Femi Oyeniran was inaugurated into the halls of black British cultural history with the release of his second film, The Intent. The now-famous director talks to The Guardian Life about missing actors, 419 boys and the battle between love and hate.

Why make a sequel to the Intent?
The Intent 1 was a massive success and there was a lot of demand for a sequel but personally, I also felt the story was incomplete. I really wanted to make a crime thriller and I just wanted to create something in that world while keeping it fast-paced and fun like Fast and Furious.

What’s your drive behind making films?
Storytelling has been an important part of my whole life. When I was growing up in Nigeria, in Modakeke, there was no TV so at nighttime the kids would gather around and a person would weave a story all night. Later in the future, when people would tell stories about how my late father loved storytelling, it became even more important to me because that became the only way to keep him with me. So storytelling is wired into my system, it is part of my heritage.

What roadblocks did you face when you were starting out?
I saw a caption “The Revolution Must Be Financed” on Instagram the other day. Raising finance in any industry is difficult, that’s the way of capitalism, and as a filmmaker, it’s hard to get money. My first film took me 18 months to raise money.

What are the worst things that have ever happened to you on set?
Actors randomly disappearing. One day, I needed an actor to be in London for a shoot and he delayed till the next day. Equipment breaking is another. We were doing a scene and the DP (Director of Photography) had a brilliant idea to chase the actor, and he fell over. Equally, stunt scenes. We were about to shoot a stunt scene and the stunt guy goes, “where’s the paramedic?” The production manager had forgotten to book a paramedic so we had to scramble looking for one within the hour. The funniest thing was on the set of the Intent 2 when the police wouldn’t give us permission to use guns. We sorted it out eventually.

Why the interest in Jamaica?
It was a natural decision. The Jamaican cultural influence in Britain is undeniable. More recently, West Africa, specifically Nigeria’s influence on Black British culture in the UK is undeniable which is why the Intent 3 will be partly shot in Nigeria because Nigeria is a huge part of what it means to be Black British.

Do you feel black directors have a moral obligation to speak out about political issues when making black-centred films?
Yes and no. Yes, because as blacks, we don’t have many films about us on an international platform to shift the way films about black people are perceived. But I also say no because films are meant to entertain. It’s meant to make you feel different things. For example, when you watch Ava’s films like Selma or When They See Us, you realize she’s found a way to produce political black content. I suppose the sweet spot is to create content that is political and entertains just like Black Panther.

What in your opinion is your greatest achievement to date?
In terms of film, The Intent. It put us on a map and put us in a position to do Intent 2 and get a deal with Netflix. Also getting a law degree from London School of Economics has enabled me to pay bills and do business in a way that other actors have been unable. And in terms of life, I’m raising two sons to be intelligent boys that go on to positively influence the world. I don’t know if I’ve achieved that yet but the process of achieving that has been an achievement in itself. I and my father never did that because he passed away, so I look at that personally as an achievement.

What book would you love to make a film out of someday?
I Did Not Come To You By Chance [by Adaobi Nwaubani]. I love that book; the way she ameliorates a 419 boy has never been done before, you feel sorry for him and you understand why and by the time you realise that he’s a criminal you love him too much to abandon him. It’s brilliant.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start a life creating films?
Believe in yourself and you have to develop a certain degree of resilience. People are always going to say no to you, investors are going to say no and people are going to say they don’t like your film.

What’s your favourite film and how many times have you watched it?
Godfather. I can’t count but definitely over 20.

What do you want to be known for?
“The goal is not to live forever but to create something that will.”

What’s your favourite film quote?
It’s from Do The Right Thing. “Let me tell you the story of right hand, left hand/it’s a tale of good and evil/hate/It was this hand that iced Cain his brother/ love/ it Is these five fingers that go straight to the soul of man/ right hand/ the hand of love/the story of life is this static/one hand is always fighting the other and the left hand is kicking much ass/ I mean it looks like the right and love, is finished/ but hold on stop the presses,/ the right hand is coming back/ yeah he’s got the left hand on the ropes/ BOOM/ it’s a devastating right, and hate is hurt down/ left hand, hate, KO’d by love/ If I love you/ I love you/ but if I hate you/ BOOM!”

