Union Bank Takes Over Dangote’s Company Over Unpaid N4b Loan

Sani Dangote, the younger brother of the world’s richest black person, Aliko Dangote, appears to have run into a major business crisis as Union Bank has taken steps to seize his Dansa Foods Limited.
Sani Dangote
The latest development follows the inability of Sani to pay back a loan of N4billion he obtained from the bank seven years ago, following which the bank appointed Lagos lawyer, Chukwudi Enebeli as Receiver/Manager.
Dansa Foods claims Mr. Enebeli cannot represent Union Bank as he is a party to the suit.
Mr. Enebeli was appointed under the deed of debenture to take over all the assets of Dansa Foods, which has its registered office at 1, Dansa Drive, off the Badagry Expressway in Lagos.
The debenture appointing Mr. Enebeli has been filed and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in Abuja, and it claims that the balance of the loan secured have become payable as Dansa Foods has failed or neglected to meet its obligations despite the bank’s repeated demands.
In a subsequent development, the attorney and Union Bank have sued Sani Dangote and other Directors of the company at the Federal High Court in Lagos, citing “obstinacy and resistance” to his performance of his responsibilities as Receiver/Manager
The directors are Alhaji Abdulkaarim Lawal Kaita and Alhaji Ahmed Shehu Yakasai.
The suit is seeking the following orders of the court:
(1) A declaration that upon the appointment of Mr Chukwudi Enebeli as Receiver/Manager over Dansa Foods Limited the respondents who are Directors and shareholders of the company have no power or control over the company or any of its assets;
(2) A declaration that by virtue of clauses 8 and 9 of the Deed of Debenture dated 29th of May 2009 in favour of Mr. Chukwudi Enebeli the Receiver/Manager appointed by Union bank of Nigeria Plc is entitled to perform all functions specified in the deed of all assets Debenture.
(3) An order directing all creditors of Dansa Foods Limited to pay and domicile all monies due, incomes, or receivables accruing to or due to the company into the receivership account opened by the Receiver/Manager in Union Bank Plc.
(4)A order of the court directing the Receiver/Manager in exercise and discharge of his function to take such steps as may be necessary and exercise such powers including the powers to take over and apply in realization of the company's debt to Union Bank Plc all monies due to the company.
(5) An order restraining all the respondents and their agents from disturbing the Receiver/Manager from exercising. Powers vested in him whether by himself or his agents.
(6) An order directing all Police Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or other officers concerned with security and enforcement of order to with "The Inspector General of Police, Assistant. Inspector General of Police and other Police officers so instructed by the Receiver/Manager to assist him in the performance of his duties.
An affidavit sworn to by Mrs. Olorunfunmilola Ayoola, the head of the Food team of Union bank, averred that the bank granted Dansa Foods Limited in 2008 the loan amounting to N5,200,000,000
According to her, it comprised:
(1)Overdraft - N500million
(2)Short term loan for advertisement - N500million
(3)Equipment lease- US$2,500,000 (N300million)
(4)Equipment lease (sale and lease back) - US$2,500,000 (N300milion)
(5)Import Finance - US$30,000,000 (3,600,000,000)
She averred that the loan was disbursed to Dansa Foods company and fully utilized by the company. The company duly executed a deed of all assets debenture in favour of Union bank.

Mrs Ayoola averred further that the loans granted to the company are depositors’ funds and if not recovered through the Receiver/Manager, the survival of the bank will be jeopardized in view of the amount of the indebtedness. She consequently urged the court to grant the prayers of the bank so as to prevent the respondents who are directors and shareholders of the company from dissipating the assets of the company and for the effective discharge of the powers of the Receiver/Manager.
In a preliminary objection the respondents urged the court to strike out the suit on the ground that Mr. Enebeli, being a party in the suit, lacks the capacity to act as counsel for parties in the suit.
They also contended that the court processes were signed by Mr. Enebeli as counsel acting for Union bank plc and Dansa Foods Limited in receivership.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Yunusa, will deliver judgement in the matter on October 19.

Boko Haram plotting to bomb homes of VIPs, not VP Osinbajo – Presidency

The militant group, Boko Haram, is planning to bomb the homes of VIPs, and not the residence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the VP’s office said Thursday.
The clarification came after media reports quoted the presidency’s initial claim that Mr. Osinbajo’s home was targeted.
The vice president’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said that claim, sourced by journalists from the text of a press briefing after Thursday’s National Economic Council, was a typographical error.
“A press briefing note circulated today by the Secretariat of the National Economic Council, NEC, contains a typo on the very last line of the last paragraph.

Cut-off Mark: Candidates, Parents Head For Court

Parents and candidates of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, set to be stopped from sitting the forthcoming post-UTME, University of Lagos, by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, are dragging the board to the court today (Friday).
They will be praying the court to stop further sale of post-UTME form in public universities. Hundreds of UTME candidates had on Wednesday stormed UNILAG toprotest against the decision by the institution to stop them from sitting for the post-UTME.

Wasiu Alabi Pasuma Abandons New House, Builds Mansion In Omole Lagos Ahead Of Birthday

Wasiu Alabi Pasuma Abandons New House, Builds Mansion In Omole Lagos Ahead Of Birthday.Popular Fuji musician Pasuma who recently completed a new mansion in OPIC, an area located on the popular Lagos/Ibadan Expressway was has abandoned it.

