De - Bliss

Adopts separation of office of AGF from minister of justice Agrees president, governors must attach portfolios to names of cabinet nominees Shola Oyeyipo in Lagos and Senator Iroegbu in Abuja Ahead of the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution, the Senate, the House of Representatives and all the 36 state Houses of Assemblies, at the weekend in Lagos, adopted what was described as “incremental approach” to the amendment exercise by taking the contentious issues in their respective bits and dealing with them differently from time-to-time to prevent the entire amendment from being thrown out altogether. To this end, all the state and national legislatures, at a three-day retreat in Lagos, concluded work on 23 distinct bills, which deal with some of the critical and pressing issues to be presented to the National Assembly for consideration during the amendment exercise. Deputy Senate President and chairman of the committee, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who spoke at the end of the r...

Alison-Madueke to Kola Aluko: “If you want to hire a yacht, you lease it for two weeks or whatever… You don’t go and sink funds into it at this time when Nigerian oil and gas sector is under all kinds of watch.” – Intercepted recording of an apparent phone conversation between former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and oil trader, Kola Aluko Demola Ojo with agency reports US prosecutors on Friday moved to seize $144m in assets including a 200-foot yacht and a Manhattan condominium one block from Central Park, calling them the fruits of an international bribery scheme that involved the former Nigerian Oil Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. The justice department action targeted Nigeria’s oil man, Mr Kola Aluko’s vessel, Galactica Star, which its builder bills as the “world’s largest fast displacement yacht”, along with condominium units in Manhattan and real estate in Southern California located just three miles from the Pacific Ocean. From 2011 to 2015, two Nigerian oil ...

Recently, I had a conversation with Mohammed Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South senatorial zone and who was recently suspended by the Senate. Because of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume’s notorious history, I must confess that my mind was a bit biased against him and so when on Sunday the 8th of July 2017, he complained that Boko Haram had upped the ante of their attacks, I was a bit irritated by him because he was one of the many All Progressives Congress politicians who had praised President Muhammadu Buhari for ‘defeating’ Boko Haram. I was outraged enough to release the following statement on facebook: In today’s paper, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume who once praised President Muhammadu Buhari for ‘defeating’ Boko Haram now says he is worried about the ‘worrisome’ dimensions of Boko Haram attacks! In fact, Ndume says he is ‘disturbed’! I am also disturbed too. My disturbance is based on this: How can people who have been ‘defeated’ now increase the tempo of their attacks to ‘...

Immediate past senator, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District, Smart Adeyemi, has asked the National Judicial Council, NJC, and Department of State Service, DSS, to probe the judgment of Kogi State Election Tribunal, which dismissed his petition, and declared Dino Melaye as duly elected senator for the district. Speaking with journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, while reacting to a leaked telephone conversation alleged to have involved Senator Melaye and the chairperson of the tribunal, Justice Akon Ikpeme, Adeyemi also called on anti-graft agencies to wade into the matter. He said: “I, hereby, call for a thorough investigation by the appropriate authorities, that is, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, National Judicial Council, NJC; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and Department of State Service, DSS. “I hold the view that the J...

Here is a selection of statements that Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari made in public domain. They are quite unusual and paint a picture that may be seen as quite extreme but perhaps also present a Buhari who has never concealed who he is. You be the judge. On Election Rigging: Kill Them “Ku fita ku yi zabe. Ku Kasa, ku tsare, ku raka ku tsaya. Duk wanda bai yarda ba, ku halaka shi.” In English: “Firstly, you must register, come out and vote. You guard, protect, escort to the collation centre and you wait until the result is counted. Anyone who stops you, kill/destroy them! (Crowd chants wildly.)” – Video, Pre-elections 2011 [Note: Buhari locked up ex-Governor Sule Lamido for identical words] On Boko Haram: Don’t Kill Them “The appropriate thing to do, according to the law, was for the police to carry out investigations and charge him (Mohammed Yusuf) to court for prosecution, but they killed him, his in-law was killed, they went and demolished their houses. Because of that,...

