EFCC Arraigns Former Air Force Boss, Amosu, 10 Others

The former Chief of Air Staff was arraigned alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga and 7 companies.


The Companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.

The EFCC formally accused them of converting about N22.8bn from the Nigeria Air Force around March 5, 2014 in Lagos.

They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).

The defendants allegedly used the companies to convert and conceal the money.

When the 26 count charge was read to them, they all pleaded not guilty and their lawyers made a case for them to be admitted to bail either on self-recognizance or in the most liberal terms.

The EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had no objections to the court granting them bail but he urged the court to impose conditions that will secure their attendance in court for their trial.

After listening to their submissions, Justice Mohammed Idris, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500m each with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties shall be landed property owners within the jurisdiction of the court.

The documents of the properties must be deposited in court and verifiable by the registrar. The court also asked the defendants to deposit their international passport with the registrar of the court.

Before the bail conditions are met however, the first and third defendants are to be remanded in prison while the second defendant, who had written a letter to the EFCC on his poor state of health, will be remanded in the Commission’s custody.

Further proceedings were then fixed for July 8.

FG seeks UK’s help to seize Amosu, Adigun’s £3.2m London mansions

The Federal Government has commenced moves to seize two mansions allegedly belonging to the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.); and a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun.

The PUNCH on Wednesday learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had traced two houses in the highbrow areas of London to Amosu and Adigun.

An impeccable source told our correspondent that Amosu and Adigun, who are due to be arraigned for alleged N21bn fraud, purchased the houses in 2014.

“We identified a detached house at 93b Shirehall Park, London, NW42QU, belonging to Adigun. The house was bought at the cost of £875,000 (N333,375,000) while we traced another house to 50 Tenterden Grove, NW41TH, belonging to Amosu. The house was bought at over £1m (N381m),” the source added.

However, investigations by our correspondent showed that the value of the houses had increased.

Our correspondent, who visited Zoopla.co.uk, which real estate agents use in valuing properties in the UK, showed that both properties were bought in August 2014.

According to the website, the property which Adigun allegedly bought in August 2014 at the cost of £875,000 currently goes for £1,046,000 (N398,526,000).

It adds that Amosu’s property, which it said was purchased in November 2014 at £1,850,000, (and not £1m as claimed by the EFCC) is now worth £2,175,000 (N828, 675, 000).

According to the property website, Amosu’s property has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and two sitting rooms.

A source at the EFCC told our correspondent that the Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, would write to the government of the United Kingdom to assist in seizing the properties, which were allegedly bought with Nigerian taxpayers’ money.

He said, “What we are seeking is how to seize the properties through diplomatic means. It is a process known as Mutual Legal Treaty Assistance.”

According to the UK media, a large number of mansions in the country are owned by corrupt Nigerians.

In a May 2016 report entitled ‘Palaces of Corruption’, The UK Daily Mail unveiled the London mansions of deceased former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; another dead ex-governor, Abubakar Audu of Kogi State, and convicted ex-Governor of Delta State, Mr. James Ibori.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday granted a N500m bail to Amosu and 10 others arraigned by the EFCC over alleged N22.8bn fraud.

Amosu was arraigned by the anti-graft agency alongside Adigun, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo and eight companies before Justice Mohammed Idris.

The companies are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited and Trapezites BDC Fonds and Pricey Limited.

Others are Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.

They were charged with 26 counts of stealing, concealing the proceeds of crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force.

After the charges were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty.

Counsel for the 1st and 11th defendants, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), informed the court of his motion for bail and sought the leave of the court to move same, which was granted.

Ayorinde said his client had been cooperating fully with the EFCC since his arrest in January 2016.

The senior advocate added, “He has remitted colossal sums of money to the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies.

“My application is that bail be granted to the 1st defendant on self-recognisance. Let those terms be liberal. He has been reporting to the EFCC, sometimes twice a week. The 1st defendant will make himself available for trial.”

Also, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), leading Mr. Kemi Balogun (SAN) and other lawyers for 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th defendants, urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.

He submitted that his client had been cooperative since his arrest, adding that the accused had health challenge.

“The Commission is aware of it. My humble application is that your Lordship grant bail on liberal terms. Incidentally, the 2nd defendant is on administrative bail by the commission. He will be available for trial”, he submitted.

Counsel for the 3rd, 9th and 10th defendants, Mr. A. Etuokwu, also urged the court for bail.

