred as a result of the choice of the party’s candidate by governor Ayo Fayose.

Jeremiah Adebisi Omoyeni (MPN)

The banker hails from Ikere Ekiti. He served as deputy governor after Mr Aluko was impeached under Ayo Fayose. He was a governorship aspirant in 2014 in the PDP.

Shola Omolola (AA)

He was elected the state chairman of Action Alliance(AA), Lagos State, last year.

He has been very active in the politics of Lagos and was appointed secretary of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos.

Ben Olaniyi Agboola (AD)

Mr Agboola is a marketing and advertising expert who has worked with different companies in Nigeria and abroad.

He was a Sales Project Coordinator at Globacom Nig Limited.

He obtained his HND, Business Administration from the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti in 1992 and an MBA at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology where he studied marketing in 1999 and proceeded to South London Business College where he obtained Diploma in Information Technology in 2005.

‎Babatunde Henry Afe (ANRP)

Mr Afe is the founder and General Overseer of House of Faith Christian Centre, Ado Ekiti.

He claims to also double as a businessman and a farmer.

He is a graduate of Economics from the University of Ilorin and also runs a training consultancy. He prides himself as being among the four biggest farmers in the state with several hundreds hectares of farm.

Segun Adewale (ADP)

Mr Adewale, popularly known as Segun Aeroland, is from Ipoti Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area.

A well known businessman and philanthropist based in Lagos, he was senatorial candidate for Lagos West on the platform of the PDP during the 2015 election.

He is the CEO, Aeroland Travel Limited.

He has been in active politics in Lagos and made efforts to be elected a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly on the Labour Party ticket, but was unsuccessful.

He defected to the Alliance for Democracy and then to the PDP in 2011 to run for the Federal House of Representative, Alimosho Federal Constituency, but lost the election to Solomon Olamilekan Adeola of the then Action Congress of Nigeria.

He is a recipient of many awards, particularly in the aviation industry.

Bode Olowoporoku (NDPC)

He is a UK-trained economist with a Phd in Economics. He was also a Minister of Science and Technology under Usman Shehu Shagari government. He was elected senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007.

Dare Bejide (PPN)

He was the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government under the governorship tenure of Segun Oni.

He is from Ilawe, in Ekiti South senatorial district.

He has also served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada.

He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party until the crisis following the adoption of Kolapo Olusola, his deputy. He joined PPN to emerge the candidate of the party for Saturday’s election.

Orubuloye Dele Lucas (AGA)

An engineer by profession, he studied at the University of Mandras, Chennai, in India.

He hails from Are Ekiti.

He represents the All Grassroots Alliance Party.

Tosin Ajibare (ID)

He is said to be below 35 years old and the youngest candidate in the Ekiti governorship race.

According to him, he represents the face of the youth in Ekiti State. Mr Ajibare is from Ikere Ekiti and a graduate of Business Administration.

He is the founder of the Movement for the Development of Youths and Children, an NGO based in Ekiti State.

He represents the Independent Democrats Party.

Olajumoke Saheed (DA)

He holds a BSc in accounting from the Ekiti State University and was voted the governorship candidate of the Democratic Alternative on May 12.

Temitope Omotayo (YPP)

The 35-year-old candidate, follows Mr Ajibade as one of the youthful candidates in the contest. A graduate of Economics from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, as well as a law degree from the University of Lagos.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013 and partner at the Fasina and Omotayo law firm.

He represents the Young Progressives Party.

Tope Adebayo (APDA)

Mr Adebayo is a legal practitioner and obtained his law degree at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, before proceeding to the University of Lagos for his masters degree also in law.

He was president of the Students’ Union, and prides himself as one among a few students union leaders who emerged best graduating student. He also attended Havard where he took a leadership course in preparation for his task to govern Ekiti State.

He represents the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance.

Akinloye Ayegbusi (SDP)

Mr Ayegbusi, 44, before his foray into politics was an Executive Director at Eco Bank Plc. He said he only started thinking about politics in March this year, as contesting the governorship was never in his plans for the year.

