Beyonce’s Sister Solange Knowles in Trouble, Wallowing in Debt

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>While Beyonce shops for $70 million homes, her sister Solange is getting dogged by the taxman almost immediately after she got hitched.</div>

Beyonce’s Sister Solange Knowles in Trouble, Wallowing in Debt

While Beyonce shops for $70 million homes, her sister Solange is getting dogged by the taxman almost immediately after she got hitched.

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Photos: Man survives being speared by15-inch piece of wood

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='clear: both; text-align: center;' class='separator'><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1oQj57j"/> </div><br /><p>The medical staff at a Polish Emergency ward were surprised when 40 year old Kamil Podwinski calmly walked into their medical centre with a 15inch piece of wood stuck right through his head.</p><br /><p>According to New York Post, Mr Podwinski was renovating his home in Konin Poland when the freak accident happened. He reportedly told the nurses he was working when he slipped and fell face first onto a sharp piece of wood. The wood entered his face just below his eye socket and came out through the back of his neck. And he survived. He actually took himself to the hospital.</p><br /><p><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br />At the hospital, the staff had to call the fire service department because they’d never dealt with something like that before and were scared they might cause more injury trying to remove the piece of wood out of the man. The fire service arrived the hospital and helped the medical team remove the wood without causing further damage.</p><br /><p>The incident has since been described as a miracle as the man who was calm through out the ordeal, didn’t suffer serious injuries and is recovering in the hospital.</p><br /></div>

Photos: Man survives being speared by15-inch piece of wood

The medical staff at a Polish Emergency ward were surprised when 40 year old Kamil Podwinski calmly walked into their medical centre with a...

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US nurse sues after being forced into quarantine in New Jersey

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='clear: both; text-align: center;' class='separator'><a href="http://ift.tt/1zzeriG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://ift.tt/1zzeriG" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><p>A US nurse who works for Doctors Without Borders, has hired a civil rights lawyer to sue after she was forced into quarantine on returning to the US from caring for Ebola victims in Sierra Leone. The US Govt recently started a mandatory 21-day quarantine order for all health workers who arrived back in the US via airports in New York, New Jersey and Chicago, to help stop the spread of Ebola.</p><br /><p>Kaci Hickox, (pictured above) who was the first person to be placed into the 21 day period of isolation, said she was treated like a ‘criminal’ after risking her life to volunteer in an Ebola-stricken country. Her lawyer said Kaci’s human rights were abused when she was sent to hospital in a protective suit after arriving at New Jersey’s Newark Airport.</p><br /><p><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br />The mandatory quarantine began after a doctor, Craig Spencer who had returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive for the virus after spending five days mixing with the public without realizing he had the disease.</p><br /></div>

US nurse sues after being forced into quarantine in New Jersey

A US nurse who works for Doctors Without Borders, has hired a civil rights lawyer to sue after she was forced into quarantine on returning...

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Indonesian female governor jailed for corruption

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/W1z7xQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://ift.tt/W1z7xQ" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Indonesia’s first female provincial leader, and head of one of the country’s most powerful political dynasties, was jailed for four years Monday for bribing a top judge over an election dispute.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The case of Ratu Atut Chosiyah has transfixed even graft-weary Indonesia since her arrest last year for giving kickbacks to the constitutional court’s then chief justice, Akil Mochtar.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Her family dominates wealthy Banten province on the main island of Java, controlling five of its eight districts. It is one of several local political dynasties that have flourished since the 1998 downfall of dictator Suharto.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Judges at a special anti-corruption court in Jakarta found the 52-year-old guilty of bribing Mochtar with one billion rupiah ($85,000) to annul a local election result in Banten that went against one of her close associates.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />She was sentenced to four years in jail, lighter than the 10-year term sought by prosecutors. She was also ordered to pay a fine of 200 million rupiah.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“Clearly it’s not fair to me,” said Chosiyah, who has been in custody since her arrest, after the verdict was handed down.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“I’m the victim.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Prosecutors said at an earlier hearing that the judge was asked to annul the result during a meeting in Singapore, and the constitutional court later did so.<br/><br /><br/><br />A main role of the court is ruling on election disputes.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The governor’s brother, Tubagus Chaeri Wardana, was jailed for five years in June for plotting to bribe Mochtar to influence his rulings on election disputes in Banten, after a separate trial.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Despite the scandal, the governor’s family remain powerful in the province.<br/><br /><br/><br />Mochtar was jailed for life in June for accepting more than $5 million in bribes to influence rulings on election disputes, linked to the case of Chosiyah and a series of others.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />NGO Transparency International ranked Indonesia 114th out of 177 countries and territories in its annual corruption perceptions index last year. A number one ranking means the least corrupt.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AFP<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Indonesian female governor jailed for corruption

Indonesia’s first female provincial leader, and head of one of the country’s most powerful political dynasties, was jailed for four year...

