Basket Ball / Sports

Tatum dominates as Celtics fend off Hornets

ayson Tatum scored 16 of his 44 points in the fourth quarter, and the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Hornets 115-101 on Wednesday night for their fourth straight win.

Tatum, coming off a 54-point performance against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, made 16 of 24 shots from the field and 6 of 9 from beyond the 3-point arc. He also made all six free throws.

He was also effective on defense, helping limit the red hot Terry Rozier to just 14 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

The Celtics are looking like a championship contender, having won 15 of their past 17 games as they continue their rise up the Eastern Conference standings.

“Defense, defense, defense — that’s been the key,” Tatum said.

Jaylen Brown had 15 points, while Robert Williams chipped in with 11 points and 11 rebounds and Al Horford added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics (40-27), who were in control most of the game.

Miles Bridges and P.J. Washington each had 17 points to lead the Hornets, who fell to 1-12 on the second night of back-to-back games.

It was the second straight night the Hornets have been victimized by a star player on their home court. They allowed Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving to score 50 points in a 132-121 loss on Tuesday night.

“He made six highly contested 3s,” Hornets coach James Borrego said of Tatum. “We double-teamed him, we trapped him. He is a hell of a player and is playing as well as anyone right now.”

Tatum began to got hot at the end of the third quarter, helping Boston build an 87-78 lead.

Tatum opened the fourth quarter with a fall-away 3 from the right corner and a long 3 from right wing as the lead increased to 18 points. A few minutes later he canned another 3 from the other wing, even as his body was shifting to the left.

The Hornets mostly played zone against the Celtics in an effort to contain Tatum, but it didn’t work.

“Not be stagnant and …

Basket Ball / Sports

Suns drop Heat, become 1st team to clinch playoff spot

Not that there was any doubt about this, but the Phoenix Suns are going to the playoffs.

The Suns didn’t leave any doubt in a matchup of conference leaders, either.

Devin Booker scored 23 points, Mikal Bridges added 21 and the Suns shook off a slow start to beat the Miami Heat 111-90 on Wednesday night — becoming the first team this season to clinch a postseason berth.

“I told the guys it was one of the best defensive performances I’ve ever seen,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “I’ve been around for a little bit.”

Booker, returning from a four-game absence for virus-related issues — he said he was asymptomatic and didn’t have any problems — flirted with a triple-double, finishing with nine assists and eight rebounds.

His first trip to the playoffs last season ended with a loss in the NBA Finals. He’s looking for a bit more this time.

“We know what we’re working for,” Booker said.

Phoenix improved the NBA’s best record to 53-13, and the reigning Western Conference champion Suns have now beaten all other 29 teams this season — the first time they’ve done that since 2006-07.

The Suns also avenged a 23-point loss to Miami in January.

“I’m sure they remembered that,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They wanted to really make a statement tonight. They just outplayed us.”

Coming off a victory Tuesday night at Orlando, Phoenix improved its NBA-best road mark to 25-6. The Suns have an 8 1/2-game lead over Memphis and are nine games ahead of Golden State and East-leading Miami.

Deandre Ayton had 19 points on 9-for-10 shooting and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who got 11 points and 15 rebounds from JaVale McGee, and 11 points apiece from Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne.

Duncan Robinson scored 22 points for Miami, which lost for just the third time in its last 15 games.

“They were first to the ball a lot,” Robinson said about the Suns. “They were the aggressor. … Unacceptable.”

Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro each scored …

Entertainment / Movies / News

Michael B. Jordan to star alongside Will Smith in ‘I Am Legend’ sequel

Fans of ‘I Am Legend’ finally have a sequel to look forward to many thanks to Michael B. Jordan.

According to reports, the ‘Black Panther’ star will star and co-produce the upcoming sequel of the film alongside Oscar nominee Will Smith who is set to reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville.

In an exclusive with ET, Smith revealed that the idea for the sequel was pitched by Jordan.

While a director is yet to be confirmed, Deadline reports that the film’s screenplay will be by Academy award winner Akiva Goldsman while Smith will co-produce the sequel with Jon Mone, co-president of Westbrook Studios, Elizabeth Raposo and Jordan. James Lassiter will serve as executive produce the film.

