Vibesngists Blog

T he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced Thursday, 16 July for the passing out ceremony of 2019 Batch “B” Stream ll Corps Members. According to a statement signed by Director, Press and Public Relations of the scheme, measures have been put in place to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, hence, the event will be low-key, with qualified corps members collecting their Certificates of National Service (CNS) at the local government level.

The remainder of the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League season has been mapped out, and it is not just dates and venues that have changed. UEFA.com runs through the key amendments.

The country’s fiscal state faces tougher times as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bowed to pressure, last week, and further devalued the local currency. The adjustment of the exchange rate at the busiest window is coming three months after the local currency was similarly devalued by 24.6 per cent, a decision that has worsened the inflationary pressure and interest rate.

The Federal Government has just announced that schools under its control will not be reopening for the forthcoming West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams. This was disclosed in a tweet post by the aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Tolu Ogunlesi from his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, July 8, 2020.

The two Abuja homes of the suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, were tooth-combed by security agents on Tuesday Operatives of State Security Service and riot policemen stormed Mr. Magu’s private home in Karu and his official residence in Maitama in Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday suspended Magu, according to multiple sources familiar with the case.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has authorized the relaxation of total lockdown on markets in the state as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Governor, markets in Imo State can now open for full operations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Uzodimma gave this direction while addressing leaders of Imo State Amalgamated Traders Association (ISAMATA) led by their Chairman, Chief Don-Chris Okere at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri. He said that the measure is taken to ensure that the economy of the state is not completely crippled and to make Imo people survive alongside their businesses as source of livelihood. The Governor challenged the Market Leaders on their pledge to comply with all the Covid-19 protocols which he enumerated to include: provision of temperature check, hand washing buckets, wearing of face mask by both the traders and buyers, observing of social distancing but most importantly, ensuring clean environments and high level of hygien...

Eyewitness video shows Phillip Blanks – a former college wide receiver – sprint to the scene of a third-floor apartment fire in Phoenix before catching a small child thrown from a balcony;  

The Presidency on Tuesday declared that the ongoing probe of the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is an affirmation that nobody under the present administration is above scrutiny. According to facts made available to State House correspondents by a source in the presidency who pleaded anonymity, the interrogation of the anti-graft agency boss is to give him the opportunity to clear himself of weighty allegations.

This man from Togo is where Nigerians especially the Yorubas, troupe to for money rituals, police recently raided the compound and discovered 2000 people who have been dried like rockfish, 500 persons buried alive and thousands of skeletons.

A 24-year-old Nigerian woman has exposed her 44-year old Pastor dad who has been sleeping with her since 2015. The man identified as Oluwafemi Oyebola is a pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Ogo Oluwa parish in Ogun state. Oyebola was arrested following a complaint by his 24 – year-old daughter, who asked to remain anonymous. The girl reported at the Owode-Egbado divisional headquarters that her father has been forcefully having carnal knowledge of her since 2015 shortly after the demise of her mother. She told the Police that she got pregnant for her father three times but he took her to a nurse where those pregnancies were terminated. The distraught and pregnancy – weary daughter also told the Police after termination of the third pregnancy, the father did family planning for her so as not to get pregnant any longer. But when it dawned on her that her father was all out to ruin her life, she ran away from home and reported her ordeals to an Non Governmental Organisation – A...

The Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Ibrahim Gambari, has met with the presidential probe panel investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agenda of the meeting between Mr Gambari and members of the panel headed by retired Justice Ayo Salami was unknown at the time of filing this report. Sources had earlier confirmed that Mr Magu was on Tuesday afternoon suspended from office following the ongoing investigation by the presidential panel.

Aminu Adisa Logun, the chief of staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara has died, the state government announced Tuesday evening. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said in a statement sent to Press, “With total submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, we wish to announce the passing of the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Kwara State Aminu Adisa Logun (min). “Logun, an industrialist, a public intellectual, and an elder statesman, died Tuesday evening of complications from COVID-19. He died only a few hours after the test of his result returned positive.