Buhari should continue PDP’s Transformation Agenda, Vision 20:2020 – NPC

The National Planning Commission (NPC) has stated that the Transformation Agenda did not belong to any political party, noting that, President Muhammadu Buhari should continue the past administration’s Transformation Agenda. The Head of Information of NPC, Mr Salisu Badamasi, told NAN on Sunday that the Transformation Agenda was an aspect of the Vision 20:2020. NAN reports that the Transformation Agenda was popularly identified with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration of immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan. Badamasi, however, said that when Jonathan came into office, he identified the Vision 20:2020 and focused on them. He said that the four areas of focus of the Transformation Agenda were governance, human capital development, infrastructure and real sector. According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will also continue to implement the master plan for Nigeria’s economic development. He added that “the Agenda is based on and draws its inspiration from the Vision 20:2020 and has three National Implementation Plan (NIP) arrangements. “The First NIP, which was from 2010 to 2013, had been implemented and reviewed by the commission and stakeholders. “It was aimed at bridging the infrastructure gap in the country and optimise the sources of economic growth to increase productivity and competitiveness. “It focused on knowledge-based economy to deepen the technology base of the country, improve governance, security, law and order. “Also, it fostered accelerated, sustainable social and economic development in a competitive business environment.” The NPC spokesman further explained that the second plan, which started in 2014, would be ending in 2017, while the third phase of the Plan would be between 2018 and 2020. Badamasi said that the NIP was generally based on a set of priority policies and programmes, which when implemented, would transform the Nigerian economy to meet the future needs of the Nigerian people. He also explained that the Plan captured all the development agenda of the country, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The official pointed out that the Vision 20:2020 defined and articulated the collective aspirations of the Nigerian people to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020. “At the strategic level, it seeks to focus on, mobilise and coordinate the optimal application of Nigeria’s human and financial resources. “It focuses on human and financial resources toward the singular goal of providing accelerated human security, economic growth and social development in the country. “While opinions may vary regarding Nigeria’s ability to achieve these goals, most statistical indicators remain positive that vision 20:2020 is achievable.” NAN reports that NPC as the agency of Federal Government is saddled with the responsibility of developing the Vision 20:2020. The Commission has the statutory responsibility of coordinating social and economic development policies of the country.

Oliseh To Earn N5m Monthly

In-coming Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has told officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) he is comfortable to be paid the same five million Naira a month his predecessor Stephen Keshi earned.He is due to fly into Abuja on Tuesday evening for a meeting with the NFF technical committee headed by Felix Anyansi-Agwu. “Oliseh is ready to earn the same pay Keshi was on,” a top official said. “This again shows he is ready to serve his fatherland and money is not what is driving him. “This is another good sign with the decision to give him the job without much fanfare.” The NFF has confirmed that Oliseh would replace Kesh. His backroom staff will include a Dutch assistant coach, Salisu Yusuf as well as Ike Shorunmu, who will remain as goalkeeper trainer. His most immediate task will be a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Tanzania. The Super Eagles beats Chad 2-0 in Kaduna earlier last month to get its qualifying campaign for Gabon 2017 off to a winning start. Egypt is also in the same qualifying pool. Meanwhile, Belgian Jean Francois Losciuto, is the man that will assist Oliseh. He assisted the Nigerian when he managed Belgian lower third division side, Vervietois. He also had coaching stints in Africa, with Togolese club, Anges de Notse and led the team during its CAF Champions League games against Enyimba earlier in the year, and also ASFA Yennenga of Burkina Faso. He is expected to be announced as Sunday Oliseh’s right hand man when he is officially unveiled. According to the NFF, Oliseh would oversee ‘developmental programs and will work with clubs’ youth teams and certified academies towards developing the game from the grassroots’.

Boko Haram attacks prison in Niger, four killed

Suspected Boko Haram militants launched an attack on the prison in the southern Niger town of Diffa late on Saturday, military sources said, in an apparent bid to free fellow members of the Nigerian Islamist group held there. Three of the assailants and one soldier were killed before the attack was repelled, the sources said. Boko Haram also attacked the prison in February. “When the attack was repelled, the assailants fled, probably back into the town,” one military source said. “We are searching for them.” A second military source said the attackers may have been residents of Diffa, as no one had seen them enter the town. Boko Haram is seeking to carve out an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. Despite losing territory to an offensive by regional militaries this year, Boko Haram has carried out a wave of deadly attacks in Nigeria, Chad and Niger in recent weeks. The group has sworn allegiance to Islamic State, which has declared an Islamic caliphate in the large parts of Iraq and Syria that it controls.

Subscribers Decry MTN's New Recharge Pin

Subscribers to the MTN network have decried MTN's silence on its adoption of 16 digits recharge pin which they described as yet another insult to its customers in Nigeria. Speaking with OLODODOZONE during the week, the president of National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOM), Deolu Ogunbanjo, expressed shock over the development as he was just getting to know as there was no prior notice to its implementation. According to Ogunbanjo, there was nothing wrong in the new development. He however frowned at the failure of the company in carrying stakeholders along, a development he described as an infringement on customers' right. "MTN is becoming more arrogant in the business environment. In the recent time, they have been exhibiting unNigerian-like behaviour and this is rather unfortunate. Recently, the company fired its Nigerian outsourcing firm and gave the job to a South African based Agency. Also the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned the company to stop running advertisement on its Tru Talk package ,but they have refused to heed the regulatory body's directives even as I speak. Now they have chosen to switch to 16 digits pin but without making it public, for me not to have been knowledgeable about this, so will it be for many others. Right to be informed of any new development about a product is consumers inalienable right as guaranteed by the Consumers' Protection Council to which MTN has denied its customers”, he complained. Contacted, MTN Public Relations Manager in Nigeria, Funsho Aina confirmed that there was no formal communication on the latest move except for the notice that was on its twitter and facebook pages. The notice reads, "We wish to confirm that the 16 digit logical PINs currently in circulation are genuine. While the new 16-digit PINs will ultimately replace the regular 12 digit PIN currently in use, please note that all recharge cards with the 12-digit PIN remain valid while stock last. We urge all customers to purchase their logical PINs and recharge cards from only authorised vendors or retailers” Asked the motive behind the move, they responded, "No reason". The South African owned Telecommunications Company in June made a switch from 12 digits to 16 digits logical pin and till date, not many are aware. From our investigations, the few number of users aware of this development got to know at the point of purchase. According to kikelomo Mofikoya, a primary school teacher who uses MTN, she almost had a fight with the card seller when she saw 16 digits as against the 12 digits she was used to. " When I bought the MTN recharge card and saw 16 digits, I almost exchange blows with the seller, thinking it was fake, not until I loaded it and saw it to be real. MTN got it wrong by not making announcement to that effect". While the company claimed to have passed a notice via the social media, it was also discovered that the new 16 digits had been in circulation long before the notice was communicated on 28th June, 2015