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the bail applications but urged the court to give stringent conditions that would secure the defendants’ attendance in court.

In his ruling, Justice Buba granted them bail to the sum of N500m each.

He remanded the 1st and 3rd defendants in prison while the 2nd defendant was remanded in the EFCC custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

The judge ruled, “Each defendant is granted bail to the sum of N500m with two sureties with landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court. The sureties shall deposit their title documents to the registrar of the court while the EFCC must verify them.”

He added that the sureties must swear to affidavit of means to be verified by the EFCC while the defendants deposit their passports to the court as well.

He adjourned trial to July 8.

According to the charge, the defendants on or about March 5, 2014, in Lagos, “conspired amongst themselves to commit an offence, to wit: Conversion of the sum of N21.5bn, property of the Nigerian Air Force, which sum was derived from stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

They were also accused of indirectly converting the sum of N3.6bn belonging to the NAF among others.

Cement, rice processing funds, others hit N44.6bn with BoI

The managed funds under the portfolio of the Bank of Industry (BOI) has hit N44.6 billion as at the end of 2015 financial year. Acting Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Waheed Olagunju stated that the bank is strengthening its collaboration with its foreign and domestic partners including community-based
organizations to deepen the bank’s credit delivery process and financial inclusion initiatives. According to him, “The bank is on course in 2016 to surpassing the N83.5 billion that was disbursed in 2015.” He said, “As at the middle of the current year the bank had approved loans totaling N95 billion to more than 400 enterprises and is working assiduously to approving more loans in the second half of 2016.” He went on to say that meeting the institution’s disbarment target of N212 billion that could potentially lead to the creation of almost 1 million jobs in addition to the 1.6 million projected under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme”, Some of the funds managed by the Bank as at December 31, 2015 include the N8.12 billion National Automotive Council Fund, N2.9 billion Dangote Fund, N12.3 billion Rice Processing Fund, N12.5 billion Cement Fund among others had risen above the figure following various Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) sealed with its stakeholders since the beginning of 2016. The others include N1.8 billion National Sugar Industrial Development Fund, N1.48 billion Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) Cottage Fund as well as other funds managed in partnership with other state governments. Already, the Bank has disbursed N95 billion to 400 enterprises in the first half of 2016.Besides, a breakdown of the bank’s earnings for the year showed that the Bank recorded a profit after tax of N47 billion for the year ended December 31, 2015, representing an operating profit of N11.9 billion up by 100 per cent from N6 billion achieved in 2014 and an exceptional income from the gain on sale of some equity securities of WAMCO shares.

Dasuki said I should give Jonathan’s cousin $40m — Witness

The trial of Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan began on Tuesday, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Mahe, who gave account of how he transferred $40m to ‘One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited’, a company owned by Robert.


Azibaola and his wife, Stella, are standing trial before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja for seven counts bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.


Home  News

NewsDasuki said I should give Jonathan’s cousin $40m — Witness

June 29, 2016

 

Immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.)

This post has already been read 53 times!

Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The trial of Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan began on Tuesday, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, presenting its first witness, Ibrahim Mahe, who gave account of how he transferred $40m to ‘One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited’, a company owned by Robert.

Azibaola and his wife, Stella, are standing trial before Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja for seven counts bordering on money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption.

Mahe, a retired permanent secretary, special services in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, while being led in evidence by counsel for the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, told the court that he did not know Azibaola and Stella personally but had knew One Plus Holdings through a transaction.

The witness said on August 20, 2014, Dasuki told him to pay $40m into the account of One Plus Holdings for reasons unknown.

He said, “on August 20, 2014, the National Security Adviser endorsed a memo to me which originated from the Office of the Director of Finance and Administration of the ONSA detailing the bank details of one company called ‘One Plus’ and the purpose for which the company was to be paid a sum of $40m.

“The NSA instructed me to prepare payment and I prepared the payment mandate for the $40m in favour of ‘One Plus’ for the signature of the NSA. I sent it to the NSA, he signed and sent it back to me and subsequent action was for me to counter-sign the mandate and then send it to the Central Bank of Nigeria for payment.”

Mahe had earlier told the court that his responsibilities involved matters that had to do with the ONSA. He said that the Special Services Office responsibilities in relation with the ONSA had to do with matters relating to finances of the entire intelligence community which included the Department of State Services, the National Intelligence Agency and ONSA.

According to him, the permanent secretary, Special Security Office was responsible for the coordination of the annual budget of the members of the intelligence community.

