Emir of corruption ! ‘Unexplained wealth’: Saraki listed as owner of £15m London mansions

Senate President Bukola Saraki has been listed as one of the five owners of “unexplained wealth” in London.

According to Transparency International, the report was conducted by Unexplained Wealth Orders (UWOs), a new investigative power designed to help law enforcement agencies act on corrupt assets.

Two buildings, located at 7 and 8 Whittaker street, Belgravia, London, are allegedly owned by Saraki.

The houses are said to be worth £15 million.

According to the report, the said addresses are owned by Landfield International Developments Limited and Renocon Property Development Limited.

The report said the companies are managed by Toyin Saraki, wife of the senate president and one of Saraki’s personal aides.

“The report is particularly useful where there is no realistic prospect of cooperation or conviction in the country of origin, but there are sufficient grounds for suspicion that an asset has been acquired with the proceeds of corruption,” UWOs said.

In November 2017, Saraki was named among over 120 politicians and leaders in nearly 50 countries who have reportedly been utilising shell companies in tax haven to either conceal assets, evade tax, or launder funds.

Eighteen months earlier, a similar investigation exposed his ownership of at least three secret offshore firms which he allegedly used in concealing assets abroad.

Saraki has however denied both allegations, saying he is rich because he comes from a wealthy family.

Other people indicted in the report include Igor Shuvalov, Russian first deputy prime minister, Ahmed Mahmoud Azwai, former Libyan major-general, Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister of Pakistan, and First family of Azerbaijan, a country in Asia.

Efforts made to get the reaction of the senate president to this report did not yield the desired result as Yusuph Olaniyonu, his spokesman cut off the call put through to his telephone line.

He also refused to reply a text message sent. - Cable Nigeria

Security man caught raping a minor in Niger

A 55 years old Security Man, Mohammed Sani have been apprehended for sleeping with a 14 year old girl in Minna, Niger state.

Sani who is a Security man with a popular car wash, Clean-Clean Car Wash located opposite the Federal Secretariat in Minna was caught in the act of sleeping with the girl identified as Amina in the car wash toilet.

According to Amina who is a groundnut cake (kuli-kuli)  hawker, the Security Man have been having carnal knowledge with her for over six months adding that it started when she saw a hawker going into the toilet with the security man and when she asked what went on there, Sani invited her into the toilet and had carnal knowledge with her and it have continued from then on.

She disclosed that after each escapade, Sani gives her between N300 to N500 stating that she was not the only one he was sleeping with.

When asked why she did not report the case,  Amina said she felt she was grown up and can take care of herself and since other hawkers were doing it, she felt there was no problem in doing it.

The Director General of the Niger State Child Rights Agency,  Barrister Mariam Kolo said that the Agency received a call that the security man was having carnal knowledge with an underage girl and on getting to the car wash, they caught Sani in the act.

She lamented on the molestation of child hawkers in the state adding that the agency is working out ways to minimize the level of child hawking in the state.

Kolo urged parents to always examine their children after hawking to know if they are intact and to regulate the time of the hawking cautioning on the need for child hawkers to hawk in groups if need be.

She declared that the agency would ensure that justice is done regarding the incident adding that the accused would be handed to the CID for further investigation and if possible, the other victims would be unraveled.

The accused, Sani who accepted that he was wrong asked for forgiveness saying it was the handiwork of the devil.

He pleaded that the matter should not be taken further adding that he would not want his wife and children who lives in Zamfara state to know about the matter.

Fresh killings as herdsmen, villagers clash in Adamawa

An unconfirmed number of persons have been killed in a clash between herdsmen and villagers in Song local government area of Adamawa state.

The clash, which occurred in Simba and Shure villages on Friday, also left many houses destroyed.

Trouble started when the herders took their cattle to a pond said to be the only source of water in the area.

This led to a confrontation between the herdsmen and one of the villagers who was said to have been injured upon confronting the herders.