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2015 Elections: INEC creates more 30,027 polling units across Nigeria

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1rmapX8" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://ift.tt/1rmapX8" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><span style='font-size: large;'><br/> </span> <span style='font-size: large;'>The Independent National Electoral Commission has created additional 30,027 polling units across the country in readiness for next year’s elections.</span><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The commission said Tuesday that the action was aimed at decongest in existing polling centres.<br/><br /><br/><br />With the addition, the total number of polling units across the nation stands at 150,000, up from 119,973.<br/><br /><br/><br />The commission made this known in a statement by the Director in charge of the commission’s secretariat in Abuja, Ishiaku Gali.<br/><br /><br/><br />As a result of the increase, Lagos State whose polling units has now been increased to 11,023, leads others in the federation in terms of the proportional distribution of the total 150,000 units.<br/><br /><br/><br />Kano State now with 10,127 is the second on the table.<br/><br /><br/><br />The decision to create the new units, according to ‎Gali, was taken at the Commission’s meeting on August 12, 2014.<br/><br /><br/><br />The commission further put the total number of registered voters at 70,383427.<br/><br /><br/><br />With its registered voters put at 5,426,391, Lagos State got an additional 2,870 polling units making it a total of 11,565 polling units.<br/><br /><br/><br />Kano State with 4,751,818 polling units got additional polling units of 2,053 bringing the total number of polling units to 9,809 polling units.<br/><br /><br/><br />Kano State was followed by Kaduna State. With its registered voters of 3743815, Kaduna State has additional polling units of 2,878 bringing the total polling units to 7,485.<br/><br /><br/><br />Katsina State with 2,928,046 registered voters, it got an additional 1,339 polling units bringing the total number of polling stations in the state 3,818.<br/><br /><br/><br />- See more at: http://ift.tt/1z0Ak4S<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

2015 Elections: INEC creates more 30,027 polling units across Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission has created additional 30,027 polling units across the country in readiness for next year’...

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Riots erupt in US city over killing of teen

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1ui3LBu" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://ift.tt/1ui3LBu" width="400"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b><br/> </b> <b>Rioting over the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a police officer has erupted in the US state of Missouri, police say.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />People looted shops, vandalised cars and stores, and set a building alight on Sunday as police tried to block off access to several areas of St Louis.<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Police say Michael Brown, 18, was shot on Saturday afternoon in Ferguson, a mainly black suburb of the city.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was shot several times after a struggle in a police car, they said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The rioting erupted late on Sunday after thousands of people attended a candlelight vigil for Michael Brown.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the shooting occurred after the officer encountered two men, including Brown, on a street in Ferguson, the Associated Press news agency reports.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Belmar said one of the men pushed the officer back into his squad car and a struggle began.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />At least one shot was fired from the officer’s gun inside the police car, Belmar said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />But authorities say they are still trying to clarify exactly what happened inside the vehicle.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The officer involved has been with the Ferguson police department for six years, and has been placed on paid administrative leave, Belmar said.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mayor James Knowles said he understood that people “want to vent their frustrations. We understand they want to speak out”, but he added: “We’re going to obviously try to urge calm.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, said her son had graduated from high school and planned to go to a local college.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The killing has drawn comparisons by some civil rights leaders with the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a Florida neighbourhood watch organiser who was acquitted of murder charges.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />“We’re outraged because yet again a young African-American man has been killed by law enforcement,” said John Gaskin, of the civil rights group NAACP.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><i><span style='font-size: x-small;'>BBC</span> </i><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Riots erupt in US city over killing of teen

Rioting over the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a police officer has erupted in the US state of Missouri, police say. People ...