“After formulating the budget, the Accountant General releases the funds of the intelligence community through an account that is domiciled in the Special Security Office from where it is distributed to the various end users,” Mahe added.

He told the court that his office served as a warehouse for funds of the ‘intelligence community’ and went further to explain how funds were utilised.

“When funds get into the account, the NSA is informed of the arrival of the funds and proposal on the distribution to the various agencies is made to him. When he approves, the monies are sent to the end users,” said Mahe.

The judge adjourned the case till July 4 and 5, 2016 for continuation of trial.

Anambra hemp dealers beat security with siren –NDLEA

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State Command, has said that Indian hemp dealers in the state use siren to beat security operatives.


The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr. Sule Momodu, made the disclosure on Monday during the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in Awka, the state capital.

He said “It took our professional training to discoverer this criminal act. These criminals use expensive cars with sirens and tinted glasses to carry this substance.

Momodu said the agency had impounded three of such vehicles carrying cannabis sativa weighing over 923 kilograms.

According to him, the agency had secured 24 convictions of drug offenders in the state this year while 142 of such cases were pending in courts.

The command, he added, had arrested no fewer than 156 drug offenders in the state between January and June.

Those arrested, he explained, were 146 males and 10 females.

The NDLEA boss commended Governor Willie Obiano for his assistance, saying the governor’s aid had encouraged the agency to accomplish a number of feats.

He, however, regretted that the lack of vehicles had continued to impede the agency’s operations.

On the increasing cases of drug abuse and trafficking in the state, especially among the youths, he blamed parents for the involvement of youths in drug abuse, noting that most parents had failed to pay attention to their children to understand their worries.

“If we listen to them (children) and understand their problems and worries as they grow, we will be better able to identify their problems early enough before they go out of hand,” Momodu said.

He called for the establishment of a Drug Rehabilitation Centre in the state, saying that dependence on drug was a disease and not a crime.

“Unless we reduce the demand for illicit drugs, we cannot tackle drug-related issues effectively,” he said.

In another development, the Cross River State Command of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency says it has secured the conviction of 47 persons with drug-related offences.

The state Commander of NDLEA, Mrs. Anthonia Edeh, made the disclosure in Calabar on Sunday.

Edeh said the number was part the 200 suspects, including 176 males and 24 females, arrested by the state command within the last one year.

She said, “Forty-seven convictions were secured at the Federal High Court Calabar in respect of suspects with drug-related offences.”

She said exhibits recovered from suspects during the period stood at 501.3498 kilograms.

 “The command also counselled and rehabilitated a total of 90 drug dependent persons back to the society under the drug demand reduction activities,” she stated,” she said and called on the public to always volunteer information on activities of drug barons.

Edeh solicited the support of the Cross River State Government in the fight against drug abuse.

Kwara APC backs Saraki

The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State on Tuesday said it supported the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki’s view that “there is a government within the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

”

The party also faulted the President’s response in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina.

leadership.

Buhari said, “The statement by Mr. Femi Adesina on behalf of Mr. President is not onlyunpresidential, it also failed to convincingly dismiss the widely held view of Nigerians that, indeed, there is a government within the government of Mr. President.

“It is instructive to note that the Senate President is not the first Nigerian to express such observations.

“The Senate President, through the press statement he personally signed, only called the attention of Mr. President to the danger ahead if the ugly situation is permitted to fester.

“In fact, the statement by Mr. Adesina is the clearest indication that a government exists within the government of Mr. President. The President that we know, the President that we have worked with, the President that we have worked for, the President that we voted for, would not have directed his media adviser to issue such an unpresidential statement. That statement is a confirmation of the Senate President’s observation.

“The intention of people like Adesina in the Villa is to create a discord between Mr. President and the Senate President, but that will never happen.

“It is the same cabal that embarrassed Mr. President himself by padding the 2016 national budget, including the budget of Aso Rock, to the extent of inflating some figures in the Villa expenditures.

“It is the same cabal that has made it nearly impossible for many ministers and Special Advisers to have access to Mr. President. The Presidency should be reminded that a cabal hijacked and destroyed the government of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Naira weakens to 355 against dollar

The naira extended its decline at the parallel market on Tuesday, as it traded at 355 to the United States dollar, down from 351 the previous day.

Similarly, the local currency closed at 282.50 to the dollar at the new interbank market, slightly weaker than the 282 it ended on Monday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had last week floated the naira and adopted a single structure through the interbank/autonomous window for the nation’s foreign exchange market.

