Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has expressed shock over the Abule Ado explosion in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, which claimed 17 lives.

He said his prayers go to worshippers and residents affected by the pipeline explosion in parts of Abule Ado, in Amuwo-Odofin LGA of Lagos state, especially to those who lost loved ones.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to mobilise a robust response immediately.

Sending my prayers to worshippers and residents affected by the pipeline explosion in parts of Abule Ado, in Amuwo-Odofin LGA of Lagos state, especially to those who lost loved ones. I call on the Goverment to mobilise a robust response immediately. -AA

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) March 15, 2020

“Sending my prayers to worshippers and residents affected by the pipeline explosion in parts of Abule Ado, in Amuwo-Odofin LGA of Lagos state, especially to those who lost loved ones. I call on the Goverment to mobilise a robust response immediately,” he tweeted.

The Trump administration offered as much as $1billion to a German company working on a coronavirus vaccine to make it available for exclusive use by the U.S., a German newspaper reported on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump approached scientists employed by CureVac, a German pharmaceutical company based in Tuebingen, and tried to lure them to work for the U.S., Welt am Sonntag reported.

Trump’s lucrative offer was explicitly made to secure any future vaccine “only for the U.S.,” the newspaper said, citing anonymous sources in the German government.

According to the report, the German government has countered the U.S. offer with its own funds in an attempt to keep the company in Germany.

When approached for comment, the German Health Ministry referred German news agency, DPA to an earlier statement made to the paper:

“The government is very keen that a vaccine against the novel coronavirus is developed in Germany and in Europe,” a spokesperson said.

“The government is in intensive discussions to that end with the CureVac company,” the spokesperson added.

CureVac is reportedly working with the Paul Ehrlich Institute, a German body responsible for approving vaccines and pharmaceuticals, on a coronavirus vaccine.

In a report due to be published in the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper on Monday, CureVac’s investors said they would never consider working on an exclusive vaccine for the United States.

“We want to develop a vaccine for the whole world and not for individual states,” Christof Hettich, director and co-founder of dievini Hopp BioTech Holding, which is CureVac’s chief investor, told the paper.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has disclosed that 15 people were burnt to death in Sunday’s pipeline explosion that rocked Abule Ado area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

NEMA’s Southwest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye told PM News that 15 people died in the explosion and many others injured.

He added that over 50 houses were destroyed by the explosion, saying emergency agencies were on ground rescue people stranded.

A massive explosion was heard on Sunday morning, accompanied with thick smokes and balls of fire. The explosion shook several houses miles away from the scene.

The explosion reverberated and shook houses several miles away. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA’s spokesman, Nosa Okunbor said the explosion might be from the pipeline.

“We were debating in my house where the sound came from and then, my sister called some friends in Satellite who confirmed it happened in their area and Abule Ado,” said Precious, who lived closed to the area.

An army personnel who craved anonymity said the explosion occurred behind Oando Gas Station at Abule Ado.

Emergency management officials were seen evacuating the remains of several dead victims.

The headquarters of the Lagos Province 3 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) located on 24 Road, Festac Town, Lagos was burnt along with over 70 buildings.

A parish of the First Baptist Church near the RCCG parish also lost a part of its roof to the explosion.

The roof of a parish of the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) located at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, was also blown off by the explosion which equally shattered the roof of the Ark Parish of the RCCG at 1st Avenue, many kilometers away from the explosion scene.

The Bethel Secondary School, a boarding school owned by the Catholic Church in Abule Ado, was brought down by the explosion, with many of its students injured and some feared dead.

Many other buildings very far from the explosion scene in Abule Ado, Festac Extension in Amuwo Odofin LGA, were also brought down while many others shook during the explosion that threw thousands of residents in panic and confusion.

The Odic Plaza, a motor parts mall and warehouse, Bush Bar Hotel, Green Horse Plaza which houses tyres, Arch Angel Catholic Church, Chino Plaza with many goods in it, and a mechanic village, all located inside the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, were all hit by the explosion.

National leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Sunday said powerful forces in the party want the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole out of office because of their 2023 inordinate political ambition.

He said such plotters knew that if Oshiomhole was around, their 2023 political ambition would fail.

The former governor of Lagos State in a statement on Sunday said while Coronavirus had been presently contained in Nigeria, the nation must be alert to another sickness that seemed rampant within a certain segment of society, saying that sickness was old Ambition-virus 2023, adding that this illness afflicted many in the political class along with their allies in the media.

According to him, those touched by this malady found that their ability to tell time and discern the difference between the present and the future had been strongly impaired and that the carriers of this sickness were confused as to the very season the nation now found itself.

