YBNL Princess Refuses To Change Name Despite Leaving Olamide’s Label (Pix)

Temmie Ovwasa has refused to change her name from YBNLPrincess after leaving singer Olamide’s Label, Igbere TV reports.

The 24-year-old revealed that she was no longer a member of YBNL on her Instastories.

She asked her followers to ask her anything about her new album E be like say dem swear for me.

Some her followers decided to ask about her former boss Olamide.

One of the questions asked was, “Oya remove YBNL for ur name nau.”

Her reply was,
“My name is Temmie Ovwasa. YBNLPrincess is one word. Beyond that, I own this name,” she said on Thursday.

“I was going to remove it but now that y’all are here I’m enjoying your tears. cry baby, be my bitch. I love when people hide behind their burner accounts and talk ****.”

She also said she now belongs to Rainbow Republic record label.

Another follower decided to use the question opportunity to tell Temmie that Olamide loves her and had better plans for her if she had just been patient.

In response she said,
“Signed. 2016-2020. I hope someone else can benefit from the 5 years of better plans.”

Igbere TV reports that Temmie was signed to the YBNL nation in 2016.

A student of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Temmie is a singer, writer, poet and a guitarist.

Her first single titled ‘Jabole’ was produced by Pheelz.

Boko Haram: We’ll not help Nigeria again, Buhari rubbished us after Jonathan left – Mercenaries

Days after North-East Governors urged President Muhammadu Buhari to use mercenaries to fight Boko Haram, the foreign military contractors earlier engaged by Nigeria have vowed never to return.

The fighters took the battle to terrorists in Sambisa forest and other enclaves during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Then, Nigeria covertly brought in ‘military-technical advisers’ regarded as mercenaries from South Africa and the former Soviet Union.

Ahead of the 2015 general election, the hitmen day and night dealt Boko Haram severe blows.

Regional security, defence and diplomatic sources were aware of the development.

There was also a tacit confirmation by Jonathan that two companies were providing “trainers and technicians” to help Nigerian forces.

Now, calls for the warriors to return after the upsurge in attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP are being made.

Last Saturday, more than 40 farmers were slaughtered at Koshebe village. The gruesome murder sparked global outrage.

Speaking to PRNigeria, one of the facilitators of “soldiers of fortune” decried the persecution and prosecution of foreigners and Nigerian counterparts who participated in the war after President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.

He said: “In fact, some of our covert operations and activities of operatives in Nigeria including incurred casualties were exposed as working for mercenaries. Imagine that even highly classified and coded transactions for operational purposes were exposed as corruption.”

The source disclosed that some payments for operations executed are still outstanding.

“It’s easier to confirm what we did because we were able to recover dozens of towns from Boko Haram from at least three states in the North-East at the time. This is an open secret.”

He expressed disappointment that some Nigerian military and intelligence officers who participated in the 2014/2015 operation were retired, prosecuted and convicted.

The senior contractor stated that the mercenaries find it difficult to work in a country where their operations, strategy and thinking are exposed to the media and judicial processes.

The secret agent hinted that top government officials at federal and state levels are reaching out to them, but reiterated their resolve not to come back.

DAILY POST reported that the founder of Specialized Tasks, Training, Equipment and Protection,(STTEP), Eeben Barlow, revealed that Buhari stopped their raids against insurgents.

Barlow said their proposal was antagonised and politicised by Buhari and his team “even before they assumed office.”

“The initial 3-phase campaign strategy (known as ‘Operational Anvil’) to degrade and destroy BH in Borno State, was rejected by his advisors,” Barlow added.

Barlow recalled that the company was willing to stay back in the Northeast but the President “made it known that the company’s presence would not be tolerated under his administration.”

#nairaland

We Bombed Wike Father’s Church To Get Juicy Office In IPOB – Suspects

Three suspects arrested for allegedly detonating explosives in Governor Nyesom Wike’s father’s church in Rivers State said they engaged in the act to get juicy appointments in the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO.

The suspects made the confessional statements when they were paraded by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Joseph Mukan, at the police headquarters, Port Harcourt.

Mukan recalled that on November 29, the command received a distress call that a church situated at 25 Azikiwe Street was under attack and immediately stormed the place and arrested the suspects.

