55 NIGERIANS STOLE N1.34TN FROM PUBLIC TREASURY IN JUST 8YRS - LAI MOHAMMED.

The Federal Government has alleged that 55 former government functionaries and top businessmen stole N1.34tn from public treasury in eight years.

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the allegation at a press conference to announce a National Sensitisation Campaign against Corruption in Abuja on Monday.

Although Mohammed did not disclose the authority for the allegation, he categorised the officials involved in the corrupt practices to include former state governors, ex-ministers, former legislators, civil servants, bankers and other businessmen.

PICTURES FROM TOOLZ AND TUNDE DEMUREN'S PRE-WEDDING SHOOT.

Pre-wedding shots of Captain Tunde Demuren and popular OAP Tolu Oniru - Toolz.

See more pictures after the cut........

SWANSEA APPOINTS FRANCESCO GUIDOLIN AS HEAD COACH.

Swansea City have confirmed the appointment of Francesco Guidolin as head coach until the end of the season.

The 60-year-old arrived in Wales on Monday afternoon to complete his short-term move, which will see him work alongside Alan Curtis, although Guidolin will have the final say on team selection. 

He will be in the crowd at the Liberty Stadium on Monday night as Swansea attempt to salvage their dire season against Watford. 

His prospects of staying at the club beyond the summer depend on whether he can save Swansea from relegation, though it is understood that other candidates, including Brendan Rodgers, will be considered if they stay up. 

25-YR-OLD MAN REMANDED FOR RAPING 3 TEENAGE GIRLS.

An Ile-Ife Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osun on Monday remanded a 25-year-old man, Seun Adeoti, in prison custody, over the alleged rape of three girls.

Adeoti was arraigned on a three-count charge of gross indecency, threat to lives and unlawful sexual intercourse with Folake Adedini (15), Arike Adegoke (14) and Imole Adewole (16).

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Sunday Osanyintuyi, said the offences were committed on Dec. 4, 2015 around 1:00 p.m. at Akui Street, Ile-Ife. Osanyintuyi alleged that the offences contravened Section 86, 360 and 516 of the state’s Penal Code.

CORRUPTION IS FIGHTING BACK!!!!!!!!!.

With only a few real steps taken to tackle the monster, the forces of corruption are pushing back and their counter attack is gathering momentum. From the accused persons and recipients of stolen funds to politicians who suddenly found themselves in the unfamiliar opposition benches, beneficiaries of the past dispensation, clever lawyers, bent judges, religious contractors and media cheer squads, familiar weapons are being deployed. Neither the government nor the people must waver or bow to these forces of retrogression.

#DASUKIGATE, EMEFIELE, AND HOW TO APPOINT THE NEXT CBN GOVERNOR.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has come under intense scrutiny in the past six months. This is not just because of its controversial restrictions on foreign exchange transactions but also as a result of allegations that its leadership facilitated inappropriate massive cash withdrawals of foreign currencies from the Bank’s coffers by the erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, close to the 2015 presidential elections.

These transactions are believed to have had the blessing of President Goodluck Jonathan.

PREMIUM TIMES believes these unfortunate controversies pose a serious threat to the lived reality of the independence of the Central Bank, which we believe is of vital importance to the maintenance of a sound economy.

WHY I REFUSED TO HONOUR COURT SUMMONS - TOMPOLO.

Former Niger Delta militancy leader, Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo has explained why he has refused to honor court invitations over the corruption cases leveled against him by the EFCC. In an open letter to President Buhari which he sent out through his media aide, Paul Bebenimbo, yesterday January 18th, Tompolo said;

“The truth of the matter is that I do not know anything about the N34 billion Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is talking about. First, it was N13 billion issue, now it is N34 billion. I am not a signatory to any of the companies mentioned in the said N34 billion case, so I do not know where this one is coming from. I know that God in His infinite mercy will see me through in this critical moment.”‎the letter read.

JIMOH IBRAHIM SACKS MD & DMD OF NEWSWATCH ON LIVE TV AFTER SOME WORKERS EMBARRASSED HIM.

