Jonathan’s Defeat: Militant leaders broke, change wild lifestyles

Money is good but the ability to have enough of it for the rest of your life, legitimately, is the real deal.

Less than three months after the end of Goodluck Jonathan's administration, the millionaire lifestyles of some of the known ex-militant leaders from states of the Niger Delta has changed tremendously. Gone are those days when monetary rewards and multi-million naira contracts in various forms came their way.

It was not uncommon to see some of them flying private jets and chattered flights and living larger than life while Jonathan held sway as president...

Theirs was more a replica of the new kids on the block who came into sudden wealth and decided to flaunt it with careless abandon. A drive to the home of a typical ex-militant leader would reveal the presence of scores of armed mobile policemen as security aides, escort vehicles and exotic cars in abundance. One was also bound to meet a lot of their boys hanging around their bosses and enjoying choice drinks while elderly people in need of one favour of the other thronged the house.

But with the exit of Jonathan from power following his defeat at the polls, a lot of the ex-militants’ lavish lifestyle has tapered off, especially those among them who failed to plan for the future; they have seemingly returned to the pre-Jonathan era when they had nothing except their monthly allowances from the Presidential Amnesty Office.

However, few of them decided to plan ahead. Some ventured into businesses like sand dredging, etc.

Bayelsa ex-militant leaders such as the 2nd-in-command of the defunct MEND, Dr Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, known along the creeks as BoyLoaf; Pastor Reuben Wilson, known as Pastor Reuben; Comrade Eris Paul, known as General Ogunboss, and Africa Ukparisia, known as General Africa, who hitherto enjoyed a robust lifestyle of millionaires, have adopted quieter lifestyles.

Investigation by LEADERSHIP showed that the defeat of the Jonathan administration, which was the major source of revenue and patronage, and the cancellation of the million-dollar pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the NNPC may have got them to realise that things have changed.

Mujahid Asari Dokubo
The Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF) has been one of the most prominent latter-day militant leader to champion the cause of the Niger Delta people. The emergence of the Jonathan presidency was like a payback for the ex-militant leader as a lot of financial windfall came his way through various means. He was a strong advocate for the continuation of the Jonathan presidency beyond 2015. It got to a stage he and Edwin Clark were competing to be the major voice agitating for Jonthan to win the 2015 elections. However, with the defeat of Jonathan, sources close to LEADERSHIP Weekend said he has almost faded out of the public glare, same with the robust lifestyle he was indulging in. In fact, it was gathered that he now spends more time in Benin Republic where he owns the Amachree African University, KAAU, in addition to the soccer academy he runs in the West African country.

Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo
Having been reduced financially by President Muhammadu Buhari through revocation of most of his lucrative contracts, especially the one to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Ltd (GWVSNL) which he is the chief promoter, Tomplo has also reduced his lavish lifestyle.

Though, he’s still being looked at as “warlord,” sources said hundreds of his followers have allegedly dumped him as they search for other means of sustenance.

It was reliably gathered that the ex-militant leader can longer use his private jet because of high maintenance cost. Unconfirmed sources also said the many women that flocked around him have thinned out.

An aide who did not want his name in print said: “Oga Tompolo is not all that broke as people see him at present, though he has stopped the lavish lifestyle he was used to when President Goodluck Jonathan was there (Aso Villa).”

Ebikabowei Victor Ben, alias Commander Boyloaf
Boyloaf works hand-in-hand with Gen Africa to coordinate MEND activities in Bayelsa State though his area of operations is in the Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw axis of the state.

With his education and exposure, BoyLoaf is said to have gotten a better deal out of the Amnesty Programme and was able to build houses in Abuja and Port Harcourt. He also has business in shipping and dredging. Even though he has always kept a low profile, the exit of Jonathan has further forced him to cut down on his public exposure.

High Chief Ateke Tom
Ateke, popularly known as the ‘Godfather,’ was one of the field commanders of MEND.

Now a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Godfather contested the governorship ticket of the party but later withdrew due to pressures from the former First Lady, Dame Patience Faka Jonathan.

Ateke’s contribution to the success of the PDP in the last general elections, which led to the emergence of Governor Nyesom Wike, has made him one of the decision makers within the party.

