Premium Times Attacks Bayelsa State Governor; Alleges He Paid Hackers To Hack Systems In Nigeria

According to an investigation report by premium times, the Bayelsa state government paid close to one hundred million naira to an Italian firm Hacking Team, to hack computers and phones in Nigeria. This report is based on new information emerging from the firm’s leaked internal data.
This hacking team is reportedly notorious for equipping governments with tools to hack citizens’ computers and phones, was itself hacked Sunday night and 415 gigabyte of internal data leaked to the public.
Researchers have been pouring through the leaked documents since it was first leaked Sunday night, throwing up many shocking details of the firm’s secret dealings with Bayelsa state and other repressive governments, including Sudan, Russia, and Bahrain.
Documents allegedly seen by premium times show that the Bayelsa government, a small state in Nigeria’s oil rich Niger Delta, paid Hacking Team N98 million to carry out internet attacks, in what appears to be the most ambitious hacking project by a Nigerian state government.
The contract was signed in late 2013, Hacking Team’s internal documents, leaked after the Sunday night hack attack on the company, show.
Details of the extent of the attacks Hacking Team carried out on behalf of the state is not clear at the moment.
The contract with the Bayelsa government is classified as “intelligence ” the same class with contracts the firm unlawfully held with Russia and Sudan.
Hacking Team, now learning how it feels to have one’s privacy breached, is notorious for developing intrusive soft-wares for state clients who use them to hack citizen’s computers and smartphones. Hacking Team’s twitter account was hacked and used to announce the hack. The cost of Bayelsa government’s contract with the firm is equivalent to what the Russian government recently paid the firm for maintenance of its Remote Control System. And worth more than what Turkey, Columbia and Bahrain paid to the firm.
The firm claims its intrusion softwares – Remote Control Systems – are the most invasive and ruthless, with ability to compromise most operating systems, except iOS but including jail-broken iOS.
In one video commercial, it boasted that its software could hack offline and encrypted computers and smartphones, even if the target was outside the government’s “monitoring domain”.

Galileo, one of the company’s most evil soft-wares, is also able to secretly take snapshots and record conversations of its victims.
The Hacking Team is loathed by digital activists and freedom of expression advocates all over the world for helping oppressive regimes abuses citizens’ right to privacy and freedom of speech.
Reporters Without Borders listed the firm on its enemies of the internet index due to its primary surveillance tool, Da Vinci.
The intentions of the Bayelsa state government in purchasing the software is unclear at this time.
As at the time the Bayelsa state government acquired the software, the state was not known to be under any external cyber aggression. But it’s governor, Seriake Dickson, was persecuting a citizen over critical Facebook comments.
It was also in the run-up to the 2015 general elections.
During the same period, PREMIUM TIMES and few other Nigerian news organisations believed to be critical of the former regime, led by Goodluck Jonathan, suffered several cyber attacks.
Mr. Jonathan is from Bayelsa state and enjoyed absolute loyalty from Mr. Dickson at the time.
Hacking Team did not sell its software directly to the Bayelsa state government. The transaction was channeled through an Israeli company, NICE, and then V&V Nigeria.
V&V, also Israeli-owned, is known to have close relationship with former Bayelsa state governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.
V&V is responsible for the supply of many government hacking tools in Nigeria.
The Bayelsa Governor could not be reached to comment for this story.
His spokesperson, Daniel Iworiso-Markson did not answer or return calls seeking comment. He is also yet to respond to a text message sent to him. And so also is Dan Kikile, the state commissioner for information.

Despite making all these bold claims, premium times are yet to come up with any concrete evidence to back up the claims being made.