7 Practical Ways Through Which You Can Earn Massively In Blogging

With the new trend in blogging these days. Almost everybody wants to be a blogger simple because of the information around about how much some bloggers earn here in Nigeria. And with the pressure on people to make extra income, they believe blogging is an option, which truly it is. Only that most of the wanna-be bloggers get it wrong along the way. And so they get discouraged and eventually opt out. What most bloggers don't realize is that there are diverse ways through which you can make your money in blogging. They tend to follow the conventional style of blogging which is the entertainment niche, which to me , is over saturated and i will not advise any one to go into it, except if you have enough resources to promote your blog. Blog is a short word for WEB LOG, which is more or less like a WEB JOURNAL OR DIARY, where you can update anything of interest. It doesn't have to be limited to entertainment, gossips and so on. Any body can blog on anything. A doctor can blog on health issues, an engineer can blog on mechanical issues, a lecturer can have his blog where he updates details of his lectures and so on. In fact, i don't advise people to go into the entertainment niche as blogs are all over the web space and everyone blogs about same gists. As a blogger, i don't even blog on a daily basis. The most important thing is for you to have this blogging knowledge and you are on your path to make real and live cash from these points i will be highlighting below. 1. BLOGGING TRAINING I make the bulk of my blogging cash through organizing blogging training for people both online and offline. It doesn't have to be a large seminar like that. I sometime make it a one-on-one training and this even makes me charge them more. The most important thing you need to have to do this is your blogging knowledge, your smartphone as you are going to be training them on either whatsapp, bbm, or facebook messenger. The training will be done after you have sent a blogging manual to them. You simply ask them to read the manual and understand, then later schedule a date to hold the training. Here you will need to convince them how genuine you are, especially those you will be meeting on line. Most online users are sckeptical about parting with thier money online. What i do to convince them is to send them a mini -book on blogging, they will have the basic idea, but will still need to run the training to be fully versed in the blogging training. I charge trainees N5000 per person, which you can as well charge more, and i must say i have nothing less than 6 people to train weekly. 2. BLOGGING ADMIN As there are several blogs on the internet this day, it is so surprising to know that most of the bloggers are only seeking for an extra income and so are not always available to update their blogs on a daily basis. Your job here will be to seek them out and offer to assist in updating their blog. And they will jump at the proposal. Here, you can charge a minimum of N6000/blog for a month, and some as much as N10,000 all depending on how bouyant the blog owner is. Those amounts are not bad for a 1hour job and also considering the fact that you will be working with as much as 5- 10. I currently have 5 bloggers am working for and paying me an average of N5000 monthly. That's a whopping N25k and more. 3. CONSULTATION Another medium through which you can make serious money in blogging is consulting for corporations. You can offer to help them build a responsive blog and they will pay you. I charge N15,000 for a blogspot blog and N30,000 for a wordpress blog. Not that you will be spending this much, but your knowledge is what they are paying for. And for a blogspot blog, you won't even be spending close to N5000 to get it done. 4. ADSENSE Adsense is another means through which you can make a lot of money through blogging. Though it takes time and professionalism before google approves your adsense, but once you are approved. You begin to make virtual money which can be cashed after reaching a certain qouta. Adsense really has to do with high traffic on your site. If you are not having much traffic, you might not really make money through adsense as your income will be generated through clicks by your visitors on the adverts google place on your blog. But if you are able to have a high traffic on your blog, then you are good to go with adsense 5. PAID ADVERTS This another means through which you can make a lot of money on your blog. And with this, you might even not have as much traffic to get adverts. What you do is to just ensure the targets of your advertisers are regularly visiting your blog. For example if your blog is student targeted, it will be so easy to you to get adverts from boutiques, salons, game shops, phone and gadgets shops and so on. I have this resource that can assist you in getting paid adverts for your blog. Depending on you location, you can charge advertisers a minimum of N5000 per adverts and you can as well charge more. Now multiply this by say 5 different adverts, every month. 6. BLOGGING MANUALS You can as well decide to write blogging ebooks that you can sell to trainees. Definitely you will need to have blogging manuals as these are what you will be training your prospects with. And i must tell you, I have made a lot of cash on this. Minimum you can charge on ebooks are within the range of N1500. 7. DOMAIN NAME PURCHASE Yes this is another medium through which you can make enough cash in blogging. What you simply do is assist people purchase their domain names and help them do the redirecting to their blog. You charge them for the domain name and you also charge them for your technical work. With all these highlighted points, i think am able to convince you on why you should go into blogging. You dont even have to be a pro, just understand the basics of blogging and do more research with time, and i assure you, if you are the type that really has the passion, you can understand blogging perfectly in just a period of a month. You don't even have to be blogging on a daily basis by owing a blog. Just have this blogging knowledge, Although you can have a blog for your outfit where people can get information about your services. And also, you don't have to wait until you get adsense before you begin to make money in blogging. With all these highlighted points, you don't need to get a new job. You will even begin to create jobs for people.

