Subscribe for the Talk Africa Bond: 300% by September 1, 2015

The TalkAfrica Bond was initiated after the ECTL share acquisition was closed for long term share holdings. The ECTL no longer accept new shareholders but short term investments in form of bonds and debentures.

The TalkAfrica Bond is a short term investment instrument that returns 300% after 90days starting from the date of close of offer. The bonds is limited by 5,000units and a unit of the bond can be bought at N500.09. Each unit returns N1,500.28 at maturity (90days) which include your invested capital.

Reason for the TalkAfrica Bond

The TalkAfrica Android, IOs versions together with a refacing work started in late December 2014 which has been delayed till this date because of late or slow funding from ECTL would be completed. With this bond sales, we will be able to complete and deploy the new internationalized platform with some of the latest mobile technologies.

Who Can Buy The TalkAfrica Bonds

Only members of the community can participate in this investment opportunity. It is not opened to the general public. To become a member of the TalkAfrica community clickhere

How to Buy TA Bonds

All members can buy the TA Bonds directly from their eWallet on TalkAfrica. To fund your eWallet, make deposit to this corporate account below:

Bank Name: GTBank
Account Name: Pect Global Limited
Account Number: 0011254640

What Happens After 90 Days (Maturity Date)

300% of your capital will be credited into the bank account on your profile on TalkAfrica or any other bank account you agreed with us after 90days of investment (Maturity Date). This investment opportunity is not a regular investment and there may not be another bond issued in the near future by TalkAfrica.

** You can buy a single unit of the bond (N500.09) or multiple units.

Documentation

Our lawyer will issue a legal document to all investors having units above 50.

**Very Important**

1.) The count of the 90days maturity period starts from the close of the bond offer which is 30th May 2015.

2.) 300% of your capital maturity amount includes your initial invested capital.

3.) This program is not a regular investment program, it is a capital raising opportunity for completing the current works on TalkAfrica. There will not be another bond in the nearest future.

 

For futher details and enquiries
Send an email to contact@talkafrica.co and copy ellistmedia@gmail.com or call +234 808 7944 989 

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Trailer Carrying Containers Crush 7 to Death in Lagos

Seven people are feared to have lost their lives following a road accident at the Ikeja- Along bus stop in Lagos on Friday, June 26.


Our correspondent gathered that a trailer conveying cars experienced a brake failure along the Oshodi-Agege Road and crashed into several buses conveying passengers to the Oshodi area of the state.

An eyewitness who simply identified himself as Abbey said: “ I was heading from Computer Village at Ikeja about 1.00pm when a trailer conveying cars heading  from the Iyana-Ipaja area  lost control because it had  brake failure and it rammed into commercial buses in its way.

“Several buses with passengers inside were affected and badly wounded .I saw a woman writhing in pains ; there was blood all over her body and  her right hand was broken. A young man could not move his body  and all efforts to revive him was not yielding any positive results at the time I left the scene of the accident.


“I saw several other passengers  lying down writhing in pains. Some sympathizers said they have taken seven dead bodies to the hospital but I did not see any corpse. I did not see any ambulance or emergency workers at the time I left the scene.  It was a ghastly accident and unfortunate.”

When our correspondent visited the scene of the accident, there was traffic gridlock as the trailer and other affected vehicles were still on the road.

Several traffic officers were also seen walking to the scene of the accident while impatient drivers were desperately seeking alternative routes to get out of the traffic.

Our correspondent contacted the Lagos state police spokesperson Kenneth Nwosu but he was yet to reply to a  text message sent to his phone at the time of filing  this report.

In another development dozens of undergraduates of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Ago – Iwoye, have reportedly lost their lives after a container fell on a passenger bus they were travelling in on Friday, June 26.

Read More...

Enjoy Upto 70% off Shoes and 35% off General Merchandise in Konga Clearance Sale

It’s all about mouthwatering deals on Konga this week! Don’t miss out on two amazing promotions happening this week across different categories. Get up to 70% off stylish male and female shoes in the TGIP Shoes promotion and up to 35% off General Merchandise in the Daily Deals Clearance sales from the 23rd of June to 30th of June 2015.

