MTN denies illegal transfer of $14bn from Nigeria

South African telecoms giant MTN on Wednesday denied an allegation that it had illegally repatriated $13.92 billion from Nigeria, saying the claim was without merit.

Lawmakers in the upper house of Nigeria’s parliament agreed on Tuesday to investigate the allegation that MTN, Africa’s biggest telecoms company, illegally transferred the money out of the West African country.

“The allegations made against MTN are completely unfounded and without any merit,” MTN Nigeria chief executive Ferdi Moolman said in brief statement.

The allegation threatens to raise tensions between Nigeria and MTN just three months after the South African firm agreed to pay a reduced fine of N330 billion in a settlement with Abuja over unregistered SIM cards, reports Reuters.

MTN is the largest mobile phone operator in Nigeria, which accounts for around one third of the company’s revenues. The company had threatened to pull out of Nigeria during the dispute over unregistered SIM cards.

“It’s not a good development but it may stem from the forex crunch in Nigeria. They don’t want forex to leave the country unnecessarily,” said Cobus de Hart, an analyst at NKC African Economics.

“It highlights the fact that the Nigerian central bank wants to maintain a firm grip on the forex market and this will obviously not bode well for investor sentiment,” he said.

MTN shares fell more than 3 percent on Tuesday but opened 1 percent firmer on Wednesday.

Edo guber poll: Security agencies battle ready – AIG

Ahead of today’s gubernatorial election in Edo State, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, AIG Isaac Eke, yesterday expressed the readiness of the security agencies for the poll. He said, the security officials deployed for the election were on ground to forestall any crisis before, during and after the election.

Speaking to selected journalists at the state Police Headquarters in Benin, Eke said the Nigeria Police had deployed enough personnel for the election, especially in the riverine areas and warned VIPs not to move about with their aides during the election. He said: “It is no longer news that we have 25, 000 policemen on ground to take care of the waterways, airways and land.

We have policemen deployed to various local governments and wards. We also have about 250 vehicles deployed for policing during the election. “VIPs are not allowed to move about with their aides while voting is ongoing.

We have restriction of movements between 6am and 6pm. Likewise, we have intervention force.” Shedding more light on security arrangements made to forestall manipulation of the election through the waterways, Eke said: “We have gunboats and speedboats, the speedboats are there to convey the officials. We have gunboats to be positioned at strategic areas to forestall threat. We cannot hold aloof because of unforeseen circumstances.”

On the possibility of security agencies being partisan or biased during the election, AIG Eke said Nigeria Police will not be political. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) yesterday said a total of 15, 250 of its personnel had also been deployed to the state to ensure the peaceful conduct of today’s poll. Acting Deputy Commandant General, Operations, NCSDC, Mr. Hillary Madu, stated this while addressing the corps in Benin.

He said the personnel deployed for the election include 15,000 armed and unarmed officers while the other 250 are drawn from specialised units of the NSCDC. Madu said the specialised units include the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT) unit, Kernel units, Counter Terrorism unit, undercover officers and others. He said all the personnel deployed are expected to work in synergy with other security agencies meant for the polls towards making the election free, fair and credible. Madu also warned that anybody out to disrupt the electoral process would be dealt with according to the law even as he cautioned officers and men of the NSCDC against any form of compromise by the politicians.

While describing the state as a peaceful one, the NSCDC boss further appealed to the people to ensure that the prevailing atmosphere of peace was sustained before, during and after the election, adding that five commandants from neighbouring states had been deployed to coordinate the 15,250 officers deployed to the state. According to him, “We are here to maintain peace, that is exactly why we are here, we are preaching peace and appealing to everybody, especially the politicians and their loyalists to help us sustain this peace. “This election is not about anybody, and it is not worth the soul of anybody. We must all work for the success of the poll.

For us as a security agency, we are not politicians; we are here to ensure free, fair and credible governorship election.” Madu said the major flash points across the state have been mapped out for effective surveillance and that officers of the NSCDC would be visible in all the 2, 627 polling units, and 192 wards in the 18 councils of the state.

A New Kardashian is born.

Congratulations to Rob Kardashian and Black Chyna, as they welcome their little princess.