EFCC Set to Begin Probe Of Godswill Akpabio: Investigates alleged N108.1 Billion Fraud

Following a petition forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by an Abuja based lawyer and activist, Leo Ekpenyong, the commission has now begun investigations into claims that former Governor of Akwa Ibom state Godswill Akpabio was involved in the theft of N108.1 Billion of state funds.
Mr. Ekpenyong had on June 8 petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC, calling for Mr. Akpabio’s probe and accusing him of looting Akwa Ibom state treasury. On his part, Mr. Ekpenyong was summoned on Wednesday, June 17, to adopt his petition and provide more details to some of the allegations he made against Mr. Akpabio.
The former governor, now senator, was elected in 2007, at a time the nation enjoyed robust oil revenue.
Akwa Ibom State and Rivers State are Nigeria’s largest oil-producing states. The two states alternate as first and second top producers periodically.
The two states receive the highest funds allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, monthly.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation indicate that under Mr. Akpabio, known for ostentatious spending, Akwa Ibom received a staggering N1. 6 trillion from FAAC between June 2007 and May 2014.
At the time he vacated office on May 29, the state received more, excluding other revenues like Ecological Funds, internally generated revenue etc. In a new petition to the EFCC dated June 22, and copied to Mr. Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, Mr. Ekpenyong gave details of some of Mr. Akpabio’s alleged financial recklessness.
He indicated that between January and December 2014, the ex-governor colluded with two of his top aides to steal a whopping N108.1 billion from the state’s treasury.
Mr. Ekpenyong told the EFCC that the former Government House Permanent Secretary, Etekamba Umoren, and the former Accountant General of the state, Udo Isobara, colluded with Mr. Akpabio to steal the funds.
The former governor is also being accused of using state funds to acquire several assets across the country. Some of those listed include Plot 5 Okogosi Spring Close, off Katsina-Ala Crescent, Maitama-Abuja, a multi-billion naira mansionette at Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama, Abuja and another multi-billion naira mansion at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. Others include a multi-billion naira mansionette at Plot 23 Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview, Lagos and a multi-billion naira 25 storey building at Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Strange, mischievous and untenable
In an interview with Premium Times, Mr.  Aniekan Umana, the former commissioner of information under Akabio’s administation dismissed the claims as being pretentious and false, explaining,
“Every sum withdrawn from a government account is tied to a subhead and there must be a budgetary provision. To attribute fraud to withdrawals, which had the full sanction of Government and was accommodated in the budget is strange, mischievous and untenable.”
The former commissioner also challenged the veracity some of the claim being made
“Senator Akpabio does not own a 25-storey building in Victoria Island or in any part of the world, as alleged by the petitioner. It is also a patent falsehood that the house at 22 Probyn Road, Ikoyi belongs to Senator Akpabio. It is a rented building which ownership can be verified from Lagos State Lands Registry.

“Senator Akpabio does not own the properties mentioned in the petition to belong to him. You can verify the ownership of the properties (5 Okokosi Close, Maitama and Plot 28 Colorado Close, Maitama) from the land registry in Abuja,” he said.

Wizkid links up with Skepta as he gets into London (photo)

Skepta is the British-born Nigerian Grime artist who introduced Wizkid's song Ojuelegba to Drake. Wizkid arrived London a few hours ago and hooked up with him describing him as 'my bro for life!' 

EXPOSED: NLNG Funds Not Remitted Under Jonathan

Truth be told, for many Nigerians the first time they ever heard that NLNG paid money into Nigeria's national account is during this Muhammadu Buhari government. So, what's been happening before?

Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has revealed Goodluck Jonathan administration illegally refused to transfer funds remitted to it by Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) into the federation account.

Noting that the remitted NLNG funds were not been transferred to the federation account, Oshiomhole said, “For example, all the noise that have been generated over what happened last week, there was nothing extraordinary. 

“What was extraordinary is that the NLNG has over the years been remitting funds to the federal government. But the federal government illegally refused to transfer these funds to the consolidated revenue fund which belongs to the three tiers of government."

According to him, with the renewed transparency being returned to the system by President Buhari, Edo State would have gotten N10 billion consecutively in four years of the Jonathan administration.

The governor who spoke to journalists after meeting with President Buhari at the presidential villa, regretted that his state lost N10billion under Jonathan and ex-finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

He said Nigerians have always been happy with Buhari because he had been very clear from day one on his campaign promises “about putting an end to impunity and fragrant disobedience of law and order”.

Oshiomhole explained that the NLNG was not just starting to remit, as it had been doing that every year plus taxes paid by Shell, amounting to about $500 million.

He said the $500 million added to the amount of $1.6 billion from NLNG was what totalled to the amount of $2.1 billion that was shared last week.

