Four Nigerians jailed in New Zealand for Drug trafficking

Four Nigerians- Nnamdi Augustine Iwu 36, Hyacinth Ochibulu 44, David Obiaga 44 and Ugochukwu Okpara 27, were yesterday June 18th sentenced by a High court in New Zealand to 15 to 18 years jail terms after being found guilty of importing and possessing methamphetamine, a banned substance, in New Zealand.

The Nigerians and a New Zealander who was sentenced to 9 years in prison are said to be part of an international drug smuggling ring syndicate.  

Another Crisis in APC over House of Reps & Senate Top Posts

Sharing of principal offices in the Senate seems to be creating a fresh crisis in the ruling APC. The principal offices are the Senate Leader; Deputy Senate Leader; Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip.

While the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is believed to have recommended to the APC National Working Committee that the positions be allocated to the zones, some leaders of the party, especially those from the South-West, want them filled by the party’s leaders.

A senator made this known to Punch in Abuja on Thursday just as the APC NWC meeting on Thursday failed to agree on the modalities for brokering peace among aggrieved members of the party.

The senator warned that if the issue was not quickly resolved, the Senate and the APC might “face another round of crisis bigger than the one that resulted from Saraki’s emergence as Senate president.”

He added, “The Senate President, had after wide consultations, suggested how the officers to occupy these posts could be appointed. He suggested the allocation of the four principal offices to some of the geopolitical zones.

“But some leaders, who are still angry with his (Saraki) emergence, turned down his suggestion. Some of the influential leaders from the South-West are insisting that the party should fill the offices. This is in spite of the fact that the chairman of our party (John Odigie-Oyegun) and other members of the NWC are in support of allocating the principal offices to zones.

“The South-West leaders are even saying that allowing the party leadership to fill the offices, remained the only way to allow peace to reign in the Senate.”

A Senator from the North-Central , who is loyal to Saraki, confirmed the development on condition of anonymity. The House of Reps is always having similar challenges.

He said that it was true that some APC leaders were insisting that the party should nominate the senators who would occupy the four principal offices.

He said, “By the Senate tradition, the party in majority normally sends the offices to the zones where the Senate caucuses would meet and choose among themselves in the zone, who occupies the offices.

“Some other leaders of the party are claiming that asking the party to produce the principal officers was a smart way to impose the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip on the Senate.”

He said, “Some of us were just called by some members of the NWC intimating us of details of a letter forwarded to the body that it should just fill the remaining four leadership positions in the Senate.

“In fact, the letter from the South-West leader is that the party must take charge and name its preferred candidates for the four offices.”

Spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, a group of senators loyal to Lawan, Kabir Marafa, argued that the choice of other principal officers who are not elected on the floor of the Senate, remained the sole business of the party leadership.

He said, “How can the executive of the party at the zonal levels determine who will be made the Senate Leader, the Deputy Senate Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Chief Whip?

“It is the party executive that would determine all these. So the party would write the Senate President. That is the tradition. It cannot be done at the zonal level, it is absurd. There should be due process in whatever things we do.”

Buhari Orders Sale of 9 Presidential Aircraft to Cut Cost

As part of the federal government’s cost measures, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that nine of the VIP transport aircraft under the presidential fleet should be sold off immediately.

Industry sources said the presidential fleet, which are registered as Nigerian Air Force aircraft, is one of the largest in Africa and the third largest in Nigeria after Arik Air and Aero Contractors.

According to an aviation source, who is aware of the directive to sell the aircraft, the presidency has a number of serviceable and unserviceable aircraft that need to be disposed of in order to reduce the amount spent by the federal government for aircraft maintenance annually.

“Nine, which still have market value, are to be sold immediately to reduce maintenance costs.”

According to Thisday, for years, the government has spent over N12 billion annually for the maintenance of the presidential fleet.

Although information on the exact size of the fleet is treated as classified information, the fleet, according to aviation sources, is believed to comprise about 16 aircraft, chief of which is the Boeing 738 BBJ, NAF 001 or Eagle One, used by the president for his travels.

With its luxury configuration comprising a master bedroom, washrooms, showers, a conference and dinning area, and a living area, the plane seats 25 to 50 passengers and would cost at least $100 million to replace today.

Eagle One can spend 12 hours in the air, covering 11,489 kilomtres or 6,200 nautical miles.

In addition to the Boeing 733 reserved for the president, the fleet boasts two Gulfstream 550 jets. The Gulfstream 550 can seat eight to 18 passengers, depending on the configuration, and has a cruiser range of 12,501 kilometres or 6,750 nautical miles. A new luxury Gulfstream 550 would cost an estimated $53.5 million.