It is an open secret that Ateke’s nominees made the list of members of the newly inaugurated caretaker committees for Port Harcourt City, Ogu/Bolo and Okrika local government councils of the state.

He has become an institution of sorts in Ijaw politics, has strong influence in Okrika land, and is a leading figure in the sponsored media campaign which discouraged youths in the state from violence and criminality.

Others that have also toned down are: Hon Fara Doctor Dagogo, Eris Paul alias Ogunboss, Pastor Reuben Wilson alias Gen Pastor and Commander Ukparasa Africa Owei, alias General Africa.

Buhari Sets Up "Special Courts" To Deal With The Big Thieves

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has quietly begun moves to establish special courts that will try high-profile corruption-related cases as part of the efforts to fight open stealing in the country.

According to PUNCH’s investigations, President Buhari is opting for a comprehensive onslaught against the huge problem of corruption in the country with a view to getting money to develop Nigeria.

Already, credible sources have confirmed that Buhari had concluded plans to submit a bill on the planned special anti-corruption courts to the National Assembly for immediate action.

A top operative of one of the anti-graft agencies, told Punch that the Government decided to set up the special courts because of the long delay by regular courts in deciding corruption-related cases.

It was further gathered that the President recently made a demand for 36 judges with the requisite integrity and boldness to decide cases in line with the law and not according to influence of the people or the pecuniary gains that come with associating with them.

The anti-graft officer said, “The President is being careful; he does not want people to do a wishy-washy job for him. Buhari is pressing for the establishment of special courts to try corruption cases. He wants the courts to be established in Abuja and the 36 states of the federation so that they can fast-track such cases.”

Investigations further revealed that the Federal Government had contacted the National Judicial Council to provide judges with impeccable reputation to preside over the planned courts.

It was gathered that the NJC released the names of 100 judges from the 36 states of the federation to the leadership of three major anti-corruption bodies in the country after an internal process of selection.

The judges have been screened by operatives of the EFCC and the ICPC. The fight is about to begin.

British conman lied about having been asked to assist with rescue of Chibok girls so he could lure women into bed

49-year-old Beau Plantard pretended he was a veteran paratrooper who had once been asked to assist with the rescue of Nigerian Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in a bid to sleep with women.

Plantard who also goes by the name John Pugh, claimed he was a Special Air Service (Sas) hero and worked as Princess Diana’s bodyguard. 

 

According to MailOnline, Plantard would play friend's videos which apparently showed him jumping out of planes and even had a tattoo of Parachute Regiment-style wings emblazoned across his shoulder blade, with the word 'airborne' inked above. 

One of his ex-girlfriends has also claimed he is a serial love rat, who began dating her while he was still in a relationship with his partner of 17 years.


Second World War historian Amy Jelfs, 36, who dated Plantard for around five months, said she broke up with the ex-serviceman after rumbling his charade, branding him as 'disrespectful' and 'manipulative'.

She told MailOnline:

“He just told a pack of lies from day one. He has his whole village thinking he is some sort of war hero. I wasn't even impressed or particularly bothered that he was in the SAS, but he would just go on about it constantly: every day he had a new story to tell. He'd apparently been all over the world on secret missions. He's an awful man and, more than anything, it is so disrespectful to serving troops. That is why he needs to be exposed.”

Ms Jelfs met Plantard while they were both members at the Utopia gym in Evesham, Worcestershire. Because her ex-boyfriend had served with the Army for more than 20 years, she did not find Plantard's elaborate stories particularly impressive. But she says he persisted in regaling her with exotic tales about his alleged time in the SAS. He even reportedly told the mother of one of her friend's that he had been a security guard for Princess Diana.

 "He was charming and manipulative,' Ms Jelfs said."When he told me he was away in Nigeria, he was actually on holiday with his partner. He once declared to the whole gym that he was going for surgery to have a piece of shrapnel removed from his bottom, which wasn't the case at all."

When Ms Jelfs started to get suspicious, she began asking some of her friends in the Army whether they had heard of Plantard. They all claimed that they had - but that he had not been in the SAS. She said:

 "I had my suspicions and then he would just come out with more and more weird stuff. I started digging around myself and realized he wasn't telling the truth. As for his tattoo, it's hideous and wonky. That also made me suspicious."

