#BetrayalOfTrust: APC suspends former SSG, 17 others

The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Kwara state, Northcentral, Nigeria, has suspended a former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Saka Olododo‎, from the party following allegations of his involvement in anti-party activities.

He was suspended along side 17 members of the party following the recommendations of an Investigative and Disciplinary Committee, IDC, chaired by Alhaji Dare Garba which probed the alleged anti-party activities of the affected persons during the 2015 general elections.
 

Seventeen other involved members are Alhaji Tunde Saad, Mr Mashood Dauda, Mr Oba Sulaiman Asude‎, Mr Lukman Adeloyin, Alhaji Wahab Tobe, Mr Sa’ad Yero, Mr Iyanda Olori, Alhaji Amuda Bembe, Alhaji Amuda Musbau, Mr Zafi Saka Adanla, Alhaji AbdulRaheem Adanla, Alhaji Abdrahaman Sa’ad, Alhaji Saliman Rasak (Rasaki Pupa), Hon. Raimi Akanji, Alhaji Baba Alata, Alhaji Raufu Asude‎ and Mr Fatai Olodo‎.

The suspended 18 members are from Ilorin East local government area of the state.

It was noted that the former secretary and Alhaji Tunde Saad were placed on a year suspension while others were suspended for six months.

#RIP: Oscar-winning composer, James Horner dies at age 61

Sometime ago, Horner won two Oscars for his work on the 1997 James Cameron-directed "Titanic" -- earning best original dramatic score and best original song for the Celine Dion classic, "My Heart Will Go On." He died on Monday after the small plane he was piloting crashed in central California, his agency confirmed this Yesterday(Tuesday).

Reaction to his reported death was immediate, with celebrities who worked with him posting condolences.

#Congratulations!! Seyi Shay closes deal with American label

Deborah Oluwaseyi, a Nigerian music star, popularly called `Seyi Shay,’ has signed a deal with Island Universal Records; They closed the deal at the Universal Offices in South Kensington, London, on Tuesday.

The label operates as a division of Universal Music Group, a home to diverse and unparalleled family of global and award winning American artists like Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber and so on.

Shay said “my music style is primarily a combination of Afro-Pop and R&B. I do not conform to a particular genre of music.

“I believe that my musical prowess spans different genres. My music draws from things that inspire me.’’ She also cited her mother, Mathew Knowles, Beyonce’s Dad; 2face, Beyonce, Tina Turner, Sound Sultan, Wizkid and Omawuni as her mentors. #Alubarika

DOWNLOAD VIDEO: Benue House of Assembly members fight over leadership

Lawmakers at the Benue State House of Assembly, north-central Nigeria, clashed on Tuesday following a letter addressed to the Speaker by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to appoint majority leader for the Assembly.
The APC and the Peoples Democratic Party’s free for all fight at plenary started when the Speaker of the Benue Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Kyange, read the APC’s letter in which it claimed majority after a lawmaker of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected into its fold, which gave it a marginal lead over the PDP.
Normal legislative activities had began peacefully with the adoption of proceedings without any sign of an impending pandemonium before the chamber became a boxing ring minutes later.
The lawmaker in the eye of the storm, Mr Nick Eworo, hinged his defection on his expulsion from the PDP at the local government level.
The PDP lawmakers quickly arrested the reading of the letter via a motion to declare the seat of Mr Eworo vacant in line with Section 190 of the 1999 constitution.
Points of order for and against the motion of the PDP lawmakers to declare Mr Eworo’s seat vacant flew from all directions.
Mr Kyange then overruled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers’ motion, declining the request to declare the said member’s seat vacant.
The APC-PDP clash soon degenerated into a free for all physical combat and fighting, while some female lawmakers scampered for safety after heated argument with other colleagues.
The Sergeant At-Arm quickly removed the mace while fighting was going on.
However, a legislator, Tema Kester, on behalf of the PDP lawmakers vowed to resist the move which they described as a rape on the constitution.
While the Speaker hurriedly adjourned sitting till Thursday, activities at the State’s Assembly continued without any sign of prior civil disturbances.
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Source: Wadup.com.ng

Experts ask National Assembly to review PIB

Some experts in the Nigerian oil and gas industry on Monday called on the leadership of the new National Assembly to review the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the 7th House of Representatives.