According to Wikipedia, other planes in the Nigerian Air Force VIP transport fleet include two Dassault Falcon 7X jets, one Hawker Siddeley 125-800 and one Cessna 550 Citation II.

Information from a Nigerian web portal and Nigerian Air Force sources further revealed that the fleet also boasts two Dassault Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream IVSP, a Gulfstream V, a Dornier Do 228, which can carry 19 passengers, one Beechcraft King Air B200, and three AugustaWestland AW139 helicopters.

Sources said each of the two Dassault Falcon 7X jets were purchased for $51.1m in 2010 while the Gulfstream 550 cost $53.3m.

Aviation experts also put the average price of the Falcon 900 at $35m; Gulfstream IVSP at $40m; Gulfstream V at $45m; Cessna Citation at $7m; and the Hawker Siddeley at $15m.

Though all the aircraft are under the presidential fleet, about eight are reserved strictly for the president.

Buhari has taken the right decision to sell off these planes. No more business as usual.

Female TV Presenter said if Team Wins She'd Strip & She Did

Nawao! This female sport presenter promised that she would to strip on TV for every win recorded by the Venezuelan national team at Copa America. And she has kept to her words. Crazy! See full pics...

She stripped on live TV during her show after Venezuela beat Colombia 1-0 to the amazement of all.

MTN Splashes Millions On Brand Ambassadors

In line with its commitment to enhancing the lives of Nigerian musicians by providing platforms through which they can get lucrative value for their intellectual properties, leading ICT Company, MTN will spend millions on its brand ambassadors in the next one year.

MTN’s GM, Consumer Marketing, Richard Iweanoge, made the announcement on Thursday while also unveiling Cobhams Asuquo, as the latest addition to MTN’s brand ambassadors. He would be joining Davido, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Iyanya, Chidinma, Banky W, KCee as well as Saka, Osuofia, Mama Gee and others who all renewed their contracts with MTN.

As was originally conceptualized, the ambassadorship will continually evolve to accommodate new talents and cater for diverse segments.

This year, we are using a segmented approach and there will be ambassadors for each segment of our market. Using this criteria, new artistes like Cobhams Asuquo will be coming on board the MTN Ambassadorial family.

However, for 2015, artistes like Timaya, Wizkid, Sean Tizzle and a few others will no longer be ambassadors for the brand even though the relationship continues in other areas in which MTN enables artists to monetize their work.

"Although there is a finite number of brand ambassadors we can have at any point in time, Nigerian Artistes can continue to monetize their intellectual works through our distribution channels such as the Caller Tunez and Music Plus platforms.” he said

“With billions invested so far in Nigeria’s music industry, MTN remains one of the biggest supporters of the music industry. We have a track record of consistently providing the stage for some of Nigeria’s biggest artistes to shine and express themselves. For MTN, we see the growth of the music industry as a continuum and not a destination. That is why we will continue to engage and support our local artistes so that they can find full expression for their talents.”

According to him, “When we talk of our ambassadors, we have amongst them Iyanya, Praiz and Chidinma, three past participants in the Project Fame. MTN not only gave them the platform to express their talents through the music reality TV show, but we have consistently supported them over the years by making them our ambassadors. We can safely say that our investments in them have paid off because now they are counted among Nigeria’s biggest music acts and we are truly proud of them.”

Going further, Iweanoge said that while the Brand Ambassadorial platform remains a crucial part of MTN’s contribution to the music industry, the company also makes significant contribution to the industry via its music related Value Added Services.

 “For instance, through our Caller Ring Back Tunez (CRBT), MTN has become the largest music distributor in Africa. Through the platform, we rescued Nigerian musicians from the scourge of piracy. They are able to make good money as a result of their hard work. Also, as Nigeria’s most innovative telecoms company, we have been able to deploy music as a platform to give other value added services to our teeming subscribers, which have also proven to be a significant source of revenue for the artistes like MTN Music+ app and a host of other platforms.”

Wizkid, Timaya, Others Lose Out in MTN Multi-Million Deal

Some top musicians couldn't make it to renew their deal as MTN ambassadors this season, among them is Timaya, Wizkid, Sean Tizzle, etc. The telecoms firm said they could still work together in other areas.

