Voter Apathy Marks Start Of Lagos East Senatorial Bye-Election https://yusocial.com/read-blog/218

Domkat Bali Dies At 80. Buhari, Atiku Mourn

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Maina Breaks Down As Court Remands Him In Kuje Prison


Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, December 4, 2020, gave an order for the remand of ex-chairman, Pension Reform Task Team, (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina in prison custody till the end of his trial, and adjourned the matter till December 8, 2020 upon application by a new defence counsel, Adaji Abel.

According to Abang, “The defendant is already on bench warrant, his bail having been revoked, so he shall be remanded in a correctional service, pending conclusion of trial. The matter is hereby adjourned till December 8, 2020 at the instance of the first defendant for continuation of trial."

POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that the order for Maina to remain in prison custody till the end of his trial followed his jumping of his bail by fleeing to Niger Republic, where he was arrested by the International Police (Interpol) and extradited to Nigeria on Thursday, December 3, 2020 to face justice.

The new defence counsel applied for adjournment to enable him familiarize himself with the case but prosecution counsel, M.S. Abubakar opposed the application on the ground that the ninth prosecution witness, (PW9), Rouqayyah Ibrahim, an EFCC detective was in court to continue her evidence-in-chief.

In ruling against the prosecution, Abang stated;

“The first defendant is entitled to all his constitutional rights under Section 36 of 1999 Constitution, especially the rights that have to do with fair hearing. The defendant is represented by counsel and the counsel prayed for a short date to enable him to be properly briefed. I am inclined to accommodate the counsel for the first defendant in the overall interest of justice,” noting that the ninth prosecution witness, who has been testifying in Maina’s trial in absentia, may continue from where she stopped on Thursday, December 3, when the trial now resumes.

According to Abang, “It is also possible to allow the PW9 that has already commenced her evidence to complete same and for the defence counsel to take a date for cross-examination, but I think it is safer and indeed neater to adjourn the matter to enable the first defendant brief his counsel in the overall interest of justice.”

Also at today’s sitting, Francis Oransanye, Maina’s former counsel, formally withdrew his services to the defendant, having filed a notice of withdrawal in court on November 25, 2020.

#politicsnig

795 Houses To Be Demolished For Lagos Fourth Mainland Bridge


‘Proposed bridge will boost global business’

The Federal and Lagos State governments have said 795 houses might be demolished to pave the way for the construction of the proposed 37-kilometre Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The two authorities said a lot of efforts had been made to reduce the number of affected structures from about 9,000 to less than 800.

This was even as the state government assured that owners of the affected property would be adequately compensated, despite the prevailing economy circumstances.

It said all stakeholders would be satisfactorily considered in the execution of the project.

Speaking at the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Stakeholders’ scoping workshop with the Federal Ministry of Environment in Lagos, Environment Minister Mamoud Abubakar said there should be sincere commitment on the part of Lagos State government on the compensation for owners of affected properties.

The minister, who was represented by a director in the ministry, James Kolawole, explained that though the project would have about 16 alignments, but the best had been selected.

“There was an alignment that will affect about 9,000 structures along the corridor, but we have reviewed it and gone for the alignment that will affect about 795 houses, instead of the one that will take more houses. It is an ongoing thing on how best to minimise the negative impact,” he said.

The State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said the bridge, which will connect Lagos and Ogun states, will pass through Abraham Adesanya in Lagos and Sparklight Estate near the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

A town planner in the ministry, Mr. Abayomi Omolola Amos said the alignment of the project had been carefully designed to reduce the number of houses that should be demolished.

The Federal Government said the proposed bridge will boost economic growth and enhance international trade.

Abubakar said the Lagos State government had been working on the project for about four years and had made several representations to the Federal Government.

The minister, whom spoke through Kolawole, said the project would enhance commerce and international trade to improve the people’s livelihoods.

He congratulated the state government on the laudable project, while stressing the need to take cognisance of both positive and negative impacts of the project on stakeholders.

According to him, doing this will ensure all issues are addressed to avoid compromising the comfort of future generations.

“For us as a ministry, we are happy with the positive impact, but there is need to resolve the negative aspects: what we need is sustainable development,” he said.

Garba Shehu: Amosun Didn't Transfer N12.5m Ogun Money To Buhari

The statement read; ''Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a “PMB Estate” is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President Muhammadu Buhari (PM Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a State visit.

PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him of cause that does not confer the ownership of the Estate to President Buhari.

The gossipy online newspaper, peddling the falsehood that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the tried and tested anti-corruption fighter is the beneficiary of this cash transfer should be ignored.

Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.

To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration. He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.''

#nairaland

Tusquets: Messi Should Have Been Sold, Says Barca Boss

Interim Barcelona president Carles Tusquets said Thursday that the club should have sold Argentine star Lionel Messi in the summer.

Messi made an attempt to leave Barcelona this summer before backing down.

He can talk to other clubs in January and leave for free when his contract expires in June, with Manchester City expected to make a renewed attempt to lure the 33-year-old away from Camp Nou.

“From an economic point of view, I would have sold Messi this summer. Economically, that would have been desirable,” Tusquets told Catalan radio Rac1.

“La Liga imposes salary caps and that would have helped us,” Tusquets said when asked what a potential transfer would have offered.

Tusquets, who took over as interim president after the resignation of Josep Maria Bartomeu in October, all but ruled out a return of Neymar to Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain.

“If he comes as a free agent, that could work, but if we don’t sell, we won’t be able to recruit. It won’t be possible, unless the next president (who will be elected on January 24) has a miracle in his hands,” said Tusquets.

Barca’s financial status, Tusquets added, was “worrying, very bad, but with hope”.

