Star Wars actor, John Boyega was one of the last people to see Damilola Taylor alive, says Richard Taylor

Star Wars: The Force Awakens star, John Boyega was close friends with Damilola Taylor and according to Taylor's father, Boyega was one of the last people to see his son alive. Damilola was killed just a few days to his 11th birthday by two brothers, Danny and Ricky Preddie, aged 12 and 13 at the time, in south London.

Richard Taylor disclosed this in an interview with the mirror, adding that the 23-year-old actor and his sister Grace were both close to young Damilola.

 

Damilola (pictured left) with John and Grace, 13 at the time (blurred, on the right) in CCTV footage taken shortly before he died

 "John and Grace were looking after Damilola when he arrived in the UK, because they went to school together. The three of them were captured in the CCTV recording that the police used when they asked people to come forward to assist with the investigation.

 

"Grace became so close to Damilola – it was almost like boyfriend and girlfriend."

He added: "They were the last to see him. They wanted to escort him home, but he said he was going to be OK. They left him by the junction then he went around the corner and the gang were waiting for him."

Mr Taylor recently found out that John Boyega had nominated the Damilola Taylor Trust to receive a donation from the film’s launch.

"I was overwhelmed. It filled me with joy."

He said Boyega’s success makes him wonder about how his own son’s future could have unfolded.

"I thought: 'Oh wow, Damilola could have been working with him as an actor. Damilola was acting in primary school – in Christmas plays, school plays, reciting poems and all that kind of thing."

Damilola had moved to Britain from Nigeria a few months before he was stabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle by a gang of youths as he walked home from the local library after school.

The youngster was found bleeding to death in a stairwell near his home in Peckham, south London, where local workmen tried to save his life.

 

The Preddie brothers were convicted of Damilola's murder six years after it happened.

Miss Colombia finally speaks days after the Miss Universe disaster

Days after Miss Colombia was crowned the Miss Universe...for two minutes, the world's famous runner-up is speaking out. Ariadna Gutierrez took to her Instagram page on Tuesday and wrote:

"After the storm comes the calm. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have sent messages of support and strength. Every one of you has become an incredible human being in my book and I am the most fortunate and thankful for having the support not only from one country but from the whole entire world.

Your destiny is written for you. And my destiny was this. I was able to bring happiness to my country after becoming Miss Universe for only a couple of minutes... Today because of that COLOMBIA and the LATIN COMMUNITY are being talked about in every corner of the world. I also want to congratulate the Philippines for their new Miss Universe. The happiness that you must be feeling must be incredible. Life continues and in the future we will find out why things happen the way they happen. Thank you all for your LOVE SUPPORT and KINDNESS."

'My husband went back to Nigeria last Christmas to wed a secret new wife' - British woman reveals (photos)

Found this very interesting and intriguing story on The Sun UK. Biko, follow me read below...:-)

When her hubby of ten years had to spend Christmas with his relatives in Nigeria, Tracy Akingbogun hoped he’d return with a special gift to make up for their time apart. David, 43, had sorted out a present — for himself. He had secretly married another woman in Nigeria on Boxing Day.
Mum-of-four Tracy only discovered the shocking news through a friend months later — and kicked him out. Heartbroken Tracy, also 43, says: “While I was at home with the kids missing him at Christmas, his present to himself was a new bride. “I still can’t believe he did that to us after more than ten years together. “I did some research and saw that the ceremony was a religious one and not a legal one. So he hadn’t committed bigamy. “His dad had five wives during his lifetime, so I suppose David thought he could do that too. “But not when he was living in the UK and not when he was married to me.”

Tracy, from Gravesend, Kent, adds: “This Christmas it will be just me and the children again, just like it was last year. But this time I’ll be over the moon that David isn’t with us.”
Tracy was a single mum to Cameron and Alysia — now 17 and 13 — when she met David in a nightclub while she was on a rare night out in March 2004.

She recalls: “I was watching a group of lads on the pull, but one of them wasn’t. He was just leaning against the bar enjoying himself. He saw me watching him and came over to chat.
“His name was David and he was really kind and gentle. He’d only arrived from Nigeria three months before.”
David moved into Tracy’s home just six weeks later and Tracy was delighted to discover she was pregnant.

Their son Kayodo, now 11, was born in December 2004 and they married two months later.

Tracy says: “It was a small ceremony with a few family and friends. David read out a poem and told me he really believed in me and our future together.
“From then on he called me ‘Wifey,’ his pet name for me.”
The next year the happy family went to Nigeria to meet David’s relatives.
Tracy says: “They were lovely to us and even went through the traditional ceremony of washing our feet when we arrived.”
Their second son Olalekan, now four, was born in December 2011.

