Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Picture of the day

Pic by CCDI

Normal shelter for family in oil producing community in Niger/Delta ,Nigeria.

Picture of the day

Normal shelter for family in oil producing community in Niger/Delta Nigeria.

Will electric cars soon have solar roofs? Toyota and Tesla say yes.

Advanced Panasonic solar modules triple the output of Toyota's previous solar roof.

Last week, Panasonic announced an advanced solar panel system that will debut on the 2017 model Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid in Japan (the Prius Prime).

It is "the first commercially available, mass-produced passenger car to feature an optional solar charging system," PV magazine explained.

Panasonic notes that, previously, rooftop solar cells had outputs of only "several tens of watts." So they were used only for ventilating parked cars and "auxiliary charging" of the standard 12-Volt lead-acid battery.

But improvements in solar efficiency combined with advanced design and "technologies to laminate three-dimensional curved glass" have allowed a high output — some 180 watts, which is more than triple the output of the previous solar roof.

As a result, this battery can charge the lithium-ion powertrain batteries, providing up to an additional 3.7 miles of range on a sunny day. That may not seem like a lot, but it is a large fraction of the daily commute of a great many people, which could result in a big boost for fuel efficiency.

And as solar panels and electric vehicles get cheaper and more efficient, the potential range boost from a solar roof is likely to grow.

Chart of the year: 'Incredible' price drops jumpstart clean energy revolution
New DOE report details latest advances in solar, wind, LED lights, batteries, and electric cars.thinkprogress.org

The 2017 Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid with some 25 miles of range available on a fully charged battery before it needs to burn gasoline. Running on gas, it gets 54 miles per gallon (combined city-highway EPA estimate). It's EPA-estimated electric mileage is 133 mpg-e.

The solar roof option will initially only be offered on Japanese models until Toyota and Panasonic develop an improvement to the reinforced curved glass panels, which would not pass U.S. rollover standards.

Finally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted in November that he wanted a solar roof option for the Model 3, Tesla's affordable long-range electric car that had record pre-sales:

Thursday, 25 May 2017

North Korea accuses South of machine-gunning birds in Demilitarized Zone

Military officials in Seoul initially suggested the object they attacked on Tuesday was a drone being piloted by their communist neighbours.

They later said it was actually balloons carrying propaganda leaflets.

But North Korea has now claimed the South was "caught by mental derangement" and "confrontation hysteria", unleashing its storm of bullets at an innocent "flock of birds flying in the sky".

The Demilitarized Zone is a heavily mined and fortified strip of land - with rival troops often metres apart - that runs along the countries' 160-mile border.

The North's news agency, KCNA, described it as "the most acute hotspot where huge troops of both sides constantly level their guns at each other"

Katsina Bye-election: Corps Member Alleges She was Threatened with Rape

Katsina Bye-election: Corps Member Alleges She was Threatened with Rape, Ballot A serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who was part of the electoral team for the Katsina bye-elections held last Saturday, has alleged that she and members of her team were pressured into releasing ballot papers to unknown men armed to the teeth, after they threatened to do things "more worse than rape" to her.

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election, which was held in Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency a success, and announced Mansur Ali of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, with 27,968 votes.But the corps member's account of what happened at Mashi Local Government Area where she was posted, has cast serious doubts on the credibility of the election.

The lady, who did not want her name and photograph published due to fear for her life, informed THISDAY that after arriving her polling unit at 7.10 a.m. on the fateful day, the team started the accreditation and voting process by 8 a.m. and everything was going smoothly until 9.50 a.m. when some people came, armed with knives, daggers and cutlasses, demanding for the ballot papers.

"At first I refused," she told THISDAY. "But one of them pulled me aside and told me they would not just rape me, but do things worse than rape. 'You see as you come complete, se you no wan go complete?' the man asked. I was terrified."

According to her, the soldiers and security officials who were supposed to be guiding the polling unit were nowhere to be seen as the men carted away the ballot papers. After about an hour, the ballot papers were returned to the unit, all "appropriately" thumb-printed.

By 2 p.m., voting was over and the team went ahead to collate the "fake" results, she said. An hour later, they proceeded to the registration area, which was situated in a seemingly abandoned primary school. Here, they met other corps members from different polling units in Mashi and their stories were all similar.

"Apparently, they (assailants) didn't just come to our unit, but to all the other polling units because my colleagues had similar experiences to mine," the corps member told THISDAY. "Some even said they tampered with their card readers."