He represents the Social Democratic Party.

Saheed Olawale Jimoh (APA)

Mr Jimoh, 44, was a candidate of the African Peoples Alliance for the House of Representatives seat for Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Ekiti State in 2015 but was unsuccessful.

The APA found him worthy of its ticket and would be expecting Ekiti people to vote for him on Saturday.

‎Other candidates and their parties are:

Oribamise Stephen Ojo (AGAP)

Olanrewaju Olalekan (DPC)

Adegboye Ajayi (BNPP)

David-Adesua Ayodele (DA)

Sule Olalekan Ganiyu (FJP)

Adewale OlusholaAkinyele(GPN)

Akerele Oluyinka Gbenga(DPP)

Amuda Temitope Kazeem(KOWA)

Jegede Olabode Gregory (MMN)

Babatunde OladapoAlegbeleye (NDLP)

Oladosu Olaniyan (NPC)

Ayoyinka Oluwaseun Dada (PDC)

Animashaun Goke (PPA)

Adeleye John Olusegun (UDP)

Gboyega Olufemi Jacob (UPN)

Fakorede Ayodeji Ebenezer (YDP)

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Thug of war: R-APC beseech court to sack Oshiomole-led APC exco

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The Reformed- All Progressive Congress has beseech the Federal High court sitting in Abuja, to sack Oshiomole and declare his election as National Chairman, and the entire national executive committee as invalid, null and void.

According to reports gathered, this comes a day after the party, made the same demand on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)- the request was contained in a suit with file number FHC/ABJ/CS/734/18 filled on behalf of the faction on Thursday by its National Chairman, Buba Galadima, Publicity Secretary, Kazeem Afegbua, youth leader; Nicholas Asuzu and chairman of Kogi state chapter, Hadi Ametuo.

The suit has Mr. Oshiomole, INEC, APC and 50 others as respondents.

The group in the suit held that there was no valid election at the National Convention of the APC held in June, thereby leaving a vacuum.

Part of Mr Galadima’s prayers was for the court to declare him and members of his faction the authentic executives of the party.

The prayers read thus:

“A DECLARATION that there being no valid election at the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 23rd day of June 2018 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, thereby leaving a vacuum, the reform-minded FACTION of APC known as the REFORMED ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (R-APC) validly constituted the Plaintiffs and the other National Officers and State Executives of APC to fill the vacuum and act in interim capacities as officers of the APC.”

““AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st – 52nd Defendants from parading themselves or claiming to be officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or performing any function as officers of the Party in any capacity whatsoever as their elections and swearing in as officers of APC are invalid, null and void.”

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 53rd Defendant from holding out the 1st – 52nd Defendants as either National Officers, members of the National Working Committee , Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress (APC).”

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 53rd Defendant from harassing, intimidating, suspending or expelling any of or all the Plaintiffs from the All Progressives Congress; or taking any steps whatsoever to harass, intimidate, suspend or expel or abridge or terminate the Plaintiffs’ membership, rights and entitlements in the All Progressives Congress.”

“AN ORDER directing the 54th Defendant to recognize the Plaintiffs who are members of the reform-minded FACTION of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the current interim National Officers, members of the National Working Committee, Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress (APC) and accord them all rights and privileges appertaining to the respective offices pending the holding of valid elections by the Party.”

The R-APC had on Wednesday written INEC, seeking to invalidate the election of the Adams Oshiomole-led National exco of the APC.

They are aggrieved members of the APC who formed a splinter group of the ruling party.

Most of its members are former members of the new PDP who in 2014 formed a similar splinter group within the then ruling party.

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Niecy Nash joined the ranks of Hollywood Walk of Fame honorees

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Hollywood actress Niecy Nash joined the ranks of Hollywood Walk of Fame honorees on Wednesday as she was presented with her own star.