Serena Williams won’t give the Duchess of Sussex parenting advice for the first a few months, and she admitted she’ll wait before she gives her pal any tips on motherhood.

Serena Williams won’t give the Duchess of Sussex parenting advice for the first a few months.

The 37-year-old tennis star has been friends with the former actress – who was known as Meghan Markle before marrying Prince Harry last year – for several years, and she admitted she’ll wait before she gives her pal any tips on motherhood after the duchess welcomed baby Archie into the world in May.

Serena – who has daughter Alexis Olympia, 19 months, with husband Alexis Ohanian – told the BBC: ”I never pass on words of wisdom because I feel like for everyone – when they have a kid, especially when you just have a baby – it’s so difficult to just be.

”It’s just like, ‘Get through the first three [or] four months and then we can talk.’ ”

Despite this, Serena has previously given tips on coping with parenthood for the first time, saying she had to learn to ”go with the flow” and adapt to living day-to-day without too much planning to avoid causing unnecessary stress.

She said: ”Accept mistakes and don’t expect to be perfect. We put so much pressure on ourselves.

”I had all those high expectations and what I was going to do and then I had what I was going to do.

”I was gonna recover and I was gonna be great, and this is a time that everything is not going to go as planned.

”My whole life is so planned and this is the one time where it wasn’t. You just gotta go with the flow.”

The athlete took on the task of planning Meghan’s baby shower back in February for the tot, and has since revealed the party was a lot more pressure than she’d first thought.

She admitted: ”Planning something like that takes a lot of effort. I’m a perfectionist, so I’m like, ‘Let’s make it perfect.’ ”

Diana Ross revealed she has lost all the footage from her star studded 75th birthday party, but she’s hoping she’ll find the hard drive so it can be shared with her fans.

Diana Ross lost all the footage from her star studded 75th birthday party.

The iconic soul singer was joined by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs when she celebrated the milestone in March, and while the hard drive containing recordings has gone missing, the star is sure everything will work out.

Speaking during a Q&A at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in New Jersey, she said: ”What happened is I lost the drive. I can’t find the drive! You know how you film it on a hard drive?

”I didn’t find it! But it’s not lost, it’s gotta be found somewhere, and then you can see it. You’ll be able to see it. But it was a lovely night.”

Diana has explained she decided to have a huge celebration for her birthday because she wanted her fans to be able to share in the experience too.

She added: ”I had a birthday party, but I didn’t just want to have a party for my close friends without having a party with my fans.

”So I did a show and we didn’t start until midnight, and I did a show especially for you guys, really. That’s what it was all about.”

The ‘Upside Down’ hitmaker revealed she dueted with a whole host of famous faces and family members at the party.

She said: ”We invited a lot of my celebrity friends and so they would get up on the stage and sing with me. You should have seen Stevie Wonder! Was he amazing? He was amazing!

”And Puffy [Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs], and my son, my daughters, everybody performed with me. It was a lovely night.”

Before the big day, Diana also celebrated at the Grammy Awards in February where she was honored with a video package narrated by the evening’s host, Alicia Keys, documenting her lengthy career before her nine-year-old grandson, Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick, took to the stage to pay tribute to his ”amazing grand-mommy”.

She was greeted by loud applause at Los Angeles Staples’ Centre when she walked out to sing ‘The Best Years of My Life’.

Diana then said: ”Thank you for being here to celebrate my 75th birthday.”

Former Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez has confirmed his appointment as the new boss of Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang.

Benitez, 59, officially left the Magpies at the end of June after failing to agree a contract extension.

The former Liverpool, Inter and Real Madrid coach claimed the Premier League outfit did not share his “vision” and brought an end to a three-year stay on Tyneside.

Clubs in England and across Europe are said to have expressed interest in the Spaniard’s services, but a lucrative switch to China emerged as his most likely destination.