Meanwhile, at the registration area, some residents had already gathered in front of the primary school, shouting angry expletives in Hausa. Just as the team was about to deliver its report to INEC officials, mayhem broke out, when some men scaled the fence and broke into the classroom where the INEC reporting was being carried out.

"It was a mad experience," the corps member said. "We had to run. Even the security officials that were supposed to take care of us left their vans. It was just God. I will never involve myself in any electoral process again."

When contacted, the INEC Administrative Secretary in Katsina State, Mr. Yunusa Kura, admitted that there were at least 13 incidents of malpractices, including ballot paper snatching and overstuffing of ballot boxes.

"I have reports from youth corps members over attempts to snatch ballot papers which made them lose some of their belongings," he said. "I have discussed with them and I am even the one that took them to the LGA's INEC office. We are making efforts to find out what they really lost and to pay them compensation."

However, he added that all the results from areas where malpractices were recorded were cancelled. "Six of them were to do with ballot paper snatching, while seven other places had to do with over-stuffing of ballot papers," he said.

He also informed THISDAY that one of the corps members was involved in an accident and was admitted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano.

According to Kura, the corps member was returning to the collation centre after the election when the vehicle conveying them had an accident and she fell.

"They had finished the election and were moving to the collation centre when the vehicle conveying them somersaulted and she fell down. All the corps members that had incidents, I personally visited them and had interviews with them," he said.

Veil or No Veil? Why Melania Trump Wore

During a meeting with Pope Francis on Wednesday, U.S. first lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump dressed in all black with veils covering their heads.

Yet only days before, while meeting the king of Saudi Arabia, the Trump women left their heads uncovered.

So why cover up in one country, and not in the other?

The answer lies in a complicated mix of personal preference, diplomatic protocol and religious dictates.

Image: — Pope Francis walks past Ivanka Trump, left, and Melania Trump. Alessandra Tarantino / Pool via AP

The lace veil — technically called a mantilla — has been worn in the presence of a Pope by many former first ladies, including Jackie Kennedy, Pat Nixon, Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama, according to historian Carl Anthony of the National First Ladies' Library.

But when it comes to Saudi Arabia, the same first ladies didn't wear a headscarf or covering.

PHOTOS: Trump Family Tours Vatican, Meets With Pope

"In contrast, none of those incumbent first ladies who visited Saudi Arabia wore head coverings, since they were not meeting the single, recognized leader of the global Islamic faith, but rather political leaders where a cultural custom of head coverings by women is not 'required' by those visiting from other nations," Anthony told NBC News in an email.

Image: Barack and Michelle Obama meet Pope Benedict XVI — Former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama meet with Pope Benedict XVI, Friday, July 10, 2009, at the Vatican.Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP File

In Saudi Arabia, although women must cover their heads, female foreign dignitaries are not absolutely required to wear the headscarf.

But Anthony said many of those same first ladies who didn't wear a headscarf in Saudi Arabia, did at some point wear a headscarf when entering mosques or churches that were active places of worship.

When it comes to the Vatican's rules, women aren't technically forced to wear the mantilla, either. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Duchess Camilla both did not wear the mantilla when they met with the pope.

Merkel, however, wore black, which is the traditional color women wear when having a face-to-face with the pontiff. Some Catholic queens and princesses are allowed to wear white.

When Camilla met the Pope in April 2017, she dressed in white.

Fw: THE ATTACK OF MANCHESTER

His Excellency
High Commissioner of
United Kingdom
High Commission to
Nigeria,Abuja.

23rd /May ,2017

THE ATTACK OF MANCHESTER

On behalf of the Board of Directors and Members of Centre for Convention on Democratic integrity Ltd/Gte ,l expresses our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the people of Manchester and Government of United Kingdom on a cowardly act of unspeakable violence attack against the lovely people of Manchester on Monday.

There can be no doubt that these attack was deliberate acts of terrorism ,carefully planned and coordinated and as such we condemn it utterly.

Terrorism must be fought resolutely wherever it appears.The entire international community should unite in the struggle against terrorism .This is a blatant challenge to humanity.

Please accept our warmest condolence.

Regards

Olufemi Aduwo

Executive Director/CEO
Centre for Convention on Democratic integrity Ltd/Gte (CCDI)
www.ccdiltd.org

Wednesday, 24 May 2017

Kidnappers Lure Man Through Social Media To Igbokoda, Ondo State & Murdered Him After Collecting Ransom

A 6-man kidnap gang has been smashed by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly luring a man, Femi Olatunji, from his home in the Isheri area of Ogun State to Igbokoda, Ondo State, where they killed him after collecting a ransom.

