Madam corruption !!! EFCC in fresh moves against Patience Jonathan’s $8.4m, N7.3bn found in 15 bank accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is in fresh moves to seize funds in 15 bank accounts linked to Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The funds, which the EFCC is seeking to seize, include a total of $8,435,788.84 and over N7.35bn.

The EFCC had appeared before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of the Federal High Court in Lagos with an ex parte application, seeking the forfeiture of the funds.

 The move was, however, interrupted by a train of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN) and Mr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the ex parte application.

They told the judge that the funds, which the EFCC seeks to seize, were already a subject of litigation.

But counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the SANs had no right of hearing in the court, since his application was ex parte, wondering how they got wind of the move by the anti-graft agency.

In view of the development, the judge adjourned the case till January 23, 2018 and directed the EFCC to file an affidavit to convince it that there were no pending lawsuits relating to the funds before other courts. - Punch

How President Trump’s grandfather was banished from Germany

 

A historian has discovered a royal decree issued to Donald Trump’s grandfather ordering him to leave Germany and never come back.

Friedrich Trump, a German, was issued with the document in February 1905, and ordered to leave the kingdom of Bavaria within eight weeks as punishment for having failed to do mandatory military service and failing to give authorities notice of his departure to the US when he first emigrated in 1885.

Roland Paul, a historian from Rhineland-Palatinate who found the document in local archives, told the tabloid Bild: “Friedrich Trump emigrated from Germany to the USA in 1885. However, he failed to de-register from his homeland and had not carried out his military service, which is why the authorities rejected his attempt at repatriation.”

The decree orders the “American citizen and pensioner Friedrich Trump” to leave the area “at the very latest on 1 May … or else expect to be deported”. Bild called the archive find an “unspectacular piece of paper”, that had nevertheless “changed world history”.

Trump was born in Kallstadt, now in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, in 1869. He emigrated to the US aged 16 initially to escape poverty, attracted by the gold rush.

He quickly turned his attention to catering for the masses of other gold hunters in Alaska, later allegedly running a brothel for them, and there made his fortune. He habitually sent the gold nuggets with which his customers regularly paid for their food to his sisters who had already emigrated to New York and had started trading in property.

Returning on a visit to Kallstadt in 1901, Trump fell in love with Elisabeth Christ, whom he married a year later, returning with her to the US. But when she became homesick and wanted to return to Germany, the authorities blocked his attempts to settle there.

In an effort to overturn the royal decree dated 27 February 1905, Trump wrote an obsequious letter appealing to Prince Regent Luitpold, addressing him as “the much-loved, noble, wise and righteous sovereign and sublime ruler”.

But the prince rejected the appeal and the Trumps left Germany for New York with their daughter on the Hapag steamship Pennsylvania on 1 July 1905. Elisabeth was three months pregnant with Donald Trump’s father, Fred.

Residents of Kallstadt, a small wine-growing town of about 1,200 people in south-west Germany, joke that the blame for Trump becoming US president-elect lies with the German authorities who threw his grandfather out. They have so far shown little enthusiasm for claiming the businessman turned politician as their own.

The Guardian of London

Arsenal boss, Wenger disappointed with his sides decision making

Arsenal’s terrible form continued as they lost yet another away game this time at the Vitality Stadium against AFC Bournemouth who before the game were just a point above the drop zone in the Premier League.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger spoke about his sides poor decision making which allowed for the Cherries to come back into the game with his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

The Gunners had take the lead through Hector Bellerin after a nice pass from Alex Iwobi but the hosts fought back through goals from Callum Wilson and Jordan Ibe late on in the second-half to bring them a much needed three points.

Another away game goes by for the Arsenal without a victory which now means that they have won just three away games all season from their 12 which they have played in.

The Arsenal manager spoke about his sides capability of not being able to make better decisions.

“I feel overall physically it was a tough game for us.”

“It wasn’t forced errors, just a lack of decision making.”

“We haven’t created enough with the possession we had. We weren’t sharp enough to create chances.”

He went on to talk about his sides game management which wasn’t really too good and that they should have gone on to grab a second in an important match.

“Once you’re 1-0 up you should create more chances. It’s very frustrating and very disappointing, a very disappointing result for us, especially when you’re 1-0 up.”