Benitez announced the move to Dalian in a post to social media and succeeds Choi Kang-hee after the former South Korea international stepped down citing personal reasons following a brief stint at the helm.
Dalian will reportedly pay the Champions League and LaLiga winner £12million per year.

He takes over with the club sitting 10th in the 16-team CSL, 22 points adrift of top spot.

The vastly experienced Benitez, who guided Newcastle back to the Premier League in his first full season in charge after he was unable to save them from the drop in the previous campaign, has never previously coached outside Europe.

The BBNaija reality show has come back to thrill Nigerians with the lives of 21 contestants who would be in a house for 99 days.

Even though the show is less than a week old, Nigerians on social media are already picking sides and analysing the housemates' behaviours.

One housemate who seems to have gained the attention of a number of viewers is Seyi, who happens to be the grandson of late Nigerian nationalist, Obafemi Awolowo.

Owing to Seyi’s family background, many people seem to expect a lot from him and they have expressed as much on social media. Some people feel he is quite a talkative while others seem to enjoy his playful nature.

This Seyi of a guy , identified as a Awolowo's Grandson issa Legend. Mehn, he made the great name Awolowo to Trend.. 🙌🏾
Seyi Awolowo talking about his family, He said they can stand in front of anybody including the queen of England. Day one you are already boastful. 😂😂 See the way mike sip drink they look am. Typical talkative. I believe he's an Awolowo now 😩😂#BBNaija #BBNaija2019
Another internet user, Ju Mappele, tried to explain Seyi's boisterous nature in the house. According to him, Seyi is a doctor who does not get to hang out much and he is making sure to have fun in the house:

Seyi(Awolowo’s grandson) isn’t doing too much o
He’s a doctor na
He doesn’t get to hangout and have fun like this
Lol 😂 let him enjoy himself before they evict him and he goes back to work

Others were concerned that the BBNaija audition process might have been a scam seeing as Awolowo's grandson is one of the housemates. They recounted how several people tried to jump over the fence during auditions out of desperation:

Nigerians have reacted to Nathaniel Bassey, prominent Nigerian gospel performer, and trumpeter after his comments towards rape allegations against the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Biodun Fatoyinbo. Bassey said the present assault adventure meant that God was purifying the congregation, Mandy News report.

For several hours Monday Evening,
Nathaniel Bassey was number one on the top ten Twitter trends.

The wife of alleged r@p*st and lead pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA, Modele Fatoyinbo has finally spoken as regards the ongoing sxx scandal of her husband. She addressed the issue during Sunday Service in the church earlier today on 30th June, 2019.



Pastor Modele Fatoyinbo has clearly denied all the allegations raised against her husband. According to her “My husband is not a r&pist. Even if he was not a believer, he would not be a r&pist.” Before she could complete her speech, however, her husband quickly grabbed the microphone and said, “the elders are handling the matter.”



Busola Dakolo, the wife of popular singer, Timi Dakolo had alleged that the COZA founder had forcefully r@p*d her when she was young. The mother-of-three narrated how Pastor Fatoyinbo allegedly forced his way into her when she was a teenager. Fatoyinbo, however, denied the allegation, though admitted that Busola once attended the same church with his family.

The clergyman consequently ordered his lawyers to institute both criminal and civil cases against Busola.



Meanwhile, there was a very heavy police and security presence at Abuja headquarters of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, COZA this morning, as two groups of protesters converged to protest over the r@pe allegations presently surrounding Pastor Abiodun Fatoyinbo.


Since the allegations broke, Mr. Fatoyinbo had come under heavy criticism on social media. The trending topic has divided opinions among large sections of Nigerians. Many called for the preacher to stand down from his position to allow for investigations.



Outraged by the development, a coalition of Nigerians had decided to stage a protest against the pastor on Sunday. The group, which claimed to stand in solidarity with Busola, a professional photographer and mother of three, had floated a hashtag #ChurchToo.