The suspects' names were given as Fadeni Henry, Lebile Olatunji, Ehuwa Oririe, Olotu Tosin, Oluwole Ohunayo, and Peter Omogbemi. The leader of the gang, 23-year-old Henry, had reportedly struck a relationship with the victim on the social media, and allegedly lured him to Igbokoda, the gang's base, on Friday, May 12, 2017.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said the wife of the victim had reported the kidnap of her husband to the police. Iliyasu said it was later discovered that Henry and other members of his gang had lured the victim, who was a surveyor, to Igbokoda.

He said operatives of FSARS, stormed the gang's hideout in Igbokoda, adding that the hoodlums engaged the police in a gun battle. He said six members of the gang were arrested after the gun battle.

He said, "Investigation into the case revealed that the suspects collected some amount of money from the family of the victim, but instead of releasing him, they killed him and dumped his corpse in a river behind the Holy Trinity African Primary School, Igbokoda."

The CP added that the victim's mobile phone was recovered from the hoodlums. "Weapons recovered from the suspects are one pump-action gun, one cut-to-size locally-made double-barrelled pistol and seven live cartridges," the police commissioner said.

The leader of the kidnap ring, Henry, said the members of the gang strangled the victim. The secondary school dropout said, "He was my friend on a social media platform and I invited him to Igbokoda. On getting to Igbokoda, I delayed seeing him till around 9pm.

We picked him and took him to the primary school. We tied his hands to his back after we had collected the N20,000 we found in his pocket. We later got his ATM pin and withdrew another N30,000 from his account.

We called his wife and she also sent money to an account number that we gave her. The family members kept sending money, but they did not know we had killed him."

Source/Credit: Punchng

Today's Picture.

A 33 storey building owned by a 50yrs Nigerian entrepreneur ,Fortune Tower was dedicated yesterday in Dubai .The dedication was conducted by two Bishops and two Pastors.

Monday, 22 May 2017

LETTER TO MR PRESIDENT.

I READ AND MEDIATED ON WHAT THE PREACHER SAYS IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER 4, I SAW THE TEARS OF THE OPPRESSED AND THEY HAVE NO COMFORTER, POWER WAS ON THE SIDE OF THEIR OPPRESSORS.

Mr. President, the game so beloved by Nigerian elite is going toward what is known in football as injury time, as all soccer fanatics know, it is indeed the most critical moment, distinguished by anxiety and acute uncertainty. Within the twinkling of an eye, anything can go wrong and invariably, things do go wrong. Carefully laid down plans go up in smoke. The players themselves with tired limbs, decline vision and deteriorating coordination look towards the referees for early deliverance since event have conspired to make it impossible to settle for a draw, since a clear winner must emerge, it is this fleeting moment that determines whether the match will end in penalty shootout or the phenomenon know as "sudden death".

This is the moment that has stolen upon us. As the Country lurches and staggers from one crisis to another, as one measure is hurriedly abandoned for even more inept solutions, as the rule of law is recklessly abandoned at all levels of government for rule of man, it is clear that we are faced with what is known as an "organic crisis". Nations are also like human beings and when an affliction becomes terminal, when suffering is unbearably acute, when human misery is so stark and remorseless, it is time to consider the virtues of EUTHANASIA. Looking through the glass, the Niger Delta crisis, the BOKO HARAM insurgence, the high level of corruption and looting across governments MDAs, it is glaring that we have in our hands a classic recipe for organic crisis. That is why we must talk. Regardless of the centrifugal forces that may be pulling Mr President in different directions, restructuring of the country is not negotiable. Our history is not our enemy but the way we deal or not with our history could be our enemy. A Country that has not really faced its past cannot decide on her future. Our forefathers spent many years like their counterparts in America deliberating on a People's Constitution that would accommodate Nigeria diversity. They came up with 1960 and 63 Constitutions. The Constitutions addressed the derivative principle, the areas which produce the bulk of Nation's resources have the right to a significant proportion for the revenues collected from the region. Under the 1963 Constitution, Federal Government was entitled to pay each region a sum equal to fifty percent of proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The Federal Government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account (DPA) thirty percent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the Federal Government after remitted fifty percent to the

producing region. The Federal Government was only entitled to keep for itself only twenty percent. The thirty percent in the Distributable Pool Account were shared among the regions based on population, size etc. Each region was assured that she entitled as of right to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool Account, that was the position till 1966.