7 Practical Ways Through Which You Can Earn Massively In Blogging

With the new trend in blogging these days. Almost everybody wants to be a blogger simple because of the information around about how much some bloggers earn here in Nigeria. And with the pressure on people to make extra income, they believe blogging is an option, which truly it is. Only that most of the wanna-be bloggers get it wrong along the way. And so they get discouraged and eventually opt out. What most bloggers don't realize is that there are diverse ways through which you can make your money in blogging. They tend to follow the conventional style of blogging which is the entertainment niche, which to me , is over saturated and i will not advise any one to go into it, except if you have enough resources to promote your blog. Blog is a short word for WEB LOG, which is more or less like a WEB JOURNAL OR DIARY, where you can update anything of interest. It doesn't have to be limited to entertainment, gossips and so on. Any body can blog on anything. A doctor can blog on health issues, an engineer can blog on mechanical issues, a lecturer can have his blog where he updates details of his lectures and so on. In fact, i don't advise people to go into the entertainment niche as blogs are all over the web space and everyone blogs about same gists. As a blogger, i don't even blog on a daily basis. The most important thing is for you to have this blogging knowledge and you are on your path to make real and live cash from these points i will be highlighting below. 1. BLOGGING TRAINING I make the bulk of my blogging cash through organizing blogging training for people both online and offline. It doesn't have to be a large seminar like that. I sometime make it a one-on-one training and this even makes me charge them more. The most important thing you need to have to do this is your blogging knowledge, your smartphone as you are going to be training them on either whatsapp, bbm, or facebook messenger. The training will be done after you have sent a blogging manual to them. You simply ask them to read the manual and understand, then later schedule a date to hold the training. Here you will need to convince them how genuine you are, especially those you will be meeting on line. Most online users are sckeptical about parting with thier money online. What i do to convince them is to send them a mini -book on blogging, they will have the basic idea, but will still need to run the training to be fully versed in the blogging training. I charge trainees N5000 per person, which you can as well charge more, and i must say i have nothing less than 6 people to train weekly. 2. BLOGGING ADMIN As there are several blogs on the internet this day, it is so surprising to know that most of the bloggers are only seeking for an extra income and so are not always available to update their blogs on a daily basis. Your job here will be to seek them out and offer to assist in updating their blog. And they will jump at the proposal. Here, you can charge a minimum of N6000/blog for a month, and some as much as N10,000 all depending on how bouyant the blog owner is. Those amounts are not bad for a 1hour job and also considering the fact that you will be working with as much as 5- 10. I currently have 5 bloggers am working for and paying me an average of N5000 monthly. That's a whopping N25k and more. 3. CONSULTATION Another medium through which you can make serious money in blogging is consulting for corporations. You can offer to help them build a responsive blog and they will pay you. I charge N15,000 for a blogspot blog and N30,000 for a wordpress blog. Not that you will be spending this much, but your knowledge is what they are paying for. And for a blogspot blog, you won't even be spending close to N5000 to get it done. 4. ADSENSE Adsense is another means through which you can make a lot of money through blogging. Though it takes time and professionalism before google approves your adsense, but once you are approved. You begin to make virtual money which can be cashed after reaching a certain qouta. Adsense really has to do with high traffic on your site. If you are not having much traffic, you might not really make money through adsense as your income will be generated through clicks by your visitors on the adverts google place on your blog. But if you are able to have a high traffic on your blog, then you are good to go with adsense 5. PAID ADVERTS This another means through which you can make a lot of money on your blog. And with this, you might even not have as much traffic to get adverts. What you do is to just ensure the targets of your advertisers are regularly visiting your blog. For example if your blog is student targeted, it will be so easy to you to get adverts from boutiques, salons, game shops, phone and gadgets shops and so on. I have this resource that can assist you in getting paid adverts for your blog. Depending on you location, you can charge advertisers a minimum of N5000 per adverts and you can as well charge more. Now multiply this by say 5 different adverts, every month. 6. BLOGGING MANUALS You can as well decide to write blogging ebooks that you can sell to trainees. Definitely you will need to have blogging manuals as these are what you will be training your prospects with. And i must tell you, I have made a lot of cash on this. Minimum you can charge on ebooks are within the range of N1500. 7. DOMAIN NAME PURCHASE Yes this is another medium through which you can make enough cash in blogging. What you simply do is assist people purchase their domain names and help them do the redirecting to their blog. You charge them for the domain name and you also charge them for your technical work. With all these highlighted points, i think am able to convince you on why you should go into blogging. You dont even have to be a pro, just understand the basics of blogging and do more research with time, and i assure you, if you are the type that really has the passion, you can understand blogging perfectly in just a period of a month. You don't even have to be blogging on a daily basis by owing a blog. Just have this blogging knowledge, Although you can have a blog for your outfit where people can get information about your services. And also, you don't have to wait until you get adsense before you begin to make money in blogging. With all these highlighted points, you don't need to get a new job. You will even begin to create jobs for people.

21 lawyers conferred with SAN title

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) on Friday in Abuja, approved the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 21 lawyers. Mr Ahmed Saleh, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the Committee, said that LPPC took the decision at its 119th General Meeting. The chief registrar said that 124 applications were received this year. He said that three academics and 18 advocates, including a woman made the final list. The new SANs, he said, would be sworn-in on Sept. 21, at a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the beginning of the new legal year. Those conferred with the rank, which he described as “a mark of excellence’’ to the conferees are: Mr Edward Ashiekaa, Mr Benson Nwankwo, Mr Joseph Bamigboye, Mr Patrick Okolo, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, Dr Tahir Mamman, Dr Akinpelu Onigbinde, Mr Ibrahim Bawa and Mr Samuel Zibri. Others are: Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire, Mr Aderibigbe Adedeji, Mr Emmanuel Aguma, Dr Muiz Banire, Mr Emeka Etiaba, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, Mr Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Mr Gordy Uche, Mr Uchechukwu Obi. Mr Kehinde Eleja, Prof. Paul Idornigie and Dr Oladapo Olanipekun, also made the list. (NAN)

12 dead in Nigeria oil pipeline explosion: Italy’s Eni

An accidental explosion on an oil pipeline In Nigeria operated by Italian energy giant Eni left 12 people dead and three injured, the company said in a statement Friday. The explosion happened on Thursday during repair work on the pipeline, which had been damaged by acts of sabotage, Eni said, adding that the circumstances of the accident were still not clear. A spokesman for the military joint task force in the southern Niger delta region, Lieutenant Colonel Ado Isa, confirmed the explosion but had no further details. “An investigation is underway,” he told AFP. A source at the environment ministry in Bayelsa state said the blast occurred when a team was at a facility run by Eni’s Nigerian subsidiary Agip investigating a recent oil spill. No team member was killed but one was injured, the source said on condition of anonymity. Eni, through Agip, is one of a number of international oil majors operating in Nigeria, which is Africa’s biggest crude producer. Oil spills are a major hazard in the oil-rich south and in March, Amnesty International claimed that Agip and Anglo-Dutch Shell had reported 553 spills in 2014

