55-yr-old-female-pilgrim-excreted-82-wraps-cocaine...Read It All On Tafia World

Mrs Binuyo Basari The suspect, the agency’s commander at the Abuja airport, Hamisu Lawan, said. was arrested during the outward screening of passengers on an Emirate flight to Dubai en-route Medina, after testing positive for drug ingestion. She was on her way to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage. Hamisu informed that drug trafficking was punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, adding that arrangement had been concluded for her prosecution. Describing her action as shameful and discreditable, the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Muhammad Mustapha Abdallahi, said: “It is a shameful and discreditable act for a 55-year-old mother, going on holy pilgrimage, to ingest narcotics. This is shocking and a clear indication of her inability to effectively discharge parental responsibility. The agency shall invoke the powers of the law against her and others caught indulging in production/trafficking in narcotic drugs”. During interrogation, the suspect, a mother of three from Irepodun local government area of Kwara State, was said to have revealed that she was offered N1m to traffic the drug. She said.....

Obaseki doesn’t know the full meaning of APC –Ize-Iyamu

 

The Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, tells BAYO AKINLOYE that the All Progressives Congress may have a hand in the postponed September 10 poll

How did you receive news of the postponement of Edo State governorship poll?

I am very sad that the Edo State governorship election slated for September 10 was postponed. We were prepared for the election. We were confident of winning but all of a sudden we got the news that the poll had been postponed with the authorities citing security challenges. The nature of the challenges we were not told; a new date for the poll had been fixed. It’s a long postponement with the election scheduled to hold on a week day and we were not even consulted. We see this development as a conspiracy by those who are scared (of losing in the poll) and are playing for time. But as law-abiding citizens, anything they want to do, we’ll be ready.

Similar thing happened during the Peoples Democratic Party rule with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan presiding over the country; the general elections were postponed. Don’t you think you should give the current government the benefit of the doubt?

I am sure you know that the reasons given then for the postponement of the polls were not in doubt – insurgency in the North-East was the main reason. The government wanted to ensure that the region was safe enough for people to exercise their civic right. So, the reason was clearly defined and we all knew what happened afterwards: the All Progressives Congress did very well (in that region). If you remove the votes recorded for the party in the North-East I doubt if the APC would have won the presidential election. Whether we like it or not those reasons were valid and the results were clear. But in Edo’s case, what are the reasons for postponing the governorship poll?  What are the security challenges? The President (Muhammadu Buhari) was in Edo and two days after it was announced that election could no longer hold due to security challenges. But what are the security challenges? Policemen drafted from their formations to provide security during the poll were already on their way before the election was postponed. They were ordered to go back to their formations. If there had been security challenges would they have been drafted to Edo in the first place?

The truth is this: we are not accusing the president of complicity in this matter. But the postponement made us curious that the governor of the state (Adams Oshiomhole), who is the chief security officer, didn’t raise his voice when it was announced that the election had been postponed due to security challenges. Is that not an indictment on his government? A man who collects N500m monthly for security vote didn’t say a word about security challenges in the state being the reason for the poll postponement. Isn’t that an irony? There was no protest; there was no condemnation. Isn’t it strange for somebody like.....read more...

Patience Jonathan must explain how she earned billions – Sagay...Read It all here.

The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has said with the fresh admission by Patience Jonathan that she owns the $5m traced to her accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, means the anti-graft agency has the right to probe her.

According to him, if the former first lady is claiming that she owns the money then she must explain how she earned it.

The discovery of the additional amount, in the former first lady’s Skye Bank account, by the EFCC brings to $20m the total amount so far traced to her.

As part of investigations into a money laundering case against a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Jonathan, Waripamowei Dudafa, the EFCC had traced four company accounts to him with a balance of $15m.

The EFCC subsequently charged Dudafa and the four companies with money laundering.

The four companies, whose accounts have since been frozen, 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.