With the advent of the military, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded. The fiscal system was also destroyed. These are the major outcome of military sabotage of the Nigerian federal system.

Mr.President, l do not belong to the school of thought which believe that the only thing you need to run Nigerian very well is only good leadership, l believe that far more important than leadership are good political and economic structures. In other words, the structure of a house is far more important than the interior decoration. A good house must be able to withstand inclement weather and the rigour of reasonable existence, it must not be constantly under threat of collapse. In a normally functioning federal system where fiscal relations among the federating states are properly established, it should not be for instance, the responsibility of FG to make pronouncement on policy issues like salary increase that are bound to disproportionately affect the states. For instance the workers of western region were paid a minimum daily wage of five shilling well above what was paid at the federal and other regions. Governor of New York State of America earns more salary than the Almighty American President. Today, it is however ironical that the oil producing states and highly commercial and industrial state like Lagos feel incapable of paying the level or above of wages being paid to federal employees.

This is a manifestation of the distortion in fiscal federalism that needs to be corrected. Mr. President, if only successive military regimes have curbed their penchant for suspending and undermining parts or whole of the constitution that are very necessary for good governance and socio economic well being of the citizenry, may be Nigeria would have been saved from these crises. That is why ,we need a living CONSTITUTION in other to settle all these anomalies. Thomas Paine in his Rights of Man, 1789, which is generally acknowledged as valid stated that "A Constitution has to be original act of the people. The people do ordain and establish ... does not a mere echo of revolutionary sentiment", it reflects a confirmation, that America constitution obtains its entire existent force and efficacy from the people to be governed by it. That is why our constitution does not command the sacred obsession and being violated with impunity by the government and

people, because it is an imposition of military arrangement. Mr. President, the World is full of multinational -States.Those who practice true federalism with full autonomy to federating units such as France, America or Switzerland, succeeded. Those that have failed, have failed because they did not practice true and genuine federalism. They have run multicultural states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it. Soviet Union was formed in 1919, it disintegrate in 1989 after a span of 70 year. Yugoslavia was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1991 after 72 year. A great lesson for us to learn, if after more than 100 years of Nigeria creation and 57 years as an independent state, it appears to be an artificial creation or just geographical expression as stated by the legend king-philosopher, Papa Awolowo in 1947, that confirms that our leaders are not committed to the concept of a just and equitable Nigeria.

In a relaxed federation, the different state develops at their own pace as it was done during first republic. l wish Josip Tito had done this there would still have been a Yugoslavia today. Many states in India use their languages up to University level, what is wrong in the North, East and West using Hausa, lgbo, and Yoruba respectively up to University level. Those aspiring for jobs in the federal and international levels will then strive to acquire proficiency in English. As it is, we are entangled in a mission impossible of building nation-state from some incongruous multicultural units. It is a task that cannot be accomplished.

Mr. President, Nigeria is a country of nationalities nobody should shy away from the naked fact. There is no Nigerian who is a Nigerian first before his /her nationality or tribe. Mr. President, let your heart continue to be ruled by unconquerable goodwill and irresistible earnestness for Nigeria's continued oneness. l wish you earnest recovery.

Olufemi Aduwo

Executive Director/CEO

Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity Ltd/Gte

World Bank Approves $500m Loan For SIP

Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Mrs. Maryam Uwais, said, weekend, that the World Bank has approved $500 million loan for the Federal Government's social investment programme. Uwais, who disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, also expressed frustration at efforts by politicians to dictate what should happen with the programme but vowed that her office would resist such efforts. She said the World Bank was propelled to assist with the loan because of the transparency and accountability that had trailed the programme since its take off. According to her, the loan, which will be repaid within the the three-year life cycle of the programme, comes with only 1.7 per cent interest rate. She said: "We are passionate about this programme. The World Bank has been assisting us with training and other supports. In fact, the bank has approved a $500 million loan for us to enable us cover a large number of people below the poverty line which this programme is set out to achieve. "We have not started drawing from the fund because the matter is still before the National Assembly, since it is a foreign loan. The World Bank is quite happy that this programme is different from similar programmes in the past because of the transparency in its implementation." Mrs. Uwais, who noted that only N80 billion of the N500 billion earmarked for the programme had been released, put the number of people below the poverty line in the country at 53 million. She said the greatest achievement of the programme thus far was its ability to come up with a National Social Register, which successive governments could rely on to address poverty in the country

