N2.1bn Fraud: Dokpesi Pleads Not Guilty To Six-count Charge

Former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, yesterday, pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged procurement fraud and breach of public trust, as regards an alleged N2.1 billion scam, brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.


Dokpesi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, shortly after his arraignment, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
The defence counsel, Chief Mike Ozehkome, SAN, urged the court to consider the status of his client and release him on self recognition or “on the most liberal term,” saying the offences against him are ordinarily bailable.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, objected to the court allowing Dokpesi’s lawyer to move the bail application which he said was just served on him yesterday. He would, therefore, need time to study and react to fundamental issues he said were raised by the accused person in the bail application.
Consequently, by consent of the two lawyers, Justice Kolawole, adjourned till today to entertain arguments on whether Dokpesi should be granted bail or not.
In the interim, the court gave the EFCC the permission to detain the accused person in its custody pending determination of his bail request.
The Judge, however, slated February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3, 2016, to begin full-blown hearing on the substantive charge before the court.

Today In Nigerian History: 10th December

Today in 2005, A Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145, from Abuja to Port Harcourt carrying 110 passengers crashed while landing during a storm in the city of Port Harcourt….


Some 107 people were killed including 71 children, and among those killed in the crash were popular Nigerian Pastor, Bimbo Odukoya and over 60 students of the Loyola Jesuit College, a Secondary school based in Abuja.
Following the unfortunate incident, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president at the time, ordered all Sosoliso planes grounded.
It is 10years already but it seems just like yesterday, when Nigerians had to light candles for departed compatriots.

Naira Slide Continues As Dollar Hits N249 At Parallel Market

The naira on Wednesday continued to depreciate at the parallel market as it exchanged for N249 to the dollar.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the naira lost N1 on Wednesday afternoon to close at N249, as against its previous value of N248.


naira dollar
It, however, appreciated at the official interbank window as it gained N0.03 to close at N196.97.
Traders at the parallel market affirmed that the challenges at the Bureaux de Change, BDCs, continued to have its toll on the parallel market.
NAN reports that the inability of some BDCs to render proper accounts of forex transactions earned about 1,600 of them some sanction from the apex bank.
Meanwhile, the high cost of dollar had been having multiplier effects on most import-based businesses, leading to unhealthy price increases.
Source: NAN

The 5 Types Of Persons You’re MOST Likely To Meet On A Lagos Train

If you are in Lagos and want to take the train though you usually don’t; maybe because you want to boycott traffic jams or just for the experience, we think it is important you know what you would likely face on the train. Here are five (5) types of persons you are most likely to meet on the train…


1. THE HEMP SMOKERS: This group of persons, usually guys, no matter the time of the day you come across them on the train have a perpetual smell of weed (Igbo) on their breathe.

2. THE TROUBLEMAKERS: This set of people are those who believe and maintain that they have a permanent spot on the train. So when they get on the train and find someone sitting or standing there, they don’t waste time to evict the trespasser.

3. THE HAWKERS: Men and women belong to this group. You would see them hawking things like ‘Agbo jedi’, popcorn, sweet, biscuit from coach to coach.

4. THE EXCITED ONES: This group of people gets excited for absolutely no reason. Seriously, these ones can freak you out if you’re not tough. They could just start laughing, shouting, stamping their feet or throwing stuffs like a nut in their head just fells off.

5. THE HANGERS: These ones will never ever buy ticket, they prefer to either hang on the doorway of the train or seat on top of it. You see them, and you just wonder if they have any value whatsoever for their lives.
Now that you know, do not freak out when the hemp breathe of that person standing or sitting near you almost sends you into a asthma attack – just enjoy the ride!!!


#informationnaija

Jonathan Constructed More Roads Than Any Other Nigerian President – Fashola Admits

The minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has given kudos to the immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan on road construction.
Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who is now Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Works and Housing has praised the achievements of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A Point Blank News report shows that the minister gave the accolades on Tuesday while unveiling his plans as minister at the ministry’s first news conference tagged “Setting the Agenda for Delivering Change”.
Fashola said that Goodluck Jonathan has constructed more roads than any other president ever in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged that the Transformation in the power sector is above 50 % and that he would try to build on it.

We’re not interested in 2019 Igbo presidency -Biafra

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB ha said they are not interested in suggestions being flown by some Northern elders to the effect that Ndigbo would be allowed to clinch the presidential seat in 2019.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday,spokesman of the IPOB, Emma Powerful said they are not interested in Nigeria’s affairs any longer..

He said  “If politics of compensation was used to favour Obasanjo in place of June 12 annulment and was also used to favour Buhari in place insurgency, that is their own cup of tea.

But for us in IPOB, we are not interested in that politics of compensation whereby we are being told that an Igboman will become Nigeria’s president in 2019 and we will begin to listen to them”. “All we want or ar e interested in is to release our leader, Kanu and then allow Biafra to be and not Igbo presidency”, he stated.

“Being A Mum Is My Biggest Role In Life” – Nollywood Actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande Opens Up

Petite Nollywood actress, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, opened up on her career and family life.


Read excerpts below: –
What does being a mum mean to you?
Being a mum is my biggest role in life. It is what gives me the most joy at this time. To be a good role model to them, and it is dear to my heart to leave the world a better place for them.
Have you ever thought of quitting the industry because of marriage?
No, I never thought I would quit the industry because of marriage; I thought I would quit the industry if the mediocrity continues.
What is your view about the issue of official restriction on the number of children per couple?
My take is that people should be realistic about their expectations and be smart about their choices. People should not wait for the government or any organisation to enforce or press that on them. Overall, just be able to cater suf­ficiently for your family.