Hopeless country !!! Video : Kano gov, Ganduje allegedly receiving stacks of dollar bribe emerges

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has appeared in a video clip allegedly receiving bribe amounting to about $5million from contractors in the state.

Contractors told DAILY NIGERIAN that the governor personally receives between 15 to 25 per cent kickbacks for every project executed in the state.

The sting operation to capture the governor on camera was said to have began two years ago when one of the contractors agreed to plant spy camera on his kaftan lapel while offering the bribe.

During the about 10-month effort to capture the bribe giving/taking scenes, the governor’s face and body were reportedly clearly captured in nine clips, while six others did not clearly reveal the governor’s face.

About $5m dollars were said to be delivered to the governor in all.

One of the contractors who preferred not to be named, was reported as saying the reason he released the footage was to expose corruption and bring sanity to the country.

“If my aim is to blackmail or extort the governor, I would have used the videos to get over a billion settlement or force the governor to pay the hundreds of millions of naira the state is owing my company or force him to pay back all the money I paid him as kickbacks,” he said.

“We believe if public office holders are exposed, there will be sanity in the system even if I will not be the beneficiary in future.”

The Kano government has however claimed that the video was cloned.

“We wish to state that there is no iota of truth to these allegations and if indeed there is any such alleged video, it is at best cloned,” the Kano state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, said in a statement.

“The government of Kano state is taking this matter seriously, and will exploit every appropriate and legal avenue to ensure that it gets to the root of the matter and the perpetrators are brought to book.” - Daily Post

Dead judge ‘among’ Nigerians banned from travelling abroad

The federal government has included a dead person on its list of Nigerians banned from travelling abroad, according to the unconfirmed list published by The Nation.

On Saturday, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, announced that at least 50 Nigerians being probed for alleged corruption have been banned from leaving the country.

He had said the action was to the effect of the executive order six recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

But — you wouldn’t believe — among these Nigerians placed in the report by The Nation — is Innocent Umezulike, former chief judge of Enugu state who has been deceased since June.

Interestingly, Umezulike passed away even before the executive order in question was signed by the president in July.

The late judge, who was arraigned in 2017 for alleged corruption, was laid to rest in September.

The federal government had committed a similar gaffe in December when it appointed five — not one or two — dead persons into various boards of government agencies and parastatals. - TheCable

Extremist preacher Anjem Choudary to be freed on parole

Anjem Choudary, the leader of the banned extremist group al-Muhajiroun, which has inspired a number of Britons to join Isis, is set to be released from prison this week.

Choudary is one of about a dozen jailed radicals who are due out in the coming months, sparking concerns about the demands this will place on the police and the security services.

Choudary has served half of a five and-a-half year prison sentence handed down in 2016 for “inviting support of a terror group” and is now entitled to automatic parole.

The Observer has been told that, in anticipation of his release, pencilled in for this Wednesday, he is being moved from Frankland prison in County Durham to Belmarsh high security jail in London.

He is expected to be escorted by police to a halfway house where he will be read his licence conditions after which a decision will be taken on whether he can return to his home.

But this could prove problematic. A panic alarm is expected to be fitted at his property as he is assessed to be at risk from far-right activists who will see him as a target.

“It’s a balance between keeping the community safe from him and keeping him safe from vigilantes,” said Harry Fletcher, a probation expert.

Upon release, Choudary, who is believed to have radicalised scores of followers, will be subject to stringent restrictions which, if violated, will see him returned to prison.

Choudary, right, and followers arrive at an Islam4UK press conference in London in 2010.Photograph: Rex Features

He will be barred from travelling abroad without permission, his use of the internet and access to mosques will be limited, and he will be subject to periodic visits from police officers.

Licence conditions placed on another radical preacher who was recently released from jail, shared with the Observer, show that he was obliged to reveal all his banking details and to possess only one mobile phone. The man also had to register his car with the police and to avoid association with a number of named individuals.

But some experts on radicalisation questioned whether these measures will be sufficient in Choudary’s case. “He doesn’t believe that the law has any power or jurisdiction over him,” said Haras Rafiq, chief executive of Qulliam, the counter-extremism organisation. “He’s not been de-radicalised: I don’t think he ever will be.

