The advent and adoption of debit or ATM cards have made it easy for us to do certain banking transactions - from making payments to merchants online to fund transfer and making cash withdrawal without stepping a foot into the banking hall; the benefits of debit/ATM cards are obviously there for all to see. However, as these cards are valuable in the hands of an individual who has a legal possession of one or more (of them), so are they useful to unscrupulous individuals who are out to rob an unsuspecting carrier.

The common factor, of course, is money, and since this legal tender [which makes obvious needs elude you] is involved, it behooves that anyone who has a possession of a debit/ATM card will, no doubt, treasure it to a great extent. It is for this reason one has to be careful about guarding his/her card from getting into the hands of a person - a third party - with malicious intentions.

Notwithstanding, in case you eventually lose your card or peradventure, it gets stolen, you have to act very fast so that you do not end up losing it all - your hard-earned money. Plus, do not let the fact that you have never revealed your password to a third party give you a ‘false sense of security‘ that the cash in your account will be intact as fraudsters might use your card to make online payments on merchant sites that do not require your password or OTP to complete a particular transaction.

Hence, I have elected to share how you can go about blocking your debit card - with respect to the bank that may be involved - in this article. So, read on to see the code or number that will address your need in case your card gets missing.

• Access Bank: CALL: +2341-2712005-7; +2342802500; 07002255222377.

• Ecobank: Send STOP [SPACE] [Account number linked to the card] to 08063262265 OR CALL: +2347005000000.

• Fidelity Bank: Dial *770*911# OR CALL: +23414485252; +234800344335489.

• First Bank of Nigeria Plc: SMS BLOCK to 30012 from your registered phone number OR CALL: 0700347782668228.

• First City Monument Bank (FCMB): Dial *329# OR CALL: +234(01)2798800.

• Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB): Dial *737*51*10# OR CALL: +2348039003900; +2348029002900.

• Heritage Bank: CALL: +234-1-236-9000.

• Keystone Bank: CALL: +234-1-448-5742; +2347080605000.

• Polaris Bank: CALL: +2348069880000; 070075932265; +23414482100; +23412705850.

• Stanbic IBTC: Dial *909# OR CALL: 014222222; 070022557826242. Optionally, you SMS BLOCKCARD [SPACE] NUBAN[linked to the card] to 30909.

• Sterling Bank: Dial *822# OR CALL: 070078375464.

• Union Bank of Nigeria: Send BLOCKCARD [SPACE] NUBAN[linked to the card] to 20123.

• United Bank for Africa (UBA): Dial *919*10# OR CALL: +2347002255822.

• Unity Bank: CALL: +2347080666030.

• Wema Bank: CALL: +2348039003700.

• Zenith Bank: Dial 96660# OR CALL: 0700286936484.

Alternatively, you can also block your missing/stolen ATM card through your bank’s mobile banking app or internet banking platform. However, it has to be emphasized here that your move towards securing your account after losing your debit card should not end with the blockage of the card through the phone alone. You should follow this up by visiting the nearest branch of your bank to request for a new (debit/ATM) card and also confirm that the stolen/lost card has been rendered ‘inactive’.

Rachael Dickson, wife of Bayelsa State Governor says she remains grateful to God for the gift of quadruplet after 15 years of marriage.

Rachael said she waited for 15 years to have a child after her wedding before God rewarded her with one boy and three girls.
She spoke on Sunday during a thanksgiving service at the King of Glory Chapel, Government House, Yenagoa.

The Governor’s wife said God showed up after 15 years of waiting for fruits of the womb and described the moment she was delivered of her quadruplets in the United States of America three years ago as visitation by God.

The thanksgiving service was part of activities marking the third anniversary of the quadruplets, The Nation reported.

She described her children as bundles of joy and prayed God to bless, prosper and equally use them to bring him glory.

“First I want to thank this Great God of Heaven because today we are marking the third anniversary of these special gifts from God.

“After fifteen years, he turned away our captivity. When men thought it was over, he, God, said it was not over”.

“I stand before this great God to say there is no other God like him. Today I stand before him to say our joy is full. Today I stand to say this great God of heaven can never fail”.

The governor’s wife also expressed appreciation to family members, friends, associates and the clergy for attending the service as well as for making the day memorable for the children.

A reception for guests was also held at the Governor’s Lodge with over 200 children in attendance amidst fanfare.

Some dignitaries in attendance include the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Douye Diri and his wife; his running mate Senator Lawrence Erhuwjakpo, top government functionaries and the clergy.

A few bad apples stole 50,000 good ones from an orchard in LaPorte County, Indiana.

Jon and Robyn Drummond, owners of Williams Orchard, reported to the La Porte County Sheriff's Office last Saturday that thieves had stolen the apples from an acre of trees.

"I was floored," Jon Drummond told CNN. "When someone comes in and commercially steals from you, it's like, whoa. That's a little disheartening."

"Almost every single apple from every single tree was completely wiped out," he said. "It was cleanly picked. I was like, oh my God, someone came in and stole these apples."

The Drummonds recently purchased the orchard, which was established in the 1860s, and even hosted a grand reopening on Labor Day weekend.