When a 5-year-old Niecy Nash saw Lola Falana in her “long black dress and eyelashes like butterflies,” she turned to her grandmother and said, “I want to be black, fabulous and on television.”

Four years later, when she spotted “a man she knew from TV” while visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame with her father, she had no qualms about approaching him. That man was Ed Asner, and Nash yelled after him to remember her name, because one day it would be stamped onto one of the stars she was standing on.

She was congratulated by Cedric The Entertainer, producer Ryan Murphy and actor Ed Asner who Niecy told when she was 9 that she’d also be getting a star one day, just like him.

Blair Underwood was also on hand for the ceremony.

Niecy’s good girlfriend Kelly Rowland was also on hand for the ceremony

as well as Niecy’s hubby Jay Tucker.

The Diva has been nominated for two Primetime Emmys and won a Daytime Emmy as the producer and host of “Clean House.”

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Ekiti 2018: Aare Gani Adams Sues For Peace, Condemns Violence

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Less than 24-hours to the Ekiti state governorship election, Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has called on all the stakeholders in the state, including political parties, candidates and the electorate to ensure peace and tranquility in the state, before, during and after the election.

Adams, in a statement signed by his special assistant on media, Kehinde Aderemi and made available to journalists, expressed concern over the prevailing situation in the state, saying election should not be a do- or die affair.

According to him, “In the build-up to Saturday’s election, Ekiti state has been in the news for the wrong reason.

A situation where the security of the electorate is not guaranteed is not acceptable to our democracy in the 21st century. The election in Ekiti tomorrow will be the first election in the southwest, since my installation as the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land in January.

As the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, with strong belief in the promotion of Yoruba culture, and a proponent of peace across the world, I urge the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Security(DSS), and other government’s security architecture to rise up to the challenges of ensuring peace in Ekiti tomorrow.

A situation where security operatives allegedly wear masks a few hours to an election is uncalled-for. Therefore, politicians must play the game by the rule, not forgetting that elections would go, but Ekiti state will remain”.

Aare Adams, however, supported the prompt intervention of Ekiti monarchs, for lending their voices to ensure peace in the state, even as he appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure adequate security and a level playing field for all the candidates, so that the electorate in the state can exercise their civic responsibilities.

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June Revenue: Again FAAC rescheduled meeting hit the rocks

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The members of the Federation Account Allocation Committee(FAAC) were disappointed on Thursday, after the rescheduled meeting to share the June Revenue hit the rocks again.

The meeting, which was rescheduled after the initial June 27 meeting ended in a stalemate, was also put off after members failed to reconcile the records with the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

It was the second time the meeting would end in confusion since June 27 when the initial schedule for the month without members agreeing to share the revenue brought for distribution by the NNPC.-but the meeting on Thursday was the shortest in the series, as it lasted barely half an hour.

At the end, Chairman of Commissioners Forum of FAAC, Mahmood Yunusa, told reporters the meeting was postponed indefinitely and would only be reconvened after “the process is strengthened.”

“The next meeting is a function of when we finish the process,” Mr Yunusa said. “What we are looking for is for the process to be strengthened. Once the process is strengthened, there is no need for this fight.”

The commissioner said the decision of the 36 state governments and other members of FAAC to reject the NNPC’s paltry remittances “is about the system and the process we are working on.

“Once the process is strengthened, the correct amount is supposed to go to federal revenue account.”

He said the practice of NNPC withholding revenues that should be remitted to the FAAC for distribution to the three tiers of government was being reviewed at the highest level of government.

“Mr President will sit down with all parties. He is highly interested in this matter. He is taking his time to ensure the right thing is done,” Mr Yunusa said.

He assured that when the process of remitting revenue proceeds to the Federation Account has been strengthened, “even if the amount remitted is small, members cannot challenge the NNPC. So, we are also helping NNPC from undue pressure.”

On the fate of civil servants across the country, who have gone for weeks without June salary, Mr Yunusa said all the state governments and other FAAC members opposed to NNPC appreciate the difficulties people are facing.