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Saudi executes man for killing wife with axe

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1vxBsAH" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://ift.tt/1vxBsAH" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Saudi authorities executed a national on Monday after he was convicted of killing his wife with an axe in front of their daughter, the interior ministry announced.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Mahdi al-Ghabari battered his wife Shaqraa al-Bahri several times on her neck with an axe, killing her “in the presence of their little daughter who witnessed” the crime, said the statement published by the official SPA news agency.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />He was executed due to the “hideousness” of the crime, said the statement.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The beheading in the southwestern city of Najran raised to 23 the number of executions so far this year in the Gulf state, according to an AFP count based on official reports.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Last year, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights denounced a “sharp increase in the use of capital punishment” in Saudi Arabia.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In 2013, there were 78 executions.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia’s strict version of Islamic sharia law.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Saudi executes man for killing wife with axe

Saudi authorities executed a national on Monday after he was convicted of killing his wife with an axe in front of their daughter, the int...

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The Likely Cure For Ebola, By Dr. Simbo Davidson

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/UFtKUh" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://ift.tt/UFtKUh" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On 22 July 2014, the first case of the dreaded Ebola virus arrived in Nigeria via an Asky aircraft. However, no one knew it at the time. How did this happen? How had this patient been screened at his port of departure, that is Liberia airport? We can also ask ourselves yet another question. Why is it taking so long to curtail the epidemic? For instance, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently announced that as at 23 July 2014, the Ebola epidemic had claimed 672 lives. Furthermore, there are currently 1201 suspected and confirmed cases across West Africa. In terms of intervention, the current strategy appears to be related to the use of universal precautions: case isolation, hand-washing, and health worker protection and palliative treatments (such as pain management, and rehydrating fluids).<br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In theory, this strategy may be quite effective. This is because epidemic control strategies usually aim to reduce person-to-person transmission through avoidance related methods (WHO, 2014). In this case, persons at risk will need to avoid contact with the body fluids of infected person, including sweat, semen, vomit, faeces, urine, blood and saliva (Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, WHO 2014).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In practice, avoidance techniques may not work, as in reality, these are the most basic of preventive measures. Firstly, a high level of hygiene is required and this may be relatively impossible in the urban slums and rural areas of many African countries. Secondly, isolation centres will need to be stationed in every single district or local government area. In many developing African countries, such centres may not be adequately manned, suitably stationed, or reasonably equipped. So, invariably, many infected persons are nursed at home or buried at home. Hence, the cycle of transmission continues. What then can be done?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From a Public Health perspective, there are several ways that epidemics may be subdued: 1). Interrupt the cycle of transmission e.g prevent cross-contamination 2). Protect the susceptible host e.g through vaccination or 3). Eliminate the reservoir of infection e.g. kill all animals that harbour the Ebola virus.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Starting from the third option, we immediately encounter the difficulty of which animals to slaughter. Unlike Avian flu, it isn’t clear which animal is involved here? Bats? Rodents? Monkeys? In addition, the Ebola virus has no vaccine to date; so that leaves only one other option: interrupt the cycle of transmission. The question then is ‘Has this been effectively done? How have other nations contained similar epidemics?<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />On 21 September 2008, a woman was admitted at a South African hospital for fever, vomiting and diarrhea, “followed by a rash,” and signs of organ failure (Keeton, 2008). The woman died the next day. Three more cases were reported, in quick succession, to the National Institute for Communicable Disease in South Africa. They all died within a few days of admission. Three of the patients were medical staff. Researcher Keeton (2008) noted that all cases presented with “ flu-like illness (in a similar way to Ebola) and had fever, headache and muscle pain. When the fifth patient surfaced, the institute had diagnosed an outbreak of an old world arena virus infection. While this specific virus did not cause internal bleeding, it belonged to the same class of viruses that did, e.g West African LASSA fever causes fever and bleeding (Keeton ,2008). According to Keeton (2008), the fifth patient (a nurse) was “treated with Ribavirin, which has been effective in patients with LASSA fever, and she has since made a good recovery” (Keeton, 2008).<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ribavirin then was the deciding factor in this case. All other palliative methods failed, intravenous fluids, etc. Why then should we expect such interventions to work now in 2014? Surely an antiviral, which worked in a similar situation six years ago, should also be a consideration in this case? The virus isolated in South Africa had never been subjected to Ribavirin in a research setting (Keeton 2008). In effect, there was no guarantee that it would work. But this was nevertheless the most logical approach to the impending threat.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ribavirin is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent. It is effective against a wide range of RNA viruses including viral hemorrhagic viruses such as LASSA fever (Crotty, Cameron, & Andino, 2001). According to the trio, Ribavirin was discovered in 1972. It can therefore not be classified as an experimental drug. Ribavirin also acts independently of the viral RNA sequence. Therefore flaviruses (of which Yellow fever is a member) and arena viruses (of which Lassa fever is a member) differ somewhat in structure but are still responsive to the antiviral. The critical success factor, however, may be timely intervention. Ribavirin is contraindicated after organ (e.g. kidney or liver failure) sets in. It may therefore be imperative that treatment be commenced during the early phase of the illness. While the antiviral may not be available as an OTC, (non prescription drug) large orders (in tablet or injectable form) may be made directly from the manufacturers. Fortunately, no fewer than six global pharmaceutical giants, including Sandoz and Roche, are currently manufacturing the antiviral.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />In terms of potential impact, the Ebola virus is an RNA virus, and a member of the viral hemorrhagic fevers, such as LASSA fever, Rift valley fever, Marburg virus, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic virus and Yellow fever (Crotty et al.,2001; Keeton, 2008). Most of the VHF viruses present with similar symptoms such as flu-like illness, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, skin rashes and bleeding (Keeton, 2008). Most are invariably fatal without therapeutic intervention, or vaccination (if available). These statistics clearly indicate that the VHF viruses have similar molecular mechanisms.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Therefore, in view of the current status of the epidemic, the next logical approach should be related to therapeutic intervention. There is certainly no hard evidence that such an approach would be fruitless, while there is certainly compelling evidence that the outcome may be positive.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b>References</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Crotty, S., Cameron, C., & Andino R.(2001).Ribavirin’s antiviral mechanism of action: Lethal mutagenesis? Journal of Molecular Medicine,(2002) 80 :86-95</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the African Setting.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>(World Health Organisation and CDC. 2014)</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Keeton, C.(2008).South African Doctors move quickly to contain a new virus. World Health Organization. Bulletin of The World Health Organisation 86.12(Dec 2008) :912-3</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Simbo Davidson (MBBS, MPH, PCQI) is a Public Health specialist working in a private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><i>Culled from Premium Times</i><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

