FG ORDERS IMMIGRATION TO RETRIEVE DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS FROM UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS.

The Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to retrieve forthwith all valid diplomatic and official passports from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Yusuf Isiaka,the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Interior, on Monday in Abuja.

“The Permanent Secretary, Mr Abubakar Magaji, Federal Ministry of Interior, has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to retrieve all valid diplomatic and official passports with immediate effect from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents,” the statement said.

“The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the fact that some Nigerians who are not entitled to hold diplomatic and official passports are in possession of these documents,” it said.

According to the statement, the measure is intended to protect and promote Nigeria’s integrity in the comity of nations in addition to ensuring law and order. 

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I ONLY BEAT MY WIFE WHENEVER SHE REFUSES MY SEXUAL ADVANCES.

A 40-year-old man, Salau Kehinde, has told a Customary Court in Ikorodu, Lagos, that he physically abused his wife, Shakirat, 32, whenever she refuses to have sex with him, but that he had no intention of bathing her in hot water.

Shakirat had approached the court seeking for dissolution of their 10-year old marriage, blessed with two children.

According to her, “he would beat me whenever I returned from work. He would beat me when I told him I was too tired to have sex, or for any flimsy excuse. I want this court to dissolve our marriage and grant me custody of our children.”

IKORODU BANK ROBBERY SUSPECTS SUE POLICE IG FOR N5MILLION.

The four suspects paraded in connection with the recent bank robbery in Ikorodu, Lagos State, have dragged the Inspector General of Police before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, saying that their alleged confessional statements given out to journalists, was extracted from them behind their lawyer. 

The four suspects had reportedly confessed to playing different roles in the robbery while three Sport Utility Vehicles allegedly bought from the proceeds of the robbery were recovered from them.

The suspects – Agbojule Bright, Promise Abiwa, Monday Omoboye and Monday Ikuesan, were on July 6, 2015, paraded by the police in connection with the robbery of the Ipakodo branches of First  and Zenith Banks in Ikorodu, where an 18-man gang, which they allegedly belonged to, made away with about N80 million on June 24, 2015.

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REMOVES FASHOLA'S BUDGET EXPENDITURE FROM BUDGET.

The Lagos State Government has removed the list of contracts awarded under the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola.

The list which was published on the website of the state’s Public Procurement Agency, www.lagosppa.gov.ng, stated that Fashola’s administration spent N78.3m on his personal website, www.tundefashola.com, in 2014.

The list further stated that Fashola spent N139m on the drilling of two boreholes at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

PLATEAU GOVERNOR, SIMON LALONG MEETS WITH PRESIDENT BUHARI TO PLEAD FOR SUSPENDED IMMIGRATION BOSS.

GOVERNONR LALONG

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong yesterday met President Muhammadu Buhari on the suspension of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), David Parradang.

Parradang was suspended last Friday and directed to handover to the Deputy Comptroller-General, Martin Abeshi.

The suspended Immigration boss, who was seen at the Presidential Villa in company of the governor, however, kept away from reporters.

NJC QUERIES OSUN JUDGE OVER ALLEGATIONS OF HUSBAND SNATCHING.

JUSTICE FOLAHANMI OLOYEDE

The National Judicial Council has issued a query over allegation of amorous scandal against a judge in the Osun State judiciary, Justice Olamide Oloyede, who initiated a petition calling for the removal of the state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

The NJC issued the query dated July 28, 2015 and with reference number, NJC/S.29/HC.OS/16/1/55, against Justice Oloyede upon a petition by a mother of four, Mrs. Emily Richard-Obire, who accused the judge of cohabiting with her (Richard-Obire’s) husband.

Oloyede came to prominence recently after she submitted a petition to the Osun State House of Assembly calling for the removal of Aregbesola on the grounds of his alleged financial misappropriation.

NYESOM WIKE , THE PRAYING GOVERNOR.

There is no doubt that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has portrayed himself in recent times as a governor that believes so much in prayers as there is hardly any Sunday that the Ikwerre-born politician is not seen among congregations of different Christian denominations.

Ordinarily, clerics would not have noticed Wike as a man that has a penchant for going to church to pray, but because he occupies a position of authority, he is always the cynosure of all eyes any time he is in church.

