FASHOLA CLEARS THE AIR ON THE "N78 MILLION" SCANDAL.

“When you wrestle with a pig, the pig gets happy and you get dirty.” 

This statement of profound wisdom informed my silence in the wake of manipulated and unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing recently being levelled against me. They started a few weeks to the end of my tenure, and have continued till date. They range from allegations of extra marital paternity of children, to mundane and phantom conspiracy in the National Assembly, a debt profile for Lagos State and lately a website upgrade contract of N78 million, which is being distorted.

In so far as the allegations of paternity are concerned, they are wicked and false. I have no biological children other than my two children. Of course, I adopted three children who became orphaned as a result of the tragic DANA Airplane crash of 2012 and the adoption followed due process.

ALEX BADEH'S LAMENTATION ON THE MILITARY.

Rarely has a top Nigerian military chief sounded so contradictory while assessing his tour of duty than Alex Badeh, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff did during his recent pulling out parade. In a valedictory speech at the ceremony that marked his retirement, Badeh lamented that he headed a military that “lacked the relevant equipment and motivation to fight an enemy (Boko Haram terrorists).” The assertion, though unsurprising, was a shocking departure from his pronouncements while in office.

Defending his 18-month tenure vis-à-vis the failure to rein in the malevolent activities of Boko Haram, Badeh, who was appointed in January 2014, said, “Over the years, the military was neglected and under-equipped to ensure the survival of certain regimes, while other regimes, based on advice from some foreign nations, deliberately reduced the size of the military and underfunded it. Accordingly, when faced with the crises in the North-East and other parts of the country, the military was overstretched and had to embark on emergency recruitment and training, which were not adequate to prepare troops for the kind of situation we found ourselves in.”

FG APPOINTS KPMG & PWC TO AUDIT NNPC & OTHER REVENUE GENERATING AGENCIES.

The Federal Government on Thursday appointed international audit firms, KPMG and PriceWaterhouse Cooper to conduct comprehensive audit of the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue generating agencies.

The appointment was disclosed to State House correspondents by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole at the end of the second meeting of the four man panel set up by the National Economic Council (NEC).

The decision to appoint the two audit firms, he said, was taken to allow for professionalism.

(PICTURES) PRESIDENT BUHARI SWEARS-IN NEW SERVICE CHIEFS.

President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn in the new service chiefs. Performing the ceremony at the presidential Villa, Abuja, the president charged them to brace up against Boko Haram insurgency, armed robbery and militancy.

“I want to reiterate that your appointments and subsequent elevation to these ranks are based on your pedigree as first class senior officers who identify sterling leadership qualities. Therefore I have no doubt in my mind that all of you are equal to the task ahead of you. You must acquaint yourselves and justify the honour done to you.

“You are all aware of the various security challenges facing our nation. These challenges include the activities of Boko Haram terrorists, armed banditry, kidnapping, militancy of various forms to mention a few”, the president said.

SENATE APPROVES $75M WORLD BANK LOAN FOR EDO STATE.

The Senate on Thursday approved a 75 million World Bank loan for Edo state’s Development Policy Operation (DPO) as requested by President Muhammadu Buhari. The approval followed the consideration of a single-prayer report of the ad hoc Committee on Local and Foreign Debt presented by Sen. Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South). The committee in its report urged the Senate to approve the loan, stating that the World Bank had already considered the state ready for it. 

Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central), in his contributions, said that Edo State had qualified for this loan, because the state had met the conditions set by the World Bank. Aliero said that the loan would help increase the internally generated revenue of the state and, therefore, urged the Senate to approve it. He also called on other states that have the capacity to borrow, to go ahead and take such loans, as long as they could utilize such judiciously.

(PICTURES) BRISTOW HELICOPTERS RELEASE PRESS STATEMENT AS ALL 6 DEAD BODIES HAVE NOW BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE CRASH.

The bodies of the two remaining persons said to have been missing from the ill fated helicopter crash in the Lagos Lagoon have been found. This brings to 6 the number of people who died in the crash while 6 were rescued alive. 

Bristow helicopters limited, owners of the helicopter that crashed into the Lagos lagoon yesterday August 12th have released a statement regarding the mishap. 