They estimate the missing apples are worth $27,000.

"Sadly, I don't have any insurance on it," said Jon Drummond. "I don't have theft insurance, and so I wasn't able to recoup any money. It was purely stolen out of our pockets."

The theft occurred in a secluded valley at the back of the orchard, he said.

The couple had just invested in building new gates, but had not yet installed locks, so the thieves were able to simply unchain the gates and drive through the orchard, he said.

"It probably was an insider job," said Jon Drummond. "Someone knew this orchard really well. They knew where to go, the portion of the orchard where they couldn't be seen."

He believes the missing apples might be used to make cider, or possibly sold through wholesalers or other distributors.

While Drummond filed a police report with La Porte County Sheriff's Office, there have been no leads.

"We're looking for a pickup truck or some kind of trailer that could pull this large of product," Capt. Derek Allen of La Porte County Sheriff's Office told CNN affiliate WSBT.

Despite the loss, Jon Drummond says he's trying to stay positive.

"We're going to laugh about it because the only other option is to cry."

Nigerian authorities on Saturday scrambled to find the families of hundreds of men and boys freed from a school where some had been kept in chains, sexually abused and tortured.

Police freed as many as 400 captives, aged from six to 50, from the house in Kaduna in northern Nigeria in a raid on Thursday. Some were chained to radiators, tires or hub caps and others bore visible signs of scars from whippings and beatings.

More than a dozen, including 10 children, were hospitalized on Saturday. All the adults were in critical condition, with one vomiting blood.

Police set up a makeshift camp for the others at the edge of the city and were trying to register the freed captives. In one of the buildings at the camp, children queued to register their names against a list, later laughing and playing before being served a plate of noodles.

Outside, dozens of parents, faces contorted with worry, gathered to collect their children. Some had paid tuition fees to the men running the house believing it to be an Islamic school, while others viewed it as a correctional facility with no expectation of instruction.

Kaduna state police spokesman Yakubu Sabo said the "dehumanized treatment" they discovered made it impossible to consider the house an Islamic school.

Local media said some of the children had been tortured, staved and even sexually abused. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the reports.

Hafsat Mohammed Baba, the state's commissioner of human services and social development, told Reuters a headcount had accounted for just 190 people, including 113 adults and 77 children. The reason for the discrepancy in numbers was not immediately clear, but authorities said some freed from the home fled immediately.

FREED CAPTIVES

Police raided the school after a relative was denied access to the captives. Seven people who said they were teachers at the school were arrested in the raid.

Police called on families from across the region, from the suburbs of Kaduna to the nearby countries of Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso, to collect the freed captives. Despite the reports of abuse, some were reluctant to return home with their family members.

Mohammed Sani Abu Sha'aban, a father of 13 from the Kaduna suburb of Nasarawa, sent two of his sons - 16-year-old Salim and 25-year-old Jamilu - to the school for more than three years.

He paid 34,000 naira (£90) per term and said it had helped his sons, particularly Salim. "Now that they are set free, he may relapse into his past negative attitude of absconding from school and other vices," Sha'aban said.

Islamic schools, known as Almajiris, are common across the mostly Muslim north of Nigeria. Widespread poverty prompts many parents to leave their children at the institutions, yet they have been dogged by reports of abuse and accusations that some children are forced to beg on the streets rather than get an education.

Some activists have called on the government to outlaw the schools.

But Sha'aban, who said he visited regularly and never saw signs of poor treatment, called on the state to keep the Kaduna school open. "The closure of the school is really a source of concern and very disturbing to us who have unruly children and wards," he said.

Junior Duru, Nigerian football star, has been reportedly killed during a shootout between rival cult groups at Auchi Polytechnic in Edo state.

The 17-year-old younger brother of Lobi Stars defender Ebube Duru was said to have met his untimely death while visiting his friend on campus.

According to report, the teenager was among the invited players for the Golden Eaglets campaign, but did not make the final squad for the ongoing UEFA/CAF U-17 tournament in Turkey.

Meanwhile, his elder brother and Lobi Stars player Ebube Duru has reacted to his death, saying it was painful learning about his brother's demise.

He further revealed that the deceased planned to become a professional footballer but now death has taken him away at a very young age.

"It’s very painful I have to just move on, I think it’s another thing now to make me double my effort,” the defender told footballlive.ng.

"He told me before I travelled that he wants to play football to the highest level, he couldn’t achieve and I think that’s one thing I owe him so I’ll try my best and make sure I play this game to the highest level and make him proud."

Ebube Duru is currently with the Super Eagles home based players in Senegal as they campaign for the WAFU Africa Cup of Nations title.

Also the Nigerian Football Federation have announced the shocking demise of former Super Falcons forward Ifeanyi Chiejine who died after a brief illness.

According to the statement by the Nigeria's Football governing body, the former Confluence Queens of Lokoja striker died on Wednesday, August 21.

But the details of her untimely death was not revealed by the Nigeria's Football body.

An 11-month-old boy died after he and his twin sister were found in a hot car at an Alabama car dealership on Friday.

Emergency responders arrived at Sunny King Honda in Oxford, Alabama, around noon after receiving a 911 call about the children, Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge told CNN.