“To his followers, now that he’s been in prison he’s seen as something of a martyr for the cause. Al-Muhajiroun inspired a number of its followers to commit terrorist attacks including the 7/7 bombings and the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

Choudary and his co-defendant, Mohammed Rahman, were jailed in 2016 after telling their supporters to obey Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Isis leader and to travel to Syria to support “the caliphate”.

After being proscribed, al-Muhajiroun relaunched itself as al-Ghurabaa, which was also banned under terrorism laws. Successor groups such as Islam4Uk and Muslims Against Crusades were also prohibited. - The Guardian UK

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Truck crash in Turkey leaves 22 migrants dead

At least 22 migrants, including several children, have been killed in a truck accident in Turkey, the country’s official news agency said.

The Anadolu news agency said the migrants were travelling in a truck in the western province of Izmir that rolled over off a bridge.

 Video footage showed a destroyed truck, upside down in a waterway with personal items scattered all around.

Thirteen people were injured in the crash and were being treated in nearby hospitals. Their nationalities were not given and authorities have launched an investigation.

Turkish media reported the driver was among the injured and said in his initial statement to police that a car had swerved in front of him.

Hundreds of thousands of migrants have set out to sea from Turkey’s coasts in the last few years to try to reach neighbouring Greece, which is a member of the European Union.

A deal with the EU in 2016 to send those migrants back to Turkey significantly curbed the number of border crossings but many desperate migrants still attempt the journey. - PA

Man defiles neighbour’s 12-year-old daughter in Anambra

A middle-aged man, Chukwudi Nweze, in Obosi Idemili North local government area of Anambra State has allegedly defiled his neighour’s 12 years old child (name withheld).

Chukwudi was said to have carried out the act on the girl at about 8:25pm on Friday in his residence in Obosi road, Isiowulu, where he shares the same compound with the parents of the victim.

Superintendent of Police, Haruna Mohammed, spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command, who disclosed this to DAILY POST, said that the suspect has been arrested, and investigation is ongoing.

He said, “The scene was visited by Police detectives and victim taken to Ivy hospital Odume for medical examination, and the case is still under investigation.”

Meanwhile, a resident of Awka north, Eyim Okpaga has allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself to death in his residence at Amukabia village, Achalla.

His elder brother, Sunday Okpaga, an indigene of Ebonyi State, but resides at Oye in Achalla, Awka North LGA reported the incident at Achalla police division.

The older Okpaga denied any knowledge of reasons for his brother’s action, just as the victim was said to have undertaken the action without dropping a suicide note.

Mohammed said police detectives attached to Achalla division visited the scene of the incident and also took photographs but failed to find motive behind the act yet. He said investigation was ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.

He added that the corpse of the deceased was immediately taken home for burial without autopsy as his relatives claimed it was part of their tradition to bury persons involved in such act immediately. -- Daily Post

100,000 Germans march against far right

More than 100,000 people have been marching in the German capital Berlin to protest against xenophobia and the increasing influence of the far right.

Rights groups organised the rally, as marchers held placards reading “Indivisible” and “United against racism”.

The BBC’s Jenny Hill in Berlin says even the organisers seemed surprised by the turnout.

Support for the anti-immigration AfD party has risen in recent years.

The Alternative for Germany entered parliament for the first time last year, becoming the biggest opposition party, and is expected to make a strong showing in elections in the southern state of Bavaria on Sunday.

Bavaria conservatives lose their fizz as election looms
Just how far to the right is AfD?
Marchers walked through central Berlin, rallying at the Brandenburg Gate.

Many said they were defending human rights and tolerance, particularly of migrants.

“I’m worried that we are not there for the others, and that we just don’t bother or care about loads of people who really need our help,” said one demonstrator.

“Nobody just comes because they are bored.”

One woman said: “There are so many people who believe they can abuse human rights and questions of equality and so on, and it’s time to say no, there are other people who just want to be open and open-minded.”