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Lecturer impregnated me, rejects pregnancy, says nursing student • It wasn’t me, I used condom – Lecturer

Lecturer impregnated me, rejects pregnancy, says nursing student • It wasn't me, I used condom – Lecturer

A lecturer at the Ogun State College of Health Technology, Ilese Ijebu, Dr Oluseyi Adu, and a Dental Nursing student, Mosunmola, are embroiled in a row over who is responsible for the pregnancy that the nursing student is carrying. Mosunmola, who is nine months pregnant, alleged that Adu was responsible for the child in her womb, adding that they had sex in a hotel sometime in August, 2016.

She said the lecturer beat her up last month when she confronted him at the college for avoiding her, adding that the case was already at the Ilese Police Station.

However, while Adu admitted to having sex with the 28-year-old, he insisted that he used contraceptive, saying the lady seduced him and he gave in to the temptation.

Mosunmola told our correspondent that she underwent a three-year course at the college, adding that several lecturers had asked her out before Adu, but she refused.

She said, "Dr Adu is the Oral Health Coordinator for the college. During my three years study, he taught me two courses each semester. I have never failed his course.

"When I got to second semester, 300 level, he awarded me 38 in one of his courses. I went to his office in August 2016 to know why I failed the course. I needed to pass all my courses to be able to go for my board exam.

"He asked me if I thought I could just come to the school and go like that. He said if I dated him, he would waive the course. He said he didn't approach me in 100 level because another lecturer was interested in dating me.

"The lecturer he mentioned told me in 100 level that it was either I paid him money or used my body to pass his course. Because I didn't agree, I failed his course. I didn't pass it until I got to 300 level.

"I told Adu that I would date him, but I didn't want to have any problem, and he assured me that there would be no regret."

The victim said the lecturer took her to the office of the Head of Department and after some discussions, it was agreed that she could sit for the board exam.

After the board exam at POGIL College of Health Technology, Oke-Eri, Ijebu Ode, on August 21, Adu, who was among those on the panel, was said to have given Mosunmola some of his practical instruments and a laptop for safekeeping.

However, Mosunmola said when the school bus arrived to take the students back to the school, she forgot to give the practical instruments back to the lecturer.

She said Adu later called and asked her to bring the instruments to a hotel where he lodged.

"I was preparing to leave when he called me back that I would be sleeping over with him.

"I met him with another lecturer in my department. I observed that the lecturer also had a female student with him. From the hotel, we went to different places before we finally lodged in another hotel along Ilese Road. While I was with Adu in a room, my other classmate passed the night with the second lecturer in another room.

"We had three rounds of sex. He didn't release on time. He used two condoms for the first two rounds. The third round was, however, flesh-to-flesh. That was when he ejaculated inside me," she explained.

She said the lecturer dropped her off at home and they continued their relationship, until she stopped seeing her menstruation a few weeks later.

The Ogun State indigene said she became worried after she started vomiting, adding that she took a pregnancy test, which was positive.

She said when Adu heard the news, he reluctantly accepted responsibility, but allegedly gave her a drug, Eprostol, to abort the pregnancy.

She said, "I refused to take the drug because the prescription was not from a medical doctor. He came down to my place to persuade me to take the drug, but I still refused. He asked me what I wanted and I told him that I needed to change my accommodation because the pregnancy was a shameful thing for me. He told me not to worry, that he would handle it. After that, we had sex.

"When he left that day, I could not find my phone again. By the time I got another phone and called him, he started acting funny. Sometime, he would just laugh at me."

PUNCH Metro learnt that several people had attempted to mediate in the situation without any success.

Mosunmola said attempts by Adu's HOD, dean, and provost to mediate were rebuffed by the lecturer.

The victim said she later approached the Human Rights Office of the Ogun State Ministry of Justice at Ijebu-Ode, where a lawyer, one Kolade, called the parties for a meeting.

Adu was reported to have agreed to pay N5,000 feeding allowance per month, in addition to paying N7,000 for ante-natal registration.

After paying the allowance for two months, Adu reportedly stopped.

The parties reportedly held another meeting in March at the human rights office to review the agreement.

Conflict was said to have broken out among the parties when Mosunmola presented a list of things required for her delivery, which she valued at N50,000.

Adu was said to have insisted on paying N30,000, which the 28-year-old refused.

