US law enforcement officers kill black man, sparking protest

Three Oklahoma law enforcement officers fatally shot a black man while trying to pick him up for a mental health issue on Friday, triggering a protest on a city street that prompted dozens of officers in riot gear showing force.

Tulsa County sheriff's deputies were attempting to pick up the 29-year-old man near his house, but the man walked away and to a nearby convenience store instead, Tulsa police spokesman Leland Ashley said.

Two deputies and a Tulsa police officer opened fire before the man could enter the store when they discovered that he was carrying two knives and became concerned about the safety of the people who were inside the business, Ashley said.

The deputies who fired are white and the police officer is black. All three have been put on administrative leave. Police didn't release the name of the man who was shot, and it's not clear how many times he was struck.
Dozens of black residents gathered at an intersection near the store within minutes of the shooting on Tulsa's north side. Some shouted, "Hands up, don't shoot!"

At least two dozen officers and deputies wearing riot gear assembled in the store's parking lot. The crowd of residents eventually dispersed.
Some residents questioned why officers didn't use less lethal means to restrain the man, given his fragile mental state.

The shooting comes about three weeks after jurors acquitted a white Tulsa police officer of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man last year. The verdict in favor of Betty Jo Shelby, who was allowed to return to the force, sparked peaceful protests and calls from community leaders and family members of 40-year-old Terence Crutcher to demand more accountability from the police.

Cleo Harris, who stood behind the yellow tape that authorities used to cordon off the scene, said blacks like him who live on the city's north side are fed up with what they perceive as a double standard in how the city is policed.

"People are upset, they're tired," the 50-year-old Harris said. "Black residents in north Tulsa want to be treated the same way (police) treat residents on the south side."

Angelica Hearn, 33, the next-door neighbor of the man who was killed, said: "He didn't bother no one. The police should've sent someone equipped to handle this." - AP

Tackling the Rise of Fake Qualifications in Nigeria

The disease of forging education certificates has infected every sphere of public life in Nigeria, including politics. In fact, several politicians have been embroiled in scandals involving fake certificates.

 Certificates are a big deal in Nigeria. From parents to corporates and the civil service, people attach as much value to educational certificates as to the skills, experience and attributes one has to offer.

This obsession with certificates has created a culture in which most school-goers are much more concerned with getting good grades than they are with acquiring the actual skills and competencies that would stand them in good stead after graduation. And this – the overwhelming desire to rack up excellent grades – has stolen the joy that comes from studying to acquire a firm grasp on an academic discipline. It has also led many people to falsify their academic records for personal gain.

This madness, as many have called it, has crawled into every sphere of public life in Nigeria, including politics. In fact, in the political realm, it has gained a strong foothold, with several politicians having been embroiled in scandals involving the faking of qualifications and certificates.

One prominent politician who immediately comes to mind when this topic is being discussed in Nigeria is Salisu Buhari, the former Speaker of Nigeria’s lower parliament, which is called the House of Representatives. Buhari claimed he graduated with a business administration degree from the University of Toronto in Canada, but the university denied that he ever attended the institution. In 2000, following investigations by the Nigerian media, Buhari finally owned up to the allegations of certificate forgery and perjury.

“I apologise to you. I apologise to the nation. I apologise to my family and friends for all the distress I have caused them. I was misled in error by my zeal to serve the nation. I hope the nation will forgive me and give me the opportunity to serve again,” he said at the time.

Other top politicians in Nigeria who have been enmeshed in scandals involving false qualifications and certificates include President Muhamadu Buhari, former president Goodluck Jonathan, political godfather Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, former two-time Governor of Benue State Gabriel Suswam, former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Stella Oduah and, most recently, lawmaker Dino Melaye.

In most of these cases, the politicians involved denied the allegations and Nigerians moved on without making a fuss. But there is no denying that these allegations are an indicator of the growing decline of the value of education in a country that has 10,5 million out-of-school children – the world’s highest number.

A Collapse of Values

I once visited an Internet café in southern Nigeria, where I met a young man in his early 20s who was busy colluding with the operator of the café to alter his original senior secondary school examination certificate. He wanted to create a replica of the certificate with better grades so that he could get a better job. I was taken aback, but the man explained that it was “normal” and “very common” for people to use fake certificates in order to get a job or go a step higher on the job ladder in Nigeria.

“Today, the attainment of wealth, power or educational influence is the mark of success, which is not necessarily a bad thing, except we are no longer concerned with the process of attaining success,” Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, was quoted as saying at the 65th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council in Abuja.

“Often, cheating is with the collusion of parents and teachers. Cheating in examinations and the attainment of fake certificates among Nigerians has become a normal thing because of collapse of values in the society.”

This is not a Nigerian issue alone, as is evidenced by Tanzanian President John Magufuli’s sacking in late April 2017 of nearly 10 000 civil servants for having fake educational certificates. The government’s report into fraudulent qualifications in the public sector showed that some had been using their relatives’ school certificates, while others never appeared on any official records at all.