Ms Jelfs was eventually contacted by Plantard's long-term partner, who found out he had been dating another woman. She then confronted him at his home and the pair broke up. But days later, Plantard started seeing Sam Joubert, a 40-year-old dental nurse and part-time Zumba instructor, to whom he fed the same imaginative stories. When Ms Jelfs warned Ms Joubert about Plantard's ways, he reported her to police for harassment. Ms Jelfs said:

 "I just wanted to warn Sam that he was dangerous. She has got a little girl. He lied to me from the beginning. He never mentioned he was in a relationship. He said he had been in the Paras and always used to make out as though he had a traumatic time."

Meanwhile, Ms Jelfs contacted the Walter Mitty Hunters Club, a group which exposes bogus servicemen and women. But Plantard was already on the group's radar after he performed at a re-enactment group of the Pathfinder Airborne Troopers, claiming he was in the SAS.

Source: Daily Mail

Meet the beautiful girl who graduated law school with First class

At just 22, she already understand the value of diligence. Adetutu Olowu, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, graduated with a First Class from the Lagos campus of Nigerian Law School in the 2014/2015 academic session. In this interview with PUNCH, she shares her experience:

Was it your dream as a child to be a lawyer?

Yes, I had always dreamt of becoming a lawyer, even as a child. The main reason at that time was because I was fascinated by the respect and admiration people had for lawyers, especially in their formal dress (the wig and gown). So, I dreamt to be one, and I’m glad I made that decision.

How was your experience in the school?
I found Law school very challenging and a bit stressful. The classes were always long and we had assignments and tasks to work on every day. It was better to read so as to reduce the workload when exams were close. Being in Law School requires a lot of focus and effort, but I found that it was good for my development as a person. People told me how difficult it could be to have a first class, but those stories strengthened my resolve to excel.

How easy was it to graduate with a first class from the Law school?

It was very challenging. In fact, the road to having a first class was the most challenging one I ever encountered till date. It didn’t come easy, but thank God I made it. I’m definitely a product of hard work and God’s blessing. Having a first class in Law requires hard work and my case wasn’t different. I had to drive myself very hard because I had the mind of having a first class and I knew it wouldn’t come easy, so I prepared for it. I used to read from the beginning to the end of the session and then asked God to crown my effort with success. So, that combination made it possible.

Did you also have the same performance when you were in OAU?

The only periods that I didn’t perform well were during my first three years as an undergraduate and it was primarily because I thought I could continue with old methods and get the same results. Thank God I changed that approach before it was too late. I realised that if I put in the required effort, I could and would be the best in all I did. Thus, I didn’t need anyone to tell me before I adopted that measure when I got to the Law School. I worked hard, but more important was God’s grace.

What was your typical day like in the Law School?

I used to wake up by 3:00am and read till 5:30am, after which I would have my bath and go back to sleep. After that, I would wake up by 8:00am, have my breakfast and prepare for class. We used to spend about eight hours in class with just thirty minutes lunch break. After classes, I took time out to gist with my roommates and friends, ate dinner and then go to bed.

A number of people see Law as a complex, voluminous and technical course, what is your view on that?

Law is indeed very complex, voluminous and technical. However, I believe that consistent reading will aid understanding of the course, and approaching the course with an understanding that all aspects of Law are interrelated would help simplify it.

Some people think that cramming is a necessity for anyone to excel in Law, especially when it comes to cases. Did you have to cram as well?

No, I didn’t. I’m not very good at cramming. In fact, I didn’t cram lots of cases or statutes for the bar exam. I believe that the most important thing is to understand the principles of law so that one can apply them to problems in order to proffer solutions.

Which area would you like to specialise in?

Law is interrelated, but I have flair for International Business Law or Corporate Finance.

How long were you reading?

I can’t really say the exact number of hours I read daily because I read as time permitted. However, I made sure I read every topic before each class. That gave me an idea of what to expect and to be able to ask informed questions and clarify anything I didn’t understand while reading.

How often did you use the library?

I hardly used the library because I realised that I usually slept there. So, the best place I read was either in my room or the reading room in the hostel.

How would you describe your social life?

I was not very social, but my friends understood my kind of person, so they let me be. However, I tried to be social from time to time, just as they say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I tried to be involved a bit in some social activities.

Being a young lady, how did you handle peer pressure?