"I didn't have any accommodation and I couldn't buy any of the drugs the doctors prescribed for me. I told him I would only manage the N50,000. He left in annoyance.

"Since March, the lawyer didn't call us back and Adu refused to pay the N5,000 he used to give me every month. I called the lawyer late March and asked him to help me get the N30,000, but the lawyer said I should not call him again," she said.

After reporting the lecturer to the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Health, where Adu also worked, without any result, Mosunmola said she became desperate and went to the college on April 13 when she knew Adu would be taking a class.

She said while pleading with him for money for her medical expenses, the lecturer assaulted her.

She said some people intervened and she reported a case of assault to the police at the Ilese division, Ijebu Ode.

"I am now in my 38 weeks and anytime soon, I will have my child. I am an orphan and I don't have any of my baby items ready. I am begging Nigerians to come to my rescue. I know I have made a mistake, but I need a second chance at life. I don't have anywhere to go. It is a church that is accommodating me now," she said.

When our correspondent reached out to Adu to appeal to him to raise the N50,000 for the baby things, he said he had no money and would not borrow because Mosunmola had turned him to a "cash cow."

He said he had already informed his wife about the incident, adding that there was nothing that could surprise him again as he had lost his credibility over the incident.

Adu said, "She was one of my students; but on a personal level, I never knew her until after they released her final results and she failed some courses, including mine.

"Her HOD asked her to come and ask me if I could waive the course for her. She called me on the phone and came to see me in the office. That was my first contact with this lady. When she made her request, I met her HOD who said I should assist her. He said even if I did, she might not sit for the board exam because of the other courses she failed. So, I passed her.

"When they sat for the board exam, I was surprised to see her and I asked her HOD why she wrote the exam when she had other courses she failed. He said people begged for her.

"After the board exam, she came to thank me for the assistance and she asked to carry my bag and the instruments I used to conduct the exam. By the time she was leaving, I collected my bag from her, but I forgot my instruments with her.

"That day, I went to hang out with my friend at the pool of a hotel where we lodged. Suddenly, I remembered my instruments and I called her to keep them well. But she said she could come to where I was and she came. After dropping the instruments, she didn't leave as I expected and I decided not to bother her.

"We were together at the hotel till evening. One thing led to the other. My brother, she slept in my room that night and we had (sexual) intercourse. This was a girl I never dated or had any relationship with."

He said by weekend, Mosunmola called him that she was pregnant, adding that she later said she was only joking about it and wanted to see his reaction.

Adu said the call made him to stop communicating with Mosunmola and he did not respond anytime she called, until she sent him a text message saying the pregnancy had become real.

He said, "I decided to travel down to Ijebu to see her. She brought out the test result and said I was responsible. I told her I used a condom and she couldn't tell me that my condom burst. She said if I was afraid because I was married, I should not bother because the pregnancy actually belonged to her boyfriend and she merely wanted to see my reaction. I warned her and left.

"The next time she called me, she said how would she take my pregnancy to her boyfriend, and that I should take responsibility for it. She said she would abort the pregnancy if I wanted her to, but I must rent a house for her in Ijebu Ode and then she described the kind of house she wanted.

"When I heard that, I told her to do her worst, because it was obvious to me that she just wanted to blackmail me. She had been going round different places, telling people that I impregnated her. The question I ask is, did I rape her? Did I hypnotise her? You came to meet me where I was and we had fun, and now you are pregnant, and you are telling me I am responsible for a pregnancy I am denying?"

He said before Mosunmola could reach his wife, he quickly reported himself to her and begged for her forgiveness.

The medical practitioner said he reluctantly agreed to pay the N5,000 after much persuasion by the human rights lawyer, adding that he regretted the agreement because Mosunmola used it to make more demands on him.

"When she brought the list for the baby things, I asked her, 'Why are you making me as if I am the father of your baby? Am I your husband?

"She suddenly flared up and said I should even go away that she didn't want anything from me again. She cursed me and after that encounter, I decided to stop giving her anything," he added.

He said Mosunmola came to attack him during the lecture. He said she was about stripping him naked when he forcefully detached himself from her.

Adu explained that the case of assault against him at the Ilese division had been thrown out after he told the police the student was the aggressor.

"People impregnate people and nothing happens. Why is she treating me as if I had done something criminal?

"The worst that will happen now is for me to die. I am not a young man; if I die, people will cry and I will be done.