Tinubu said those plotting the downfall of Oshiomhole launched their attack solely because they perceived the chairman as an obstacle to their 2023 ambitions, saying that people went to court knowing full well the party constitution prohibited such action because these people had not yet exhausted all internal disciplinary procedures.

He stated that “We even had a national deputy secretary improperly call for a NEC meeting on the basis that he believed himself the acting national chairman. Clearly, this man would not have summoned the temerity to make such a move had he not been instigated by powerful individuals who he thought would reward or, at least, protect him for committing the wrongful act.

“Those engaged in these manoeuvres see themselves as clever or cunning. They do so because they only understand the mean craft of political intrigue. They have yet to understand the value and long-term utility of democratic governance. Thus, they embark on the strangest of quest. They would rather dismantle and weaken the institutional core of their party just to gain control of that weakened edifice in order to pilfer the party nomination, which they crave. This is more than sad.”

Tinubu stated that “many of us expended sweat, tears, toil and sleepless nights to build this party. Our personal sacrifices were not insignificant. We built this party not simply as a vehicle for personal ambition. We built the party because we saw it as perhaps the only enduring hope to bring progressive governance to this nation. Those who now seek to abuse the party by using it as their personal device do it great harm.

“They should not be allowed to sacrifice this collective enterprise at the altar of their self-aggrandizement. Somehow, some way they should find in themselves the bearing to adhere to the democratic spirit on which the party was founded. To be an APC member means more than merely carrying a membership card. It means to believe in a set of ideals and principles geared to our highest purpose as a party and a nation.”

Tinubu said in a broader context, those afflicted with the 2023 virus did a grave disservice to President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration and that they should be trying their best to help the president, saying that instead of seeing Buhari as their present leader and commander-in-chief, their sole contemplation was upon his eventual exit.

“Yet, not even a full year has passed since his second inaugural. How can they be committed to helping him realise his mandate when the fullness of their gaze is affixed to seizing this very mandate for themselves? The President is faced with many challenges. He is fighting hard on security to keep the population safe. He is pushing for economic reforms that will augur future sustainable growth.

“His disdain for corruption remains unwavering. Add to it now the Corona crisis and its resultant social as well as economic impact. Politicians express loyalty to him but the words of too many of our politicians are like butter under a burning sun; they melt quickly away. Better to be loyal in deed. Instead of trying to manipulate party and other mechanisms solely to their political gain, it is time to shelve political intrigue for the time being. It is time for all party members to truly see what is at stake and work with Mr. President for the collective good of the nation,” he stated.

“This means we must rally around President Buhari. Instead of everyone saying they are working for the party and nation but going their separate ways based on their selfish designs, we must help him build a stronger national consensus on policies that will ensure safety and bring greater prosperity. If need be and when called upon, we must offer ideas and suggestions that move policy and progress forward. This is the time for governance. It is not the moment to bring the politics of 2023 into 2020.

“In due course, 2023 shall come. Nothing can prevent it. However, that time is not today. If we are earnest, the present offers sufficient work and challenges for us without trying to add to it by rushing the future. Let us dedicate our energies to helping President Buhari win the present. In this way, you better secure the future for the nation, the party and even for whatever personal ambitions you may nurture,” he added.

Political bigwigs, such as Dino Melaye, Femi Fani-Kayode and others have taken over Nollywood, as they are currently on set for the film, titled: ‘Silent Prejudice’ Season two.

Fani-Kayode, politician and former Aviation Minister, had said recently that he had made his Nollywood debut, featuring in movie series, titled: “Silent Prejudice.”

He also displayed a picture of himself with Melaye and others on set on his Facebook wall on Saturday and he said “Another day on the set of my debut Nollywood film titled ‘Silent Prejudice’. We were filming at the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja. It was great fun!”

Also in the movie are Nollywood greats, Larry Koldsweat, Obi Idejimba and T.T. Temple.

The movie also has politicians, such Chief Dan Iwuanyawu, Senator Dino Melaye and former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife. Fani-Kayode’s wife, Precious was also on set.

The film is produced by Mr. Chris Oge Kalu.

The series is about the evils associated with the Osu cast system and has the full endorsement and participation of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission whose Executive Secretary, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, also makes an appearance.

The FBI and other US Federal agents have arrested twenty-four individuals, among them Nigerians, for their involvement in a large-scale fraud and money laundering operation that targeted citizens, corporations, and financial institutions throughout the United States.

Two of the Nigerians, Afeez Olaide Adeniran and Blessing Ojo face a separate charge of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Adeniran defrauded a homebuyer of $40,000 intended for a real estate transaction.

