EFCC Arrests former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa over Alleged N350m Campaign Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, re – arrested the former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa in connection with alleged campaign scandal at the last presidential election.

Udenwa, who was the State Co-ordinator for The Presidential Campaign Organisation in Imo State was said to have collected the sum of N350m from the former senator representing Kaduna South and Director of Finance for the PDP presidential campaign organisation, Nenadi Usman.

The suspect, in his statement to the Commission admitted receiving the money via Diamond Bank account No. 0058805692 and 005950791 respectively on the 14th and 28th of January 2015 in three separate instalments.

He added that the money came from a company named Joint Trust Dimension Limited. This same company was charged alongside Nenadi Usman and the Media Director of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode before Federal High Court Lagos on a similar allegation.

Investigation however revealed that Achike Udenwa and one Viola Onwuliri, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Education, who was his deputy at the Presidential Campaign Organization were the two signatories to the Diamond Bank account that received the money.

Upon his arrest, Udenwa was immediately granted administrative bail by the commission with condition that he should be reporting to the commission at an appointed time. But while enjoying his administrative bail, Udenwa chose to deliberately skip reporting, thereby compelling the commission to revoke his administrative bail pending his arraignment soon.

Achike Udenwa was a governor of Imo State under the flagship of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between 1999 and 2007 and became a minister of Commerce and Industry between 2008 and 2010.

Edo Governorship Election: My Missing Certificates Have been Found – Godwin Obaseki

The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the September 10 election in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has said that the original copies of his academic credentials have been found.

Obaseki submitted photocopies of his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along with a sworn affidavit stating that he misplaced his certificates while moving his office from one place to another.

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Monday described as “flimsy” and “unconvincing”, his reasons for not submitting his original certificates to INEC.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by civil societies for governorship candidates in Benin, Obaseki said:

I have found them. The truth is that I have not had any reason to look for them in the last 25 years. I know that I kept them somewhere in a safe box and I had photocopies.

When I needed them for the exercise, I could not find them. So, I swore to an affidavit that I cannot find the originals.

I took the photocopies to the institutions that issued them and they certified the photocopies.

So when the whole controversy started raging, my cousin called me from New York and said, ‘But your originals are here. I said, ‘Please, send them to me now’.

Winning! Chiedozie Ibekwe emerges Winner of The 2016 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship

Chiedozie Ibekwe has emerged the winner of the 2016 edition of the 7Up Harvard Business School MBA Scholarship.

Ibekwe, an electrical engineer, is the 6th recipient of the prestigious award, and an alumnus of King’s College Lagos, University of Lagos, and the University of Mississippi, USA, respectively.

He joins past winners such as  Misan Rewane (2011), Olujimi Williams (2012), Mayowa Kuyoro (2013), Shola Olaniyan (2014), and Bankole Rasheed Makanju (2015), who have benefited from the initiative since its inception in 2010.

L-R: BM, 7UP Bottling Company, Segun Ogunleye, Head of Marketing 7UP Bottling Company, Norden Thurston, MD, 7UP Bottling Company,  Sunil Sawhney, Winner 7up HBS Scholarship 2016 Chiedozie Ibekwe and General Manager, Yinka Adesina

Managing Director of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Sunil Sawhney said

“The mission of Harvard Business School is to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. As part of the many CSR initiatives of Seven-Up Company Plc, the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship was launched in 2010 to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the company. Every year through the scholarship, a Nigerian resident in the country gets the opportunity of a top quality education from this prestigious school at no cost and with no bond to the company.The objective being that in the future they become leaders in different sectors of the Nigerian economy driving growth and development for a better society for all. I would like to congratulate Chidozie as the 6^th recipient of the scholarship”.

Explaining further, General Manager Human Capital, Seven Up Bottling Company Plc, Yinka Adesina said the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship is in tandem with the CSR Policy of the organisation, which is aimed at empowering people and creating a better society. Adesina further mentioned that Seven Up Bottling Company’s CSR initiatives are diversified touching areas such as community development, education, health, sports, arts and entertainment.

L-R: BM, 7UP Bottling Company, Segun Ogunleye, Head of Marketing 7UP Bottling Company, Norden Thurston, MD, 7UP Bottling Company,  Sunil Sawhney, Winner 7up HBS Scholarship 2016 Chiedozie Ibekwe and General Manager, Yinka Adesina

Managing Director of Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Sunil Sawhney said

“The mission of Harvard Business School is to educate leaders who make a difference in the world. As part of the many CSR initiatives of Seven-Up Company Plc, the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship was launched in 2010 to commemorate the 50th year anniversary of the company. Every year through the scholarship, a Nigerian resident in the country gets the opportunity of a top quality education from this prestigious school at no cost and with no bond to the company.The objective being that in the future they become leaders in different sectors of the Nigerian economy driving growth and development for a better society for all. I would like to congratulate Chidozie as the 6^th recipient of the scholarship”.

