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It's A Big Lie, Soldiers Have Not Rescued The Female Students

“For the military that is supposed to find and rescue our children to be spreading such lies that they have gone and rescue them shows that they have no intention of rescuing our girls,” said Lawan Zanna, a Chibok resident whose daughter was among those abducted.

Also, Borno State government and management of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, where over 100 female students were abducted by Boko Haram on Tuesday, have said the military’s claim on freeing 107 of the missing girls is false.

The spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade had Wednesday issued a statement claiming that 107 of the kidnapped SSS-3 girls had been freed. The military statement reads: 

“More students of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok have been freed this evening in the ongoing search and rescue operations to free the abducted students. With this development, the principal of the school confirmed that only eight of the students are still missing. One of the terrorists who carried out the attack on the school has also been captured. Efforts are underway to locate the remaining 8 students.”

 

But the principal of GGSS Chibok, Mrs. Asabe Kwambura, whom Brigadier Olukolade said had given him the information on Wednesday, has denied ever feeding Nigerian Army with such figure, even as she insisted that only 14 of the abducted girls had been freed as announced earlier by the state government.

Mrs. Kwambura, who spoke to journalists in Maiduguri, said:

“There is nothing in the statement issued by the military that is true about our abducted girls. Up till now, we are still waiting and praying for the safe return of the students; all I know is that we have only 14 of them, and the security people, especially the vigilante and the well-meaning volunteers of Gwoza, are still out there searching for them. The military people too are in the bush searching. So we have not received any information that they have the students yet. So let it be clear that all the information passed on through the media by the military concerning 107 girls is not true. I, as the principal, did not give anybody any figure on released students other than what His Excellency, Governor Kashim Shettima had informed the media.”

“They contacted me from the army headquarters in Abuja and I told them that I don’t want to be seen to be contradicting myself on that because what the governor had said was what we knew. I also told them there could be further rescue of the girls, but up to this moment, we have not received any of them apart from what we had before. What the governor said is still the true picture of the whole issue and the information given by the military is totally wrong.”

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima was also heard speaking in an interview aired on the Hausa Service of the BBC on Thursday morning that only 14 girls had been recovered so far.

“We have recovered 14 of the girls and we have announced N50 million reward for any credible information that will help us get our girls released and rejoined with their families,” the governor said.

Many residents of Maiduguri who are angered by the lies of the Military Headquarters in Abuja are now of the opinion that this development has confirmed what people have been saying the the federal government has been feeding Nigerians with lies about the activities of Boko Haram.

Northern govs hold emergency meeting on security, confab

The Northern State Governors’ Forum will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday, March 25 in Abuja to discuss current national issues.
Forum Chairman and Niger Gov., Dr Babangida Aliyu, said this in a statement signed by Mr Danladi Ndayebo, his Chief Press Secretary.
The statement said two separate meetings would be held to consider the security situation in the region and the region’s agenda at the on-going National Conference.
“The 13-man delegation of the Northern States Governors Forum will brief the forum on its collaboration with the Governments of the United States, Norway and Denmark,” it added.
It commended the new attention by the U.S on the situation in the North, including economic and investment opportunities, and security challenges in the region.
“The 19 Northern Governors will also meet with delegates to the ongoing National Conference from the North to fine tune the region’s position at the talk shop,” it said.
The statement added that the first meeting would hold in the morning at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, while the second is expected to take place in the evening at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge, in Abuja

Nine killed in Turkey train crash

At least nine people have been killed after a passenger train crashed into a minibus carrying people to work in Turkey, local media say.
The accident happened at a level crossing near the Mediterranean port city of Mersin.
It appeared all the dead – and a further five people who were injured – had been aboard the bus, and that train passengers were not hurt.
Local media suggested the level crossing barrier may have been open.
Basri Guzeloglu, the local governor, said the cause of the accident would be investigated.
The minibus was carrying the workers to an industrial zone on the edge of Mersin when it was hit.
Video footage showed the destroyed minibus lying by the side of the railway line and emergency services trying to reach the victims.