“All that President Buhari has done is in line with his commitments to ensuring that all funds and monies accruing to the federation account are so remitted. He has directed the CBN to transfer the funds to the consolidated account.

“Our commissioners along with federal officials met last week to share those funds in line with the revenue allocation formula. If this money had come under the last president, it will have gone the same way as in previous years."

He continued: “The truth is that so much was not paid to the federation account and that explains the huge gap. That was why in some of my statements, I said it is not just question of drop in price but it is also the denial of a lot of revenue that ought to have accrued into the federation account. So, no state has gotten a dime from what we called bail out or Excess Crude Account”.

OAP Freeze and Wife Divorcing after 13years of Marriage

Sometimes, no matter how much you try to manage a fraudulent marriage, it just can't stand. Lagos based OAP Freeze has finally filed for divorce from his wife, Ope. The couple has two kids together before things went south between them. Below is what the husband wrote about his experience with her:

"The Lord’s goodness is awesome. His love conquers all. This birthday has been my best in over 15 years!! The Lord has removed the monster that tormented me all this while. The cause of all my misery and affliction, the plaque in my tent, the thorn in my flesh, the source of my torment that bedeviled me, taunted and teased me, yet was the force behind my ordeal. Thank you lord for setting me free."

If you're lucky to have a good wife or good husband, cherish him/her dearly. What some folks go through can be classified as hell on earth, all thanks to fraudulent marriages. See their kids...

...I just feel for their kids!

Ohaneze Ndigbo accuses Tinubu behind plot to remove Ekweremadu

The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Youth Council, has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is behind the plot to remove Ike Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president.

In a statement issued in Umuahia, the OYC National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, asked Tinubu and other “anti- Igbo forces in APC” to retrace their steps or face the wrath of Igbo youths.

Isiguzoro said the plot to remove Ekweremadu was an affront on the Igbo nation which would not be tolerated.

He said,

“Being fully aware that the present plot is being orchestrated by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we ask him to re-trace his steps forthwith or we shall declare him an enemy of Ndigbo.”

Isiguzoro, urged President Buhari to caution Tinubu and other anti-Ekweremadu forces.

He said,

“We are aware that Buhari is under intense pressure to endorse the ‘Ekweremadu must go plot.’ This is the time for the President to prove that he belongs to nobody, Tinubu inclusive, but that he belongs to everybody, Ndigbo inclusive.”

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Another Igbo group, Izu-Umunna Cultural Association, also asked the APC to accept the election of Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president as the will of God.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Ugo Ihekuna, and Secretary-General, Chief Elvis Chukwu, the association attributed the crisis in the senate to the handiwork of politicians who wanted things to always go their own way.

Punch

Tinubu To Emerge Chairman BoT of APC

To further placate the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, most forces in the party may have decided to influence his emergence as the chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, Saturday Vanguard gathered.

The party is due for the constitution of its BoT on June 20, 2015 following the rectification of the process by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, last week.

Tinubu who is a big brain behind the formation of APC by the four defunct political parties - ACN, CPC, ANPP and a faction of APGA - now known as legacy parties, apparently lost out in the power game when his candidates for the Senate Presidency and the Speakership of the House of Reps were defeated at the National Assembly leadership election.

“He is not likely to contest the position with anyone else. Many people want him for the office.”

Speaking in confidence to Vanguard in Abuja, a party source revealed that the odds favour Tinubu even though ex-Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, is said to be angling for the portfolio.

But even with this, it was also learnt that some people may not be comfortable with Tinubu occupying the office. They fear that he may use the office to attack most members of the NWC among whom are the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Barrister Yakubu Dogara whose relationship with him has gone awry following the National Assembly leadership election.

However, those who know what is right believe that he is the one who deserve the office at the moment.

Doctor who scammed patients by falsely diagnosing cancer, jailed for 45 years

A doctor who made millions of dollars by putting more than 500 patients through unnecessary and grueling cancer treatments and then billing insurers has been sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Dr Farid Fata, who worked in suburban Detroit, Michigan, poisoned around 550 victims many of whom did not actually have cancer, by giving them excessive chemotherapy and other treatments.

 

His actions wrecked his patients' health, with many sustaining chronic health problems such as brittle bones and fried organs. Other victims lost their homes and jobs, and were forced into bankruptcy.