Tracy busied herself bringing up her brood while David turned his hand to various businesses from buying and selling cars to running a market-stall. He also tried to set up an internet cafe.
But two years later she found messages between David and a Nigerian woman.
Tracy says: “One read: ‘When you were last here I wish I’d kissed you.’ I shouted at him, and wanted him to explain himself.
“He said she was someone he used to date before he came to the UK. He said it was nothing, they were just friends.
“I told David it was her or me. He said it was me, I was his wifey and that was that.
“Over the next few months he tried hard to show he meant it and we got back to normal.”
Then David announced he would have to go to Nigeria over the 2014 festive period. Tracy says: “I was furious. I told him he should be here for his sons — for our family. He kept insisting he had important family business.”
David flew out the day before Christmas Eve and Tracy was upset the family would be apart.
She says: “I was so angry with him, but I wasn’t going to let the children know that.
“It was Christmas so I was going to make it a good one.”
She messaged David, reminding him to call their boys on Christmas morning.


Tracy says: “David finally called at 9pm. I gave him an earful but let him speak to the children. I was so angry with him.
“On Boxing Day I didn’t hear from him, but I spoke to him and his family the next day and they were all friendly and normal.”

But, on David’s return, Tracy felt something had changed.
She says: “When he wasn’t away working he was on his laptop. He was hardly speaking to me or the boys. I would encourage him to spend time with them, but he’d snap at me and say he was busy.”
Tracy tried to make her family life as happy as possible but in May came a bolt out of the blue.
She got a message on Facebook from the partner of one of David’s friends in Nigeria, a woman Tracy had met when she visited.

She says: “The message read that he’d got married to another woman on Boxing Day — everyone knew apart from me. She didn’t think that was right.
“The world I loved had been whipped from beneath my feet. Tears streamed down my face. I’d known something was up.
“I confronted David but he denied it. He seemed so cool and calm. So I messaged her and said there must be a mistake.”

What came next wiped away any trace of doubt Tracy had.
Tearfully, she recalls: “She ended up sending me photos of the wedding ceremony via WhatsApp and confirmed it to me. There was no denying that.”
Shaking, Tracy managed to guess his Facebook password and logged in. There, she read messages between him and his new wife, the woman she’d caught him messaging two years before, who was also his ex-girlfriend.
Tracy says: “I was so angry I couldn’t speak. He couldn’t get married — he was my husband!
“I confronted him and he tried to deny it again but this time I told him I’d seen the photos and read the messages. I told him to pack his bags and get out.
“I don’t take calls from his family, as they were in on this and went to his wedding last Boxing Day while lying to me.
“He abandoned his children and me to get married to another woman. He’s made his choice and now he’s stuck with it.”
David said: “I can do what I want. It’s nobody’s business. What do you want me to do?”

Is it over?Pretty Cassie says she's single on instagram

Diddy has been spotted a few times with his babymama Kim Porter in the last few weeks and it looks like girlfriend Cassie is done with him. This evening she posted a pic and wrote something like "I can sleep better now knowing no one is cheating on me with a Smiley face" and quickly deleted it before I could screengrab it. You can see comments from another post on her instagram from fans asking her why she deleted the post.

Update: Found the deleted post. See it after the cut..

Photo: Will Smith spotted goofing around behind wife, Jada Pinkett

Bad Boy Actor Will Smith was spotted at last night's Diamond Ball making naughty hand gestures at his wife's butt...

How Former NSA Dasuki Shared N30b ‘Loot’ To Anenih, Ayu, PDP Reps, Delegates And Prayer Warriors

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today begin the trial of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, ex-Minister of Finance Bashir Yuguda and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu as well as six others for alleged misappropriation N10billion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today begin the trial  of a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr. Sambo Dasuki, ex-Minister of Finance Bashir Yuguda and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu, as well as  six others for the alleged misappropriation of N10billion.

 

The others are a former Executive Director of NNPC, Aminu Baba Kusa, former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sagir Attahiru, Dalhatu Investment Limited, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The N10 billion was allegedly distributed to delegates to the Presidential Primary Election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Other expenditures include an alleged N13.570 billion “agreement”  between Mr. Dasuki and the ex-Director of Finance;  the transfer of N1.45 billion to Acacia Holdings Limited’s account for special prayers; the N2.1 billion given to DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited for publicity;  the N170 million for a four-bedroom duplex; the N380 million to support re-election of members of the House of Representatives; and N750 million paid into Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s account for special prayers; N670m paid to a publisher; N260 million transferred to Tony Anenih and N345 million traced to a former President of the Senate, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.