MTN Project Fame is at it again

We crown the handsome host, Joseph Benjamin our #MCM.
He has kept it locked down for the past 8 years, bringing his A game and painting the stage Y'ello.
#MCM. #MTNProjectFame9 #iRepProjectFame

HISTORIC times. THE BINIS

The coronation ceremonies of an Oba of Benin usually last about 10 days. They begin from Egua-Edaiken, the traditional residence of the heir-apparent to the Benin Throne. On a day fixed by the Edaiken, he is escorted by his Uselu people on his journey back to Benin City. On the way he stops at an historical palm tree named "Udinama aimiuwa" (translated to mean "work before pleasure")
which the Edaiken "climbs" symbolically. This little ceremony dates its origin to the time of Oba Ewuare the Great whose life as heir apparent to the throne was characterised by long suffering which includedperiods when he personally had to climb palm trees on this spot to cut the fruits for a living. This act of suffering by the father of the first Edaiken has ever since been re-enacted in a symbolic way by every Edaiken. From the palm tree the Edaiken continues his journey to Benin City; but at the first moat called (Iya-akpan) in the vicinity of where the firm of Mid-Motors Nigeria Limited now stands, the Uselu chiefs in the procession take leave of the Edaiken and return to Uselu while the Edaiken is thereafter escorted into the City by Oredo Chiefs. The Edaiken enters the City via Iguisi (now Lagos Street) and Proceeds to Eko-Ohae (bachelor's camp) where he stays for three days. After three days at Eko-Ohae the Edaiken continues his journey to Usama. The venue of the traditional Coronation rites. Usama was the site where Oromiyan, the father of Eweka I, built the first Palace and all succeeding Obas from Eweka I, were crowned and lived there, until Oba Ewedo in the 13th century moved the palace to the present site in the centre of the town. The Edaiken remains in Usama for 7 days performing all the rituals and ceremonies of the Oba. Before the expiration of 7 days, he visits a village a few kilometers outside Benin, where he performs the ceremony for chosing the name he will answer as the Oba of Benin. This tradition started during the period of Oba Eweka I whose maternal grand-father, Ogie-Egor, lived in the next door village of Egor. When Prince Oromiyan left Benin, he left behind his Bini wife who was pregnant in the care of her father the Ogie of Egor. The woman delivered a male child who was dumb from birth. The maternal grand-father then sent home to Use, the mother's village for treatment, but when he grew up and still could not talk, words were sent to his father at Uhe. His father sent 7 magical akhue with which the dumb Prince participated in the popular village game known as akhue. With only one seed remaining on the ground and every player having failed to strike it. The young Prince used the magical akhue from his father and succeeded in striking down the remaining seed. Excited by this feat, he spoke for the first exclaiming in Yoruba, Owimika (my hand has struck it). He later assumed this expression for a title which became corrupted to Eweka.

Domestic servants names used to open $15m accounts for Patience Jonathan

Four domestic servants, including a driver and a houseboy, whose names were used to open bank accounts for Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan has been arrested by The Economic and Financial Crimes CommissionSources within the anti-graft agency said on Sunday that the companies’ accounts were opened at Skye Bank.

The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

The four companies’ accounts, which have since been frozen by the EFCC, have a balance of about $15m while another account, which bears Patience Jonathan’s name, has $5m.

Mr. Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of the ex-President’s wife, said the former First Lady was the owner of the money in the accounts.

She had revealed that she gave millions of dollars to the then Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, to open accounts for her.

Somiari, however, claimed that Dudafa opened five accounts for Patience and that only one of the accounts was in her name, while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

A detective at the EFCC, however, revealed that Dudafa used his domestic servants’ names to open the four other accounts and then deposited the money into the accounts.

The operative added, “We were investigating Dudafa when we stumbled on those four companies’ domiciliary accounts opened at Skye Bank with a balance of about $15m. On further investigation, we were able to identify the directors of the companies.

“When we detained the directors, we found out that they were Dudafa’s domestic servants. One of them was a houseboy while another one was a driver. Their photographs were used in opening the accounts and their signatures were forged.

“We found out that these domestic servants were completely innocent because they had no access to the accounts. We have since released them. The sole signatory to the accounts was Patience Jonathan and she was issued with a special card, which is accepted worldwide. She has a separate account, which was opened in her name and has a balance of $5m.”

The detective said a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who allegedly helped Dudafa to perpetrate the fraud, would also be arraigned.

It was learnt that two Skye Bank executives, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, who helped Dudafa to open the accounts on March 22, 2010, were also being investigated.

The detective added, “This is a clear case of fraud and there is no way the bank officials will say they did not know what was going on. They are under investigation and those found culpable will be arraigned.”

The EFCC operative said he could not immediately confirm if the transaction was reported to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

He explained that the commission had discovered a trend which politicians used in laundering and concealing funds, saying it was becoming more rampant due to the operation of the Bank Verification Number which links all accounts owned by an individual.

He added, “What we have noticed is that in order to conceal funds, what politicians and top civil servants do is to open bank accounts in the name of family or friends and then make themselves the sole signatory to the account.

“Don’t forget that we traced about 17 bank accounts to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

“Often times, they do this in connivance with bank officials and that is why the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said henceforth, whenever we are investigating a bank official, we will probe the entire bank as well because these officials usually act under the instruction of their superiors.”

Jonathan’s wife has, however, sued Skye Bank for freezing her bank accounts and giving the EFCC vital information about her finances.