“The indictment alleges that due to a computer intrusion and false invoicing scam, Ojo caused a media company in California to send payments totalling $89,140 to a bank account controlled by one of the defendants. In total, the victim sent $646,840, as a result of the fraud”.

Using Business email compromise schemes, romance fraud scams, and retirement account scams, among other frauds, the suspects duped numerous victims into losing more than $30 million, the Department of Justice, Northern District of Georgia announced on Friday.

The arrests followed a similar crackdown by FBI on scores of Nigerian fraudsters in California and some other parts last August.

“Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and facilitated by these defendants, inflict considerable losses on citizens, companies, and the financial system,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak.

“Some of these schemes target the elderly and often deplete the victims’ entire life savings. These arrests affirm the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who prey on our most vulnerable citizens.”

“The FBI would like to thank our numerous federal, state and local law enforcement partners who helped make these arrests possible,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. Hopefully the arrests and pending prosecutions will at least give them solace that someone is being held accountable for their losses.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the indictment, and other information presented in court: The defendants served as money launderers for other individuals throughout the world who conducted cyber-enabled fraud, including business email compromise schemes, romance scams, and retirement account scams, targeted at companies and individuals across the United States.

The defendants and co-conspirators facilitated BEC schemes, romance scams, and retirement account scams by receiving and distributing fraudulent funds throughout the United States and the world. Over the course of the conspiracy, the defendants and their co-conspirators laundered over $30 million in fraud proceeds. The defendants created multiple sham companies that did not have physical premises, earn legitimate income, or pay wages to employees. In turn, the defendants opened business bank accounts at multiple financial institutions to facilitate receipt of the fraudulent money. The defendants also opened personal bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds, often using false identities and victims’ identities. After funds were deposited into the defendants’ bank accounts, the money was quickly withdrawn from the accounts and circulated among the defendants.

The following individuals have been charged with money laundering conspiracy:

Darius Sowah Okang, a/k/a Michael J. Casey, a/k/a Richard Resser, a/k/a Thomas Vaden, a/k/a Michael Lawson, a/k/a Matthew Reddington, a/k/a Michael Little, 29, of Stone Mountain, Georgia;
Dominique Raquel Golden, a/k/a Desire Tamakloe, a/k/a Mellissa Moore, a/k/a Nicole Nolay, a/k/a Raquel Roberts, a/k/a Maria Henderson, a/k/a Raquel Golden, 29, of Houston, Texas;
Blessing Oluwatimilehin Ojo, a/k/a “Timmy,” 34, of Nigeria;
George Kodjo Edem Adatsi, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Desire Elorm Tamakloe, a/k/a “Chubby,” 25, of Smyrna, Georgia;
Solomon Agyapong, a/k/a “Gumpe,” 31, of Marietta, Georgia;
Afeez Olaide Adeniran, a/k/a “Ola,” 31, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Francesco Benjamin, a/k/a “B-More,” 30, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Jonathan Kojo Agbemafle, a/k/a “Skinny,” 26, of Kansas City, Missouri;
Joshua Roberts, a/k/a “Onyx,” 28, of Houston, Texas;
Hamza Abdallah, a/k/a Reggie Lewis, 30, of McDonough, Georgia;
Prince Sheriff Okai, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
Kelvin Prince Boateng, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Monique Wheeler, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Matthan Bolaji Ibidapo, a/k/a “B.J.,” 27, of Colorado Springs, Colorado;
Stephen Abbu Jenkins, a/k/a “Face,” a/k/a Steven Abbu Jenkins, Steven Jenkins, Steve Jenkins, 53, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Kahlia Andrea Siddiqui, 28, of Chamblee, Georgia;
Alexus Ciera Johnson, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
Abubakar Sadik Ibrahim, 26, of Mableton, Georgia;
Emanuela Joe Joseph, 34, of Lawrenceville, Georgia;
Obinna Nwosu, 26, of Douglasville, Georgia;
Ojebe Obewu Ojebe, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia; and
Gregory Thomas Hudson, 38, of Powder Springs, Georgia.

Darius Sowah Okang is also charged with one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Okang created a bank account in a retirement scam victim’s name, which was then used to deposit approximately $288,000 in funds fraudulently withdrawn from the victim’s retirement account.