“These people occupied government positions but had no qualifications… They robbed us, just like other common criminals,” Mr Magufuli said. “We have been working hard to create new jobs while there are people in government who hold fake degrees.”

To create an environment where people value education and do not see using fake certificates as an alternative, teachers and schools must be properly funded. Business, government and other organisations must come up with measures through which there can be proper checking up on potential and existing employees’ qualifications to stymie this proliferation of fake certificates.

Source : https://thisisafrica.me/tackling-rise-fake-qualifications-nigeria/

IPOB to Arewa groups: We appreciate the advance warning… give us time to relocate

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed gratitude to Arewa groups for having the courtesy to give the Igbo an advance warning to vacate northern Nigeria.

The group, however, pleaded for ample time for Igbo to relocate back to the south.
Some Arewa youth groups had recently issued three months quit notice from the north to Igbo residing there.

Although the call was roundly criticised by northern governors and stakeholders, spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Ango Abdullahi, on Friday, expressed support for the youth groups.

Reacting in a statement signed by Emma Powerful, IPOB assured the Arewa groups that its people will heed the warning and leave northern Nigeria.
IPOB called on all southerners in the north to start exiting the region as soon as possible.

“We the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it’s leadership worldwide wish to sincerely thank the Arewa Elders Forum(AEF), Arewa Youths and Arewa Consultative Forum for seeing sense in what IPOB has been saying about the need for a referendum to be conducted in Nigeria to decide the fate of the component ethnic nationalities criminally lumped together by the British in 1914,” the statement read.

“Biafrans in general also wish to thank these vocal Northerners for at least having the courtesy to issue advance warning this time before embarking on their routine massacre of Igbos and other Biafrans living in Northern Nigeria; unlike what their fathers did in 1966 when death, destruction and mayhem were unleashed upon unsuspecting innocent civilian populations from the South comprising of mostly Igbo men, women and children.

“Igbo massacres in Northern Nigeria has occurred so many times that it has almost become some sort of an annual sporting activity for blood thirsty Northern youths. That is why we are particularly grateful to Arewa Youths and Elders for having the decency to give us prior notice before the slaughter commences.

“We promise to adhere to your warning to leave Northern Nigeria because a word is enough for the wise. Biafrans and other Southerner should start packing their properties to come down to the South. We also advice the Northern youths and their Elders to keep it on because all they have done is exercise their right to free speech which is not a crime under any law known to man. We are therefore against those calling for the arrest of these Arewa Youths and their Elders.

“It is abundantly evident from the genocidal statements coming from certain influential segments of Northern Nigeria that the British socio-political experimentation and economic fraud we know today as Nigeria, should not have been created in the first place. IPOB is very much aware of the covert blackmail and implied threat inherent in the utterances emanating from Islamic Northern Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the assumption that economic investments of Biafrans in the Northern part of the contraption called Nigeria is an impediment to Biafra restoration project is misguided and most definitely misplaced. This is cheap blackmail designed to trigger rancour among Biafra populations because the North have always assumed and wrongly too, that Igbos will place economic well being over and above their life. 

This assumption is based on a false premise and one we are determined to prove same as events unfold in the coming weeks and months.

“IPOB under the divine leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the instrument Chukwu Okike Abiama (God Almighty) is using to restore Biafra, therefore we are not afraid of our enemies, neither will any threat or violence from any quarter deter us. We remain peaceful in our noble quest to restore Biafra but we must caution that we always retain the right as a people to defend ourselves should the need arise.

“The civilised world is aware that we IPOB have been adopting peaceful means to restore Biafra since 2014. It is the Arewa Islamic Northern Nigeria dominated Army, Police, Navy and Civil Defence that has brought torture, killings, 

massacres and mayhem to communities and populations in the South. Till date, nobody has been held to account despite the existence of a comprehensive Amnesty International report to this effect.

“We are aware that these Northern youths and their sponsors Britain, have perfected plans to begin another round of killing of innocent people as the did in 1966. We advise them not to make this mistake because Britain will no longer protect Islamic Northern Nigeria because in this digital age, the world is watching. Allow Biafrans time to relocate peacefully back to Bafraland, that is all we ask.”

Several key figures in the north, most recently Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal and emir of kastina Abdulmumini Kabir, have said the Igbo are free to reside in the region for as long they want. - Cable Nigeria

Arab states in row with Qatar laud Trump's supportive stance

Arab states that have laid virtual siege on Qatar praised U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday for enthusiastically supporting their stance when he called on the Gulf state to stop "the funding of terrorism."

Trump has aligned himself closely with Saudi Arabia and an allied bloc of Arab countries since taking office. His comments Friday firmly positioned Washington in the camp of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which severed ties with Qatar this week and accused it of sponsoring terrorism.

Speaking from the White House Rose Garden, Trump said Qatar "has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level."

