SHOCKING ! Man allegedly arrested with 11 human skulls

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday remanded one Taiwo Saka, who was accused of dealing in human parts.

The police charged Saka with criminal conspiracy and trading in human parts but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, NAN reports.

The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed Ndakene, ordered that the accused be remanded at Oke-Kura Prison, Ilorin, pending the completion of police investigation and adjourned the case till June 17 for further mention.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Isaac Yakub, had told the court that the incident occurred at Adeta area of Ilorin.

He said that the accused was arrested in Lagos State after an intensive search by the police.

Yakub alleged that Saka sold human parts to one Azeez Yakub, who is now standing trial before the Kwara High Court, for being caught with 11 human skulls.

The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 97 of the Penal Code and Section 12 of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.

- DAILY POST

ANOTHER YAHOO PACKAGE !! Iwo monarch to FG: Give traditional rulers security votes if you want to end insecurity

Adbulrasheed Akanbi, oluwo of Iwoland in Osun state, has called on the federal government to make provision for security votes for the traditional institution to help fight insecurity in the country. 

Akanbi, who spoke to journalists in Osogbo, the state capital on Monday, said the traditional rulers are closer to the grassroots and are privy to the intelligence needed to curb crimes in communities.

According to him, the police cannot effectively perform their duty of securing the people because the force is “underfunded and understaffed”, hence the need to collaborate with traditional rulers.

“Traditional rulers should be empowered to domesticate security at the grassroots which constitutes higher percent of the hideouts for kidnappers. Co-opting monarchs will unavoidably decimate security threat,” Akanbi said.

“But traditional institution should be given security vote to engage local hunters, vigilante, the Agbekoyas, trusted local Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), among others. In my own capacity, I am trying my utmost best in my domain but the institution I represent deserves security funding to act more.

“I have personally arrested a criminal in my domain and handed him over to the police. I know the nooks and crannies of my city. No criminal can survive with illegality here. I have instilled the fear in them and this has decimated atrocities in Iwo. I am ready to do more if empowered by engaging trusted local security details.

“The police saddled with this primary responsibility is underfunded and under staffed. Nigeria of over 200 million population is parading about 300,000 policemen. The police should be equipped with modern tools and should be paid good salaries and as well be assured of job security to motivate them for maximal performance.

“Government should provide surveillance helicopters to aid technical detective assignments by the police, most especially when searching kidnappers’ hideouts.”

Akanbi linked the high rate of crimes and banditry in the country to unemployment, saying the availability of jobs will cause a drastic reduction in social vices in the society.

“…The ultimate panacea is the implementation of robust youth based programs and empowerment for the Nigerian youth,” he said.

“The root of every security threat is unemployment. Addressing this will halt the menace of criminality and clean our country of social vices.

“Strict punishment should be enacted and uphold by agencies of government. The fear of legal reprisal can equally disabuse some perpetrators.”

- THECABLE

New Nigeria versus old as governor cuts emir's power

When the emir of Kano returned from pilgrimage this month, dancing supporters lined the streets to welcome a monarch commanding millions as one of Nigeria's principal Islamic leaders.

For years, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has inherited an ancient title in northern Nigeria that gave him power over an area the size of Israel with the population of Portugal.

But this month his power was cut, in a clash between traditional rule and formal government in Africa's most populous nation that has some worried about power struggles ahead.

The local governor carved up Kano emirate creating four new emirs -- and Sanusi's funds from state government were split among them in what critics say was a bid to curb his influence.

"Kano's pre-eminence as an emirate is dented," said Sule Bello, a history professor from Nigeria's Ahmadu Bello University.

"The new emirates will cause the influence and the prestige of the traditional institution to be whittled away."

In a changing Nigeria, it is a test case of tensions between governance styles old and new, experts say, that could have wide-reaching impact on other areas of the country.

- 'Power struggles' -

Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is the man who signed the new emirs into law.

Ganduje was narrowly re-elected in February and sees Sanusi as pro-opposition -- but insists he just wants to make traditional institutions more accountable.

"It is not a vendetta," Ganduje told reporters. "I'm not against him."

But others worry it is a divide-and-rule policy that could lead to conflict.

A group of activists, powerful politicians and academics from northern Nigeria calling themselves the "Friends of Democracy", said they were worried about potential violence.

Creating new emirs means the "politicisation of traditional authority", the group said.

