Davido in N7m concert fee controversy

Hip hop singer, Davido, who was advertised to be among the artistes to perform at the Festival of India, which took in Lagos on Saturday, was conspicuously absent.

This did not go down well with some guests who obviously wanted to see him in action.

Indeed, such people think that the inclusion of his name was a fluke, to the extent that some have expressed the opinion online.

But our correspondent spoke with the organisers who stressed that Davido was indeed invited.

The chief organiser, Rosiji, also confirmed this.

Although he said it was premature to say much on the development, other vital sources noted that the contract between the Festival of India and the artiste could run into N7m.

It was gathered that Davido informed them on Friday night, a day to the event, that he was indisposed.

It was further gathered on Thursday (yesterday) night that the organisers have accordingly communicated Davido’s lawyers, as they hope to get a refund of the fee said to have been paid.

Efforts by our correspondent to speak with the artiste or his manager did not yield fruits.

A call to his manager’s phone number and a subsequent text message had not been replied as of 8pm production time on Thursday.

Fraudsters impersonate three ministers, dupe foreigners of N30m

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested an internet fraud syndicate which specialises in stealing the identities of influential Nigerians and duping foreigners.

The EFCC said in a statement by its spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, that seven suspects including a serving corps member were arrested in Port Harcourt for duping foreigners of over N30m.

The suspects were accused of impersonating the immediate past Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde; the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke (SAN); and the current AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The EFCC said one of the suspects, Promise Nwalozie, allegedly posed as Lamorde using the former EFCC chairman’s identity card to send scam mails to foreigners, mostly Europeans and Americans and in the process extorted sizeable amount of foreign currencies from them.

The statement read in part, “Besides, he also posed as Barrister Peter Jackson, a spurious lawyer working with the National Judicial Council. As a ‘lawyer’, he was allegedly defrauding his victims by assuring them that he would help in the recovery of money lost to different Nigerian cyber fraudsters. To do this, Jackson was collecting various sums of money as service charges from his victims.  Some of his victims are: Betty. G. E, an American and Georgina M, an Australian.

“In addition to all these, Nwalozie had multifarious electronic scam documents in various folders in his email box,  ostensibly for the payment of a spurious N12,500,000 to one Robert Giese, an American, by the ‘Office of the Presidency, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abuja.’

“To further deceive Giese, he swore to a fictitious ‘Affidavit of claim of Federal High Court of Nigeria’ deposed to by a fake Justice Ibrahim Auta, OFR, on behalf of Giese.  The ‘affidavit’ was signed by a former AGF, Bello Adoke. To achieve his fraudulent schemes, he had several e-mail addresses such as:sirpeterjackson@gmail.com, promisenwalozie@gmail.com, bigenoughforcare@gmail.com  among others.”

The anti-graft agency also arrested one Prosper Onukagba who is a youth corps member serving in the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Onukagba was allegedly involved in online dating scam, also known as romance scam. According to the EFCC, he defrauded unsuspecting foreign widows, mostly from Europe and America.

Navy parades two suspected members of Avengers

The Nigerian Navy on Saturday paraded two suspects believed to be members of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, arrested by officers of the Nigerian Navy Ship in Delta State.

While parading the suspects at the Warri Naval Base, Warri, Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve, said the suspects were behind series of attacks on oil and gas facilities, especially in Warri South-West Council Area of the state.

Specifically, Commodore Dzunve disclosed that the suspects were behind the attacks on Chevron Nigerian Limited facilities between May and July 2016.

The suspects, identified as Stanley Toghan and Felix Miyenminiye, were arrested in Sapele area of the state.

The naval chief said, “You are all aware of the recent series of attack on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and in particular Delta State, which some groups/persons have claimed responsibilities.

“I am pleased to inform you that after persistent efforts, the Nigerian Navy Ship, Delta, being part of the maritime component of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested two suspects responsible for the attack on Chevron facilities, witnessed between May and July 2016, around Warri North axis of Delta state.”

Dzunve told journalists that the suspects had provided useful information that would help to tackle criminal activities in the region.

He added, “It is important to mention that the suspects are also deeply involved in pipeline vandalism and sea robbery along the waterways in Warri-North axis. The suspects have provided useful information and the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies remain committed to apprehending those behind all forms of criminal activities in the Nigerian maritime domain.”

Meanwhile, kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan, especially youths, have warned against linking the former president with the Avengers.

After a meeting on Saturday in Ogbia, the local government headquarters of the ex-president, the youth wing of the Ogbia Brotherhood, absolved the former President of any link with the group.

They said it was wicked, senseless and unthinkable for anybody or group of persons to insinuate that Jonathan contemplated violence against anybody, especially against Nigeria, a country which they said he loves so dearly.

The National President, Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Wing, Dr. Laguo Gilbert, insisted that Jonathan had no vengeful traits, describing him as “a man of peace and father of modern democracy in Africa.”

Gilbert said, “History has it that even from his youth, Goodluck Jonathan has been a humble peace-lover who values good and quality education. This is why with such great thoughts, he was able to grow to his current political position not minding his background.

“Moreover, Jonathan’s political activities from being a deputy governor to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were in line with his true thoughts and character anchored on peace, integrity and drive for quality education. Truly, this has been demonstrated in the last 2015 general elections.”

Uber to launch driverless car service

Uber said Thursday it would deploy driverless cars for its ride-sharing services in Pittsburgh this month, pushing the envelope for the use of self-driving technology.