"The time had come to call on Qatar to end its funding — they have to end that funding — and its extremist ideology in terms of funding," Trump said.

The row has sparked one of the worst political crises in decades among some of Washington's closest Mideast allies.

Qatar denies it backs extremist groups and says the allegations are politically motivated and intended to tarnish the country's image. Qatar has ties with Iran and has supported Islamist groups, like the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudi Arabia, however, is locked in a regional power struggle with Iran. Gulf monarchies and Egypt's government also view Islamist groups as a threat to their rule.

Qatar, however, is not entirely without support. Turkey has offered to provide food and medicine to help ease its isolation.

On Saturday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his country hoped the rift between the "Muslim countries" would end "through peaceful dialogue before the religious holiday," referring to Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of Ramadan. He was speaking as his Bahraini counterpart met with Turkey's president in Ankara.

Explaining Turkey's stake in the conflict, Cavusoglu said, "we see threats toward the Gulf region as threats toward us."

Cavusoglu added that a 2014 agreement with Qatar to set up a Turkish military base there is designed to support the security of the entire region.

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country will undertake every effort to help ease the tensions. He was speaking at a meeting in Moscow Saturday with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

Trump too had offered possible mediation earlier in the week.

The four Arab states upped their pressure on Qatar on Friday by listing 12 organizations and 59 people on a terror sanctions list. They had already earlier in the week blocked direct flights between their countries and Qatar. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE also prohibited Qatari flights from using their airspace. Additionally, Saudi Arabia sealed shut Qatar's only land border, impacting a significant source of food imports for the peninsula nation.

In separate statements Saturday, they lauded Trump for his supportive stance. A statement from Egypt's presidency said President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Trump spoke by phone on Friday and that el-Sissi thanked him for his role in "the formation of a united front to combat terrorism."

The UAE issued a statement welcoming Trump's "leadership in challenging Qatar's troubling support for extremism. Saudi Arabia's state-run news agency carried an official statement welcoming Trump's remarks, adding that cutting off terrorism funding "required decisive and swift action... regardless of its financier." The tiny island-nation of Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in the Persian Gulf, similarly said it "praised the statement made by President Donald Trump."

However, earlier Friday U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sent a different message from Washington, urging Qatar's neighbors to ease their blockade and called for "calm and thoughtful dialogue." Kuwait's ruler, meanwhile, is making an effort to help mediate.

Rights group Amnesty International says thousands of Gulf residents are now caught up in the dispute.

Among the raft of punitive measures, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain ordered Qatari nationals to leave their territories within 14 days, and announced that all of their nationals would need to leave Qatar in the same time period. They also warned that anyone who expresses support for Qatar online faces imprisonment and hefty fines.

The rights group says that, according to Qatar's National Human Rights Committee, more than 11,000 nationals of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE live in Qatar. Many Qataris also live in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE.

"These drastic measures are already having a brutal effect, splitting children from parents and husbands from wives. People from across the region — not only from Qatar, but also from the states implementing these measures — risk losing jobs and having their education disrupted," said James Lynch, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Global Issues Programme, who was in Doha last week.

In one example, the rights group said a Qatari man, who has lived in the UAE with his family for more than 10 years, was refused entry and sent back to Qatar as he tried to return home to Dubai. His wife is a UAE national and is forbidden from travelling to Qatar, while his children are Qatari nationals and so are required to leave the UAE. He also risks losing his job.

There are also students who risk not being able to sit for their final exams, the rights group said.

"There can be no justification for tearing families apart, suppressing peaceful expression, and leaving migrant workers abandoned and at risk," said Lynch. - AP

Ex-bank Manager, others docked for alleged N55.8Million fraud, forgery

A former bank manager with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Ms Florence Onome Odior, has been docked before an Edo State High Court for allegedly stealing over N55m belonging to a customer identified as  Moses Obozohae.

Ms Odior and three others are facing a 16-count charge of stealing, fraud and forgery and conspiracy to convert the said amount to their personal use.

Others that were docked were Odior Sunday, Patricia Jegede and Joseph Alexander Esiso.
The offence, according to the charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was committed between 2011 and 2012 while she was the manager in a branch of the bank in Benin City.

Counsel to the EFCC, Aliu Mustaph, moved for accelerated hearing of the case and kicked against extension of administrative bail granted to the accused persons as canvased by their counsels.
Counsel to the accused persons prayed the court to extend the administrative bail to enable them peruse the proof attached to the charge sheet and make appropriate reply.

In his rulings, the presiding judge, Justice Ohimai Ovbiagele adjourned case for June 16th for arraignment and hearing of bail application.
Justice Ovbiagele also struck out the names of the 5th and 6th accused persons from the charges because they were companies that could not jailed. - The Nation

Alleged Italian mobster-drug kingpin detained in Brazil

A fugitive 'ndrangheta Italian crime clan boss, accused of international drug trafficking, was taken into custody at a Brazil airport, authorities said Saturday.

Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti hailed the arrest on Friday of Vincenzo Macri, whom he described as a top boss of the Commisso crime clan, based in Siderno, Calabria.

Macri's two years on the run ended when he showed authorities an identity document using a false name at Sao Paulo airport on Friday.

Italian media said Macri, 52, had planned to fly to Caracas, Venezuela, where he is believed to have been living. The reports described him as playing a role as a broker in international cocaine deals for the 'ndrangheta, one of the world's leading cocaine traffickers.

Authorities say Macri inherited the mantle of his father, Antonio Macri, an alleged clan chieftain. Macri was about 10 years old when his father was slain in Calabria in 1975 after a bocce ball game during a bloody 'ndrangheta clan feud. The elder Macri had been given the moniker "boss of two worlds" for close international ties to alleged mobsters in North America and Australia.

Brazilian federal police said that between 2004 and 2005, Vincenzo Macri was part of an international criminal organization that imported and trafficked cocaine and hashish, from Morocco, the Netherlands and the Dominican Republic. The drugs arrived in Italy via shipping containers.

Macri was on the run since 2015, when Italian authorities accused him of international drug trafficking and Mafia association.

A top Italian police official, Alessandro Giuliano, credited "excellent, long-established cooperation" with U.S. federal agents in helping to capture Macri.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera said FBI agents had arrested Macri in 1990 for drug trafficking, and that he served a prison sentence until the early 2000s. Later he moved to the Netherlands, where he ran a florist business. 

Afghan soldier kills 2 US soldiers

Two U.S. soldiers were killed Saturday when an Afghan army solider opened fire on them in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan official said.

Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor in Nangarhar province, said that two other U.S. soldiers are wounded in the attack, which took place in the Achin district. He said the Afghan soldier was killed after the attack.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that a Taliban loyalist had infiltrated the Afghan army "just to attack foreign forces."

A statement from the U.S. military said merely that the military was "aware of an incident in eastern Afghanistan."

White House spokesman Raj Shah told reporters traveling with the President Donald Trump in New Jersey that Trump was "following the emerging situation in Afghanistan."

Such insider attacks have happened before in Afghanistan. In March, another Afghan soldier was killed after he opened fire on foreign forces at a base in Helmand province, wounding three U.S. soldiers.

Russian jet intercepts US bombers over Baltic Sea

The US Air Force has released images showing a Russian fighter jet which had been scrambled to intercept American bombers according to Sky News.

An SU-27, known by its NATO reporting name of "Flanker", was deployed to head off a US B-52H craft, capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, during exercises taking place over the Baltic Sea.
It also intercepted two B-1B Lancers and a KC-135R Stratotanker.

The alliance is currently running its annual Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) exercise, a multinational, maritime-focused live training event which first began in 1972, in the region close to Russia's border.


A Russian foreign ministry official said the appearance of the B-52H would not ease tensions between the West and Moscow.
The ministry said the SU-27 approached at a safe distance, identified the aircraft as an American B-52 strategic bomber, and escorted it until it changed course and flew away from the border area.

The Russian government-controlled news agency Sputnik quoted Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry, as stating that a number of the strategic bombers had been relocated to the UK to take part in the BALTOPS exercises.

Mr Ulyanov said: "The fact that NATO forces are converging near Russia's borders and carrying out military exercises supported by strategic bombers from the USA capable of carrying nuclear weapons hardly helps de-escalate tensions in Europe."

A statement from the US military claimed the exercise was taking place in international airspace.
"We can confirm that the US Air Force B-52 was operating in international airspace but we don't have any information to provide at this time regarding the behavior of Russian aircraft," Air Force spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder said.

‘I knew God more in BBNaija house’

Winner of Big Brother Naija, Efe Ejeba, has been touring. The Delta State indigene visited The Nation newspaper and he spoke about his project of raising funds to treat 200 children with congenital heart conditions and other issues. JOE AGBRO JR was there. Excerpts  

SINCE you won the BBN reality shows, you’ve been meeting with top people including governors and also receiving awards. How does this feel?
Two things. I’ve not met with governors. I’ve met with two governors – the governor of Plateau State and the governor of Delta State – which are my two homes. It’s obligatory that I meet with them. Secondly, nobody has given me awards.
After Big Brother, how do you intend to use this brand to encourage the dreamers we have around in Nigeria?

I think it’s just to do what I know how to do best.
What is it?

It’s music. Music has been what I’ve been doing for the past seven years. I started recording in 2010 and while I was in Jos. I left Jos as an elite artiste but the hunger for more brought me to Lagos in 2015. So, as Big Brother came, I said, ‘this is a big platform to showcase myself.’ If I didn’t go on Big Brother and I came here, no one would answer me.