-BBC

Fayose heads to Abuja for showdown with EFCC

Ayodele Fayose, outgoing governor of Ekiti, has left for the nation’s capital, Abuja, to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Fayose had earlier written a letter to the EFCC saying he will turn himself in immediately his tenure as governor expires on October 16.

Idowu Adelusi, chief press secretary to Fayose, said “the governor is on his way to Abuja right now. Though, it’s on Tuesday that he will be going to the EFCC office”.

TheCable understands that the governor will meet with his lawyers at his private residence to prepare for the invitation.

“Also, there is a plan to mobilise his supporters and some PDP leaders to follow him when he will be reporting at the EFCC office, so that’s why he is going to Abuja today,” a source said.

Fayose is expected to meet with Umar Mohammed, the commission’s director of operations, at the anti-graft agency’s head office.

TheCable had reported that the EFCC had begun the investigation of Fayose, his wife Feyisetan and top aides over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

On Saturday evening, the governor moved around major streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, thanking the people for their support and saying farewell. - TheCable

End of masquerade festival !!! Only 20 official guests attend Fayose’s valedictory dinner

Less than 20 out of the large number of political appointees, friends and guests attended the valedictory dinner hosted by outgoing governor Ayodele Fayose in Ado Ekiti.

The dinner slated for 7:00pm did not record up to 20 of the expected guests till about 12 midnight.

The dinner held on Friday night to round-off Fayose’s tenure as governor.

The dinner was shunned by the expected crowd of party faithful and political appointees.

Only a few journalists, armed security men, protocol officers and band boys of a musical group contracted to perform at the ceremony were present, as at 11pm.

Those conspicuously absent at the valedictory dinner were members of the state House of Assembly and political appointees of the governor, commissioners and permanent secretaries.

The development made food and drinks meant for the entertainment of guests to be wasted.

A Government House source told NAN that many of those invited were unhappy with the departing governor for various reasons.

The source, who pleaded anonymity disclosed that aside from the governor who paid himself and his deputy lump sums as severance package, including vehicles, none of the appointees was paid a dime.

“Besides, all the 16 Local Government chairmen are battling to save their jobs in the court, as information was rife on Friday that the incoming governor had concluded arrangement to dissolve the councils anytime soon after his swearing-in on Tuesday.

” The comment of the governor earlier in the day was shocking to most political appointees when he told them that whatever that anyone of them may likely encounter in the hands of the new governor, should be taken calmly as such was a prize of leadership.

Commenting on the development, one of the personal domestic staff of the outgoing governor, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was not in any way disappointed by the people’s attitude, as it is common with human beings.

He recalled that when the governor was still very much in power, thousands of people would always answer his call at the slightest notice, such that the venue of any event organised by him was always overcrowded.

Before the aborted dinner, the governor handed over the instruments of office to the Head of Service, Dr. Gbenga Faseluka at a special valedictory State Executive Council meeting at the new Governor’s Office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Fayose said history would be kind to him the way he managed the resources in trust for the people of the state.

He said he would be available to answer questions on how he ruled the state anytime he is called upon to do so.

Fayose said: “What has a beginning must have an end. It is not the number of years spent but the quantity and quality of achievements.

“I thank the people of the state for their cooperation and urge them to extend same to the incoming administration. I’m a man who came, saw and conquered. I can’t finish all, I have done my best.

“History will be kind on me as a man who has given his best to the people.

“I will remember all for your support, I bear no grudges against anyone.”

He also inaugurated the new State Speaker’s Lodge named after Kolawole Oluwawole who was impeached as Speaker on Thursday by the state lawmakers. He was replaced with Adeniran Alagbada.

Fayose urged the deposed Speaker to see his impeachment as a “price of leadership.”

He told Oluwawole: “If I were you, in the interest of Ekiti, I will tell them to carry on. Everything works for good.” PM NEWS 

Overland Airways reveals real cause of burnt aircraft

The Management of Overland Airways has revealed the cause of fire which engulfed its airplane at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos on

The airline with fleet of ATR aircraft also confirmed that the burnt aircraft was undergoing routine maintenance when the incident occurred at the maintenance hangar facility.

A statement by the airline attributed the impact of foreign object on its ATR aircraft as the cause of the inferno.

