Breaking: President Buhari signs #NotTooYoungToRun bill into law

President Buhari has signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill into law. The president signed the bill this afternoon inside Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.  President Buhari had, in his Democracy Day broadcast on Tuesday, pledged to sign the bill.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

Kanye West releases new song defending his support for Donald Trump

Kanye West has just released a new song to defend his support of US President Donald Trump.In spite of the backlash he faced from friends and fans for declaring his love and support for Trump, Kanye has refused to back down.

If anything, he has doubled efforts to defend his support for the controversial US President.In a track titled Ye vs. The People feat. TI, Kanye argued with TI about his support for Trump.  The song acts as a political debate between the two rappers. TI represented the people who disagree with Kanye.

He took Kanye to task over his support ofDonald Trump and Kanye defended his decision to support Trump.Defending his position, Kanye says he is ultimately "aligning with love", but T.I. explains that his actions are selfish because of his huge impact on his fans and also that Trump's political agenda stems more from hate than love."You representin' dudes who seem crude and cold-hearted," argues T.I., adding that West is emboldening "white supremacy".

But Kanye stands his ground, insisting that he's "fighting for the people".Alluding to a photo he posted of himself wearing Donald Trump's famous Make America Great Again baseball cap, West raps:"Wearing the hat will show people that we are equal.""You gotta see the vantage point of the people," spits back T.I."What makes you feel equal makes them feel evil."Kanye refused to be swayed during the argument, so they ultimately could only agree to disagree.

Check some of the song's lyrics below.

Kanye: You just readin' the headlines, you don't see the fine print / You on some choosin'-sideshit, I'm on some unified shit.

T.I. : It's bigger than your selfish agenda / If your election ain't gon' stop police from murderin' niggas, then shit...

Kanye: Bruh, I never ever stopped fightin' for the people / Actually wearin' the hat'll show people that we equal.

T.I. :You gotta see the vantage point of the people / What makes you feel equal makes them feel evil.

Kanye: I know Obama was Heaven-sent / But ever since Trump won, it proved that I couldbe President.

T.I. : Yeah you can, at what cost though? / Don't that go against theteachings that 'Ye taught for?

Kanye: Yo, Tip, I hear your side and everybody talk, though / But ain't goin' against the grain everything I fought for?

T.I. :Prolly so, Ye, but where you tryna go with this?It's some shit you just don't align with and don't go against

Kanye: See that's the problem with this damn nation / All Blacksgotta be Democrats, man, we ain'tmade it off the plantation.

T.I. : Fuck who you choose as your political party / You representin' dudes just seem crude and cold-hearted / With blatant disregard for the people who put you in position / Don't you feel an obligation to them?

Kanye: I feel a obligation to showpeople new ideas / And if you wanna hear 'em, there go two right here / Make America Great Again had a negative reception / I took it, wore it, rocked it, gave it anew direction / Added empathy, care and love and affection / And y'all simply questionin' my methods.

TI : What you willin' to lose for the point to be proved? / This shitis stubborn, selfish, bullheaded, even for you / You wore a dusty ass hat to represent the same views / As white supremacy, man,we expect better from you / All them times you sounded crazy, we defended you, homie / Not just to be let down when we depend on you, homie / That's why it's important to know what direction you're goin' now / 'Cause everything that you built can be destroyed and torn down.

Kanye: You think I ain't concerned about how I affect the past? / I mean, that hat stayed in my closet like 'bout a year and a half / Then one day I was like,"Fuck it, I'ma do me" / I was in the sunken place and then I found thenew me / Not worried about some image that I gotta keep up /Lot of people agree with me, but they too scared to speak up 

FG bans movement of herdsmen in Benue, Taraba state

The decision was reached at the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday,April 26, The Cable reports.

The NEC comprises state governors and relevant ministries of government and the Central Bank of Nigeria.Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state who disclosed this to journalist at the end of the meeting held at the presidential villa in Abuja said the council also approved the creation of ranches across the country.

He said the five mainly affected states which have witnessed killings from the herdsmen/farmers clashes, are expected tomake land available for ranches.Umahi stated that the creation of ranched would enable herdsmen and their families to be able to access good medical facilities and good schools for their children if they stay in one place.He said ranching would also improve the well-being of the cattle.