$1.69m fraud: Ajudua knows fate on bail application Mar 31

An Ikeja High Court on Thursday fixed March 31 for ruling on the bail application filed by a Lagos businessman, Fred Ajudua, charged with $1.69m fraud.
Justice Kudirat Jose fixed the date after hearing arguments from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel, Mrs E.A. Sanusi and Ajudua’s counsel, Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN).
Ajudua and one Charles Orie are being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding two Dutch businessmen – Messrs Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen, of $1.69m (about N252.8m).
They were re-arraigned before Jose on February 5 following the transfer of the case from the former trial judge, Justice Joseph Oyewole.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Orie was on March 12 granted bail while Ajudua is still being remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.
Addressing the court on Thursday, Sanusi said the EFCC had filed a 16-paragraph counter affidavit on March 10 opposing Ajudua’s application for bail.
Sanusi argued that there was likelihood that the first defendant (Ajudua) would jump bail and interfere with the prosecution witnesses.
“My Lord, it is a 2003 case and we have not been able to do anything. We have only called six witnesses to testify against the defendants,” she said.
Responding, Edosomwan said there was no proof before the court that his client had interfered with any witness.
According to him, there is overwhelming medical evidence that Ajudua is suffering from a life-threatening ailment.
He argued that Ajudua was ready to face trial contrary to the claim by the EFCC that he absconded after he was granted bail on medical grounds in 2005.
“My Lord, find it in your kind heart to grant the defendant bail,” Edosomwan said.

CBN to sell Treasury bills worth N313bn

The Central Bank of Nigeria said on Thursday it will sell N313.88bn worth of treasury bills.
The CBN posted the information on the sale of the treasury bills for the second quarter of the year on its Website.
It said the bills would have 91-day, 182-day and one year tenor and would be re-opened at the regular debt auction.
The apex bank explained that the 91-day treasury bills would be worth N50.28bn, 182-day worth N33.27bn and the one year bills were worth N63.73bn
It also said it would sell new bills including 91-day Treasury bill worth N33.27 bn, 182-day bills worth N50.28bn and one year bills worth N83.05bn

CBN submits N930bn budget to National Assembly

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday submitted and defended its 2014 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Finance.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that it is the first time the CBN would be doing so in the apex bank’s history.
The budget was presented to the house by Mr Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor in charge of Corporate Services, who also defended the bank’s 2013 performance at the session.
Barau said that the CBN had projected N553bn as‎ expected income with a projected expenditure profile of N377bn for 2014.
Presenting its performance chart for its 2013, Barau said that the CBN overshot its 2013 expenditure by more than N326bn.
He said the bank projected N413bn as its expenditure for 2013 but ended up spending N739bn.
Barau told the committee that the bulk of the 2013 excess expenditure was spent on “liquidity management” of the country’s economy.
He said the bank earmarked N180bn for‎ liquidity management but ended up spending N536bn.
The Chairman of the‎ Committee on Banking and Currency, Rep. Jones Onyereri‎ (PDP- Imo), then requested for complete details of the bank’s staff nominal roll.
The CBN under its suspended governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had a running battle with the Senate as he insisted on CBN’s independence based on the Banking and Other Financial Institutions Act and the CBN Act.

Police parade six suspected kidnappers

Suspected kidnappers

The Bayelsa State Police Command has paraded six suspected kidnappers, who were accused of robbing a home in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and abducting a woman, Mrs. Ebitimi Salvation.

The suspects were identified as Young Hope,  Felix Julius, Joel Diekemo,  Timipre Unity, Okala Oponi and Tonye Orukekeme.

The ringleader, whose name was given simply as Bright, was said to be a brother of the victim.

It was learnt that he (Bright), who is still at large, wore a mask while the operation lasted.

The suspects were said to have met at Okutukutu in Yenagoa before they set out for the operation on the fateful day.

During the police parade on Wednesday, an operative with the police anti-kidnapping squad, said the suspects had fled with their victim, but met their waterloo at the Peremanbri area of the state.

He said, “They were led by a brother of the victim who disguised himself by wearing a mask. He was the only one who wore a mask during the operation.

“When they got to the home of the victim, they stole over N500,000 from the victim’s husband. Thereafter, they whisked the wife, Mrs. Ebitimi Salvation, away.

“Unfortunately, their boat developed a fault. Few minutes later, the marine police, who were on their trail, swooped on and arrested them (kidnappers) along the Southern Ijaw waterways. The policemen also freed their captive, Ebitimi.”

It was learnt that when they were nabbed, they (kidnap suspects) were armed with AK47 rifles.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilary Opara, after the parade said the command was ready to tackle criminality, especially kidnapping, in the state.