…Airforce chief prepares to bomb army formations With the massive expose that visited plans by Hausa-Fulani officers in the Nigerian military to violently overthrow the constitutional, democratic order in order to prevent Acting President Yomi Osinbajo from taking over full reigns of power in the event of President Mohammadu Buhari’s death, the coupists have moved to plan B. Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai, had raised alarm to the effect that some officers were conducting nocturnal meetings with politicians with a view to overthrowing the government of the day. The army later launched an investigation and claimed to have made some arrests. Pointblanknews.com had reported that the putschists had planned to arrest the Acting President and the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and accuse them of poisoning President Buhari. Tinubu recently reacted to the coup plot by stating that democrats who sacrificed so much to ensure the enthr...

Sensing another scenario that would signal the loss of political power and a replay of the latePresident Musa Yar’Adua/Goodluck Jonathan scenario, elements from the core north are allegedly making undercover moves to salvage the situation should President Muhammadu Buhari die in office or resigns due to illness. Recall that late Yar’Ádua from Katsina State, where Buhari hails from in the North-west geo-political zone, died in office in 2010 after a protracted illness, automatically forcing the zone to relinquish power, following the constitutional provision and zoning arrangement adopted by the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with the swearing in of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Pointblanknews.com checks have revealed a plot by northern oligarchs, using the military to create confusion and ensure that power is retained in the zone. It was gathered that an army major and Buhari’s kinsman (names withheld), who is a member of the presidential guard, has been gi...

Popular Nigerian highlife musician, Tony Grey is dead. According to reports, the Ozimba crooner based in Warri, Delta State, who had been ill needed money to be flown abroad for treatment a few months ago. He was said to have suffered from diabetes and prostate cancer. Although, he received a handful of donations for the treatment, the great musician who was popular in the 70s through the early 90s died on Monday. Tony Grey is an indigene of Aboh in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

The family of a 58-year-old matron, Mrs. Winnifred Alofoje, are afraid she may have been abducted after she went missing last Friday. Efforts to reach her on her telephone were said to have proved abortive, as the line was switched off. Winnifred, a matron at Blue Sky Hospital, Egbeda, Lagos State, was said to have left her house in Hand of Fire City, Igando, at about 9am, for Nurse and Midwifery Council in Yaba to renew her medical licence. However, her name was said to be missing in a register for people who visited the centre for licences on that day. At about 12pm that Friday, Winnifred had reportedly called her ailing daughter on the telephone to know how she was faring. The woman’s son, Itua Alofoye, told PUNCH Metro that he was notified about her disappearance in the night when his father and sister did not hear from her. Itua said he visited the centre on Saturday, but could not verify whether she got to the place. He explained that further efforts to locate her had been...

The Federal Road Safety Commission’s Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, has ordered the recall of the Rivers State Sector Commander and other officers concerned in the raving issue of cutting of some female officers’ hair. The female officers were allegedly carrying long hair in the Rivers State Sector Command, Portharcourt. In a latest interview granted Punch online early morning on Tuesday, by Head Media Relations and Strategy of the Corps, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, this became necessary in order to properly investigate the matter. Boboye had condemned the photographs trending on the social media concerning the cutting-off of the hair of the female FRSC officials. The photos, which started trending late Monday evening, showed a man identified as the sector commander of the Rivers State Command of the FRSC, Andrew A. Kumapayi, using a pair of scissors to cut up the hair of some female officials. The incident reportedly happened during the early morning parade when Kumapayi went round to i...