Upon arrival, police learned that the boy and girl — who were still in their car seats — were inside the vehicle for three hours and 26 minutes, according to Alabama Local.

The Oxford Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Both children were transported to the Regional Medical Center emergency room, where the boy was pronounced dead, Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown told CBS 42.

The twin sister is doing well, Partridge confirmed.

The father, who is an employee at the dealership, forgot about the children in his minivan until the mother called to ask about the twins, Alabama Local reported. The father took the children out of the vehicle before emergency responders came to the scene.

According to the outlet, by the time the twins were located, the temperature was already in the mid-90s.

“All indications seem that this is a tragic accident,” Brown told CBS 42. “No one can fathom the way this family feels and I especially want to make sure that people are sympathetic to this family and that they get all the facts before they pass judgment.”

In a statement to WBRC on Friday, the dealership said the “Sunny King Automotive Group is hurting,” adding, “We request your thoughts and prayers for our employee and his family and the Sunny King Automotive Group family.”

Partridge confirmed to Alabama Local that the case is still under investigation.

“It’s a scene you don’t want to respond to,” he said. “It’s one of those things that will stay with you for the rest of your life.”

Culled from Yahoo

As our world keeps evolving with the explosion of technology and immense internet usage, so has the wittiness of certain individuals to perpetrate faceless crimes behind the screen of their personal computer. Cybercrimes - which ranges from internet scams to phishing, cyberstalking, hacking, identity theft, cyberterrorism and so on - have been resorted to as a revenue-generating avenue that assuage the luxury life of individuals that they have not broken a sweat to earn.

The multiplicity of Yahoo boys is something that has not escaped the consciousness of the average Nigerian, and while the act of cyber criminality has often been directed at foreigners - a situation has deeply tarnished the image of the nation on the international scene - Nigerians at home have also not exempted from feeling the scourge of cybercrimes.

According to a report prepared by two cybersecurity firms, Serianu Limited and Demadiur Systems Limited, it was estimated that Nigeria lost funds in the tune of N198.6 billion between 2016 and 2017 alone. It is not out of place to those who have been victimized failing to act immediately by reporting the crime to the appropriate agencies; this, on its own, has been one of the reasons cybercrime appears to have been thriving in the land. Viewing it from a different angle, it is possible that most of those who have fallen victim do not even who to report the case to.

It is these circumstances that necessitated the writing of this particular article wherein I shall now [without further ado], discuss how you can report cybercrime.

You can do this by filing a report to any of the following agencies:

• Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC): You can reach EFCC via [email protected] or call any of the following phone numbers: +234-9-9044751; +234-9-9044752; +234-9-9044753; 08093322644.

• Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU): You can call the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit via 08038506135 OR 08066827830. Optionally, you can visit www.specialfraudunit.org.ng/en/?page_id=202 or send an email to [email protected] to log your complaints.

• By way of extension; you can also report cybercrime [especially as it relates to e-tax payment/transaction] to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) by visiting http://www.firs.gov.ng/aboutus/pages/fraud-Alert.aspx OR send an email to [email protected]

Furthermore, you can report cybercrime incidences bordering on financial matters to the officials at your bank, and from there, the issue can be relayed to relevant authorities.

BONUS
The laxity of the law in handling cybercrime cases prior to the enactment of the Cybercrime Act 2015 could be said to be one of the major reasons this kind of crime has proliferated in the country - though one cannot be oblivious of the fact that the architecture of the internet makes it easy to perpetrate such crimes; plus gross unemployment yet contribute in the spread of these crimes.
The enactment of the Cybercrime Act 2015 is however a step in the right direction in the fight against cybercrime. You can have a look at the Cybercrime Act 2015 at www.cert.gov.ng/resources/article/cybercrime-prohibition-prevention-etc-act-2015-document

PARTING SHOT
It is very fine that you are not into cybercrime - or crime of any sort - but it is even better if you do not keep silent or fold hands when you become aware of incidences of cybercrime. Evil only thrives when good people fail to do what is needful…so, make a commitment towards reporting cybercrime today.

Disasters are rather better imagined than being a reality as we hope to spend our days in wholeness/soundness of mind and body with loved ones. But as mush as we would like to abandon disastrous events in the recesses of our mind, we cannot outrightly deny the fact that disasters do happen. And this is why we have to seek ways of managing - or probably preventing - such occurrences. This is what shall form the fulcrum of this discourse as we look at the agencies that are in charge of disaster management in Nigeria, and also shed some light on the problems facing disaster management in the country.

First and foremost, the major agency in charge of disaster or emergency management in Nigeria is the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), with its efforts being complemented in all states - except five - of the Federation by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Besides this, NEMA has zonal offices in Kaduna, Plateau, Borno, Rivers, Lagoos and Enugu.

The National Emergency Management Agency was established in 1999 under Act 12 as amended by Act 50 of 1999, and is saddled with the overarching objective of managing disasters in Nigeria. Broadly speaking however, NEMA’s statutory functions also include [but not limited to]:

• Formulation of policies that are related to the management of disasters in Nigeria; this is central to the fulfilment of the agency’s overall mandate.