“We will not be able to pay salaries in January,” he said.

“In January, the players will not be paid, but it’s not serious. The players have two big paydays, in January and July. That has been delayed, as have title bonuses.”

#punchng

Boko-haram: Army Holds Seminar On Spiritual Warfare


A one day seminar on spiritual warfare organized by the Nigerian army has opened in Abuja with a call on army clerics to come up with stronger ideologies to counter the religious beliefs of terrorists groups ravaging the peace of the country.

The seminar which is the second to be organized by the army which has as its theme “Insecurity in Nigeria: Repositioning Authentic Religious Narratives in the Information Spectrum”, took place at the Nigerian Army Resource Center, and attended by officers and soldiers of both the Protestant, Roman Catholic and Islamic chaplaincy of the Nigerian army.

Declaring the seminar open, Chief Of Army Staff(COAS), Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, said the seminar is aimed at evolving narratives to defeat the ideologies of religious based terrorist groups operating in the Country.

Represented by the Chief Of Policy and Plans(COPP), Lieutenant-General Lamidi Adeosun, Buratai, while noting that ongoing military operations to wipe out terrorism and other criminal groups across the country was driven by the desire to keep the nation safe, however pointed out that the operations has not recorded one hundred percent success because of the the ideological beliefs of the terrorists.

According to him, “It is important to state that the ongoing military perations against the Boko Haram and the slamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) Terrorists as well as other criminal groups is driven by the desire to keep Nigeria safe great successes in these fights by applying all forms of kinetic operations. However, these successes are not without some challenges which include the ideological beliefs of the terrorists.

“Like we all know, ideology is a system of concepts and views which serves tob make sense of the world while obscuring the social interests that are expressed therein. This has remained the driving force for these terrorists.

He said “In the case of Boko Haram, its ideology is classifying western education as a sin, which hinders the pursuit and attainment of self acclaimed puritan Islam. The ISWAP ideology on other hand is one which challenges the legitimacy of democratically elected government.

“By its nature, ideology has the power to manipulate what people think, how they form their opinions and of course direct their attitudes as well as actions. This often results in controlling people’s minds to the extent that they accept social conditions that equal denial of rights and suffering.

He said “The terrorists’ groups believe strongly that their ideologies have enhanced their generation of resources and the recruitment of new fighters to their folds. As such, we need to come up with positive and authentic narratives that can kill the ideology of the terrorists and of course wither out the inspired groups.

“This therefore underscores the importance of this Seminar as clerics play key roles in producing appropriate narratives required to counter the ideologies of these religious based terrorists groups.

Like earlier mentioned, the theme “Insecurity in Nigeria: Repositioning Authentic Religious Narratives in the Information Spectrum” was carefully crafted to ensure that authentic narratives are always available in the Information Spectrum.

Speaking further, Buratai, said: “Communities and the states need to be joined with the common purpose of rejecting the ideologies of these groups and challenge those who espouse them.

“This can be better achieved through the provision of authentic counter narratives targeted at the ideologies of the terrorist groups. Religious leaders and clerics who regularly interface with people at the grassroots, families and local communities have very important role to play candid opinion that this Seminar provides you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Nigerian Army’s efforts at ensuring a secured Nation.

“Let me also use this opportunity to reassure you that the welfare of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army as well as their families has always been my priority and will continue to receive attention.”

Also speaking, the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Obadiah Mailafiya who attributed the insecurity ravaging the country to some powerful global powerful interests, said are those interest were responsible for the resurgence of violent attacks against the Nigerian troops with the view to driving Nigeria into chaos.

He said “I don’t believe that what is happening in the Northeast is just a local phenomenon. There are global powers involved using satellite technologies to direct the insurgents so that our men are sabotaged when they are going on secret operations they are ambushed. It has happened countless times.

“I believe some people want to use it to destroy our country. They want Nigeria to become as comatose as the Democratic Republic of Congo which is a huge elephant lying on its back.

“Some people want to turn our country into a comatose economy because they are afraid of the potentials of Nigeria.”

He called on Nigerians to support the armed forces in its quest to rid the nation of terrorism and other violent crimes by providing credible intelligence while stemming the tides with positive narratives.

#nairaland

Princess Onyejekwe: Ned Nwoko Tried To Marry Me. I Refused; I Didn't Have Sense

BBNaija star, Princess, who on Thursday, December 3, declared she was done dating for love, has revealed that she was approached by billionaire businessman, Ned Nwoko, when she was much younger, IgbereTV reports.

According to her, she rejected his offer because she didn't have sense.

She disclosed this in an exchange with a follower who left a comment after seeing her post where she stated she was done dating for love.

She wrote in her Instagram handle:

"Can I officially state that i am done dating for love...

I mean i am now only available for self investments / intensive funding.

Best regards."
https://www.instagram.com/p/CI....TlCTGndWf/?utm_sourc

See the exchange between her and her follower below.

Duncan Mighty Accuses His Wife And Her Family Of Plotting To Take Over His Properties

Singer, Duncan Mighty, took to social media some hours ago to make wide allegations against his wife, Vivien and her family members, IgbereTV reports.

In a lengthy post shared on his Instagram page, the singer alleged that his wife and mother of his two children confessed to him that she connived with her family members to try to inflict him with an illness through diabolical means just so they can inherit his properties.

He further alleged that he has the "confession" recorded and would release it to the public should she or her family members deny the allegations. According to him, he is now a single father.

He wrote on his Instagram handle:

"GOD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN FOR A SO UNWORTHY PERSON LIKE ME . NOTE! this confessions has a recorded proofs and other legit and clean evidence."

#duncanmighty