The 2007 post-apocalyptic thriller is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Richard Matheson.

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Entertainment / Gospel / Music / News

Popular UK based pastor sprays Davido pounds in nightclub

Controversial United Kingdom-based pastor Tobi Adeboyega has been spotted spraying Nigerian music star, Davido, pounds in a nightclub.

Dressed in a baseball jacket and several gold necklaces the pastor was seen dancing with the music star as he performed his latest single, ‘Ke Star‘ featuring Focalist.

Adeboyega is the founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation), also known as the NXTION Family, a Pentecostal Church based in London, England. The flamboyant pastor has been caught in several controversies within and outside the church.

In 2021, the pastor took to social media, where he shared videos of his exotic cars.

Adebgoyega lives in a mansion valued at £2.5 million and drives flashy cars, such as an orange and a yellow Lamborghini, a black Mercedes Benz G-Wagon SUV, a black Brabus and a black Range Rover SUV.

These cars according to TheWillNigeria, cost between $150.000 and $2 million apiece.

This new video is coming days after Davido performed at his sold-out concert in the UK.

The concert had several Nigerian artists like Patoranking, CKay, Teni, Adekunle Gold, Zlatan, Vict0ny, Pheelz and a host of others perform at the 20,000 O2 Arena, venue of the concert.

Other African artists who performed at the show include Stonebwoy and Focalist.

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Education / News

Strike: ASUU payment platform failed integrity test, FG insists

The Federal Government says it is still waiting for the Academic Staff Union of Universities to upgrade and return to it the Universities Transparency Accountability Solution, which was said to have failed integrity test.

ASUU embarked on a one month warning strike on February 14 to press home its demands involving about N1.3 trillion.

The union also wants the Federal Government to adopt the UTAS payment platform to replace the Integrated Personnel and Payment Information System.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, however, insisted that UTAS has failed the necessary tests that should qualify it to be used as a payment platform. Inuwa stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

Reacting to the contentious issues that led to the ongoing ASUU strike, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, said when he received a letter from the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, requesting a review of the submission and the technical ability of the software of the system, he forwarded the request to NITDA

Pantami said: “NITDA conducted their own analysis, their own testing and sent same back to me, and I drafted a cover letter I forwarded to the Minister of Labour and Employment, and I copied the two Ministers of Education, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and also office of the Accountant General of the Federation and even NUC (National University Commission).”

Pantami, however, directed the Director-General of NITDA, who sat beside him, to give the situation report on the matter.

Inuwa said: “When we received the request to review UTAS, you know building complex system like UTAS that involves employees’ personal data and also payment system, we have to subject it to best practice tests before approving.

“Normally, when we are reviewing that kind of system, we perform three tests.

“Firstly, because when you’re …

News / politics

Obasanjo: How Nigeria can move from being a country to a Nation

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said that the country must strive to enthrone justice, equity and fair play in order to build a strong, united nation.

Obasanjo, who is on a tour of the South East, said this when he made a brief stop at the Vision Africa Radio, Umuahia.

He was the Special Guest of Honour at the prize/award presentation to the winners of the 2021 Schools’ Debate, organized by the station, in conjunction with the Abia State Ministry of Education.

He said: “One of the things I believe we need in this country is nation building.  “We have not built a nation.

“We have a country but we need to weave, integrate that country into a nation.

“And you will not get that unless you have justice, fairness, equality and everybody having a stake in that project called Nigeria.

“If that is the situation that we need at the national and continental levels, it means you have to have it at other levels down to the family level.

“Any family where there is no justice, fair play and equity will not be stable.

“This applies to any country, community and state.

“If Nigeria needs these attributes, then any state in Nigeria needs it as much as Nigeria.”

Obasanjo said that this was one of the gospels he had been preaching since he celebrated his 85th birthday last week.

He congratulated the three schools that emerged winners at the debate and admonished them to learn to be good communicators, if they hope to become great achievers in future.

According to him, it takes a good communicator to marshal out his points convincingly, saying that bad communicators end up as poor achievers because of their inability to put their ideas across convincingly, notwithstanding how beautiful they might be.

He also commended the President of the station, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, for organizing the program designed to groom young ones and support the growth of education.