“But, we plead for understanding. This is a sacrifice all of us must make to get out of this problems of NNPC under-remittance. If the process is operated the way it is supposed to, nobody will complain again,” he said.

On June 27, the FAAC meeting for June ended without any resolution as members rejected the amount remitted by NNPC for distribution.

Members of the committee, consisting Commissioners for Finance and Accountants General from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja, had accused the NNPC of not remitting enough revenue for sharing.

The following day, the NNPC spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, in a statement, said the N147 billion revenue remitted to FAAC for sharing to the three tiers of government in June was “in line with the terms of agreement it had with governors on the matter.”

Mr Ughamadu said the agreement NNPC had with the governors was for the corporation to make a monthly remittance of N112 billion only to FAAC.

He said the remittance was subject to sufficient funds from its sales of domestic crude oil allocation for the corresponding month after meeting certain operational obligations.

The spokesperson said the NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for the month of June by about N35 billion.

Since then, the committee has been meeting with the top management of the NNPC, finance ministry officials, Accountant General of the Federation and representatives of the commissioners of finance to reconcile the accounts.

However, on three occasions, the meetings failed to come to any agreement on what should be the correct figure as the controversy continues.

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Police apologize to Stormy Daniels, says arrest was a mistake

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Authorities dropped the charges against adult film star Stormy Daniels Thursday after she was taken into custody during a performance at a strip club in Ohio, which her lawyer called a “politically motivated” setup.

Daniels, who made headlines earlier this year over her claims of an alleged affair with President Donald Trump, was arrested Wednesday night while performing at the Sirens Gentlemen’s Club in Columbus after she allegedly allowed “a customer to touch her while on stage,” her attorney, Michael Avenatti, said via Twitter early Thursday morning.

“Just [received] word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus, Ohio [while] performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs,” Avenatti tweeted. “This was a setup [and] politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges.”

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WAHO urges Africa to adopt Abiye Safe Motherhood

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Director General of West African Health Organization, WAHO, Dr Stanley Okolo, on Thursday, called on member countries of the Economic Communities of West African States, ECOWAS, to adopt the ‘’Abiye Initiative’’ for maternal healthcare in the region, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Okolo made this call during the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Research Day in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health which was declared  open by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

He decried the high rate of maternal mortality in the region and advised that the Abiye Initiative of incentivising Traditional Birth Attendants, TBAs should be spread to other countries because of its success.

He said, ‘’This result can be expounded to the whole of African Region because women should not be dying in childbirth. It should not be a death sentence. About 50,000 women die in childbirth in Nigeria. It is not acceptable and so we now want to do something about it.

He speaking to newsmen, Okolo said, ‘’ mothers are dying in childbirth due to delays in help, transfers from TBAs to hospitals for right care.’’

This is one of the benefits we are celebrating in the Abiye initiative, a programme which started from trying to ensure that women do have champions or advocates who can direct them to places of care during childbirth, he said.

‘’Culturally women are still going back to the TBAs, the Ondo State government  devised a system for  incentivising the TBAs so that they reduce delays in keeping women during childbirth and then refer  them to hospitals.’’

Professor Friday Okonofua, Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences and representative of former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, and initiator of the Abiye Safe Motherhood Project was launched in 2009 at

Ifedore Local Government Area, LGA,  to track every pregnant woman and bring qualitative and effective health care to them wherever they reside and to develop sustainable equity-based health care services that will provide universal access by removing all impediments militating against inter-phasing between our women and the health care system.

Professor Okolo who decried the out- of- pocket payment by people who are seeking health care called on governments to contribute the 15% Abuja Declaration Fund agreement by the 15 ECOWAS countries for proper health care of their citizens.

He emphasized that out of pocket health care  expenses denies the poor who do not have money health services, adding that it is contrary to Universal Health Coverage, UHC, which means that health care should reach everybody.