He said the police had recently arrested over 12 kidnappers in connection with two incidents that occurred in the state.

Fuel subsidy removal cruel to the masses – NIM

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Dr. Nelson Uwaga, said on Wednesday that removing fuel subsidy at the moment would be cruel to the masses.

Uwaga, however, said during a courtesy visit to the head office of PUNCH Nigeria Limited in Ogun State that the enormous corruption around the subsidy regime would make it unsustainable on the long run.

“People are abusing the whole thing; so, I think the government should put its house in order. It should not totally remove the subsidy but work towards stabilising the local production of petroleum products,” he said.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Tuesday gave a hint of the plan by the Federal Government to remove subsidies on petrol and kerosene at the ongoing Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja.

She said the subsidies being paid to the marketers by the Federal Government on both products were no longer sustainable.

The NIM president pointed out that the revenue sharing formula had to change with the federating units given priority.

Uwaga said the Federal Government should focus on security, among other things, while the states and the local governments should take on more responsibilities.

“In all honesty, the sharing formula has to change and tilt towards the state and local governments, while we should leave the centre to focus on security so that we can live together as one,” he said

Speaking on the clamour for state police, Uwaga said, “State police is a good idea but we have to be careful. We have a situation where most state executives have become small gods in their states.”

“In such a situation, we may have governors using the police against their opponents in election time, for instance.”

Ukraine proposes demilitarised zone in Crimea

Ukraine has proposed that Crimea, scene of a Russian-backed armed takeover, be declared a demilitarised zone by the United Nations with a pull-out by both Russian and Ukrainian forces.
“The Ukrainian government will immediately appeal to the United Nations to recognise Crimea as a demilitarised zone and take necessary measures for Russian forces to leave Crimea and prepare conditions for redeployment of Ukrainian forces,” security chief Andriy Parubiy said on Wednesday.
Earlier, several men in civilian clothing, later joined by military-looking personnel believed to be Russian, had seized the Ukrainian naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.
Parubiy told journalists that in the face of the growing likelihood of military confrontation with Russia, the Ukrainian foreign ministry had been given the task of introducing visas for Russians visiting the former Soviet republic.
Referring to his demilitarisation proposal, Parubiy, secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said he hoped the UN would support the idea.
“This formula is the best for de-escalation … We hope that common sense will prevail,” he said.
‘Self-defence’ units
A naval spokesman on Wednesday said there had been no violence during the takeover of the base and that he believed the men belonged to so-called “self-defence” units, mainly made up of volunteers who have supported Crimea’s transition from Ukrainian to Russian control, the Reuters news agency reported.
Dozens of despondent Ukrainian soldiers, one of them in tears, filed out of the base.
“We have been temporarily disbanded,” a Ukrainian lieutenant who identified himself only as Vlad told the AFP news agency.
“I was born here and I grew up here and I have been serving for 20 years,” he said as a Russian flag went up over the base without a single shot being fired in its defence. Where am I going to go?”
Sergiy Gayduk, the Ukraine navy commander appointed after his predecessor switched allegiance in favour of Crimea’s pro-Kremlin authorities at the start of the month, was detained.
Three Russian flags were later seen flying at one of the entrances to the base.
Ukraine’s acting president on Wednesday said Crimea’s separatist leaders had three hours to release Gayduk or face “an adequate response”.
Oleksandr Turchynov said in a statement that “unless Admiral Gayduk and all the other hostages – both military and civilians ones – are released, the authorities will carry out an adequate response … of a technical and technological nature.”
As tensions continued to rise, the AP news agency reported that Ukrainian Defence Minister Ihor Tenyukh had been denied entry to Crimea.
Earlier, at a cabinet meeting in the capital Kiev, acting Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk had asked his first vice PM Vitaliy Yarema and Tenyukh to fly to Crimea immediately to de-escalate the crisis and try to prevent the conflict from turning into a military one. The officials immediately left for the airport.

Osun voter registration ends

The voter registration by the  Independent National Electoral Commission ended in Osun State  on Monday.

The Chief Public Affairs Officer of INEC in Osun State, Mrs. Adenike Tadese, said in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Monday that the registration  would not be extended.

There has been speculations that the commission would extend the exercise because of the hitches suffered in the first two days of the registration  exercise but the commission said that the exercise would not be extended.

The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, called on the INEC to extend the registration exercise.

He said that the exercise was disrupted in some areas which prevented some people from registering.

