Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have discovered the sum of N2.5 billion in a bank account opened in the name of a housemaid to former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, who is now a senator representing Anambra State in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Two senior EFCC sources told our correspondent that the bank account and its huge deposits had been opened and operated without the knowledge of the former minister’s housemaid. “Senator Oduah apparently opened the account with her housemaid’s name, image, and details without the housemaid knowing about it,” said one EFCC agent familiar with the scandal.
Another EFCC source told SaharaReporters that Ms. Oduah had been going around to some top officials of the Muhammadu Buhari administration seeking their help to scuttle her impending trial. Last week, she asked for a meeting with EFCC chairman Ibrahim Magu, claiming she wanted to meet in her official capacity as a senator.
The two EFCC sources who briefed our correspondent on the “housemaid” account disclosed that Ms. Oduah was the sole signatory to the account, adding that they were still connecting the dots to uncover how the ex-Aviation Minister managed to pull off such a money laundering operation.
“As of last week, the account was still active and contained over N2.5 billion,” said one EFCC source. He added that he could not ascertain whether the EFCC chairman, who is currently traveling in Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj, had ordered the freezing of the account.
One of our EFCC sources revealed that the discovery of the “maid” account meant that the former minister must have stolen as much as N5.6 billion so far from the Aviation Ministry’s funds during her ministerial term.
SaharaReporters revealed earlier that EFCC investigators had so far determined that Ms. Oduah split N3.6 billion that she acquired illegally among eight companies.
In August 2015, Ms. Oduah filed an application at a Federal High Court to stop the EFCC from investigating allegations that she bought two ostensibly bulletproof BMW cars at $1.6 million, or $800,000 apiece. A controversial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, initially granted the order sought by Senator Oduah. However, in February 2016, after Justice Yunusa was transferred out of Lagos, another federal high court judge vacated the order, permitting the EFCC to carry on with its investigation.
SaharaReporters had broken the report about the BMW scam during Ms. Oduah’s ministerial tenure. Several BMW dealers in Europe and North America told our reporters that what the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) paid for the two BMW cars far exceeded the price ranges for such bulletproof automobiles.
Ms. Oduah is a close ally of embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is the defendant in two criminal trials in Abuja pertaining to forgery and false declaration of assets.
The security guard with the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Mohammed Ogbanago, who returned $10,000 (about N2.8m) misplaced by a customer, has said he was ridiculed for the action.
He narrated that he returned the money to show that all Nigerians were not corrupt and to set a good example for Nigerian youths. The Kogi State indigene earns N30,000 (about $100) per month.
According to PUNCH Metro, it was gathered that the 29-year-old had on April 7, 2016, found the $10,000 close to the main gate of the Oba Akran branch of the UBA, where he worked as a security guard. The money was said to have fallen from an $84,500 withdrawn by a bank customer.
The security guard was said to have taken the money to the bank’s operation manager, who then handed it over to the customer when he revisited the bank.
The publication was told that the bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Tony Elumelu, hosted Ogbanago at the bank’s corporate headquarters on the Lagos Island.
The bank repeatedly promised to give him a letter of commendation for the ‘unusual’ conduct. Elumelu, who posted his meeting with Ogbanago on his official Instagram page, said:
“When I heard about this story, I knew I had to meet the man, who despite facing rising petrol and transportation prices and ‘tomato Ebola,’ returned such a huge sum of money.”
During a chat with PUNCH Metro, the guard, who graduated from the Kogi State College of Education in 2012, said good upbringing helped him to resist any temptation to abscond with the money.
He added that the story of an airport cleaner (Josephine Agwu), who returned the N12m she found at her work place, also inspired him.
He said he had boasted to his friends that he would do better if he had the chance. He said:
“And my chance came on that day. I was coming from inside the bank when I saw the money on the ground and I decided that the best thing was for me to take it to the operation manager. The owner of the money later came to ask for it.
“After I did that, some people started ridiculing me that I shouldn’t have returned the money and that I should have considered my meagre salary before letting go of such a huge sum of money. But I felt I did the right thing. If I had, for instance, taken the money away and fled to my village, it would not be a case of misplaced money again, but stealing, and I could even be declared wanted.”
Ogbanago, who said he aspired to public leadership, said his action was to show that not all Nigerians were corrupt.
“Although my salary may not be enough for my upkeep, especially with the current economic situation in the country, it is no excuse to take what is not mine.