Former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday said he was not in anyway involved in the payment of pension fraudsters and that he only inherited the fraud from his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha. Ihedioha spoke in Owerri, through the former executive chairman of Pension Commission, Chime Aliliele, after the state government published names of eight persons who received N330 million annually as pension from its probe on pension fraud in Imo State. According to Aliliele, “I have received hundreds of phone calls and WhatsApp messages in reference to a Vanguard publication on July 4, 2020 under the above heading. As the executive chairman of Imo State Pension Commission under the Rebuild Imo administration of Rt Hon Emeka Ihedioha, CON, I am forced once again for the second time since we left office to make clarifications on unfounded allegations against our pension reforms by the present government.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus. He took the test, his fourth, on Monday after developing symptoms, including a high temperature. Mr Bolsonaro has repeatedly played down the risks posed by the virus, calling it "a little flu" and saying that he would not be seriously affected by it. He has also urged regional governors to ease lockdowns, which he says hurt the economy, and on Monday he watered down regulations on wearing face masks.

The federal government has threatened to impose a fresh lockdown in another two weeks. This follows the increasing rate of COVID-19 cases in the country, especially among people in authority. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Monday lamented that it was directly affecting governance and security in the country. Mustapha, speaking at the task force press briefing in Abuja, admitted the possibility of ordering a fresh total lockdown to curtail further spread of the virus.

In the United States when charges are brought, the charges are made for victims within the jurisdiction where the charges are brought.   Rather than listing every possible crime, the staff of the top prosecutor in that district, known as Assistant United States Attorneys, brings charges for crimes where the victims or the activities occurred within their jurisdiction.  Because of the prominence of these case, a cybercrime special prosecutor from the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section of the Department of Justice is assisting in prosecuting these cases.  In these cases, Hushpuppi is being charged in Los Angeles, California, and Mr. Woodberry (Jacob Olalekan Ponle) is being charged in Chicago, Illinois.  Both men arrived in Chicago, on 02JUL2020 after being expelled from the United Arab Emirates.

Sprouting Songstress, Vivada, knots nuptial ties with Hubby

The Imo State Police Command has arrested two suspected kidnappers allegedly working for the notorious kidnap kingpin, Osisikankwu in Abia state. The press gathered that the suspects, Ozoemena Onyekachi Goodluck popularly known as 4040 and Agbakwuruchi Stanley Uchenwa from Umulolo Amato Amuzu in Aboh-Mbaise LGA of Imo state, allegedly escaped during the 2018 raid of Osisikankwo kidnap hideout. The gang, according to reports, was responsible for the kidnap of one Chidinma Uchegbu who is a native of Umuedo Obohia in Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA of Imo state.

A Nigerian influencer who posted photos of his life of luxury on private jets has been arrested amid claims of a £350million cyberscam.  The FBI seized more than £30million in cash when they stormed the apartment of 38-year-old Raymond Abbas in Dubai when he was sleeping.   Investigators say the Instagram star portrayed a billionaire lifestyle in order to 'lure victims from all over the world'. Twelve other people were arrested in raids for their alleged involvement in the cyberscam. It is believed that investigators found email addresses of two million victims on several phones and computers seized during the operation.  

A congressional candidate is receiving widespread ridicule for sharing an outlandish conspiracy theory about Beyoncé's heritage in a bizarre Twitter rant on Saturday. KW Miller, who is running to represent Florida’s 18th Congressional District in November, claimed the 24-time Grammy winner is 'not even African American.'  'She is faking this for exposure. Her real name is Ann Marie Lastrassi. She is Italian,' he tweeted. 'This is all part of the Soros Deep State agenda for the Black Lives Matter movement.'   At the end of the same tweet, he fired: 'BEYONCE YOU ARE ON NOTICE!”  In addition to his baseless allegation, Miller went on to contend that the mother-of-three, who is married to rapper Jay-Z, created a 'secret coded message to the globalists' in her hit song Formation. 