The Likely Cure For Ebola, By Dr. Simbo Davidson

On 22 July 2014, the first case of the dreaded Ebola virus arrived in Nigeria via an Asky aircraft. However, no one knew it at the time. H...

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Commonwealth Games: Nigeria weightlifter fails B sample, faces hearing

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br/><br /><br/><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1naP4rx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="http://ift.tt/1naP4rx" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>Nigerian teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha faces a hearing before the Commonwealth Games Federation on Friday over her failed drugs test.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Amalaha, whose A sample failed a control after claiming gold in the women’s 53kg category on July 25, also produced a positive B sample.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The tests revealed traces of diuretics and masking agents.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />CGF chief executive Mike Hooper said the follow-up examination backed up the initial finding of the doping control that Amalaha went through after her victory in the 52kg class at the Clyde Auditorium seven days ago.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Hooper said on Friday: “I can report that the analysis on the Nigerian weightlifting Chika Amalaha’s B sample has been completed, and this has confirmed the analysis and finding of the A result.”<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Amalaha snatched a best of 85kg before managing 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 196kg, to become the youngest Commonwealth weightlifter gold medallist.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />AFP<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Commonwealth Games: Nigeria weightlifter fails B sample, faces hearing

Nigerian teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha faces a hearing before the Commonwealth Games Federation on Friday over her failed drugs tes...

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Ebola death toll doubles in West Africa