"But I also ask myself, what if the pregnancy is mine? My prayer now is for her to deliver safely and we will determine the paternity of the child," he said

Silence from Buhari’s aides as he recuperates

Silence from Buhari's aides as he recuperates

Abuja House

President Muhammadu Buhari may have been in and out of hospital since arriving London to see his doctors exactly a fortnight ago, if feelers from Abuja House - the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to the Court of St James's - where he is staying, is anything to go by.

But this could not be confirmed as The Guardian has met a wall of silence from sources close to Abuja House, with two of them citing fears of losing their jobs, if they dare say anything. One source kept sealed lips and only took occasional glances at this reporter as he approached him yesterday afternoon.

A prominent aide of the president who had in February, walked to this reporter at the entrance of the property and called him "an educated illiterate," before then saying: "if you want the president dead, you will be disappointed. The president will make a full recovery," shunned The Guardian when asked for the where about of the president as he was driven out shortly after 1:00pm.

Another aide was similarly approached, he only nodded and waved.

All the four sources contacted declined commenting or saying anything about the president's recovery, however, one regular guest said, "whether he has seen his doctors or not, l don't know," when asked about the president's recuperation. Pressed further, he said, "honestly, l have not seen the President since he came back, " again on medical vacation.

Two staff members on the payroll of the High Commission told The Guardian the same thing. One said, "

I'm sorry, l cannot say anything to you." Though the second noted that they have been "busy," since Buhari arrived, but wouldn't go further, except to show fear of "losing my job."

One female staff member when asked yesterday if the president had come back from seeing his doctors, simply said "l don't know about that."

As if avoiding The Guardian, the aides and guests no longer use the main entrance to the house, once inside the property. Even on Sunday afternoon, when one arrived at about 3.40pm, the driver packed very close to the side entrance of the house rather than the front door, perhaps to prevent the reporter seeing anyone being driven out.

Even the security didn't respond to continual pressing of the buzzer-both last week and yesterday.

However, the beautiful flowers used to adorn Abuja house weren't silent. They did catch the attention of three Italian tourists as one of them took several shots as he walked past

Sunday, 21 May 2017

Senate Warns Buhari’s Appointee Not To Resume Office

Senate Warns Buhari's Appointee Not To Resume Office

President Muhammadu Buhari's nominee for the position of Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila, was on Thursday, frustrated from assuming office until his nomination is confirmed by Senate.

Senators warned Gbajabiamila who is a younger brother to House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, not to be seen within the vicinity of the commission.

The lawmakers frowned at the resumption of the nominee without an appointment letter and Senate's confirmation. They said it is in violation of Section 8 (1) of the Nigerian Lottery Regulation Commission which stipulates that the President shall appoint the Director-General, subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

The resolution followed the adoption of the report of an investigation by the Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan. ‎The nominee was one of the 23 appointees to head various federal agencies by President Buhari, through an announcement made by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on April 14.

In a Point of Order raised at Wednesday's plenary, Dino Melaye, observed that Gbajabiamila had already assumed office in contravention of extant laws.

However, Senate President Bukola Saraki who expressed shock at the revelation, asked the Senate Leader to investigate the matter and report back within 24 hours.

Presenting his findings at Thursday plenary, Lawan said the Executive admitted that the nominee erred by assuming office without following due process.

He urged appointees whose confirmations are yet to be approved by the Senate to wait rather than violate the law.

"The nominee for the office of the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission actually assumed office. I think he was misadvised and therefore assumed office without going through the stipulated due process.

"I spoke with all those who should know better including the Acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Habibat Lawal) and the conclusion on the side of the Executive is that he erred because probably he didn't get the correct briefing that he should have waited until due process and due diligence were completed.

"On this side, I believe that that was an error and there was a genuine appeal from the Executive that no such thing will ever happen again. I advise the SGF that that nominee should not be seen within the vicinity of the office of the DG until he is confirmed and an appointment letter is given to him.

"I also want to take this opportunity to ask and advise the Executive that such a thing must never be allowed to happen again. And also for nominees who may be so eager to start work that they should tarry a while until due diligence is followed to its logical conclusion.

"I believe that this is a worthwhile investigation and I believe that those who are supposed to ensure total compliance with our legislations now know better," he told lawmakers.

Ruling on the matter, Saraki urged the executive to respect the law at all times, even as George Sekibo (APC, Rivers State) insisted that the matter should not have been brought under 'personal explanation' in the first instance.