The governor stated that the federal government and the affected states will stilliron out the interventions expected from the two parties.The governor said though visa is not allowed for movement of those from West African countries herdsmen from neighbouring countries would be expected to show some travel documents.Similarly, the minister of agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said the federal government will no longer allow the killings to continue.

He said the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons may no longer be practiced in Nigeria. .

Breaking: Senators call for President Buhari’s impeachment

Members of the Nigerian senate this morning moved a motion forthe impeachment of President Buhari. According to Premium Times, the senators moved the motion because the President did not seek the National Assembly's approval before the withdrawal of the $496 million used for the purchase of aircraft from the United States.

Section 143 of the Nigerian constitution provides for the removal of the president from office.

Senator Matthew Uroghide who moved the motion for the impeachment, said President Buhari’s move was a violation of the Constitution and thus, he should face the consequences. He prayed the Senate to invoke Section 143 to start the impeachment process of the President.

Seconding the motion, Senator Chukwuka Utazi spoke in supportof the move.“This is an impeachable offence,” an obviously angry Senator Utazi,said.

On Wednesday, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read a letter from President Buhari informing the house that the money had been withdrawn and paid to the United States for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft, ahead of legislative approval. The planes will be delivered in 2020.

“Recently, approval was granted by the United States government but with a deadline, within which part payment must be made otherwise the contract relapses. In the expectation that the National Assembly will have no objection to the purchase of these highly specialised aircraft, which is critical to national security, I granted anticipatory approval for the release of $496,374,470.This was paid directly into the treasury of the United States government. I am therefore writing seeking approval of the Senate for the sum of $496,374,470 (equivalent to N151,394, 421,035) to be included in the 2018 Appropriation Bill which the National Assembly is currently finalising. The balance of the requirement for critical operational equipment is still being collated from the different security services and will be presented in the form of a supplementary appropriation bill in due cause.”

Most of the senators argue that this is a breach of the constitution and that President Buhari must face the consequence.

Miracle smiles home with N45m as winner of Big Brother Naija season 3!

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After 85 days in the third season ofBig Brother Naijareality show, Miracle has emerged the winner smiling home with 25million nairaand other prizes all to the tune of 45million naira.

Miracle edged out competition from 19 other housemates who all began the journey and made itto the finals alongsideTobi, Nina, AlexandCeecWith this, Miracle joins the roll call of past winners of the show likeKatung UduwakandEfe!

Congratulations!

Europa League trophy stolen and recovered in Mexico

Mexican authorities confirm that the Europa League trophy was stolen after being displayed at a publicity event in Mexico, only to be recovered a few hours later in the state of Guanajuato.

The trophy had been on display at the football stadium in the city of Leon on Friday night, only to be taken from a car after the event.“We recovered the Cup after receiving information that it had been stolen from the car transporting it,”said a post on the Twitter account of the Guanajuato public prosecutor, alongside a picture of the trophy in a case.

No other information was given about who took the trophy, whereit was found or whether any perpetrators had been identified. The event had been organised by one of European football governing body UEFA’s sponsors.

North Korea will suspend nuclear and missile tests effective immediately - Kim Jung Un

Kim Jong Un has said North Korea will suspend nuclear and missile tests effective immediately and abolish a nuclear test site in the northern part of the country in a bid to pursue economic growth and peace on the Korean peninsula.

According to Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un said his country no longer needs to conduct nuclear tests orintercontinental ballistic missile tests because it has completed weaponising nuclear arms, state media

 The declaration, long sought by the US, will be seen as a crucial step in the fast diplomatic dance on and around the Korean peninsula. It comes less than a week before Kim meets South Korean leader Moon Jae-in for a summit in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, and ahead of a much-anticipated encounter with US President Donald Trump.

A message from Kim Jong Un: “North Korea will stop nuclear tests and launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles.”Also will “Shut down a nuclear test site in the country’s Northern Side to prove the vow to suspend nuclear tests.” Progress being made for all!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 

April21, 2018

“As the weaponisation of nuclear weapons has been verified, it is not necessary for us to conduct any more nuclear tests or test launches of mid- and long range missiles or ICBMs,” Kim told a ruling party meeting. “The northern nuclear test site has completed its mission,” he added at the gathering of the central committee of the Workers’ Party, according to the official KCNA news agency.