The police boss said the suspects revealed that they carried out the attack because they were promised juicy appointments in Biafra whenever the republic is realised.

He said preliminary investigations by the police showed that members of the IPOB were deployed into the state to carry out mayhem, adding that the suspects were deployed to attack the mile 2 area.

Mukan said: “We received a distress call that there was a blast at Christian Universal Church International, in Azikiwe, Mile 2. We mobilised our team of bomb experts to the scene.


“When we got there we found out that there was a blast. There was no life lost. Our security partners, the vigilante, had arrested these three suspects. We took them and they have made useful confessions.

“They claimed they were six in number. They made confession that they were member of IPOB. That they were zoned to different parts of the state. That they are everywhere in the state.
“They are Progress Owudinjo, 37, from Etche, Rivers State. Apuro Victor, 25, came from Ebonyi State for this mission and John Okorie, 38 years old from Abia State. According to them they are all over the state.

“They will soon be charged to court while we are trailing their sponsors. IPOB has assured them that if IPOB is achieved they will be policy makers in the government.”

One of the suspects, Owudinjo, confirmed their membership of the proscribed IPOB, adding that they were contracted to carry out the act.

Owudinjo said: “We were contracted to carry out the act. We got there in the night and we detonated the explosive.

“This is the first assignment I am carrying out since I joined IPOB. I have not killed before. I was told that if I do not join in the operations that I will not get anything in the group. They promised us good office.”

Also speaking, Apuro Victor said: “The whole thing was programmed. We were sent by one Chinedu. I don’t know where he came from. I am a member of IPOB.

“The intention of the vision was not to kill anybody that is the reason why we did it at night. I have not done something like this before. Please, forgive me. I have not involved in violent act before. It was programmed.”

Davido Features Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nengi In New Music Video

Nollywood actor Richard Mofe-Damijo popularly known as RMD and Big Brother Naija star Nengi will be featuring in singer Davido’s ‘Jowo’ music video, Igbere TV reports.

RMD took to Instagram on Thursday to share a short clip from the music video.

In the video he wore a black suit while Nengi wore a red leather tube paired with shorts and jacket.

“Let me just drop this one here first as totori … #abt #30bg #jowo #rmdsaysso @davido @nengiofficial thanks for the ride,” he wrote.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CI....V8wNgnnwE/?igshid=n5

Nengi, 22, also shared the same video on Insrtagram.

She captioned the post saying,
“One time 3 gbosa for the two person wey born you.. My favourite jam is out 04/12/2020 and I’m too excited ��.. Can’t wait for y’all to see it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CI....V8jRTlYzS/?igshid=18

The ‘Jowo’ singer also shared the video on Instagram. He said his A Better Time album ABT i still going crazy.

“JOWO the movie out tomorrow ! Starring @mofedamijo & @nengiofficial A Better time still going crazy!” he wrote.

‘Jowo’ is the second track on Davido’s A Better Time album.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CI....V9mVRBFqk/?igshid=1a

ABT was released on November 13, 2020.

Arik Air Sacks 300 Workers

The management of Arik Air has relieved 300 members of staff of their appointments.

This was announced in a statement by the airline on Friday.

It blamed the sacking on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

The press statement was titled, “Arik Air management declares 300 staff redundant”.

The company explained that a redundancy package would be provided for the affected workers with the help of the aviation unions.

The statement read in part, “Arising from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the constrained ability of the airline to complete heavy maintenance activities and return its planes to operations, stunted revenues against increasing operational costs, the management of Arik Air (In Receivership) has declared 300 staff members redundant to its current level of operations.

“The leadership of the impacted unions has been contacted to negotiate a redundancy package for the affected staff.”

The airline added that over 50 per cent of its workforce of over 1,600 staff have been on furlough in the past six months.

In a separate statement also forwarded to our correspondent by its Public Relations and Communications Manager, Banji Ola, the airline apologised to passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the protest carried out by the National Union of Air Transport Employees on December 3, 2020.

The picketing disrupted operations in Lagos and prevented the airline from processing passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Domestic Terminal 1 and 2.