“I have been campaigning that to make Nigeria great, we all must prove to be good Nigerians in our small corners. Not all Nigerians are corrupt.
“I am happy I had the chance to prove myself and I want other Nigerian youths to learn from it. I want our youths to know that a good name is better than riches,” he added.
Malice is of a low stature, but it has very long arms and piercing roots. Having extended its reach in the wedlock of presumed Man of God (MoG), Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, it cracked its basement and ripped his family apart inside out.
Even the self-acclaimed evangelist and man of God could not summon the faith and heavenly grace to resist the devastating blows of malice and discord in his marriage.
Little wonder his marriage with his beautiful wife, Anita, crashed like a sand castle.
However, rather than keep a low profile or sulk in private over his inability to save his marriage and practice what he preaches, Pastor Chris is planning to remarry.
According to a source in his church, the dandy cleric is considering taking another wife.
Although he hasn’t made this known to his congregation, findings revealed that a large segment of his congregation are already aware of his plans to take another wife.
But rather than urge him to reconcile with his wife, they are cheering him on. The ladies in particular have started positioning themselves to fill up the void created by Anita’s departure from his life.
Already, a lot of fair-skinned ladies in the church’s branches at home and abroad have started jostling to become the next Mrs. Oyakhilome. But Pastor Chris is reportedly not interested in any of them.
Sources revealed that by the time he names his new bride, every member of his congregation will gape in surprise.
Pastor Chris allegedly gave up on his former wife when it became clear to him that there was no way that they could resolve their differences and save their marriage.
Previous attempts to reconcile the couple by church elders, friends and family had proved futile.
But while her husband prepares to take a new bride, Anita has reverted to her maiden name. She is now to be addressed as Anita Ebhodaghe.
They say greatness comes in twos. Well, we have proof. Join the stunningPearl and her equally phenomenal twin Ruby. As we present their mashup in today’s episode of A3 sessions.
This double-dose of awesomeness have shown that beauty+talent truly equals magic.Watch as they combine international favourites like ‘Love Yourself’ by Justin Beiber.
‘Set Fire to the Rain‘ by Adele and ‘Formation‘ by Beyonce. With a Nigerian classic ‘”Love Me Love Me” by Tiwa Savage’ and Pearl’s debut single, ‘Kuro‘.
Okay people, let us get in Formation and experience this one-of-a-kind performance!
As expected; Davido Music Worldwide rolls out the official video for Dremo‘s trending single – OJERE
‘OJERE‘ was released last week with so much anticipation and it didn’t fall short of expectations from fans & music pundits.. It rose to the top spot on the iTunes digital store in just 4 hours; Generally – Dremo delivered an amazing afro-trap single.
OJERE was shot in Lagos, Nigeria & also featured scenes from the famous Al-Awir desert in the United Arab Emirates. Directed by Q.
Enjoy the exciting visual & use the share buttons. Everyone deserves to see this! Dremo is at the peak of his craft!
Meet top acts whose lifestyles give us #LifeGoals Culled From Olisa. tv
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
At the conclusion of the 2015 Farafina Workshop held in Lagos, nosy folks shared blurry photos that suggested that acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was pregnant. The news made rounds on social media, and was shared on blogs.
However, the multiple-award winning writer refused to ‘perform her pregnancy’ for social media and the press; that is, until her interview with FT when she revealed she is breastfeeding.
“I just feel like we live in an age when women are supposed to perform pregnancy,” Adichie told journalist David Pilling. “We don’t expect fathers to perform fatherhood. I went into hiding. I wanted it to be as personal as possible.”
And when Piling asked for her baby’s name. “No, I won’t say,” Adichie simply replied.
Aisha Buhari, the Wife of the President, on Sunday presented about N30 million cash support to parents of the abducted Government Secondary School (GSS) Chibok students in Borno.
Aisha, represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of the Borno governor, presented the cash to the parents at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
She explained that the gesture was aimed at supporting the parents towards alleviating their sufferings.
Aisha pointed out that the presentation was in fulfillment of her promise to assist the less privileged and victims of insurgency in the North East.
“Today’s presentation was in fulfillment of the promise I made earlier in the year during my book launch in Abuja. I made a promise that the proceeds will be use to better the lives of women and victims of insurgency in the North East,” she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to invest the money in productive ventures, so it can better their living conditions.