"The situation will lead to power struggles for the throne among the different ruling clans in the new emirates," said Bello, a former head of the National Council for Arts and Culture.

- Scholar and critic -

Sanusi, an Islamic scholar, is the 14th emir following centuries of rule.

But the 57-year-old straddles two very different worlds; a leader of an ancient monarchy, he was once the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria -- a critical role in Africa's biggest oil producer.

In that post, he earned a reputation as a straight-talking leader, not afraid to speak out against corruption, although he faced -- and denied -- accusations of graft himself.

He became emir in 2014, selected by elders and then confirmed by the governor, after inheriting the post from his great-uncle.

A modernist reformer, he has also spoken out against traditions of marrying multiple wives and having several children if the man cannot support the family, angering some Islamic leaders.

- 'Unity' -

Loyalty to the emir remains strong.

Many ordinary people have grown sceptical of democratic systems they see as rigged, and where elected officials treat public cash as their own private funds.

Traditional leaders, viewed as the holders of ancient cultural powers passed down through the centuries, still have major influence.

As an Islamic leader in a state with sharia law in majority Muslim northern Nigeria, it is a powerful post.

"I grew up to revere the emir," said Saratu Bature, a mother, who cried at the news of the changes, fearing it could weaken an ancient system of stability.

"The emir has been a source of unity among our people," she said. "The new decision will destroy all that."

Many people are unhappy.

"The creation of new emirates in Kano was done in bad faith... the governor has politicised his personal problem with the emir," said Mansur Ibrahim, a textile trader in Kano.

"Breaking it into smaller emirates will no doubt distort our history, culture and tradition."

- Show of power -

Supporters of the emir of Kano see the new law as a way to reduce his influence in the state.

"Dismembering the emirate is nothing but destroying it," said teacher Umar Habu.

"We all know the governor and the emir have differences, but instead of fighting the emir, the governor is destroying the royal institution. He is throwing away the baby and the bathwater."

The move to cut Sanusi's powers was made while he was in Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage to Mecca.

Neither Sanusi nor his courtiers have made a statement on the issue -- but when he returned to Nigeria, his arrival reception was held with extra flair.

Supporters fired muskets into the air, as the emir drove through the city in a white Rolls-Royce, dressed in his finery of embroidered robes and turban.

It was a very visible display of power.

As a message, it could not have been clearer; the emir is here to stay.

 - AFP

FAAC: FG, States, LGs share N616.19bn for April

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, on Tuesday said the Federal Government shared N616.19 billion as revenue generated in April to the three tiers of government.

The amount showed a decrease of about N1.37 billion from what was shared in March.

Idris, represented by the Director of Funds, Office of the AGF, Mr Mohammed Usman, said this at a news conference at the end of the monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja.

Giving a breakdown of the revenue accrued in April, Idris said that the mineral revenue increased by N56.8 billion, moving from N308.44 billion in March to N365.24 billion in April.

In addition, he said that the non-mineral revenue Increased by N15.46 billion, that is from N138.2 billion in March to N153.66 billion in April.

“The gross statutory revenue of N518.91 billion received for the month is higher than the N446.64 billion received in the previous month by N72.26 billion.

“Revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), import duty and Companies Income Tax recorded significant increases while Oil Royalty and Export duty decreased substantially.

“Value Added Tax also increased marginally from N88.49 billion in March to N92.72 billion in April,” he said.

In summary, Idris said that the Federal Government received N239.65 billion, States got N121.55 billion and local governments received N93.71 billion.

In addition, N46.25 billion, representing 13 per cent of the mineral revenue was shared to oil-producing states.

Idris said that as at May 21, the money left in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was 144 million dollars.

- DAILY POST

TRANSFER NEWS : Manchester United to sign Pedro in €25million deal

Manchester United have begun talks to sign Fluminense striker, Pedro, according to Globoesporte.

The 21-year-old was close to signing for Real Madrid last year but a cruciate ligament injury, which kept him sidelined for seven months, ended any possibility of a transfer.

United have maintained their interest for a long time and are now ready to make the move.

The player is valued at around €25million (£22m).

Pedro made his senior debut for Fluminense three years ago and has scored 17 goals in 50 appearances for the Brazilian club.

He was given his first call-up to Brazil’s national team last August but was forced to pull out due to his knee injury.