• Monitoring/evaluating the state of the nation’s preparedness against the occurrence of disasters, and making moves towards reducing and/or curtailing risks associated with disaster.

• Leading sensitization/awareness campaign against sudden disaster in the country; with the aim of educating the populace on steps to take in the event(s) of sudden disasters.

• Provision of relief materials for persons victimized by disasters. Also, NEMA is to develop joint humanitarian programs/plans [with other stakeholders] to mitigate disaster-related risks.

• Coordinating training and human capacity development programs in order to equip staff members for disaster management tasks.

Other stakeholders involved in the management of disaster in Nigeria include the Nigeria Fire Service, Nigeria Armed Forces, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Red Cross amongst others.

Challenges of disaster management in Nigeria

Disasters in themselves do portend huge challenges that are not always easy to curtail, and these could eventually throw those in charge of managing the situation in a tight and/or helpless state in some instances. In the case of Nigeria however, there are a number of issues that could yet add to the problems arising from catastrophic situations or make recovery efforts grossly ineffective on the whole, and some of these are discussed as follows:

• Lack of coordination among stakeholders: Stakeholders involved in the management of disasters apparently lag in the area of forging good coordination as their mandates do not appear to properly laid out when it comes to managing emergencies.

• Lack of proper evaluation/assessment: Another challenge encountered in the management of disasters in Nigeria is that which hovers around the inability to accurately evaluate disaster situations. This may be due, in part, to the inadequate supply of evaluation tools/equipments. Owing to this, there is a need to invest hugely in equipments that will be valuable in forewarning (about) and managing the situations.

• Misrepresentation of data: More often than not, we have seen authorities and eye-witnesses giving contrasting accounts [especially in the aspect of casualty figures] after disaster struck. This is one major challenge that could hamstring efforts to get adequate relief materials to those affected by disasters.

• Slow response time: Most of the times when disaster breaks out in developed nations, one of the reasons - aside from the deployment of advanced technological equipments - damages are usually limited is due to the proactive nature as well as minimum response time of the agencies overseeing disaster management efforts. However, in the case of Nigeria, it could reach up to hours or even days before aids get to the victims.

• Diversion of relief materials/aids: It is not out of place to see relief materials from humanitarian organizations diverted and sold in the markets, and as such, being use for monetary gains. So, invariably, corruption yet rear its ugly head in this very regard.

NEMA’s Regional Offices

• North-Central Office: Direct labour compound, Vom Road, Jos, Plateau State. Phone number: +234092905903

• North-East Office: Medical store premises, Baga Road off Auno street, Maiduguri, Borno State. Phone number: +2348039149667

• North-West Office: 15, Wurno Road, Unguwan Sarki, Kadunai, Kaduna State. Phone number: +234092905896

• South-East Office: 55a, Ezillo Avenue, Independence Layout, Enugu State. Phone number: +234092905781; 08037020447; 08077634188; 08062960563.

• South-South Office: 51, Ikwerre Road, Diobu, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.

• South-West Office: Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way opposite Ikeja Plaza, Lagos State. Phone number: +234092905789

Headquarters: 8, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.
Phone number: 080022556362

One stipulation that is presently drawing the irk of many Nigerians amidst bouts of murmurings and condemnation is the charges that the Central Bank of Nigeria is imposing on deposit and withdrawal of funds exceeding N500,000. There is certainly a purpose for every action - at least for a revered organization as the CBN. But then, does the reason [as stated by the CBN] in this case justifiable? Well, let’s review the matter more closely and maybe a bit more analytically. Should the need to encourage the embrace of a cashless society bring about burdening individuals with charges rather than making moves to cut down on the already effected deductions - like the maintenance of accounts, debit cards and suchlike?

Just about the other day, I read in the news that four commercial banks were able to make N24.3 billion from account maintenance charges in within a period of six months. People have been disgruntling over the excessive charges that get deducted from their account and as though all these (deductions) were not enough, we are being hit by another hammer from the “power that be“. Does the CBN think it to be a wise choice to have business people take their cash to the bank; saving it there to pay either 2% or 3% [as the case may be] for even patronizing a financial institution in the first instance?

Legalizing extortion?
The charges on deposit and withdrawal on funds above N500,000 is nothing but another form of extortion and I do not really see much difference between what is being done here and what Lagosians usually witness from the ordeals of touts (commonly called ‘agbero‘) and commercial vehicle operators who are trying to make ends meet - Oh! The difference as you may point out is that one is literally and legally informed than the other but by the way of imposition, their M.O appears to be similar.

The economy is not so good - or bad without mincing words - but placing the burden on a man or woman who is still trying to find his/her footing in a particular business venture is nothing but an ignoble idea. This will never be welcome palliative measure to stabilize or raise the economy to a good standard; I believe there are other holistic measures that can be taken to correct things.

I have heard and seen certain individuals feeling less concerned since they are not used to having an amount as ‘huge‘ as N500,000 or more in their account. This is quite baffling and I wonder if this group of individuals know that ‘injustice to one is injustice to all‘. More so, if the government - through the CBN - could allow a levy to be imposed on a selected few with a ‘bulky‘ account [as we have in this case], how sure is one that it would not someday trample on the rights of the less privileged - well, I speak as a novice; isn’t this happening already?