On learning about the incident, the villagers subsequently attacked the herdsmen, reportedly killing an unconfirmed number of them.

The herders, thereafter, launched a reprisal attack on the community.

Some persons were also said to have died in the reprisal attack, while houses were also burnt down.

TheCable was unable to confirm the number of casualties in the incident as of press time.

Othman Abubakar, spokesman of Adamawa police command, confirmed there was an attack but could not give details.

“When I get the details, I will call you back. I’m not sure of the casualties yet,” he told TheCable on Sunday.

He also said the command had not been able to make any arrest regarding the incident. - Cable Nigeria

Nigerian allegedly stabs two countrymen to death in South Africa

The Nigerian Community in South Africa has confirmed the death of two members who were stabbed to death by a fellow Nigerian on Saturday.

It was gathered that the suspects Sunday from Anambra State stabbed 34 year old Ekweghiariri Chidi Isaac and one Nzechukwu Alabuche over business dispute.

The Secretary of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Emeka Ezinteje told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, that “We have received a report that at 3.00am on Saturday, Mr Ekweghiariri Chidi Isaac, 34, a native of Ehime in Isiala Mbano Local Government of Imo and Mr Nzechukwu Alabuche, 35, from Azia in Anambra were stabbed to death by one Sunday from Awgbu in Anambra.

“The incident occurred at Rossetinville, south of Johannesburg.

“We understand that there was a business dispute between them, that made the assailant to stab the victims to death,”

He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigerian mission and the South African police.

“The assailant is on the run while the police have commenced investigation into the incident.

“The union condemns the killing of any Nigerian and will partner with relevant government agencies to ensure that justice is done in the case,”

The secretary said that the police had taken the bodies to the hospital for autopsy. - Daily Post

Transfer news : Arsenal eye summer move for Mahrez

Arsenal will reignite their interest in Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez this summer, with the player likely to leave the Foxes at the end of the season, according to the Daily Star. 

The Foxes star hasn’t returned to the club since his deadline day move to Manchester City collapsed and his whereabouts remains unclear at the moment.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been a long-term admirer of the player and has extensively scouted the Algerian in the past.

Arsenal may struggle to find a place for Mahrez in their current side after signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Manchester United during the January window.

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Leicester City boss Claude Puel has spoken about the situation.

“After some time, he will come back with us. He is our friend and I think all the staff and all the players will help him to come back with a good mentality and a positive attitude and to enjoy his football with his team-mates.”

 Wenger faces the prospect of finishing outside of the top four this season, putting extra emphasis on their summer transfer business.

- Read Sport

PL : Joining Chelsea was the 'obvious' choice - Olivier Giroud

Giroud says the decision to join Chelsea was an "obvious" one when it became clear Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was to join Arsenal.

Giroud left for Stamford Bridge on the final day of the January transfer window, completing a move reportedly worth £18million.

The Frenchman looked set to become third choice at Arsenal behind Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang, who joined the Gunners on the same day.

Giroud had been linked with a switch for much of the month after struggling to oust Lacazette from the starting XI in the first half of the season and he revealed that Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Roma were all in the hunt.

However, once Antonio Conte's interest was known, Giroud's mind was made up.

"Dortmund was interested, but for a loan," said Giroud. "There was Sevilla too and at one point my agent received a call from Roma.

"But my choice was quite clear and obvious when I knew that Antonio Conte wanted to work with me.

"I know that Conte appreciates my profile, we'll work well together."

Giroud was unperturbed when Lacazette signed from Lyon in pre-season and was ready to fight for his place, but his mind changed when Aubameyang was also brought in.

"I wanted to stay at Arsenal [in pre-season] to try my luck even though Alex Lacazette arrived," said the 31-year-old.

"But the fact is, the coach wanted to recruit a new forward [Aubameyang]. With his signing, there were three top strikers and that's why I decided to leave.