“This money is not a sort of compensation, but a kind of support for those in need. Our immediate prayer is for God to help trace and rescue the abducted girls so that they can be safely re-united with their families,” Buhari said.
She commended the military for their efforts in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists and expressed optimism that the search for the abducted girls would soon yield dividends.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that each of the 215 parent was given a cash of N139,000 during the event.
Aisha also donated food items to more than 10,000 widows and people living with disabilities in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Aisha, who was represented at the event by Governor Tanko Al-Makura of the state, said the gesture was to cushion the effects of the current economic hardships in the country.
The governor explained that the donation was meant to alleviate the suffering and make life easy for the less privileged in the state, especially those observing the Ramadan fasting.
He listed the items donated to include rice, noodles, semolina, vegetable oil, tomato paste, sugar and some amount of money, among others.
The governor said the items would be shared to the less privileged in the 13 local government areas of the state.
The governor appreciated Aisha for picking interest in the condition of the less privileged, widows and the physically challenged in the state.
“This donation is made in the spirit of the Ramadan fasting as the president’s wife contributes her quota towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged. This particular gesture is a display of the special affection of Aisha Buhari for the ordinary people and we are grateful,” he said.
A Cameroonian Christian converted to Islam on Friday night at the Rashidiya Grand Mosque, opposite the Dubai International Airport. Below is how Khaleej Times reported it:
“What a night! Thousands of worshippers flocked to the Rashidiya Grand mosque, opposite the Dubai International Airport, late on Friday to mark the most important night of the year in Islam, Al Qadr Night.
“Popular Kuwaiti imam Shaikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy, known for his tuneful voice, mesmerised the faithful with his serene and touchy Quran recitation in the Tahajud Prayers at 12.30 after midnight.
“The conversion of a Cameroonian resident added to the serenity and spiritually uplifting atmosphere is part of the fourth edition of the pioneering Quraa ‘Reciters’ Dubai programme which sees 11 popular imams this Ramadan.
“These include Saad Al Ghamidi, KSA, Adel Rayan, KSA, Shaikh Abu Bakr Al Shatiri, KSA, Mashari Rashid Al Afasi, Kuwait, Ahmed Al Nafees, Kuwait, Mohamed Mubarak, Bahrain, as well as Abdullah Abdurrahman Al Ubaidali, Lebanon, Nabeel Al Refaei, Lebanon.
The fourth edition of the interesting scheme was initiated three years back by the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities in Dubai (DISCAD) under the generous sponsorship of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “
March 17, 2012 will forever go down in history as one sad day for Nigerian music as the end of Mo’hits – a music group that had brought so much accolade to the country and the African continent – was announced by Don Jazzy.
In his E! VIP documentary aired on Sunday night, D’banj revealed what really happened behind close doors in regards to the breakup.
Although his revelation wasn’t far-fetched from what he disclosed to Olisa Adibua on the latter’s The Truth show in January 2015, the pop star however said something this time that struck us.
He explained that the break up was ‘more of a divorce’ as ‘the children (Dr Sid, Wande Coal, and D’Prince) didn’t want to be with him anymore’
He then expressed how shattered he felt.
“I was heartbroken,” he said.
Clad in an all white ensemble, a fur neck wrap, wearing a vintage gold round sunglasses along with his gold neck chains, D’banj went head on to address the rumoured fling with Real Housewives of Atlanta star, Kenya Moore.
He acknowledged Moore as a friend but claimed he was as shocked at the rumours because that’s all there was to it.
“I know her. She is my friend. I was almost going on her show to tell her what’s up because i heard they said i was the man, the prince. I am a prince but easy Tiger, emi ko ni mo wa ni ibeyen na (I am not the one there)”
One of Africa’s Finest Comedian, Bovi and his beautiful wife, Kris Asimonye-Ugboma are expecting their 3rd child together.
Check out photos from her surprise baby shower organised by friends. Kris literally teared up the moment the door was opened and she saw what her friends had up their sleeves.
Babcock University graduate, Justina Anochie, who was kidnapped by gunmen last Sunday, has regained her freedom.
The Ogun State Police Command said it arrested two suspects in connection with the kidnap, adding that the abductors dropped her off in Odogbolu area of the state on Friday when they realized the police were closing in on them.
The police said no ransom was paid for her release.
However, a source said money was paid to the kidnappers, adding that she was in good health.