Looking at it broadly; at the end of the day if these charges are continually deducted, who do you think will eventually bear the brunt? - The consumers, of course. And, in a nation where price regulation is left in the theoretical corridor, business owners affected by these charges will not even think it twice to raise the prices of commodities as they aim to make good profits from their businesses.

So, rather than looking for ways of alleviating the hardship of the masses, those in authority have found another means of heaping up the loads of uneasiness on the people. And, it is in view of the fore goings that I put this [to anyone with unimpaired conscience]: how can this thing be?

Emuidzhi Oghiabekhva scored a brace in Minsk’s 3-1 stunning victory over Zurich in Thursday's Uefa Women's Champions League Round of 32, second leg encounter.

The 29-year-old forward has continued to impress in the competition after inspiring Minsk's 1-0 first-leg win against Ivan Dal Santo's side, she scored in each half to help her side advance.

With a first-half advantage, It took just 10 minutes into the match for Oghiabekhva to fire the visitors in front at Letzigrund Stadium.

However, Fabienne Humm scored in additional time to bring the hosts back on level terms before half time in Zurich.

After the restart, the Nigeria forward finally got her second goal of the match in the 76th minute to recover the visitors lead before Yuliya Duben struck two minutes later to wrap up their advancement.

The 3-1 win means the Belarusian champions have progressed to the Round of 16 stage of the competition, and also signified the elimination of Zurich.

With her brace, Oghiabekhva has scored 10 goals in seven outings in this year's Champions League to maintain her topscorer chase.

Minsk will find out their Champions League Round of 16 opponents when the draw will be held on September 30.

Authorities of the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Thursday fired 15 lecturers for offences bordering on sexual harassment, negligence of duty and corruption.

It was gathered that the lecturers were from different departments and faculties in the institution.

A source said, “It is true that the Ahmadu Bello University management sacked some lecturers.”

When contacted, the Director of ABU’s Public Affairs, Dr Sama’ila Shehu, confirmed the dismissal.

Shehu added, “Not all of them are lecturers but they are ABU staff members. A total of 16 workers were affected. The offences range from mishandling of records, scripts to sexual harassment and assault.”

Nearly 500 men and boys have been rescued from a building in the northern city of Kaduna, where the detainees were allegedly sexually abused and tortured, Nigerian police said.

Children as young as five were among those in chains at what was thought to be an Islamic school, officers said.

Kaduna police chief Ali Janga told the BBC the building was raided after a tip-off about suspicious activity.

He described it as a "house of torture" and a place of human slavery.

Eight suspects, most of them teachers, were arrested. The police chief said the detainees - some with injuries and starved of food - were overjoyed to be freed.

The detainees said they had been tortured, sexually abused, starved and prevented from leaving - in some cases for several years.

"I have spent three months here with chains on my legs," Bell Hamza reportedly told Nigerian media.

"This is supposed to be an Islamic centre, but trying to run away from here attracts severe punishment; they tie people and hang them to the ceiling for that."

Some of the children told police that their relatives had taken them there, believing the building to be a Koranic school.

Two of the children freed by police said their parents had sent them from Burkina Faso. Police believe the rest are mostly from northern Nigeria.

Islamic schools are popular in the region but there have long been allegations of abuse in some schools, and of pupils forced to beg for money on the streets.

One parent told Reuters news agency that they did not know their children would face "this kind of harsh condition".

The captives are sheltering at a camp where their families are arriving to identify them. Hafsat Muhammad Baba of the Kaduna state government told the BBC the government will continue to provide medical care for the men and boys.

Source: BBC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, September 26, 2019, presented its first witness against Isaac Fayose, who is standing trial for advance fee fraud before Justice Binta Muhammad of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Lugbe.

At the resumed trial today, the prosecution counsel, Jude Obozuwa, presented Joe Onyiuke as witness. He told the court that he met Isaac Fayose sometime in 2009 and that he later visited him visited in his office and told him about a project he was about to start.

. “Then I was working on classified assets as regional head. He took me to a property and told me it was given to him by his mother-in-law. It was a one storey building. He wanted to use it to fund a lounge or a restaurant,” Onyiuke said.

According to the witness, the property is located along Alex Ekwueme Road, opposite Jabi Lake, Abuja and hosts two churches, one, located upstairs and the other downstairs.

. “The church upstairs was moving out when we visited. He said the church downstairs belonged to his personal friend and that he would allow him to stay there temporarily. He told me it was a serious business that he wanted us to do and we had to enter into agreement for the project. .

“I released several amounts of money to him through one Samuel Ogala. But considering how far we have gone in the deal, I asked him about his own contribution. He gave me bogus figures and we agreed to appoint a quantity surveyor at that point and he came back and told me that he was no longer interested in the agreement,” the witness said.

Onyiuke told the court that there were evidences of the signed agreement between them adding that the first agreement was a joint venture agreement.

Mercy and Tacha may be disqualified or get strikes from the organizers of the Big Brother Naija show, for violence in the house.