The CBN has been selling dollars on the interbank market since it ended its 16 month-old currency peg last week, and it on Tuesday asked currency traders for bid-offer quotes at around 11:18am, according to Reuters.

The apex bank sold an undisclosed amount of hard currency on the interbank market on Tuesday to ease dollar shortages and provide importers the dollars to pay for the products they bring into the country, traders were quoted to have said.

A total of $51m traded on the interbank market just before the market closed, which traders attributed to the central bank’s intervention.

The old currency peg had set a rate of N197 to the dollar, which over-valued the naira and led to a shortage of dollars that choked off growth in the economy. The shortage was exacerbated by plunging prices for oil, Nigeria’s biggest export and its main source of hard currency.

The CBN abandoned the peg to allow the currency to trade freely on the interbank market, but lack of liquidity has curbed activity, traders say, leaving the central bank as the main supplier of hard currency.

Removing the peg has narrowed the gap between naira rates available on the official and black markets.

The bank on Monday introduced an over-the-counter futures market for the currency to help manage dollar demand, quoting the naira firmer at 279 to the dollar in a month’s time and at 210 by April next year.

In the non-deliverable forwards market, the naira rose against the dollar on Tuesday, with the one-month contract quoting the currency as firm as 283, after hitting 296 a week ago.

BREAKING: Court dismisses Fani-Kayode’s suit challenging his detention

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Wednesday dismissed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by a former Minister of Aviation Mr. Femi Fani-Kay‎ode, seeking an order releasing him from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.


Fani-Kayode, the spokesperson for the then Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Organisation‎ for the 2015 election, ‎had filed the suit following his arrest by the EFCC on May 9, 2016 with respect to criminal allegations relating to diversion of funds meant for arms procurement to political campaigns.
The anti-‎graft agency arraigned him alongside a former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, who was the Director of Finance of the campaign organisation‎ and others for money laundering before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday.

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi delivering judgment on the suit filed by Fani-Kayode to challenge his detention by the EFCC, held that the legal action lacked merit.

The judge held that the detention was not illegal since it was backed by an order of court.

Justice Adeniyi, however, faulted ‎the practice by the EFCC of arresting and detaining a suspect for the purposes of investigation.

Four ways to protect your bank account from thieves

A billionaire hardware chain founder, John Menard, was recently targeted by identity thieves. Someone had called his bank in Wisconsin, the United States, requesting that a sum of $475,000 be transferred to a bank account outside the country.


The fellow obviously had Menard’s account number, his password and social security number, according to a report by www.aol.com.

And when the bank called Menard’s house to confirm the transaction, the thief (yet to be arrested) was able to intercept the call and gave the go-ahead to transfer the money.
Unfortunately for the thief, the bank also called Menard’s office. Someone there promptly contacted the billionaire, who was aboard a flight at the time and had asked that the transaction be aborted.

Thieves are getting smarter in their quest to steal large sums of money from unsuspecting bank account holders. They are also becoming more sophisticated with the use of electronic payment platforms.

Many bank customers could have prevented a lot of losses they had suffered if only they had known about safety tips that could help protect their accounts from thieves.

A number of bank customers have fallen victims to thieves who have access to their accounts in different ways.

In the old days, robbers would storm banks with guns; and if they made away with a lot of money, it was the bank’s problem. Now, identity theft is the preferred method of robbery, which means thieves are targeting specific customers, and bank robberies have become a lot more personal.

So it is never a bad idea to make sure you do everything you can to protect your bank account. And while it is arguably easy for a thief to get enough information to break into your account, it is also easy to protect yourself against such attacks. So, the next time you do any bank transaction, keep the following five steps in mind.

Anytime you type in your password, keep it covered

Some thieves are known to rig cameras at banks’ Automated Teller Machines. This is meant to catch you in the act of typing in your password when you are depositing or taking out money.

The Chief Security Officer of MagTek, Tom Patterson, says that some thieves have gone into grocery stores and installed tiny, hidden cameras, designed to catch your fingers typing in your password, especially when you pay for products with your debit card.

Patterson, who is one of the world leaders in creating secure electronic payment technology, including those machines you swipe your credit card in, advises that you can block the angles so that nobody can view what you are typing.

When you are designing your hints for online banking information, be clever. Every thief knows that with your social security number or account number, they can learn your mother’s maiden name; they can probably steal you blind. So, credit card companies and banks in general will often ask you to use other forms of personal information, such as your favourite vacation spot, or your primary or secondary school name.