On Friday, Fata broke down in court as he was sentenced to more than four decades in prison for what the judge described as a 'huge, horrific series of criminal acts' that had affected hundreds.

The doctor had remained stone-faced earlier in the week as his former patients had appeared in court to detail the shocking consequences of being put through unnecessary chemotherapy.

 

But during his sentencing, Fata, whose business, Michigan Hematology Oncology, had many upscale offices in the area, repeatedly broke down crying as he begged for mercy.

 

Speaking publicly for the first time since he was arrested in August 2013, the oncologist said: 'I misused my talents, yes, and permitted this sin to enter me because of power and greed.'

He added: 'My quest for power is self-destructive.'

Fata, who turned and apologized to his victims in the courtroom, admitted his patients had knocked on his door 'seeking compassion and care', but he had 'failed them'

Fata asked Borman for mercy. But a prosecutor reminded the judge of the victims' "lifetime of suffering."

The judge, calling Fata's crimes "huge" and "horrific," deliberated for about an hour before sentencing Fata to 45 years behind bars.
By then, Fata's tears were gone. He stared ahead, looking emotionless.
His victims, many of whom wore bright yellow to the sentencing to symbolize the last day Fata would see the sun, remained quiet in the courtroom. Afterwards, their disappointment and anger spilled out.
"It's not enough," said Geraldine Parkin, whose husband underwent unneeded chemotherapy.
She, like many others, wanted the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence of 175 years; Fata's lawyers had asked for 25.                      

"We expected more," said Steve Flagg, whose wife, Monica, testified about learning of her misdiagnosis after her leg snapped in half.
As for Fata's tears, Flagg said: "It was just a show."

Authorities said they, too, were disappointed in the length of the prison term, but felt confident that it would encompass all, or most, of his life.

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan called Fata's scheme "the most serious fraud case in the history of the country." No prior investigation, she said, included "the kind of stunning physical harm that we saw in this case."
Noting that chemotherapy is toxic to both cancerous and healthy tissue, McQuade said Fata "gave poison to these people not to keep them alive but to make money."

Outside court, many former patients were disappointed with the punishment, deeming it too short.

'Prosecutors did a fantastic job - and he got 45 years. It's a lifetime sentence for the rest of us,' said Monica Flagg, 53, who was treated for cancer before doctors examining a broken leg found she had no cancer. 'What about all the grave markers out there that all the victims' families have to look at?

NBC News

My First Daughter Said I Would Die In Office – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that his eldest daughter, Iyabo, told him he was going to die in office. He also said his daughter said if that should happen, she would not weep for him.

The former President said he, nevertheless, replied his daughter that such weeping or no weeping would not mean anything to him since he would not be there to appreciate it.

On how he became President in 1999, Obasanjo said: “My mind was almost made up (to vie for the position of President) but I had to consult with my children. I got four of them together in New York. 

“I told them I was going to decide whether to go into politics or not. Iyabo was the most antagonistic. She burst out loudly, ‘I know you will join and you will die there and if you die, I will not weep'.

“I told her ‘if I die and you weep, it is for yourself and others, not for me as I will not know you are weeping.’ 

“It is ironic that within 10 years, Iyabo became a Senator and I completed two terms of eight years without a scratch.”

Obasanjo made these revelations in his controversial book - MY WATCH.

The meeting with the four children came after he had consulted almost all those that mattered.

President Obasanjo added that out of the four children in attendance when he spoke with them, it was only Segun who he said, had a few words of encouragement.

The son, according to Obasanjo, said, “Daddy, you have always said that we must serve God and humanity and if this is the way you have chosen to serve God and humanity, I will pray for you.”

Obasanjo mentioned the names of his 21 children in the book. Five of them are holders of PhD.

He said it was ironic that the same Iyabo, who made noise, later became a senator during his tenure.

Photos: Nicki Hilton & her billionaire heir hubby step out for wedding reception

The newly married socialite wore a sparky Versace dress and shoes as she and her husband attended a wedding reception organized in their honour after their extravagant wedding at Kensington Palace yesterday. This is the second marriage for Nicki - her first lasted three months - and the first for James Rothschild. More photos after the cut...

Photo credit: Splash News