I’m an independent person and I have been like that for as long as I can remember. In addition, I hang out with like-minded people who would not put pressure on others to do anything they don’t want to do. So, that wasn’t a problem for me.

How did you use your leisure?

I read fictional books and I watched a lot of movies.

How did you handle gestures from men, who might be attracted to your brilliance?

I tried to be friendly with them, but I always made my position clear and I stood by it. It didn’t stop me from mixing and relating with them, but there were boundaries and we all respected that.

What were your most memorable moments?

My happiest memory till date is the day I saw my Law School result. It remains a day to remember. If you set a goal and you worked at it, coupled with your faith and you achieve that set target, it will surely be memorable and I cherish that moment. 

What are your immediate plans and aspirations?

I intend to practise for some time and go for my Master’s very soon. I like to go deeper. Law is an interesting course that any interested person would find attractive. I’m glad to be in this profession.

Where do you hope to work?

I look forward to working in a big and reputable law firm. I like to practise, but law is a course that is relevant to every aspect of life, so I might venture into something else in future.

What would you advise students to do to have an excellent result?

Students should read very well; there is no shortcut to that. They should not be too proud to ask for help from their peers when they need to. Above all, they should always ask God to crown their efforts with success.

This Bad Guy Can Steal All Kinds of Car & He's Been Doing It Until He Was Caught

If there is one thing Kehinde Oluomo has become adept at doing, it is carjacking. According to him, no matter what brand or how high-tech a car is, all he needs to break into it and steal it is a piece of wire.

Kehinde, who was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force, Kwara State command, confessed to having stolen six exotic cars through this means. The suspect, who said he was from Lagos State, explained that he started car robbery in 2013.

According to him, his strategy was to monitor where vehicles were parked, ensured that nobody was watching him and then he broke into the vehicle with the aid of a wire...

He is now begging for forgiveness, saying he would never steal cars again if he is released.

“I stole cars and sold them off. I normally sold to Sakiru (his co-accused). I have stolen only six cars. I brought the cars from Lagos to sell in Ilorin. I stole my first car in 2013,” he confessed.

His co-accused, who identified himself simply as Sakiru, said he was arraigned for car theft sometime ago, but the case was later settled out of court.

He claimed that since then, he had been an informant to the police, exposing to security operatives people involved in car theft. But he went into the dirty business again, saying the devil pushed him into receiving a stolen car which led to his arrest by the police.

He also expressed remorse for his action, saying he would never receive or buy stolen vehicles again.

Another suspected receiver of stolen cars, Alhaji Oba Suleiman, who wept intermittently when they were being paraded by the police, said he sometimes bought stolen cars for as little as N25,000.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara State Police Command, Mr. Ajayi Okesanmi, said the suspects were arrested in Ilorin on Monday by the anti-car theft team of the command through the efforts of the men of the command’s Intelligence and Investigation Department.

According to him, the suspects led the team to recover five different cars from different locations.

Buhari will ensure our dreams of Nigeria come true – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while receiving the executives of the National Association of Nigerian Students at his hilltop home in Abeokuta, Ogun state, said with President Muhammadu Buhari as the current leader of Nigeria, the dreams of a better Nigeria may be coming true.

His words: "There is no angel here on earth. none. For me there is no messiah except Jesus Christ. but for me there are people, there are leaders who are mindful of what is required for the majority of this country and they are ready to take out time to do it. I believe that God has given us such a leader in this man. What we have seen in the last two and a half months is an indication that our dream may be coming true."

Photos: Tonto Dikeh Churchill shows off her beautiful wedding ring

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Aisha Hinds outfit to a series premiere though (photos)

US TV stage and film actress Aisha Hinds, 39, bared her stomach in this outfit - green harem pants with a black cape jacket with split sleeves and a black bra as she attended Amazon's Series 'Hand of God' premiere in LA on Wednesday August 19th. You think she's pregnant?

Soso Soberekon apologizes over Skiibii's death rumour...

As the Five Star Music manager posted on his instagram page this morning. See the rest of his apology after the cut...

Another Trailer accident along Ketu, Lagos. (photos)

This accident happened today along Ketu - Oworo express & caused heavy traffic. As seen above, the contents of the trailer spilled onto the road. More photos after the cut...

 Photo credit: Mase Timilehin