"It made sense for me to give a new direction to my career. There was an element of disappointment, even though I spent five wonderful years there. "I could have stayed. I wanted to stay in the Premier League and Chelsea was a great opportunity for me." - Goal

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"I could have stayed. I wanted to stay in the Premier League and Chelsea was a great opportunity for me." - Goal

PL news :Conte tells Chelsea they need three world class stars

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has informed the club that they need at least two or three world class signings to compete with Manchester City.

As reported by the Telegraph, the Italian has told the club exactly how they can catch Pep Guardiola’s side next season.

“We must be realistic. We must be strong to accept this type of situation. Then, in the future, if there is the possibility, you have to try to buy only two or three players – not eight players. Don’t forget, this summer, we brought in eight players and spent a lot less than other teams who bought only two or three.”

Chelsea’s title defence was over before it really began as Guardiola’s men set a frantic pace, running away with the league title.

City currently sit 13 points ahead of Manchester United with 12 games remaining this season.

Conte endured two tough transfer windows, missing out on key targets and he now faces a battle to finish inside the top four.

The Blues could start Monday night’s game against Watford outside of the Champions League places with Liverpool and Spurs set to play on Sunday afternoon.

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Pressure is mounting on the 48-year-old with some reports going as far as suggesting he could be dismissed before the end of the season. - Read Sport

Terrorism !!! Photos : Fulani herdsmen launch fresh attack on Guma

Several persons have been declared missing and many houses razed after suspected Fulani herdsmen launched attack on Nanev village in Uikpam, Guma LGA of Benue State.

Guman is the country home of the state governor, Samuel Ortom.

The commmunity was also attacked on January 1 where over 50 persons were hacked to death.

DAILY POST gathered that the gunmen, armed to their teeth stormed the village, Friday evening, shooting sporadically into the air and setting houses on fire.

A resident of the community hinted DAILY POST that over 23 houses were burnt down completely.

This incident came barely three days after seven Fulani natives were burnt to death in Gboko area of the state.

Confirming the incident, Hon. Anthony Shawon, Chairman of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State said the timely intervention of mobile police prevented the armed men from causing more damages.

“This night 2/2/18 the Fulani militia attacked Uikpam village. The mobile police repelled them. They are now burning Nanev Villages,” he said.

Meanwhile, text message to the Benue State Police PRO, Moses Yamu was not replied at the time of this report.

Mad man !!! Fulani destined to continue leading Nigeria, says professor

Umar Labdo, a professor at the faculty of humanities, Maitama Sule University, Kano, says the Fulani are destined to lead Nigeria for a long time.

In an interview with PUNCH, Labdo said the Fulani brought literacy to the country.
According to him, the tribe had transcripts dating back to 500 years ago, at a time “when no other tribe knew how to write”.

He said: “Those who rule are those that are more civilised and educated. Now, Fulani happened to be more educated than all other tribes in Nigeria before the Europeans came.
“We are the ones who brought literacy here as we have manuscripts, hundreds of them, which were written between 300 and 500 years ago, when no other tribe knew how to write.

“And that is why the lot fell on our people to lead in this country and we are still leading the people. We are destined to continue leading people; but I know, if people read this, they will say he is a supremacist or something like that, no!
“It is not like that. This is a burden and we pay for it. Sardauna was killed because he was a ruler. If he had not been a ruler, why would he have been killed? Murtala Mohammed (former military head of state) was also killed. Why? It was because he was a ruler.”

He described Fulani’s “destiny” to lead as a “burden” on the tribe.
“It is not something we are proud of,” he said, adding: “It is a burden but we have to shoulder the burden because we are the ones who are qualified for it.”

Labdo said the federal government did not propose the idea of cattle colonies because President Muhammadu Buhari is Fulani.
He said this is because “any president of Nigeria has the obligation to help Fulani to settle down but not to use force.”
He, however, accused the Benue state government of trying to expel Fulani people through the law banning open grazing.