There was serious drama in House on Friday which led to Tacha hitting Mercy. This happened after both housemates, engaged in a heated argument leading to what appears like a physical confrontation.

Seyi had earlier called on Mercy to come to the lounge so they can read Biggie’s scroll.

However, Mercy who just finished having her bath came out late for the reading. Tacha who was already boiling within, seized the opportunity to reign insults on Mercy.

Tacha said, ”You are a moron, remain there and don’t come out. clout chaser, old woman, you keep using your body to get everything you want. You have been using Ike to get what you want. You can’t stand eviction that is why you need Ike to help you.”

Mercy replied, ” You are very stupid, you Instagram beggar. Go and treat your body odour before you talk to me, you stink. At least, I have a boyfriend (Ike) to get me what I want what has your boyfriend done for you?”

During the argument, Tacha pushed Mercy and also dragged her weave twice, while Mercy who struggled to control her anger picked up a pressing iron but was stopped by Omashola.

Three persons were on Thursday, September 26, 2019 found guilty of criminal impersonation by the Federal High Court, Ibadan, and sentenced to prison terms.

The trio – Augustine Ekeson, Obinna Ureahi Ifeanyi and Osho Olalekan Micheal – were convicted in cases filed against them by the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Patricia Ajoku, after considering the facts of an amended one-count charge against Obinna and Ifeanyi, pronounced them guilty and sentenced them to two years imprisonment each.

The duo had earlier been arraigned on a three-count charge based on the allegations raised against them in a petitioned received from one Mobolade Dele Akinbuluma, a Doctoral student of the University of Ibadan.

Akinbuluma alleged that the accused hacked into her email account to misrepresent themselves as staff of a Kenyan university where she was to undertake a study as part of her doctorate programme.

She was, in the process, defrauded of N875,490 (Eight hundred and seventy five thousand four hundred and ninety Naira).

The duo pleaded not-guilty to the charge, but later approached the #EFCC for a plea bargain.

Following an agreement on the terms of the plea bargain, they were re-arraigned on Thursday on a one-count amended charge.

The latest charge reads: “That you Augustine Ekeson M and Obinna Ureahl Ifeanyi on or about the 3rd of December 2015 at Ibadan within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: fraudulently impersonated one Mrs. Lillian Igweta, a secretary to Professor Torto with intent to gain advantage for yourself and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22(4) of the same Act."

They pleaded guilty to the charge, prompting a prayer by the EFCC counsel, Ifeanyi Agwu, for their conviction.

The presiding judge accordingly sentenced them to two years imprisonment each.

Comedian AY's younger brother, Lanre Makun who is an event and stage manager celebrates 4 years wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife.

The Process and Industrial Development on Wednesday denied offering to negotiate with the Federal Government over a recent contentious judgment of a United Kingdom which affirmed that it is owed $9.6bn by Nigeria.

This came as both Nigeria and the firm are set for a legal showdown in a push by the Federal Government to have the controversial judgment set aside in the UK court on Thursday (today).

The P&ID’s denial of an out-of-court negotiation with Nigeria over the judgment, followed media reports that it made the offer to have talks with the Federal Government after its conviction for fraud, tax evasion and other sundry offences by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 19, 2019.

Responding to an e-mail enquiries by The PUNCH on Wednesday, an official of a London-based public relations firm, iNHouse Communications, which has been receiving and responding to public enquiries about P&ID in relation to the $9.6bn judgment, Chris Rogers, said such “suggestion” of an offer to negotiate with Nigeria was false.

“Any suggestion P&ID has made an offer of negotiation or that there is an offer the Nigerian government is considering is entirely false,” Rogers said.

Responding to an earlier enquiry if such negotiation was going on, Rogers said, on Wednesday, “I have checked, and any suggestion that negotiations have commenced is entirely false and incorrect”.

Earlier on September 1, the company expressed its readiness to negotiate with Nigeria over the $9.6bn judgment.

The company, however, advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to “appoint and authorised a party to enter into real negotiations” instead of what it called the Nigeria’s “baseless slander and sham investigations against P&ID and its founders”.

The firm said in a response to our correspondent’s enquiry, “If the Nigerian government is serious about a willingness to negotiate then it must do so in good faith.

“This means that the Buhari administration must acknowledge the reality of the rulings of the independent Tribunal and the English Commercial Court, desist from its campaign of baseless slander and sham investigations against P&ID and its founders and instead appoint an authorized party to enter into real negotiations.”

The Federal High Court in Abuja had on September 19 convicted and subsequently ordered the winding down of Process and Industrial Development Limited and its Nigerian affiliate, P&ID Nigeria Limited.

Justice Inyang Ekwo made the orders after the two firms, through their representatives, pleaded guilty to the 11 counts of fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and other sundry charges in connection with a year 2010 contract leading to the recent controversial judgment of a British court affirming the $9.6bn awarded in favour of the firm and against Nigeria by an arbitration panel in the UK.

In his judgment, which he delivered shortly after the representatives of the companies pleaded guilty to the charges, Justice Ekwo also ordered the forfeiture of “the assets and properties” of the two firms to the Nigerian government.