Pyongyang has made rapid technological progress in its weapons programmes under Kim, which has seen it subjected to increasingly strict sanctions by the UN Security Council, US, EU, South Korea and others.  Last year it carried out its sixth nuclear test, by far its most powerful to date, and launched missiles capable of reaching mainland United States. 

Breaking: Nigerian police recovers mace after hoodlums abandon it under flyover

The Nigerian police has recovered the Senate mace after it was stolen by hoodlums at the red chamber  .The hoodlums stormed the National Assembly on Wednesday, April 18, and forcefully took the mace away. It was rumoured that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta central had led the thugs to the Senateas a protest against his suspension.

The police commended the people of Abuja for their confidence in them in reporting when they spotted the mace under a flyover.

Read the police statement below

“Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate Plenary Session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers,the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lock-down of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace.

The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the Police.

While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria Police Force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja Metropolis for theirsupport, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace.

The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to guarantee protection of Lives and Property, Peace and Stability andsustain democracy in the country remains unequivocal and unwavering." 

Meanwhile, the attack on the Senate and the abduction of the mace by certain ‘hoodlums’was condemned by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

In tweets posted on his Twitter handle, @atiku, the former VP registered his shock and outrage, and described the incident as adangerous precedent. Atiku stated that the perpetrators of the attack should not be allowed to go unpunished. 

Boko Haram: President Buhari approves $1bn for purchase of military equipment

President Buhari has approved the purchase of military hardware worth $1billion for the use of the Nigerian Armed Forces. President Buhari gave theapproval during a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd), and the service chiefs at the Presidential Villa in Abuja today April 4th.

Dan-Ali disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after the meeting which also discussed the safe release of Leah Sharibu, the last of the Dapchi schoolgirls still in Boko Haram captivity. The Minister said the money was the same approved by the state governors to be withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account to fight insurgency in the country.

APC governors sends message to Oyegun after ending his tenure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee has ended.

Daily Trust reports that the party however said Oyegun can still seek re-election as chairman of the party.

This resolution was reached after governors on the platform of the party met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, April 4.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state who is the chairman of the APC governors’ forum said Oyegun can still recontest at theparty’s convention if he wishes.

He said:"Let me correct one impression, the issue of congress and convention does not mean that the previous people who have served the party have done badly.

And it does not mean that they cannot come back or that they cannot re-contest, that is not it."We are simply saying that their tenure has ended and those who wish to re-contest canre-contest and can be elected into our party structure.

So, we are all one as family and we are set to go for 2019 elections in victory."Let me just want to let you know that there is no crisis in the APC at all. And we want to use this opportunity to advise the media operatives to stop spreading rumors of crisis in APC. There is no single crisis in APC.

“The issue was one of people who believe that we did not have enough time to organize a party congress and run election.Some people felt that it was a good idea, but the most important thing is that if we do that, we will be contravening both our party constitution and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the major issue that we have that they call crisis. We do not have crisis.

"This (Wednesday) morning, we met with Mr. President to fine-tune issues, one regarding the congress and we have resolved that the congresses at all levels and the chairman of the elongation committee, is also fine-tuning the arrangement in the same line. To this effect,the convention committee will be set out, it will be announced."

Zamfara state governor, Abdulaziz Yari,says all the 24 governors of the APCagreed with President Buhari that the party should electa new National Working Committee.The governor disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday, April 4, after Buhari met with some governors.

Three dead, many injured as overhead road sign falls on moving commercial vehicle along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

Three persons were killed with many injured on Wednesday morning, after an overhead road sign fell on a fast moving commercial vehicle at Ilasa bus stop, along Apapa -Oshodi Expressway.

According to reports, the road sign fell on the vehicle after it was hit by a truck at Ilasa bus stop.

A police officer, who confirmed the incident said rescue work was still ongoing.