Explaining further, General Manager Human Capital, Seven Up Bottling Company Plc, Yinka Adesina said the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship is in tandem with the CSR Policy of the organisation, which is aimed at empowering people and creating a better society. Adesina further mentioned that Seven Up Bottling Company’s CSR initiatives are diversified touching areas such as community development, education, health, sports, arts and entertainment.

L-R – Head of Marketing Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc,  Norden Thurston, Managing Director, Seven Up Bottling Company Plc, Sunil Sawhney, Winner 7up HBS Scholarship 2016 Chiedozie Ibekwe and General Manager , Yinka Adesina

Specifically, he listed some of the projects to include the Pepsi Football Academy, provision of social amenities such as boreholes to host communities, provision of books and laboratory equipment to secondary schools, award of scholarships to indigent students to post-primary and tertiary institutions and support for cancer and cholera awareness programmes.

Other initiatives include partnerships with Pan Atlantic University on Infrastructural build, support for LEAP Africa to train young Nigerians on leadership, Partnering with the Society for Performing Arts (SPAN), support for culture and tourism through sponsorship of the Calabar carnival, Copa Lagos, One Lagos Fiesta amongst many others as well as contribution to the landscaping of parks and other public places.

Chiedozie Ibekwe, the 2016 7Up HBS Scholar thanked Seven-Up Bottling Company for this unbelievable opportunity and stated that he is committed to fulfilling the vision of the scholarship to making a difference in Nigeria.

Photos: Pres. Buhari recieves former President Goodluck Jonathan in Aso Rock

President Buhari this afternoon received former President Goodluck Jonathan at the state house Abuja. Speaking with state house correspondents after their closed door meeting which lasted for 20 minutes, Jonathan said he was in Aso Rock to brief President Buhari of his recent international engagements. More photos after the cut.

Photos. Edo state local government workers stage protest over unpaid salary arrears

Edo state local government workers are currently staging a protest in the state over their unpaid salary arrears. The angry workers say the local government authorities have not paid their salaries ranging from two to eighteen months. More photos after the cut.

#Rio2016: Ese Brume ranks 5th in Long Jump Final, Divine Oduduru fails to Qualify for 200m Final

Divine Oduduru (L) and Ese Brume (R)

Nigeria’s track and field athlete, Ese Brume, 20, came in fifth in the finals of the women’s long jump event at Rio Olympics.

The event was won by U.S.A’s Tianna Bartoletta after jumping 7.17m. Ese lept 6.81m to come in fifth.

Similarly, Ejowvokoghene Divine Oduduru, 19, could not qualify for the finals of the men’s 200m race. He ranked 7th in his heat after clocking 20.59secs.

Image from keshi burial rite

With My Last Respect , i say Rest In Peace The Boss , here are the Photos From The funeral Burial Of Late Stephen Keshi , in Benin City Nigeria , More Photos From Stephen’s Keshi Funeral Service In Benin will come soon.

Read Tributes From Friends below.
TRIBUTES TO STEPHEN KESHI
Just like yesterday, I recall several write-ups and publications during the troubled times with the Football chiefs then as the Super Eagles gaffer
But when administrators sacrifice professionalism for mischief and devilments, of course they had their way but posterity has vindicated him. The immediate replacement nicknamed Pep Guardiola of Africa …the end is now a story. As the Yoruba adage say” Pasan ti won fi na Iyale…(complete the rest) meaning the cane used to flog the first wife, is still harbored for the 2nd wife. Of course the rest is history.
Up till now Nigeria has no substantive coach!

Military bombards Lagos, Ogun creeks, scores feared killed

There was pandemonium on Thursday in the Arepo area of Ogun State and some part of Lagos State after the military bombarded the base of suspected militants in the states.

The PUNCH learnt that scores of militants were reportedly killed in the joint military operation which lasted for more than one hour.

A source said the military attacked Fatola, the base of the militants, adding that houses around the area were shaken by the impact of bomb explosions on the Ijaw militants.

He said, “There has been a lot of commotion. The Nigerian Air Force bombarded Fatola, in Arepo, which is the base of the militants. They are shelling the place with fighter jets. Some soldiers also surrounded the area to make sure that if any of the militants should run out, they would be gunned down.”

A resident said people in the area had started fleeing their homes due to the bombardment.

Another resident in the Imushin area of Ogun State told our correspondent that two aircrafts were involved in the operation, adding that only one base of the militants was attacked.

He said, “An aircraft had actually been surveying the creek for the past three days. But a second one joined this evening around 6pm. All we heard was a sudden bomb blast released from the second aircraft. But it appeared that some of the militants had fled into the bush. There are four major bases of the militants in the creek and they are led by two men- OC and Agbala. If the military can get these two people, then they would have succeeded in clipping the wings of the militants.”

A community leader, who claimed to have spoken with one of the officers, said, “The military officer said residents should not panic because it was a military exercise. I also gathered that the casualty figure was high and that a lot of the militants had been killed.”

The Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, confirmed the operation, saying it involved the army and the navy.

He said, “The military only conducts its routine operation for the purpose of denying the vandals and other criminal elements from causing terror in the area. The operation, codenamed, Operation Awatse, was initiated by the defence headquarters to dominate the area with a view to flushing out all manners of criminals including militants and saboteurs. The operation involved the joint forces of the navy and army and it has been successful.”

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the police were part of the operation.

She said, “The Nigerian military and policemen from the Lagos and Ogun commands are part of the operation. We are sweeping through the waterways where we share boundaries to end the activities of the militants. It is a continuous exercise and we cannot tell the number of casualties.”

The acting Police spokesperson, ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, promised to call back our correspondent, but he had yet to do so as of press time.

APC wins Imo rerun election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Ben Uwajumogu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of Imo North Senatorial District rerun election held on July 28.

Uwajumogu scored 56,076 votes to defeat Mr Athan Achonu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 43, 815 votes.

Prof. Arinze Agbogu, the INEC Returning Officer for Imo North Senatorial District, who announced the result in the early hours of Friday, said the outcome was a summation of scores of July 23 and that of July 28 exercise.

Uwajumogu, had scored 48,921 on July 23, while Achonu, of the PDP, scored 40, 142 votes which made INEC to declare the rerun inconclusive.

Agbogu said that available data before him showed that Uwajumogu had majority of lawful votes cast, and therefore returned elected for the Imo North Senatorial District.

Similarly, INEC declared Mr Nkenna Nzeruo of the APC winner of Oru East State Constituency, while Mr Collins Chiji also of APC was declared winner for Isiala Mbano State Constituency.

The two state constituencies’ elections were equally declared inconclusive due to reported cases of violence that marred the exercise in some communities in the two areas on July 23.

Uwajumogu told journalists in Owerri that he was highly elated over the victory, adding “my gratitude goes more to Gov. Rochas Okorocha whose structure helped me to win this senatorial election’’.

Indonesian newspaper apologises over execution story error

An Indonesian English-language newspaper on Friday apologised after it ran a front-page story erroneously declaring that 14 drug convicts had been executed.

Indonesia executed four convicted drug traffickers just after midnight Friday, after the attorney general’s office said 14 death-row inmates would be put to death.

The Jakarta Post said the paper had been printed before it learned that only four convicts, not 14, were shot by firing squad.

The Post’s chief editor, Endy Bayuni said the story was accompanied by a photo showing a sister of Pakistani drug convict Zulfikar Ali, who was among the 10 spared, weeping while holding his portrait.

“The failure to do the verification before running the story is completely unprofessional and a serious violation of the main principles of good journalism.

“The Jakarta Post sincerely apologises to all our readers, particularly to all those affected by the story, for this major failure,’’ Bayuni said.

I didn’t receive N3tn allocation as governor – Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said on Thursday that he did not receive over N3tn allocation as governor of Rivers State.

He said therefore he never squandered such amount as alleged by his successor, Nyesom Wike.

Amaechi said this at a stakeholders’ a stakeholder’s meeting on the London Summit on Anti-Corruption and the Open Government Partnership.

The event was co-organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice and  the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, Justice For All project.

Amaechi said the Rivers State people were aware of how much he received while he was governor, adding that his successor was only fabricating lies against him.

He said, “Within that period we insisted on engaging the indigenous communities on how much we received and how we spent the money.

“That is why I feel that after this ministerial appointment, I should do everything possible to stay away from government because in spite of all the forms of transparency I introduced in government, one man could begin to tell lies to Nigerians and Nigerians believe him.

“The governor of Rivers State said I squandered N3tn. I did not receive up to N1.8tn as governor both from IGR and funds from federal allocation. So, how could I have squandered money I did not even receive in the first place? You can see the politics of lies and lies.”

Amaechi insisted that he was not corrupt and challenged anybody to bring up evidence to the contrary.

He said, “As Minister of Transportation, I run an open and transparent system. I believe in name and shame.

“What name and shame does is, if you name and shame those of them who don’t have conscience they won’t come to public functions.

“I do have conscience. In fact, it was the word corruption that brought me to this occasion because I wanted to see who will get up and say to me, ‘this is evidence that you are corrupt.’

“We went to court against the Rivers State government on their allegation of corruption against me. The Court of Appeal said, produce that document that found this man (Amaechi) guilty of those crimes and up till today he (Wike) has not produced it.”

Earlier, in his speech the Attorney General and Minister of Justice  Abubakar Malami, said, “ As you are all aware, President Buhari made fighting corruption one of the pillars of this administration’s policy. Since assuming office, every effort has been made to build on and expand on what was initiated by previous governments. Amongst these key priorities is the need to recover stolen funds and to pay back to the Nigerian society what they have lost to corruption.

“You may recall that during the London Anti-Corruption Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari presented a country statement on actions that would be implemented by the government of Nigeria on anti-corruption reforms.”