Now, I came and you’re answering me. I’m just someone that has perseverance. I don’t give up. I finished my final year exams and in about two weeks, I packed my bags and came to Lagos. I was just waiting for school to finish. My mother wanted me to go to school and I gave her the certificate and took a walk. So, I came to Lagos, not knowing anybody. I gathered the money I made from my music in Jos and used it to pay for house rent and started life. I would be at home for one week atimes, I won’t go out because I didn’t know anybody in Lagos.

I just had that drive, that belief that one day, it would happen. I didn’t know how it would happen but today that is how it is. For me, I just feel that every youth should keep doing what they know how to do best and stay focus. That’s why I have three things as my mantra – You gotta believe in God, number two, believe in yourself and number three, you die put.

What about the awareness you’re trying to create of people donating one thousand naira?

For me, my life is divine. Expectations are very high. Some people feel that by now, I should be signing a lot of endorsement deals but I go by God. I see it as a very fortunate scenario that the first ambassadorship I belong to is charity. So, I put in my best with the influence I have. But I’m scared because when it gets to the real deal of actually contributing, it’s difficult.

The conversion rate is I have about 400, 000 followers on twitter, donating one thousand naira. But that’s the level I want to know how my influence is positive. That’s the only I measure how influential. So the 1K1M is a simple stuff. We need one thousand naira to be donated by one million individuals. That’s the least. You can donate like five thousand because it’s for open heart surgery for children in Nigeria. By September, we look to have raised one billion naira if one million Nigerians donate one thousand naira. But they can donate more. Some people are sending me screenshots that they’ve donated more than one thousand naira and it’s encouraging me that this is a good cause. I grew up in Jos and sometime ago, I heard people did open heart surgeries for children and I was actually happy.


So when they brought this stuff on board, I connected with the organisation. I’m very passionate about it. And this program covers only 200 children and we have about 1, 000 children on the waiting list. So, it is that bad. And about 85, 000 children are born with congenital defects every year in Nigeria. Just Nigeria. And for me, my brand is even beyond Nigeria. But for now, I’m focused on Nigeria.

Efe before BBN and Efe after BBN, what are the challenges you’ve had to face?

There are many now. Before, if I felt my urinating, I’ll just find one corner. I can’t actually buy boli again. It’s been long I bought akara. It’s been very annoying. Even my clothes, I can’t go to buy it. If I go to the boutique after the seller has taken pictures with me, he’ll now increase the price of what I want to buy. It’s tough.

Before, I used to say how I feel but now, I’m reminded that I’m responsible for 14 million people that voted for me. So, I can’t just talk how I feel even if it’s the truth. I have to diplomatic now. That’s the most painful thin for me because I like to be frank. But now I have to be cautious because some people may feel offended when I say what’s on my mind. That has really limited my level of expression.

But you’re also an ambassador for Nigerian youths. What are your duties?

It’s not actually a statutory position with duties and status. It’s more like you’re representing Nigerian youths as the ‘most popular youth.’ You have an obligation to work side by side with government. To the best of my ability, I’m definitely coming up with programmes to herd the youths in the right direction, with the support of the ministry.

Don’t these things put pressure on you?
Yes, it does. I’m human, I won’t lie. But for me, the only pressure I feel is the expectation from people. People say, ‘by now you would have done these, you would have done that.’ They don’t know that it’s a gradual process. Efe was just a normal guy. I’m now a brand and I need structures.

And that’s why I’ve been going around. People think I’m enjoying myself. I go for meetings and try to set the ball rolling so that one year from now, Efe will still be very much relevant. And thank God for my music which is a very sure content I will dish out. And by the way, my video for the song, ‘Based on Logistics’ will drop very very soon. So, after ‘based on Logistics’ video is out, I’m dishing out two singles back to back as e dey hot.

What were the indications to show that Big Brother Naija was actually watched by other African countries?

I’ve been getting a lot of feedback from my social media handles. And we get calls too from people outside of Nigeria. I just responded to somebody from Namibia. Zambia is actually expecting me, South Africa, Kenya. Just round the whole of Africa. It’s surprising to me the love we get. It shows Nigeria is really the giant of Africa. Our voice is loud.

While you were in the BB house, you and Marvis were an item. What is the status of your relationship with her now?

This is like two months after the house. For me now, it’s progressive. I like to talk about my music and the things I’ve been doing currently. For me and Marvis, we’re very good friends.

But who among the housemates are you still very close with?

I’m still close with everybody as much as possible because there is no time and everyone is hustling. As I’m here at The Nation office, another person can even be in America hustling. Na forward ever bi di movement. I’m just actually happy that everyone is doing fine. I think this our set will really prove a point that everyone that goes to Big Brother don’t leave and not do well. And I pray that in as much as we’re moving ahead, we remember who we are and where we’re coming from.

While you were on the show, a segment of Nigerians criticised the show negatively, saying you people were promoting ills. What is your response to this?