A source at the EFCC said, “While we were investigating Dudafa, we traced the four companies to him. The companies have domiciliary accounts at Skye Bank with a balance of about $15m. So, we obtained a court order and froze the accounts.

“We then traced the directors of the companies who then denied ownership of the accounts. It was later that we were informed that the accounts belonged to Patience Jonathan and that she is the sole signatory to the accounts. She was given a special card which she used in making withdrawals across the world...............contine here...

Edo election: Postponement won’t change outcome – Lawmaker...Read IT All On Tafia World

Mr Jude Idimogu, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Friday said the postponement of the Edo governorship election, though unfortunate, would not change where the pendulum would swing in the poll.

Idimogu (PDP-Oshodi-Isolo II) said that the shift was simply a case of postponing the evil day as the electorate had made up their minds on which direction their votes would go.

He said, “People have made up their minds on the candidate they would vote for; so, postponing it does not change where the pendulum will swing. It is postponing the evil day.”

The lawmaker said that the security reason given for the shift was not tenable and the postponement would result in the election gulping a lot more funds.

He said, “The postponement is very unfortunate; there is no justification for the security threat advanced by the Police and DSS (Department of State Security) as the basis for the call for the shift.

“People have prepared well to cast their votes in support of the candidate of their choice. Resources, energy and time have been spent.

“INEC has spent a lot, only for them, just about three days to the election, to announce the postponement based on security issues.

“For me, there could be more than we know on this issue; it is a big problem,” he said.

Idimogu expressed worry that about 90 per cent of the elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in recent times were inconclusive.

He said there was no guarantee that the same fate would not befall the Edo poll on the rescheduled date.

The lawmaker, however, urged members of the PDP in the state to remain focussed, perfect their strategies and cover yet to be covered areas.

He expressed confidence that the PDP would emerge as winner in the election earlier scheduled for Sept 10, but now shifted to Sept. 28.

The postponement came a day after the police and State Security Service cited security concerns and advised the electoral body to shift the poll.

INEC initially vowed to go ahead with the poll, but hours later, announced its postponement.

Beauty queen empowers women...Read IT All On Taf[a World

 

 

Frances Udukwu

’Nonye Ben-Nwankwo, and Ademola Olonilua

The reigning Miss Africa USA 2016, Frances Udukwu, has unveiled her pet project called The Lead Girl Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, which aims at empowering women and girls from the age of 18.

She told Saturday Beats that women empowerment is a smart initiative because it will give them financial independence to enable them to make choices, drive growth and inspire their families and communities as a whole.

The beauty queen added that her goal is to utilise her platform as the reigning Miss Africa USA to empower young women to achieve their dreams knowing that an empowered woman is a blessing to an empowered and inspired community.

The foundation, according to her, has four core focuses which are vocational skills training programme, enterprise development programme, mentoring woman in business programme and code school for formerly incarcerated ladies.
She said, “The Lead Girl Foundation envisions a world where women and girls have equal opportunities, as well as capital, skill-set and network necessary to become financially independent, resulting in a more secure future. Financial independence gives women choices and enables women to spend more on their families, drive growth in their economies and inspire others in their communities.”

She also said she came to Nigeria to begin work with select project sites in the country such as the Holy Rosary College, Enugu, embark on a university tour and have an interactive session with female executives of student union governments.
Udukwu said seeing Nigerian women with so much energy and passion good enough to engender change in their various communities inspired her vision to float the foundation, which she hopes to use to help women channel their various energies into much more profitable and sustainable ventures.

My relationship with Onyeka –KSA

King Sunny Ade and Onyeka Onwenu

’Nonye Ben-Nwankwo, and Ademola Olonilua

The song, Wait for me, by Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade, would remain evergreen and of course, many years ago, so many people believed that the duo would have had one or two things going on between them for them to have released such song.

However, KSA, as Sunny Ade is fondly called, during a press parley on his 70th birthday, said there was nothing between him and the Elegant Stallion, Onyeka.

