THE trial of the embattled National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh before the Federal High Court in Abuja was stalled yesterday as the defendant was said to have been admitted at the National Hospital. Metuh is answering to a seven-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, entered against him and his company, Destra Investment Limited. The defendants were alleged to have prior to the 2015 general elections, received N400million from Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, without executing any verifiable contract. Metuh was absent at the resumed sitting on the matter…
Author: David Folami
THE Federal Government will today resume negotiation with the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, following Sunday’s suspension of its nationwide industrial action to force government to reverse the pump price of petrol to pre-May 11 price of N86.50 from the current price of N145 per litre. The government had earlier insisted that until the faction called off its strike, there would be no further negotiations after both parties have failed to reach agreement at their last meeting on Tuesday May 17. It would be recalled that the government had earlier reached an agreement with both the Joe…
A former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, bought a posh house worth £890,000 in London using a secret offshore company he registered in the British Virgin Island. Documents retrieved from the Mossack Fonseca and exclusively obtained by German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with other media organisations around the world, indicated the offshore company to be Hydrocarbon Assets Investments Limited. Yar’Adua bought the house in 2008, while serving as the Group Managing Director of NNPC. He became NNPC GMD in August 2007, and was…
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday appealed to Nigerians to be patient and give the administration more time to achieve its objectives. Making the appeal while answering questions at the forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Amaechi said: “We encountered challenges; were we expecting to encounter those challenges? yes; did we think that we will meet the quantum or volume of those challenges? “We didn’t anticipate that things were this bad. We thought you go to government and there would be money for you to run government and others. “Now you have the situation…
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria made a costly mistake by depending on oil as the sole mainstay of the economy without diversification. The president said that the country was in for the worst times for failing to save or diversifying its economy, which he said, has been greatly affected by the crash of oil prices. Speaking while bidding the outgoing Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Saeed Koozechi, farewell in Abuja, President Buhari said he was convinced that with greater diligence, hard work and patriotic determination, Nigeria would now achieve self-sufficiency in most of the goods on its import…
A state of emergency has been declared in the tomato sector in Kaduna state, northern Nigeria, local media report. A moth called the Tomato Leaf Miner, or Tuta Absoluta, has ravaged 80% of tomato farms, Commissioner of Agriculture Daniel Manzo Maigar said. He said 200 farmers together lost at least 1bn naira ($5.1m; £3.5m) over the past month. The price of a basket of tomatoes has increased from $1.20 less than three months ago to more than $40 today. In Nigeria, officials declare a state of emergency to indicate they are taking drastic action to deal with a problem, the…
Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Jose Mourinho and Manchester United can be “a good wedding.” Mourinho, 53, is expected to be confirmed as the new United boss by the end of the week after Louis van Gaal left the club on Monday. United could only finish fifth in the Premier League under Van Gaal last season, though they did lift the FA Cup. That wasn’t enough to save Van Gaal, who came in for much criticism for the team’s style of play. Ancelotti sympathises with the Dutch coach, who he feels had a difficult job handling the rebuilding process…
Dancehall artiste, Cynthia Morgan has just blessed her followers with a make-up free photo. Well known for her heavy make-ups and colourful hair, the ‘German Juice’ crooner wants fans to see her in another light. She took to Instagram today, May 25, 2016 to share a shot of herself with a clean face. “Very few people get to see me like this,” she said, adding, “I thought I share with my Madrins today. People that mean everything to me after my family. You guys give me hope, strenght and joy to continue each day.Thank you Madrins I love you all.…
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh-Churchill, today, May 25, 2016 showered words of praise on her step mother. Describing her as the best mum ever, the mum of one showered encomium on her for playing her motherly role with a ‘heart of gold’ and wanting nothing other than greatness for all her step-kids. She shared the photo above writing, “My WCW goes to my Wonderful step ma, She happens to be the best mom ever.Never judging and ever ready to protect,Pray and love .. Her devotion to the family is next to none,In a country were step moms are far from great…
The latest record label CEO in the land, Ice Prince has explained the direction and focus of his newly launched label, Super Cool Cats. The rapper who hinted during a radio interview last week that he’s not been under contract with Chocolate City for the past three years has now launched his personal label with the support of Choc City. Explaining what the label would be about, Ice Prince said, ‘Super Cool Cats is beyond a music label, we are into fashion, music and art. We are already working with fashion designers, video directors etc. It is in fact a…