Ehanire urged participants to exchange ideas to develop strategies and use of evidence to improve MNCH strategies in Nigeria.

Director of Family Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Adebimpe Adebiyi said that multi- stakeholders meeting would foster knowledge transfer and use of evidence in MNCH improvement in Nigeria with three projects being supported on different aspects in MNCH interventions in Bauchi, Oyo and Edo States respectively.

The  Research Initiative meeting organized by the Ministry OF Health in collaboration with WAHO and IDRC of Canada.

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Bizarre ! Dead Man Wakes Up During Funeral

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In a miracle incident, a 34-year-old man came back from the dead during his funeral in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Eshwar Pavade’s body lay next to his freshly dug grave on Thursday ready to be interred when his relative found out that the “dead” man was breathing.

According to the Times of India, a grieving family member was lying across the dead man’s chest when he felt the breathing. Within seconds, everyone noticed that the man slightly opened his eyes. The incident took place at a burial ground in Station Ghanagagapur village in Kalaburagi district.

Pavade was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and admitted to the critical care unit.

Local media reports said Pavade had been living in Maharashta for a couple of years. He recently fell sick and was admitted to a hospital. Pavade’s family is demanding action against the doctor of a private hospital for declaring the man “dead.”

This is not the first time such an incident took place where a person who was declared dead was actually found to be alive.

In December last year, a baby on the way to his own funeral was discovered to be alive, despite doctors at the hospital pronouncing him dead shortly after birth. The incident happened in a private facility called Max Hospital in Delhi, India.

In another incident last year, a 17-year-old miraculously woke up on the way to his own funeral in an Indian village in Karnataka. Kumar Marewad was bitten by a stray dog and suffered from high fever for days. After his condition worsened he was put on a ventilator. Days later the family decided to take him off life support. Miraculously, the teenager came back to life, opening his eyes, when he was on his way to his funeral.

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Amazing! Kaduna community where women prefer to give birth during dry season

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As part of our developmental journalism, the Nigerian Pilot weekend, North West chief, Gabriel Udeh takes another voyage to another community in Kaduna state,Ungwan Jatau, in Kaduna where women prefer to give birth in dry season due to non available health care facility for their medical needs, until a new primary health care is undergoing construction by senator Shehu sani after concerted media reports about the plight of the people.

Ungwar Jatau, is a community located behind National Teachers Institute, NTI, in Igabi local government area of Kaduna state, North western Nigeria. The community is about 7 kilometers to Rigachikum, a community of peace loving people.

With a high population of the inhabitants and a large number in the majority of the settlers who are Gbagyis by tribe, these group of settlers are predominantly local farmers, while their women are into petty businesses, with majority mostly as professional house wives

Ungwan Jatau community has been in existence for hundreds of years, but they lack basic heath amenities. Not even a primary health centre, PHC can be said is established to take of the simple health ailments of the people. A PHC appear to be one of the greatest challenges of the resident in the area for many years until recently when one sprang up due to the efforts of Senator Shehu Sani.

The district head of the community Musa Gadani told the Nigerian Pilot weekend, when the paper visited the community that,”Today is the greatest day in the history of the village and the people of Unguwan Jatau, because for many years back, before the construction of this Primary health care, many pregnant women prefer giving birth during dry season than in rainy season due to the bad nature of the road which usually lead to so-many miscarriage among our women.

He said, we are really grateful to almighty God for the Good job done by senator Shehu Sani for constructing such a big PHC building which is for the community people, and also for the neighboring villages and it is an effort by the senator to fight maternal and infants death in the rural area.

”We don’t know how to express our happiness to the senator for constructing such a huge modern PHC in the village ,because he has done what we never thought someone could do for us for many years ,” Gadani noted

According to him “we never thought of having such a health structure in this local community, but we are simply saying May Almighty God bless him , and we are ready for him in 2019,because we believe in him”

The village head further pointed that they never thought of benefitting anything from Nigerian politicians, simply because they have been deceiving them for many years ago, also stating that, they never thought of someone coming to their village to construct such a good structure for the women and children.