This is about two months after the show. ‘How many of us have you actually heard that have left the house be involved in immoral display of character’? On a serious note, I’m very proud of my fellow housemates. We’re doing pretty well. No one will go into that house (BBN) and come out and play. We are hungry. So, on a note of ills, that house just portrayed what happens in reality. It was just because we were doing it behind closed doors.

And like I said in one interview, for me, it was in that house that I really knew God more and appreciate his wonders. Everybody shouts grace, I saw it, literarily. I’m a manifestation of grace. So, we can find God anywhere. It doesn’t matter. All those people talking ills know what happens behind closed doors. No need to starting shouting. We went to the house to live our true lives day and night.

Now, as Youth Ambassador for Nigeria, what is foremost that you’ll like to impact?
Formally, I’m still planning that. But the whole idea is self-development. Because, I don’t actually believe in waiting for anybody, not to even talk of the government in the first place. For instance, if you road is not tarred, if you have the money, you can tar it. No need to waste your credit calling the government, that’s the way I see it. Right from my 200 level in the university, I didn’t plan to look for work. I just wanted to do music, entertainment.

So I focused my energy there. But not everyone can do what I did. So, if you want to look for a job, find it well. That’s why they say, it’s to be focused that matters. But self-development is the best thing. You might be thinking this is where your path is but if you keep working on yourself, researching, you’ll get better. That’s why school is very important. Unfortunately, it’s not everyone that can go to school. But there are even handiworks and different things one can do aside schooling.

But I think self-development is one of the most important thing you need to know. It gives you self-confidence, it makes you believe in yourself and it makes you be not scared of making mistakes because the first problem we have is the fear to make mistakes. When I got up to go for this audition, you could say the judges would reject you but you’ll say if they don’t allow you enter, it’s not the end of the world. You move on. If you don’t make it, you go back to the drawing board. If you make it, you move forward. Ahead ahead, na im bi de way.

EFCC Seizes Patience Jonathan’s N2bn Hotel

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized a hotel allegedly belonging to Mrs. Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The anti-graft agency also seized three other properties in Abuja allegedly belonging to Patience.

The five-storey hotel is located near Setraco Construction Company, beside Mabushi Kado Expressway.

Although the hotel has not been officially valued by the EFCC, some estate agents within the community told our correspondent that the property should be worth about N2bn.

The property, which has not been officially opened, has between 50 to 100 rooms, a gymnasium, a fountain and other amenities. Punch correspondent, who visited the property on Friday, observed the red inscription, ‘EFCC Under Investigation’ all over the hotel.

One of the mechanics working at a filling station located next to the property said Mrs. Jonathan used to visit the hotel in the past but had not come around since January.

He said, “She used to come here frequently but she has not come in the last six months. The hotel is supposed to have been opened for business but for some reason, they have not done so. It has not even been given a name yet.”

The commission also seized Mrs. Jonathan’s properties in Karsana, Wasa and Idogwari areas of Abuja.
The anti-graft agency is also on the verge of seizing her properties in Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.

Patience first came under EFCC investigation in May 2016 when the commission arrested a former Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa.

Patience laid claim to about $15m found in bank accounts allegedly belonging to Dudafa’s domestic servants.

She subsequently sued Skye Bank Plc and the EFCC. The commission then went ahead to freeze her personal account with a balance of $5m.

Meanwhile, the commission has seized a mansion belonging to Chidiebere Silas, the Personal Adviser to George Turnah, who is a godson of former President Jonathan.

Turnah is also a former Special Adviser to Dan Abia, erstwhile Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission.

The EFCC said in a Facebook post that the mansion is located in Abaja Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State.

The anti-graft agency had last week seized several properties allegedly belonging to Turnah, who is facing prosecution before a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

In a related development, Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Federal High court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday ruled that a paramount ruler should stand as a surety, as part of bail conditions for Turnah.

The judge admitted Turnah to bail in the sum of N300m, and two sureties in like sum. Aside from the paramount ruler, whose office should be recognised by the government of the state and his letter of authority verified and deposited in the court, the other surety should be an owner of a property and the original Certificate of Occupancy of the property should be deposited with the registry of the court.

Also, Turnah’s passport or travel document should be deposited with the registry of the court and “the first defendant shall not travel outside Nigeria without leave of the court.”

All the sureties shall sign affidavit of means and bail bond and the first defendant shall be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail.

Turnah and his seven companies were arraigned on 12 counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretences, money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N3bn.

Justice Watila adjourned the matter to June 30, 2017 for commencement of trial.

June 12 Anniversary: Ondo, Oyo, Ogun Declare Monday Public Holiday

Government of Ondo, Osun, Ogun States have declared Monday as a work- free day in honour of the winner of the June 12, presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola..

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said the late Abiola’s supreme sacrifice culminated in the hurried departure of the military from the political scene in 1999.

As part of the programmes lined up to celebrate the day, the government is organizing a lecture, with the theme: “June 12: A celebration of courage and resilience’. The event will hold at the International Events and Culture Centre (The Dome) in Akure.