#punchng

Ekumankama Nkama Who Stands As Anyim’s Surety Disowns Him Citing Maina-Ndume

Ekumankama Nkama has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on his decision to withdraw as the surety of Anyim Pius Anyim, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison, Ebonyi state government, disclosed this in a letter dated November 30 and addressed to the anti-graft agency.

Anyim, former senate president, is under investigation by the EFCC for reportedly using firms in which he had interest to award contracts to the tune of N13 billion from the Ecological Fund Account domiciled in his office.

The commission is also investigating how Anyim spent the sum of N520 million he allegedly collected from the office of the national security adviser under Sambo Dasuki on the eve of the 2015 presidential election.

He was arrested in November 2017 and later granted bail, with Nkama standing as his surety.

But the commissioner said recent events have compelled him to withdraw as surety to Anyim, citing the case of Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, and Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

Maina is being prosecuted by the EFCC for alleged money laundering to the tune of N2 billion.

Ndume had agreed to stand as surety for Maina who is facing trial on 12 counts of alleged money laundering, a decision he would later regret.

One of the terms of the bail is for the senator to accompany the defendant to court on every date fixed for trial.

But Maina, who was released on July 28 after spending nine months in Kuje prison, went into hiding and refused to appear in court since his trial resumed on September 29.

In November, a federal high court in Abuja ordered that Ndume be remanded over the disappearance of Maina.

Maina was eventually arrested in Niger Republic on Monday and extradited to Nigeria.

Nkama said his decision to withdraw as surety for Anyim would avail him the peace of mind he needs to discharge his duties.

He also cited “recent events” in his state as reason for his decision.

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, and Anyim have been at loggerheads since Umahi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Last Wednesday, Umahi sacked his political appointees from Ivo local government area of the state where Anyim hails from.

“I, Ekumankama, Joseph Nkama, commissioner of investment & Abuja liaison, Ebonyi state government, wish to formally withdraw as surety for his excellency, senator Anyim Pius Anyim,” Nkama wrote.

“You may recall, sir, that senator Anyim Pius Anyim was detained while under investigation and when granted bail conditions by commission, I availed myself as his surety knowing fully well the adverse effect his action and inaction could impose on my constitutional rights should he decide to act in a manner devoid of the expectations of him by the commission.

“Sir, I regret to inform you that recent events in the last two weeks in my state has given me food for thought and my conscience could no longer allow me to continue to stand as a surety for senator Pius Anyim.

“I have also considered the recent event involving Senator Ali Ndume and Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the defunct pension reform task team, I am most particularly convinced that my decision to withdraw as surety will best grant me the needed peace to function effectively in all responsibilities demanded of me.”

#thecable

48-Year-Old Sunday Dare Asefon Emerges NANS President

Mr. Sunday Dare Asefon has emerged the new ‘global’ President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), amidst sporadic shootings that rocked the contest.

CAMUS GIST gathered that Afeson is a 48-year old postgraduate diploma (PGD) student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), in Ado-Ekiti.

The new NANS president, a married man, is a former coordinator of the Association in Zone 'D' comprising of schools in the Southwestern states.

He is said to be the 'anointed' candidate of the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who reportedly dished out N40 million to sponsor his candidature.

Asefon polled 155 votes to be declared winner of the contest ahead of Momodu, 11 votes; Champion, 2 votes; Alopay, 7 votes and Ladoja, 100 votes. 7 votes were declared invalid in the contest marred with violence and alleged vote buying.

Earlier, sporadic shooting rocked the venue of the election at the Old parade ground, Area 10, Garki in Abuja, as alleged cultists brought to the convention ground engaged DSS officials in a shootout.

Outgoing Public Relations Officer of the NANS, who doubles as Special Assistant on Student Matters to the Ogun State Governor, Azeez Adeyemi was reportedly arrested in the process with live cartridge and ammunitions.

With the emergence of 48-year-old Asefoh as NANS president, he may be sworn in as the oldest president of the Association in recent time as the outgoing Bamidele Akpan, who got impeached recently, was sworn in at 42.
#nans

EFCC Produces Fugitive Maina In Court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has produced a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, for Friday’s proceedings of his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Maina, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC on N2bn money laundering charges, had jumped bail and fled to Republic of Niger.