A heavy presence of security agencies was deployed around the COZA premises and around the Murtala Muhammed Way junction. They include the Army, mobile policemen and Civil Defence corps. Also on ground are officers of the State Security Service (SSS).

However, the group which converged on the NNPC Filling Station in Guzape dressed in white T-shirts was met by another large group of protesters. The second group was rallying on behalf of Mr. Fatoyinbo and protesting his innocence. The second group was accompanied by a detachment of policemen which formed a cordon around the protesters. The group, however, briefly disrupted the first group of protesters who had come out in their numbers to ask for Mr. Fatoyinbo to stand down. It took the intervention of the security forces to restore order.
Share your thoughts in the comment section below
Source: 1stnews.com

Veteran comedian and social commentator, Alibaba have called out prominent pastors for keeping mute over the rape allegations levied against Biodun Fatoyinbo, pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA).

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fatoyinbo, who has stepped down, was accused by Busola Dakolo of raping her as a teenager causing wild outrage on and off social media.

Despite the various comments on the issue, pastors of prominent Nigerian churches are yet to speak.

Alibaba noted that the case would have been different if it was about members of the church and not a fellow pastor.

He wrote @alibabacfr on Instagram, “When it comes to preaching against what members of the congregations are doing wrong, its in Vol 1, 2 and 3.

“Fornication, smoking, indecent dressing, drinking, nightclubbing, polygamy, divorce, robbery, domestic violence, terrorism, being stingy, racism, corruption, greed, homosexuality, adultery, mixing with the bad gang.

“But touch, not the Lord’s anointed and do my profits no harm,” Alibaba said.

Although Fatoyinbo denied the allegations, he stepped down on Monday following peaceful protests at COZA branches in Lagos and Abuja on Sunday.

Cossy Ojiakor has slammed fellow actress and catch enemy,Halima Abubakar of trolling her with fake pages

Cossy responses to a question by an unknown fan asking if the stories of her having Aids are true .

Cossy who believed Halima is the one behind the page,warned her and threatened to beat her up .



If you recall,a few weeks ago,Cossy called Halima a snake and accused her of being behind the viral rumours that she slept with dogs in exchange for money ,knowing it was just acting on a film set.

Cossy said that rumour damaged her and changed her from an innocent actress to whom she is today.

The lawmaker representing Adamawa-North senatorial district, Senator Elisha Abbo, says the incident portrayed in the video showing him beating up a lady in a s*x toy shop occurred in March 2019.

Abbo said this in a brief chat with our correspondent on Tuesday while responding to a question from The PUNCH.

He said he was putting a team together and he would give a robust response soon.

Abbo said, “Hello Eniola, I saw your message and I am aware of the report. I am putting my team together. I am aware that the thing happened around March this year but I will get in touch with you when we finish discussion. I am in a meeting now.”

Abbo, had attracted criticisms from a large section of Nigerians after being caught on video slapping a nursing mother repeatedly at a s*x toy shop in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja.

Abbo, who defeated the respected Senator Binta Garba, to emerge as the winner of the Adamawa North senatorial district, was seen assaulting the woman in a video posted by Premium Times

The assault, which reportedly occurred on May 11, 2019, was done in the presence of an armed policeman who rather than assist the victim, arrested her.

Abbo, who is the youngest senator in the country, had entered the shop around 6pm on May 11, a Saturday. The senator walked in with three young women to purchase adult toys.

But shortly after they began shopping for the toys, one of the three girls brought in by Mr Abbo started throwing up. She vomited multiple times, prompting the shop owner to remark that the woman should have vomited outside and not inside her shop, especially since she was not a child.

Abbo, who was said to be agitated by the sudden illness of one of his girls, was said to have accused the shop owner of poisoning the store’s air conditioner.

The shop owner’s argument that if the air conditioner had been contaminated others in the shop would have also taken ill was said to have angered Abbo, and the two began exchanging words over the matter.