Many persons were injured and 3 persons dead . The accident was caused by a pole which fellon a moving commercial vehicle. Our policemen are on the ground," he said.More photos below...

South Africa announces state funeral for Winnie Mandela

The South African government has announced a state funeral forWinnie NomzamoMadikizela-Mandela, the anti-apartheid campaigner and former wife of the country’s first black president,Nelson Mandela.

“Freedom fighter Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela will be laid to rest on 14 April 2018, during a state funeral,” a government statement read.

Ahead of the funeral, an official memorial service of Madikizela-Mandela will take place on 11 April 2018.President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Monday night after visiting the family home of the former activist inOrlando, Soweto.

“At a national government level, we have declared that Winnie Mandela will have a national official funeral.

 We would like to express our gratitude and our thanks to the many across the country and the world who are wishing us well,” said President Ramaphosa.

In a  televised tribute, Mr. Ramaphosa described Madikizela-Mandela a “champion of justice and equality” whose “dedication to the plight of her people gained her the love and the respect of the nation”

.“For many years‚ she bore the brunt of the senseless brutality of the apartheid state with stoicism and fortitude,” he said. “Despite the hardship she faced‚ she never doubted that the struggle for freedom and democracy would triumph and succeed.

“She remained throughout her life a tireless advocate for the dispossessed and the marginalised. She was the voice for the voiceless.

”The late Winnie who was married to Mandela for 38-years died on Monday at the age of 81 following a “long illness.”

Breaking: Winnie Mandela has died at the age of 81

Anti-apartheid activist, Nomzamo Winifred Madikizela-Mandela‚ has died at the age of 81.Her Personal Assistant‚ Zodwa Zwane‚ who confirmed the struggle veteran’s death on Monday afternoon, April 2, said the family would be issuing a statement later in the day.

Born in Bizana in the Eastern Cape in 1936‚ she moved to Johannesburg to study social work after matriculating.

She met lawyer and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela in 1957 and they were married a year later. They had two children together.

However‚ her marriage life with Mandela was short-lived‚ as he was arrested in 1963 and sentenced to life imprisonment for treason. Mandela was eventually released in 1990.

Tottenham ace Dele Alli hits back at critics with Chelsea double

The Spurs and England forward has had an erratic season, losing his place in Gareth Southgate’s England side and scoring only six goals before yesterdays clash at Stamford Bridge, but his two strikes in four second half minutes earned his side their first win at Chelsea since February 1990.

Tottenham recovered after Alvaro Morata had given Chelsea the lead, Christian Eriksen levelling on the stroke of half time.

But Alli’s double has now almost certainly condemned the Stamford Bridge side to Europa League football next season.Alli said: “I don’t think I had a point to prove. I just had to get in the team and helpthem and thankfully I did that with two goals.

“I’m not sure if I have answered my critics. People will still be disappointed with the way I played. For me it was just about helping the team as much as I can. I try not to let it affect me.

“Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “It was a fantastic victory for us. We are in a good place to achieve the top four.

“I’m very pleased for Dele. It’s been a tough period for him, but I like his talent, his character. He deserved it. He’s a great talent, only 21 years old, and sometimes we lose the focus on that. Sometimes the expectation is too much.“He needs to show us nothing, because we trust and believe in him.

““Dele is not one to be affected if he plays ordoes not play. He’s so strong. He’s a fighter, very competitive. But we need to help him.

"If he doesn’t play with the national team, heneeds to compete and give his best to try and win again the confidence of his manager. The only way to do that is doing what he did today: scoring the goals and playing like he did.“

An under pressure Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, whose now only have the FACup to aim for, insisted: “I’m not worried about my position.”That pressure showed as he furiously booted a water bottle on the touchline afterAlli’s second goal hit the net.

Conte added: “I’m giving and the players are giving everything. We are working very hard. But in the end, we deserve this season.

This is our value. If we are in this position, we deserve to be in this position.”

I know I work 24 hours for Chelsea. Then the club has to take the decision. But I’m not worried. I have got the maximum out of these players.”

Three female suicide bombers strike in Borno

Three persons were seriously injured after three female suicidebombers attacked a housing estate in Konduga, Konduga Local Government of Borno State at about 9.50pm yesterday Sunday March 25th.