He also said that some of the irregularities which the party observed could mar the election if not corrected.

The statement read, “ The APC in Osun State is calling  on INEC to extend for a few more days the registration exercise because it had been substantially disrupted and disallowed many prospective voters from registering.

“From day one of the exercise, the PDP had disrupted the exercise in several registration centres  accross the state even up till today (Monday), the last day of the exercise, they still created crisis at Ede, in the Ede North Local Government Area of the state.

“The APC has known long before now that the PDP had a strategic plan to employ violence as a means of intimidation to scare away supporters of the APC from voting in the August 9 governorship election and this it has successively done in good measure for the better part of the exercise so far.

“In the interest of justice and fairplay, all those centres affected by the PDP violence should at least be opened for a few more days with the protection of the security forces to allow those who have been prevented from the exercise to duly register and collect their voter cards.”

But the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in the state, Mr. Bola Ajao, when contacted on the telephone by our correspondent, said that although the initial hiccups in the exercise discouraged some people from participating in the registration, he said the number of such people was insignificant.

Ekiti gov aspirant asks PDP to disqualify Fayose

Mr. Ayodele Fayose

A Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Deji Ajayi, has asked the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, to disqualify a fellow aspirant, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, from taking part in the PDP primaries scheduled for Saturday.

Ajayi, in a petition, which he also sent to President Goodluck Jonathan, threatened to seek legal redress if Fayose was not barred from the primaries to produce the PDP candidate in the June 21 governorship election in Ekiti.

He said that Fayose had ceased from being a member of the party, having defected to the Labour Party in the past and that there was no constitutional recommendation to the National Working Committee of the PDP for Fayose’s readmission to the party.

Ajayi’s letter read in part, “Sir, the subject person, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who is not a party member has been parading himself as an aspirant on the platform of the party for some time without going through and/or fulfilling the constitutional prerequisites to becoming a member of the party.

“It may be apposite to state the facts of how Mr. Fayose, who was once a member of the party lost his membership and has never been re-admitted to full membership of the party to confer the status of participating in the electoral process leading to emergence of the party candidate.

“Sir, the subject person was the Governor of Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006 when he was impeached by the State House of Assembly and went on a self-imposed exile. Upon his return, he left the party and joined the All Nigerian Peoples Party and campaigned across the state for that party’s candidate in the 2007 gubernatorial election.

“In 2013, he did not only join the Labour Party, he was also the candidate of that party for the Ekiti Central Senatorial seat which he lost with a wide margin to the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria. Sir, it is a fact that cannot be denied that the subject person, with these antecedents lost his membership of the party.

“It is conceded that the subject person has, to the general knowledge and to the personal knowledge of our client, taken the initial steps towards becoming a member of the party (PDP) in line with the provision of section 8(17) of the Constitution of the party, however, no recommendation has been made to the National Working Committee for his readmission to the party.”

President warns ministers, cancels NIS recruitment

President Goodluck Jonathan
| credits: File copy

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday read the Riot Act to ministers and heads of government departments and agencies to desist from organising fatal exercises similar to the one conducted by the Nigeria Immigration Service on Saturday, under the guise of recruiting staff.

The President said any sloppy minister, whose carelessness caused the death of citizens, would henceforth be arrested and prosecuted for manslaughter.

Jonathan reportedly issued the threat during the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. Sources at the meeting said discussion centred mainly on the tragic NIS recruitment during which 19 applicants died.

One of the sources told our correspondent that the President spoke after he had asked the embattled Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, to brief the council on the circumstances that led to the death of the applicants.

The source said that while Jonathan was silent on whether Moro was culpable and would be punished or not, he warned that all government officials must ensure that such unfortunate incident did not occur again in the country.

“The council meeting was devoted to the tragedy. The President started by asking the Minister of Interior to brief the council on the circumstances that led to the incident. The visibly angry President thereafter warned ministers and the heads of departments and agencies that he would henceforth order that any of them who conducted such a fatal exercise be arrested and tried for manslaughter,” the source said.

The President had reportedly queried Moro and the Comptroller-General of the NIS, Mr. David Parradang, on Monday, asking for an explanation over the Saturday’s incident when 19 potential recruits to the NIS died in the stampede that occurred at the overcrowded venues of the screening across the country.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, confirmed to State House correspondents that the meeting was devoted to the tragedy.