The professor added: “What is being done in Benue state is attempting to expel Fulani. Now, the Fulani in question are unsettled Fulani, not Fulani like me; I am a professor.
“But most of the unsettled Fulani are illiterates. So, if you want to change their way of life, which they have been following for centuries, you have to do it step by step.

“Instead, you enacted a law today, then armed a militia and asked it to enforce the law tomorrow. You are expelling these people; this is what is happening in Benue.” - Cable Nigeria

Shocking !!! 8 men allegedly impregnate 13-year-old school pupil in Kaduna

Eight men, including an Imam in Kaduna have allegedly impregnated a 13-year-old primary school girl.

The girl, Maryam Muazu, said to be 5 months pregnant with twins, is currently in primary 6 at L.E.A Anchau, Taka-Lafiya in Kubau local government of Kaduna State.

The parents of Maryam Muazu are threatening to abort the pregnancy to avert public embarrassment.

She was alleged to have been raped by the eight men, including her neighbour, an elderly Imam of a mosque who molested her severely.

Maryam said, “They usually call me and give me N500 naira when l am coming back from school and when I went out hawking, they usually forced me into it, and they have been warning me not to tell my parents, they vowed to kill me if I dared tell my parents.

“They threatened killing me each time they raped me, that is why I refused telling my parents, I was so afraid that is why I kept quiet over the issue.”

Mallam Mu’au Shittu, father of Maryam, said, “Eight men raped my daughter and now she is pregnant, they usually give her money while some give her gifts to have sex with such a young girl when she goes out hawking.

“They usually give her five hundred naira and have sex with her the way they want it, they merely turned her like sex machine.”

Mallam Mu’azu Shittu, said he had taken the case to Upper Sharia Court lkara local government area to seek for justice.

He explained that for the past 5 months, they couldn’t sleep with their eyes closed because of the problems the girl had been going through, adding, “she is too small to be carrying twins, and there is no single one among the rapists that is ready to take the responsibility as father of the unborn babies.”

Mu’azu also pointed out that among the eight (8) men that were alleged as the rapists, one of them is his close neighbour, Alhaji Danlami Sakatare, an lmam.

“Because of what he did to my daughter, I have stopped going to join them in prayer in the mosque because I cannot follow the prayer of a rapist who wants to destroy my family.

“I don’t like a bastard child in my family, that is why l am doing my best to protect the integrity of my family,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the suspected rapists on Friday arraigned and consequently granted bail on Friday.

The father of the victim had also reported the case to a Human Rights Organization in search of justice for his daughter.

Hajiya Rabi Salisu Ibrahim, founder of Arridah Relief foundation of Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organization in which the case was brought told DAILY POST that ”We received the case in our office.

“For the past two years, we have treated over 400 cases of rape and child abuse but we have never come across this type of inhuman act.“

Another women organization, Foundation for the Protection of Women and Children in Nigeria, has called on Jama’atul nasurl lslam, JNI, and the Kaduna State government to suspend the Imam from leading prayers and give him a tougher punishment to serve as a deterrent to other clerics in the country. - Daily Post

My husband beats me over sex – Wife

One Mrs. Shakirat Salau has asked Ikorodu customary court to dissolve her marriage to Mr. Kehinde Salau citing threat to life, battery and other irreconcilable differences.

The petitioner, Shakirat seeks to end the 10 years union with her husband because he beats her whenever she denies him sex.

“He loves beating me because of sex. Whenever I say no to sex, he would beat the hell out of me

“He does not give me rest of mind and he beats me whenever he gets provoked. He often threatens to pour hot water on me.

“I become frightened whenever we fight and he boils hot water on a stove ready to splash it on me,” she told the court.

Shakirat begged the court to separate them and grant her custody of the children.

In defence, her husband told the court that she’s too stubborn.

“I only threaten her with words of mouth.

“Just imagine, I can’t stand her deny me sex,” he said.

