Alleged diversion of $600million railway loan: Okonjo-Iweala reacts

Former Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to reports of a diversion of $600 million from a $1 billion loan collected from the Chinese Exim Bank meant to be used for the construction of a standard gauge rail line linking Lagos to Kano while she served as Minister of Finance in the last administration.

Representatives of the Transport ministry had on August 10th told President Buhari that $600 million had been diverted from the railway loan. Read Okonjo-Iweala's reaction as signed and released by her media aide Paul Nwabuikwu today after the cut...

Since this story was first reported, we have continued to receive media inquiries regarding an allegation reportedly made by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar, that a substantial part of a $1bn loan obtained from the China-EximBank by the Jonathan administration for a Kano-Lagos rail project was diverted to other projects.

I want to state categorically that there is no truth in the reported allegation. Anyone who is interested can cross-check with the China-EximBank or the Chinese Embassy.

It is noteworthy that even though President Buhari, in his reported comments on the allegation, made no reference to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala but rightly stressed the need for due process and transparency in the execution of public projects, a sponsored media campaign has once again been launched by political elements to make the former Minister the culprit in a non-existent scandal.

The alleged diversion has no substance for the simple reason that the Kano-Lagos project was not even among the projects presented for funding by the China Exim Bank for several strategic infrastructural projects across the country.

In fact, it was the Lagos–Ibadan rail project, not Lagos-Kano rail project that was proposed in the original application to the China-EximBank. But in the end, no funds were assigned for the Lagos-Ibadan rail project by the China-EximBank.

The fact which can be confirmed is that the following projects which are at various stages of progress are being funded from facilities obtained from the China-EximBank:

- $500m for the expansion of four International Airport Terminals in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

- $500m for the Abuja Light Rail project

- $984m for the Zungeru Hydro-electric power project

- $100m for the Galaxy Backbone project

It is also important to note that even if the alleged project was on the list of China-EximBank funded projects, diversion of any Chinese funds would have been extremely difficult because the terms of the contract and the processes would simply not have permitted such action.

The procedure is that funds for approved loans remain in the China-EximBank and are released directly to the Chinese firm executing the contract only after the presentation of duly certified proof of work by the responsible Ministry, in this case it would have been the Federal Ministry of Transport, based on the agreed milestones.

For the sake of emphasis, the China-EximBank does not disburse money directly to government and therefore the issue of diversion does not arise.

This is yet another example of the kind of whispering campaign of calumny, innuendo, misinformation, and outright distortions being perpetrated by certain political elements against Dr. Okonjo-Iweala in a bid to try to damage her reputation.

We are confident that those behind this campaign will continue to fail.

We respectfully request the media to refrain from attaching Dr. Okonjo-Iweala's name and photographs to spurious and unfounded allegations. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as a Nigerian citizen in a democracy, a citizen who has served her country with honesty and integrity, also has some fundamental rights to justice and fair play.

Thank you.

Paul C Nwabuikwu
Media Adviser to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Footballer Vincent Enyeama is a domesticated man (photo)

Better man...He shared this photo on his instagram page and wrote "When your house keeper is on vacation and wifey is given a free weekend#lavieestbelleavecma #grateful #blessed #i take laws into my hands. guys lets show the women what we can do".

EJ Johnson suffers wardrobe malfunction (photos)

EJ Johnson, the 23-year-old son of Magic Johnson, who is also a star on the Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills flaunted his new slimmer body in a revealing shirt dress on Saturday night but had a wardrobe malfunction. Another photo after the cut..

Fani-Kayode's ex wife, Yemisi Wada, distances herself from online publication tarnishing his image

Read a press statement below...

 Mrs Yemisi Wada, ex wife of Femi-Fani-Kayode,  has distanced herself from reports quoting her as casting aspersions at her her ex and his mother. In  texts  to some online newspapers, she threatened legal action against those who published the story. Full text of the message after the cut...

"'My attention has been drawn to your post today re: the above. For the sake of peace and a limit to the damage that the whole mess it is causing i am sending you an email i have sent to certain blogs carrying the story

I am hoping you will thus do the right thing by not helping these awful people God knows who they are doing what they do best. ruin lives they don't know for no reason whatsoever.

My attention has been drawn to a story you posted today 13th August 2015 saying I made revelations against Chief Femi Fani- Kayode.

I have consulted my Lawyers and was told to get in touch with you directly as a first step.

I NEVER made any allegations on the person of Chief Femi Fani- Kayode.
I do not have friends who are cowardly as to make such disgusting assertions and do so anonymously.
I am not aware of any of the issues raised in the said publication.
I loved Mrs Adia Fani- Kayode greatly and fondly and whoever could be so sick as to write such sick things about her is not and can never be a friend of mine.

I disassociate myself from these allegations about members of my children's family.
I ask you to please pull said publication down from your portal and make a rebuttal as it is false.
I have made no allegations and not aware of those horrible revelations.
Seeing my name with that write up makes me sick to the stomach and like a rape to my person.
I am on holiday with my family giving God all the Glory for my life and I refuse to be dragged into these issues.
Thank you very much.
I trust you say you are in pursuit of truth hence I write to tell you that piece you have posted is absolutely false and painful. 

Oluyemisi Wada''

Who agrees with Azealia Banks on Nicki Minaj's wax figure?