According to KSA, the song was just a gimmick to drive home a message for a healthy relationship among the youth back then.

“I didn’t have any crush on Onyeka then. Even before that song, we had recorded some songs together. She was (and still is) just a colleague. She is a good woman. We did that song just for us to teach the young people the essence of having a healthy relationship,” he said.

And even at the moment, KSA, who has many wives, said he is not ready to take another.

“Haba! How can I take another wife? Is that a curse or are you praying for me? I am not ready for any new wife,” he said.

Even as he is not ready to take another wife, KSA said he has a lot of reasons to thank God.

“It is just by his grace that He has made it possible for me to live up to this age. He alone has given me strength to perform. I love what I do and that is why I can never be tired. I came back from the US and I was told I had to perform somewhere and I went. I am never tired and my age will not slow me down,” he said.

And in fact, the juju icon said he is all set to roll out the drums to celebrate this milestone.

“My birthday celebration is usually a one-week affair. But this year’s birthday is different; the celebration will go on till the end of the year.”

“I started the celebration with special prayer from the general overseer of my Church, Pastor (Enoch) Adeboye.  Later this month, there will be a gospel music concert in my home in Ondo. And on my birthday, which is on September 22, my children will celebrate me. I will also visit orphanages. There are so many activities lined up. I belong to well over 70 clubs and each of this club wants to celebrate me. But the grand finale will come sometime in October with a concert where so many foreign artistes will perform,” he said.

About his US trip, KSA said he could not travel to the US few years ago because his band members were not issued visas.

“That was just the only reason and it wasn’t as if anything bad happened. The embassy had technical issues at that time. So when we went for our visas this year, everybody got. We had to travel to the US and we toured so many states for our fans over there to know that it was not our intention to disappoint them back then,” he said.

KSA also used the opportunity to talk about the case he won against African Songs where he was awarded N500m in damages; KSA said he had yet to receive the money from the record company.

“I have not seen the money and I have yet to receive my master tape. That is even more important to me than the money. I learnt they have appealed the judgement so I cannot talk much on it,” he said.

Ezuruike sets P­­­aralympic record, wins gold •Tijani wins silver...Read IT All On Tafia World

Rolland Ezuruike

Idris Adesina

Team Nigeria’s Rolland Ezuruike on Friday won the country’s first gold of the Rio 2016 Paralympics after setting a new Games record.

The 40-year-old lifted 200kg in the men’s -54kg weight class in the Powerlifting event hours after Latifat Tijani won the country’s first medal at the Games – a silver in the women’s -45kg weight category of the same event.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist was largely unchallenged in the event as he led throughout his three attempts. Ezuruike broke the Paralympic record with his first lift of 185kg and never looked like he was going to lose his lead.

The Nigerian, who weighs 51.73kg, went further in his second lift as he extended the record by 5kg with a lift of 190kg. His final lift of 200kg drew a loud applause from the crowd as he entered the record books.

After securing his gold, Ezuruike attempted to break the current world record with a fourth attempt, where he lifted 205.5kg. The current world record is 205kg set by Egyptian Sherif Othman in Dubai in 2014. However, Ezuruike’s attempt was ruled out for a foul as his arms were adjudged not to have been straight.

China’s Wang Jian won silver in the event with a lift of 170kg while Bakochristos Dimitros of Greece won bronze with a lift of 162kg.

For Tijani, she could have clinched gold if not for the outstanding Chinese, Hu Dandan, who won gold.

It was a close call between the two as Tijani set the tone for breaking the Paralympic record with her first lift of 101kg before Dandan further broke the record with a lift of102kg.

The Nigerian failed in her second attempt at 106kg but she lifted it in her third attempt to set another Paralympic record in the event but Dandan lifted 107kg in her third attempt to set the new world and Paralympic records.