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'><a href="http://ift.tt/1zMuYxx" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://ift.tt/1zMuYxx" width="640"/> </a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>High numbers of new Ebola cases and deaths in Africa are prompting increased efforts to contain the deadly outbreak.</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><a id="more" name="more"> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />As of July 12, the cumulative number of Ebola virus cases in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone was at 964, including 603 deaths. The death toll has almost doubled in a month's time; reported deaths in the three countries in mid-June was 350.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />A coordination center is being established in Conakry, Guinea, where the World Health Organization is sending epidemiologists, communications experts and other support staff. Trained volunteers are also helping officials find possible cases and isolate infected individuals.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The Ebola outbreak in Guinea was first reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in March. By the end of the month, UNICEF said at least 59 out of 80 people who contracted Ebola there had died. In April, the outbreak spread to Conakry, Guinea's capital, and to neighboring countries Liberia and Sierra Leone.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Ebola typically kills 90% of those infected with the virus, but the death rate in this outbreak has dropped to roughly 60% thanks to early treatment.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />Officials believe that the Ebola outbreak has taken such a strong hold in West Africa due to the proximity of the jungle --where the virus originated -- to Conakry, which has a population of 2 million. Since symptoms don't immediately appear, the virus can easily spread as people travel around the region. Once the virus takes hold, many die in an average of 10 days as the blood fails to clot and hemorrhaging occurs.<br/><br /><br/><br /><b><br/> </b> <b>What you need to know about Ebola</b><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The disease isn't contagious until symptoms appear. Symptoms include fever, headache and fatigue. At that point, the Ebola virus is spread via bodily fluids.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />The CDC says this particular outbreak is challenging to contain due to weak healthcare infrastructures and community mistrust and resistance in the affected countries. It is the first time a major outbreak of the virus has been seen in West Africa, which aids in the confusion and fear over the current situation, the WHO said on its website.<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />(CNN)<br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />via nigerianeye</div><br /></div>

Ebola death toll doubles in West Africa

High numbers of new Ebola cases and deaths in Africa are prompting increased efforts to contain the deadly outbreak. As of July 12, the...

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[PHOTOS]Another fallen Nigerian soldier buried

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div style='clear: both; text-align: center;' class='separator'><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ift.tt/1ib08TT" width="223"/><img border="0" height="400" src="http://ift.tt/1jKi0KM" width="342"/> </div><br /><p>Captain Kenneth Onubah and his colleagues were killed by Boko Haram militants in an ambush last Wednesday. He was from ifite Oraifite in Anambra state Nigeria. May his soul rest in peace…amen.</p><br /><p><a id="more" name="more"> </a> </p><br /><div style='clear: both; text-align: center;' class='separator'><a href="http://ift.tt/1ib08mY" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1ib08mY"/> </a><a href="http://ift.tt/1jKhZGE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1jKhZGE"/> </a> </div><br /><p>Photo courtesy Sahara Reporters<br/><br /><script type='text/javascript' src='http://ift.tt/11vBQyT'><br /></script><img height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1piV199" width="1"/> </p><br /><p>The post <a href="http://ift.tt/1jKtHBe" rel="nofollow">[PHOTOS]Another fallen Nigerian soldier buried</a> appeared first on <a href="http://ift.tt/Tifv7I" rel="nofollow">StreetsofNaija</a>.</p><br /></div>

[PHOTOS]Another fallen Nigerian soldier buried

Captain Kenneth Onubah and his colleagues were killed by Boko Haram militants in an ambush last Wednesday. He was from ifite Oraifite in An...

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Clark’s Call For Removal Of Govs In States Under Emergency Rule Diversionary, Illegal – Falana

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p><img alt="SoEPun" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-79638" height="300" src="http://ift.tt/1jhwbW2" width="480"/>Lagos lawyer and prominent human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a call by former federal commissioner for information and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to suspend democratic structures in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, preparatory to a full declaration of emergency rule in the affected states.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Falana said in a statement on Tuesday described the call by Clark as diversionary and the act of removing elected governors or suspending democratic institutions during emergency rule in a state as illegal.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>According to the lawyer, such a call should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand as it was coming from a personality like the Ijaw leader, who he said “wields enormous influence around the presidency”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>He, therefore, urged the president to shun such advice by “people with vested political agenda to resort to undemocratic tactics associated with military dictators”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Falana said, “As Nigeria has successfully replaced autocracy with democracy all actions of the government have to be conducted in strict compliance with the tenets of the rule of law.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“In view of the clear provision of the Constitution on the vexed issue of a state of emergency I am compelled to urge the President to ignore the illegal and unconstitutional call for the removal of the governors of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Clark had been widely quoted in the media to have said that, “There is nothing like partial declaration of a state of emergency in the 1999 Constitution; what section 305 (c) of the Constitution contemplates is the recourse to ‘extraordinary measures to restore peace’ and security where there is a breakdown of public order and public safety.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“This in effect means that all democratic institution should be suspended to permit the military exercise full control until peace and order returns”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>But in a counter-argument, Falana said that nothing in section 305 of the constitution referred to by Clark empowered the president to suspend democratic institutions in a state under emergency rule.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>His words: “With profound respect to the elder statesman, Section 305 of the Constitution which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in any part of the country does not make any provision, expressly or impliedly, for the removal of elected democratic structures.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“In other words, the power of the President, to take ‘extraordinary measures to restore peace and security’ under a state of emergency does not include the removal of elected public officers or the dissolution of democratic structures.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“In any case, state governors cannot be held vicariously liable for the inability of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to stem the rising wave of insurgency in the country”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>He noted that Clark was unable to point to any law or decided court case to justify his stand in enjoining President Jonathan to follow what he termed the ‘bad example’ set by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Falana said the suspension of the then Governor of Plateau State and the Acting Governor of Ekiti State for six months by Mr. Obasanjo during his tenure as president was “in utter violation of the Constitution”.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>He added, “That was an era of executive recklessness, which has been consigned to the dustbin of history.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“Assuming without conceding that President Obasanjo was right is Chief Clark suggesting, by any stretch of imagination, that if the Federation is waging a war against another country leading to the imposition of emergency rule in the entire land the President should vacate office for a retired General to take over and run the country like a Sole Administrator?”</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Clark’s Call For Removal Of Govs In States Under Emergency Rule Diversionary, Illegal – Falana