Uber said the program would begin with the cars carrying company “co-pilots,” engineers and safety personnel, after testing the cars in the western Pennsylvania city without passengers for months.

At the same time, Uber also announced Thursday two other moves to further solidify itself as a trailblazer in driverless cars:

— It established a $300 million venture with Chinese-owned, Sweden-based Volvo Cars to develop self-driving cars for sale by 2021;

— Uber is buying Otto, a San Francisco startup developing self-driving commercial trucks.

“Together, we now have one of the strongest autonomous engineering groups in the world; self-driving trucks and cars that are already on the road thanks to Otto and Uber’s Advanced Technologies Center in Pittsburgh,” said Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick in a statement.

The company gave few details on the Pittsburgh project, which has been in the planning since last year.

Nils Hagen-Frederiksen, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, which oversees Uber’s operations in the state, said they were awaiting information from the company on its Pittsburgh plan.

“We will be carefully reviewing that based on our commitment to safeguarding the travelling public,” he told AFP

Again, Jonathan denies link with Niger Delta Avengers

 Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has again denied allegations that he is sponsoring the Niger Delta Avengers.

The former President said this in a statement by his spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, on Thursday.

Some national newspapers had quoted a presidency source stating that a new report had linked Jonathan to the militant group and that the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government had begun probing the former president.

In his response however, Jonathan said that reports in the media against him are being sponsored by those who feel intimidated by his rising profile in Nigeria and abroad.

The ex-President said, “It is sad that the two publications wore the cloak of deceit from the same misguided characters that are hell-bent on pulling down the former President, despite his clear record of diligent service to his country and long standing commitment to the good of society.

“There is no doubt that there exists such people who may have scores to settle with the former President but are now feeling frustrated by the fact that his national and international profile has continued to rise, despite their recourse to endless muck-raking character assassination. Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throw obstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.”

EFCC to arraign Jonathan’s ex-aide, lawyer for alleged $15.6m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday filed a 17-count of alleged $15.6m fraud against a former aide of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Also listed as defendants in the charge, filed before Justice Abdulazeez Anka, is a legal practitioner, Amajuoyi Briggs, and one Demola Bolodeoku.

The EFCC is seeking to arraign them alongside five companies, namely: Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited; Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited; Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited; Avalon Global Property Development Company Limited and Globus Integrated Services Limited.

Olympics: From Cuban gun-shot victim to Rio boxing gold

Cuba's Julio Cesar La Cruz poses on the podium with a gold medal after winning the Men's Light Heavy (81kg) Final Bout match at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Riocentro - Pavilion 6 in Rio de Janeiro on August 18, 2016. Three-time amateur world champion Julio Cesar La Cruz beat Kazakhstan's Adilbek Niyazymbetov to win light-heavyweight Olympic gold. Britain's Joshua Buatsi and Mathieu Bauderlique of France take home bronze. Photo: YURI CORTEZ / AFP

Just over two years ago Cuban light-heavyweight Julio Cesar La Cruz was shot in a botched robbery and his boxing career thrown into jeopardy.

On Thursday he added Rio Olympic gold to his three amateur world titles and paid tribute to the people of Cuba and his family for nursing him back to full health.

La Cruz, 27, who grabbed a slice of history in becoming the first Cuban to win Games gold at 81kg, said: “I was able to recover thanks to my family and especially to my mum. She’s the main person who has always supported me and the one who gave me hope.

“After that I was able to start again and carry on my career. This medal is repayment for all the sacrifices I made and the support I got from everyone.”

The Cuban, who bamboozled Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Niyazymbetov to earn a deserved unanimous points decision in their gold-medal showdown, was shot in his left hip in January 2014 during an attempted robbery. He keeps the bullet in a jar as a reminder.

This was a first boxing gold for Cuba in Rio — cementing the country’s place as the second-most successful in Games boxing history, after the United States, with the prospect of two more golds to come.

Niyazymbetov was outfoxed as La Cruz put on a masterclass of Cuban amateur boxing — all fast feet, body swerves and clever feints.

The 27-year-old Kazakh fell at the final hurdle for a second successive Games, after also claiming silver in London in 2012.

He was unable to hide his disappointment.

“I can’t say I’m really happy because I came to win gold. I have mixed feelings — sad and disappointed but happy at the same time,” he mumbled, his eyes red from tears.

“When you win the silver the second time it can be emotional. I have been training for four years and preparing myself for a gold medal, and I got a silver.”

La Cruz was an awkward customer to lay a punch on, Niyazymbetov admitted, and the Cuban’s face looked barely touched after the bout.

– Feints and flicks -The stylish La Cruz had the crowd with him in the close-to-capacity 9,000-seat arena early on, but they were booing him by the end, feeling he did not attack enough.

The Kazakh was doing the pursuing with La Cruz — light on his feet and his long arms often dangling at his sides — content to dip in and out with the odd flick of a jab.

La Cruz was the smoother operator, Niyazymbetov the greater aggressor, but he was having trouble getting near the Cuban.

A few boos started to ring out when the crowd felt the duo needed to put on more of a show, especially the Cuban.

But that is not La Cruz’s style and jeers turned to a few cheers when Niyazymbetov missed with two big shots — the Cuban arching his neck back and his head away to avoid a flailing blue glove.

The Kazakh instead hit the ropes and La Cruz was cruising to victory — offering his face to be hit and then darting out of the way again, all the while lashing out a rapid-fire jab to keep his foe at bay.

Britain’s Joshua Buatsi and Mathieu Bauderlique of France take home bronze.