He told this paper further that years back, many women have suffered a lot when it comes to the issues of going to hospital for anti-natal or any medical checkup,

According to the district head, very few people in the community have motorcycles and bicycles, he said, adding that due to long distance barriers for accessing health facilities from the village to town many preferred using traditional ways ,while very few accept going to hospital for delivery as a result of series of challenges associated with health in the village

The lack of social amenities and other infrastructures facilities in the area which includes, road, electricity, water, youths unemployment etc, are numerous but important factors disturbing development in the entire villages that are sharing neighborhood with Unguwan Jatau

The district head said, we must thank the journalists (Nigerian Pilot Weekend) inclusive that visited the community some years back in which they looked into the critical challenges of health matters disturbing the women and children in the community.” Indeed this is part of their contribution which attracted the senator to construct the PHC for us” he said

He said, the journalists brought the awareness about the peoples existence in this village and others around and stated that “glory be to God, we have seen changes today”

Speaking to this paper, Mrs. Christiana Zachariah the women leader of the community, expressed happiness the health facility

She said God has a way of blessing any one that does something to save humanity,

Christiana disclosed that before the arrival of the health centre, most women in the village had suffered badly ,adding that most of them usually spend 2 to 3 hours on the road due to the bad nature of the road to go to hospital.

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Justin Bieber Kisses Fiancée in Hot Tub

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Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin’s romance looked like it was continuing to heat up as they locked lips while embracing in a hot tub.

The 24-year-old singer shared the romantic photo of himself and his 21-year-old fiancee to his Instagram.

Baldwin, 21, who is the daughter of the actor Stephen Baldwin and the niece of Alec Baldwin, is dressed in a blue bikini and has her legs wrapped around his waist.

Justin, meanwhile, was shirtless and showed off his tattoos in the photo.

Bieber confirmed that he had proposed to Baldwin earlier this week, sharing a black-and-white picture of the pair that shows a diamond ring on Baldwin’s left hand.

Writing on Instagram among others, the Canadian said: “Was gonna wait a while to say anything but word travels fast, listen plain and simple Hailey I am soooo in love with everything about you! So committed to spending my life getting to know every single part of you loving you patiently and kindLY.”

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Ekiti poll result may come earlier than expected, voting seamless

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Impressive turn-out of voters on Saturday was the hallmark of the governorship election in Ekiti state on Saturday and results may be announced earlier than expected as voting has been seamless in many polling units.

Many voters turned out at most polling centres across the 16 Local Governments and 177 Electoral wards in the state, despite initial apprehension few days to the poll. There were only a few hiccups with the card reader.

The elements also favoured the polls as there was no sign of rain in the towns and villages.

In every place visited, the voters formed long queues as security agents stood by, monitoring the exercise.

There was no complaint about late arrival of voting materials.
Some foreign observers during the poll

NAN reports that the only problem was controlling the crowd of voters who keep trooping to various voting venues.

However, there were incidents of altercations over open inducement of voters.

But none of the 35 participating parties owned up to the inducement allegation, as the parties traded blames.

NAN learnt that highest money doled out as inducement in some instances was N5,000, while the lowest was N3,000.

At Iyin-Ekiti, hometown of former Gov. Niyi Adebayo who is a newly elected Deputy National Deputy Chairman, (South) of APC, elections went on smoothly in the two wards in the town.

Voting was was peaceful also at Ise-Ekiti, hometown of a former Works Minister and a former gubernatorial aspirant under PDP, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye. Scores of eligible voters that trooped conducted themselves peacefully.

NAN reports tat Adeyeye, who came out to vote at about 9:30am, commended the voters, security agents and INEC.

Adeyeye switched to the All Progressives Congress after the PDP primary, accusing the incumbent PDP governor of hijacking the exercise.

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Ekiti 2018 Governorship Election: Live Updates & Monitoring

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