Saraki runs to Abeokuta, in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

Senate President Bukola Saraki is in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, holding a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Also in the entourage of the Senate President on the early Friday visit are Senators Andy Uba, Danjuma Goje, Ahmed Yerima, Tayo Alasoadura and a former National Secretary of the PDP and former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

They arrived at Obasanjo’s Hilltop Mansion, Abeokuta, at about 9.10am in seven SUVs.

The senator president, other senators and the All Progressives Congress chieftains proceeded into the inner chamber of President Obasanjo’s home as soon as they alighted from their vehicles.

A source told www.zimsglobal.blogspot.com that Obasanjo summoned Saraki to come and explain his reason for the coup he executed in the Senate that led to the emergence of a PDP man as Deputy Senate president.

Obasanjo will also want to know if Saraki and others are sincerely ready to work with President Buhari.

Former governor Ohakim leaves EFCC custody, returns home

Read the press statement from Ohakim's office below...

Former Governor of Imo State Chief Ikedi Ohakim has left the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to his house in Asokoro. Ohakim spent less than five hours with the anti-graft Agency, before he was left to go home.

Chief Ikedi Ohakim who was at the EFCC office few hours past five pm, yesterday expressed surprise that overzealous officials of the anti-graft Agency could go ahead to invade his house with paid media men in order to score cheap points and achieve some credibility stunts.Having left office as Governor more than four years ago, the former Governor was investigated by the EFCC on the same charges as the present one, as a result of the same frivolous petition sponsored by enemies of Imo State and Igboland who feel that their criminal plans against the State Ndi Igbo would be thwarted by the highly respected elder Statesman.

Ohakim clarifies that he is always ready to honour any invitation extended to him by all legitimate agencies of government, since he does not have any skeletons in his cupboard.He warned however, that all public officials, especially those charged with the sensitive responsibility of fighting graft must not allow themselves to be used as pawns, by desperate political renegades, who cling to the smallest straw for political survival and relevance.

A more detailed press statement will be out soon.

Jonathan Sold Oil Bloc for $1.85bn but Remitted Only $100m

As President Muhammadu Buhari hosts the head of the leading global corruption watchdog Clare Short this week, top on the agenda will be a probe of how Nigeria allegedly remitted only $100m for the sale of oil blocks on which the country was paid $1.85bn, credible sources have revealed.

Clare Short, who is the Chair of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) arrived in the country on Monday on a three-day working visit. She is expected to hold talks with President Buhari on the implementation of the independent reports of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

The Meeting which is also expected to provide the International Chair the platform to brief the President on the importance of integrating the EITI principles in his economic policy agenda as obtainable in resource rich countries of the developed world, is also seen as a global endorsement of President Buhari’s commitment to good governance, transparency and accountability.

Buhari had listed the implementation of the findings and recommendations of NEITI Audit Reports as a priority within his administration’s 100 days in office.

The executive secretary of NEITI, Zainab Ahmed, had said last week that over $7.5bn between 1999-2011 still needed to be recovered from oil and gas companies in Nigeria.

“The amount represents clear cases of underpayments, under-assessments of taxes, royalties, rents... which have not been adequately addressed in the past,” she said.

NEITI has suggested selling the state oil company’s stakes in producing joint ventures to fix its budget woes, a call echoed by many in the new administration, as well as scrapping the expensive and graft-riddled fuel subsidy.

The government relies on oil sales for the bulk of its revenues but there has been little oversight of how these are handled. Central bank governor Lamido Sanusi was sacked by Goodluck Jonathan after he said that up to $20bn in oil revenues between 2012 and 2013 had not been remitted to the government by the state oil company - NNPC.

Buhari said he would re-examine this allegation. Ahmed also said NEITI audits showed that some $11.6bn of dividends between 1999 and 2012 from the government’s investment in the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) company were not remitted by the state oil company.

“NNPC was unable to provide any evidence that the funds were remitted to the federation as required by law,” she said.

NNPC said the issue of reconciling accounts had been raised at a previous Inter-Ministerial Task Team and would be discussed this week. The team was designed to implement NEITI’s findings.

NEITI has also said the sale of eight oilfields to NNPC’s upstream arm in 2010-2011 under Jonathan should be reviewed, as they were sold at $1.85 billion of which only $100 million was remitted to the federation account in February 2014.

Before his sack by Jonathan, Sanusi also criticized some of these deals for being awarded non-competitively to companies that supplied no services. 

Photos: Femi Fani Kayode & girlfriend attend his EFCC court hearing

Former Minister Femi Fani Kayode and his girlfriend, Precious Chikwendu spotted at the Federal High court in Lagos today for another hearing on a case filed against him by EFCC. Another photo after the cut...