For Criticising Aregbesola, Thugs Attack Newspaper Readers At Newsstand -

Some hoodlums yesterday stormed a newsstand at Wole-Ola Estate junction, opposite Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo, the state capital and attacked newspaper readers who were criticising Aregbesola’s administration. One side of the report revealed that on Tuesday some youths allegedly booed and shout thief, thief while Governor Rauf Aregbesola was passing through the area to his office. The development was said to have angered some others who are loyal to Governor Rauf Aregbesola and in the process a retaliation move was organized which resulted in the beaten.http://www.nairaland.com/attachments/2612537_osunstategovernormr_raufaregbesola360x225_jpeg8d5daf11ef860920859caf43151f9f4b Another side of the report revealed that the newsstand had been an hot spot for both supporters of APC and PDP where they always engaged themselves in hot argument in favour and against government. It was gathered that yesterday incident was not the first time such thing will happen. One of the victims who is also a civil servant in the state, Fadeyi Solomon Olufemi while narrating his ugly experience said the armed thugs numbering about 40 came to the newsstand in four mini buses and four motorcycles and beat newspaper readers mercilessly. According to him, “there was a very hot argument among the newspaper readers at the junction. Some argued against Aregbesola and his administration, especially as relating to the issue of non-payment of salaries of workers in the state. Others argued in favour of the governor. Fadeyi explained further that one of those arguing in favour of Aregbesola at the newsstand later stepped aside and made a phone call and that the hoodlums arrived the scene few minutes later. It was further gathered that the newspapers were destroyed. The Chairman of Newspapers Distributor Association in Osun State, Alhaji Muhammed Azeez Olaiya who visited the scene of the incident said the association was not happy over the development and lamented that people could no longer expressed themselves freely in the state.

Picas: Condoms, Libido-enhancers found in Boko Haram's arms depot

Chadian military recently uncovered a Boko Haram Arms Depot where among the items found were condoms, and Libido Enhancing Tablets. Oh yeah? See more photos after the cut...

Knocks for FIFA over horribly flawed ranking system

FIFA published its monthly world rankings for July, and it’s even more inexplicable than usual, reports Business Insider. We’ll get into a full discussion about why the ranking formula is so bad in a little bit, but first check out just how weird these rankings came out: Wales is 10th, and has the most FIFA ranking points of any team in the world in the past 12 months (note: Germany won the World Cup 12 months ago). Argentina is ranked ahead of Germany, who beat them in the World Cup final. Romania is 8th after not qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Portugal is 7th after not making it out of their group in the World Cup. France is 22nd, one spot ahead of Iceland. The United States, after beating Germany, the Netherlands, Guatemala, and Honduras in the last month, dropped seven spots to No. 34. Here’s the top 10: Argentina Germany Belgium Colombia Netherlands Brazil Portugal Romania England Wales So how does Wales — a country that has never qualified for a European championship and hasn’t made the World Cup since 1958 — end up 10th in the world? FIFA’s ranking formula, is how. Let’s explain. To determine this ranking, FIFA assigns a point value to every game a national team plays over the previous four years, with more recent games weighted more heavily. A game’s point value is made with four variables: match result, importance of match, strength of opponent, and strength of opponent’s confederation. FIFA multiplies these four factors together to find a team’s ranking points in a given game, then takes the average of a team’s points per game over the last four years to determine their total strength. Multiply those four numbers together, and you get your FIFA ranking points for each game. To get a team’s ranking points for each year, FIFA takes the average of its points per game over all four 12-month windows and weights them. The ranking takes the last four years of games into account, as follows: Four years ago: 20% weight Three years ago: 30% weight Two years ago: 50% weight Current year: 100% weight So that’s the entire formula. You can see the problems here. The formula is rudimentary and lacks the ability to assess games beyond simple win/loss/draw. It doesn’t take into account goal differential or home-field advantage, which is more important in soccer than most other sports, according to Nate Silver’s numbers. More importantly, you get ZERO ranking points for a loss no matter what. To FIFA’s eyes, Spain battling Germany and losing 2-1 in Berlin is the same as Spain getting blown out by the Faroe Islands 5-0 at home. This system rewards teams from Europe or South America that play a low number of high-stakes games (since it takes the average of ranking points, not the raw total). In other words, this system was built for what Wales has done over the last 12 months. Wales has played six games in the last 12 months. Here are their results: 1-0 win over Belgium (June 2015, Euro 2016 qualifier) 3-0 win over Israel (May 2015, Euro 2016 qualifier) 0-0 draw with Belgium (November 2014), Euro 2016 qualifier) 2-1 win over Cyprus (October 2014, Euro 2016 qualifier) 0-0 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina (October 2014, Euro 2016 qualifier) 2-1 win over Andorra (September 2014, Euro 2016 qualifier) For comparison, the US has played 12 games during that same period, and only one of them (this week’s 2-1 Gold Cup win over Honduras) wasn’t a friendly. Wales had four wins, two draws, and zero losses, all in European qualifiers that come with the 2.5x multiplier. Unlike almost every other team in the world, they didn’t play any friendlies. That helped them immensely because they didn’t kill their points average by losing a meaningless friendly. Even if they had played a friendly and won, it would have been worth about half the FIFA ranking points at these other games and dragged down their ranking anyway. As a result, Wales had a bonkers FIFA ranking number in the last 12 months. Their 817 points in the last 12 months is the highest in the world. Germany earned just 577 points during the same period, even though they won the World Cup during it! And all because they lost two meaningless friendlies and dropped a Euro qualifier game to Poland. A bunch of European teams who played Euro qualifiers over the last 12 months got a huge boost, while teams that didn’t have meaningful continental competitions (sorry, CONCACAF) tumbled in the rankings because the only games they played were friendlies. It’d be great if these FIFA rankings were completely meaningless. Unfortunately, they’re only mostly meaningless because this is the ranking FIFA uses to determine the eight seeded World Cup teams. When the next World Cup draw rolls around in 2017, this stuff really starts to matter.