“We made mistakes in areas where you wonder where they come from.” - Read Sport

Figo : Philippe Coutinho's 'deserved' Barca move

Coutinho deserved his club-record move to Barcelona, according to former Blaugrana winger Luis Figo.

Coutinho's transfer from Liverpool to Barca was completed on January 6, with LaLiga's leaders reportedly paying an initial £106million that could rise to £142m for the Brazil forward's services.

Figo was at Inter when they agreed to sign Coutinho in 2008, though he was loaned back to Vasco da Gama and never played with the Portugal legend at San Siro.

And Figo, who controversially left Barca for Real Madrid in 2000, is pleased the 25-year-old has sealed his dream move to Camp Nou.

Figo, speaking at the Abu Dhabi Invitational 2018, Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, told Omnisport: "Football has changed so much, the amounts change so much.

"I'm happy for Coutinho because I met him at Inter, I didn't play with him but he's a nice boy. He deserves to be successful and happy, so I wish him all the best because he deserves it."

Coutinho cannot play for Barca in the Champions League this season having already done so for Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp's men are one of five Premier League teams through to the knockout stages of Europe's top competition, providing encouragement that an English team could lift the trophy for the first time since 2012.

Figo said of the Premier League's quintet: "In the Champions League they are doing pretty well until now, that shows they have potential, sporting potential, financial potential and of course that helps you to make stronger teams.

"Let's see what happens at the end of the competition but they are doing really well until now." - Goal

Poorer countries must 'put their hands in their pockets': UK warns of cuts to aid

Britain will cut foreign aid to developing countries if they fail to invest in their own people, the international development secretary has said.

Penny Mordaunt said the British government, which gives out £13bn of foreign aid a year, “will not invest when others should be putting their hands in their pockets”.

Aid groups responded with concern, saying a “significant need” for aid remains across all low income countries, even among those who invest in health and social care.

Mordaunt said that the public had “nagging but legitimate doubts” about where aid money was going. She said it was no longer enough for a project just to be achieving good things. 

“I want the governments of developing countries to step up and take responsibility for investing in their own people, in healthcare or education, for example. If [they choose] not to, that will inform our decisions around our funding. We will continue to prioritise investments in saving lives, tackling undernutrition, improving health and getting kids a quality education.

“But our focus will increasingly be on helping developing countries stand on their own feet and build sustainable health and education systems that they invest in themselves.”

In an interview for the BBC’s Today programme, Mordaunt said there was no incentive for a country to invest in healthcare if they are getting foreign aid.

The UK government launched a new aid strategy in 2015 following bitter criticism of development spending, including money given to middle-income countries India and China, which signalled a shift towards a more results-focused direction and a renewed emphasis on Britain’s national interest.

Mordaunt was appointed international development secretary in November, following Priti Patel’s resignation over her unofficial meetings with senior Israelis. She pledged to use foreign aid as part of a “Brexit-ready proposition to boost trade and investment with developing countries”.

While some aid groups said they agreed with the need for developing countries to invest in their own people, they warned of the danger of pulling away from those nations most in need of aid.

Romilly Greenhill, of the One Campaign, said: “It’s absolutely right that countries need to invest in their own people and they are doing that in many cases, in health and education. The evidence suggests that even if they collect taxes and invest in the health and social sector, there is still a significant funding gap across all low income countries. There remains a significant need for aid.”

Alex Thier, executive director of the Overseas Development Institute, said: “She is articulating a principle that we should focus more of our assistance on promoting sustainability and assistance so that countries can lift themselves up. I agree with that. However, it’s important to apply that to the people and countries where it is needed most. The goal should not be to pull away from countries that are struggling and only invest in countries that are doing well.”

Daniel Bruce, the chief executive of Internews, a non-profit media company, warned that countries not investing in their own people is a symptom of bigger problems, such as unaccountable governance, weak civil society and limits on press freedom.

“Rather than arbitrarily cutting aid from countries not supporting their people, we need to strengthen their societies to hold their own governments to account. If we fail to do so, then the most vulnerable people on the planet will simply suffer all the more.” - The Guardian

Why I started raping children – 20-year-old man

One man identified as Abdullateef Ibrahim, arrested by the Niger State Police Command for allegedly raping a five-year-old girl, has revealed how he started the act.