Premium Times’ Festus Owete and Idris Ibrahim travelled to Sapele, Delta State, to speak with the mother of Canadian-based Nigerian woman, Stephanie Otobo, who accused the pastor of the Omega Fire Ministry, Auchi, Johnson Suleman, popularly called Apostle Suleman, of having amorous relationship with her. For two days, attempts by our reporters to trace the mother, Bukky, to her home were unsuccessful. When finally located, it would take hours to convince her to speak with this newspaper. Bukky explained why she apologised to Mr. Suleman, the formative years of her daughter, the allegation her daughter had marital introduction with Mr. Suleman, and other issues. Excerpts: PT: You travelled to Auchi to attend a church service where you also apologised to Apostle Johnson Suleman. What prompted you to do that? Bukky: I did that because of my daughter, (and) because I am a mother. The way I am seeing her is not the way I brought her up. And all those her character is not giving me happines...

The Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr Mahmud Bello, says the commission has started operating 24 hours company registration process to make startup of business easier in Nigeria. Bello said this at the CAC Customers’ Forum in Kano, organised in collaboration with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). The registrar-general made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja He said that the aim of operating the new system was to ensure that business owners in Nigeria conveniently registered their businesses online within 48 hours. According to him, series of reforms has been implemented by the commission this year to make it quicker, cheaper and more convenient for Nigerians to start businesses. “CAC, as an agency of government involved in the startup of business, has keyed into the Federal Government’s vision to make Nigeria an easier place for businesses to start and thrive. “Our reforms are designed with the MSMEs in mind. For us...

TBoss’ younger sister, Wendy, who is the handler of her official Instagram campaign handle, thanked Nigerians for finally accepting her sister, even when they struggled to fit in here because of their skin colour and hair texture. Wendy who disclosed that they got to know what racism is when they travelled down to Romania to complete their studies, suffered a backlash from followers who accused her of insinuating that Nigerians are racists. According to her followers, if Nigerians are racists, why do girls bleach? They also accused her of using the post, to play a mind game with Nigerians.

The Rivers state government has been accused of campaigning for Marvis to win the Big Brother Naija reality TV show, through its Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Rivers state government canvasses votes for Marvis According to reports gathered, Marvis who is a native of Onne, Rivers state is among the top 5 housemates has been perceived as a threat to winning the competition’s N25M cash prize and SUV by fellow housemate TBoss. In the letter dated 3/4/2017 and signed by Michael Ejiohuo on behalf of the Rivers state Commissioner for culture and tourism, it is expected that everyone will support Marvis Nkpornwi to win the competition and also make Rivers state proud. Here’s the letter:

South Africa’s powerful trade union federation Cosatu, a key coalition partner of the ruling ANC, on Tuesday called for embattled President Jacob Zuma to resign following a deeply unpopular cabinet reshuffle. Union general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said it was time for Zuma to “step down” after his purge last week of cabinet critics, which included the removal of the respected former finance minister, Pravin Gordhan. Gordhan’s sacking contributed to a credit ratings downgrade to junk status on Monday by Standard & Poor’s as pressure on Zuma grew over his move to oust opponents within the cabinet. “We no longer believe in his leadership abilities,” Ntshalintshali said at a media briefing. “The president was careless and reckless,” he said, adding that the downgrade would “cost the country a lot”. Cosatu, along with the South African Communist Party and the ANC, was at the forefront of the effort to dislodge white-minority rule in South Africa that led to non-racial elections...

According to an Internet user who shared the epic story he wrote : ‘This happened in my street last night, this girl took ‘Igbo along with her friends, but unfortunately for her, she started acting otherwise. It was when she pulled her cloth and started dancing round the street, people noticed her, then her friend revealed that the weed she took reacted in her body, she’s been taken to Yabaleft this morning.’ See Photo Below:

The woman who was attacked and severely injured by soldiers in Ikorodu, Lagos State has sued the Nigerian Army and her attackers. She is, among other things, demanding N250m as damages. Ruth Orji was allegedly attacked by soldiers attached to 174 Battalion, Ikorodu, around 8:30pm on Sunday. Images of her, showing the injuries she sustained have gone viral on the social media, sparking outrage. And the Joint Legal Action Aids, the rights group representing her, is optimistic she will get justice in court. The General Counsel of the JLAA, Kingsley Ughe, confirmed that he filed the case on her behalf at a Federal High Court in Lagos. “We have today filed a legal process at the Federal High Court against the Nigerian Army and her assailants to assert her right and demand for N250m compensation,” he said. He added that the case was not the first the JLAA was instituting against the army in connection with soldiers brutalising civilians. “We have a similar action already against th...

Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, was appointed as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, on entertainment, arts and culture yesterday, 14th March. The mother of three took to Instagram to share a photo with Governor Yahaya Bello and his wife, Mrs Rashida Bello and wrote: I am gratified with the official notification reaching me on my Appointment as the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor of Kogi State on Entertainment ,Arts and Culture. I am humbled, as i duely acknowledge this attending responsibility to serve my great state with the modest experience I have gathered over the years. With depth of gratitude, I want to thank the Governor of Kogi State; His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and his wife, the first lady of Kogi state Her Excellency Mrs Rashida Bello for this unparallel opportunity to serve. My endless gratitude goes to my husband, Prince Odianosen Okojie for giving me his consent, knowing fully the sacrifices and ...

Countries need a fertility rate of just over two children per woman to attain what demographers call ‘replacement fertility’ — the rate at which births fill the gaps left by deaths. There are nations which don’t hit that rate — and their methods to encourage their people to have more productive sex can range from the practical — if not bizarre — to the downright offensive. Here are 10 countries begging people to have sex for the good of their nations… Denmark Fertility rate is around 1.73 children per woman, and there are a number of incentives to get women to have more kids, such as the offer to provide three-year worth of baby supplies to couples who conceived on a holiday booked through a travel agency. Another is a campaign called ‘Do it for Mom‘ – a video which guilt trips couples into having kids so that their mothers can have grandchildren. Russia According to Tech Insider, Russia is experiencing a slew of anti-baby problems. HIV and alcoholism are rife, women aren’t having...

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclsosed he decided to return to the country today, March 10 so that he can continue his rest over the weekend. He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would continue to work while he continues his rest. He has therefore asked those who planned to send a delegation to come and welcome him to stay back and continue to pray for the country. Buhari spoke at a meeting he held with government officials shortly after arriving the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President also hinted that he would be doing some follow-ups on his health in a few weeks.

Pastor and General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has demanded that legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, should retract all publications, and an apology to be published on major social media networks. He also demanded N1bn over alleged blackmail and injuries inflicted on him, including online video clips, during his alleged amorous relationship with a Canada-based stripper, Stephanie Otobo. Should he fail to comply with the demand, the cleric threatened to drag Keyamo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee “for infamous conduct.” Stephanie Otobo had alleged that she suffered emotional stress from Suleman, following a sour relationship including a promise of marriage. But the cleric in a letter by his counsel, Osa Director, obtained by journalists on Thursday evening in Abuja, entitled: “Allegation of professional misconduct and unethical practices”, said Keyamo’s action was inconsistent with Section 1 of the Rules of Professional Con...

It is not true that the Jonathan administration rejected the offer of British armed forces to help in rescuing the abducted Chibok girls, the United Kingdom government has said. On Sunday, The Observer, a UK newspaper, said Britain was ready to rescue the Chibok girls after they conducted air reconnaissance over northern Nigeria for several months in a mission named Operation Turus, but the Jonathan administration declined. “The girls were located in the first few weeks of the RAF mission. We offered to rescue them, but the Nigerian government declined,” a source involved in Operation Turus was quoted as saying. But the former president denied it, saying the story was “concocted” by those “who have been playing politics with the issue of the abducted girls.” “We are not surprised that this kind of concocted story is coming out at this point in time, as it appears that some people who have obviously been playing politics with the issue of the Chibok girls will stop at nothing to fu...