The senator was said to have called a policeman who he then ordered to arrest the shop owner.
The shop owner quickly called her father to inform him that Abbo had called the police over the matter and that she was about to be taken away.

The shop owner’s friend who had been standing nearby tried to intervene by pleading with the second man to take things easy but was slapped repeatedly by the lawmaker.

Meanwhile, the video has sparked outrage on social media.

On Twitter, the lawmaker is trending under #SenatorElishaAbbo.

Mr. Marcus tweeted, “You can see the motor park behaviour of a so-called Senator Elisha Abbo.”

Another Twitter user, Confidence Jonah, expressed shock that a policeman was complicit in the assault.
For Jack Obinyan, Abbo must be indefinitely suspended from the 9th National Assembly and prosecuted with immediate effect.

Muhd El-Bonga Ibrahim tweeted, “These are the kind of people we elect as lawmakers- shamelessly slapping a sales employee multiple times. This is an embarrassment not only to Senator Elisha Abbo but the Senate as an institution and he is currently the youngest. The committee on ethics needs to act.”

A Facebook user come up with these on how Nigeria easily forget things and jumped to the new trending
Like a week ago all attentios was focus on COZA pastor rape scandal but as at now Nigerians has diverted from the rape allegations to the newly trending BBNija.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the release of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose’s passport to enable him to embark on a foreign medical trip, after he was re-arraigned before Justice C.J. Aneke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Aneke made the order following an application by Fayose’s lawyer, Mr Ola Olanipekun (SAN).

The ex-governor is being prosecuted for an alleged fraud of N2.2bn.

“I hereby grant the defendant’s application for a temporary release of his passport to enable him to undertake a medical trip abroad.

“The defendant shall return the passport to the court on or before the 16th of September, 2019,” the judge held.

Fayose had deposited his passport with the court as part of the conditions attached to his bail.

Fayose, whose trial started in October last year, was arraigned afresh following the withdrawal of the case from Justice Mojisola Olatoregun before whom Fayose and a firm, Spotless Limited, were first arraigned on October 22, 2018.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, transferred the case from Justice Olatoregun following an allegation of bias against her by the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu.

Magu based his application for a change of judge on the altercation between Justice Olatoregun and the prosecuting counsel for the anti-corruption body, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), during the March 20, 2019 proceedings.

At the said proceedings, the judge had lambasted Jacobs for “reviewing my ruling”, saying the SAN was engaging in “Jankara (shady) practice.”

But Jacobs, who repeatedly denied reviewing the judge’s ruling, said he was not a “Jankara” lawyer, adding in all his years of practice, from the high court to the Supreme Court, he had never been so labelled.

Before the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun in June, the prosecution had already called 13 out of the 22 witnesses it assembled to testify against Fayose.

Among the witnesses were a former Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, and three Lebanese — Goshen Joseph, Mitchel Joseph and Mitchel Maroon — who are working in Nigeria as building contractors.

At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, the 11 counts, bordering on criminal breach of trust, theft and money laundering, were read to Fayose and Spotless Limited again.

They pleaded not guilty as before.

Justice Aneke permitted Fayose to continue on the bail granted him earlier by Justice Olatoregun.

He adjourned till September 16, 2019 for the trial to start afresh.

Khloe Kardashian is doing a ”really good job” of co-parenting with Tristan Thompson, as she insists the NBA star can see 14-month-old True ”whenever he wants”.

Khloe Kardashian is doing a ”really good job” of co-parenting with Tristan Thompson.

The 35-year-old reality star split with the NBA star earlier this year after he kissed Kardashian family friend Jordyn Woods at a party, but she has now said that whilst things are ”sometimes awkward” between them, they’re making it work so they can properly co-parent their 14-month-old daughter True.

Speaking to Us Weekly magazine, she said: ”I think Tristan and I broke up, like, five months ago, so it’s still sometimes awkward, but I think we’re both doing a really good job. I mean, whenever he wants to see her, he can.

”It’s all about the baby! You put your kids as a priority, and they come first. Nothing else matters.”