In addition, two related cases charging additional defendants with various counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and conspiracies to commit these offenses are currently pending in federal court in Atlanta. These defendants include:

Benjamin Ibukunoluwa Oye, 26, of Sandy Springs, Georgia;
Tyler Keon Roussell, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Christopher Akinwande Awonuga, 27, of Fayetteville, Georgia;
Casey Broderick Williams, 26, of Covington, Georgia;
Macario Lee Nelson, a/k/a “Mac,” 24, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Chadrick Jamal Rhodes, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Chadwick Osbourne Stewart, 40, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Oumar Bouyo Mbodj, 28, of Kennesaw, Georgia;
Seth Appiah Kubi, 60, of Dacula, Georgia;
Ahamefule Aso Odus, 27, of Atlanta, Georgia;
Paul Chinonso Anyanwu, 27, of Hampton, Georgia;
Egale Veonzell Woods, Jr., 41, of East Point, Georgia;
Chineda Obilom Nwakadu, 25, of McDonough, Georgia;
Chukwukadibia Ikechukwu Nnadozie, a/k/a “Chuka,” a/k/a Michael McCord, 27, of Fayetteville, Georgia;
Uchechi Chidimma Odus, a/k/a “Uche,” 23, of Atlanta, Georgia;
John Ifeoluwa Onimole, 27, of Powder Springs, Georgia; and
Oluwafunmilade Onamuti, a/k/a Mathew Kelvin, 26, of Duluth, Georgia.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictments only contain charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove each defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly K. Connors, Russell Phillips, and John Ghose are prosecuting the case.

Source: PM Express

Gambian-born Nollywood actress, Princess Shyngle, on Saturday confirmed she is bisexual.

She confirmed this in an Instagram exchange with some of her followers.

View this post on Instagram

I’ll answer the first 20 people with the truth 😂❤️💃🏽 let’s have some fun 💃🏽🥰❤️ no stupid questions though 😉

A post shared by Princess Shyngle🇬🇲 (@princesshyngle) on Mar 13, 2020 at 9:03am PDT

The actress, who was reported to have had a love relationship with Burna Boy in 2018, said the conversation with her followers was to counter rumours about her.

She wrote: Rumour challenge. Tell me what you’ve heard about me, let me tell you the truth.

One of her followers went ahead to tell her about the rumours of her being a lesbian and she replied: “I’m bisexual.”

See exchange below;

A very loud pipeline explosion that shook several houses rocks Abule Ado area of Ojo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Sunday morning.

Thick smokes and balls of fire envelop the atmosphere as panic struck residents who scampered to safety.

View From Festac.

The explosion reverberated and shook houses several miles away.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA’s spokesman, Nosa Okunbor said the explosion might be that of pipeline explosion.

“LASEMA Team Heading to Abule Ado, Trade Fair axis for investigation of alleged pipeline explosion. Awaiting details and preliminary reports,” he said.

“That explosion shook my house. It woke me from sleep. It was so loud and scary.

“We were debating in my house where the sound came from and then, my sister called some friends in Satelite who confirmed it happened in their area and Abule Ado,” said Precious, who lived closed to the area.

An army personnel who craved anonymity said the explosion occurred behind Oando Gas Station at Abule Ado.

UPDATE

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says Sunday’s explosion which occurred at Abule Ado, Trade Fair axis of Lagos State was not caused by a disruption of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) oil pipeline.

Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Acting Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office, NEMA, made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Farinloye said that contrary to information earlier put out on the social media, the explosion which occurred at about 9a.m. was unconnected to pipeline vandalism.

“From the information given by officials of the Lagos State Fire Service who are currently on ground, the implosion is not connected to pipeline but might have occurred in a factory located in the Abule Ado area.

“Emergency responders are on ground while others are still on their way to the scene. The situation is under control and we hope to get more information soon to ascertain its cause,” he said.

Farinloye said the NNPC had shutdown the pipeline passing through the area as a precautionary measure after the oil company was notified of the incident.

He also confirmed that several buildings were affected by the explosion which was heard several kilometers away in many parts of the state including Amuwo Odofin, Ijegun, and Agege.

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai flew to Lagos on Saturday to do a book launch and also visit with his friend, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, continuing where he stopped on Friday.

Pastor Tunde Bakare, leader of the Latter Rain Assembly hosted the Lagos re-launch of El-Rufai’s book, These Times. The book was first launched in Kaduna in February to mark El-Rufai’s 60th birthday.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Hadiza Bala Usman, managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority attended the event, along with other dignitaries.

After the book launch, which El Rufai, in company of Bakare, Hadiza and his special adviser, Jimi Lawal went to visit with Muhammadu Sanusi II, who was removed on Monday as Emir of Kano by Governor Abdullahi `Ganduje.

On Friday, El-Rufai had visited Sanusi in the Nasarawa town of Awe, where the police and the DSS detained Sanusi after his dethronement.