Before the heat of the general election in March and April 2015, the governor’s level of appearances in churches was not as high as it is now.

CHIEF MATRON OF LAGOS STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOUND DEAD IN HER OFFICE.

The Chief Matron, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Caroline Oriola, has reportedly died in her office within the assembly premises.

It was gathered that Oriola had gone to the office on Saturday, August 22, but that her corpse was discovered yesterday by a cleaner, who had gone to clean the clinic.

Sources in the assembly revealed that the woman had gone to her office on Saturday to take some drugs and was said to have put on the air conditioning unit in the office and locked the door.

PRESIDENT BUHARI APPOINTS 13-MAN PANEL MADE UP OF EX-MILITARY CHIEFS TO PROBE JONATHAN & YARADUA.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, set up a 13-member panel to probe two of his predecessors, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on procurement of arms and ammunition for the Armed Forces.

The investigative committee’s mandate is to identify irregularities and make recommendations for streamlining the procurement process in the Armed Forces.

The committee, which was constituted by the the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), on the directive of the President, is headed by AVM J.O.N. Ode (retd.) while Brig-Gen. Y. I. Shalangwa is secretary.

SSS CHARGES FORMER NSA SAMBO DASUKI TO COURT FOR "UNDERMINING NATIONAL SECURITY"

The State Security Service on Monday announced that it has charged the immediate past National Security Service, Sambo Dasuki, over alleged “acts capable of undermining national security.”

A statement Monday by an official of the Service, Tony Opuiyo, said Mr. Dasuki was charged for “possession of fire arms without license punishable under section 27(i)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act Cap F28 LFN 2004″.

The statement said, “You may recall that on 16th July, 2015, the Department of State Services (DSS), carried out a search operation on properties belonging to the immediate past National Security Adviser, Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Col/rtd), in Abuja and Sokoto.

DRAKE AND SERENA WILLIAMS ARE FINALLY DATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drake and Serena Williams, are dating! The tennis champ and and the 28-year-old rapper weren’t interested in the yummy food during their date after Serena, 33, won the WTA tournament, they simply wanted to swap spit and we loved it. An insider said that Drake has been wanting to date Serena for a while but the timing has always been “off” but finally they are both single and jumping full speed ahead into their relationship.

LISTEN & DOWNLOAD NEW MUSIC - BADMAN ON REPLAY - @LILPIRO... #BMOR

After successfully dropping a cover of Olamide’s Awon Goonz Mi which was widely accepted by his fast growing fan base, and it got over 6 thousand downloads. This Young Rap Ace is proud to debut his first ever single titled #BadManOnReplay (B.M.O.R).

The song #BadManOnReplay has a fusion of Reggae/Hip-hop, with the verses laced with punchlines & wordplays that will rack your brain. With the ability to drop a catchy hook and dope verses, it’s safe to say Lil Piro is here to stay. Watch out for more from this LilPiro.

Download here.

AS THE REFINERIES RETURN.

With the reports of reactivation of local refineries, Nigerians, who have lost all hope and succumbed to a fraudulent petroleum products importation regime and subsidy claims that have almost bled the economy to death, have every reason to cheer.

More cheering is the news that the refineries are projected to hit their near-installed capacities in a couple of months. Considering the economic gains from this and in the light of more than a decade of facility waste following fitful operations, this is laudable. And from indications, the portents are that the refineries can and would be run profitably.

The journey to Nigeria’s sorry pass over the refineries has been a long sad one in which a nation built for its future with one hand and tears it down with the other.

HOW POWER TORE GBAJABIAMILA & TAMBUWAL APART.

There is calm at the House of Representatives after the dust raised by the acrimonious election of its presiding officers on June 9 and another 49-day battle to pick other principal officers of the majority All Progressives Congress seems to be settling. It is difficult to say if peace is finally here.

The speakership election had several strands to it – a majority party being unable to put a preferred candidate, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, on the seat because some APC legislators, supposedly arguing on the side of independence of the legislature, worked with minority parties to produce the eventual winner – Mr. Yakubu Dogara. The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, played a key role in the outcome of the poll. There was the question of the geographical spread of the principal offices, federal character and the suspicion over whether the party, indeed, decided on any candidate to be speaker, among other issues.