The presiding judge, Mr. A. Adebiyi in ruling instructed Kehinde to desist from violence, warning him not to beat his wife over sex again.

The case was then adjourned till March 22, for further hearing.

Benue DPO’s arrest: Buhari has again shown his govt belongs only to Fulanis – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has again proved that his government is nothing short of an apartheid regime which does not belong to all, except the Fulanis.

The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday condemning what he called the humiliation and arrest of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gboko police station in Benue State, Bur Dooior, for allegedly failing to use police resources to protect invading Fulani herdsmen.

“Why arrest the non-Fulani DPO of Gboko because of the death of seven Fulani terrorists, whereas in neighboring police stations manned by Fulanis; DPOs are being promoted even though the greatest killing of innocent civilians happened under their watch,” he queried.

However, DAILY POST reports that President Buhari had said “I belong to nobody, I belong to everybody” in a famed 2015 rhetoric, during his swearing in speech as the president of Nigeria.

But Comrade Emma Powerful said that even the most vocal defender of the brutal Fulani-dominated security apparatus in the country cannot excuse the on-going apartheid in Nigeria following the arrest of DPO Dooior.

The IPOB statement reads: “It did not come to the leadership and family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide as a surprise that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gboko police station in Benue State has been arrested for failure to use police resources to protect invading Fulani herdsmen.

“This perverse logic can only obtain in Nigeria where reason and common sense is always in short supply.

“We condemn the criminal silence of the weak majority and those that claim they are leaders of the various socio-cultural organisations that litter the political landscape in Nigeria.

“The humiliation and arrest of DPO Bur Dooior a native of Tiv is indicative of the crass insensitivity of those at the helm of security decision making in Nigeria. Had the DPO been a Fulani man he would not have been arrested. In Nigeria today, there is one law for Fulani people and another for the rest of us.

“We must recall that a few days back, at the height of the genocide in Benue, President Buhari went on record to say he was not in a hurry to take action against his fellow Fulani who were the ones doing the killing.

“Suddenly the death of 7 Fulani terrorist herdsmen have spurned the presidency into action. Those in doubt about the real motive of this administration can now see it very clearly that Fulani lives, even that of terrorists are more valuable than that of law abiding citizens.

“Even the most vocal defender of this brutal Fulani dominated cannot excuse this blatant apartheid going on in Nigeria. Since the continued killing of the innocent citizens in the country by Fulani terrorist supported by Fulani dominated army and police officers in Nigeria security apparatus, the IG of police, Chief of army staff including the Director DSS never for once deemed it necessary to send men of Nigeria army and police to protect lives and properties of those affected. Instead they send their soldiers and police to protect the killers while harassing and intimidating helpless citizens.

“Why arrest the non-Fulani DPO of Gboko because of the death of 7 Fulani terrorists, whereas in neighboring police stations manned by Fulani DPOs are being promoted even though the greatest killing of innocent civilians happened under their watch.

“We also wonder why Nigerian Army and Police chiefs never considered it necessary for once to arrest those police and army officers who masterminded the massacre of innocent and unarmed civilians on 30th of May 2016 as documented by Amnesty International. How about those civilians massacred in cold blood at National high School Aba on 9th February 2016, who was arrested for their deaths?

“The arrest of Gboko DPO was not right by so doing and must be condemned in all ramifications by all men and women of good conscience across the globe. Equally condemnation is the promotion of Fulani DPO’s and army officers who perpetrated and abated the killings of innocent people of Middle Belt region and other parts of Nigeria.

“It is a clear proof, if any were needed, that this Fulani APC government is sectional, parochial and ethno-centric. It is nothing short of an apartheid regime and does not belong to all, except the Fulanis.” - Daily Post

Face of corruption : Alleged N9.4b Contract: EFCC May Declare Oduah Wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appears to be running out of patience with former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah, over an alleged N9.4billion curious contract involving her.