The Oyo State government has also declared the day as a public holiday.

A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, said that Governor Abiola Ajimobi approved Monday as work-free day to commemorate the annulment of the anniversary of the June 12, 1993 elections, which was generally believed to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

The government said the anniversary was also in recognition and honour of the martyrdom of Chief Abiola, who laid down his life for Nigerians to enjoy the democratic dividends of today.

Also, the government of Osun has declared Monday a public holiday to mark June 12 celebration in the state.

A statement issued on Friday, by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, announced the holiday.

The statement said: “In line with its established policy of observing June 12 of every year as Democracy Day, the State Government of Osun has declared Monday, June 12 as public holiday.

‘’The public holiday became imperative in view of the fact that June 12 marked a watershed in the history of democratic evolution in the country. It was the day the June 12, 1993 presidential election, adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the history of Nigeria took place.’’
The Ogun State government also declared the day as work-free.

The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, in a statement said: ‘’Consistent with the practice of the past six years, and, as a way of identifying with and keeping the ideals of June 12 alive, the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has declared Monday, June 12, 2017 as work free.’’

The statement added: ‘’This year’s celebration will feature the annual “Democracy Walk”, which will be led by the governor, starting from the JUNE 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta at 7 in the morning. The walk is expected to take participants through major roads in the state capital to the Abiola family homestead, at Oke-Ido, Gbagura, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, where special prayers and speeches will be made. Later in the day, an inspirational stage play, “Oju Kelekun” (farewell to reproach), directed by Prof. Bakare Ojo Rasaki, will be performed at the June 12 Cultural Centre, between 3:45 and 6:00pm.

Pogba Says Jose Mourinho Deserves 'Special One' Name for Ability to Make 'Extreme' Decisions

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has hailed the impact Jose Mourinho has had on the Red Devils, citing the Portuguese manager's ability to make 'extreme' decisions as one of his key strengths.

Speaking to Sky Germany (via the  Mirror), the French international said" "He is the Special One because he wins. Sometimes he does some extreme things. Against Chelsea, he changed our tactical formation just before the game.

"We had never trained with it before but it worked out well. That was special. He won three trophies in his first year, that's special as well. He deserves his name.

"He's a manager who is really close with the players. Personally, he welcomed me, we had a talk and I had a good feeling from the first moment on. He trusted and defended me. That's all a player needs."

Despite constant claims around his record-breaking transfer fee, Pogba has enjoyed a successful first season at United, winning the League Cup and Europa League, with the latter securing United's place in next season's Champions League. 

Reflecting on his first season back at the Red Devils, he said, " My first season back here in Manchester was good, but quite complicated.  I had to adapt to the English football. I didn't really have a pre-season, so I had to jump straight in.

"But the more I trained the better it got. With the other players, I felt at ease from the first moment on. It's true that the results weren't as positive as we'd wished, but we reached our goals."

See how Holly Willoughby stays in such great shape

It's safe to say that we'd all love to look like Holly Willoughby and, while she's always open about her beauty and fashion choices, the 36-year-old presenter has remained famously tight-lipped about how she stays in such great shape.

Well, now we've been finally been given a small insight into Holly's workout regime, thanks to her fitness trainer, Lynne Robertson – and it turns out she does Pilates.

Speaking to The Sun, the founder of Body Control Pilates revealed that Holly started training with her in 2014, after the birth of daughter Belle.

'I worked with Holly for several months, teaching her privately at her home once a week,' Robertson revealed.
'Holly had post-natal matt work classes which concentrated on strengthening and toning her core.'

Explaining how Holly has sculpted such an enviably toned waist, Robertson added: 'The exercises help trim the waist and flatten the stomach.'

So now we know her secret!
Of course, Holly herself prefers not to speak about her diet or fitness routine, telling Prima in our January issue:
'I actually avoid talking about my diet and exercise regime because I have interviewed so many people affected by eating disorders and I know some people in chat rooms can really fixate on other people's diets. I just can't contribute to that.'

Pregnant Serena Williams poses in a dress from her signature collection

Serena Instagrammed a gorgeous pic of herself posing with one hand on her hip while donning a white gown from her Home Shopping Network line.

The tennis champion, who is expecting her first child with fiance Alexis Ohanian , looked positively glowing as she showed off a dress from her signature collection.

The 35-year-old has been keeping fans updated on her pregnancy with regular selfies since revealing her baby news in April.

Serena recently confirmed that she and 33-year-old Alexis, who is the co-founder of Reddit, have decided not to find out their child’s sex beforehand.

"I think the surprise of knowing what you are going to have on that very special day you give birth is prob the best surprise you can ever have!" she wrote in an Instagram post.
The clarification came after her older sister Venus referred to her future niece or nephew as "she" in an interview.