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APC Crisis: NEC made Oyegun, Saraki, Dogara winners -

Like a prosecution counsel whose absence stalled the hearing of his case in a law court, the failure of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the former interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande’s, to attend the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, on Friday, stopped the hearing of “their case” against the leadership of the party and the National Assembly respectively. This is the inside story of how the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, was let off the sack hook. Apart from President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military general who is obviously not known with generous, frivoulous, broad smiles, every other person wore smiles on their way out of the meeting. From the ruling party National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the smiles beamed. The governors were not left out. Trust Governors Adams Oshiomole and Rochas Okorocha who spoke to journalists. Their smiles were expectedly infections. But these were wry, seemingly subdued smiles that flashed just across faces. Sure, one would think that those smiles were from the heart. But beyond the facade was deep seated pain arising from the stalemate of the core issue that brought them together. In any case, many thought it was a conscious calculation to hoodwink the media and the world knowing what the expectations of the members of the public were of them from the meeting. Vote of confidence on Oyegun But Oyegun’s happy mood was real. No doubts. He had hitherto been on tenterhooks. Two reasons were chiefly responsible. One: He was let off the sack hook and unexpectedly given a vote of confidence by the gathering. Two: His perceived critics were not available to frontally press their charges against him. Indeed, to any keen follower of the ugly developments in the All Progressives Congress, APC, since June 9 when the 8th National Assembly was inaugurated, expectations were high that the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the party, held on Friday at its national secretariat in Abuja, would have resolved the logjam. But that was not to happen. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara;Senate President, APC Chirman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Dr. Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari at the APC NEC Meeting. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara;Senate President, APC Chirman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun Dr. Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari at the APC NEC Meeting. What is the logjam? The Senate President, Saraki, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Dogara, were elected into office in defiance of the directive of the party which had, in a straw poll, on June 6, produced Senate Ahmed Lawan and Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as official candidates for the portfolios. Since then, all things fell apart for the party. That was round one of the problems. Round two: While every effort was made to placate the powers-that-be in the APC, who obviously godfathered and even midwived the candidatures of Lawan and Gbajabiamila, another tsunami hit the party. What happened? The party’s hierarchy, in what was believed to be a coerced move, sent in a list of candidates to be made Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip, ditto for the House of Representatives. But their list was rejected by the senators who eventually picked their choices for the positions. Meanwhile, the letter containing the names for the Reps principal offices was not read by the Speaker, a development that culminated in a free- for -all on June 25 on the floor of the House. And then the party boiled further. The crisis escalated when it sprawled menacingly to the national secretariat of the party, threatening Oyegun as the National Chairman as some quarters accused him of taking gratification. But the man has since dismissed the allegation saying it is neither here not there. And determined to broker peace among the APC warring parties, the Chairman summoned a meeting of the NEC for Friday. Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, senators, Reps, governors elected on the platform of the party and every other person who had the licence to attend graced the event. But the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the former interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, upon whom most things in the party revolved around were conspicuously absent. Rhetorics One would have thought that the core issue, being the crisis in the party, would be exhaustively discussed and laid to rest, but you can’t bet it was scarcely mentioned in the course of proceedings. What rather transpired in the meeting were words of admonition, warnings, cautions and, in the end, there was a basket full of resounding rhetorics. Yet the crisis raged on. Otherwise, why would a NEC that had the powers to take decisive and definite decisions pass on the responsibility of brokering peace between the aggrieved parties onto the governors to mediate? Meanwhile, in the preclude to the closed-door session, the President had asked everyone to pocket his selfish ambition and allow the party and, by extension, his government to work. ‘Winning the battle, losing the war’ He said: “The elections have come and gone. The APC has won the battle, but lost the war. This is the paradox of democracy and we shall see how we can manage it going forward. “I have already addressed you through the Chairman, through the leadership of the party, through your excellencies, the governors, and through our senators and House of Representatives members. “The APC must not disappoint its constituency, that is the nation-state. We have to convince our various constituencies that we are individually worthy of the sacrifices that they have made. “Let us as members of the APC no matter our personal differences get together and use the mandate given to us by this country. This is my personal appeal to you in the name of God. Whatever your personal interest or ambition, please keep it close to your heart and in your pocket. Let APC work. “Let the system work and let us have a government that will earn the respect of our constituencies. My problem is the constituencies. I thank you very much for listening to me, and I thank the leadership across the board, and I appeal to you to please continue to work together. “Please accept the superiority of the party. I cannot confine myself to the cage or Sambisa forest and refuse to participate in NEC or BoT. So, I respect, the superiority of the party. But God in his infinite mercy has helped by giving us acceptance. Let us not throw this success to the wind”. APC will overcome challenges – Oyegun In his welcome speech at the meeting, the National Chairman expressed the hope that the challenges in the party would be resolved before the resumption of National Assembly on July 21. “We know the issues the challenges the party is passing through. In the process, we will discuss the challenges. I can assure you that they will be dealt with conclusively before the National Assembly reassembles”, Oyegun said. APC governors to meet Saraki, Dogara Briefing journalists after the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that NEC resolved that Pregressives Governors Forum, a body of APC governors, would meet with Saraki and Dograra later as part of the moves to settle the conflict.