He was extradited to Nigeria on Thursday about two weeks after the court revoked his bail, ordered his arrest and directed that his trial would proceed in his absence pending when security agencies would be able to apprehend him.

He was produced in court at about 8.27 am ahead of the proceedings scheduled to commence by 9 am on Friday.

He sat between two EFCC operatives in the courtroom.

Maina last attended court in July and has subsequently missed up to six court sessions since September 29.

His trial has since proceeded in his absence following the court’s order of November 18, 2020, which the judge, Justice Okon Abang, issued following the defendant’s repeated absence from court.

Unable to produce the defendant, his surety, Senator Ali Ndume, was imprisoned by the court but later granted bail after spending five days in detention.

#punchng

Court Remands Abdulrasheed Maina At Kuje Correctional Centre

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of Abdulrasheed Maina at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of his trial.

At the resumed trial on Friday, the counsel representing Maina, Adaji Abel formally withdrew and the counsel engaged by Mr Maina asked for a short adjournment to enable him to study the facts of the case.

Justice Abang granted the application for adjournment on the ground that the defendant who is presumed innocent is entitled to legal representation.

He subsequently adjourned the case to the 8th of December for a continuation of trial.

#channels

Chinese Supplier Blames ‘Bad Luck’ For Frequent Locomotive Breakdown

The China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC) has blamed ill luck for the malfunctioning locomotives it recently built for Nigerians.

CRCC after-sales manager Su Zhiguang, who heads the maintenance team on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line, told Peoples Gazette that the trains, which arrived in Nigeria in January, were test run and certified ready for deployment in China.

At least three passenger trains had broken down after suffering mechanical failures in quick succession over the last two weeks, leaving hundreds stranded along the dangerous Abuja-Kaduna tracks.

A video, which went viral on November 26, showed passengers aboard a Kaduna-Abuja train voicing their displeasure, shortly after the locomotive broke down in dark hours along a route that is widely dreaded for kidnapping and other violent crimes.

When asked why the trains (CDD5c2 2701 and CDD5c2 2702 models) were frequently breaking down only a few months after they were commissioned, the CRCC engineer said: “It’s hard to say, maybe bad luck because the trains were newly built and certified okay by our company in China before they were sent to Nigeria in January.”

“In my many years of experience in after-sales service, this situation is the first I’m seeing,” Mr. Zhiguang said.

“2701 and 2702 locomotives are produced by our company (CRCC). In China and other countries, we don’t have so many problems (mechanical faults). We’ve built trains that are still under our warranty and functioning for several years. There shouldn’t be too many problems with new locomotives,” he added.

When the Gazette visited the main Abuja rail terminal, Idu, within the week, the new CDD5c2 2701 locomotive was inoperative. Officials said the train was undergoing repairs due to a turbocharger failure, a problem they said was not common amongst trains delivered to the previous administration.

“We’ve been using trains acquired under the Jonathan administration for about four years now and they are still fully operational, but we really can’t tell much about the new locomotives acquired by the present administration,” an official at the Abuja rail terminal told the Gazette under anonymity to volunteer internal information without authorisation.

Mr. Zhiguang, however, told the Gazette that CRCC may extend the warranty window for the trains’ maintenance as compensation for the frequent mechanical glitches.

“We may sign a new contract to delay expiration of the warranty to compensate for the issues we are having with the locomotives,” the official said, adding that the company would consult with Chinese international contractor, CCECC, to decide on extending the one-year maintenance warranty.

Rattled by the embarrassment the faulty locomotives have caused the Buhari administration, Nigeria’s transport minister Rotimi Amaechi declared that the malfunctioning trains will be returned to China.

“It is worrisome that these locomotives that are brand new are failing,” Mr. Amaechi said on November 26 while inspecting the Lagos-Ibadan rail project.

“We have called the Chinese to come back for the locomotives that are bad or have failed more than two or three times. We should be worried that brand new locomotives that we bought failed,” he added. “It should be failing after three to five years. There is a warranty and we have to call them back”.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) had published late June that $3.121 billion Chinese loans are project-tied to about 11 rail projects across the country.

The transport ministry, however, has yet to open its books to intimate Nigerians on how much was spent in acquiring the new locomotives.

#nairaland