Chimamanda Adichie is Pregnant!

Chimamanda Adichie is pregnant!
The author has been spotted around Lagos with her ‘baby bump’, (she was recently in town for the Farafina workshop). Attendees report seeing the award winning novelist with tell-tale signs of pregnancy.
This evening she was also seen by Bizzle Osikoya on a Virgin Atlantic flight, with her visibly puffy cheeks, a tell-tale sign.
This will be the first child (or children) for Chimamanda, married to Dr. Ivara Esegee. 
Here’s a photo of Chimamanda at the Farafina Trust Literary evening.
 Here’s a photo of the happy couple – Congrats to the parents-to-be!
 

Jill Scott Says ‘It Hurts’ that She Defended Bill Cosby | Adds She is ‘Completely Disgusted’

A few months ago when the Bill Cosby rape allegations surfaced, singer and actress Jill Scott was one of the people who defended the legendry comedian.

Click here if you missed it.

But now in light of the latest development (Documents surfaced from Bill Cosby’s 2005 rape case where he admits drugging a woman for sex) Jill Scott has apologized for defending him.

She said on Twitter:

About Bill Cosby. Sadly his own testimony offers PROOF of terrible deeds, which is ALL I have ever required to believe the accusations.

— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 6, 2015

1) We live in America. Many African American men are detained &/or imprisoned for crimes without evidence. I will never jump on bandwagons
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 6, 2015

2) based on social media or hearsay. Proof will always matter more than public opinion. The sworn testimony is proof. Completely disgusted.

— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 6, 2015

I stood by a man I respected and loved. I was wrong. It HURTS!!! When you get it ALL right, holla.
— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 6, 2015

Reasoning with the angry & unreasonable? No. I’m not sorry for standing by my mentor. I’m sorry the accusations Rtrue pic.twitter.com/8oHD9u12em

— ⭐Jill Scott⭐ (@missjillscott) July 7, 2015

APC, PDP at war over source of bailout funds

Top members of the APC and the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are reportedly divided over the sources of the N804.7 billion relief package being considered to bail out states who haven't paid workers salaries.

The PDP said that a very large amount of the bailout funds came from savings left behind by the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, however, the Presidency disagreed, arguing that the money came from proceeds of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

Upon assumption of office on May 29,  President Muhammadu Buhari said the departing PDP government left an empty treasury and pleaded with Nigerians for patience as they await urgent implementation of his change agenda.
The Presidency also denied some media reports that the presidential relief package was drawn from the Excess Crude Accounts, ECA, stressing that the ECA is intact. This came as state governments, the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and some eminent Nigerians praised President Muhammadu Buhari over the relief package, saying it will help boost the economy.

In a statement by Chief Olisa Metuh, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, he said that the bailout would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of Nigerian workers in various states of the federation, most of whom haven't been paid for several months.
He said:

“This development is in clear contradiction to the earlier impression given by President Buhari to Nigerians and the international community that they should not expect much from his administration in its first 100 days because according him, on assumption of office, he met a virtually empty treasury.  

“We want to believe that given the President’s release of such huge amount, he may have realized that he was earlier misdirected on the actual financial state of the nation at the time he took over. In this regard, we expect the President, as a respected statesman to do the needful to correct that erroneous impression. 

“Furthermore, we expect President Buhari’s APC administration as direct beneficiary of this savings initiated by past PDP administrations to appreciate the strategic importance of always saving for rainy days and as such guarantee prudent and transparent management of the nation’s resources now under its care.”

Metuh said the party therefore charged the APC as a party in government to put its house in order, desist from injecting confusion and distracting the President from settling down to form a government and face the enormous challenges of governance, especially the implementation of his long list of campaign promises to Nigerians.
He said Nigerians are no longer interested in insults, tirades and propaganda but in actions and policies that would move the nation forward, a stance the APC has failed to recognize.


Vanguard 

The trangender Tyga allegedly sent nude photos to comes for him on instagram

The transgender porn star that Tyga is accused of sending nude photos to Mia Isabella is coming for him on social media after his lawyers reportedly sent her a cease and desist action. Mia took to instagram to slander Tyga the more. She has nothing to lose, Tyga better thread carefully. See what she posted on instagram after the cut...

FFK denies saying 'For rejecting Jonathan, Nigerians deserve Boko Haram'

Press statement from Femi Fani-Kayode. Read below...

It has been brought to our attention that Premium Times, a popular Nigerian online magazine, has alleged that Chief Femi Fani-Kayode wrote the following words on his Facebook page- ''For rejecting Jonathan, Nigerians deserve Boko Haram''. This is false and, needless to say, Chief Fani-Kayode has never and would never say such a thing or harbor such a horrendous and heartless view.

For the last few years Chief Fani-Kayode has been one of the loudest and most strident voices against Boko Haram in Nigeria and he has continously and courageously condemned them. He has also continously expressed his grave concerns about the barbarity and sheer evil that they have unleashed on the Nigerian people and he has constantly expressed his condolences to and support for the families whose loved ones have been murdered by them over the years. 