The management said due to the impact, fire came out, thereby damaging its aircraft parked in its hangar.

The statement reads: “In a lone incident on Thursday, our aircraft asset undergoing routine maintenance inspection was impacted by a foreign object, which led to a fire that damaged aircraft.

“The burnt aircraft was not in public service as at the time of the incident as Th e fire was put under control by a combined safety team of the Overland Airways and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Fire Service.

“The incident didn’t lead to any injury to personnel, loss of life or third-party damage, stressing that the incident didn’t also affect it ultra-modern aircraft hangar.

“Once again, we thank all parties in Nigeria and worldwide that have expressed sympathy over the incident. Indeed we are comforted by your voices as well as messages and reassured of your continued support.

“Overland Airways affirms our commitment to safety and excellence at all times.”

The airline also further expressed deep appreciation to industry stakeholders, customers, families, friends and the public, who it said had expressed deep concern and support over the fire incident. - Daily Post

2,034 sets of twins take part in Oyo Twins Festival

Not less than 2,034 sets of twins participated in the maiden edition of the Oyo State Twins Festival.

The festival took place on Saturday at Igbo-Ora, Ibarapa central local government area of Oyo.

Some of the celebrants set out from the cultural centre in Ibadan, the state capital, riding a train to Methodist Grammar School, Igbo-Ora to join counterparts from Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa.

While welcoming the twins, Toye Arulogun, state commissioner for information, culture and tourism, said a foundation for a “twins tower,” was laid to commemorate the festival.

He said the festival is a platform to showcase Igbo-Ora as a town with the highest rate of twins and multiple births in the world.

Arulogun said the state government will intensify efforts to place the town and state on the world map as the foremost twins’ tourism destination in the world.

“The festival was organised in collaboration with Twins World Creations, Ibarapa central local government, Igboora Progressive Union and the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, and witnessed 2034 set of twins’ registration and tens of multiple births,” he said.

“The festival is aimed at placing Igbo-Ora on the World map as the World Highest twinning centre and also an avenue to promote its predominant meal Amala and Ilasa, attributed as the cause of multiple births in the town.”

Habib Ibrahim, chairman, Ibarapa central local government, said Igbo-Ora alone can boast of 158 sets of twins for every 1000 births.

“A walk through the town can easily attest to this. There is no household without a history of at least a set of twins. This trend has made us not to see twin birth as a special phenomenon in Igbo-Ora, as it is elsewhere in the world,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers at the event, Jamiu Badmus, chairman of the local organising committee, called for the collaborative effort of all stakeholders to sustain the festival.

He said the festival should be modelled as a tourist event to attract international travellers, thereby generating foreign exchange for Nigeria. - TheCable

Hearn: AJ-Wilder 'progress'

Promoter Eddie Hearn says he has made "progress" in negotiations for the Anthony Joshua-Deontay Wilder fight, after talks with a member of the American's advisory team.

Attempts to discuss a massive world title fight between Joshua and Wilder have floundered in recent months, with Hearn frustrated in his attempts to arrange a meeting with the American's co-manager Shelly Finkel.

But the Matchroom boxing boss has revealed how he reached out to the WBC champion's advisory team, headed by the influential Al Haymon.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "We are kind of talking to Al Haymon and some legal guys on his side. There are people that want to help and make this fight happen.

"Even in Chicago, I had a couple of conversations over two days with someone who felt they could help and it was so productive. We were talking about splits and numbers. It's so natural to do that.

"He's a powerful player in the world of boxing and has the ears of Wilder's team. He probably feels like there needs a mediator to say, 'I spoke to Eddie, this is interesting, how do you feel?'

"If you negotiate on emotion, then the fight will never get made. I don't negotiate on emotion. Some people do that and Shelly does."

Wilder will defend his WBC title against Fury in Los Angeles on December 1, and Hearn has penciled in that date as decisive on the chances of the American agreeing to meet Joshua in April.

The promoter hopes that now the communication lines are open, further progress can be made.

"I'm not saying it's done, but we made progress because we had a conversation," added Hearn. "I want to be in a position where, by December 1, we are done or almost done. We just have to watch the fight and sign the deal after. There's still a lot of work to do, but at least there's conversation and at least we are discussing the deal points.