As it turned out, El-Rufai’s was a liberating visit, as a Federal High Court in Abuja the same day ordered the Emir’s release by his captors.

And thus El-Rufai and Sanusi, after the Jumat prayer, left Awe, to Lafia, capital of Nasarawa state, then moved to Abuja, where Sanusi boarded a private jet to Lagos. He arrived 11.35pm.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth Ebrimson, on Thursday 12th of March, 2020, paraded one of the most wanted armed robbers, who reportedly disappears any time he was about to be arrested or sought after.
The deadly robber was arrested alongside his gang members at Akure in Ondo State.

According to the Commissioner of Police, CP Kenneth, the robbery gang is one of those terrorizing Akure and its environs but they ran out of luck as they were traced and busted during one of their deadly operations by the IGP Special Tactical Squad Abuja, Ayetoro Annex, Ogun State led by DSP Toyin Omosebi.
According to the report, on 28th February 2020, at about 1000hours, the Squad received information that a gang of armed robbers, who had been terrorizing Akure metropolis and had been difficult to arrest were planning to carry out their devilish act.

The Squad sprang into action and went straight after them; they accosted and arrested one of them, a 52 years old man, who allegedly had the tendency to disappear from the scene of crime to avoid arrest.

The suspect, Ojo, a.k.a Mayehun, is one of the deadliest armed robbers in Akure due to his magical act of disappearing and had escaped many arrests.

On the faithful day, in the hands of the STS, he could not disappear, he pleaded to cooperate with the Police and also confessed that the very night he was arrested he had just finished holding meeting with his gang members and they were planning to meet the next hour for another operation. He cooperated with the Tactical Squad and controlled his gang members to meet him; they all came, were arrested and the evil operation was voided.

Speaking, the suspect, Ojo, who has a wife and two children residing in Lagos but lives alone in Owo Akure, where he carries out his evil act, said, “I am a robber; I rob people houses with my gang and also steal vehicles from the park. I have stolen nine cars and given them to a dealer, Olatunbosun Oladimeji, who is also here”.

Ojo also confessed to have been to prison three times and had spent about forty years of his life in prison. According to him, he stole and he was charged to Court for stealing and he spent four years in prison. At the Olokuta prison in Akure, he mingled with other convicted robbers, who introduced him to other robbers outside the prison.

Ojo also confessed that after leaving the prison, he located the robbery gang he was introduced to inside the prison and started robbery again. He was arrested the second time for same robbery and was in prison for twelve years. Ojo said he came out and since he did not learn any trade and could not do any other work, he went back to armed robbery. He was later arrested, charged to Court and the judge sentenced him to ten years imprisonment.

He said, “I was charged to Court and sentenced to ten years imprisonments and as I was led out of the Court by the prosecutor, I hit the prosecutor hard on the head with the handcuffs on my hands in the bid to escape but I was rounded up and could not escape. Blood gushed out of the prosecutor’s head which made the Judge to change and increased his charge from ten years to fourteen years imprisonment”.

“I came out after fourteen years to form another gang and then sought for protection against arrest. That was why I did the disappearing powers, called afęęri in Yoruba, through my herbalist who is now late.

The afęęri enabled me to be invisible whenever I go for robbery and Police are after me. I have disappeared twice in the hands of some officers which led to their dismissal.

On why he could not disappear in the hands of the Tactical officers, he said before then the charm on him had expired because he was asked not to go near a woman which he did.

The other suspect arrested also confessed to the crime and the 53-year old dealer, Olatunbosun Oladimeji, who hails from Iloro, Ekiti State, also confessed to have collected all the stolen vehicles from the robbers and displayed at his car stand in Akure.

The dealer bought guns for the gang. He said he did not know they wanted to use the gun for robbery but he confessed to have given the suspect, Ojo, N100,000 which he used to acquire two guns but said that he later got to know about the gun.

He collected all the stolen vehicles but has not sold any because he lost his wife and has not been able to stay in his office to sell the cars.

Suspects arrested included 38 years old Thompson Lawrence from Akure, 32 years old bricklayer, Abdul Umar from Adari in Kogi State, 50 years old Ojo Kayode a.k.a afęęri, from Akure, 43 years old okada rider, Ola Adegbite, from Akure, 42 years old tailor, Sunday Oloye, from Akure and 35 years old Dare Dedeigbo from Owo, Ondo State.

Recovered from the robbery gang were two locally made pistols, one hundred and five live cartridges, five locally made guns, five cutlasses with fifty pieces of blade used in cutting people’s net, a big stick and eight vehicles.

Source : PM Express