The agency believes she has been playing a ‘hide and seek’ game over repeated invitations to her for questioning in respect of the allegation.

She may be declared wanted if she continues to be evasive, The Nation gathered yesterday, although sources said she had informed the EFCC of her intention to now make herself available on February 19.

The anti-graft agency has already interrogated Senator Peter Nwaoboshi for alleged N2.1b failed contracts, securing questionable loan from NEXIM Bank and operating 30 accounts without declaring same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Reliable sources said yesterday that Oduah had been invited thrice in the last seven months over the security contract only for her to fail to turn up on each occasion.

This development informed the decision of the EFCC to consider the option of declaring her wanted.

The former minister, according to a fact sheet sighted by The Nation, is wanted by the EFCC in “respect of investigation into a N9, 443,549,531.25 contract awarded to I-Sec Security Nigeria Limited for the procurement and installation of security equipment in 22 airports across the country.

“The contract was awarded when she held sway as Minister of Aviation in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“There were issues surrounding the contract, including alleged non-execution of the project in some airports, abandonment of the contract in a few ones, diversion of part of the contract sum and suspected case of money laundering.

“These are allegations she is expected to respond to in order to clear the air on the security contract. She is only expected to explain her roles.”

Attempts to interrogate Oduah over the last seven months have failed following excuses from her.

An EFCC source said:  “ She was invited on three different occasions to report for interview on the 13th June, 2017, 29th June 2017 and 13th November 2017 but she failed to honour any of the invitations.

“Rather than appear to face a panel that was raised by the EFCC to interrogate her, Oduah, through a letter dated  January 5, 2018, informed the commission that she would  honour the invite on January 29, 2018.

“The letter was duly acknowledged by the commission and just as the investigators were looking forward to her arrival, Oduah played a fast one on the EFCC with another letter indicating that she would no longer be available on January 29.

“She cited an invitation by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu to accompany him to London where he was scheduled to deliver a lecture at the House of Commons on January 25.

“Oduah stated that her next convenient date to honour your invitation is 19th February, 2018”.

The source said it was obvious that this suspect “is not willing to submit herself to the Commission for interview in relation to the ongoing investigation, which leaves the Commission with a few options.”

The source added: “The Commission has been very patient with her but she may be declared wanted if she continues this hide and seek game”.

It was also  gathered that after several efforts, the EFCC has succeeded in  interrogating Senator Peter Nwaoboshi  over alleged failed N2.1b contracts;  obtaining loan from NEXIM Bank while still on the board of the bank; and for operating 30 accounts without declaring same to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

A source said: “As regards your enquiry, Nwaoboshi finally presented himself for interrogation by the Commission on 27 November, 2017  and, for two days , was grilled by operatives of the Commission on sundry allegations bordering on abuse of office, criminal breach of trust and under declaration of assets.”

Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North in the Senate, is alleged to have “used his company, Bilderberg Enterprises Limited, to secure contracts worth N2.1 billion to supply new equipment to two agencies of Delta State Government but defrauded the state in the execution of the contract by importing and supplying used equipment which he passed off as new.”

He is also accused of laundering the proceeds of alleged criminal activity to acquire properties in Delta State and Lagos.

Listed among such properties are a 12-storey building at Apapa in Lagos belonging to Delta State Government which Nwaoboshi bought for N805million and an N800million warehouse at Apapa Wharf, Lagos

The 12-storey building property was allegedly acquired through one of his companies, Golden Touch Construction Project Limited.

The warehouse is already subject of interim forfeiture by the EFCC.

Continuing, the source said: “besides, Senator Nwaoboshi allegedly diverted proceeds of a NEXIM loan to acquiring properties, objectives which contravene the conditions for which the facility was granted in the first place.

“The senator equally failed to disclose his interest in about 30 bank accounts in the assets declaration form.

“Preliminary findings indicated that he has a case to answer. So, he might face trial accordingly.” - The Nation