He stated that both the NEC and the governors unanimously expressed satisfaction with the Oyegun-led party executive by passing a vote of confidence on him. He said: “The National Legal Adviser came to seek the approval of NEC as to the certain candidates of NEC who should be members of BoT and a motion was moved and carried after which NEC and the governors passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the party. “NEC has provided an enabling environment to look into ways of resolving the national assembly lock jams. Later in the day, the governors will be meeting with the Speaker and the Senate President in a further attempt to find a lasting solution to the lingering logjam at the National Assembly. “Also, it is important to let you know that everybody in the party is united on two issues which are party supremacy and the need to ensure that this government deliver its campaign promises.” APC will not break up—Okorocha Also with journalists at the end of the meeting, Okorocha, who is the Chairman of the governors group, stated that the problems in the party would be resolved amicably. He said: “Many people think that there will be problems between APC members at this meeting. But I am assuring Nigerians that we have met and discussed what affects all of us and we have understood ourselves. We have also reiterated our support and loyalty to our leadership. We are also going to meet on the issue of the National Assembly crisis and it will be resolved amicably. So, I can confidently say that the crisis facing the party is almost over now.” APC will come out of problem stronger—Oshiomhole Similarly, the Edo governor, Oshiomhole said that APC would come out of its present challenges stronger and better. Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari at the APC NEC Meeting. “In human societies, you are bound to get divergent views. We can’t be perfect because we are human. The only thing is to recognize our limit and work together. The fact that the president left his office to attend the NEC meeting shows that he believes in the supremacy of the party because all of us, the president inclusive went for the election on the platform of the party,”he stated. “I expect that the party will work as unified entity especially as we promised the nation change. We had a very interesting discussion during the meeting and we affirmed the superiority of the party. We also have confidence in the way the president is giving leadership to the country. And so we all pledged to be Layla and dedicated to the party and the administration. “I think we are leaving this place much, much stronger than we entered. But the good thing about democracy is that it allows even the fool to be foolish and the intelligent also to be intelligent. In the process of discussion, we intended to appeal to people to buy into our beliefs and our actions for us to be strong. And I am happy that those that are expecting chairs will be thrown, people coming out wearing long faces. But the party came out to say after we are APC”. Tinubu, Akande absent at NEC meeting Curiously absent at the meeting were Tinubu and Akande. Both had been dissatisfied with the turn of events in the National Assembly and the APC. While Tinubu was said to have been using the party leaders against Saraki and Dagara as National Assembly leaders, Akande exploded in a letter, warning against a North’s conspiracy against the Youraba of the South-West. But at the APC NEC meeting where the issue could have been discussed both men stayed away. Consequently, the NEC decided to step down their case, a development many felt had given Saraki, Dogara and Oyegun an edge in the crisis. Lai Mohammed defended their absence. “If you look at our Constitution, neither of them is a member of the EXCO of the party. I think it is at the discretion of the NWC or NEC whom to invite or not and I also saw that quota as act of respect for his position. I don’t want to fathom more reasons why they are not here, but like I said neither of them is a member of the EXCO of the party”, he said. Having received the blessing of the NEC to mediate between Saraki/ Lawan’s groups and Dogara/Gbajabimaila’s groups, APC governors took the peace meeting to Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro where they met with the aggrieved groups. But like the NEC meeting, the Asokoro meeting ended in deadlock. Again, beaming with broad smiles, Okorocha and Oshiomhole, who have apparently become the mouthpiece of the Progressives Governors Forum, briefed journalists. “You will not see any more disagreements as against the past. Peace has come to our party. Both the Senate President and the Speaker; Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila will work together for the unity and progress of our party. By next week, we will give you people the details of the outcome of this peace meeting, but so far so good all things being equal,”Okorocha said. Oshiomhole echoed similar sentiment “When you have some little disagreement among friends, the only way to solve them is to talk and we have started the process. The fact that the two sides are present, the foundation for peace is there. “If people refuse to see eye to eye or refuse to sit together, then you can’t even discuss and the fact that they all turned up and we listened to all the sides and we have a couple of suggestions, we have agreed to continue with the conversation and we are meeting again tomorrow (Saturday) night here again. So, I believe we are making some progress. Not that everything is signed, sealed and delivered that is why Okorocha said we are continuing the process.” Bottom line In the reckoning of many ordinary Nigerians, the brouhaha in the APC does not concern them. What they earnestly yearn for is change. Clogging the wheel of developmental progress in the overall good of the country might spell doom for the government of Buhari. Just as Oyegun and the governors have promised, Nigerians expect the crisis in the National Assembly to be resolved before its resumption date of July 21.

Keshi Fired By NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) has terminated the appointment of Stephen Keshi as Head Coach of the Senior National Football Team, Super Eagles.

A statement by the NFF Executive Committee on Saturday said the decision was made, “having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ Head Coach.” The Federation said Keshi was found to ” lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.” ” To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (The Contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.” It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi.” NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, speaking on behalf of the entire Executive Committee of NFF, assured Nigerians that the decision was not taken lightly or with any prejudice, but in the ultimate interest of Nigeria football. He thanked Mr. Keshi for his services to the country and wished him the very best in his future endeavours. “In the interim, the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu, until the Federation names in due course a new Head Coach, who, along with the NFF will chart a new direction for the Super Eagles to ensure credible participation in international competitions and assist in building a sustainable football culture for the country,” said Akinwunmi.