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, on Monday said consultations were on for another phase of repair works to begin on the Third Mainland Bridge.  Popoola told the Newsmen that the consultations were towards evolving perfect traffic management architecture. “We want to do maintenance work on Third Mainland Bridge very soon. Most likely on the 24th. We may close it from 24th of July. “We are still working out the modalities and when we perfect the traffic management plan we will move to site. “Everything being expected for the repairs of the bridge arrived the country that is why we want to start the repairs now,’’ he said. 

According to reports on Sahara Reporters,  A petition has been written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission calling for the investigation of Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State; Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Muhammed Inuwa; Commissioner for Local Government and some other government officials in over N300bn financial misappropriation. The petition was also used to urge the anti-graft agency to investigate unlawful cash withdrawal, stealing and diversion of over 340 new vehicles belonging to 34 local government and as well as the illegal and unlawful approval and release of N500m to the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress for the party’s June national convention. The financial misappropriation was alleged to have been carried out between 2015 and 2018 in contravention of extant rules and financial regulations and constitutions of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). 

The N2.2bn fraud trial of a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, and a firm, Spotless Investment Limited, was stalled on Monday over the inability of the prosecution to bring its witness to court, a report by PUNCH said. The prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos that a relative of the witness scheduled to come had been admitted into a COVID-19 isolation centre.

Fidelity Bank Plc has announced that two of its Board members: Mr. Ernest Ebi (MFR) who has been serving as Chairman, Board of Directors and Mr. Seni Adetu who has been serving as an Independent Non-Executive Director, having successfully completed their tenure in accordance with the Bank’s internal governance policy, will be stepping down from the Board. Under the Chairmanship of Mr. Ernest Ebi, the Bank recorded significant growth across key financial metrics with both Messrs. Ebi and Adetu playing significant roles, complementing management effort in the delivery of these milestones; in service of the long term vision of the Bank. The Bank’s market share position has also been materially strengthened over this period.

Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has announced eight persons fraudulently receiving N330million annually as pension. The Governor said the indicted persons who received their pensions annually are:  Ajokubi H. A (N65, 685, 491. 00);  Njoku Damian (N5,042,439.58);  Obasi Canice (N3,460, 366.64);  Anyanwu F. N (N3,150, 336. 00);  Emenalo Theresa (N 3,058, 592.00);  John Sunday (N2,320624. 00) and  Ajaegbo E. O (N2,298,910.34). Uzodinma said the eight persons were earning N330million annually as pension. He said a retired judge was earning N300,000 monthly above what was due to him as pension and a late Secretary to the State Government(SSG) was still earning pension many years after his death. The Governor made the announcement at a meeting with the leadership of organized labour comprising the Nigerian labour Congress (NLC), the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at Government House.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Cross River chapter has withdrawn its services from all medical facilities in the state. This was relayed in a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, from the state chairman of the association, Agam Ayuk, on Sunday. Ayuk wondered why the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), was not including Cross River in its daily COVID-19 update. Cross River is the only state in Nigeria where no single case of COVID-19 has been officially confirmed. The association claimed five positive cases had their tests done at an NCDC-approved laboratory, but their results were not been published in the agency’s situation report.

The Secretary to the Ondo State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde, has resigned his appointment. Abegunde confirmed his resignation to Channels Television on Monday. Although he did not give any reason for his decision, the former SSG said he would make his next line of action known soon.

The Buhari-led Federal Government has announced a 60% debt cancellation and a further 40% discount on licensing fees for all broadcast stations operating in the country effective from July 10, 2020. The measures are part of moves to inject financial stability in the broadcast industry in the wake of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to reports on SaharaReporters ,  In the sharing formular, each member of the leadership of the Assembly is allocated 500 slots; each senator got 200 slots and each House of Representatives member was given 150 slots. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouq, finally fulfilled her commitment to convert the N-Power scheme to political patronage.  Contrary to the failed attempt by the Nigerian Senate’s spokesperson to defend the allocation of N-Power slots to the parliamentarians and other politicians, SaharaReporters can authoritatively confirm the breakdown of allocation of slots to the National Assembly. 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced new appointments and redeployments in the National Oil Company, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and reposition NNPC for greater efficiency, transparency and profitability in line with the Next Level Agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. Mr. Adokiye Tombomieye, the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD), has been appointed the new Chief Operating Officer (COO), Upstream while Mr. Mohammed Abdulkabir Ahmed, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), has been appointed the new Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services, following the retirement of Engr. Farouk Garba Sa’id, last week.