Lagos lawyer and prominent human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to ignore a call by former fe...

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Sokoto Sultanate Council Refutes Senator Maccido’s Claim

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><div id='attachment_187251' class='wp-caption alignleft' readability='7'><img alt="SEN. AHMED MOHAMMED MACCIDO" class="size-full wp-image-187251" height="208" src="http://ift.tt/1jfe5pJ" width="184"/><br/><br /><p class='wp-caption-text'>SEN. AHMED MOHAMMED MACCIDO</p><br /><br/> </div><br /><br/><br /><p>The Sultanate Council of Sokoto has refuted a claim attributed to Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Maccido (PDP-Sokoto), to the effect that he is representing the Caliphate in the Senate.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Information Nigeria reports that Senator Maccido, who represents Sokoto Central Senatorial District, had claimed that even if he does not win re-election next year, the Sokoto Caliphate, which he represents in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, would still remain relevant as it is an institution that is over 200 years old. He was responding to speculations that Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State is eyeing his seat.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>But the Sultanate in a statement signed by Alhaji Attahiru Hussaini, the Secretary of the council, and made available to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday, said, “The attention of the Sultanate council of Sokoto has been drawn to a recent publication credited to the Distinguished Senator Ahmed Maccido, representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“In the said publication, Senator Ahmed Maccido claimed to be the representative of the Sokoto Caliphate.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“The Sultanate council wishes to categorically disassociate itself from all comments and assumptions made by the Distinguished Senator”.</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

Sokoto Sultanate Council Refutes Senator Maccido’s Claim

SEN. AHMED MOHAMMED MACCIDO The Sultanate Council of Sokoto has refuted a claim attributed to Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Maccido (PDP-Sokoto), to ...

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Chris Okotie Writes On The Nigerian Immigration Employment Test Tragedy

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/1jfe3OF"><img alt="Pastor-Chris-Okotie2" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-187184" height="239" src="http://ift.tt/OKmYcJ" width="300"/> </a> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>There isn’t much to say here, just scroll down and read Pastor Okotie’s big big grammar on the Immigration crisis.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><strong>This tragedy mirrors the desperate situation of Nigeria.</strong> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><em>One only hopes that this unfortunate loss of lives, coupled with the incessant Boko Haram killings and other youth-based violence, would serve as a wake-up call to the summiteers, that this country needs a new governance paradigm. If the conference cannot produce that, then the over N7 billion invested in it would amount to another colossal waste of our scarce national resources.</em> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><em>It is an irony that each delegate would earn a whopping N12 million for the 3-month duration of the conference. By conservative estimates, N12 million is enough to provide self-employment for 12 resourceful graduates, and N7 billion could do likewise for thousands, some of whom perished under chaotic conditions in stadia around the country, while waiting for a poorly organised aptitude test by the NIS. The young graduate job-seekers who turned out for the tests filled up many stadia around the country, as if they came to watch high-profile football matches.</em> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><em>These hapless chaps paid N1,000.00 (One Thousand Naira) processing fee each. So, the Nigerian Immigration Service must have made quite some money, considering that in Lagos and Abuja alone, over 125,000 applicants turned up. We may be looking at millions of Naira that this monetised recruitment exercise generated for the NIS. There was record turnout in each of the 34 states for just 45,000 slots that the NIS advertised. The alarming job application horror is a clear evidence of the inability of our public institutions to manage events, resulting in poor crowd control and avoidable deaths through stampede. This is not an isolated case, it is a regular occurrence.</em> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><em>When things go wrong, our leaders seldom take responsibility. The NIS has tried to duck charges of culpability, by claiming that it outsourced the recruitment exercise to a private firm which actually collected the N1,000.00 levy. As usual, a panel would be setup to investigate this incident, followed by a white paper, and then, the report may end up gathering dust in a cabinet somewhere in Abuja, while government officials focus on the more important 2015 general elections in a country where competition for political power is about resource control, not the promotion of the general good of the people.</em> </p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /><div class='blogger-post-footer'><script type='text/javascript'><br />//<br /> <!--<br /> var _adynamo_client = "dd2b71bb-2f73-4b36-8439-5167d8bab6f4";<br /> var _adynamo_width = 300;<br /> var _adynamo_height = 250;<br /> //--><br />//<br /></script> <script src='http://ift.tt/16bRgrF' type='text/javascript'><br /></script> </div><br /></div>