Maku said the President directed that three employment slots be reserved for the families of those who died during the exercise nationwide. He said one of the three beneficiaries must be a female.

The minister added that Jonathan also directed that all those who sustained injuries and were receiving treatment in hospitals be given automatic employment in the immigration service.

Maku said the President also ordered the cancellation of the ill-fated exercise and set up a committee to be headed by the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Mrs. Joan Ayo, to conduct a fresh exercise.

Members of the committee, according to the information minister, are the Comptroller-General of NIS, Mr. David Paradang; a representative of the Inspector-General of Police; the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps; Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service; the Director-General of the State Security Service; and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission.

 Maku did not answer questions on the fate of Moro and on whether applicants’ N1, 000 registration fee would be refunded.

“I have only told you what the President announced during the council meeting,” he responded to further enquiries on Jonathan’s directives.

He however confirmed that Jonathan had instructed MDAs to desist from organising sloppy exercises as did the NIS in order to avert a similar tragedy.

Maku said, “The President has also directed that as soon as he returns from his trip abroad he will meet the families of the deceased to express his personal condolences to them over the sad tragedy that took place on Saturday.

“He instructed all MDAs never to embark on an exercise of this nature in recruiting people into the public service because what happened could have been avoided. So, Mr. President directed that no one outside the armed forces and the police, who usually recruit people through such an exercise, that no other MDA is allowed to embark on this kind of exercise that we witnessed on Saturday.

“All of us expressed our regrets about what happened; our hearts go out there to the families of the deceased. This nation is fully behind them, the grief is not their own, the grief is that of all Nigerians and is the grief of the government and the people of Nigeria. “We regret it and we pray for the repose of the souls of those who have departed.

“Council noted that it is regrettable that this took place at a time that every effort was being made by government to increase spaces available for employment. For example last year, we were able to get 1.6 million employed in the various sectors of the economy and the public service.

“However, the incident that took place is so painful and we will not want to see in this country young job seekers losing their lives in the process of seeking for jobs after school training.”

Court hears PDP suit against defected govs April 7

Ex-PDP govs.

The Peoples Democratic Party has moved to serve hearing notices on the governors who defected to the All Progressives Congress at their liaison offices in Abuja in a bid to accelerate proceedings in a suit in which it asked an Abuja Federal High Court to remove them from office.

The suit filed by PDP against the governors – Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano); and Abdulfatai Ahmed (Kwara) – has been stalled repeatedly as a result of a dispute over the address of the national secretariat of the APC.

The governors’ grouse was that the PDP did not serve the hearing notice at the address stipulated in the order which directed them to appear before the court.

However, the PDP explained that the defected governors’ new political party, the APC, had moved from the address mentioned in the court order – No. 6 Guinea Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6 – to a new location – No. 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse 2, where it served the hearing notice.

The five governors are insisting that they cannot be served at an address that was not authorised by the court, and their lawyers, including Yusuf Ali, SAN, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Awa Kalu, SAN, John Bayeshia, SAN and Akin Olujinmi, SAN, have challenged what they described as ‘wrongful’ service of the hearing notice.

However, in a bid to resolve the impasse and make progress in the case, the PDP counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, at the continuation of hearing in the matter on Wednesday, informed the court that PDP had filed a new application on March 17 to seek the leave of the court to serve the hearing notice on the governors at their liaison offices in Abuja.

“We want to serve them now at their liaison office.

“The essence (of the application) is that we want to tell that this is what we want to do,” Izinyon said.

Explaining the decision to serve the defected governors at their liaison offices, he said, “We don’t want to follow them to the new address because they can say they are no longer there.

“So we said let’s look for an address that is permanent.

“This is a matter of constitutional importance and we have been here for three months – we cannot continue following them from pillar to post.

“I hope the liaison offices will still be there on the next adjourned date.”

With the defected governors’ lawyers arguing that they were not empowered to receive service on behalf of their clients, Justice Kolawole adjourned to April 7 to hear all pending applications, including the defendants’ motion against the service of the hearing notice.

The confusion over the address of the national secretariat of the APC became a major issue in the suit after the governors and their lawyers failed to appear before the court when proceedings in the suit commenced on January 27.

Following the governors’ absence, Justice Kolawole fixed February 6 for hearing and ordered that a  hearing notice to that effect should be served on them.