I think she made some valid points but continue to read and tell us if you agree with her or not...

Read the memo NNPC management sent out to its staff on lateness

Guess a new sheriff is in town...:-)

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Lamborghini Owner Uses DUCT TAPE To Patch Up Damaged Motor

Read this latest sager reaching us as- A Lamborghini Huracán supercar owner resorted to patching up his eye-watering expensive vehicle with duct tape, rather than splash the cash on having it done professionally for just £600 after parting ways with a whooping £180,000 to purchase it.

Onlookers were stunned when two Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4s were pulled over by cops in Woking High Street, Surrey yesterday evening at around 6.15pm after the orange and green sports cars were driven in an anti-social manner. And as the drivers were quizzed on the roadside, one eagle-eyed bystander noticed one of the supercars had a touch of DIY about it, took pictures and alas the pics went viral. Lol. Lovely cars by the way.

- See more at: http://enyinnayaemma.blogspot.com/2015/08/lamborghini-owner-uses-duct-tape-to.html#more

Do You Know Pakistan Provincial Minister Is Among 12 Killed In Suicide Attack Today- Read Full Details

This information has it that the home minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province and 11 others were killed when a suicide bomber targeted his farmhouse today, officials have said.

A tribal council was being held at the farmhouse of home minister Shuja Khanzada at Shadi Khan in Attock district when the blast occurred. More than 50 people were present at the gathering.

Saeed Elahi, advisor to the chief minister of Punjab, confirmed Khanzada’s death and told state-run Radio Pakistan that his body was retrieved from the debris. Twelve people were killed and 25 others injured by the blast

- See more at: http://enyinnayaemma.blogspot.com/2015/08/do-you-know-pakistan-provincial.html#sthash.Kt1S9WwO.dpuf

Read As Pistol-whipped Cop Didn’t Shoot Suspect For Fear Of Backlash

This information reaching us has it that-The Alabama police officer who went viral after he was pistol-whipped with his own gun last week said he didn't shoot his attacker because he didn't want to make headlines as the nation's newest vilified cop.

The Birmingham detective, whose name has not yet been released, paused while a suspect attacked him during a traffic stop because he feared the country-wide backlash he might receive for killing a black man, the head of the local police union said Friday. 

They're losing these confrontations," he added. "He who hesitates is lost." Images of the bloodied officer lying limp and face-down on the ground quickly went viral after witnesses dispersed them on social media, where the wounded deputy was heavily mocked by cop critics.

"Pistol whipped his ass to sleep," one Facebook user wrote. The plainclothes Birmingham cop was investigating a string of burglaries when he stopped a GMC Yukon and was attacked by the driver who immediately got out of his vehicle, authorities said. The suspect, 34-year-old Janard Cunningham, allegedly stole the detective's gun during the struggle and clubbed him repeatedly with it.

"Local law enforcement officers are walking on egg shells because they're so hesitant of how to interact because of what's taking place in the media," police Sgt. Heath Boackle, president of the Fraternal Order of Police said.

The officer was just trying to diffuse the situation," Boackle, 40, said.

"Mr. Cunningham sucker-punched the officer, immediately knocking him to the ground and gained control of his weapon and beat him until he was unconscious."

The detective, a six-year veteran on the force, had hesitated before Cunningham dealt the devastating blow, even as the suspect was quickly inching closer, the union president said.

"If the officer would have pulled his weapon, we would be talking about a totally different story," Boackle said.

"They're so afraid that what's going to be portrayed of them isn't going to be the whole truth of the encounter."

Cunningham, who has a violent criminal history, including an assault conviction in 2006, initially fled the scene, but he was quickly caught and charged with attempted murder in the attack. He appeared in court Tuesday, but his hearing was postponed because he didn't have an attorney.

The deputy, who suffered a concussion, is recovering at home after being treated at UAB Hospital, said Boackle, a 19-year veteran with the Birmingham Police Department.
"He's not going to be back at work for some time," the union president said. "He's still under the doctor's supervision."



Daily news

Intensified Aerial Offensive On Sambisa Forest - Nigerian Air Force

This gist reaching us has it that -The Nigerian Air Force has commenced intensified aerial offensive against Boko Haram insurgents in the dreaded Sambisa Forest.

The Director of Information and Public Relations of the NAF, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, said in an electronic mail on Saturday that the Air Force commenced the raids after weeks of reconnaissance by surveillance aircraft in the mission area.

According to him, the NAF deployed F-7NI and Alpha jets as well as attack helicopters for the operation intended to degrade the fighting capacity of the insurgents.

Alonge said the operation resulted not only in degrading the capacity of the insurgents but also culminated in the destruction of some of their strongholds.

He stated also that the aerials raids had also reduced the terrorists to the execution of small scale attacks in the area.

“The Nigerian Military in its resolution to incapacitate and further degrade the fighting spirit of Boko Haram Terrorist Group has carried out several bombings and air strike missions in Sambisa Forest.

“Intelligence report revealed that as aftermath of the strike missions, the terrorists have been confined and their capabilities greatly reduced, thereby restricting their nefarious activities to small scale attacks and suicide bombings,” the statement read.

Alonge quoted the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiqur Abubakar, as giving assurance that the current air raids would be sustained until the insurgency was brought to an end.