For Premium Times or anyone else to allege that Chief Fani-Kayode wrote that the Nigerian people ''deserve Boko Haram'' under any circumstances is not just mischievous but it is also irresponsible and malicious. It is a wicked lie which is designed to endanger the life and reputation of Chief Fani-Kayode and to subject him to public odium, ridicule, outrage and opprobium. We challenge anyone that doubts the veracity of our contention to go and read Chief Fani-Kayode's write-up on his Facebook wall because it is still there. 

They should point out where President Jonathan's name was mentioned and they should also point out where he wrote that ''Nigerians deserve Boko Haram''. We urge our friends in the media to please check their sources properly before going to press and to quote people accurately. 

They should also treat such matters in a thoroughly honest and professional manner and with the greatest sensitivity. Since yesterday night we have been inundated with calls from concerned Nigerians about this fake headline and we have had to go to great lengths to set the record straight. We appreciate the fact that the overwhelming majority of Nigerian media practitioners always adhere to the highest standards of ethics and practice but when things go wrong, for the sake of posterity, it is important to set the record straight.

Thank you''- Jude Ndukwe (Special Assistant to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode)

My original text on Boko Haram published on my facebook page

Anyone that honestly believed that a man who secretly shares the same vision and core principles of Boko Haram and who spent many years defending them can do anything but give them a free hand when he comes to power is living in cuckoo land.

I am not surprised by all the recent bombings and killings. I am not surprised by the resurgence of BH and their new found barbarity, courage and zeal. Military checkpoints have been removed from our roads so what do you expect?

Boko Haram suspects are now being kept in prisons in the eastern part of the country in order to ''spread the word'' and no less than 182 Boko Haram suspects were released on the Presidents orders just a few days ago. Is all this just a coincidence or is something that is dark and sinister now afoot in our country?

Whatever each of us may or may not believe, one thing is clear- that Boko Haram now have powerful friends and secret allies right at the epicenter of power and those friends and allies are running the affairs of the country.

There is a much wider picture unfolding here which the Nigerian people have yet to see and which they find difficult to accept, understand or comprehend. There is a hideous and frightful hidden agenda which is slowly manifesting before our very eyes. Though we warned them, the Nigerian people wanted "change" so they must live with the consequences of their choice.

One of those consequences is the new-found audacity, courage, growing power and rising strength of Boko Haram. Another is the resurgence of a clearly ethnic agenda which is designed to leave no-one in doubt about who really owns Nigeria and who the slaves are.

Another is the destruction and demystification of Bola Tinubu and his yoruba loyalists by his erstwhile northern allies in the APC. Only a fool did not see that one coming and I am rather surprised that Tinubu's followers are now crying foul and alleging that there is a northern conspiracy. Didnt they know that before? Were they not warned over and over again?

There are many other grave consequences which the Nigerian people will witness, in a most harrowing and frightful manner, in the next few months and years. May God deliver our people and our nation and may we learn to make the right choices.

British-Nigerian woman wins six-figure payout against her employer

48 year old British-Nigerian woman, Ibukun Adebayo, who is a  director at one of Princess Diana's favourite charities, Turning Point has been awarded a six-figure payout after her boss nicknamed her 'Looney Tunes' and sent an obscene email.

According to UK Daily Mail, Mrs Adebayo won her religious and racial bias claim against Turning Point, a drugs, alcohol and mental health charity at East London Tribunal Service. She claimed she was unfairly sacked from her £84,000 position as IT director at the charity by its chief executive Lord Victor Adebowale.

The hearing was told that her boss David Hoare referred to her a 'Looney Tunes' in one email to Lord Adebowale and sent another work email about a sex act. He was given a warning by Lord Adebowale, but Mrs Adebayo a mother-of-five from Bexley was dismissed from her job after she complained about Mr Hoare's gross misconduct.

Now she is seeking £466,815 in compensation for lost earnings and hurt feelings but says that most of all she would like her job back. Turning Point adopted Princess Diana as patron in 1985. She worked for the charity until her death and was proud of the way it helped vulnerable people deal with drug and alcohol misuse.

Mrs Adebayo joined the charity in June 2004 and managed over 20 IT workers and a £1million-a-year budget at its central London office.

 

In 2011, Mr Hoare sent director of strategic projects Beverley Priest an email about Mrs Adebayo and also wrote about a sex act.

 

In October 2012, Mr Adebowale emailed Mr Hoare about Mrs Adebayo asking 'What have we unleashed...?!' Mr Hoare replied: 'Looney tunes...'

Later that year, he sent emails poking fun at Mrs Adebayo's Christian beliefs behind her back, saying she was praying 'in the wilderness'.

And he said a request for an interview with Mrs Adebayo should be 'killed' as they no longer wanted her as the face of the charity.