The statement signed by the company's Regional Director for Africa Duncan Moore below

(PICTURES) THE TIANJIN EXPLOSION WHICH LEFT 44 DEAD, OVER 500 INJURED, DESTROYED MORE THAN 1000 CARS & REGISTERED AS EARTHQUAKES.

Enormous explosions in a major Chinese port city have killed at least 44 people and injured more than 500, leaving an apocalyptic landscape of incinerated cars, crumpled shipping containers and burnt-out buildings. 

Two blasts, which sent fireballs soaring above skyscrapers, detonated with such force they registered on the Richter scale and were visible from space.

At least 12 firefighters have died and 32 other people are in a critical condition after the explosions ripped through the city of Tianjin, around 90 miles from Beijing, at around 11.30pm local time last night.

DAVID OYELOWO BECOMES FIRST BLACK JAMES BOND BUT.............

David Oyelowo has become the first black actor to play James Bond. Although his performance will be heard rather than seen – in an audiobook – it is a landmark casting as it involves an official Bond book and a direct invitation from the estate of 007’s creator, Ian Fleming.

The announcement on Thursday follows long-standing rumours that Idris Elba is in line to replace Daniel Craig when the latter’s run playing James Bond on the big screen comes to an end, potentially in two movies’ time.

Oyelowo’s previous roles include Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company – which made him the first black actor to play an English king in a major Shakespeare production. He also played the MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the BBC TV drama Spooks and was acclaimed for his performance as Martin Luther King in Selma.

JAY-Z LAUCHES NEW CHAMPAGNE FOR BRAND HE BOUGHT TO GET REVENGE ON CRISTAL & EACH COST N160,000.

Jay Z has launched a new brand of champagne from his his own company - that sells for $760 (N160,000) a bottle.

The Armand de Brignac 'Ace of Spades' blanc des noirs - which owes its existence to a feud between the rapper and Cristal Champagne - was rolled out at a wine insiders' event this summer.

The fizz, which comes in a grandiose pewter bottle stamped with a large spade symbol, is the newest exclusive launch from Armand de Brignac, which Jay Z bought last year. 

WIZKID & DAVIDO SET TO RELEASE THEIR ALBUMS IN SEPTEMBER.

Nigeria’s award winning pop stars, Wizkid and Davido will be releasing their albums in September. It’s clearly one of the most anticipated albums of 2015, partly because a perceived rivalry had been said to exist between the Ojuelegba crooner, Wizkid and the Aye sensationalist, Davido.

These young superstars will be releasing their respective albums next year. While Davido’s album will be called Baddest, Wizkid is yet to let the cat out of the bag, by unveiling the name of his anticipated album.

Recall that these duo in recent times have collaborated with international artistes in order to further strengthen their star power. Davido featured Meek Mill in the controversial Fans mi,while Wizkid featured Drake and Skepta in the remix of his Afrobeat tune Ojuelegba.

One of the reasons why the duo’s album release timing is generating a lot of attention is because both of them have huge following, and are said to be rivals and appeal to the same audience. The question on the lips of music pundits is this: :Whose album will rake in a lot of sales more?

3 MONTHS OLD BABY DIED AFTER HER RECKLESS MUM ABANDONED HER TO HAVE SEX FOR 9 HRS WITH A MAN SHE MET AT THE BUS STOP.

A 'reckless' mother who left her sick baby girl alone downstairs while she drank whisky and had sex, has avoided jail.

Yvonne Adkins left three-month-old Chanelle lying in her baby rocker in the lounge for nine hours while she went upstairs with a lover she had met at a bus stop just two weeks earlier, a court heard.

She awoke the next morning to find her baby dead and paramedics who attempted to revive the infant discovered she had been dressed only in a tracksuit and left without a blanket or bed clothes. 

The judge told the 32-year-old she had made a 'catastrophic decision' to leave her daughter unattended - despite knowing she suffered with vomiting and reflux.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT LAMENTS OVER THE RETURN OF HOODLUMS TO OSHODI.

The Lagos State Government has lamented the resurgence of hoodlums and the attendant insecurity in the Oshodi area of the state.

The government stated that a review of its strategy had been done to bring back sanity to the area.

The new Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Unit, Olubukola Abe, said this on Wednesday during a sensitisation tour of the area.