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has lamented that some pensioners in the state were earning a whopping N330 million yearly as pension. He vowed to publish the names of those involved soon. The governor also said that he had set in motion the process of integrating Imo pensioners into the National Contributory Pensions Scheme as a way of enhancing good governance. Uzodimma, who spoke in a meeting with the leadership of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Owerri, said that out of 13,800 primary school teachers, only 9,000 were found to be real, as over 4,800 were ghost workers. He said: “I’ll soon publish names of those who earn above N330m per annum as pension for Imo people to know. "Government will no more make use of micro finance banks for payments of salaries and pensions because they are no clearing house for BVN holders so that pensioners can be paid directly.” He expressed delight that everything concerning pensions and salaries of Imo workers have been automated to...

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has tested negative for coronavirus. (COVID-19). It will be recalled that the governor who tested positive for the virus penultimate week has been in self isolation where he has equally been receiving treatment. However, a repeat test of the virus on his samples carried out by the officials of the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC Friday night has returned negative.

A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has described as irresponsible and cheap politics, a statement credited to the All Progressives Congress, which tried to link him with a cyber-crime suspect, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, who was recently arrested in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States. This is contained in a statement titled, “Cyber Criminals: APC ‘s Statement Irresponsible, Says Saraki,” issued on Saturday by the media aide to the ex-Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu. The APC’s statement, signed by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, had demanded the probe of some Peoples Democratic Party leaders, including Saraki, over their alleged romance with Abbas. But Saraki in his statement explained that he had no form of association with the said suspect, otherwise known as Hushpuppi and neither did he know him in any way.

Former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to a statement by the All progressives Congress, APC calling for an investigation into his activities over a recent picture he took with disgraced fraudster, Hushpuppi. The APC, in a statement signed by its deputy national publicity secretary, Yekini Nabena, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe Atiku's alleged relationship with Hushpuppi after a picture of both men emerged online.

In his latest Master class series former Presidential media aide Reno Omokri compared the now disgraced Dubai celebrity Hushpuppi who scammed over a million people to President Buhari who he says scammed over 200 million people. 

With Kim Kardashian as First Lady, American rapper and entrepreneur Kanye West formally announces his campaign in the U.S. presidential election on Twitter. He is running as an independent.

The Federal Government has revealed plans to end the monopoly enjoyed by cable television service providers, especially Digital Satellite Television, owned by MultiChoice, a South Africa-based company. The plan is said to include ending exclusive rights to sporting events. Only DStv currently broadcasts major football competitions in Nigeria, especially the English Premier League. The government said it had amended Nigeria’s broadcasting code to prevent DStv and others from monopolising their channels and contents. The House has been probing DStv for allegedly cheating its Nigerian subscribers by restricting them to prepaid plans and increasing its subscription rates on June 1, 2020, despite the economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the people. At the continuation of the investigative hearings organised by an ad hoc committee of the House on the matter in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had dismissed claims by DStv that pay-per-vie...

Bayern Munich on Friday confirmed the signing of Germany winger Leroy Sane from Manchester City on a five-year contract for reportedly at least 50 million euros. “FC Bayern is a very big club and has big goals – these goals suit me as well,” said the 24-year-old, who added wants to win the Champions League with the Bundesliga giants. “I’m looking forward to the new challenge and can’t wait to train with the team.” 

Vice-Chancellor of Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi, Professor Msugh Hembe, Thursday, disclosed that he has tested positive for COVID-19.  Professor Kemble, through his verified Facebook account, said that the results of his test came out on Monday and returned positive. 