The topic of the debate was: “The development of a nation’s sound education system ensures …

Entertainment / Music / News

Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ gets certified double platinum in the US

On March 3, 2022, Nigerian singer, Wizkid‘s ‘Essence’ got certified double platinum in the US. This comes after it became the first Nigerian song to be certified platinum in the US.

An album or single is certified platinum when it moves the equivalent of two million physical sales in the US.

On October 5, 2021, it was reported that ‘Essence,’ Wizkid and Tems’ summer banger has been certified platinum in the US. It also becomes the first African song to hit that milestone.

To be clear, this is the version that features only Tems, and peaked at No. 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, not the version which features Justin Bieber, and has since peaked at No. 10 on the same chart.

On September 2, 2021, Nigerian superstar, Wizkid’s groundbreaking single, ‘Essence’ was certified Gold in the US.

 

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Entertainment / Law / News

Princess told me to kiss, suck the child’s br*ast – Baba Ijesha tells court

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Baba Ijesha made this revelation while being led in evidence by the defence counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN).

Baba Ijesha told the court that the foster mother of the minor, Ms Damilola Adekoya, a comedian also known as Princess, had called and requested him to be part of the movie production.

“On April 19, 2021, Princess sent me a message that she wanted to start a production and she would like me to play the role of a lover boy which I replied ‘okay’.

“She said I was to play the role of a lover boy adding that she wanted to surprise people that I can also play normal roles.

“She said the story is about rape and she wanted to tell the story in another dimension,” he said.

The defence counsel tendered before the court, a printout of WhatsApp message between Princess and the defendant, which was admitted into evidence by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.

The embattled actor said he asked Princess for the movie location but she told him to come over to her house.

“Before I entered, Princess met me at the balcony that the movie production was a Lagos State project, adding that the state wanted her to be the face of ‘anti child molestation.’

“She told me to improvise and create a story by myself. I told her the house was dark when I entered. She said we should rehearse that she would use her phone.

“Princess told me to kiss and suck the breast of the child, adding that the dress the girl was wearing was purposely for the role the girl wanted to play.

“She would leave the room so that the child would not be shy to play out the role.

“All those things we are seeing in that video is just acting. My lord check my record when it comes to acting, I can kill myself and die for acting. She was the one directing and filming my angles,” he said.

Baba

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Entertainment / News

Kanye West’s new girlfriend, Chaney Jones, claims Nigerian origin

American rapper, Kanye West’s new girlfriend, Chaney Jones, has said that she is of Nigerian heritage.

The Kim-look-alike model took to her Instagram Story to share some details about herself.

Jones disclosed that she’s of European and West African descent while reeling out two countries from each of the continents.

The 24-year-old model also dismissed the notions that she underwent surgery on her face; owing to her resemblance to Kanye’s ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

“Some facts about me. I’m European, French, German, West African, Nigerian and Ghanaian”

“I’m the COO of First State Behavioral Health (link in bio)

“I’m currently getting my masters in counselling maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

“No, I have never had surgery on my face, I was born like this.

“I am a 24 year old Virgo born on August 28th, I am from Dover, Delaware.”

Pulse had earlier reported that Kanye and Kim’s marriage was officially ended by Judge Steve Cochran on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

…
Foreign / News

Netflix suspends service in Russia amid Ukraine invasion

Netflix has moved to suspend its streaming service in Russia following President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to multiple reports, the streamer announced that it would suspend all future projects, acquisitions and now all of its services in Russia in a bid to protest the war spearheaded by the country.

“Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia,” a spokesperson for Netflix said in a recent interview.

Prior to the latest move, Netflix had confirmed four new Russian originals including a crime thriller series directed by Russian filmmaker Dasha Zhuk. The series which had began principal photography was put on hold.

Although relatively new in Russia (the streaming platform launched in 2016 with an estimated 1 million subscribers), the latest move joins other global corporate bodies as well as film studios who have in recent weeks moved to boycott the country amid the ongoing war.

Companies including Microsoft and Apple announced that they were suspending activities in the country even as they continue to face sanctions.