Her comments come after it was recently reported 28-year-old Tristan wants the ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ star back, and has left Khloe ”torn”.

A source said: ”Khloé is totally confused – Tristan has been begging her to get back together, and he posted that long gushing birthday message to her too.

”He’s been asking her to sit down with him properly, have a heart to heart – but she’s refusing.

”She wants to keep things civil for True’s sake, but she doesn’t want to risk falling for him again and getting her heart broken all over again.

”He’s really keen to show her he’s changed, though – he’s even buying a big ‘family’ house near Khloé’s LA home so he can have True to stay more often, and saying he’d do anything to put things right. Khloé’s torn.”

And there’s a chance a reunion could happen, as the ‘Revenge Body’ star recently said she isn’t dating yet.

She said: ”I’m not dating right now. But I’m enjoying [life]. I love life. I’m just really enjoying my life and my time with my baby and family.”

Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has warned the Federal Government against the proposed establishment of Ruga settlements across the country for herdsmen.

He warned that the move, if not checked will set the country on fire.

Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday at the launch of United Nations Solutions 17 SDG programme, Soyinka berated the federal government for the idea, which will said can cause Nigeria to explode.

According to him:
RUGA IS GOING TO BE AN EXPLOSION IF NOT HANDLED WITH CARE. BUT WHY DO WE NOT TAKE OUR POLICIES FROM GOOD MODELS? THIS IS NOT THE WAY PEOPLE AND COUNTRIES DEAL WITH ISSUES OF CATTLE.

I TRAVEL EVERYWHERE. IT HAS TO BE HANDLED IN A WAY THAT IS LOGICAL, COMPREHENSIBLE TO THE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN A CATTLE WALKS UP TO THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE IN ABEOKUTA, A HOUSE WHICH IS LOCATED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, THEN THERE'S A PROBLEM.

WHEN CATTLE GOES TO IJEBU ODE AND EAT UP THEIR PLANT SEEDLINGS AND SO ON AND YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE QUIET?

He stated the handling of the herdsmen issue by President Muhammadu Buhari was enough to make him lose re-election.

PRESIDENT BUHARI DESERVED TO HAVE LOST THE LAST ELECTION FOR THE LACKADAISICAL ATTITUDE HE TOOK TO THE ISSUE OF CATTLE REARING IN THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN HUNDREDS JUST BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP AT A CRITICAL TIME. AND THE CATTLE HERDERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SENSE OF IMPUNITY. THEY KILL WITHOUT ANY COMPUNCTION, THEY DRIVE AWAY THE FARMERS WHO HAVE BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE FOOD SOLUTIONS IN THE COUNTRY, THE CATTLE EAT THEIR CROPS AND THEN YOU COME UP WITH RUGA.

I THINK THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE TROUBLE IN THIS COUNTRY IF THIS RUGA THING IS NOT HANDLED IMAGINATIVELY AND WITH HUMANITY AS PRIORITY. ANY COUNTRY WHERE CATTLE TAKES PRIORITY OVER HUMAN LIFE IS DEFINITELY AT AN ELEMENTARY STAGE, HE MAINTAINED

Forty-one-year-old Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Senator Elisha Abbo representing Adamawa North senatorial district in the Senate, was, on Tuesday, caught on camera physically assaulting a woman at an adult toy shop in Abuja.

The action of the lawmaker has generated reactions from Nigerians on the social media, top among whom are human rights lawyer, Festus Keyamo and former Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode.

Keyamo reacting via his Twitter handle, @fkeyamo wrote: “The case of Senator Elisha Abbo is very straightforward: the Police MUST IMMEDIATELY take three steps: 1. Arrest him (no formal complaint is needed with the evidence on tape) 2. Obtain his statement (if he’s willing to make one) and that of the victim 3. Arraign him in court.”


Also, Fani-Kayode, condemning the act via his Twitter handle, @realFFK said the Senator action was “Utterly barbaric and shameful behaviour from Sen. Elisha Abbo, the youngest member of the Senate.This is unacceptable and something must be done about it.I call for his arrest and prosecution for assault and battery.I advise the younglady that was beaten to sue.”