Justina finished her studies at the Babcock University in June, 2016. She was reported to have returned to her private residence in the university community, where some gunmen kidnapped her.
The family had told Punch that the kidnappers, after demanding N10m, later agreed to take N5m, adding that efforts to make them take N300,000 were turned down.
It was learnt that the suspects finally released her on Friday after collecting some money.
A family source said:
“She was released on Friday and the family paid money to the kidnappers. But I will not disclose the amount for security reasons. She is safe now. Four gunmen carried out the kidnap.”
But the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said no ransom was paid for the release, adding that two suspects had been arrested.
He said immediately the case of Anochie’s kidnap was reported at the Ikenne division of the command, strategies to rescue her were put in place.
Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police, said the first suspect arrested assisted the police in getting the second suspect.
He said:
“Presently, the command, through its Anti- Kidnapping Squad of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Eleweran, Abeokuta, has two suspects who are ‘close friends’ of Anochie.”
He said the forensic investigation and Information Communication Technology skills adopted by the police in the rescue operation compelled the kidnappers to release the victim unhurt.
Adejobi said the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdulmajid Ali, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter and ordered that all the members of the kidnapping ring should be brought to justice.
“The CP also commended the relations of the victim for their patience and understanding during the rescue operation,” Adejobi said.
An Integrated Science teacher at Kumasi Senior High School (KUHIS) Ghana, identified as Justice was allegedly stabbed by his wife to death yesterday morning, July 2.
Wife
The reason for the crime are yet unknown. Security operatives are currently on top of the situation gathering reports for subsequent arrest and prosecution of the offender.
Here’s how a Facebook User, IG Wala posted the story:
This woman was allegedly shot by the man that she is working in his house as a maid. The man named Jamilu (with a traditional title as Barden Kano) is said to be from a royal family in Kano but lives in Barnawa Area of Kaduna. In my attempt to know the story behind this photos. I spoke with a Lawyer/Activist in Kaduna who was following up this matter and this is what he said to me:
The man was taking an afternoon nap when his little daughter was crying. The cry woke him up and he asked after his wife and the wife was not in the house.
He blamed the Nanny for leaving the daughter. So, he brought out two guns (long and short), aimed at the Nanny and fired her. As she managed to step out from the house but, she fell down as a result of amount of blood she was bleeding. The man came down to plead with her and decided to take her to the hospital.
He then, quickly called one of the Community leader and told him what happened, the leader called the CP. Now, from all indications, the narrative is changing, the man is going round telling people that he was servicing his gun and the there was accidental discharge which shot at his maid. To cover up this issue, the Lawyer said Jamilu made offer to bribe his maid and the Community leader. THE WOMAN IS LYING HELPLESS IN THE HOSPITAL IN KADUNA.
I am so ashamed of this and it has made my life unbearable for me. I’m suicidal and I just don’t know how to fix this mess. I have a three-year-old son, when I got pregnant I thought my son was for my main man and not my other boyfriend.
I was proud to be pregnant and never had worries about who the father of my baby was.
When I got pregnant I was sure the baby was his cos I dumped the other guy and later he died.
However, problem started recently when I found out my husband has a daughter who was born 7 months after my son and the girl just resembles my husband like a photocopy and I started seeing difference in my son who suddenly looks nothing like my husband.
I see that my son could be the other guy’s. All these while, I didn’t think for once that my husband is not the father. My husband and my son have a very strong bond, they are so in love with each other. But, I fear what could happen if he finds out he is not actually his son.
I feel like a thief. I feel like I’ve committed the biggest sin in the world.
Everyday, I want to tell my husband about this but I’m scared. I’m so scared of the damage this issue might to do to us. I know his heart is going to break if he finds out. But what should I do?
Should I tell my husband the truth or just forget about it?
Barely one week after a woman severed her stepson’s penis, another woman has been arrested for trying to kill a two-hour old baby boy in Kopa village in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.
The 25-year-old suspect, Bilkisu Adamu Isah, said to be the second wife to the father of the little baby, was alleged to have committed the offence on Wednesday at about 7am.
The Sunday Telegraph learnt that at about 5am on the fateful morning the mother of the child, Suwebatu Kohageuto, who is also the senior wife, had been delivered of the baby boy. And barely two hours after the birth of the child, the suspect, Bilkisu Adamu Isah, was allegedly left alone to look after the new born baby in order to allow Suwebatu have her bath few hours after the umbilical cord of the baby had been separated from him.