Chris Okotie Writes On The Nigerian Immigration Employment Test Tragedy

There isn’t much to say here, just scroll down and read Pastor Okotie’s big big grammar on the Immigration crisis. This tragedy mirrors th...

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Brymo Frustrated As Judge Adjourns Case Again

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/OKmXFQ"><img alt="brymo" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-187189" height="219" src="http://ift.tt/1jfe1Gp" width="300"/> </a> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>A frustrated Brymo stormed out of a Lagos court on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 after a delayed response to a petition by his counsel led to the adjournment of the case.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The court sitting at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos was ended abruptly after Chocolate City‘s Counsel T.O Lawal stopped Brymo from giving his own side of the story after he was called to the witness stand.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Chocolate City’s lawyer in legal terms argued that the case should be put on hold because Brymo’s counsel had delayed in responding to a 2013 petition.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>At the court sitting which lasted from 1:50 p.m to 2: 40 p.m, it was learnt that Brymo’s Counsel Nike Olagbende was 10 ten days late in replying to a 2013 petition forcing the judge to adjourn the case to a later date.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Olagbende promised to send in her reply the next day so the hearing could resume as soon as possible, but Chocolate City’s Counsel T.O Lawal remained adamant that he would take the required 14 days to acknowledge the reply and will not be forced or rush into acknowledging it.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Bringing an end to the court hearing, Justice Buba I.N instructed Nike Olagbende to file in her reply the next day.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Brymo who had already taken the oath at the witness box, was asked to come down. The obviously frustrated singer was later seen being consoled by his girlfriend who has regularly accompanied him to court since his case started.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Speaking after the court hearing, Nike Olagbende advised Brymo to be patient and assured him of progress in the case. ‘<em>He is obviously frustrated and I understand. But the most important thing is that Brymo has been set free to work by the court. He should go about his business, be patient and all these will be over soon,’</em> his lawyer reported.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/1jfe3y4"><img alt="IMG-20140319-00310" height="225" src="http://ift.tt/1jfe3y6" width="300"/> </a> </p><br /><br/><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/OKmXWf"><img alt="IMG-20140319-003111" height="225" src="http://ift.tt/OKmZxk" width="300"/> </a> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Chocolate City General Manager Ibukun ‘Aibee’ Abidoye was also called up to the witness stand and was cross examined by Brymo’s counsel. During cross examination, Ibukun revealed that apart from the cost of recording of Brymo’s album Son of a Carpenter , the ‘Good Morning’, ‘Ara’ and ‘Omoge Campus’ videos each cost the sum of N800,000. She also revealed that because of the way the singer quit Chocolate City, the label could not recoup any of these investments on the singer.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Brymo was however absent March 20 when court hearing resumed. His counsel has replied to the petition and awaits acknowledgment from the Chocolate City’s counsel.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Justice Buba I.N during a brief session adjourned the case to Tuesday, April 8, 2014 to enable both counsels to put their houses in order.</p><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /><div class='blogger-post-footer'><script type='text/javascript'><br />//<br /> <!--<br /> var _adynamo_client = "dd2b71bb-2f73-4b36-8439-5167d8bab6f4";<br /> var _adynamo_width = 300;<br /> var _adynamo_height = 250;<br /> //--><br />//<br /></script> <script src='http://ift.tt/16bRgrF' type='text/javascript'><br /></script> </div><br /></div>

Brymo Frustrated As Judge Adjourns Case Again

A frustrated Brymo stormed out of a Lagos court on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 after a delayed response to a petition by his counsel led to ...