Have you been looking for the right shoes to complete that outfit? This is the best time to buy them without having to drill a hole in your wallets. Shop trendy shoes from premium brands like Ralph Lauren, Bella, Liliana 24/7, Adidas, GOLA, Breckelle, Qupid and lots more at discounts up to 70%. New brands will be discounted each day.

Also save money in the Daily Deals Clearance sales where General Merchandise will be sold at up to 35% discount. Air conditioners, mobile phones, TV sets, video games and much more from top brands are up for grabs for less. Take advantage of these promotions to save more money while you shop. Remember that free shipping applies on select items. Get your carts ready!

Start Shopping in the shoe week store or Konga daily deals page.

VISIT KONGA EXCLUSIVE SHOP HERE... 

America Same-sex Couples to Get Big Social Security Bonus

Heterosexual married couples have long been able to use Social Security claiming strategies — such as file and suspend, and restricted claim — to maximize their household's benefits.

But since Friday's historic Supreme Court decision recognizing same-sex partners' marriages as a constitutional right, those couples will be able to use the same benefit-boosting strategies — including benefits for spouses, ex-spouses and survivors of deceased workers — as straight married couples.

And the financial benefits could be immense, according to a report by Financial Engines, a Sunnyvale, Calif.-based investment advisory firm. In fact, the ruling could add anywhere from $20,000 to more than $250,000 in lifetime benefits to same-sex couples, says Christopher Jones, chief investment officer at Financial Engines.

Others agree.
From a Social Security-claiming perspective, "these unions ... will be no different than traditional marriages," says Stephen Stellhorn, president and CEO of MSM Capital Management in Tampa. "The rules of Social Security and the benefits it provides will apply to both spouses as well as any children they may have. And not understanding the basics of Social Security could cause you to leave thousands of dollars on the table over your lifetime."

In a case study, Financial Engines examined how much in additional benefits one same-sex couple would be eligible for.

In one scenario, Financial Engines profiles a fictitious couple — Henry, age 64, (current salary $80,000), and Logan, age 62 (who has had a lower-paying job interrupted by taking several years off). If Henry dies at 84 and Logan dies at 90 they would receive total Social Security benefits of $797,280 as two single people if they start collecting benefits at ages 64 and 62.

But if Henry and Logan claim Social Security as a married couple, their lifetime benefits would grow to $938,112, an increase of $140,832. That's because Logan can now receive spousal and survivor benefits based on Henry's higher earnings history.

And if Henry and Logan optimize when they claim Social Security they would get more than $1.1 million, some $202,176 more than if they claimed at ages 64 and 62.

How would they do that? With the "file-and-suspend" claiming strategy. According to Jones, Henry, at age 68, would file for earned benefits and immediately suspend — not take — them. That would let Logan receive spousal benefits while Henry's earned benefits continue to grow. At 66, Logan files for spousal benefits, but also files a restricted application to exclude earned benefits. At 70, Henry starts collecting earned benefits. And at 70, Logan switches to earned benefits.

USA TODAY

Why Ikorodu Robbery Was Successful - LASG

The Lagos state government has asked Lagosians not to panic over the bank robbery incident which happened in Ikorodu on Wednesday, June 25 and has revealed why the robbers went away with the atrocity.


The incident in which three persons were left injured and millions of naira carted away, was reportedly masterminded by a gang of robbers led by a young lady in Ebute Ipakodo area of the division.


Some of the cars burnt during the incident on Wednesday Photo: Damilare Okunola


PM News reports that the secretary to the state government, Tunji Bello, who spoke on the incident Thursday, has now said that there is no need to panic as the robbers only capitalised on the transition period to wreak havoc.


He said: “This is a transition period, look at Boko Haram, they have come back because it is transition period. The RRS new boss just resumed, some people are just exploiting that period to get something on time.


“There is nothing to panic about, we will respond, don’t worry, we will respond very well, so I am not afraid, they are just exploiting the transition periosd, it is not just in Lagos, it is every where, we will respond appropriately and there is nothing to worry about.”


The robbery incident which lasted about 30-45 minutes sent the police officers whose station was opposite the banks, into hiding as the weapons on parade by the robbers were reportedly more sophisticated than the police officers’ weapons.


Sources also revealed that the armored tank with which the security operatives pursued the robbers, was almost destroyed by the weapons of the dare-devil robbers as the entire community stood still while the ordeal lasted.

