Enugu massacre: Leave our land now – MASSOB warns herdsmen

The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has warned Fulani herdsmen to relocate from the South-East zone.

The warning which was handed down on Tuesday in a statement by the group’s spokesman, Comrd. Edeson Samuel, was sequel to the killings at Uzo-Uwani Council Area of Enugu State on Monday.

The statement read: “MASSOB condemns the attack on Biafrans by Fulani herdsmen at Uzo-uwani L.G.A Enugu State. We wish to remind Ndigbo and Biafrans that this killing and destruction of property of our people by Fulani herdsmen is getting out of hand.

“The fact that MASSOB believes in non violence does not mean that we cannot defend ourselves. There is a limit to human endurance.

“It is a pity that the Amnesty International has never for one day write a report against Nigerian military and Fulani herdsmen over the killing of our people. The massacre of MASSOB/IPOB members in Aba, the Ezu-River, killing of six Igbo traders in Abuja (the Apo six) the invasion of Igbo land by the Fulani herdsmen, all these, Amnesty International has not and will never see reasons to indict Nigerian Government because they are being controlled by the North.

“A lot of crime has been committed against the Easterners but the Amnesty International kept mute, but if it were in the north, it will quickly write a report. Shame to the leadership of Amnesty International.

“Fulani herdsmen invaded Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani L.G.A. of Enugu State. Killing of over 130 people, many houses, vehicles, motorbike were set ablaze. It is on record that Nigerian police received security report on Friday 22/04/2016 that over 500 Fulani herdsmen gathered in that community to attack them.

“This ethnic cleansing was planned against Ndigbo in 2003. Now that power has gone to the Fulani, they began the execution of this evil agenda.

“MASSOB is calling on all the pro-Biafra groups and Igbo youths to wake up and let us unite and face our enermies.

“We are warning the Fulani herdsmen to leave Biafra land or they will face our wrath.

“MASSOB is also calling on the international community, the United Nations (UN) Europen Union (EU), African Union (AU) to come to our aid because the agenda of President Mohammadu Buhari and his kinsmen is to exterminate Ndigbo and Biafrans from the face of the earth.

“It is time for the people of Kogi, Benue and Plataue State to rise up and defend their land and save their people from this Fulani herdsmen because a stitch in time saves nine.

“The Nigerian army, who knows how to arrest innocent citizens in Awgu L.G.A. of Enugu State received security report of Fulani invading Uzo-Uwani but could do nothing to save this community from Fulani herdsmen.

“We will not fold our hands and watch our people murdered in cold of blood. Where are the South East governors, the South East Senators, the South east members of House of Representatives? All the South East members of State House of Assembly, what are they doing over this Fulani herdsmen invasion of our land?”



Dailypost

Photos: Pro-Saraki group clash with Occupy NASS protesters

Pro-Saraki group clashed with members of the Occupy National Assembly Protesters who are calling for the resignation of the Senate president. Both groups met at the entrance of the National Assembly and they began arguing over who should stay at the entrance and who should leave. See more photos after the cut...

 

D’banj Clears The Air On Tonto Dikeh And His Record Label

Popular Nigerian singer and Chief Executive Officer of DB Records, D’banj, on Monday, cleared the air on weather actress/singer, Tonto Dikeh, has left his record label or not.

It was rumored that Dikeh, a female musician in DB records was kicked off the record label because she was not generating enough money for the company.

However, D’banj in an interview said nothing of such happened.

He said “I had a meeting with my team last year and I told everyone of them, my producers, songwriters and artistes that this year, they have to work harder than they had done in the past years.

“I advised them to sit up and I even included myself even though I am their boss. That is why you would notice that I am not using my in-house producers, I am branching out to get producers from around the country.

“For instance, I never met the producer of the song ‘Emergency’, before we did the song. Even the song that I am about to release now which features Oskido and some other South African artistes was done by a Nigerian that I had never met before.

“I made up my mind that I was not going to do things the same way we used to do them anymore; there is no way we keep doing the same thing and expect to produce different results.

“We are all talented and I believe that all the artistes I took under my wings are very talented.”

When asked on why Tonto Dikeh left his record label, he said “she can stand alone because she is very talented, they are all big brands and from their looks, you know they have great talents.

“All I did was to tell them that we should look for ways to make things work better.