She also wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal properties under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution..

My husband will take entertainment industry to higher level in Edo — Mrs Obaseki

The Wife of the governorship candidate of the APC, Mrs. Betty Obaseki says if elected, her husband would partner with the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in the state to brainstorm on how to make entertainment a booming business in the state.

Mrs. Obaseki who stated this when she visited PMAN members and Elders at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre in Benin City, said the idea is to see how to explore the opportunities in the entertainment business to create jobs.

Ezekwesili blames Buhari for Nigeria’s woes

Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, has blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for the current economy recession.

Ezekwesili, who stated in a whatsApp message last night, said: 
“I still find it funny that most people don’t know why Nigeria economy went into recession. They love the incompetent lies of Lai Mohammed about the past government ruining everything.

‘’It’s also myopic to think that if Jonathan were to still be in power, we would be worse off.

”The truth about Nigeria’s recession is this; it was caused by the president’s unguided rhetoric and uncultured body language.

‘’Firstly, there is nothing we are buying today that we weren’t buying five years ago, therefore it’s not our purchase that put pressure on Naira but withdrawal of funds by foreign investors.

‘’After the election, the President created instability with his statements about how everyone is corrupt and how everyone is going to jail.

‘’The instability made foreign investors to liquidate their investment and change their money to dollars. In the process of trying to flee, they were willing to buy dollars at any price, which lead to high exchange dollar rate.

‘’Even though some of them were not ready to run away, but want their money in dollars to save their investments from devaluation, the president gave a bad signal by banning deposit of foreign currency into domiciliary accounts.”

‘That was enough for free market believers to see the draconian handwriting on the wall, that was the beginning of dollar rush.

‘’To make matters worse, the President came up with another outrageous policy of rationing dollar to certain sectors and blocking many sectors out. That was the nail in the coffin which facilitated the emergence of free fall.

Photo Of Dare Art Alade Prostrating Before Buhari & Lai Mohammed Sparks Reactions

At the launch of the #ChangeBeginsWithMe campaign at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Dare Art Alade was seen prostrating before the president. The photo has sparked reactions from Nigerians,

“My Husband Wants Me To Swear Before a Deity To Prove My Marital Fidelity”

One Mrs Mary Ike has brought a case to the Jikwoyi customary court, Abuja, saying that her husband, Augustine Ike, threatened her to take an oath of marital fidelity before a deity to ascertain her faithfulness him since she got married.

She made this known in a divorce suit she filed against her husband. In her words,

    “My husband wants me to swear that I have never slept with any other man since we got married.

    “My husband and members of his kindred say I must swear to show that I am innocent of the allegation, the kinsmen say that if I swear and the deity finds me guilty that I will run mad.They also said that if I don’t swear and I continue to make love with my husband, or even give him food or water to drink, that he will die.

    “I don’t want to run mad or have my husband dead, I just want to end this marriage and swearing before any deity except God is against my religion,” she said.

She prays the court to bring the marriage to an end because she does not want to lose her husband or go mad.

Reacting to the case, her husband,Mr. Ike said he did not come to the court to listen to the case but to serve it with the pending motion at the appeal court.

He said,

   “I did not come to court today for this sitting, I only came to serve this court with our pending motion at the appeal court.

    “Untill we are done from the appeal court, I will not say anything in this case,” he said.

The presiding judge, Labaran Gusau, adjourned the case till September 21 for mention.

300 Level UNILORIN Student Who Newly Became A Born Again Christian Withdraws Cos He Got His WAEC Result Through Exam Malpractice

So the idea of this born again UNILORIN student to withdraw from his school is making rounds on Social media – his motion has caused mixed reactions as many wondered why he took such action.

People think what if he had graduated before he found his new faith? Why didn’t he just ask for forgiveness and move on and all?

What do you think? His motive was right or not?

Nigerian Man Commits Suicide By Hanging Himself In Uyo After He Lost ₦22k On Football Betting

A man in his early 30s, Mr. Uchenna, hanged himself in his room along Abak road in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, after losing N22,000 to sports betting.

Our correspondent gathered that Uchenna was a perpetual sports gambler with Naija Bet and that he took the said sum he lost from his boss in the hope that he would replace it when he wins. Uchenna’s roommate, Ifiok, said the deceased had been lamenting after losing the money and got himself into a terrible state of mind.

“I went out to buy something from Plaza (the city center) and on getting back I found that everywhere was locked. I knew Uchenna hasn’t gone out and I wondered what must have made him lock up himself. I tried to open the door for several minutes without success until I had to force it open. I then found him hanging from the ceiling fan in our room and his eyes had popped out,” Ifiok said. A neighbour who spoke to our correspondent, Uto Udobia, decried the high rate of sports betting which has become prevalent among the youths and even elders