The action of Senator Abbo also drew angry reactions from other categories of Nigerians who also posted comments on their Twitter handles and pasted below:
@Dr_JoeAbah, “Unbelievable! And I was there speaking turenci at their induction as young NASS members. Smh!”

@Soyugbo, “This guy has no immunity. @PoliceNG and @PoliceNG_CRU should ensure this guy is used as an example of no one being above the law. Nigeria needs sanity at all levels.”

@Mista_Bush, “The victim and her lawyer reported the case to the police and the police said they didn’t know how to contact the senator. I’m trying my best to love this country but it’s not working.”
@le_Capone,”This is very funny. If the senator isn’t responding charge the mothafucka to court let the court summon him. Maybe we should push for justice for this as we do sexual assault. Both in same category.”

@AfroVii, “He beat this woman up and despite them filing a police report, nothing has happened until now. No arrest, no invitation, no interview. Nothing. He’s been sworn in and has taken his seat.”

@edenStar, “The tears pricking the side of my eyes, the goosebumps dancing on my skin, the utter disgust and disbelief! I have no words. We’re not safe anymore.”

@archdash47, “They are shameless, irresponsible and have no respect for the rule of LAW. How can I come from such a Nation like this. Painful.”

@I_amMarwa, “He is from my constituency, we fought hard to bring this man, we campaigned for him thinking he is a promising youth. I am disgusted by his actions, he should face the music and he should be prosecuted.”

@Nigeriawant, “This is sad and makes you wonder if there will ever be justice for the Nigerian common man.”

@Special_one_loe, “We are just a group of people living together. No laws. The police and army are just security for rich people and politicians. You should know this by now.”

@30shades, “If Senator Elisha Abbo can do this to a girl ‘outside’, I pity his wife ‘inside’.”

@Ms_anniesparkle, “This is why they rush for positions of power, so they can oppress those they consider beneath them.”

Following public outcry and the seeming misconception about the Ruga Settlement Projects, an idea designed to stem the tide of herdsmen/farmers clashes across the country, President Muhammadu Buhari is said to have suspended the idea pending further notice, THISDAY has learnt.

The president, after consultations with stakeholders, THISDAY gathered, has resolved to put away the idea for a thorough review and well acceptable approach to the menace constituted to national security by the constant clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

A presidency source that hinted at this development, said the announcement would be made any moment from now with detailed explanations, going forward.

Details later…

The Senate on Wednesday instituted a seven- man Ad – hoc committee to investigate alleged recent physical assault on a lady at an adult toys shop in Abuja by Senator Ishaku Abo (Adamawa North).
The alleged incident had been trending on social media in the last 24 hours which the Senate felt was injurious to its image.

The upper legislative chamber’s resolve to probe the alleged violent conduct of one of its members, was sequel to a motion moved to that effect by Senator Uba Sani (Kaduna Central).

Sani had come under Orders 14 and 15 of the Senate Standing rules, arguing that the incident must be investigated and appropriate action taken if the Senator involved was found guilty .

According to him , between Tuesday morning and Wednesday when he drew the attention of the Senate to it, not less than 111 calls had been made to his lines by concerned Nigerians in and outside the country.

The candidate of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday failed in his bid to get the presidential election petition tribunal to reopen the application of the All Progressives Congress against his petition, following the refusal of the tribunal to do so.

Chairman of the five member panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, refused Atiku’s motion in a ruling delivered by the panel on grounds that the application lacked merit.

According to the ruling, the petitioners failed to provide cogent reasons why the application should be granted. Justice Garba held that Atiku did not give any reason why they failed to file a counter affidavit to APC’s objection to the petition.
The tribunal also stated that Atiku and PDP decided as a matter of choice to file an address and objection without counter affidavit to the objection raised by APC in their motion of May 15, 2019 that was argued on June 11, 2019.