Great Britain’s Zoe Newson, who won bronze, also gave Tijani some challenge with her lifts. She led at some point with a lift of 102kg but failed to lift further attempts at 105kg and 107kg.

Other contestants in the event were Poland’s Kozdryk Justyna, Egypt’s Oteify Zeinab, Algeria’s Guerioua Samira, Mexico’s Cerero Gabriel and Ukraine’s Toporkova Rayisa.

Earlier on Thursday, Nigeria’s Ben Nsini finished last in the women’s -41kg Powerlifting event. The event was won by Turkish Muratli Nazmiye with a lift of 104kg, which is the new world and Paralympic record in the event.

Manchester braces as United and City collide...Read IT All On Tafia World

Manchester becomes the centre of the football universe on Saturday when Jose Mourinho’s United tackle Pep Guardiola’s City in a feverishly anticipated local derby at Old Trafford.

The resumption of hostilities between two of the most celebrated coaches in the game tops the bill, with mega-money signings Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, John Stones and Claudio Bravo providing an all-star supporting cast.

Both teams have won all three of their Premier League fixtures to date and while Mourinho believes it is too early to consider the game in any way decisive, he is well aware the points could be precious in the title race.

“There are many ways to win titles,” said Mourinho, who fought a bitter three-year running battle with then Barcelona-coach Guardiola during his time at Real Madrid.

“Man United last season had very good results against the top teams and finished fifth.

“So sometimes it is not between the title contenders that you win or lose the title. Sometimes you win it by winning matches and matches and matches in the marathon between August to May.

“But obviously when you play against a title contender, the winning team wins three points and stops the other.

“So it is better to do that, or when you get a draw you accept you didn’t lose points to a direct contender. But this is too early — we are in the first week of September.”

The Premier League trophy spent four consecutive years in Manchester between 2011 and 2014, United winning it in 2011 and 2013 and City in 2012 and 2014.

But the Manchester clubs could not match Chelsea’s pace in 2015 and fell off the title map altogether last season, prompting seismic managerial changes on both sides of Manchester.

Guardiola and Mourinho are two of the three best-paid managers in world football — along with Carlo Ancelotti, Guardiola’s successor at Bayern Munich — and they were quick to get to work.

Both have renovated their squads in pointed fashion — Mourinho adding charisma and physical power, Guardiola prioritising youth and ball-playing ability.

And both have hit the ground running.

United are now a more direct side than under Louis van Gaal, Mourinho’s predecessor, and Guardiola, typically, will expect his side to dominate possession.

– Bravo debut –

“I want the ball, I want to attack as much as possible, I want to control the game and I want to concede few counter-attacks,” Guardiola said on Friday.

“I saw in the 10 days (of the international break) the four games and every game Manchester United played better than they did before. I think the same with us.

“They have a lot of talent up front. (Juan) Mata between the lines is so dangerous, the full-backs go so offensive and the quality of (Wayne) Rooney and Ibrahimovic.

“(Anthony) Martial is so, so fast and the set-pieces with tall guys is impossible to control. So they are a top team.”

Guardiola is expected to hand a debut to new Chilean goalkeeper Bravo following his arrival from Barcelona to supplant Joe Hart.

Close-season signings Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan are now fit and could also make their debuts, while right-back Bacary Sagna has declared himself available after a hamstring problem.

But captain Vincent Kompany is doubtful as he continues his recovery from thigh surgery, while striker Sergio Aguero begins a three-match game for elbowing West Ham United’s Winston Reid.

New recruits Ibrahimovic, Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly are all in contention for United.

It will be Pogba’s first major test since his world-record 89 million pounds ($118 million, 105 million euros) return from Juventus.

Ibrahimovic will relish coming up against Guardiola, having described him as a “spineless coward” after the pair clashed during the Swedish striker’s time at Barcelona.

Left-back Luke Shaw, right-back Antonio Valencia, midfielder Marouane Fellaini and playmaker Mkhitaryan have all been passed fit after injury scares on international duty.