JIMOH IBRAHIM

Distressed workers of the National Mirror and Newswatch Times on Monday stormed the Nicon Luxury, Abuja, venue of the Global Fleet Group annual management conference as its group managing director and publisher of two newspapers, Jimoh Ibrahim, was delivering a lecture to top management staff of the company.

The workers, who have gone for about nine months without salary, stormed the venue when Mr. Ibrahim was in the middle of the lecture on how China’s development strategy has helped keep her ahead of America and other countries of the world today.

The placard wielding workers invaded the lecture venue chanting solidarity songs to demand the payment of their arrears of salaries.

HOW JONATHAN OREDERED DASUKI TO PAY TONY ANENIH N260M REFUND FOR POLITICAL EXPENSES.

Forrmer Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Tony Anenih, has claimed that ex-President Goodluck Jonathan ordered a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), to give him the sum of N260m.

The revelation is contained in a letter the former BOT chairman wrote to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently.

An aide to the PDP leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed on Saturday that Anenih made the disclosure.

READ HOW LOOTED ARMS FUND LED TO THE DEATH OF AIRFORCE PILOT AND OTHERS.

New findings that emerged from the arms procurement audit which began in August 2015. have shown that corruption in the military, particularly in the Nigerian Air Force, led to the death of air servicemen fighting against Boko Haram. The audit of military procurements, exposed this week, resulted in President Muhammadu Buhari demanding a deeper probe into Nigeria’s most senior military officers.

In December 2014, Group Captain Ubong Akpan and Master Warrant Officer Zabesan Hosea boarded a Russian-made Mi-24V helicopter with the intent to carry out combat operations against Boko Haram terrorists in Adamawa State. Both air servicemen lost their lives when their helicopter crashed near Girei, Adamawa State.

At their funeral service, Chief of Air Staff AN Amosu said that their “sacrifice” saved Yola, the Adamawa State capital, from falling into the control of Boko Haram terrorists.

MAJOR CRUDE OIL PIPELINE BLOWN UP IN DELTA AS SIGNS OF MILITANCY RETURN THICKENS.

Attacks  on oil installations in Delta State entered  the third day, yesterday, as  militants blew-up major crude oil and gas pipelines to the Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Tank Farm in Warri South West Local Government Area of the state.

Blown up on Friday night was the main crude line from Makaraba through Otunana and Abiteye to Escravos while  Olero to Escravos gas line was attacked in the early hours of yesterday.

Earlier on Thursday, the Escravos – Warri – Abuja – Lagos pipelines came under attack. The Itsekiri raised the alarm, yesterday, that the attacks could metamorphose into another Ijaw-Itsekiri war.

#DASUKIGATE - EFCC GETS LEAD ON HOW TOP MILITARY OFFICERS LOOTED ARMS FUND.

Indications emerged last night that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has received some  lead on how some of the indicted top serving and retired military officers looted the nation through fraudulent arms contract and direct diversion of funds meant for arms procurement.

Findings revealed that the arrest and detention of a serving Colonel in the Nigerian Army in relation to the diversion of $2.1 billion meant for arms purchase in the Office of the National Security Adviser, exposed the illicit deals undertaken by the indicted officers.

Findings also showed that the Colonel, who hails from Delta State and served as a Personal Assistant to the embattled ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, has been telling the anti-graft operatives all that he knows about the arms deals and those who masterminded the looting of the nation’s resources in the name of arms purchase.

OONI OF IFE MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO ALAAFIN OF OYO.

The newly-crowned Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday made a historic visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who celebrated his 45th coronation anniversary.

The visit by Ooni was unique as he became the first Ife monarch to visit the Alaafin since 1937. The visit was also exceptional, especially with the supremacy battle that existed between the Alaafin and Ogunwusi’s successor, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

Witnessing the historic visit were about 100 Yoruba traditional rulers.

JONATHAN TURNED CBN INTO ATM MACHINE JUST LIKE IDI-AMIN DID IN UGANDA - CHARLES SOLUDO.

JONATHAN

A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of turning the CBN into the Presidency’s Automated Teller Machine to produce cash for the government.

He also said the Jonathan administration ran the bank like a movie plot from Uganda under the late dictator, Idi Amin Dada.