- DAILY POST

MEGA CITY ! MEGA FRAUD !! Confusion in Lagos Assembly as whereabouts of 2019 appropriation bill remains unknown

Eight days to the end of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration in Lagos State, the confusion over the whereabouts of the 2019 Appropriation Bill passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly seems to have no end in sight.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were a lot of impasses between the executive and the House before the budget was formally presented in February by the governor on the floor of the House.

The House, however, passed the budget on April 29, more than 80 days after it was laid before the lawmakers.

Meanwhile, three weeks after the appropriation bill was passed by the House, the whereabouts of the bill seems to be uncertain which has become a subject of discuss among concerned groups and ordinary citizens of the state.

Several efforts have been made to know the whereabouts of the bill which proved abortive as those who should know have kept shifting responses from Clerk of the House, Mr Azeez Sanni to the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House, Mr Musbau Razak.

Another check by Correspondents of NAN on Wednesday revealed that the dark times were not over yet.

Sanni told NAN: “I am a civil servant, I am barred from granting press interview. Any information you need on this can be obtained from the Chairman, House Committee on Information.

“She is the spokesperson of the House. She will give you detailed information on this.”

Asked if his office had done the needful after the Speaker directed him to forward the clean copy of the passed appropriation bill to Ambode for assent on April 29, Sanni said that all information could be obtained from the House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy.

He told NAN that Mrs Adefunmilayo Tejuosho, the Chairman, House Committee on Information would be in the best position to answer any question pertaining to the 2019 state’s appropriation bill.

Meanwhile, calls put through to the line of Tejuosho by NAN were not answered and returned.

An aide to the Governor who preffered anonymity said, “I do not think the budget has been transmitted to the governor. If so, he would have assented to it.”

The Lagos Assembly on April 29 passed the state’s 2019 Appropriation Bill of N873. 532 billion.

The approval came more than 80 days after Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode presented the 2019 appropriation bill of N852. 316 billion on Feb. 5 to the state assembly.

The House approved N393, 841, 387, 020 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for recurrent expenditure and N479, 691, 073, 705 from Development Revenue Fund for capital expenditure.

The budget size thereby totalled N873, 532, 460, 725 which is N21.216 billion higher than the budget size presented by Ambode.

The House passed the bill after the Speaker, Obasa had conducted a voice-vote on each of the allocations for ministries, departments and agencies.

Obasa directed the Clerk of the House, Sanni, to send a copy of the bill to Ambode for his assent.

The 2019 budget is N287. 68 billion lesser than that of 2018 which stood at N 1.04 trillion.

The budget has a capital expenditure of N462 .757 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N389.560 billion.

The capital to recurrent ratio of the budget stood at 54:46.

- DAILY POST

300 level NDU student dives into Amassoma River, drowns

A 300 Level medical student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa State, Uzakah Timi Ebiweni, has committed suicide for failing his exams.

It was gathered that Ebiweni dived into the Amassoma River and drowned.

The Nation learnt that a few hours after the incident, another student attempted to kill himself by running into a fast-moving commercial motorcycle, but was rescued.

Ebiweni, a student of Surgery and Medicine at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, decided to kill himself following his failure to realise his dreams.

It was gathered that he was among the 40 students disqualified in the results released last Friday.

Ebiweni, who found the development a bitter pill to swallow, was said to have started giving a hint of his suicide decision through his WhatsApp status.

He was said to have initially posted a candle light and later changed it to the picture of a candle with its light blown out.

The first female President of the Federated African Medical Students’ Association (FAMSA), Esite Winifred, lamented the incident.

She said: “Today, a medical student took his life after failing his professional exams.

“This brought back a lot of memories, especially how I can’t count the number of times lecturers used to spread negativity and discouragement at the initial phase of medical school.

“Please, this should at least be a wake-up call to all students and lecturers in the faculty. It is not your destiny to demoralise young people who want a certificate.

“Mentor and uplift them or be quiet. Nothing at the end of the day is worth dying for… especially not Medicine and Surgery”. #suicidewatch# depression# medicine#

- PM NEWS

Christians afraid to judge their false pastors have no right to judge Naira Marley – Daddy Freeze

Critic, Daddy Freeze has said that Christians who are afraid to judge their false pastors have no right to judge hip-hop singer, Naira Marley who is being prosecuted for alleged internet fraud.

Freeze, who was reacting to criticism of Marley following his travail, said God’s judgment would begin in his house, saying that is in total disarray, “until we are ready to fix this, we remain hypocrites worse than the Pharisees.”