ICPC QUIZZES ONYEKA ONWENU OVER N17M CONTRACT BRIBE.

Finally, the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, NCWD, Onyeka Onwenu, has honoured the invitation of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over the allegation of N17million contract bribe levelled against her.

She was drilled and granted administrative bail by the commission.

An impeccable source at the ICPC, that Onyeka Onwenu appeared before the commission, Monday  and after answering some questions, she was allowed to go home on self-recognition, while investigation continued.

OGUN STATE GOVERNOR, IBIKUNLE AMOSUN SACKS SIX OFFICIALS OF MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OVER OFFENSIVE EXAM QUESTION.

The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has ordered the sacking of six officials of the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, including a secondary school teacher, over alleged offensive examination question.

Those sacked include two Grade Level 17 officers, Mrs. Folashade Oresegun, who was the Director, Education Support Services, and Mr. Rotimi Odunsi, who was the Director, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, and a Grade Level 16 officer, Mr. Majekodunmi Oluwole.

Others are a Grade Level 10 officer, Mr. E.O. Asegbe, a Grade Level 8 officer, Taylor Damilola , and an English Language teacher in Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Mr. Joel Adegbenro.

POLICE TEAR-GAS APC CHIEFTAINS AT INEC OFFICE IN PORT-HARCOURT.

Policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services manning the gates of the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday assaulted the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and other candidates of the party in the last general elections.

The security agents fired tear-gas canisters at Peterside and 47 other APC candidates in the state elections, who had gone to the head office of INEC to protest an alleged refusal of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, to release electoral materials for inspection by the APC, in accordance with the ruling of the Rivers State Election Petitions Tribunal.

A security operative also threatened to shoot a television reporter, who was recording the protest.

LAGOS LAWYER ARRESTED FOR FONDLING 9-YR-OLD GIRL WITHIN COURT PREMISES.

A Lagos-based lawyer (names withheld) was yesterday caught fondling a nine-year-old girl’s breasts and private part in the premises of Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos. 

The victim, said to have just arrived the country from England, had accompanied her grandmother, who had a civil case in court and needed a lawyer.

At the court, she enquired from a court clerk of a lawyer who could help her handle the case and was referred to the said lawyer.

SENATORS REJECT PAYCUT - #OPENNASS

The Senate on Wednesday suspended consideration of the report of its Finance committee following sharp disagreements among members over the pay cut recommended by the panel.

Our correspondent learnt that the senators during a two-hour deliberation behind closed doors, resolved to reject the reduction of salaries and allowances as recommended by the Senator James Manager’s committee.

The senators, according to one of them who confided in our correspondent, said it was not possible to accept pay cut with other beneficiaries of the N120bn National Assembly annual budget not doing same.

BREAKING NEWS: 4 BODIES RECOVERED FROM LAGOS LAGOON HELICOPTER CRASH.

Four bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed into the Lagos Lagoon on Wednesday afternoon.

Six persons were rescued alive from the crash, which occurred around 3.30pm around the Alonge area of Oworonshoki in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos, and rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Two other persons are said to be missing among the 12 occupants of the ill-fated helicopter.

MAJEK FASHEK IS DOING WELL AT THE REHAB.

Renowned reggae musician, Majek Fashek known for his famous song, “send down the rain” is now receiving care at a rehabilitation facility to address his drug addiction.

The musician who spoke to journalists at the rehabilitation facility in Abuja, “Synapse Services”, noted that he is on his way to recovery because he choose to listen to advise and seek treatment for his addiction.

According to him, his life experiences also contributed to his present situation which today has left him bankrupt and without funds to assist himself.

WORLD POPULATION SET TO REACH 11.2 BILLION AT THE END OF THE CENTURY.

United Nations: India, China and Brazil countries with young populations but lower fertility face the prospect of substantial population ageing before the end of the century, according to UN projections.

The world’s population will increase from today’s 7.3 billion people to 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion at century’s end, UN Population Division director John Wilmoth told a session focused on demographic forecasting at the 2015 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM 2015) in Seattle on Tuesday.

The UN projection suggests there will not be an end to world population growth this century unless there are unprecedented fertility declines in those parts of sub-Saharan Africa that are still experiencing rapid population growth. The UN estimated the probability that world population growth will end within this century to be 23%.