While pleaded for forgiveness, Ibrahim said he started raping children after his girlfriend left him.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar, said on Sunday that the suspect was apprehended by operatives attached to Nasko police division, adding that he had been charged to court.

The PPRO said that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation, noting that the victim had been taken to the General Hospital, Magama, for treatment.

Punch reports that the victim, while on an errand for her mother, was dragged to an isolated place by Ibrahim where he had sex with her.

Ibrahim told the newspaper that he had forcefully had carnal knowledge of more than six underage girls in the community.

He said, “Since my girlfriend left, I have been in the act and I enjoyed doing it, but at times I will ask myself ‘why am I into this mess and the urge still continues?’

“It is quite unfortunate that I found myself in this hopeless predicament.”

The man begged for forgiveness and advised other youths to shun “ the wicked act that may mar their future.”

My wife turned me into an impotent person – 66-year-old man tells court

Igando Customary Court in Lagos State, on Monday dissolved a 44-year-old marriage between Mr Muyili Oshode, and his wife, Ibidunni, on the grounds that the wife turned her husband into an impotent person.

The judge, Justice Akin Akinniyi, in his judgement, said the petitioner was adamant despite all mediation from the court as well as family intervention.

Akinniyi said, “Since the petitioner insisted on divorce after several interventions, the court has no choice than to dissolve the union in spite of the fact that the wife still claims she loves her husband.

“The court pronounced the marriage between Mr Muyili Oshode and Mrs Ibidunni Oshode dissolved today, both parties, henceforth, ceased to be husband and wife.

“Both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,” Akinniyi ruled.

Earlier, the petitioner had told the court that his wife was fetish.

“My wife is fetish, she patronised many herbalists and she had used her diabolical power to paralyse my manhood for me not to be able to marry or impregnate another woman.

“In fact, my manhood no longer stands erect nor functions,” he said.

The 66-year-old mechanic said his wife was threatening his life with a view to killing him.

“I saw Ibidunni in my dream poisoning my food so that she can inherit my property.

“Please, court, dissolve this loveless marriage before Ibidunni kills me,” the estranged husband said.

However, his wife, Ibidunni, denied all the allegations, she said that she never turned her husband into an impotent person.

“I am a Christian; I never patronised any herbalists. I do not know what is responsible for his manhood, he should ask his concubines,” the respondent said..

“What do I stand to gain if I kill the father of my children, he believed so much in dreams,” she said.

Ibidunni, however, said she still loves her husband.

The mother of six pleaded with the court not to grant her husband’s wish for the dissolution of the marriage.

2019: ‘You have no conscience’ – Shehu Sani carpets Northern govs for endorsing Buhari

Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) has lambasted seven governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for asking President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest in 2019.

Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abubakar Bello (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) and Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), had on Friday visited Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja asking him to seek re-election.

El-Rufai told journalists after the meeting: “We believe in Mr. President, we want him to continue running the country in the right direction. People can speculate about 2019; we have no apologies”.

He added that the governors were interested in “continuity and stability”.

But Sani said the endorsement despite the killings going on in several parts of the country was unfortunate, adding that the leaders had no conscience.

The senator via his official Twitter handle, said: “Seven governors in the Villa asking President Buhari to run at this material time when all hands should be on deck to advise or support him to end the mindless bloodletting and carnage in the country is most unfortunate. Human reasoning and human conscience where art thou?” - Daily Post

Ekiti state bans Fayemi from public office for 10 years

Ekiti State Government on Monday banned former governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, from holding public office for 10 years.

The decision followed the receipt of the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry which investigated the handling of state finances during the Fayemi administration between October 2010 and October 2014.

The panel ordered the former governor to account for the whereabouts of N2.75 billion allocated from the N25 billion bond obtained by the government for the execution of contract for the construction of Ultra-Modern market in Ado Ekiti, which was never executed.

The state’s former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, was also banned for 10 years.

The panel also recommended that the duo should refund various sums of money to the state government coffers.

The State Executive Council accepted the recommendations and adopted the panel’s White Paper at Monday’s emergency meeting. - The Nation