“i’m Too Big For Such” – Ekiti PDP Chieftain Rejects Fayose’s Appointment

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Chief Dayo Okondo, has turned down his appointment as a member of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti by Governor Ayo Fayose. Okondo said he was not consulted before the appointment was made. He told newsmen on Friday in his Ikere country home that membership of the College of Education Governing Council fell short of his status in the party, being a former Chairman, a founding father of the PDP and a party leader that brought Fayose into the party. The PDP chieftain also lamented that Fayose had not assisted him on his failing health. Okondo said: “Making me a board member falls short of what he should do. And if I have to take care of myself very well and take care of my health, I don’t know what membership of the college’s board would do for me. “I can’t see how somebody who had served as a PDP Board of Trustees member will now be appointed a college’s board member. I was shocked by the appointment with my status and level of work that I did. “I brought the party to the state and I brought Fayose into the party. I supported him wholeheartedly when others refused to support him and I ensured that he won the primaries and the election (in 2003). “He has not visited me and he has not done anything about my health. I have been trying to see him and talk to him about my health but I have not succeeded. “If I will reject it in totality, I want to see the governor first and I want him to reason with me that this appointment does not befit my status as a founding father of the party and as someone who contributed immensely to his political rise. “I have been abandoned by the party. One of my sons, Tope Okondo, who was Obasanjo’s bodyguard, fell sick in Abuja and the situation I met him was very terrible. “I tried to see if I could take him to India. I contacted (former Governor) Fayemi and he offered to assist. We took him to India where he spent two to three days and I thank him (Fayemi) for the gesture. “If my own party (PDP) can treat me like this, it is unfortunate”. Okondo urged his supporters in the PDP who are aggrieved by the treatment meted out to him to remain calm. Okondo said: “I advise them not to leave because the situation will not be like this forever. After some time, things will change and whatever they want will be available.”

Accept Party Supremacy, Buhari Tells Senators, Reps

ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has told the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the National Assembly to accept the party’s supremacy in the interest of democracy. In his opening remarks at the ongoing meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, Buhari charged members to put whatever interest they have in their “pockets” and accept the supremacy of the party in the overall interest of democracy. He said: “What ever your personal interests, put them in your pocket. Let APC work. Let the system work. I appeal to you to accept the superiority of the party. I cannot confine myself in Sambisa forest and refuse to participate in the meeting because I respect the superiority of the party.”

RCCG, Winners’ Chapel, Others Kick Against Anti-Theocracy Code

Pastors, religious activists and workers of some Pentecostal churches have petitioned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria over its plan to promote the” Not-For-Profit Code 2015” against religious organizations in the country. The code seeks to nullify theocracy in the church which is ascendancy of rulership and headship of the church by spiritual means. It seeks to impose democracy as preferred means of attaining church leadership in the area of appointment, tenure and succession. Some of the aggrieved churches are Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG); Living Faith International also known as Winners’ Chapel and Foursquare Gospel Church. Pastor EA Adeboye Pastor EA Adeboye of RCCG They alleged that the code is being promoted with active connivance of the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. Addressing a news conference in Lagos, their counsel led by Bamidele Ogundele said: “governance in the church is a spiritual affair and that any attempt to separate spiritual affair leadership from administrative leadership would bring dichotomy, create crisis within the churches of God and create multidimensional contradictions.” Ogundele argued that the Sections 1.1, 8-40 of the code which impose General Assembly and tampered with the structures in the church “is anti-Christ, satanic agenda, illegal and a breach and an infringement of the fundamental rights of their clients to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the Federation 2004. •Kumuyi preaching during the programme •Winners’ Chapel Pastor Kumuyi He said that the council has over-stepped its powers and functions under Sections 7 and 8 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria as well as duplicating the functions of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under Companies and Allied Matters Decree, Law of the Federation 2004 which is saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring of churches and charitable organisations. He said their clients are committed to the defence of rule of law and constitutionalism in Nigeria and have, therefore, decided to challenge the new development in court in order to prevent crisis in the church and to enforce their fundamental human rights at the Federal High Court, Lagos. The applicants in the suit number FHC/L/C5/974/15 are Bamidele Ogundele, Busola Ogunyode for themselves and the Registered Trustees of the Centre for Rule of Law; Pastor Ayodele Oladeji, Babatunde Adefila, Isaac Opayinka and Bunmi Olawunmi. It was brought pursuant to Order II of the Fundamental Right Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009 and articles 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right. Respondents in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. The applicants among others sought six reliefs from the court including a declaration of the court that the purported Not-for-Profit Sections Codes 2015 mooted and being promoted by the second and third respondents is illegal and unconstitutional because it amounts to duplication of the functions of the CAC saddled with the responsibility of registration and monitoring of compliance of charitable organisations/groups; That the term of reference being mooted and promoted by the second and third respondents i.e. terms of reference in section 1.1 of the 2015 Code as well as 8-40, specifically, sections 8,9,10 and 37 of the code are illegally and unconstitutional being inconsistent with section 7 and 8 of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act Cap f42, Law of Federation, 2011 setting up the third respondent. That the purported Not-for-Profit section Code 2015 mooted and being promoted by the second and this respondents is illegal and unconstitutional because it is not an act or law promulgated by the National Assembly. They also prayed the court for an order of injunction restraining the respondents, their agents and privies from adopting and giving effect of law to Not-for-Profit sector Codes, 2015 based on their infringement on the right of the applicants to religion under section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 8 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Right (Enforcement And Ratification Act), Law of the federation 2004 and its inconsistence with section 7 and 8 of the enabling law establishing the body i.e. Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act Cap f42, Law of Federation, 2011.

You can’t arrest Kwankwaso, Court tells EFCC

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso: cannot be arrested by the EFCC Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso: cannot be arrested by the EFCC A Kano High Court on Thursday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) from arresting the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Rabi’u Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso had, through his counsel, sought for a court order to restrain the anti-graft agency from arresting him over a petition alleging that he misappropriated over N10 billion pension funds. In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yahaya ordered the applicant and the respondents to maintain status quo, pending the determination of an exparte motion on notice. Kwankwaso’s counsel, Mr Okechukwu Eze, alleged that the EFCC had prevented the former governor from performing his legislative duties through threats of his arrest. “My client has been in his house over the threat of arrest by the EFCC and has been denied the liberty to perform his legislative duties as mandated by voters of Kano Central Senatorial District. “We express fear that Kwankwaso’s right to liberty, freedom of movement as guaranteed under the constitution is likely to be violated by EFCC,” he said. He argued that the former governor had not infringed on the pension laws to warrant the efforts by EFCC to arrest him. The court further ruled that hearing on notice be served on EFCC through courier service. The judge adjourned the matter to July 15, for hearing on the substantive motion on notice, for the parties to announce their appearances.