An insider police source at the homicide section of the Niger State Criminals Investigation, Intelligent Department (SCIID) Minna said that no sooner that the suspect observed that the senior wife had started to bath that she went into her own room in the house, brought out a bottle of a locally made insecticide popularly called ‘Otapiapia’ and poured some into the mouth of the little child.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said as soon as the suspect had poured the substance into the mouth of the boy that he began to foam and cried out hysterically, obviously in pain.
Surprisingly, the same suspect, who allegedly committed the act, was also said to have been the one that raised the alarm which attracted other members of the family, including the mother of the child. It was learnt that the family members were shocked at the strange occurrence and promptly made a distress call to the grandfather of the child, one Alhaji Mohammed Audu to come. And on arriving at the scene, the old man was said to have put his nose near the mouth of the boy and subsequently told the bewildered family members that he suspected that the boy might have been poisoned with ‘Otapiapia’ because that was the odour he perceived.
The Sunday Telegraph further learnt that in the midst of the confusion that engulfed the family as the boy was taken to the hospital, the suspect was said to have quietly escaped from the scene and ran to her father’s house in a nearby village, Gbedahan, in the same Bosso Local Government.
And on her arrival at her family house, she had confessed to her father that she poisoned her 2-hour old stepson with a view to killing him. However, her disappearance raised suspicion with her husband’s family because she did not tell anyone before she left. A delegation was sent to the suspect’s village where she allegedly confessed to her in-laws that she was responsible for the dastardly act, which she carried out due to her inability to give birth to a male child for her husband.
The 25-year-old suspect, and a mother of two female children, was promptly handed to the Niger State Police Command headquarters and where upon investigation, she confessed to the crime. Meanwhile, the little boy is said to be responding to treatment at the General Hospital Minna.
Earlier on today, we reported that singer D’banj tied the knot with mystery girlfriend in an intimate ceremony held at the Lagos registry.
According to insiders, the Koko Master sent out invitations to a couple of friends for his father’s birthday bash which was also yesterday. But on arriving the occasion, they found the main ceremony was the singer’s marriage to his girlfriend.
Oritsefemi apparently made shocking revelations about the feud between him and his former manager, Yusuf Adepitan, aka Danku.
The talented artiste who made the revelation at a press parley in Lagos on Sunday announced his reunion with his Ex-Manager, Mr. Yusuf Adebola Adepitan.
His words:
“Our rifts have been in the news for the wrong reasons and lots of allegations we indicted on ourselves have cost us lots of damage to our careers.
All the things that has been mentioned about about me and my manager throughout the scenario are all promotional strategies A.K.A publicity stunts.
We apologize for the inconveniences we might have caused the fans. We are back for real business.
My friends in the media, I thank you a lot for finding out time to grace this important parley. May God bless you”, he said.
It will be recalled that the singer recently got Danku arrested over theft and conspiracy issues.
According to insiders, the Koko Master sent out invitations to a couple of friends for his father’s birthday bash which was also yesterday. But on arriving the occasion, they found the main ceremony was the singer’s marriage to his girlfriend.
Nothing much was previously known of his new wife, but top blogger Stella Dimoko Korkus, has now published the details of the new wife, and she turns out to be Didi Kilgrow, the stepsister of MTV Base show host, Samantha Walsh.
Lineo Kilgrow and Samantha Walsh
Here’s what SDK said about her:
“The beautiful lady who stole Dbanj’ heart is named DIDI KILGROW, she will be 25 years old this year, she grew up in Jos and is currently schooling in University of Abuja.
She is the younger Sis of Samantha Walsh (Step Sister) who is presently hosting the big Friday show with Falz on MTV base.
She had allegedly previously dated Aaron of Addiction before meeting Dbanj whom she started dating early 2015.
Dbanj proposed four months ago and in early June they had the traditional wedding in Jos. It was coded.
The Registry yesterday was attended by parents of Dbanj and Didi..Didi’s parents flew in from Jos and are currently still in Lagos.”