The anti-graft commission said that Hon. Waripamowei Dudafa, the Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is on the run.

All the suspects have been divided into two groups for trial  before Justice H.Y. Baba and Justice P.O. Affen of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory.

Those in the first group with a 19-count charge are:  Dasuki, his erstwhile Director of Finance, Shaibu  Salisu, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holdings Limited, and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

The charges are: “That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser and Hon. Waripamowei Dudafa (now at large) whilst bring Senior Special Assistant , Domestic Affairs to the President on or about 27th November within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N10 billion being part of the funds in the account of the National Security Adviser with the CBN, the equivalent of which sum you received from the CBN in foreign currencies to wit: $47 million and €5.6 million Euros committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you claimed to have distributed same to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Presidential Primary Election delegates and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  between 22nd January 2015 and 19th March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N2,120,000,000 which was in the account of National Security Adviser with the CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by remitting the said sum into the account of DAAR Investment and Holding Company Limited controlled by one Dr. Raymond Dokpesi for the funding of media activities for the 2015 Presidential Election Campaign for the PDP and you  thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 12th December 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N90million which was in the account of the ONSA with Diamond Bank Plc, committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by remitting the said sum into the account of Brains and Hammers Limited for the purchase of 7-bedroom duplex house at No.11 Mansur Bamalli Drive (D1064), Apo 1 Abuja  and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 28th January 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: N170million, which was in the account of the ONSA with Skye Bank Plc committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property by remitting the said sum into the account of Urban Abode Nigerian Limited for the purchase of 4-bedroom duplex house  at Plot 2562/2643 Platinum Villa(PV) Asokoro Abuja in the name of AVM M.N. Umaru and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser between 9th October 2014 and 17th April 2015 in Abuja dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: N1.45billion belonging to the Federal Republic  of Nigeria which sum was transferred to Acacia Holdings Limited’s bank account controlled by one Aminu Baba-Kusa purporting same to be payment for organising prayers and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 17th April 2015 in Abuja dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: N750million belonging to the Federal Republic  of Nigeria which sum was transferred to Reliance Referral Hospital Limited’s bank account in favour of one Aminu Baba-Kusa purporting same to be payment for organizing prayers and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Acaci Holdings Limited and Aminu Baba-Kusa between 9th October 2014 and 17th April 2915  in  Abuja knew that an aggregate sum of N1.45b directly represented the proceeds of criminal conducts of Mohammed Sambo Dasuki and Shuaibu Salisu, who were NSA  and the Director of Finance of ONSA respectively, to wit: criminal breach of trust in respect of the said amount, used the said property and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17(b) of the EFCC(Establishment) Act 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser on or about 9th April 2015 in Abuja dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: N380million belonging to the Federal Republic  of Nigeria which sum was transferred to Belsha Nigeria Limited’s bank account controlled by Hon. Bello Matanwalle for distribution to support some members of the House of Representatives for  their re-election campaign and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  between 12th August 2014 and 23 rd March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N670million being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA with the CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of General Hydrocarbons Limited with the Guaranty Trust Bank controlled by one Nduka Obaigbena purporting the said sum to be payment for “energy consulting” and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  on or about 28th November 2014  in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: the sum of N260million being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA with Skye Bank Plc committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account of Tony Anenih with First Bank of Nigeria Plc and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  between 8th January and 4th March 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and in such capacities  entrusted with dominion over certain properties to wit: an aggregate sum of N345million being part of the funds in the account of the ONSA with  the CBN committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said property when you transferred same to the bank account Starbriid Limited with Stanbic IBTC and Guaranty Trust Bank controlled by one Emmanuel Lawani on behalf of Senator Iyorchia Ayu for the construction of shopping mall at Jabi, Abuja, purporting the said sum to be payment for satellite charges and security equipment and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

“That you Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki whilst being National Security Adviser and Shaibu Salisu, whilst being the Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA)  between October 2014 and April  2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, agreed to do an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust by public officers in respect of an aggregate sum of N13.570 billion being part if the funds in the accounts of the ONSA and that the same act was done in pursuance of the agreement  among you and  you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Vol.4, LFN 2004.

reference- saharaReporters

HALLIBURTON: Prosecute those indicted, Nnamani urges Buhari

By Laide Akinboade-Oriere

ABUJA—Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, yesterday, tasked President Muhammadu Buhari not to limit his prosecution of corrupt public officials only to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He insisted that all those indicted in the $182 million Halliburton bribery scandal in Nigeria must be prosecuted like their accomplises in Britain and USA.