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Crime / Drugs / Law / News

Abba Kyari pleads not guilty to drug trafficking

Suspended DCP Abba Kyari  on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charge filed against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Kyari told Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Monday, following his arraignment, alongside six others, on allegations bordering on drug trafficking.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while Kyari pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four and eight levelled against him, the other four police officers, who are defendants in the trial, also pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three and four filed against them.

But Chibunna Patrick Umeibe and Emeka Alphonsus Ezenwanne, who are 6th and 7th defendants respectively, pleaded guilty to counts five, six and seven preferred against them. Although their names were also mentioned in counts three and four where allegations bordering on conspiracy were leveled against Kyari and others, they were not asked to take a plea on these two counts.

The four members of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/57/2022 include ACP Sunday J. Ubia, ASP Bawa James, Insp. Simon Agirigba and Insp. John Nuhu.

Umeibe and Ezenwanne are the two alleged drug traffickers that were arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

Shortly after taking their plea, the NDLEA lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, prayed the court for a trial date for the 1st to 5th defendants

Sunday also urged the court to grant a leave to review the charges against  Umeibe and Ezenwanne who pleaded guilty for the charges against them.

“We hope to file our proof of evidence latest tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.

Kanu Agabi, SAN, who led a delegation of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that appeared for Kyari and Ubia,  however informed that a bail application had been filed in respect of his clients.

The NDLEA’s lawyer, Joseph Sunday, Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, who confirmed being served with the bail application, said a counter affidavit had been filed in its opposition.

The NDLEA, in the …

Foreign / News

Ukraine is Europe’s ‘fastest growing refugee’ crisis since WWII

The number of people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has topped 1.5 million, making it Europe’s fastest growing refugee crisis since World War II, the United Nations said on Sunday.

“More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in 10 days,” the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grande tweeted.

The UN described the outflow as “the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II”. On Saturday it had reported that nearly 1.37 million refugees had fled.

The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also expressed grave concern at the worsening humanitarian situation.

“@WHO has confirmed several attacks on health care in #Ukraine, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Additional reports are being investigated,” Tedros tweeted.

“Attacks on healthcare facilities or workers breach medical neutrality and are violations of international humanitarian law.”

The WHO said on Sunday it had deployed staff to Moldova, Poland and Romania “to scale up (the) response capacities of its country offices, including operations, engagement with partners and support to the (Ukrainian) government for the health response”.

The body said it had also mobilised logistics to set up an operational hub in neighbouring Poland and help secure land corridors “to facilitate rapid movement of supplies to affected populations”.

It added a second shipment of health supplies was on its way to Poland, following a first shipment on Thursday that included trauma and emergency health supplies.

The WHO had earlier condemned a slew of verified reports of attacks on health care in Ukraine.

UN officials said they expected the wave of refugees to intensify further as the Russian army pressed its offensive, particularly toward the Ukranian capital Kyiv.

Since Russia invaded on February 24, a total of 922,400 people have fled Ukraine to Poland, Polish border guards said on Sunday.

Hungary, Moldova, Romanian and Slovakia have also seen Ukrainian refugees arrive.…

Crime

Police Officers nabbed for manhandling youths, bundling one into car boot + Video

Four policemen, led by an Inspector, have been ordered arrested by the Commissioner, Edo State Police Command, Philip Ogbadu, for manhandling some youths in the state.

The spokesman of the Command, Bello Kontongs, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.

This was shortly after the video in which the policemen were seen bundling one of the youths into the boot of a Mercedes Benz went viral.

The incident, which occurred in the PZ area of Benin, the Edo State capital, drew the ire of Nigerians. Kontongs, in the statement titled: “Viral video of unprofessional conduct of policemen,” said: “The attention of the Edo state police command has been drawn to a viral video capturing the unprofessional conducts of its personnel’s at PZ area along Benin-Sepele road, Benin city.

“The team made up of an Inspector and three others who were involved in the unprofessional conduct and incivility against two young men as seen in the viral video, have been identified, arrested and subsequently defaulted.

“The Commissioner of police frowns and unreservedly condemns the act and has ordered a full scale investigation and assuring that the outcome of the investigation would be carried out to the latter and as well communicated to the Public without reservation.