The judge directed that the hearing notice should be pasted at the national secretariat of the APC as a means of substituted service on the five governors, in addition to its advertisement in two national dailies

Jonathan sacks NNPC director, appoints five new GEDs

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday sacked the Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Abiye Membere, and appointed five new ones to fill existing vacancies.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the new appointees and their portfolios are Mr. Ian Udoh, Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemicals; Dr. Dan Efebo, Group Executive Director, Corporate Services; and Ms. Aisha Abdurrahman, Group Executive Director, Business Development.

Others are Mr. Adebayo Ibirogba, Group Executive Director, Engineering and Technical; and Dr. Joseph Dawha, Acting Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production.

Abati said the appointments took immediate effect.

Among the GEDs, the one in charge of the Exploration and Production is one of the most influential in the hierarchy of the NNPC because the department is responsible for producing the crude oil that is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.

It was gathered that some of the old GEDs had retired from the corporation without the government filling their positions, while some served in acting capacities.

For instance, the former GED, Refining and Petrochemicals, Mr. Anthony Ogbuigwe, and GED, Business Development, Mr. Aminu Babakusa, were said to have retired from the services of the NNPC.

The former acting GEDs, Corporate Services and Engineering and Technical were replaced with substantive directors.

Those that retained their portfolios are the GEDs, Commerce and Investment, Dr. Attahir Yusuf; Finance and Accounts, Mr. Bernard Otti; Gas and Power, Dr. David Ige; and Comapny Secretary/Legal Adviser, Anthony Madichie.

Udoh, according to the statement, is a native of Akwa Ibom State and has been the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited since November 2012.

He has considerable experience of managing the nation’s refineries, having previously held the position of Executive Director, Operations, at both the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited and the PHRPC.

In addition, Udoh had previously served as a general manager in the Refining and Petrochemicals Directorate of NNPC.

Efebo, who hails from Bayelsa State, was until the latest appointment the Group General Manager in charge of the NNPC’s Human Resources Division. He was previously General Manager, Human Resources, Brass LNG.

Abdurrahman is a native of Kogi State and was the Managing Director, Nikorma, NNPC’s shipping subsidiary.

She also served as Managing Director of Hyson, an NNPC trading subsidiary; and as Executive Director (Services), Pipelines and Products Marketing Company.

Ibirogba, a chemical engineer, until now was the Group General Manager, Engineering, NNPC’s Engineering and Technology Directorate, and hails from Ogun State.

He served at various times as General Manager (New Business), General Manager (Gas Development), and Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries.

In 2010, Ibirogba became the first African to be elected to the Board of Directors of the World LP Gas Association.

Dawha, who replaces Membere as Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production, was previously the Managing Director of Integrated Data Services Limited.

He is an indigene of Borno State and has served the corporation over the years in various capacities in the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Mr. Babs Omotowa, on Wednesday said the firm paid N220bn as tax on its operational profit in 2013.

According to him, the firm prides itself as the biggest tax payer and gas income earner in the country.

Omotowa said this in Abuja at the inauguration of the company’s university support programme.

“Our corporate income tax will exceed N220bn per annum, which is by far the highest in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.

He added that the NLNG had also commercialised over four trillion cubic feet of natural gas to lead the country’s aspiration for flare reduction at oil production sites.

 

Android Wear Developer Preview Now Available

Android Wear extends the Android platform to wearables. These small, powerful devices give users useful information just when they need it. Watches powered by Android Wear respond to spoken questions and commands to provide info and get stuff done. These new devices can help users reach their fitness goals and be their key to a multiscreen world.

We designed Android Wear to bring a common user experience and a consistent developer platform to this new generation of devices. We can’t wait to see what you will build.

Getting started

Your app’s notifications will already appear on Android wearables and starting today, you can sign up for the Android Wear Developer Preview. You can use the emulator provided to preview how your notifications will appear on both square and round Android wearables. The Developer Preview also includes new Android Wear APIs which will let you customize and extend your notifications to accept voice replies, feature additional pages, and stack with similar notifications. Head on over todeveloper.android.com/wear to sign up and learn more.

For a brief introduction to the developer features of Android Wear, check out these DevBytes videos. They include demos and a discussion about the code snippets driving them.

What’s next?

We’re just getting started with the Android Wear Developer Preview. In the coming months we’ll be launching new APIs and features for Android Wear devices to create even more unique experiences for the wrist.

Join the Android Wear Developers community on Google+ to discuss the Preview and ask questions.