Swiftly reacting to the development, the firm described the trial and conviction as “sham and entirely illegitimate”.

The firm said the proceedings followed “a systematic campaign of harassment, intimidation and illegal detention of a number of individuals associated with P&ID or the Gas Supply Project Agreement contract”.

Rogers, in a response to The PUNCH’s request for the firm’s reaction to the conviction, quoting “a spokesperson for P&ID”, said, “Today’s sham trial in Nigeria is entirely illegitimate, and follows a systematic campaign of harassment, intimidation and illegal detention of a number of individuals associated with P&ID or the GSPA contract.

“The individuals detained have not been afforded due process and have instead been pressured and intimidated by the government into making false statements.”

It added, “None of the individuals involved are current employees or representatives of P&ID. P&ID itself has received no communication from any Nigerian authority about the investigation or today’s hearing.”

Also, members of the Federal Government delegation currently in London on Wednesday intensified efforts aimed at setting aside the judgment of a United Kingdom court that asked Process and Industrial Development Limited to seize $9.6bn in Nigerian assets.

The case is coming up in the UK court on Thursday (today).

Ahead of the court sitting however, the team consisting of top government officials and lawyers on Wednesday embarked on last minute meetings to ensure that Nigeria gets a favourable outcome.

A source close to the delegation told our correspondent that the team is not taking anything for granted.

According to him, members of the delegation continued their engagements with the media and foreign lawyers on Wednesday.

The Ministry of Information and Culture confirmed the last minute efforts in a series of messages it posted on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday.

The message read, “Hearing in the $9.6bn arbitration award to P&ID comes up in London on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

“FG’s delegation currently engaging with media and stakeholders in London, over the P&ID case.

“On Wednesday, the delegation held a series of engagements, starting with a stakeholders’ event, lunch with a leading Barristers’ Chambers in London and interviews with the BBC.

“The delegation includes HMIC Lai Mohammed, Attorney General and HMJ Abubakar Malami, IGP Abubakar Adamu, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, Ag. EFCC Chair Ibrahim Magu and AIG Ibrahim Lamorde.”

Lawyers in the team include the Director of Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice, Anne Akwiwu; a director from the CBN, S.K Salam-Alada; Timi Balogun; and Bradley Doline.

Others are a director in the EFCC, Bala Tsanga; a special counsel and prosecutor with the commission, Rotimi Oyedepo; and Senior State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Oyin Koleosho.

Malami had in an interview with journalists on Sunday said the Federal Government was still considering all options in its efforts at upturning the judgment of the UK court.

The minister was asked whether the government would be filing a new case based on recent developments, especially the conviction it secured against the firm in Abuja on Thursday or would build on the previous judgment.

Two representatives of the P&ID had last Thursday pleaded guilty before the Federal High Court in Abuja to charges of fraud and tax evasion instituted against them in respect of the contract leading to the controversial judgment.

On Sunday, the Minister of Justice said the government would adopt the option that would be most beneficial.

He said, “All cards are on the table, but it all depends on the one that has potency for setting aside the award having regards to the applicable law in the circumstances.”

Malami made it clear that the government team was not ruling out any possibility in tackling the issue.

He said, “No possibility is ruled out. The options available to us include the possibility of filing a new case and or using existing proceedings to seek relief of setting aside the award (of the contract). Nothing can be ruled out.”

Malami had also told Saturday PUNCH last Friday that the case had yet to reach an appeal level, but at the stage of determining whether or not the P&ID should be allowed to enforce the award of $9.6bn by an arbitration panel against Nigeria.

He said the Federal Government would tender before the court evidence that the Gas Supply Processing Agreement signed in 2010, which led to the judgment of the British court, was rooted in fraud and corrupt practices.

The minister said although the court had ruled that Nigeria should pay P&ID $9.6bn, it had yet to grant the firm the go-ahead to seize Nigeria’s assets in enforcement of the award given in favour of the firm.

The AGF said the Federal Government would tender, among others, the investigative report of the EFCC as well as Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, convicting P&ID Limited, which was incorporated on the British Virgin Island, and its Nigerian affiliate of fraud.

The AGF said the government would also tender the charges pending against firms and individuals who played one role or the other in the alleged fraudulent GSPA.

Meanwhile, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday, granted a N10m bail to a former Director, Legal Services of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Grace Taiga, who faces criminal charges connected with the controversial P&ID $9.6bn judgment.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi had on September 20, 2019, ordered her remand in Suleja prison in Niger State after the defendant pleaded not guilty to the eight counts preferred against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The judge subsequently fixed Wednesday for the hearing of her bail application.

Ruling on her bail application moved by her lawyer, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), the judge said on Wednesday he had the discretion to grant bail to the defendant.

He then granted her bail in the sum of N10m which must be guaranteed by two sureties in like sum.

The prosecution had opposed the bail application. Justice Adeniyi, however, ruled that the prosecution failed to convince her not to grant the bail.

He directed that the sureties to be produced by the defendant must include public servants not below directorate level and must be resident in Abuja.

The sureties are to depose to an affidavit of means.

