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.”