Controversy Herself, Maheeda celebrated her beautiful daughter, Divine today. She shared photos of her daughter and captioned it:
DiDi my pikin I celebrate and bless u specially today.. ??? may you be blessed beyond your imaginations !!! May you prosper in all that you do , may you be stronger and better than I am, may your true love locate you at the perfect time, may you have as many kids as you want…. divine protection everywhere you go!! You are blessed!!!! ??Amen!!! So be it!!! ?? #amothersprayer”
Israel Laryea, a TV/Radio host was on a flight with Ghanaian Boxer, Bukom Banku today, and he revealed that the boxer has decided to stop bleaching his skit.
Recall Banky earlier said he bleached to look like a German. “My wife told me to bleach myself so we can look like German people” he said.
Mr Laryea shared photos he took with the boxer and wrote:
Was on the same flight from Takoradi with Bukom Banku whose decision to bleach his skin in recent months was of major concern to many in Ghana.
Well, he says he’s stopped bleaching and it’s quite evident from the pictures, or? He says Ghana people talk too much.
#BankuFlesh
#IsraelLaryea
Nollywood actor Yul Chibuike Edochie, is tired of kissing ladies on set that he has to limit the kissing scenes he plays.
A man’s dislike: another man’ meat. While most actors are looking forward to free kissing, Yul is no longer excited about it until he got into trouble for not kissing a particular actress.
He said “At a point, I had to limit the kissing scenes I play. I know I did a lot of that while I was still young in the industry, but at the stage of my career, I reject a lot of roles that has to do with kissing and romancing. I can do romance scenes for you, perfectly without kissing. I can act that I am madly in love with a girl, without getting so romantic with her.”
He talked about the lady who was angry he didn’t kiss her “This is exactly what happens when you are not trained. It has actually happened to me and caused lots of issues on set. I know lots of actresses look forward to kissing me on set.”
He narrated his ordeal “This particular one, saw the script and was jumping that she was going to kiss ‘Yul Edochie’, but I was tired of the kissing thing and asked the director to allow me do it without the ‘kissing’. When the actress heard it, she was like ‘I have kissed so….so and so person’, but won’t do the same to her. She flared up. It was quite funny and annoying too.”
In what seemed like straight out of a movie scene, a Chinese man risked his life when his lover’s husband came home unannounced. To avoid being caught, the naked man leaped out of the window of the 8th floor apartment and clung to the air conditioner.
According to The Mirror, the man was captured on camera naked, saved for the strip of fabric shielding his modesty.
See how high the apartment building is:
See the man clinging for dear life:
From the clip, people walked along the street below, unaware of the death-defying risk a man hanging above them was taking.
However, it is unclear if he was ever caught or whether he successfully got back into the apartment.
Yesterday, two elderly women were reportedly killed during a violent struggle for Ramadan gifts distributed on behalf of a former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
According to PUNCH, there was a commotion yesterday at the stadium when the Iyaloja General of Nigeria and Tinubu’s daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo shared some gift packs for the Ramadan which included a package of rice, salt, noodles, sugar and a sum of N1,500 to several people
An eyewitness, Musbau Adeyanju, claimed that during the distribution, some people became impatient and worried that the items won’t get to them; this was when the stampede occurred, killing the two women in the process.
“Their bodies were laid under a tent, while an ambulance that would carry them was being awaited. It was when the clothes that were used to cover their faces were removed that I discovered they were elderly women” said the witness.
A couple of other people who were also said to have been injured during the stampede, were rushed to the Marina General Hospital while the corpses of the deceased women were deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
An emergency official, who spoke to a correspondent of PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed that there were casualties during the rush but didn’t give any information about fatalities.
However, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Michael Akindele, has denied knowledge of the deaths. “LASEMA did not get any report of such,” he said.
On the other hand, the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, stated that there were no deaths recorded. “It was only a man who collapsed during the distribution who was immediately treated before taken to the general hospital” she said.
In his April interview with Punch, the singer said his wedding would be a quiet one which no one would ever know of. However, trusted sources confirmed to bloggers Instablog9ja and Stella Dimkoko Korkus that the event was held on Saturday.
Here’s what Instablog9ja says:
“Dbanj allegedly got married secretly today . . According to inside sources, it was a court wedding at Onigbongbo, Lagos and only 20 people were in attendance. The reception was done at D’banj’s family house at Maryland, Lagos and cameras were strictly prohibited at the event which coincided with his father’s birthday. He allegedly got married to a yet-to-be-named half cast.”