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NNPC Has No Right To Withhold $10.8bn Oil Revenue – Sanusi

<script type="text/javascript"> <script size='468x60' src='http://srvpub.com/adServe/banners?tid=22528_31474_5' type='text/javascript'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> google_ad_client = "ca-pub-6630608044863529"; google_ad_slot = "4870332095"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; </script> <script src='//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js' type='text/javascript'> </script> <div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://ift.tt/lH0Osb'><br /><p><a href="http://ift.tt/1eTBCrr" rel="attachment wp-att-169016"><img alt="Sanusi-lamido-Sanusi" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-169016" height="300" src="http://ift.tt/KpT771" width="223"/> </a> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has insisted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had no right retaining $10.8 billion oil revenue, saying it contributed to the drop in savings “that left the nation exposed to possible price shocks.”</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Sanusi who spoke in an interview with Bloomberg in Abuja, Friday, said: “Given where the oil price is, we should have more in terms of reserves and savings, and because we don’t have that we are susceptible to shocks in the event of a decline in the oil price.”</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The central bank governor had written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan alleging the NNPC withheld $49.8 billion in revenue, sparking a public outcry.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Thereafter, a reconciliatory meeting that involved the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, the CBN Governor amongst others, had shown that unaccounted oil receipts stood at $10.8 billion.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Sanusi, however, maintained: “No one has the right to retain money that should have gone to the federation account; so the fact that you’ve admitted retaining or withholding $10 billion is itself bad enough. This money was supposed to come in and if it came in, it would be part of our reserves and part of our excess crude savings.”</p><br /><br/><br /><p>A report by Thisday which says the external reserves derived mainly from the proceeds of crude oil production and sales, had depreciated by $1.778 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, lays credence to Sanusi’s claims. The development was largely blamed on the dwindling federal government revenue. Also, the Excess Crude Account (ECA) had dropped to only $3.18 billion. Nigeria’s forex reserves stood at $43.257 billion as at January 16th.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>NNPC’s Group Executive Director of Finance and Accounts, Bernard Otti had explained that the $10.8 billion was spent on pipeline repairs, fuel subsidies and strategic reserve.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“This whole process for me is one in which we need to force greater transparency over oil revenues. The NNPC has now given explanations and they’re going to be called to show evidence,” Sanusi declared.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The lack of accounting in oil revenues has increased pressure on President Goodluck Jonathan.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Recent reports have said Jonathan told Sanusi to resign because he allegedly leaked his letter about the NNPC unremitted revenue to Obasanjo.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>But Sanusi had said his letter to the president was never meant to be made public.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“What was in fact an invitation to investigate somehow became read as the end of an investigation, the conclusion from an investigation and that wasn’t it. This was an initial report given. That, for me, raises sufficient concern to ask the president to have an investigation so we can know exactly where the money is,” he explained.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Furthermore, he noted: “Lower savings are not explained by a huge increase in government spending, because there wasn’t between 2013 and 2012. So, if spending didn’t increase much and if the oil price didn’t crash much and exports didn’t crash much, there’s a leakage. A decline in oil production doesn’t explain the draw down in savings either because the crude price has exceeded the government’s budgeted price.<br/><br /><br/><br />The spot price of Nigeria’s benchmark Qua Iboe crude has exceeded $100 a barrel for most of 2013, above the $79 budgeted price that year.”</p><br /><br/><br /><p>He however expressed optimism that the finance minister would be able to keep spending under control in the run up to the election.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>“I have had a number of discussions with the finance minister and I get a sense she is very, very committed to keeping a tight leash on spending especially as we come towards elections,” he said.</p><br /><br/><br /><align><ins class='adsbygoogle' data-ad-client='ca-pub-0909255462614293' data-ad-slot='7578597399'> </ins> </align><br /><br/><br />="left"><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/> </div><br /></div>

NNPC Has No Right To Withhold $10.8bn Oil Revenue – Sanusi

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has insisted that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNP...

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