Not many can boast of a look that defies the natural process of ageing nor maintain a youthful tenacity through many decades. But eclectic Yeni Kuti, the first child of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, continues to somehow defy the odds. As she turns 55 today, May 24, Yeni can be credited as having captured the legacy of her father by birthing the annual Fela-celebration (Felabration), a music festival worthy of international reckoning. Yeni – a singer, dancer, fashion enthusiast and journalist – continues to play a pivotal role in the society, as she is a regular part of the…
Fans of YBNL act, Adekunle Gold might have to wait just a little longer for the singer’s first studio album. The reason? The impending Ramadan fasting period. Adekunle Gold, who has built considerable anticipation for his debut album following the successes of his singles, ‘Pick Up’ and ‘Ready’, has cited the forthcoming religious rites as his reason for the project’s delay. ‘I am pushing it forward a bit because of Ramadan. It was supposed to drop for June 1 before, but apparently it occurred to me that my muslim friends don’t listen to music during Ramadan, so it makes sense…
One half of Psquare, Peter Okoye continues to forge ahead with his solo career. After a couple of solo performances, he’s now been featured on his first ‘collabo’ as a solo act known as Mr P. Kaffy’s hubby, Papi J who also doubles as Mr P’s official drummer, has released a new song which features him and Selebobo titled ‘Forget Your Level‘. Announcing the new song on social media, Peter also used the opportunity to make it known that Papi J has just been signed to his label ‘P-Classic’ records. His twin brother, Paul Okoye has also signed two acts…
Nigerian broadcaster, Emmanuel Ugolee, who has been battling with chronic kidney disease for over four years, has intensified his efforts to increase public awareness of the causes and prevention of the ailment while giving hope and encouragement to those living with it. He has appeared on live shows on Beat FM, Cool FM, Naija FM, Wazobia FM and Naija Info FM to speak about the disease. Lending celebrity support to his cause were Ali Baba, Vector, Sound Sultan and Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. On air personalities, Gbemi, Manny, Toolz, Osam, Adenike, OTB, Nelly, Yaw and Lolo also stood by his awareness campaign.
We have just gotten a new addition to the list of siblings in the music industry. Tekno’s kid brother, who goes by the name ‘Spotless‘ has just made his debut into the music industry, joining the likes of D’banj & K-Switch, Don Jazzy & D’Prince, Sound Sultan and Baba Dee who are brothers in the music industry. Tekno’s kid brother, Augustine Uche otherwise called ‘Spotless’ is a singer, songwriter and music producer who hails from Ebonyi State. He is the last child from a family of 8. Like his elder brother, Kelechukwu Augustine popularly known as Tekno Miles, Spotless also…
For the past two days, there’s been gossip on social media that Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage has parted ways with the Don Jazzy led ‘Mavin Records‘ and pitched tent with Jay Z’s ‘Roc Nation’. It even became a lot more believable when Mavin A&R, Bizzle Osikoya and Tola Odunsi both shared posts on Instagram that Jay Z had indeed given the go-ahead for a deal to be signed with Tiwa. According to our Roc Nation sources, JayZ, extremely impressed at Tiwa’s catalogue and profile, gave the go-ahead for the deal yesterday, put together by Roc Nation’s Briant Biggs and Shawn…
For the fourth time, Nigerian superstar Wizkid will share the stage with American singer Chris Brown. The duo will perform together during Chris Brown’s One Hell of a Nite concert in Amsterdam alongside top acts like French Montana, August Alsina, among others in June. Their chemistry on stage however dates back to 2013 when Chris Brown visited Nigeria. During his performance, he brought on Wizkid as a surprise act as they both performed Wizkid’s hit song ‘Azonto’. That same year, they both headed to Ghana and repeated the ‘Azonto’ surprise. Then in April 2015 during Chris Brown’s tour of South…
Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Wednesday he would recover from a knee injury in time to captain Germany at the European Championship, even though it remained unclear when he would return to the pitch. “I’m doing well, I am very confident,” he told journalists at a press conference in the Swiss town of Ascona, where the German national squad has set up its training camp ahead of the tournament in France. “I am trying to do a bit more day by day,” said Schweinsteiger, who has 114 caps, adding that his recovery was well within schedule. The World Cup winning midfielder…
Manchester should brace itself for some fascinating local derbies if Jose Mourinho joins United, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Wednesday. The Germany international declined to comment on reports that the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager had agreed terms with United to succeed the sacked Louis van Gaal. However, he said every player would want to work under the Portuguese coach who will go head-to-head with Pep Guardiola who has already agreed to join rivals Manchester City. The two had their share of run-ins in 2011-12 when Guardiola coached Barcelona and Mourinho was in charge at Real Madrid. “It looks…
Juan Mata has as much to fear as any Manchester United player after, according to Sky TV reports, Jose Mourinho agreed personal terms to succeed Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford hot seat on Tuesday. The Spain midfielder was jettisoned by Mourinho at Chelsea in January 2014 despite being a darling of the crowd, having won the Player of the Year award in his two previous seasons at the Stamford Bridge club. Mata is an astute attacking player who is always liable to chip in with an important goal, as he showed when scoring United’s equaliser in their 2-1…