Ken Nnamani

He spoke just as a former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs Farida Waziri, and former Supreme Justice, Hon. Justice G. A. Oguntade, called on Nigerians to support the anti-graft war declared by President Buhari.

They spoke at the public presentation of a book, “Nigeria: The way through corruption to the well-being of a people”, authored by Dr Abdullahi Shehu, an associate Professor of Criminology at the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, in Abuja.

Nnamani said every act of corruption must be punished in order to rid the country of the menace.

He argued that limiting prosecution to those who served under President Jonathan would be inappropriate in view of the enormity of the damage corruption has done to the country.

The former Senate President said many Nigerians trooped out to vote during the last Presidential election   to confer legitimacy on the government of President

Buhari, because of his campaign promise to rid the country of the evils of corruption.

According to him,   “To who much is given much is also expected. One of his electoral promises was that he was going rid the country of the cankerworm of corruption but when I read in papers that his searchlight would be beamed on those that participated in Government of President Goodluck Jonathan, which if it is correct, that will be inappropriate in my view.

“Key issues that brought us international disrespect such as Halliburton scandal cannot be swept under carpet. Some people have gone to Jail in Britain and United States of America on the same matter,” he said.

Nnamani, insisted that this international case that had given Nigeria bad image should not just be glossed over no matter those that are involved.

However, former EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, said for the anti-corruption to succeed, all Nigerians should support the efforts of the current administration of President Buhari who demonstrated political will to fight the battle.

She also called for general attitudinal change, saying corruption was not limited to looting of the public treasury.

The author of the book, Dr Abdullahi Shehu said he was inspired to write the book this time because of the urgent need to redeem the country.

He noted that corruption affects everybody even the dead and unborn and drains the resources of the nation.

Vice Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Vincent Ado-Tenebe said the book written by an experience author was an indication that there was hope for the future of Nigeria.

He noted that the book has drawn the attention of the nation to the need to go back to the drawing board in trying to rid the country of corruption.

He said the book has indicated clearly the need for dignity of labour, respect for culture and demonstrating integrity in whatever one does.

source- vanguardng

Ministerial list: I am disappointed, says Balarabe Musa

By Henry Umoru, Joseph Erunke & Agaju Madugba

A former Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Balarabe Musa, says he is disappointed at President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list arguing that that there is nothing spectacular about the names.

According to him, “why did it take the President four months to come up with these names? I believe this is the question that many informed Nigerians should ask.

“These are the same old names, ordinary Nigerians who the President knows and he must have even met them several times. So, what is particular about them that he wasted so much time in appointing them ministers.

“But there are about two or three who I can say are distinguished among them like, Audu Ogbeh who I have known for a very long time.

We were together during the Second Republic. “He was a minister while I was governor then. Audu Ogbeh has an outstanding public record that everybody knows.”

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced to the Senators 21 ministerial nominees.

They were contained in the list forwarded to him last week Wednesday, September 30 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The nominees are, Abubakar Malami (SAN): Abdurahman Bello Dambazzau; Aisha Jumai Al Hassan; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Babatunde Raji Fashola; Adebayo Shittu; Solomon Dalong; Senator Chris Ngige; Rotimi Amaechi; and Chief Audu Ogbeh.

Others are, Mrs. Amina Ibrahim; Dr. Osagie Ehaneri; Emmanuel Kachukwu; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Eng. Suleiman Adamu; Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Hon. Ahmed Musa Bello; Ibrahim Usman Jubrin; Senator Hadi Serika; Senator Udo Udoma.

Senate President Saraki opened the sealed envelope at 10:45am.

According to him, the President sent the list to him through the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, adding that the list contained the first batch of nominees.

Senator #Saraki who disclosed that the Senate would commence screening, tuesday 13, said that President #Buhari had told him that subsequent names would come shortly.

source- vanguardng

New Customs Boss To Nigeria Custom Service!

"I will not tolerate indiscipline. I will not tolerate corruption. I have zero tolerance for corruption. Considering my military background, I believe punishment must be punitive for others to see as deterrent. Therefore, as an officer of the Nigeria Customs service, if you are caught involved in corruption, I am not only going to dismiss you, I will make sure I prosecute you and jail you. That is basic...."

~Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd)

Ministerial List: Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola Fail DSS Screening

As the Department of State Service, DSS, continues the screening of some ministerial nominees, indications emerged at the weekend that three immediate past governors, Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Ameachi and Kayode Fayemi, have allegedly failed to pass the President’s anti-corruption test.

The trio worked hard for President Muhammadu Buhari to emerge the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential flag bearer as well as for him to get elected President and were seen as top contenders for positions in Buhari’s cabinet.

A highly placed security source at the weekend said the DSS did not clear three ministerial nominees, who are former governors, based on allegations of corruption brought against them before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC.

According to the source, the security agency allegedly refused to clear the three former governors based on a series of petitions written against them over allegations bordering on money laundering, fraud and embezzlement.

The source further added that when the three affected former governors appeared before the DSS screening committee, they were confronted with the petitions and other relevant documents attached to the petitions.

The source further added that they have received instructions from the President that any of the nominees with any damaging and fraud related issues should not be cleared by the security agency

Flyboyant and an educated brilliant thief,Her name is Diezani Madueke

I called her a beautiful , sensitive , experienced, tactical, flyboyant and an educated brilliant thief,Her name is 
Diezani Madueke, She single handedly Blows N96million In A London Hotel Presidential Suit In 4 Months : - Teekara Paul in conjunction wit hpointNewsReporter.com fact findings.

As Investigation intensifies on the fraudulent activities of former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, the woman has continued her flamboyant lifestyle living in a Presidential Suit at the Landmark Hotel, London at the cost of £2,680.00 per night (about N800, 000.00), pointblanknews.com investigation reveals.

Landmark Hotel is located on 222 Marylebone Road, London and it is reputed to be one of the most expensive hotels in England.

Mrs. Allison-Madueke had left Nigeria shortly before President Mohammadu Buhari was sworn-in under the guise of seeking medical attention. Sources said her medical situation has been exaggerated as she is merely looking for an escape route.

Sources close to the former Minister told Pointblanknews.com that Mrs. Allison-Madueke who now wears a low cut hair style to disguise her person, spends her time at the Presidential suit from where she sends emissaries to President Mohammadu Buhari to grant her some soft landing in the current probe of her activities as Petroleum Minister under the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The source who does not want to be named confirmed to Pointblanknews.com that the once very Powerful Minister checked into the Hotel in May using the name of one of her close aides for fear of being identified and monitored.

Pointblanknews.com could not ascertain the name of the aide used to check into the Landmark Hotel because the source fears it could expose the exact room the former Minister has been staying since June.

“I cannot give you the exact name she used or the room number but believe me, she has been at the Presidential Suit of Landmark Hotel since June. I have been there severally and I have seen her there too,” the source told Pointblanknews.com.

According to the source, “if you don’t know Diezani before, you will never recognize her. She has changed her looks, she now wears low cut hair and not very down to earth. She would see anyone who can help her reach Buhari because she is so worried and depressed about the probe of her stewardship as Minister.”

Pointblanknews.com gathered that most of her cronies and those who benefitted from the oil swap deals which is a subject of investigation have had series of meetings with her at the hotel, building up possible defenses ahead of the investigation.

As minister of Petroleum Resources under President Jonathan, Mrs. Alison-Madueke became one of the most powerful Nigerian government officials. Several reports have linked her to sleazy oil deals and a penchant for wastage of public funds.

She allegedly spent some N2 billion on private jet rentals, according to the petition submitted to the EFCC by Enugu-based “Crusader For Good Governance.” The petition was signed by Okechukwu Obiora Nnamdi, the group’s leader.

The group accused Mrs. Alison-Maduekwe of spending $300,000 on an average international trip outside of Nigeria. She reportedly spends as much as $500,000 on trips to such destinations as China, Malaysia and several
North American countries, according to the petition. The petitioners listed some of the minister’s most lavish trips.

• During Easter break, she flew a private jet to Dubai with members of her family at the cost of $300,000.

• During President Jonathan’s visit to South Africa, she flew in a private jet that cost Nigeria $300,000.

• The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a government agency she oversees, maintains a Challenger 850 Visa jet which serves the minister’s needs as well as those of her family. The cost of running the
jet is $500,000 per month.

• Ms. Allison-Madueke went to a meeting of the Oil Producing and Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Austria in a private jet.

In addition, the petitioners alleged that, for two years, the Petroleum minister never attended any meeting outside Nigeria in a commercial jet or in any of the jets maintained by the Nigerian Presidency. They stated that she had wasted more than N2 billion on the maintenance of aircraft in the last two years.