Mrs Adebayo was devastated to discover all these emails in April 2013 and complained about Mr Hoare. Mr Hoare received only a formal warning for his gross misconduct.

But Lord Adebowale, 52, sacked Mrs Adebayo in August 2013 for 'hacking into staff emails'.

The tribunal ruled that any reasonable employer would have 'given genuine and serious consideration' to firing Mr Hoare for gross misconduct.

UK Daily Mail

Mayor of the City of Houston declares July 17th as Basketmouth Day

Yes, Basketmouth, the Nigerian comedian. The Mayor of the City of Houston 'Annice D. Parker, has declared the 17th of July as Basketmouth Day in Houston, Texas in recognition of his contribution in integrating the Nigerian American Community through his art for the past 6 years in Houston.

The congressional recognition ceremony will hold on July 18th, same day as his One Man Stand Comedy Concert 'Basketmouth Uncensored' in Houston at Ayva Center. This is a great achievement for Basketmouth as he becomes the 1st Nigerian entertainer to have this honor conferred upon. Big congrats to him...

Jega Is Back To The Classroom At Bayero University Kano

Immediate past chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega was sighted in his office at Bayero University in Kano on Monday, where he was vice chancellor before his appointment as INEC boss. Good man!

Money laundering: Court orders forfeiture of properties of companies linked with Ex- Gov Nnamani to FG

Press statement from the EFCC

Justice Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos today July 8, 2015 convicted four companies associated with former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani and ordered that their properties be forfeited to the Federal Government.  The four companies are Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited and Renaissance University Teaching Hospital

The companies had on May 19, 2015 pleaded guilty to a 10-count amended charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The companies are alleged to have failed to comply with lawful inquiry made by the Commission.

At today’s sitting, counsel to the EFCC Kelvin Uzozie prayed  the court to make an order of final forfeiture of the companies based on their plea. Justice Yinusa after reviewing the facts convicted the companies and made an order of final forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government, citing provision of the EFCC Establishment Act on Final Forfeiture.

The properties are located across the five states in the South East geopolitical zone.

Among them are 22 Duplex buildings in Ebeano Under Tunnel Estate now known as Fidelity Estate; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital; Cosmos 105.5 FM Digital Station (Ceuna Communications); and Capital City Automobile Limited, located at 12 Station Road, GRA, Enugu. Also forfeited to the Federal Government include  properties of Hill Gate Investment  - Plot No H12, H13, H14, H15, H21`, H116, H188, Plot 10, Plot H11, Plot H16, Plot H17, Plot H18, Plot 19, Plot H20, Plot H49, Plot H50, Plot H117, CP/4 (HCR2), CP5 (HCR2) CP/6(HCR2) CP/7 (HCR2) CP/8
The assets also include several undeveloped properties/plots of land  of Rainbownet Nigeria Limited in Enugu, Abakaliki, Aba, Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Umuahia.

Properties of Rainbownet Communication which include BTS, Microwave Avenue Radio, Rectifiere,  and a host of the equipment in various sites in Anambra States are also to be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Aside the landed properties, over N35 million from the frozen bank accounts of the companies are also to the forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Uzozie who is pleased with the ruling of the court said the Commission had to sought for a separate trial of the companies as the first accused person, former governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani had stalled proceedings on the matter on account of frequent application to travel abroad for medical treatment on grounds of ill-health.

Chimaroke Nnamani alongside Sunday Anyaogu, his then aide and six firms linked to them: Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School were first arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar in 2007.   The case was re-assigned to Justice Charles Archibong following the transfer of Justice Abubakar, now of the Appeal Court, out of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court. Again, the case was re-assigned to Justice Yinusa, after Justice Archibong (now retired) was also transferred out of the Lagos division of the court.

According to the charge, Nnamani conspired with other accused persons to launder funds from the state treasury, especially monies meant for the local government areas of Enugu state.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
7th July, 2015

Buhari is failing, Nigerians'll beg us to take power in 2019 –PDP

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party has said that Nigerians would beg it to return to power in 2019. The National Vice Chairman, South-South zone of the party, Cairo Ojuogbo, stated this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Ojuogbo said his party would return to power because the APC is crisis-ridden, alluding to the disagreement in the ruling party over the National Assembly leadership. He said the APC does not only lack the capacity to manage the crisis, but that it lacks coordination and ideology.

“Rivers and Akwa Ibom State tribunals are sitting in Abuja,” Mr. Ojougbo said. “No amount of intimidation will make the PDP lose the elections it won freely and fairly in these states. Any move to rig us out will be resisted.”

He restated the PDP’s opposition to the appointment of Amina Zakari as the acting Chairman of INEC.

He said, “We have said that the appointment of Amina is completely unacceptable to us. The example that ex-President (Goodluck) Jonathan gave should be followed. We know Amina is not apolitical.”

The PDP ruled the country for 16 years until May 29 when it handed over power to the APC after it was sent parking through a nationwide defeat in the March 28 federal election.