Idi Amin ruled Uganda with an iron fist between 1971 and 1979, and has been described as one of the most corrupt African rulers.

BIAFRA IS DEAD - OBASANJO SPEAKS.

As the protagonists of Biafra intensify efforts for the realisation of their secession agenda, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, described the move as a dead agitation borne out of sheer ignorance and error of judgment. The former President said those involved in the current agitation for Biafra were embarking on hopeless and futile exercise, which no serious-minded Nigerian should engage in.

Obasanjo who spoke in Abuja during  a roundtable discussion organized by Nextier Advisory, a public sector advisory firm spearheaded by Patrick O. Okigbo III, with the theme: “Nigeria and the Biafra Agitation”. The ex-president asked leaders from the South-East geopolitical zone to call the protesters to order as such action would not do them any good. He said only those who did not experience the Nigerian civil war would embark on such a malevolent exercise.

OLISA METUH REMANDED IN JAIL TILL TUESDAY.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered that the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olisa Metuh, should be remanded in prison till Tuesday, the day scheduled for the hearing of his bail application with respect to the charges of money laundering preferred against him.

Justice Okon Abang gave the order after the PDP spokesperson pleaded not guilty to the seven counts of money laundering preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC alleged that Metuh received N400m, part of the money meant for the procurement of arms, from the Office of the National Security Adviser in November 2014.

FROM OCTOBER RUSH TO OCTOBER RAPE - SAD TALES BY FEMALE FRESHERS IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS - #SAYNOTORAPE.

Bimbo Coker’s (not real name) first day on campus in October 2008 was full of apprehension. It was expected.

As a 15-year-old who had spent all her primary and secondary school education at private schools in Osun State, she had never left the sight of her parents, not even for a day. All through her primary and secondary schooldays, she was known to be a quiet, obedient “mum’s girl.”

In the church on Sundays, she sat where her parents sat, and left for home when service was over. No time to play with friends after the grace was said. During the holidays and weekends, her parents — both educationists — got her tutors to groom her academically. She is the only girl among five children.

$2.1BN ARMS SCANDAL - BADEH AND 17 OTHER MILITARY CHIEFS TO START APPEARING BEFORE EFCC ON MONDAY.

Eighteen military chiefs that President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to probe will start appearing before the commission on Monday.

The commission had sent invitations to some of the Generals and the companies, whose names featured in the report submitted to the President.

A source in the commission stated, “We have sent invitations to many of them and as from Monday, they will start coming.”

HARD TIMES FOR CELINE DION WHO LOST HER HUSBAND TO CANCER WHILE HER BROTHER NOW HAS FEW HOURS TO LIVE DUE TO SAME AILMENT.

RENE & CELINE

 Celine Dion is facing more heartbreak after the death of her husband René Angélil on Thursday.

The singer's older brother Daniel is also battling cancer, and his family believe he has just hours or days to live. 

Celine's sister Claudette told Journal Of Montreal: 'It's very painful. It's a matter of days or hours. It looks a lot like René, he had cancer of the throat, tongue and brain. Our family is very experienced.'

Daniel, who is 59, is in hospital in Celine's native Montreal and surrounded by family, including 88-year-old mother Therese.

TERROR HORROR IN BURKINA FASO AS GUNMEN KILL 20 IN POPULAR HOTEL.

At least 20 people have been killed in the deadly terror attack in Burkina Faso after al-Qaeda gunmen attacked a popular hotel in the capital last night. 

A unit of Bukinabe special forces assisted by around 30 French special forces and an American soldier have stormed the Splendid Hotel in Ougadougou and reportedly killed three of the gunmen.

Security forces managed to rescue 126 of the hostages trapped inside the 147 bedroom hotel, with 33 of the survivors wounded from the attack, the Burkinabe Interior Ministry confirmed.

At least ten of the victims in the terror attack were gunned down at the Cappuccino Cafe, situated next door to the hotel. The attack has been claimed by al-Mouribatoun, an al-Qaeda group based in the Sahel region of northern Mali.

'There was someone in front of me and they shot him and he fell onto me,' one woman said.