They accused her of being the only minister who consistently uses private jets to arrive at destinations when the Nigerian president travels abroad.

The petition also carpets Mrs. Allison-Madueke for often doing official jobs out of her house, which means that she is frequently absent from her official desk at the ministry.

As alleged in the petition to the EFCC, Mrs. Alison-Madueke also frequently uses the services of Vista Jet, a Swiss luxury aviation company that provides jets to wealthy businessmen around the world. Vista Jet has done deals with such Nigerians of  Nduka Obaigbena, the flamboyant publisher of Thisday newspaper.

Curiously, Vista Jet has a Nigerian businessman, Kola Aluko, on its board.Mr. Aluko, who once acted as Vista Jet’s West African representative, is known to be close to Ms. Alison-Madueke.

“[Kola] Aluko and Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke are neck deep in the oil business,” said a source at the NNPC. “She helped him [Mr. Aluko] to land a choice allocation of pricey oil blocks through a company called Seven Energy,” added the source.

In a petition sent to the Nigerian Senate by the Delta Producing Communities, Ms. Alison-Madueke is accused of transferring the ownership of four oil mining licenses (OML), 30, 34, 26 and 42, to Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept which belongs to Mr. Omokore.

Today's Photo: H.E Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle), General-Overseer, Goodnews Community Int’l, Bishop Elijah Mboho (right) and Secretary to the State Government, Sir Etekamba Umoren at Goodnews Community Int’l, Abak where the Governor worshipped.

Today's Photo: H.E Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle), General-Overseer, Goodnews Community Int’l, Bishop...

Posted by Aniekan John Umanah on Sunday, 26 July 2015

#RumoursSays -Can You Believe? Tinubu behind Toyin Saraki’s EFCC ordeal - Sen. Waku

Jagaban is being accused by a senator of being behind Toyin Saraki's EFCC ordeal. According to a report by Punch, Senator Joseph Waku, a former Vice-Chairman and member, Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum, says the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, allegedly masterminded the EFCC petition against the wife of the Senate President, who has since  to be invited by the anti-graft commission for questioning.

Waku, a leader of the APC, in a statement sent to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, described a situation where Tinubu would be allegedly using his personal relationship with the EFCC Chairman “to embarrass and torment fellow party members” as unfortunate.

“I have chosen to speak out on this issue and make my findings on this issue known to the public. After days of painstaking enquiries, I discovered that both Tinubu and Lamorde maintain a mutually beneficial relationship since the days of Lamorde as the EFCC Director of Operations and based in Lagos between 2003 and 2007, when Tinubu was equally the Governor of Lagos.

“I also discovered from my findings in EFCC that the so-called petition against Mrs. Saraki was personally given to Lamorde by Tinubu under the guise that he was submitting the petition on behalf of the APC leadership to punish Saraki for working against the party’s leadership on the choice of National Assembly leaders. This was followed by a promise to help secure a second term for Lamorde as EFCC chairman.” he said

But when Sunday Punch contacted Tinubu’s Media Adviser, Mr. Sunday Dare, he said, 

“No one should pay Senator Waku any attention. We know when he is broke and needs a quick fix. What he has said is fit for the trash. No one should dignify Waku’s tales by moonlight with any attention or ever take him serious. For any serious individual with a reputation to protect, Waku is a very poor hire. Waku is an individual with no shred of reputation and a political pariah in his home state.

“Tinubu does not run or dictate to the EFCC. And like countless others, Tinubu had also been investigated by the EFCC several times in the past. Tinubu has no hand in the travails of anyone because he is right now very busy, working with others of like minds on how the APC political agenda can set sail as quickly as possible. That is the urgency of now and not the tantrums of the likes of Waku.”

WAKU: SARAKI'S WIFE ORDEAL MASTERMIND BY TINUBU

WAKU: SARAKI'S WIFE ORDEAL MASTERMIND BY TINUBU
• Invitation politically motivated, says Enoh
A frontline politician and former Vice Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator JKN Waku on Saturday, pointedly accused a National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu of being the mastermind of a petition over which the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The APC chieftain decried a situation where Tinubu will be exploring his personal relationship with the EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, to embarrass and torment fellow party members as well as overheat the polity.

According to him, "I have chosen to speak out on this issue and make my findings on this issue known to the public. After days of painstaking enquiries, I discovered that both Tinubu and Lamorde maintain a mutually beneficial relationship since the days of Lamorde as the EFCC Director of Operations and based in Lagos between 2003 and 2007 when Tinubu was equally the governor of Lagos.”