Seyi Gambo, former Public Relations Officer, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said that the bill had generated mixed reactions.

He said that the proposed higher taxes in the PIB would make exploration of oil and gas uneconomical for International Oil Companies (IOCs), adding that this might lead to low investment by the IOCs.

The expert noted that with the current draft of the PIB, it would be highly unlikely that IOCs would invest in offshore and domestic gas projects in the country.

Gambo expressed worry over the increase in gas tax from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, royalty payment from seven per cent to 12.5 per cent for big producers and the minimal tax allowances for investment incentives on gas.

Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said that one of the objectives of the PIB is to enhance government’s revenues through better tax codes and restructuring of joint ventures between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil majors.

Okoronkwo said that IOCs operating in Nigeria had also expressed their opposition to certain sections of the fiscal term of the PIB over the years.
He said that they had continued to raise concerns about the proposed fiscal regime in the PIB which caused some companies to sell some of their oil blocks and suspended new investments, especially in deep offshore areas where they had been complaints that the PIB imposed stiffer conditions on operators.

#Bombblast; Another suicide attack at Yobe market

A female suicide bomber at about 10:30am detonated her Improvised Explosive Device in Nannawaji, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State;

An eyewitness claimed that Scores of people were killed and 26 others were injured in the attack.

#Congratulations;Wizkid signs a new deal with GLO

Congratulations on this  "Expensive $hit"; I can now see the land is green as Expensive $hit coroner took to his twitter handle as a proud GLO Ambassador in Nigeria. #Moremoney

#Annoucement;Olamide renews contract with Etisalat

This afternoon, ShakitiBobo coroner took to his Instagram page, the renewal of his deal with one of the giant telecommunication companies in Nigeria. #kodurosoke #Moreblessing

Bomb blast at Baga road motor park, Maiduguri

According to an eyewitness, we were made to understand that two female Suicide bombers tried to enter a fish market in which one detonated herself there, while the other one failed to blow up. Meanwhile, she later blew herself up at a nearby mosque but killed herself alone.

#NoMoreCheckPoints; Buhari authorizes removal of military checkpoints in Nigeria

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting Buhari had with service chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said that the President had instructed the Chief of Defence Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector-General of Police to  remove all the military men along the roads across the country.

Ismaila assured Nigerians that the issue of Boko Haram will soon be over with the kind of strategy to be deployed as a result of the common front that has been formed by Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin.

He said the service chiefs left the meeting happier because the President updated and enriched their strategic plans.

#Discipline FRSC: Officer dismissed over issuance of fake driving licenses

Sunny Kpogha, a Road Marshal Assistant has been dismissed on an alleged misconduct relating to issuing fake driving licences. Today, the Federal Road Safety Commission Sector Commander in Edo, Mr. Familoni Oluwasusi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin. He said that the dismissed staff had been handed over to the police for prosecution. He also called on members of the public to ensure that their biometric were taken during the driving licence issuing procedure.

MTN signs Cobhams, drops Wizkid and others

A statement issued by the telecommunications company noted that the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN, Richard Iweanoge, made known on Thursday while unveiling Cobhams Asuquo, as the latest addition to MTN's list of brand ambassadors.

 

According to the statement, Asuquo will be joining Davido, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Iyanya, Chidinma, Banky W, KCee as well as Saka, Osuofia, Mama Gee and others who have all renewed their contracts with MTN.

He said, however, that for 2015, artists like Timaya, Wizkid, sean Tizzle and a few others would no longer be ambassadors for the brand, though the relationship continues in other areas in which MTN enables artists to monitize their work.