The Nigerian Army has said it is not their duty to expose those sponsoring Boko Haram in the country. Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, stated this at a media briefing on Thursday. Enenche admitted that the Army knows that some criminal groups have heavy financial backing, but its major task is to fight “terrorism and other criminality”.

CHIEF OF STAFF TO PLATEAU STATE GOVERNOR TESTS POSITIVE TO COVID-19 The Chief of Staff to the Plateau State Governor Noel Donjur has tested positive to COVID-19 after the test that was conducted for members of the State EXCO on 1st July, 2020 following the directive of Governor Lalong. The outcome of the tests indicate that all other members of the State EXCO tested negative except the Chief of Staff who is asymptomatic and in good condition.

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON, on Thursday, July 2, took possession of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited, and its affiliate companies owned by billionaire oil mogul, Festus Fadeyi, over an unpaid N240 billion loan debt. Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on June 22, granted an ex-parte application by counsel to AMCON, Kunle Ogunba SAN, to take interim possession of the assets of Pan Ocean over the unpaid loan. The court also granted the application by AMCON to take over several oil mining and oil prospecting licenses exemplified by OML 147, 152 and 98 respectively owned by the company. Properties in Victoria Island, Lagos among several others were also included for possession. “An order of this honourable court granting interim judicial protection to AMCON, the receiver/manager (and its duly appointed nominee; Mr. Kunle Ogunba SAN) appointed herein over the assets/businesses of the defendants by virtue of its deed of appointme...

Seplat oil and gas build $1.2m infectious diseases medical centre in Imo state.

According to DR KEMI OLUNLOYO: #BREAKING @hushpuppi is not going down alone. 47 countries want him for leading a hacking ring costing individuals, businesses and governments $450M. He has started naming prominent people. My sources in the Federal Bureau of investigation are telling me that if not for the pandemic, they would have detained many "Nigerian visitors to Dubai".

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday swore in the new Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Muheeba Dankaka from Kwara, and 36 other members of the commission. The president also swore in six Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), including Gboyega Oladele, from Osun. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari also administered oath of office on four new Permanent Secretaries and two members of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Port Harcourt's zonal office on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 arraigned one Onwuzuruike Ikenna Kingsley (aka Jeff Sikora), a self-styled President/ Chief Executive Officer of United States-based Prime Trust Credit Union Bank before Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on an eight count charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, possession of proceeds and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of Eight Million, Five Hundred and Two Thousand Dollars ($8,502,000.00).

Dubai police have extradited suspected fraudsters, Ramon Igbalode Abbas better known as Hushpuppi and Olalekan Jacon Ponle ‘Mr Woodberry’ to the United States, following their arrest by the force. This was confirmed in an Instagram post shared on the official page of the Dubai Police. FBI’s Director, Christopher Wray thanked the Dubai Police for their cooperation in extraditing the suspects who were accused of committing multiple money-laundering and cyber crimes. The Instagram post reads; The Director of the Federatal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray has praised the exceptional efforts exerted by the United Arab Emirate, represented by the Dubai Police General HQ, in combating transnational organised cybercrime including the rrecent arrest of Raymod Igbalode Abbas, known as “Hushpuppi” and Olalekan Jacon Ponle aka “Woodberry” who were taken down in operation “Fox Hunt 2”. Mr Wray also extended his appreciations to Dubai Police for their cooperation in extraditing the wa...

The Iconic comedian/actor; Princewhite, has slated the 3rd of July as a day he set aside to celebrate Billionaires Worldwide. He said, “My Billionaire Friends All over the world, I am happy to announce to you all that this year on Friday 3rd Of July, 2020, at exactly 6:21 am I will be celebrating the first-ever World Billionaires Day. I have set aside this day as a momentous one to commemorate the laudable achievements of billionaires around the world, including my fellow billionaires in Nigeria. And in the spirit of goodwill, I have a number of spectacular activities planned for this day. To start with, I personally will be going on Instagram Live with some of my fellow billionaires to discuss the current state of our affairs and how we are impacting the lives and economies of people in our world.