Further, the tribunal disagreed with Atiku on the issue of fair hearing as his lawyers were present in court during proceedings but chose to conduct their petition in their own way.

Consequently, Justice Garba held that the application for setting aside the proceedings of June 11 lacked merit, fails and accordingly dismissed.

Meanwhile, the tribunal has adjourned till Thursday for commencement of hearing in the main petition.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, yesterday called for the immediate prosecution of electoral offenders, including members of the security agencies.
He made the call in Abuja during a meeting of Interest Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Matters.
At the meeting, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, said during the last elections, 58 high-profile arrests were made, while 39 had been charged to court.

The INEC chairman told the meeting that “proven misconduct must be dealt with according to the law,” and that “this is one of the surest ways to address impunity and instill sanity in the electoral process.”
He also commended the security agencies that responded to allegations of electoral misconduct against their personnel, stating that “some security agencies also responded by investigating the allegations of misconduct against their own personnel. We shall once again share experience at this meeting and take bold steps to ensure that we all keep to our rules of engagement.”

He commended the police for arresting many suspected electoral offenders during the general election and asked that the police should avail the commission of the case files so that it could initiate their immediate prosecution.
The INEC chairman also reiterated the call for the establishment of an election offences tribunal to check rising cases of election offences.

Yakubu said: “I wish to renew the call for the establishment of the Electoral Offences Tribunal. We shall work with the National Assembly to ensure the passage of a private member bill sponsored in the Senate by the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and in the House of Representatives by Hon. Francis Charles Uduyok.

Their effort was reinforced by an Executive Bill submitted to the National Assembly arising from the report of the Ken Nnamani Committee on Electoral Reform. The truth is that democracy and credible elections will be deepened where electoral offenders are swiftly prosecuted.

For instance, in the recent general election in South Africa held in May 2019, some electoral offenders were arrested and swiftly charged to court even before the election was concluded.”

On the forthcoming November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States, Yakubu said: “Given the history of political violence, resulting in the governorship elections declared inconclusive in the two states in 2015, the commission is concerned about the safety of our personnel, properties and the sanctity of the electoral process.

“The politicians in Bayelsa and Kogi States must shed off the toga of political violence associated with elections in the two states. I am glad to note the peace efforts in Bayelsa State through a broad-based stakeholders’ summit on violence-free elections.

“I am also glad that some concerned leaders in Kogi State are considering a similar initiative. I want to assure all well-meaning leaders of Bayelsa and Kogi States that the commission will work with them to ensure peaceful and credible polls. I also wish to assure all voters in the two states that INEC will protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the will of the people prevails. We will also work with the security agencies to ensure professionalism and neutrality in strict compliance with their rules of engagement.”

In his contribution at the meeting, the Inspector General of Police, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, said during the last elections, 58 high profile arrests were made.
Of the figure, 25 arrests were made during the presidential and National Assembly elections, 17 during gubernatorial election and 14 other arrests were also made.

“Out of the 58 arrests, 39 have been conclusively investigated and concluded and charged to courts, while 19 are pending,” he added.
He commended other security agencies, particularly the military, for the cooperation given to the police and INEC during the last election.

The human rights activist has tagged those who are against the man of God as enemies of Christ.

In an Instagram post, he revealed that even though he doesn’t like Biodun Fatoyinbo, he would never abandon him as he’s just a target of the devil to bring the man down.

Read what he posted below:
Dear Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo,
I may not like you, but I will NEVER abandon you to the ENEMIES of Christ. ‪Take heart.

When they can’t DEFEAT you with STANDARDS,‬ ‪They will try to DEFEAT you with SCANDALS. ‬ ‪

When they can’t RISE to your LEVEL,‬ ‪They will PROVOKE you to DIVE to their DEVIL. ‬ ‪Don’t WORRY. God will RAISE your SANDALS above their SCANDAL ‬And to all those men of God who have chosen to be POLITICALLY CORRECT.

I leave you with these words: “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”-John 13:35 ‪#FreeLeahSharibu #RenosNuggets