“The CP further assures members of the public of their safety and employs them to make it duty bound to always report unwholesome/ unprofessional conduct of personnel of the command.”

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Church / Foreign / News

Primate Ayodele to Putin: The war will end but you won’t go scot-free

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, following the invasion of Ukraine that happened a week ago.

The man of God revealed this in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, in the early hours of Friday.

Ayodele made it known that Putin will not go scot-free because he has resisted God’s warning to put an end to the crisis.

It would be recalled that Primate Ayodele warned the president few days after the invasion that he should end the war because he foresees an assassination attempt on his life. Unfortunately, Putin has not put an end to the war, causing more destruction in Ukraine as against the warnings sent to him by the man of God.

In this fresh warning, Primate Ayodele noted that plans to assassinate President Putin is underway because he didn’t listen to God.

He also revealed that a Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans.

He said: “President Vladimir Putin of Russia has gone against God’s warnings.

“I warned him to put an end to the invasion of Ukraine but he didn’t listen.

“Just like pharaoh whose heart was hardened against God’s children but perished, Putin will not go scot-free.

“I still insist that this war will not lead to Third World War.

“It will come to an end but President Putin will not go scot-free.

“A Russian soldier will be used to execute the plans to take his life.”…

Foreign / News / politics

Ukraine War: 427 stranded Nigerians arrive Abuja

No fewer than 427 Nigerians based in the troubled Ukraine arrived Nnamdi Azikwe International airport, Abuja Friday morning.

They arrived en route Romania on Maxi air.

It was gathered that the Federal Government will give each of them $100.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday approved over $5m to effect the immediate evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Ukraine which has been over week invaded by Russia.…

News / Travel

House of Reps delegation jets out to ‘witness’ evacuation of Nigerians fleeing Ukraine

The delegation left the country in order to “witness” the evacuation of Nigerians fleeing Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s attack. This comes a day after the National Assembly approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of $8.5 million for the evacuation. The delegation is due to witness the evacuation to be carried out by Air Peace and Max Air in Poland, Romania and Ukraine border. They, however, did not wait for any of the airlines for the trip.

The delegation boarded a Turkish Airlines flight.

The trip followed a resolution passed by the House of Representatives over the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.…

Foreign / News / Security

Mutinous Russian troops argue about orders to bomb civilian areas

Russian soldiers taking part in the invasion of Ukraine are in “complete disarray”, according to voice recordings obtained by a British intelligence company.

The intercepted radio messages indicate that troops are refusing to obey central command orders to shell Ukrainian towns and are complaining about running out of supplies of food and fuel.

The recordings are among around 24 hours of material obtained by intelligence firm ShadowBreak since the invasion of Ukraine began last week.

In one of the eavesdropped conversations, listened to by The Telegraph, a soldier reportedly sounded as though he was crying. In another, a soldier was heard losing his temper when asking when food or fuel would arrive.

He said: “We’ve been here for three days! When the hell is it going to be ready?”

A third message revealed a tense exchange in which the same soldier had to remind a colleague speaking from a command centre that they could not use artillery on an area until civilians – who were labelled “the goods” – had left.

ShadowBreak’s founder Samuel Cardillo, 26, told The Telegraph he had been sent the messages by amateurs listening in with antennas.

He said: “What we have found is that the Russian operatives are operating in complete disarray.

“They have no clue where they are going and how to really communicate with each other properly.

“There were periods where we heard them (Russian soldiers) crying in combat, a period where they were insulting each other – obviously not a sign of great morale.”

Cardillo said that some of the messages were also “proof of war crimes” because they revealed order to fire missiles into urban areas.

Other video recordings are said to show Russian soldiers retreating back into Russia after becoming frustrated, whilst a text message sent by a soldier to his mother is alleged to have said: “The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.”

In a further sign that morale may be poor, a senior US defense official told the New York Times on Tuesday that …

Drugs / Foreign / News

Abba Kyari: FG begins US extradition process as Malami files case

Nigeria has approved the request by the United States for the extradition of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari.

A grand jury, last April 29, filed an indictment against Kyari with the approval of the US District Court for Central District of California.

A Deputy Clerk of the court issued a warrant of arrest for him.