"I think everyone wants the fight. The attitude of Shelly is 'we're not making that fight, they're not serious.' Why do they think we keep coming back to the table? It's not for a laugh or to look good. I wouldn't bother.

"We want to fight Wilder. That's why we are the ones continually and consistently making the effort.

"Progress is significant in the fact we are talking. In terms of actual progress, it's small. Once the communication lines are open, that's positive, that's all I can say.

"Maybe it's a breakthrough, they'll come back. All we want is for their team to come back if they don't like the offer and tell us why not, so we can try and make it work. By just saying, 'no, we're not going to talk', how do you even have a chance to make the fight?" - Sky Sports

I want to work with Jose again - Eden Hazard

Hazard has revealed his regret at how his time with Jose Mourinho ended and says he wants to work with the coach again. 

In a candid interview with Belgian newspaper HLN, Hazard has explained how Mourinho's second spell as Chelsea manager descended into a "negative cycle" in his third season that saw him criticising players and taking the "fun" out of training.

But Hazard admitted guilt for what he described as his worst season in football, which saw Mourinho sacked midway through the 2015-16 campaign - months after winning the Premier League.

He says he sent a text to Mourinho shortly after the dismissal, apologising for his performances.

"In 12 years I've only had one bad season, the last six months under Mourinho, and it was partly my own fault," he said. "After the title, we asked Mourinho for extra holidays. I came back totally out of shape."

He added: "The last season under Mourinho was not enjoyable. We didn't win, we got into a sort of routine, training without having fun, it was better for all parties that we parted ways. But if I'm asked now about one coach with whom I want to work again, I would say Mourinho.

"I don't regret many things in my career, but that I have not been able to work with Mourinho at Chelsea anymore is one of them. We had a team that could win more trophies. We just ended up in a negative cycle.

"I sent him a message to say I was sorry he had gone and that I was sorry. We'd enjoyed all that success together, but this time we hadn't. I felt a little bit guilty because I'd been player of the year. I'd been one of the most decisive players, and then I performed less."

Mourinho's position as Manchester United manager has come under scrutiny following their worst start to a Premier League season in what is his third year at the club, though the board continue to back him publicly.

His relationship with Paul Pogba has also appeared strained, having stripped the player of the vice-captaincy and been involved in a frosty exchange on the training ground - captured by Sky Sports News' cameras.

Pogba had urged Mourinho to adopt a more attacking approach at Old Trafford.

But Hazard, who is enjoying life under Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri and has eight goals in 10 matches this season, has come to the defence of Mourinho's playing style.

"Mourinho's image of an extremely defensive coach isn't completely right," Hazard said.

"He is far from adventurous like Pep Guardiola, but the season in which we became champions, we have made many goals and played good games." - Sky Sport

Buhari mocks Atiku, says dollars were shared at PDP primaries

President Muhammadu Buhari has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.

He stated that dollars were shared at the PDP national convention and opined that most Nigerian politicians were more materialistic in nature.
The president, who stated this at the closing of the 3-day Interfaith Conference on “Religious Harmony in Nigeria: Towards the 2019 General Elections’’, in Abuja on Saturday, said such politicians did not always mean what they said.

Buhari narrated how he was cheated (politically) during his previous attempts to occupy the presidential seat in 2003, 2007 and 2011 by those he described as members of his religious and ethnic groups.

The President rhetorically cited the 2015 APC presidential primary where dollars were disbursed to delegates to edge out of the race as well as one of the just concluded party primaries where dollars were also used by aspirants to secure presidential ticket.
“The question of religion and ethnicity is fraudulent. Some people are not sincere they don’t mean what they say.

“I’m telling you and some of you know during my primary (in 2015) my opponents said naira had finished and people were given dollars.
“Even in their late primaries recently dollars were being given, nobody takes naira.

“Really, it’s materialism that we will fight to make sure that we stabilize every level and do justice to our country.
“But, what I found out regrettably is that we refused to learn by other people’s experience and we are refusing to learn from our own mistakes,’’ he said. - Daily Post