He quoted from 1 Peter 4:17, to buttress his point, which said: “For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

Freeze added by quoting  Jeremiah 25:29, which said: “See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.”

- PM NEWS

La Liga president : Man City and PSG should be thrown out of Europe

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are “playthings of a state” who should be kicked out of European competition for violating Financial Fair Play rules, the La Liga president has said.

Javier Tebas, who has run Spanish football’s top league for the past six years, also warned English clubs they would be making a huge mistake if they backed a proposed new European Super League as it would “ruin” domestic football.

Tebas reserved his fiercest criticism for Manchester City and PSG, whom he warned were putting the entire football industry at risk because of their massive spending power and behaviour.

“There are clubs who could not care less what their real incomes are when they want to sign a player because they receive incomes from a state,” said Tebas, citing City and PSG by name. “It forces other clubs into an economic situation which is really living on the edge. It skews the balance of the entire European football structure.

“This is no longer sport. This is no longer an industry. It becomes more like a toy, the plaything of a state. And when it’s a plaything, kids start playing with other kids. You end up ruining the entire system.

“Indeed the origin of this entire problem with the Super League is the inflationary effect that Manchester City and PSG have created across the whole of Europe because the rest of the clubs in Europe want money to compete with these guys.”

Manchester City last week reacted angrily after a Uefa investigation into allegations of financial fair play irregularities, which could lead to a Champions League ban, was sent for a final judgment at the governing body.

City argue the investigatory chamber is mistaken and has not fully considered the club’s response to allegations they misstated multimillion-pound sponsorships in their financial fair play submissions more than five years ago.

City said: “Manchester City is entirely confident of a positive outcome when the matter is considered by an independent judicial body. The accusation of financial irregularities remains entirely false and the CFCB IC referral ignores a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence provided by Manchester City to the chamber.”

Tebas also criticised the big six English clubs for being “dishonest” because they had not revealed their support for a proposed European Super League which could come into effect in 2024.

One proposal, backed by the European Clubs Association chairman and Juventus owner, Andrea Agnelli, could mean the Champions League format is replaced with four groups of eight teams, with qualification based on historical performance rather than results in domestic competition.

Tebas warned that such a proposal would ring-fence the Super League, and its riches, for the biggest clubs – and lead to them playing B teams in domestic leagues as a result, with disastrous consequences.

“There’s a lot in play here but the future of European professional football is at risk,” he said. “This is not a joke what is going on right now. And English fans need to know what every club thinks about this. Because the history of English football and its clubs is in danger. We need to be much more transparent about a Super League.”

Tebas also claimed that a European Super League would not make the big clubs any richer – and would eventually fail due to a lack of interest. “My message to the big English clubs is they are making a big mistake. Because it’s not going to be more money for them. It’s more money for their big players, perhaps. Instead of seven Ferraris, they will have 10.

“I sincerely think that deciding something like this without studying the real economic repercussions is a complete irresponsibility. This is not just me saying these things, there are KPMG studies confirm what I believe.

“But I would also like to say that the Super League model the ECA and Uefa are proposing right now, after 10-15 years it will fail. Because it lacks respect for the domestic component of the system they have created. National leagues have a culture of dozens of years of rivalries between clubs so it’s going to create a disconnect with fans.”

Tebas also warned that La Liga and the other big European leagues would be willing to take legal action to stop a Super League coming into effect – and said he was optimistic that the battle could be won.

“This is the first time there has been a strong response from leagues and federations across Europe. Because it’s the first time that what was once negotiated under the table has been found out so we can put it on top of the table – and the first time we’ve got organised to be ready for this fight.”

- THE GUARDIAN

SHITHOLE !! Romanian sent to prison for hiring soldiers to torture woman

A 31 year old Romanian, George Soare has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly inviting three men who claimed to be soldiers to help him torture his co-tenant, Igho Oghenenruno over alleged disagreement with his wife.

The soldiers inflicted severe injury all over the woman’sher body with blood gushing out.

The accused, who resides with the complainant at Falilat Shomade Street, Igbukushu Community, Lekki was arrested by the police at the Ilasan Division, Lekki, Lagos.

A Police source alleged that troubled started for the Romanian when a concerned resident in the area sent a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ilasan Division, Lekki, CSP Onyinye Onunmaegbu that three men who claimed to be soldiers were torturing a lady in the area.