Kyari is wanted to stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He was accused of conspiring with a United Arab Emirates-based Nigerian, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, to commit the crime.

On Wednesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), filed an application before the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja for Kyari’s extradition.

The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/249/2022, was filed under the Extradition Act.

The AGF said the application followed a request by the Diplomatic Representative of the US Embassy in Abuja.

It is “for the surrender of Abba Alhaji Kyari, who is a subject in a superseding three counts indictment”.

Kyari and five other police officers are undergoing interrogation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over a cocaine deal.

Last week, a court endorsed further 14-day detention for the suspects.

In the affidavit filed in support of the extradition application, the AGF stated that he was satisfied that provision is made by the laws of the US such that so long as Kyari has not had a reasonable opportunity of returning to Nigeria, he will not be detained or tried for any offence committed before his surrender other than the extradition offence which can be proved by the fact on which his surrender is sought.

He added that he was satisfied that the offence in respect of which Kyari’s surrender is sought is not political nor is it trivial.

The AGF also expressed satisfaction that the request for the surrender of Kyari was not made to persecute or punish him on account of his race, religion, nationality or political opinions but in good faith and the interest …

Business / Crime / Law / News

Two Bankers withdraw customer’s N47.4m with their own ATMs

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Maryam Sabo has granted bail on stringent conditions to two bankers: Nuhu Demba and Mohammed Abdullahi Musa, who allegedly conspired and stole the sum of N47,452,055.45 from the account of one Mailafia Mohammed.

The case, being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes, was reported via a petition by the victim and complainant.

The petitioner alleged that on February 6, 2021, he was attacked in his house by armed men who took away his mobile phone.

Mohammed said on February 8, 2021, he reported the incident to the branch of his bank where he maintains a savings account and was advised to continue using his account as nothing would happen. He further alleged that on February 18, 2021, he went to withdraw money and was informed that there was no money in the account.

He subsequently requested for his account statement and discovered that N47,452,055.45 was fraudulently withdrawn from it through the use of Automated Teller Machine cards.

The EFCC said investigation revealed that Musa and Demba stole the said monies from the complainant’s account through ATM and Point of Sale withdrawals.

It said the defendants perpetrated the fraud by using their positions to obtain ATM cards without going through due process and without the knowledge of the account holder.

Upon arraignment on February 10, 2022, they pleaded not guilty and the matter was adjourned to February 14, 2022 for ruling on the bail application.

Justice Sabo granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N10 million each, out of which a cash sum of N5 million shall be deposited in the court’s registry.

They are also to provide one surety each with landed property within the jurisdiction of the court worth N15 million.

The matter has been adjourned till March 23, 2022 for the commencement of trial.…

News / politics

Osun Primary: Jagaban ‘house of commotion’

The gloves have been worn and the fight for who controls the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State promises to be bloody, literally.

The mud fight may have already been brought to the doorstep of National Leader of the party and presidential hopeful, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

If something is not urgently done to pull the combatants back from the brink, the center might hold no longer, both for Tinubu’s political family and his presidential ambition.

Sources close to the first layer of Tinubu’s political lieutenants told The Guardian that the maverick politician might face stiffer opposition to his presidential ambition from his supposed loyalists more than people outside his political caucus. Specifically, it was learnt that some of his core loyalists do not see him as “politically fit to govern the country apart from his rumored health challenges.”

And the seeming crack in the “Bourdillon school of politics” is said to be the chief reason many beneficiaries of his magnanimity are also gunning for the presidency or supporting another aspirant against their supposed leader.

It was gathered that while some governors in the country are planning to “retire” Tinubu from active politics by 2023, some other ‘enemies within’ are working round the clock to whittle down his political influence and stop his bid for the presidency.

But sources close to the former Lagos State governor said the gang-up against him is not new and expressed confidence that Tinubu will clinch the party’s presidential ticket and become Nigeria’s president by 2023.

One of them said: “Go and check the records, many politicians that worked against him in the past later came back to be his friend, and he was magnanimous enough to welcome them back with open arms. Those working against him now will soon know that they are political featherweights.”

Sources said the open vituperation by Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, against Tinubu in a video that has gone viral is mere child’s play compared to what would be coming out from his “loyalists” in the …