We’re excited to see what you build!

Lindsay Lohan's list of 36 celeb lovers includes Justin Timberlake, Zac Efron, Ashton Kutcher

Actress Lindsay Lohan has slept with 36 famous men. Yes 36! And she listed the names herself. 

While talking about men and sex with her friends on a drunken night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in LA on January 30 2013, Lindsay took a pen and paper and wrote down the names of well known men she's slept with. It was her conquest list. And when they were done talking about it, Lindsay forgot to burn the paper or at least chew it, instead she left it at the hotel and now we all know all the celebrity men she's allegedly been with. For a lady who's only 27, Lindsay has really been around. See some of the famous men she's allegedly been with below...

Justin Timberlake, Orlando Bloom, Ashton Kutcher, Ryan Phillippe, Benicio Del Toro, Adam Levine, Zac Efron, Joaquin Phoenix, Colin Farrell, James Franco, Wilmer Valderrama, Stavros Niarchos, Danny Cipriani, and many more. See the full list, exclusively obtained by In Touch Weekly, after the cut

H-code to be buried tomorrow March 19th

Late top music producer Harold Obiajulu Mordi a.k.a HCode, who died on Friday March 7th after suffering an asthma attack, will be laid to rest tomorrow Wednesday, March 19. 

Funeral service will hold at Lagoon Restaurant, Ozumba Mbadiwe, VI at 10:00 am and internment follows immediately at Victoria Courts Cemetry, Awoyaya after Mayfair Gardens in Lagos. May his soul continue to rest in peace, amen. Continue to read more about him...

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Presidency defends Abacha’s Centenary Award honourPresidency defends Abacha’s Centenary Award honour

President Jonathan's spokesman Reuben Abati has explained why late military dictator Gen. Sani Abacha was given the controversial Centenary Award, saying that the government was in no way supporting corrupt practices...

"This (award) does not in any means translate to supporting sharp practices or corrupt practices. It is important to make the clear distinction in this regard.

I think it is important to make the necessary distinction here. The centenary award, like every award, has its own criteria. That centenary award was in relation to the amalgamation, the national unity, the history of Nigeria and the roles played by certain individuals.

The centenary award was not a test of sainthood. In giving the award to the former Head of State, Gen. Abacha, the committee in charge made it very clear that the award in the category in which the former Head of State appeared was awarded with regard to the contributions of those individuals in keeping Nigeria together." Continue...

You will find out that under that category, there were largely former Heads of State, persons who have at one time or the other presided over Nigeria and under whose watch, in spite of whatever challenges they might have faced, helped to sustain the unity of the country and helped to defend the integrity and sovereignty of the country. That was a specific criterion in this particular category. Of course, every award at all, be it for beauty or any other thing has its own criteria.” Reuben Abati tells Punch

Lobatan! Between video vixens Nicky & Veezeebaybeh on Instagram All the laughter I get from social media. Lol. Nicky Coppolang is a popular model and video vixen and is/was good friends with beautiful model and video vixen, Vernita Akpofure aka Veezeebaybeh. Nicky posted the pic above on her instagram page and Veezee came for her. The shit she means is the weave...lol. Nicky and Veezeebaybeh

Lobatan! Between video vixens Nicky & Veezeebaybeh on Instagram

All the laughter I get from social media. Lol. Nicky Coppolang is a popular model and video vixen and is/was good friends with beautiful model and video vixen, Vernita Akpofure aka Veezeebaybeh. Nicky posted the pic above on her instagram page and Veezee came for her. The shit she means is the weave...lol.

Nicky and Veezeebaybeh

All the laughter I get from social media. Lol. Nicky Coppolang is a popular model and video vixen and is/was good friends with beautiful model and video vixen, Vernita Akpofure aka Veezeebaybeh. Nicky posted the pic above on her instagram page and Veezee came for her. The shit she means is the weave...lol.

Nicky and Veezeebaybeh

All the laughter I get from social media. Lol. Nicky Coppolang is a popular model and video vixen and is/was good friends with beautiful model and video vixen, Vernita Akpofure aka Veezeebaybeh. Nicky posted the pic above on her instagram page and Veezee came for her. The shit she means is the weave...lol.