“Also, when a woman is married, it is a different ball game. I have not seen her since the marriage and of course, now she has a child.

“She has been out of the country and I would say to you that the last thing she said to me was that she wanted to work on her foundation.

(NAN)

Prince cremated as sister inherits fortune

•Prince

Legendary music star, Prince Rogers Nelson, aka the artist formerly known as prince, who died on Thursday April 21, 2016 has been cremated in a small, private service for family, friends and musicians, as confirmed by his publicist.

“A few hours ago, Prince was celebrated by a small group of his most beloved: family, friends and musicians, in a private, beautiful ceremony to say a loving goodbye,” she said. Among the people who attended the ceremony were percussionist Sheila E, bassist Larry Graham, and Prince’s sister Tyka Nelson.

Prince had no surviving offspring, and in the event that he died intestate (without a will), his entire eight hundred million dollar estate comprising his 300 million dollar fortune, and half a billion dollar music catalogue could go to his sister, Tyka Nelson;  a self confessed former prostitute, and rehabilitated  junkie. As she put it, “I was a single mother and my boys were babies, I sold my body for food, money and pampers. I pawned the car Prince had given me and sold the kids’ TV for drugs.”

His passing signals the end of an era. A contemporary, if not competitor, of the late King of pop; Michael Jackson, he was among the first black Americans to have songs played heavily on MTV; Michael Jackson’s Billy Jean, and his Little Red Corvette. The duo was known to play tennis and basketball together.

Although the cause of his death is still unknown, the results of Friday’s autopsy could take at least four weeks before being released.

Prince, 57, was found dead in a lift on his Paisley Park estate, near Minneapolis on Thursday, and fans are still paying tribute. Officials said there were no signs of injuries to his body, and no indication that he had killed himself. Publicist Anna Meacham said the singer’s “final storage” would be kept private.

Born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958 to African American musician; John Nelson and Italian American singer; Mattie who divorced when he was eight years old. The child prodigy would go on to be raised by his father in Minneapolis.

Rumour has it that he could play as many as twenty seven instruments, and played all the instruments in his first album For You, released in 1978. Prince’s innovative music spanned rock, funk and jazz. He was at his peak in the 1980s with albums like Purple Rain, Dirty Mind, 1999 and Sign O’ the Times. He sold more than 100m records. He was also an arranger and multi-instrumentalist, and recorded more than 30 albums. Hits included Let’s Go Crazy and When Doves Cry. In 1984, he won an Oscar for the score to Purple Rain, a film in which he also starred.

His ex-wife, Mayte Garcia in a statement following the singer’s death through her manager; Gladys Gonzalez said: “I can’t even think of the words of what I’m feeling. This man was my everything, we had a family. I am beyond deeply saddened and devastated.”

The Nation

Fayose mourns Ekiti doctors, declares three days mourning

Read the press statement below...

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has described the death of six medical doctors and one driver in the State, in an accident involving a 13-passenger bus as the lowest point in the history of the State and a monumental loss not only to the people of Ekiti State but to Nigerians, declaring a three days of mourning for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The governor, who directed that all flags should be flown at half-mast, described the death as an eclipse of professional and intellectual figures, who lost their lives in active service to mankind, saying; “Ekiti has lost some of the best trees in its forest of medicine. I am deeply sad. This is one loss too many.”

In a release issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “Death of seven prominent indigenes of a State in one day and at the same period is a burden too heavy to bear and it is my prayer that God, who is the only giver and taker of live will give Ekiti people the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The six doctors, who had an accident a few kilometres to Kaduna on their way to Sokoto to attend Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) event were Dr Aladesanmi of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido-Ekiti; Dr Ojo Taiwo of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH); NMA Secretary, Dr Akinyele Lexy; Dr Ogunseye of the Health Management Board (HMB); EKSUTH Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) President, Dr Olajide, Dr Adeniyi James of the FMC and a driver, Mr Ajibola.

The governor urged families, friends and professional colleagues of the deceased, especially members of the NMA to solace in God who giveth and taketh when it pleases Him. “It is my prayer that tragic incident like this will not be witnessed in Ekiti State again and that God in His infinite mercies will console the families of the deceased.

“On behalf of my family, Government and people of Ekiti State, I express our heartfelt condolence for the loss of these promising sons of Ekiti and wish their families, friends and professional colleagues the continued support and guidance of the Almighty God,” the governor said.