Get to know your bank teller

The Security Director, Crescent State Bank, a regional bank in North Carolina, Jo Sorbi, comments on the problem of keeping one’s identity safe. She stresses the importance of staying with a bank for a long time.

According to her, the longer you stay with a bank, the more you create a history with the bank and it can easily suspect any transaction or request that not tally with your financial habit.

Shred everything

Destroy bills and any other paperwork that includes personal and account information. Buy a personal shredder for your house, and be diligent about shredding everything that contains critical information that could be used to steal from you.

Get a post office box

If you’re truly paranoid, Sorbi notes that you often get unsolicited credit card offers in your mailboxes, which can be a vehicle for a thief to try some mischief.

But if you don’t want to go through the trouble and expense of renting a post office box, Sorbi suggests this instead: “Go online, and take yourself off the unsolicited credit card offers. Tell them you don’t want any of the materials being offered. It may not stop criminals from possibly getting access to your credit information, but it will give them less to work with if they drive up to your mailbox.”

Banks are also constantly working on their own prevention methods. The Los Angeles Times recently profiled a security expert, Jim Stickey, who boasted about how he had “stolen” information in a thousand banks, and that while it could be time-consuming to pull off, it was easy.

As the Times revealed, Stickey disguised himself as a pest-control technician, a fire inspector or some other plausible worker, and once he got access into the bank, he would go to work, stealing customers’ personal information (and then reported his findings to the bank management)

Woman burns boy’s genitals for stealing N100

The police in Lagos State have arrested a woman identified simply as Saratu, for allegedly burning the private parts of her seven-year-old nephew, Razak Qudus.


PUNCH Metro learnt that Saratu allegedly burnt the boy’s private parts with a stove after he was accused of stealing N100.

Our correspondent learnt that the victim, who is a primary four pupil in a private school, lived with the suspect in the Afariogun, Oshodi area of the state.

It was gathered that Saratu’s neighbours reported the matter to a coordinator of the Child Protection Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, living in the area, who in turn reported to the police.

Our correspondent learnt that the matter was reported at the Makinde Police Division, Oshodi, and Saratu was arrested.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Omejalile said the victim had been taken to a hospital for a checkup while the police had charged the suspect to court.

He said, “The victim is her nephew. The boy attends a private nursery and primary school around Afariogun Junction. He was accused of stealing the money in the school.

“The woman brutalised the boy’s genitals. While we were at the police station, I also informed the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Alausa. I am sure justice will be done in this matter. The boy has been taken into government’s custody.”

A social worker told our correspondent that the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender had also been involved in the case.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the arrest.

She said, “The suspect rubbed pepper on the boy’s genitals and started beating him.

“The boy in the process fell on a burning stove and incurred burns in his private parts. The suspect has been charged to court and remanded in prison.”

41 dead, 239 wounded in Istanbul attack

Turkish officials have said 41 people were killed and 239 others were injured in Tuesday night’s triple suicide bombing at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

Among the dead were 13 foreign nationals.

An Iranian and a Ukrainian have been confirmed as the first foreign victims in the Istanbul airport suicide attack, a Turkish official said Wednesday.

Turkish officials have said 41 people were killed and 239 others were injured in Tuesday night’s triple suicide bombing at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

Among the dead were 13 foreign nationals.

An Iranian and a Ukrainian have been confirmed as the first foreign victims in the Istanbul airport suicide attack, a Turkish official said Wednesday.

“I confirm one Iranian and one Ukrainian national have been killed in yesterday’s terror attack,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Prime Minister Binali Yildrim had said early Wednesday that 36 people were killed, but the figure has now risen according to officials.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Qashqavi as saying five Iranian nationals had been injured in addition to the person killed.

Turkey has blamed Islamic State jihadists for the suicide bombing and gun attack at Istanbul’s main international airport.

Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic as the attackers opened fire and then blew themselves up at the entrance to the international arrivals terminal at the Ataturk airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs.

The assault, at the start of Turkey’s crucial summer tourist season, was the deadliest of four attacks to rock the country’s biggest city this year.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday’s carnage but Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said “the evidence points to Daesh”, using another name for the jihadist group.

Yildirim told reporters at the scene that the dead included foreigners.

The attack prompted the suspension of all flights at the airport, but operations were resuming on Wednesday with some delays.