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Saraki, Dogara Defy APC Again On NASS Matters

 

The senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has Thursday, June 25, announced Senator Ali Ndume and Bala Ibn Na’Allah as Senate leader and deputy respectively thereby defying a directive contained in a letter from the APC leadership.

 

The letter which was signed by the national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, recommended that Sen. Ahmad Lawan and George Akume be nominated for the two principal positions of the hallowed chamber.


In a letter which was obtained by Breaking Times and dated June 23, 2015, also had Sen. Sola Adeyeye and Abu Ibrahim recommended for Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip respectively (the article continues below).


But contrary to the letter’s recommendations, Saraki also announced that Senator Francis Alimikhena from Edo state has been nominated as Deputy Chief Whip.


In the same vein, the APC national leadership also wrote another letter to the speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, recommending Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as majority leader along with Hon Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who was also tipped for deputy majority leader.


However, this led to altercations in the chambers of the House of Representatives today over the Speaker’s refusal to implement the directives of the APC leadership. The House eventually adjourned the sitting to July 21.


The Senate had on Wednesday rejected a move by some All Progressives Congress senators to read the letter from the party’s leadership recommending some senators to occupy specific principal officers of the senate.


Mr. Lawan had lost the senate presidency election to Bukola Saraki, even though he was the preferred candidate. This is presently causing a heat-up among the APC bigwigs as the party still insists that its preferred candidates who failed to be elected president and speaker for the Senate and House of Representatives respectively should be elected as Majority Leaders in both the red and green chambers.

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President Buhari Not Happy Over APC Demand To Be Part Of His Cabinet

President Muhammadu Buhari is not happy over the All Progressives Congress (APC) battle for positions in his cabinet.


Vanguard has learnt that at least seven members of party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have indicated interest in different ministerial positions.


Two of them are Engr. Segun Oni, deputy national chairman of the party, and Lai Mohammed, the national publicity secretary.


Nigeria’s leader is expected to send the list of his nominees to the National Assembly this week as both chambers of the federal arm of the power resume plenary on June 23, Tuesday and that he is not that much happy with the APC’s demand to be part of his cabinet.


Insider at the national party secretariat in Abuja who asked not to be named said that Oni who was the ex- governor of Ekiti state was lending on the slot of his state.


The source continued that his chances might be brighter as the present governor of his state, Ayo Fayose who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not likely to be provided the opportunity of suggesting a minister.


Meanwhile, he expressed fear that Oni might run into trouble with another former governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi who also played a visible role Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.


For Mohammed, his chances were thin as he would have to battle with the Senate President and ex-governor of Kwara state, Bukola Saraki as well as Kawu Baraje, the ex-leader of the nPDP who led the defection of G5 governors to APC in 2013.


Other APC NWC members said to be lobbying for different ministerial positions comprised the National Vice Chairman (North-east) Engr. David B. Lawal from Adamawa, National Youth Leader, Alhaji Dasuki Jalo from Gombe, National Women Leader, Alhaja Ramatu Tijjani from Kogi state and Emmanuel Eneukwu from Enugu state.


It was gathered that the members last week in a meeting to show their aims to APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun advising him to transmit same to Buhari.


But the insiders noted that the demands did not get the support of Oyegun who frowned at them.


“When the NWC members met with Buhari on the issue of ministerial appointment, though the national chairman refused to tender the request of some NWC members who want to be ministers to President Buhari, the only thing he told him was for his leadership to be carried along in the process.


“But it seems President Buhari knew what was about to happen, he told the party leaders right there not to contemplate becoming part of his cabinet, he told them to stay where they are and build a strong party”, the source said.


However, Garba Shehu, the presidential aide on media and publicity has said that the National Assembly current recess is responsible for the delay in announcement of ministerial list.


It should be also mentioned that Lagos lawyer dragged the president to court and pointed out extreme delay in the formation of Buhari’s cabinet as lone ranger as well as in a dictatorial style.

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Delta State University Undergraduate Commits Suicide

Tears flow freely on the cheeks of residents of Abraka community in Delta state when a 26 years old microbiology student of Delta State University was said to have  committed suicide after her fiance called that their relationship was over.