LIB

Former Minister Allegedly Returns PDP Campaign Looted Money

After being detained for about four days, a former Finance Minister, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman, has reportedly made a substantial refund of the cash said to have been given to her by the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA.

A competent source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, confirmed that the powerful female Kaduna politician, who served as the Director of Finance for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Campaign Organisation, reportedly received N2.5 billion from the N4 billion that was released from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on the orders of Colonel Sambo Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser,NSA, in the heat of the 2015 elections.

EFCC sources claimed that Usman had unhindered access to huge cash, some of which the EFCC said came from the CBN.

According to findings, the former minister is being quizzed over various sums of money which were paid into her account.

Some of these funds are to have been traced to her personal and company’s accounts which she allegedly used to acquire properties in Abuja.

She was arrested last Monday and taken into custody by EFCC operatives to enable her speak on what she knew about the huge cash paid to her during the elections.

A competent source in the Commission, however, confirmed to Sunday Vanguard, last night, that Usman had been cooperating with the operatives interrogating her.

More importantly, the source said she had refunded an undisclosed amount of money to the EFCC.

Asked how much the former minister had remitted to the Commission, the officer declined to give details, saying he was not sure of the exact figure.

“I can confirm that the former minister has refunded some money but I will not tell you how much she has made available to us,” the officer said.

Asked when she would regain her freedom, the source said that releasing her depended on how soon she could make the money available to the Commission.

“It is to be expected that the woman could be released on administrative bail as soon as she refunds the amount we traced to her,” the officer stated.

Vanguard

CCT rejects Saraki’s motion querying Umar’s integrity

… Tribunal’s chairman, Saraki’s lawyer in hot exchange

The Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, on Thursday rejected the motion filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, querying his (Umar) integrity.

The Senate president in the motion urged the CCT chairman to disqualify himself from further presiding over the asset falsification trial.

Umar described the motion filed for Saraki’s lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, as “rubbish, unmeritorious and a distraction.”

He described the lawyer as a busy-body and a stranger to proceedings before the court.

Saraki filed the motion on Wednesday, questioning Umar’s integrity and demanding that he withdraw from the trial.

He claimed that Umar was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), saying he was likely to be manipulated by the EFCC to arrive at a decision favourable for the prosecution.

At the commencement of proceedings, Adebayo Adelodun (SAN) who led the defence team, yielded ground for Oluyede to introduce his motion.

Oluyede said the motion contained reliefs, including an order asking Umar to disqualify himself from further presiding over the case on the ground that he was being investigated for bribery.

Lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), interjected and said the application had not received the ‎approval of the lead defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who  was initially absent at the proceedings.

Jacobs noted that Oluyede was not yet a lawyer in the case, because when he (Oluyede) filed the motion on Wednesday, he was yet to be recognised as a member of the defence team.

At that point, the tribunal chairman intervened.

He passed a copy of the EFCC letter  absolving him of the bribery allegation, on which Oluyede’ motion was predicated.

Umar noted that Oluyede had filed similar application before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a fundamental rights suit, which Justice Adamu Abdu Kafarati dismissed last Friday as being unmeritorious and constituting an abuse of court’s process.

“As far as this tribunal is concerned, this application (motion) has not been filed. It is rubbish and it is hereby thrown out,” Umar declared.

He directed Oluyede to sit down to enable the tribunal proceeds with the business of the day, which was the continuation of the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas.

Oluyede ignored Umar’s directive, insisting that he will proceed with his motion. He accused Umar of having “too many cloudy relationships with the EFCC,” adding that “This is part of the reasons we asked you to excuse yourself.”

Umar interrupted him, threatening to commit the lawyer to prison should he persist to insult the tribunal.

When Oluyede refused to sit down, but made attempt to proceed with his argument, Umar ordered the police orderlies in court to take him (the lawyer) away.

The policemen were reluctant to carry out Umar’ directive, following which Jacob intervened and appealed for calm.

Jacobs urged Umar to be patient, noting that the EFCC had since March 15 cleared him of the allegations.

“My lord be patient, we will handle the application as we effectively did at the Federal High Court. We will expose the frivolity of the application even to the person who filed it,” Jacobs said.

Source: The nation