The pair got engaged in Rome last December and Serena recently told reporters that she "couldn't be stuck in a more beautiful place."
She shared a letter to her unborn child in an Instagram post earlier this year.

"My Dearest Baby, You gave me the strength I didn't know I had," wrote Serena.
"You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace. I can't wait to meet you. I can't wait for you to join the player's box next year."

Police dog fired from job for being 'too friendly'

Gavel the police dog is a good boy.

In fact, he's too good.
The German shepherd was pegged to join the Australian police force to fight crime, but the academy said his sweet demeanour meant he "did not display the necessary aptitude for a life on the front line."

Gavel, who comes from a long line of pedigrees, was fostered at the official residence of the Queensland governor in from April 2016, when he was just six weeks old, according to the BBC.
When his hopes of joining the force were dashed, Governor Paul de Jersey gave the loving pooch a promotion to a more ceremonial role in February 2017.

Gavel was granted a new role as Vice-Regal Dog and his duties include greeting guests and tour groups at the grounds of Queensland's Government House.
He partakes in special ceremonies and is often seen in custom-made uniforms.

Salma Hayek spills the beans on the time Trump asked her on a date

In a completely unsurprising reveal, Salma Hayek told Trevor Noah on The Daily Show Wednesday that President Donald Trump not only asked her a date, but he tried to pressure her into cheating on her then-boyfriend.

Hayek told Noah that the first time she met Trump at an event, he gave her his jacket because she looked cold. He then sweet-talked her and her boyfriend.

“[He was] so charming, so nice, super nice … he kept talking to my boyfriend, and then he befriended my boyfriend, invited him to dinner … and then he was like, ‘If you guys are in New York, you can come to Atlantic City, you can stay in my hotel. Give me your numbers,’” Hayek told Noah.

Later when Trump called up Hayek, he was only interested in seeing her.
“[Trump] never talked to my boyfriend again,” she said. “Now, he’s calling, he’s inviting me out.”
She reminded Trump of her beau, but he didn’t budge.

“‘He’s not good enough for you,” Hayek said Trump told her. “‘Not important, he’s not big enough for you. You have to go out with me.’”
The anecdote adds more details to an already questionable chain of events wherein Trump supposedly planted tabloid stories in an effort to get Hayek to go out with him. The tabloids reported Trump saying Hayek was “too short” for him, and then Trump called Hayek and tried to get her to go out with him and prove the story wrong.
The actress refused Trump’s offer, of course, and although she didn’t end up with that boyfriend, she eventually married billionaire François-Henri Pinault.

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Hayek is promoting her new movie Beatriz at Dinner, which explores political clashes through a divisive dinner conversation. It’s no wonder Hayek’s character in the film wholeheartedly rejects Trumpian values—she’s been rejecting Trump for a long time.

Israeli nurse breastfeeds Palestinian baby after mom is critically injured

On June 2, a Palestinian family of three crashed into a bus in the West Bank, killing the father and critically injuring the mother, according to Today Along with his mother, 9-month-old baby boy Yamen was brought to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center’s emergency room in Jerusalem. 

He only experienced minor injuries, but he was growing hungry fast. According to his aunts, the child was breastfed by his mother and was refusing to take milk by the bottle.

Yamen’s aunts spoke to nurse Ola Ostrowski-Zak, asking if she knew anyone who could breastfeed the child. As it turns out, Ostrowski-Zak is a mother herself of an 18-month-old son. She offered to breastfeed Yamen, who quickly relaxed. According to Ostrowski-Zak, the baby’s aunts praised her, saying that they never expected a Jewish woman to help their family.

“I was emotional about this sad assumption,” Ostrowski-Zak told Today. “I know any Jewish mother would have done the same.”

Before her shift ended, Ostrowski-Zak posted a Facebook message on an Israeli group, asking volunteers to help feed Yamen. Within two hours, over a thousand people liked her status, according to Today, and women from all over Israel offered to drive over just to make sure Yamen was fed.

While there is no shortage of debate over the Isreal-Palestine conflict, as well as Zionism’s place in feminism (the story seems to have gotten traction via Zionist organization Hadassah), Ostrowski-Zak’s deed has mostly been received as a simple act of kindness.

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“The human connection is very strong,” Ostrowski-Zak said.

Folorunsho Alakija plans overseas wedding

Africa’s wealthiest woman, Folorunsho Alakija, is one woman who knows how to splash the cash when it comes to things like celebrating her son’s wedding. It was just a few months ago that she held high society spellbound with the lavish traditional wedding of her son, Folarin, to Iranian beauty Nagnin Khosro. The high octane event held at the grand ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos had men and women of means from all walks of life in attendance.

But the founder of the popular Rose of Sharon Foundation is not done yet. Later this month, she will once again host the crème of high society, this time in London, as Folarin and his Iranian damsel conclude the rites with a white wedding at Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, London.

The approaching ceremony has already set the nerves of high society on edge with anticipation