According to report, the lady who was identified as Evelyn Mogekwu, could not face the reality that her seven years relationship with her fiance could not lead to marriage.


The deceased friends said that the lady was in happy mood at her hostel prior to receiving a phone call from her fiance that the relationship between them was over.


The late Evelyn was reportedly said to have bought some drugs as she was complaining she had headache. She went inside her room  leaving message to her roommate that she might see her again.


The roommate said that she sensed that something terrible was going to happen. She ran to the room only to find Evelyn lifeless body. She raise an alarm that attracted other students to the room, but she could not be revived  as she had given up the ghost.


The case was reported to Abraka Police Division. The police has since  arrested the deceased roommate for interrogation. A senior police who do not want to be named said that particle of  drugs were found on the floor beside the deceased.

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Chad warplanes bomb Boko Haram after attacks

News at N'Djamena - Chad said Thursday its warplanes bombed Boko Haram positions in neighbouring Nigeria to avenge twin suicide bombings in the capital this week blamed on the jihadists.

The government also Wednesday announced it was banning the burqa nationwide in a security clampdown following Monday's attacks in N'Djamena that left 33 people dead and more than 100 wounded.

Chad's military vowed it would continue its "merciless" pursuit of the Islamist insurgents "so that no drop of spilt Chadian blood goes unpunished".

"In response to the cowardly and barbaric acts perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists... the armed forces carried out reprisal air strikes on the terrorists' positions in Nigerian territory on Wednesday," the military said in a statement.

Six Boko Haram bases were destroyed in the air raids, which caused "considerable human and material losses", it said, without giving further details.

Monday's attacks on the police headquarters and a police academy in N'Djamena were the first in the capital of the central African country, which has taken a lead role in a regional offensive against the Nigeria-based Boko Haram.

No group has claimed responsibility but Chad and its allies immediately blamed the insurgents, who have carried out a series of bloody attacks in border areas of countries that share a frontier with northeastern Nigeria.

- 'Seize and burn burqas' -

Chad also Wednesday banned the full-face Muslim veil and ordered security forces to seize burqas from markets and burn them.

"Wearing the burqa must stop immediately from today, not only in public places and schools but throughout the whole of the country," Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet told religious leaders the day before the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

Any type of clothing that leaves only the eyes visible is a form of "camouflage" and is now banned, he added, asking religious leaders to spread the message in mosques, churches and other holy places.

Deubet said security forces in the Muslim majority country had been instructed to "go into the markets and to seize all the burqas on sale and burn them".

 

Anyone found wearing a burqa will be "arrested, tried and sentenced in summary proceedings", he added.

 

Boko Haram has used female suicide bombers to launch attacks in the past by hiding explosive devices under their clothes.

 

Chad's government on Tuesday declared three days of national mourning for victims of the blasts.

 

President Idriss Deby said he was "not surprised" Chad has been targeted because of the leading role it is playing in the regional effort to crush Boko Haram fighters.

 

- 'Don't drop your guard' -

 

"I have continually told the government to not drop its guard," he said, urging the international community to back Chad and its neighbours in their campaign.

 

Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Benin and Cameroon agreed last week to set up a regional task force of 8,700 soldiers, police officers and civilians, based in N'Djamena.

Boko Haram's leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened several times to attack Chad and other countries fighting the militants, whose bloody six-year insurgency is increasingly spilling across Nigeria's borders.

 

Security was stepped up in N'Djamena after the bombings, with scores of police and soldiers patrolling the streets and stopping cars for security checks.

 

Vehicles with tinted windows have been barred from the streets, and the area around the presidential palace and the police headquarters sealed off.

 

The burqa ban was ordered by a crisis committee set up on Tuesday after the president returned from an African Union summit in South Africa. Prosecutors also arrested several people on the same day.

 

READ MORE... 

Cassava to Generate N5trillion per Annum for Nigeria Economy

National President of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association [NCGA], Segun Adewumi, has said the production and export of cassava products are capable of generating N5 trillion per annum in foreign exchange for the Nigerian economy, if the sub-sector is fully explored.

Speaking on the sideline of the send-forth ceremony organised in honour of the former Minister of Agriculture  and Rural Development in Abuja, Adewumi said the membership of the Association has grown from 10,000 to over one million over the last four years .