Following the report, Onwuamaegbu dispatched her team led by inspector Abe Leonard to the scene to arrest the suspects, but before the police got to the scene, the suspects had escaped and the police arrested the Romanian.

Narrating her ordeals to the police, Ogheinervno allegedly stated. “I was in my corridor when the wife of the Romanian, Bukola suddenly poured smelling water on my body and I did not respond. I was shocked when three men who claimed to be soldiers later came to descend on me with military belt and horse whips and inflicted injuries all over my body and stripped me naked, accusing me of abusing their boss’ wife.

“I am now appealing to the Nigerian government to help me to get justice because the Romanian can not torture a woman in his country the way he maltreated me.”

During investigation, according to a police source, George allegedly admitted that he only invited the soldiers to help him to make peace between his wife and the complainant and not to torture her.

When asked if it was soldiers he normally call in his home country to settle domestic matters, he could not give satisfactory answer.

George was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate Court on a three-count of unlawful assault occasioning bodily harm and stealing phone valued N65,000.

Police counsel, Inspector Okete Ejime said in charge No: U/35/2019 that the offences the Romanian committed were punishable under sections 411, 245 and 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2019.

The accused, however, pleaded, not guilty to the alleged offences in the court and Magistrate M.A. Agbeje granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Agbeje adjourned the case till 30 May, 2019 for trial and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Prison Lagos till he perfected the bail conditions

- PM NEWS

YAHOO ASSOCIATE !! N14bn Police Pension Fraud: Witness makes more revelations

The trial of a former director in the Police Pension Office, Esai Dangabar and others over alleged N14 billion Pension Fraud, continued on Tuesday before Justice Hussen Baba Yusuf of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja with a prosecution witness, a former staff of Standard Chartered Bank, Mustapha Gadanya testifying on second defendant’s asset declaration.

Gadanya affirmed in his testimony that Veronica Onyegbula, who is standing trial in the alleged N14billion fraud as the second defendant, declared her assets as required by law on February 14, 2012 and didn’t own millions of naira nor properties.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Gadanya said Onyegbula only had N300,000 at hand on joining the Police Pension Office.

“No amount of money held on her behalf by trustee, membership, directorship, ownership, shareholding or related interest in a company incorporated in Nigeria and outside Nigeria,” Gadanya said.

The witness also said that the second defendant had no other property except a plot of land in Umuahia, Abia State before joining the civil service.

The defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) pleaded with the court to conduct the trial in absentia for Dangabar, his client due to his health, which was objected to by Jacobs.

The prosecution counsel argued that it was unconstitutional to proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant, suggesting rather an adjournment.

The judge adjourned the matter to May 27, 2019.

- PM NEWS

FG shuts its missions in Czech, Sri Lanka, Serbia

The federal government has closed three of the nation’s foreign missions and reduced the number of staff in Ukraine “due to insufficient funds”.

Geoffrey Onyeama, minister of foreign affairs, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking on activities of the ministry in the last three years.

He said the countries where Nigeria closed its missions are Sri Lanka, Czech Republic and Republic of Serbia while Ukraine was drastically downsized.

Before the closure, Nigeria had 119 foreign missions.

Onyeama added that the reduction of Nigeria’s foreign missions remains one of the agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

He explained that the closure of the missions was occasioned by inability of the ministry to maintain them due to insufficient funds.

“Every embassy has written to us about their huge financial demands and when we go to these embassies we see clearly very unattractive state that does not reflect well on the country,” he said.

“Very often the staff of the embassy really find things extremely difficult. Clearly, if we want to operate on the scale and scope in which we are at the moment with over a 100 missions around the world, we need to spend a lot more.”

He said though Nigeria has spent a lot, it was not enough, compared to what other countries around the world spend

“What I am saying is that rather than having this terrible circle of inadequate funding for missions, headquarters and so forth we have to reduce the scope,” he said.

“We should have foreign missions that we can fund, we might not necessarily close the embassies per se, it might be reducing the number of staff in the embassies.

“Because what we found out is that it is more expensive to close the embassies than operating them.”

In April, Mustapha Suleiman, permanent secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs, had said there was no budgetary provision for 80 foreign missions.

He said there was a 64 percent cut on the capital votes proposed for the missions in the 2019 budget, when compared to the N11.3 billion earmarked in 2018.

- THECABLE