Waku, who is also an ACF member of Board of Trustees (BOT), said: "I also discovered from my findings in EFCC that the so called petition against Mrs Saraki was personally given to Lamorde by Tinubu under the guise that he was submitting the petition on behalf of the APC leadership to punish Saraki for working against the party's leadership on the choice of National Assembly leaders.

"This was followed by a promise to help secure a second term for Lamorde as EFCC chairman."
Senator Waku said he is highly disturbed that EFCC is again being dragged into the political arena to settle political scores like some years ago.

Waku said: "I want to use this opportunity to caution our leaders that no individual's ambition to create a fiefdom for himself should be allowed to drag our party into unnecessary controversies and endlessly overheat the polity.

"The party has done its beat to send lawmakers to the National Assembly to work for the nation and no particular political party, and as such, they should allow our Senators and Reps members to settle down and work in the overall interest of the nation, which is far and above every other sectional interest.
Thisday

BUHARI PLANS TO BOMB NIGER DELTA, SAYS IYC

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) today said it had uncovered plans by President Muhammadu Buhari to send federal troops to invade the Niger Delta with Ijaw communities as the target.
The IYC, in a statement by its spokesman, Eric Omare, said that information at its disposal indicated that the Federal Government would begin the deployment of the military this week.
It called on the international community and the people of Nigeria to be aware of the imminent military onslaught on the region which would result in serious humanitarian crisis.
The apex Ijaw youth body said that the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, did not go to war with Buhari in the March 28 presidential election to warrant Buhari’s alleged animosity towards the Niger Delta people.
The statement read in part, “The IYC has it in good authority that President Buhari has an agenda to bomb and destroy the Niger-Delta region especially the Ijaw areas.
“The military movement into the Niger Delta region we have been reliably informed would commence this week.
“The IYC, the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta people wish to alert Nigerians and the international community on this impending humanitarian disaster.
“President Buhari did not go to a war with the Niger Delta people in the March 28, 2015 presidential election with Niger Delta-born Goodluck Jonathan but only contested an election for which he came out victorious.
“We are, therefore, at a loss as to why President Buhari has decided to treat the Niger Delta region like an enemy zone and a conquered territory.
“Only two days ago in far away United States, President Buhari confirmed that he would not treat the Niger Delta region like other regions”.
The IYC also condemned Friday’s military invasion of Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which houses the administrative headquarters of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the IYC and the state Ministry of Culture and Ijaw National Affairs ahead of the cancelled meeting of ex-militant leaders on Saturday.
“A combined team of military and police officers in the early hours of Friday, the 24th of July, 2015 invaded and took over Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State to prevent ex-Niger Delta agitators from having their proposed meeting on Saturday, the 25th of July, 2015″, IYC alleged.
It described the action as “illegal, unconstitutional and a draw back to the dark days of military dictatorship where Nigerians were deprived of their fundamental rights”.
The IYC reminded Buhari that the country was operating a constitutional democracy which presupposed the rule of law.

Buhari Appoints Two Acting DGs In A Week, Sparking Allegations Of Ethnic Favoritism

Less than a week after President Muhammad Buhari appointed Calistus Obi, an Igbo by ethnicity, as acting director general/chief executive of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the president today raised eyebrows when he approved the appointment of Haruna Baba Jauro as the new acting DG of NIMASA. The new appointee, Mr. Jauro, is from the northeastern state of Yobe and an Hausa by ethnicity. 

New NIMASA Ag. DG, Haruna Baba Jauro

Mr. Buhari’s unexplained removal of Mr. Obi and his appointment of Mr. Jauro has sparked accusations in political circles that the president was unduly filling major posts with individuals from the northern part of Nigeria where he hails from. 

Mr. Obi, who lost his less-than weeklong job today, is from Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Critics quickly point to the appointment of Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting Chairperson of the Independent Nationation Electoral Commission (INEC) who remained office despite the expiration of her tenure since July 21 2015.

A prominent politician from Anambra State, who asked that his name not be disclosed, told SaharaReporters that he and several other Igbo figures were troubled by President Buhari’s action on the leadership of NIMASA. 

“Anybody who knows about maritime issues can tell you that [Calistus] Obi is very knowledgeable,” said the source, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. He added, “Why would Mr. President remove him after just a few days, even though he was appointed in an acting capacity? What was the hurry in firing him? And it is interesting that Alhaji Jauro’s appointment is also in acting capacity.”