He expressed optimism that with the high calibre of individuals who are cassava growers in the country that the sub-sector would boost the nation’s economy and generate wealth for the country.

While appreciating the drastic change that the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has brought to the sector, he noted that the minister has laid a solid foundation that would return the nation’s economy to the path of prosperity and progress.

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APC crisis - Buhari meets Atiku, Oyegun and others

APC crisis - The need to further consult and calm frayed nerves has been adduced as reasons why the leadership of the All Progressives Congress shelved a meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja on Tuesday.

It was learnt that some of the party leaders, who were still aggrieved on the outcome of the National Assembly leadership elections, are yet to agree to sit on the roundtable with individuals they claimed stabbed them in the back.

A member of the party caucus, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said, “You expect me to sit with people, who for their selfish interests, connived with the opposition to deny our party what is due to it?

“We need time for the wounds to heal. You must also understand that the comment of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, which is in the papers today, has not helped matters.”

It was further learnt that as part of the consultations before a wider meeting would be called, President Muhammadu Buhari met with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; APC’s National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; and the Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, at his private residence in Abuja on Thursday.

When contacted, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, denied knowledge of any scheduled caucus or Board of Trustees meeting.

He told The PUNCH, “I am not aware of any meeting scheduled for Abuja today (Tuesday); I only know that the Governors Forum is meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

Al-Makura had, on Sunday, told newsmen in Lafia, that party leaders would meet in Abuja on Tuesday to deliberate on the challenges facing the party.

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Ten of the Best Memorable Opening BPL Matches

The 2015/16 Barclays Premier League fixture list is due to be released at 9am on Wednesday 17 June, when supporters of the 20 clubs and beyond are eager who will be paired against each other when the season starts on Saturday 8 August.

Matchweek 1 has thrown up some classic encounters in Barclays Premier League years gone by. Premierleague.com looks at 10 memorable opening-day fixtures over the past 23 seasons of the Barclays Premier League.

15 August 1992 - Arsenal 2-4 Norwich City
Norwich City return to the Barclays Premier League in 2015/16 after securing promotion from the Sky Bet Championship at the first attempt, and Canaries fans will fondly remember the first time they graced the competition in its inaugural season in 1992/93.

After Steve Bould and Kevin Campbell put Arsenal 2-0 up in the first half, new Norwich signing Mark Robins, on as a substitute, scored twice to spark a stunning comeback for the visitors, which was sealed with late efforts from David Phillips and Ruel Fox.

Robins spearheaded the East Anglian club's strike-force that season, netting 14 goals as they secured a club-record third-place finish in the BPL.

17 August 1996 - Wimbledon 0-3 Manchester United
David Beckham stole the show with a stunning strike from the halfway line as defending Barclays Premier League champions Manchester United beat Wimbledon at Selhurst Park.

Eric Cantona opened the scoring with a sublime strike from the edge of the penalty area before Denis Irwin doubled United's advantage. Beckham announced himself in the 90th minute as he caught Neil Sullivan off his line, with a goal that won the 10 Seasons award for the Premier League.

18 August 2001 - Leicester City 0-5 Bolton Wanderers
Braces from Kevin Nolan and Per Frandsen helped Bolton Wanderers mark their return to the Barclays Premier League with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Leicester City.

The newly promoted club went 4-0 up before half-time at Filbert Street with two goals from Nolan, one each from Michael Ricketts and Frandsen. The Dane completed the rout for the Trotters after the break.

19 August 2001 - Manchester United 3-2 Fulham
Fulham nearly shocked Manchester United at Old Trafford in their first Barclays Premier League match, but the newly promoted side succumbed to a trademark comeback from the league champions.

French striker Louis Saha twice gave Fulham the lead as they were 2-1 up after 48 minutes, but Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a quick double to seal the victory for the hosts.

17 August 2008 - Aston Villa 4-2 Manchester City
A seven-minute hat-trick from Gabriel Agbonlahor earned Aston Villa a stunning opening day win against Manchester City. The hosts initially took the lead through John Carew but Elano levelled the match from the spot on 64 minutes.

Five minutes later, Agbonlahor scored the first of three goals to turn the match on its head with Vedran Corluka's late goal a mere consolation for City.