He directed that the defendant must not travel outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.

The prosecution accused her of among other charges, receiving a bribe through her offshore bank account in signing, alongside the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, the late Rilwan Lukman, the Gas Supply Processing Agreement between the Process and Industrial Development Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry on January 11, 2019.

She was also accused of violating various laws by entering into the GSPA without a prior approval by the Federal Executive Council and a certificate of no-objection to the contract from the Bureau of Public Enterprise.

The charges are in connection with the controversial Gas Supply Processing Agreement which led to the recent $9.6bn judgment given against Nigeria and in favour of Process and Industrial Development by a British court.

Taiga was said to have signed as Nigeria’s witness to the GSPA while the then minister presiding over the ministry, the late Dr Rilwan Lukman, signed as Nigeria’s representative.

Culled From MSN - Punch NG

Popular Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson has been warned by fans over having a relationship with Big Brother Naija star, Tobi.

According to some of the fans who saw the photo, Tobi is some sort of a womanizer so the actress should be wary of her relationship with him.

In the photo, Yvonne Nelson was seen sitting in a car with Tobi as they both smiled excitedly.

After posting the photo, the actress captioned with an emoji which meant that she was happy to be with the handsome young man.

Fans of the actress, however, took to the comment section to write on suspicion that Yvonne Nelson and Tobi are dating:

@iam_m.i.m.i made an allegation against Tobi: “I’m suspecting u two. Warning Yvonne; please be careful, because Tobi na kiss and tell guy!”

@empress_amaka alleged that Tobi is a womanizer: “Be wary of Tobi, he is handsome and a womanizer. If you are going in for him, be ready for a broken heart.”

@aseke_alfred quizzed Yvonne Nelson over her relationship status: “Yvonne plz r u married, single or mingle??????? If u view my qstn playing answer me plz.”

@dorabulya asked Yvonne Nelson to be careful: “Becareful please. ..i love you yvonne.”

@9omi_ had this to say: “Mama I love you so much and I wouldn’t want to see you sad abeg stop this tobi stuff ooo tobi will tell ooooo.”

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Yvonne Nelson posted a photo of herself and the Nigerian actor.

In a publication by YEN.com.gh, the actress posted a beautiful photo of herself smiling in the arms of Tobi.

From the manner in which Tobi held her waist, fans claimed that the two actors have begun dating.

Lionel Messi says his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is only on the pitch.

Messi and Ronaldo were seen chatting at August's UEFA awards ceremony as Virgil van Dijk claimed the Men's Player of the Year award.

The same trio were nominated for the Best FIFA Men's Player award with Messi pipping Van Dijk into second and Ronaldo in third at Monday's Milan prizegiving.

Messi and Ronaldo have each won five Ballons d'Or having spent their careers vying for individual honours, as well as for team trophies with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively.

Released results for the Best FIFA Men's Player award showed Messi put Ronaldo second in his vote while the Portugal superstar did not include the Barcelona captain in his selection.

Asked why people are surprised to see him getting along with Ronaldo, Messi told FIFA's official website: "Because of the big sporting rivalry that's developed between us over the last few years. Because one us played for Barcelona and the other for Madrid, and because we won individual awards.

"People perhaps think the rivalry goes beyond football, but it doesn’t. We both want what’s best for our teams and neither of us like losing. It's something we don't accept.

"That's why there's that competitiveness between us. The important thing is that it stays there, out on the pitch."

Messi is now helping to develop Barcelona's 16-year-old forward Ansu Fati, who has exploded on to the scene in LaLiga this season.

"I really like him and I try to help and support him," the Argentina attacker added. "He's an amazing player and he's got what it takes to succeed.

"But if I look at it through my eyes, I'd like them to bring him on gradually, like they did with me when I started, taking things nice and easy and without putting pressure on him.

"You have to remember that he's only 16. I hope he keeps on enjoying it and that all the fuss around him doesn't have a negative impact on him because he has the quality to become one of the best."

An Egyptian masseur plays with fire to relieve his clients’ muscle pain at his spa in the Nile Delta governorate of Gharbeya.

Abdel Rehim Saeid, 35, applies the ancient Pharaonic technique, known as the “fiery towel” by starting with a standard massage, using oil and camomile, to stimulate blood circulation and alleviate some of the pain in affected areas.

Saeid places several layers of towels and other isolating materials on the client’s back. Then a towel soaked in alcohol is placed on top and set on fire. It burns for roughly a minute before the flames are put out with a wet towel.

“It is ...called a fiery massage,” Saeid said, that works by sucking moisture out of the body.

“I communicate with the human body, coming into close contact with the body of the human in front of me,” he said.

Saeid said he cannot use the technique with people suffering from high blood pressure, kidney failure or haemophilia.

He said he trained under an expert in the fiery towel technique in Morocco, and had earned several massage certifications from institutions in Egypt.

Mohammed al-Shaer, a client in his 30s, said his pain had improved “100%” after the fiery treatment.

“Before, I could not stand to pray. I couldn’t stretch my back when I got out of a car,” he said. “Now, after the second session, my body is getting better and my movement is better. I used to be very lazy but this is no longer the case.”