Another politician from the southwest zone also questioned today’s presidential appointment. The politician, who belongs to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), told SaharaReporters that there was widespread worry that Mr. Buhari’s appointments so far “have been more than 90% in favor of northerners and Muslims.”

Last week, speaking at the United Institute of Peace in Washington, DC, Mr. Buhari had stated that he should not be expected to treat areas that gave him 97% of their votes the same way as those that gave him only five percent. After realizing the political implications of his reckless statement, the Nigerian president made a belated attempt to correct the faux pas. 

A member of President Buhari’s delegation to the US reportedly told several people in Washington, DC that Mr. Buhari seemed to listen only to members of his inner circle, led by former Nigerian Defense Minister, Theophilus Y. Danjuma.

The 4 Richest Boxers Of 2015

1. Oscar De La Hoya – $200 million 

Oscar De La Hoya‘s fight record is 39 (30KO)-6-0 and he bought home gold in the 1992 Olympic Games. He is best known for defeating 17 world champions in six different weight classes including Julio Cesar Chavez.

De La Hoya is also a huge box-office spinner as he has generated more revenue than any other boxer in history and his fights have been estimated at a $700 million pay-per-view income. He founded Golden Boy promotions which made him the first American of hispanic descent to own a national boxing promotional firm; his partners are Bernard Hopkins, Winky Wright and Ricky Hatton.

He released his first album, Oscar, in 2000 and it topped the Latin dance charts and he was nominated for a Grammy Award for his single ‘Ven a Mi’. In the same year his personal life was bought to the attention of the press after former Miss USA Shanna Moakler filed a $62 million palimony suit against him for support of their daughter, Atiana Cecelia. The case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

2. George Foreman – $250 million 

George Foreman retired in 1997 aged 48-years-old; he is the former two-time World Heavyweight Champion and the 1968 Olympic gold medalist. His fight record stood at 76 (68KO)-5-0 and he features in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. In 1974 he lost his title after he was knocked out by Muhammad Ali during the famous “Rumble In The Jungle” fight; he said; “It just wasn’t my night”.

He grew up in Marshall, Texas and has now become a successful entrepreneur outside of the ring when he sold the rights to his George Foreman grill (which had already sold over 100 million units worldwide) to manufacturing giant Salton for $138 million. Foreman has said before that the money from his spin-off products have earned him more than his boxing career.

Foreman has five sons named George Jr., George III (“Monk”), George IV (“Big Wheel”), George V (“Red”), and George VI (“Little Joey”). He also has seven daughters.

3. Manny Pacquiao – $265 million

Manny Pacquiao is a Filipino professional boxer and his current fight record is 57 (38KO)-6-2. He is the only boxer who has won a title in seven different weight classes and many would say that he is the greatest boxer in the world right until  his losses in 2012.

He started boxing aged 14-years-old when he was living on the streets in Manila, Philippines and he has an amateur record of 60-4. When he was 16-years-old he was ready for his first professional fight and he stood at stood at 4’11” and weighed 98 pounds. He had to put weights in his pocket to bring him up to the 105-pound minimum weight.

His last fight was against Floyd Mayweather at the MGM Grand May 2nd 2015; the fight took many years of negotiations and agreements. Pacquiao lost the fight by unanimous decision and said in his own defence that he was suffering from a shoulder injury throughout the fight, he claimed:

“THIS FIGHT DOESN’T BOTHER ME TOO MUCH, I DID MY BEST. I HURT MY SHOULDER, BUT I DIDN’T COMPLAIN OR SAY I WAS INJURED. THIS IS PART OF THE GAME. I DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE ANY EXCUSES”.

4. Floyd Mayweather – $415 million 

Floyd Mayweather is the undefeated champion of the world (his fight record is 48 (26KO)-0-0) and also the highest paid athlete on the planet as his current estimated worth is at a staggering $415 million. When he fought Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 the box-office sold 4.4 million views.

With this much money in the bank you would think he is 100% secure financially, however The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is owed $6.1 million in back taxes and he was also sued for $1.7 million when he backed out of a real estate purchase that was worth $8.5 million. Then in 2009 he was sued for failing to make a payment on his Mercedes Mayback 57S and he had to borrow $415,000 to pay for the car after he reportedly hadn’t made any payments in over a year. He also took a tough blow when over $7 million worth of jewellery was stolen from his own home.

His latest huge financial blow when he was sued for $20 million by the mother of his three children – Josie Harris. Mayweather gave an interview with Katie Couric the month before his fight with Pacquiao; he called Harris a drug abuser when he was discussing the two months he spent in jail for domestic-violence after an incident in 2010.