15 August 2009 - Everton 1-6 Arsenal
Arsenal produced a magnificent opening-day display to rout Everton at Goodison Park. Arsene Wenger's team went ahead through a curling effort from Denilson before debutant Thomas Vermaelen headed a second. A double from Cesc Fabregas and a William Gallas goal made it 5-0 before Eduardo da Silva marked his return from a long-term injury with the sixth.

Everton got a late consolation through Louis Saha. This was Arsenal's third opening day win over the Toffees in the Barclays Premier League.

14 August 2010 - Wigan Athletic 0-4 Blackpool
Blackpool announced themselves on the Barclays Premier League stage in style as they earned a convincing 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

The newly promoted Seasiders sent the visiting Tangerine fans into raptures with a Gary Taylor-Fletcher strike on 16 minutes, before Marlon Harewood scored twice before the break to make it 3-0. Alex Baptiste's cross went straight in on 75 minutes as Ian Holloway's side wrapped up a memorable win.

14 August 2010 - Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich Albion
A Didier Drogba hat-trick inspired Chelsea to the biggest opening-day victory in the Barclays Premier League as newly promoted West Bromwich Albion were beaten heavily.

Florent Malouda scored twice and Frank Lampard also got on the scoresheet for the defending champions Chelsea. West Brom bounced back from the defeat to finish 11th in the table.

19 August 2012 - Man City 3-2 Southampton
Manchester City survived a scare from newly promoted side Southampton as they started their Barclays Premier League title defence with a thrilling victory at the Etihad Stadium.

After Carlos Tevez had given the hosts a first-half lead, Saints capitalised on a missed David Silva penalty as goals from Rickie Lambert and Steven Davis put them into a shock 2-1 lead. But with 18 minutes left, Edin Dzeko equalised before Samir Nasri won it from close range.

16 August 2014 - Manchester United 1-2 Swansea City
Louis van Gaal's first Barclays Premier League match as Manchester United manager ended in defeat as Swansea City stunned the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

Ki Sung-yeung fired in the opener for Garry Monk's side from 20 yards just before the half-hour, but Wayne Rooney put United on level terms with an overhead kick. Gylfi Sigurdsson, who returned to Swansea that summer after an impressive loan spell in 2011/12, finished well from a counter-attack to clinch the Welsh club's first league victory at Old Trafford.

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Two Drug Traffickers Get 55 Years Imprisonment

A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, has sentenced two drug traffickers to fifty-five years in jail.

One of the convicts, Deborah Okafor, a 30-year-old professional dancer, was charged with conspiracy, trafficking and unlawful possession of 3.450kg of amphetamine, while the other, Iheme Onyemauchechukwu, was charged with trafficking and unlawful importation of 9.975kg of heroin.

They were both arrested at the Enugu airport.

A statement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said Okafor would have been paid the sum of $3,500 if she successfully made her trip to Malaysia.

She was convicted and sentenced by Justice D. V. Agishi to 10 years each in counts one and two and 20 years in count three making her sentence 40 years altogether.

The second convict, Onyemauchechukwu, 27, was charged with trafficking and unlawful importation of 9.975kg of heroin. He was convicted as charged and sentenced to 10 years in count one with a fine of N1m and five years in count two with a fine of N500,000,000.

Okafor reportedly hid 3.450kg of amphetamine inside the pockets of jean trousers in her luggage.
She told the court that she was broke and needed money. “I had been approached on many occasions to smuggle drugs but I declined. I thought that I could earn some quick money in few days,” she stated.
Onyemauchechukwu said he was recruited in Tanzania by a suspected drug cartel in East Africa. He told investigators that he smuggled drugs because he was stranded.

“I used to sell phone accessories before I left the country. I wanted to go to Malaysia in search of job opportunities but I was stranded in Tanzania. Then I met a Nigerian who gave me money and promised to assist me get back to Nigeria. He offered to give me some money to start up my business. He later took me to Bujumbura in Burundi where I was given 9.975kg of heroin hidden inside cosmetics,” he stated.

NDLEA Chairman,Ahmadu Giade, expressed satisfaction with the judgment.

He said, “While this punishment is expected to correct the convicts, it will equally help to deter others from getting involved in drug trafficking. The agency commits huge resources in drug investigation, arrests and prosecution. Judgment like this will further lend credence to the nation’s anti-drug campaign.”