However, observers have singled out the role of the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, in the election for deeper analysis and how it is altering or has altered the relationship between him and Gbajabiamila.

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN NNPC?

President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed a new Managing Director for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The appointment drew applause as usual from ever-ready Nigerians to sing the praises of those in power. Many did not look closely at the process involved in the appointment and the implication for the future of NNPC and the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The new Managing Director, many have said, hit the ground running because on the first day of his assumption of office, he fired the existing executive directors and brought in new persons. 

This, to Nigerians, is good enough to get rid of the perceived corruption in the NNPC. To any management consultant, what happened is just a mere replacement of personnel and the culture of impunity continues. The NNPC Group Managing Director was appointed and given a mandate on what to do.

NIGERIA ARMY REINSTATES 2500 SOLDIERS & 102 OFFICERS.

The Nigerian Army has recalled over 2,500 soldiers who were asked to withdraw from service for alleged offences committed under the counter- insurgency operations code named Operation Zaman Lafiya.

The review panel set up by the Army, which began sitting in Kaduna on August 17, has also screened and reinstated 102 officers, who were sentenced or facing prosecution in relation to the operations in the North-East.

The reinstated soldiers and officers, it was learnt, had commenced retraining at the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontangora, Niger State.

ROT IN NDDC - PRESIDENT BUHARI SUMMONS NDDC MANAGEMENT OVER CONTRACT SPLITTING & SHADY DEALS.

Worried by alleged mismanagement of funds of the commission running into billions of Naira, the Presidency has summoned the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to answer questions on the true financial status of the agency.

Competent sources confirmed that the President would meet the management team of the NDDC and take them up on many issues relating to the management of the resources of  the commission since the new board came on board in December 2013.

Buhari, according to sources close to his office, is furious that the management has allowed influential politicians to hijack the agency and made away with billions of Naira under the guise of executing contracts with little or no result on the ground to show for such money.

ALLEGED DIVERSION OF N1TRILLION - SENATE SET TO COMMENCE PROBE OF EFCC BOSS, IBRAHIM LAMORDE.

LAMORDE

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions will on Wednesday begin a probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, over an allegation that he fraudulently diverted over N1tn proceeds of corruption recovered by the anti-graft agency.

Part of the money alleged by a petitioner to have been diverted by the EFCC boss included the loot recovered from a former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.

The petitioner, Mr. George Uboh, whose complaint to the Senate prompted the probe, has been invited to appear before the Senate committee at Meeting Room 120 of the New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja, by 10am on Wednesday.

HOUSE OF REPS MEMBERS ARE READY TO ACCEPT SALARY CUT & SUPPORT ANTI-GRAFT WAR.

In support of the move to reduce the high cost of governance and to boost the war against corruption, the House of Representatives has declared its readiness to take salary cut and back President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft measures. 

Making these disclosures, yesterday, in Lagos, Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Sani Zorro, said all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliations are on the same page with the President on the change agenda and ready to give him the necessary legislative backing to actualize the agenda.

Zorro, who represents Gumel/Gagarawa/Mai Gatari/Sule Tankarkar Federal Constituency of Jigawa State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the need to streamline the funding of the House’s activities in line with best practices across the world and Nigeria’s economic fortunes was the reason the Reps set up the Dr Clement Nwankwo Committee.

NIGERIA'S ECONOMY IN DEEP MESS AS OIL PRICES CRASHES.

Nigeria’s economy may be heading for trouble, as oil price crashed even lower at the weekend, thereby threatening the 2015 budget and fiscal plan.

The international price of crude hit a six-year low below USD40 per barrel with West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures as low as USD39.89, while Brent crude declined further to USD45.10 from previous week’s level of USD48.87 per barrel. Nigeria’s sweet crude is similar to the Brent.

It is envisaged that prices will crash even further once Iran begins to enyoy its international pardon by pumping more oil into the already saturated market.

This will spell more doom for Nigeria, which is producing less than its projected 2 million barrels daily, thereby increasing the cash crunch and liquidity flow in the economy, with many states still unable to pay salaries.