Toyota recalling 3.3 million vehicles over defects

Toyota said on Wednesday it is recalling 3.37 million vehicles globally over a pair of defects, in the latest hit for a Japanese auto industry hit by fuel-efficiency scandals and an exploding airbag crisis.


The most affected models in Toyota’s recall include its Prius hybrid and luxury Lexus, with the vehicles mostly sold in Japan, North America and Europe.

About half of the recalled vehicles, built between 2008 and 2012, have a problem with passenger and driver-side air bags that could see the safety device partially deploy and create the risk of injury, Toyota said.
The firm said the airbags in question are not made by Japanese auto parts giant Takata which is embroiled in an airbag defect scandal linked to at least 13 deaths and scores of injuries globally.

The other defect is tied to problems with a fuel emission control unit that could lead to cracks developing in the unit, Toyota added.

“As a result of this condition, the cracks could expand over time and, eventually, fuel may leak from these cracks when the vehicle has a full tank of gas,” it said.

No injuries have been reported in relation to either defect, it said.

About 2.87 million Toyota and Lexus brand cars are being recalled over the fuel tank defect, Toyota said, noting that some vehicles are subject to both recalls.

Japan’s auto industry has been hammered by the Takata crisis and fuel-efficiency scandals involving Mitsubishi Motors and small-car maker Suzuki.

How Frustration Almost Drove Me Out Of My Marriage Before My Husband Found A Solution To His Small Manhood And Now Last 38 Minutes In Bed. Click Here To Read Our Testimony.

Linchpin about to add production to his artistic craft

Linchpin the young fast rising currently in dependent Nigerian artiste is back at it again,after he dropped "The One" last year which is still one of his most personal songs ever he is back at it this time with a surprise an "instrumental"!!! and guess what it is free!

....Too good to be true.Over the years Linchpin(Omoaghe Tony Jr) has proved his versatility as an artiste (one of the greatest rappers of his time)and he also expressed this by taking numerous production courses online and also seeking advice from top notch producers in the Nigerian music industry.The message he is sending out to his generation is that "In this fast age of the computers nothing is impossible".So he is giving this free instrumental out as a gift to any dream chaser to hop on for free and as he would always say "Keep it wavey",enjoy.

Download Here

Saraki loses 12m to burglars

We didn’t give Senate President money for Ramadan —Kwara govt By Demola Akinyemi, with agency reports The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, said yesterday that he lost N12 million
to burglars in his Ilorin, Kwara State home. News of the robbery was first revealed by an online news portal, which alleged that N300 million mysteriously disappeared from the Senate President’s bedroom. The online news medium claimed the alleged N300 million was provided by the Kwara State government and was in different foreign currencies. The money was reportedly meant to serve as Ramadan handout to be distributed by the Senate President to supporters.

Saraki, however, denied the details of the robbery, which, he said, was being currently investigated by the police in Ilorin. The Senate President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, also rejected the online narrative that his domestic aides were culpable. He said: “There is, therefore, no truth in the claim that the money ran into hundreds of millions, that it was in foreign currency or that the incident happened in Dr. Saraki’s room. ‘’The amount was simply in Naira. Also, the money has nothing to do with Kwara State government. “For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate the fact that the fixation that any money spent by Saraki or that is in his possession is from Kwara State government is unfounded, unwarranted, lacks any basis and irresponsible. ‘’We wonder whether Saraki was such a poor man before 2003 when he was elected governor that he could no longer own any money without it being attributed to the state government. “We call on all members of the public to ignore all the claims in the story. Dr. Saraki will allow the police to do their work and unravel the person or persons behind this theft in the Administrative Office,” he stated. Kwara State government also denied the report that Saraki demanded the N300 million from it and that it provided the money that was stolen from the Ilorin residence of the Senate President who was also a two-term governor of the state and the political leader of the mainstream All Progressives Congress, APC in the state. The state government in its official Facebook page, claimed ignorance of the source of the money, saying it was inconceivable for the state which is currently facing serious economic challenges to have afforded such. The statement, which was repeatedly posted yesterday, read thus: We didn’t give Dr. Saraki money for Ramadan “It has come to our attention that Sahara Reporters has published a story claiming that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, demanded and received N300m from Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, for the Ramadan. “We regard this as the latest episode in Sahara Reporters’ serial campaign of falsehood against Dr. Bukola Saraki and the state he once governed. It is certainly inconceivable that a state government that received N800m in statutory allocation in May but requires N2.1 billion monthly for salaries alone will indulge in such act.”