The female suicide bombers entered Konduga 20 Housing Unit Estate and detonated their IED ridden bodies killing themselves and injuring three other residents.

The bombers died instantly. The injured persons have been taken to the hospital where they are responding to treatment.

Breaking: MMM founder Sergey Mavrodi dies of heart attack in Moscow hospital

According to a report by Moskovsky Komsomolets, the founder of the MMM series of financial pyramid schemes, Mavrodi, died in Moscow at the age of 62.

Mavrodi was taken to a city hospital from a bus stop overnightMonday, March 26, after he felt weakness and pain in the chest area."The emergency team has failed to save his life.

He died this morning,"the report said.The preliminary cause of death is a heart attack.

Sergei Mavrodi created the company"MMM" in 1992. It quickly gained popularity and became the largest financial pyramid inthe history of Russia. The income of the members who joined it was paid out of the contributions of new arrivals, and when theflow of customers ceased to grow, non-payments began.

According to various estimates, the number of victims of the MMM has reached10-15 million people.In 1994, Mavrodi became a member of the Russian parliament. Then he announced that he was giving up his privileges: salaries and cars. Mavrodi stressed that he became a deputy only for the sake of immunity.

Two years later, before the presidential elections in 1996, he was stripped of his mandate.In 2007, Mavrodi was sentenced to 4.5 yearsin prison for defrauding 10,000 investors out of 110 million rubles ($4.3 million). All this time he left during the preliminary detention while the investigation was conducted.

Mavrodi claimed he is not the beneficiary of the donations and he is not used to flamboyant lifestyle.His true charges of which he was later convicted of is tax fraud though he claimed that MMM scheme is not a business, but a mutual donation program of which there is no law against such.In 2016, he announced the creation of his own crypto currency - Mavro.

In the first month, 33,000 people took part in the project.MMM stands for the first letters of the founders’ surnames - Sergei Mavrodi, Olga Melnikova and Vyacheslav Mavrodi.However, some people believe that it stands for Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox. The company got a lot of money from people - it was making about 50 million USD each day.

MMM started as a company that imported office equipment. However, there were some problems. In January 1992 the company was accused of tax evasion. This led to problems with the financial support of company's operation.

 It struggled.But how did MMM achieve that? The company promised annual returns for up to 1000% to private investors. It sounded quite attractive, and a lot of people were eager to invest. With strong advertising andnaive people (no one heard about scams during that time), MMM became one of the most successful companies in Russia.

However, the success didn’t last for long. Eventually, the company was shut down in 1994 and it declared bankruptcy in 1997. Unfortunately, everything didn't end there. After 14 years, the company reopened as “MMM Global.”

MMM in Nigeria

MMM started in Nigeria in November 2015, when it launched a new website for Nigerian audience.In Nigeria, the company decided to lower the standards and promised profit was 30%per month.The primary target of MMM was unemployed people. 

The number of people that signed up by the late 2016 was shocking - 2.4 million! They hoped that MMM would give them easy money and they had no doubts. 

Unfortunately, after a year of work in Nigeria, MMM announced the freezing of all members accounts.According to the company, the reason was “systems overload and the negative attention brought on by the Government and mass media. 

”After the freeze of members’ accounts, people started to panic. Sadly, the worst thing that happened was that the panic led them to even attempt to end their lives.

Things got so serious that even the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency asked the citizens to look out for each other and call the emergency number if someone was trying to kill himself.

Surprisingly, on January 2017 MMM Nigeriareopened. Also, on February 11th the company announced the lifting of the withdrawal limits on 2017 mavro.Investors were angry because of the delayed, and unfulfilled payments and some people left the scheme.

The investors who stayed loyal to the company were given assurance of getting back their money. But the company stated that in order to get the pre-2017 money, investors should add new money. And the more they add, the higher their chances to get the previous money back.

Though MMM came back, it could not regain the trust of the bulk of the investors failed to make huge impact it had when it was first introduced.About 110 countries suffered from MMM, including various African countries like Kenya, Ghana, Zimbabwe. People believed inthe company and wanted to get a lot of money almost out of nowhere.