Nicky and Veezeebaybeh

Mavin unveils new artiste, Korede Bello, releases new single

In addition to the recently signed acts on your favourite record label Mavin Records, Don Jazzy unveils yet another signing "Korede Bello" to the Mavin 2.0 squad

The young soul sensational singer christened "Korede Bello" is ready to take you on a good music spree. His songs are often times straight from the heart. Often inspired by his environment, sometimes hilarious but with a deeper meaning which documents the struggle of a young African trying to achieve his dreams. The Mass Communication student is a victim of Leap year, thats why today is a special birth day to officially welcome his first single from Mavin Records. Continue...

 

Apart from his euphony prowess, he is best known for his guitar performances and his ability to move any size of crowd. His fast growing female fans call him the ultimate lover boy cos of his soft sweet vocals and also his looks. 
Africa, lets welcome Korede Bello as Mavin presents his first official single called "African Princess". A passionate song dedicated to those in love but also celebrates the African woman's awesomeness. 
Korede Bello together with Di Ja and Reekado Banks are fully ready to team up the with the resistlessMavin squad.

Listen to African Princess produced by Don Jazzy here - Bit.ly/AfricanPrincess or Mavinrecords.com

3LiveChicks interview Ikechukwu

3LiveChicks presenters Oreka Godis, Toke Makinwa & Tosyn Bucknor interview Ikechukwu in 2012

Photos: Soldiers take over streets in Victoria Island in route march

The soldiers were spotted this morning on several streets in Victoria Island. No one knows for sure what the march past was for but shouldn't they be in the North instead? #Justasking! :-) Continue to see more photos...

PHOTOS: Sexy Toolz In New Photo Shoot For The Juice - Celebrities

Famous Nigerian On Air Personality Tolu “Toolz” Oniru appears in a new super-hot photo shoot for Season 2 of The Juice to be broadcast on Ndani TV.
Enjoy the curves

Young DON_--------------He Is Best To Be Watched Out For

Onyeka kyrian dominic eluagu aka Young Don is a rapper,singer and a songwriter,he's from the Eastern Part of Nigeria. He started music at a very young age,he started music professionally at the age of 11 with two singles 'Party' and 'I sabi rap',After the Debut Single,he own numerous Awards,Since then he have Recorded About 20Songs while in High School. He is Someone to Watch out for,he Got Great Punchline,Energetic Flows,Nice delivery and catchy hooks... He is Often Referred to as the voice of the new era.

Photo Of The Day:FLAVOUR DRESSED AS A STUDENT

On Monday February 3rd, current high life king, Flavour visited his Alma Mater, College of the Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu were he passed out from 14 years ago.

The singer, who was dressed in the school's uniform, went there to inspire and motivate the students. He also gave out full music instrumental set and some scholarship. Will bring full details and pics later....................................dadson

Rita dominic covers Febuary edition of Genevieve Magazine

The February 2014 edition marks the 11th anniversary of Genevieve mag. On the cover is Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic who opened up on many aspects of her life and why she’s still single. Also featured in the fashion pages are exclusive pictures and trends from the Genevieve Style Day Out held recently at the Lagos Polo Club and a fashion story in Paris.

Father & Daughter drown as their vehicle plunge into lagoon in Lagos

A man and his daughter on Tuesday morning February 4th drowned in Lagos as a Toyota SUV in which they were travelling fell off the Ikota Bridge in Ajah and plunged into a lagoon.

Mr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident in Lagos.

He said that the man’s wife was thrown out by the vehicle as it somersaulted before plunging into the lagoon.

The LASEMA official said the accident occurred at about 1.00 a.m., and that the dead bodies had been deposited at a mortuary while the woman was taken to a hospital. Continue..



"We have recovered the dead bodies and have transferred them to the appropriate quarters for the necessary actions. The woman, rescued at the scene by emergency officials, has been taken to a hospital for treatment. Search for the vehicle, an ash Toyota jeep, is still ongoing. We are doing everything to get it out of the lagoon,’’ he said.

The general manager, who had yet to ascertain the cause of the accident, urged the state residents to be safety-conscious.

Source: NAN

Photos: Rev Chris Okotie shows off his exotic & very expensive rides

The Household of God Head Pastor recently acquired a Rolls Royce Phantom said to be worth N80m and a Range Rover Autobiography worth N30million. He said he bought these cars to celebrate 27 years as a pastor and 30 years as a born again Christian. He opened his garage doors to Encomium magazine and let them take photos of his exotic automobiles to show to the world. See more photos after the cut...