SDK adds this:
“Today is Dbanj’ Father’s birthday and the 25 guests who were invited and attended thought they were going for a birthday party but were shocked when it turned out to be the Registry wedding between Dbanj and a yet to be named Lady……
The New Mrs Dbanj’s dad is an American and her mum is half Nigerian, half South African….Registry was at a secret venue and a small reception was at Dbanj’ house.”
Gov’t should provide jobs for us I try not to hawk in Lagos again because of the disturbance from officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline.
If a total ban is what the Lagos State Government now places on hawking, then I cannot even consider hawking in the state again. We are suffering and there is no job to do.
I am not happy hawking educational and hairstyle posters. I want a good job that can take me away from the street. But there is nothing I can do if I am yet to get such a job.
I want the government to provide jobs for us. I cater for myself. The profit that I make on the posters that I hawk is not much. Each sells for N200. I will continue to pray and hope the situation improves in Nigeria.
I am from Anambra State and my family members are aware that I am not a lazy person. If I get a better job than this, I will do it. I stay in the sun from morning till evening. I have to hustle and I can’t steal.
I just pray that the same thing will not happen in other states across the country. — Ogbonna
We are hustlers not thieves
I hope that the government has provided jobs for us before taking the decision. If the situation is going to continue that way, it means that I have to start thinking of when to return to Ebonyi State.
I have always wanted to go into rice farming. But why are our leaders so wicked? They were promising the unemployed monthly salary before the last election but everything changed after the election. Now, they want us not to hawk again.
I feed myself from the money I make. I do not have dependants but I cater for myself. I know that it is risky for us to be hawking on the road.
But how do we survive? We are not stealing. We are only trying to provide jobs for ourselves because the government has not been able to do so. In my own case, I have saved lives and continue to do so with what I hawk.
I hawk sausages while some hawk cold water in traffic. When drivers and passengers are hungry, they cannot get down from the car and find a place to eat.
They only look around to see if they can find anybody hawking what they quickly buy to eat till they get to their destinations.
Do you know how many lives would have been lost if these people have nothing to eat in traffic? I have saved more lives than whatever some of my colleagues did to warrant the decision.
It is true that they are our leaders but they should know that we would want to do other jobs if they are available than hawking and risking our lives in traffic. — Sunday
Govt should pity us
I am not going to hawk in Lagos again if that is the new position of the state government on hawking. I would not want to go to jail. I also think it is bad for the government to take this kind of decision when it is aware that we are suffering.
Many of the things we sell in traffic will perish if we have to stay in one place to sell them.
For instance, I sell puff puff, which can get bad after few hours. We have to go out to look for customers and not the customers looking for us. I will be happy if the Lagos State Government can reconsider the decision and pity us.
It will make things easy for us. I prefer to struggle to survive than steal. I have nobody except God. —Paul
I survive on hawking
I have a daughter and I am doing this work because I didn’t go to school. I cannot get a good job.
Hawking soft drinks is a way to survive for me and my daughter. Sometimes, I make N1,000 on a good day but sometimes even less than that.
Things are hard now and many people do not buy things from us as they used to do. I hope Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will pity us. He should not ban us from doing this job. This is the only trade I do. — Maryam Akindele
I support my husband with hawking
I do not support the ban on hawking by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode because it does not help hawkers in any way.
I sell bottled water, drinks and sausage rolls to support my husband and take care of my daughter. Even at that, it is not easy for us.
If the governor wants us to stop this job, the state government should provide another job for us so that our families do not suffer. — Aminat Taofeek
I feed three children as a widow
I don’t support the ban on hawking on the road by the Lagos State government. It will affect us because hawking is the only means of livelihood for me and my three children. My husband is late.
I would not be doing this kind of work if my husband was still alive but harsh circumstances forced me into it.
This trade is my source of livelihood. If the state government bans hawking, how do they want me and my children to feed and fend for ourselves? I don’t think it is fair on us.
If they want to ban hawking, then they should build a market for us where we can stay to sell our goods. — Zainab Suleiman
Ambode should give me N100,000 for business
I have heard about the ban on hawking by the Lagos State Government. But I don’t really know what to say about it. I am confused.
Maybe the government feels it is a good thing, who am I to complain? But then, I think if the state government wants us to stop hawking our goods on the road, they should provide another source of livelihood for us.
I don’t mind if Governor Akinwunmi Ambode can give me like N70,000 or N100,000 to start a business. I won’t hawk again once I get the money as support. But for now, this is the only business I know how to do. Lagos State Government should help us. — Bukky Wasilat
Ban’ll affect my family
My family feeds from the proceeds of hawking. How does the government want us to survive if they stop us from hawking? On a good day, I make about N800 or N1000 selling sausage rolls.