 READ MORE...

Salary Crisis: President Buhari To Bail Out States

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has said that President Muham-madu Buhari would extend bailout to states to enable them offset backlog of salaries and liabilities crippling their economic activities across the country.

He made this known yesterday in Makurdi, the state capital, during separate meetings with students and other union leaders from the Benue State University, BSU.

Ortom further revealed that his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam left behind a debt burden of over N90 billion for his administration, contrary to the N9.2 billion debt as claimed by the former governor.

Benue is among the distressed states in the country. Others include Osun, Enugu, Kaduna, Plateau and Imo. Most of the states or their local governments are said to be owing between four to six months salaries of workers amounting to several billions of Naira.

However, according to Ortom, “the list of the debt (left behind by Suswam) include N50 billion incurred from ongoing contracts, N18 billion on certificated contracts, N12 billion on salary arrears and about N10 billion for bonds and bank facilities and loans.”

He stated that the President had agreed to avail the states some lifeline but noted that Benue State government had concluded arrangements to borrow funds to pay one month of the backlog of salary arrears across board and to also ensure the take off of both the executive and legislative arms of government.

He said the decision was prompted by the need to demonstrate to the state work force that he was determined to address their problems and to persuade striking tertiary institu-tion workers to call off their four-months-old strike.

Earlier, President of the BSU Students’ Union Government, Bobby Taver-shima, had lamented that students of the university had been at home for four months but assured that they would not do anything to jeopardize the administration.

Also, a representative of the National Associa-tion of Nigerian Students, NANS, Gideon Obande appealed to Ortom to clear arrears of bursary owed students in order to alleviate their sufferings.

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Tinubu And Atiku Have Begun 2019 Presidential Battle

The present unrest in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been described as an outright battle for the 2019 presidency.

A report credited to Global Village Extra, quoted civil rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to have revealed that the infighting in the ruling APC was a battle for the control of the soul of the party ahead of the 2019 elections, hence the friction among the party stalwarts.

Ozekhome noted that the battle is between the camp of former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki  and Yakubu Dogara as the senate president and house of representatives speaker respectively, against the wish of the party, has exposed the discord in the ruling party.

This has led many observers and analysts to request the sanction of Saraki and Dogara, just as the leadership of the APC described the election of the NASS leadership as gross indiscipline with a promise to sanction the new principal officers for not following the party’s directive on the election of principal officers of the National Assembly.

According to Ozekhome, the disarray in the different camps is centered around the fact that president Muhammadu Buhari may be too old to run for office by 2019, and with power likely to remain in the north, the different groups are trying to firm up their grip and affluence in the party.

“What we are seeing is the battle for 2019. It is a straight fight between the Atiku camp and Bola Tinubu’s camp. The thinking is that Buhari will be too old to run for office by then so the camps want to consolidate their grip on power before then,” the lawyer said, warning that failure to address the issue amicably would damage the survival and success of the party.

Recall that Atiku was recently sighted with some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, having a nice time with people who were supposed to be in he opposition.

Read More... 

Tinubu's Wife Walks Out On Senate President, Saraki

Nigerian Senators who were absent at yesterday’s inauguration ceremony were today sworn in by the new Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki.

The senators were gathered at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fifteen into the meeting, the clerk of the National Assembly, conducted the election and subsequently swore Senator Bukola Saraki in as the Eighth Senate President.

Saraki, discharged his first duty as the new Seanate President by administering the oath of office and allegiance on the 75 senators that were in attendance. APC senators were led by Ahmad Lawan to take their oath of office.

According to protocol, every senator after swearing in is expected, to present a copy of their certificate to the senate president and in turn, shake hands with him.

However drama started when the wife of APC National Leader, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central ), left Saraki’s hand hanging after displaying her certificate. She then walked out on Saraki while while muttering some words in low tone to the senate president.

The twenty-six other APC senators-elect who were also sworn in are: Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa) Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos), Olusola Adeyeye (Osun), Isiaka Adeleke (Osun), and Shehu Sani (Kaduna).

Afterwards the senate went into a closed-session at 10:58 am.

Senator Bukola Saraki on Tuesday outsmarted Tinubu’s candidate, Ahmad Lawan, in the race for Nigeria’s Senate President.

 

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