It is barely seven days to the d-day and judges lined up for this year's edition of Miss Earth are already gearing up to make the event worthwhile. Two of the judges, Amber Rose and Genevieve Nnaji are said to be anticipating.
Amber Rose is an American movie star and fashion icon, while Genevieve is one of Nigeria's biggest Nollywood exports and an epitome of beauty.
Many are not surprised that she is part of the judges and they trust her definition of beauty in being part of those to select the winner of the beauty contest. Information reaching us from the organisers of the show indicates that all the guests can't wait for the day to come.
Next week Sunday, all roads lead to Oriental Hotel in Lagos. The girls are already in the camp somewhere on the Island in Lagos. Their instructors, including American Ryan Christopher, are grooming them for the d-day when one of them will emerge winner.
The winner of the event takes home a 2013 model of Toyota Camry and a salary of N3million spread in 12months.
The Director of the Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi, yesterday told an Ikeja High Court that former Bank PHB Managing Director, Francis Atuche, did not support him financially during the 2007 presidential campaign.
Utomi said this while being cross-examined by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), in the ongoing trial of Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth, and the bank's former Chief Financial Officer, Ugo Anyanwu. Atuche and his co-defendants allegedly stole over N27.5 billion belonging to the bank.
The defendants were accused of stealing the money through hoax and non-existing loans, which they allegedly converted to their use.
Testifying before Justice Lateefat Okunnu, the former presidential candidate said: "The total amount of my campaign cost less than N30 million. Francis Atuche never contributed to it."
Utomi also said he was not aware that the defunct Bank PHB granted N2.7 billion loan to Baywood Continental Limited while he was the vice-chairman of the bank's board. Okunnu, however, adjourned the matter till September 20 for further crosintercourseamination.
At the last hearing, Utomi informed the court that loans granted by Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank) during Atuche's tenure were approved by the bank's board. Led in evidence by Atuche's counsel, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), he said the loans, which formed part of the charges, were ratified by the board after proper scrutiny.
While reading from the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting of Bank PHB held on July 9, 2008, Utomi said the loans were ratified during the meeting by the members.
He added: "Bank PHB Board even resolved to treat every loan according to its merit without making a blanket decision on the credit facilities which however led to the ratification of the loans during the July 9, 2008 meeting of the board." Utomi said some of the loans included those the defendants were being tried for.
He said: "The loans include N3.9 billion to Extra Oil, N3.5 billion to Trajet Nigeria Limited, N3.5 billion to Future View Services Limited, N4 billion to Petrosan Oil and Gas Limited and N8 billion to Falcon Services Limited."
National Mirror
(http://www.ogunstate.gov.ng/images/stories/prof%20olabimtan.jpg)Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, receiving selected works of the renowned author, late Prof Afolabi Olabimtan, from his son, Mr Olaolu Olabimtan, during a courtesy visit by the Afolabi Olabimtan Foundation to the Governor's Office in Abeokuta.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release