But every day, we are forced to pay the local government council N200 before we can ply our trade. Two hundred naira from the small amount we make every day is a lot. Not only that, it is from that amount that I pay for my transport fare daily. I hawk from Alagbado to Ikeja every day to sell my wares. At the end of the day, I only have a small amount as profit. The total ban on our trade will affect us greatly. — Idowu Akinlade
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs left his role as assistant Man U coach on Saturday after spending 29 years at the club- first as a player since the age of 14, then the last three years as an assistant coach under David Moyes and then Louis Van Gaal.
The Welshman, 42, has played more times for the club than anyone else in history and is the club’s most decorated player, having won every major honour in club football.
After Jose Mourinho’s appointment as coach, he felt it was the right time to leave. Read Ryan Giggs’ statement explaining why he left the club below:
“After 29 seasons at Manchester United as a player and assistant manager, I know winning is in the DNA of this club – giving youth a chance, and playing attacking and exciting football. It’s healthy to have high expectations, it’s right to expect to win. Manchester United expects, deserves, nothing less.
“This is why it is a huge decision for me to step away from the club that has been my life since the age of 14. It has not been a decision that I have made lightly. I’ll take away so many special memories as well as a lifetime of experiences that will, I hope, serve me well in the future.
“However, the time feels right and, although I have no immediate plans to step into management, it is where I want to be.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate in having two great managerial mentors; first in Sir Alex, who I’ve spent the majority of my life working with and learning from and who I believe will remain as football’s greatest-ever manager and in more recent times, Louis van Gaal, whose CV speaks for itself. The knowledge I have gleaned from them has been invaluable.
“I want to reiterate my thanks to the backroom staff and support teams at Manchester United I’ve worked with over the years. The results on the pitch are a reflection of the hard work off it. I would not have achieved the success I have without the dedication, sacrifice and commitment of these people in creating the best environment for the team to succeed.
“I want to congratulate José Mourinho on his appointment as manager of the world’s biggest club. There are only a handful of proven winners at the very highest level and José is unquestionably one of them. I know the fans will welcome him.
“My final thank you is to the fans. I cannot begin to tell you how much I will miss walking out at Old Trafford in front of you. It’s extremely difficult to say goodbye after 29 years. I have loved every minute both as a player and assistant manager. The support you have always shown me has been phenomenal; thank you.
“It’s time for a new chapter and a new challenge. I’m excited about the future – I’ve had the best apprenticeship into management anyone could ever ask for.”
Manchester United Executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward said: “Ryan’s place in the history of Manchester United is assured.
He has been a constant presence at the club since 1987 and, during his playing days, regularly delighted crowds; first with his dazzling wing play and later with his intelligence and ability to dictate a game.
“He has tackled his coaching and management responsibilities with similar rigour and diligence. The experiences and discipline he developed at United will undoubtedly be a big help as he continues to learn his trade. He has all the attributes to be a terrific manager in the future. Everyone at the club wishes him well in his new career. He will be missed but will always be welcome at Manchester United.”
Last week, Kate Henshaw, a popular Nollywood actress called out comedian Akpororo for using her name and image to promote his forthcoming show, Akpororo vs Akpororo, without seeking her approval.
To express disgust at his action, Kate went on social media and put up a post where she issued the comedian 48 hours ultimatum to apologize and withdraw her name and image from all his publicity materials.
Sensing trouble was lurking, Akpororo made a public apology to the actress on the social media.
“Good evening ma, before anything else I just want to say I am very sorry ma for the misunderstanding. I am so sorry for not following up after our last conversation about my show when you were out of the country the other day. I will never disrespect you or even take you for granted for any reason, I respect you so much ma, please pardon me ma. Thanks and God bless you ma,” he wrote.
In a telephone conversation, Kate who spoke to Sunday Scoop, through her manager, Funke Kuti, said she has forgiven Akpororo and will attend his show .
According to Funke Kuti, Kate is a big sister to Akpororo, so she has forgiven him.
“The apology has been accepted. It was a misunderstanding. She has forgiven him. She will be at the show. One thing Kate does is, she supports and encourage up-and-coming entertainers. She is a big sister to him.”
