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Many Nigerians are of the opinion that President Jonathan had moved to rid Nigeria of corruption and restore credibility to the polity, but our checks reveal that right under his nose his aides; particularly his Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomen is neck deep in corruption.

The Edo born, Chief Mike Oghiadomen, like a leopard that never changes it spots, is engaged in graft. As he has acquired a house worth N1.3bn in Aso Villa. Attempts to reach Oghiadomen to explain the source of the money with which he bought the house, was unsuccessful.

As chief of staff, he is the “go to guy” and everything must go through him. According to sources within government, Oghiadomen has become the Andy Uba of Jonathan`s administration. Corrupt officials, past and present, who have cases to answer, now swarm Oghiadomhen`s home and office to make their graft cases go way in exchange for money.

Recall that Oghiadomen served as deputy to thieving governor, Lucky Igbinedion in Edo State. The duo for eight years bled the state, and money meant for development was siphoned to private bank accounts.

While Lucky Igbinedion who was convicted for graft, purchased palatial houses in South Africa, London and Massachusetts, primitive Oghiadomhen kept it local, by forcefully acquiring land measuring 5×5 square miles from Azukhala Ekpen Community in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo state, then used armed soldiers to harass and scare villagers away from their farm land, thus depriving many villagers, who hitherto, had used the land for farming, their source of livelihood.

Besides Oghiadomhen, other aides of President Jonathan are also involved in graft, chief amongst them is, Chief Akachukwu Nwakpor, Senior Special Assistant on Special Projects, who allegedly masterminded the award of contracts to his brother, Ernest Obijezii, the chairman of Nestoil Plc without due process.

Excerpt of a letter from an NNPC whistle blower to President Jonathan reads:

“It was clear that contrary to what NGC stated, it is wrong to ask for only one contractor to submit a bid of this type. It would have taken the same time to evaluate bids of three contractors that are known to NGC to be fully qualified for this scope (NGC has a data base of good contractors) to get the best value for money. There are clearly more qualified indigenous contractors that are available and if included, would have brought the required competition and value to NNPC”.

2.” The choice of NESTOIL PLC based on “who has proven track record of similar project and currently mobilized in the area” is FALSE! The following is the correct situation”:

i. “NESTOIL PLC has never built any gas pipeline and has no experience of building any gas pipeline”.

ii. “The pipeline that NESTOIL PLC is currently building for SPDC is an oil pipeline which was awarded in 2007 and was due to be completed in Q1 2009 at a cost of $100,000,000.00. as of today the pipeline is yet to be completed and the project has been varied to more than $230,000,000.00 and still rising in cost. BPP should investigate this (as it constitutes a massive fraud on its own)”.
iii. “NESTOIL PLC is not mobilized in the area in any way. The only project they are executing at the moment (mentioned above) is in Bayelsa State (two states away and 300km from Abia State, where Alaoji Power station is located)”.
iv. “There is no track record of gas pipeline delivery by NESTOIL PLC”.
v. “And NGC on a routine check with SPDC got a damming report from the OIC, but was instructed by the same GED G&P (Mr. V. Mukoro) to “Step it down” i.e bury it”.

3. “Technically, this contract is flawed. The18-inch gas supply in question is to come off
the old 12-inch Imo River-Aba gas pipeline. This does not make any technical sense, viz:
i. “180inch line is being built to take gas from the existing 12-inch line. The 12-inch line is a low pressure (LP) line built in the 1960s to deliver gas to Aba industries (Aba Textile Mills, Nigerian Breweries, International Equitable Industries). This line is an LP line and is very old with suspect integrity”.
ii. “The power station requires higher pressure to operate and the quantity of gas from the old line will not suffice for the requirement.
iii. This is clearly an attempt to deceive Mr. President that this project will make a difference for the power plant”.

4. “The in-house cost estimate established by NNPC is clearly fraudulent. It is a known fact that this contract process was necessitated by a FAILED contract awarded by NGC under MR. CHRIS OGIEMWONYI in 2006 to an unknown company called TABA Nigeria Limited, TABA had no known experience of building any pipeline (not even a small water pipeline) and yet they were awarded two major projects by NGC, viz: GAS SUPPLY PROJECT TO ALAOJI AND GAS SUPPLY PROJECT TO PAPALANTO (totaling more than $65,000,000.00 and full mobilization payment made in addition to payment for materials). After 4years they failed woefully and the contracts were cancelled. This contract should also be investigated by the relevant authorities. It is known that the total scope of Alaoji gas supply project (of which this “emergency project” in question is a small part of ) is made up of:
i. 24-inch x 25 km pipeline
ii. 18-inch x 4.5 km pipeline”.

“THE TOTAL PROJECT COST (INCLUDINE DETAILED ENGINEERING/DESIGN AND SUPPLY OF LINE PIPES AND METERING STATION) WAS ABOUT $30,000,000.00. THIS SECTION OF WORK BEING FRAUDULENT ARRANGED FOR NESTOIL PLC WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO COST ABOUT $4,000,000.00 (INCLUDING THE COST OF MATERIALS – LINE PIPES AND METERING STATION INCLUDED).
HOW COME THIS PROJECT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR AWARD AT $8,400,000.00 FOR ONLY CONSTRUCTION AND COMMISSION (ALL MATERIALS SUPPLIED BY NGC)!!!!”

“It is now clear that the only reason NESTOIL PLC was singled out for an “arranged contract award” is to ensure that there is no completion that will bring value to NNPC. It is a known fact that the GED G & P is a sponsor of NESTOIL PLC and has consistently defied all rules and decorum to ensure that due process is not followed in the award, in order to make sure that it is awarded to NESTOIL PLC at an uncompetitive price, citing pressure from the presidency as his reasons”.
Also the boasting by Chairman of NESTOIL PLC that he is “deep inside Presidency” and that his brother, who is a Special Assistant to Mr. President (CHIEF AKACHUKWU NWANKPO), represents the president in all matters pertaining to GAS and POWER. - Huhuonline

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Becca, V.I.P, D Black, Sarkodie, Jayso, Samini and Jon Germain Nominated For 2010 Sound City Music Video Awards.

Soundcity Music Video Awards is on the verge of becoming the best music awards in Africa. It has got surprise and if you’ve been following the Award show since 2008 when it started,and you will know its getting better and bigger. The SMVAwards which has been known for appreciating great music videos in Nigeria has got other African artistes vying with Nigerian artistes in all the categories. Other African artistes like Dama do bling of Mozambique with 4 nominations, Sakodie of Ghana (who led the 2010 Ghana music awards with 8 nominations), Curtiz of Namibia, Jozi of South Africa, Fally Ipupa of Congo, freshly ground of South Africa (who collaborated with Shakira on the world cup anthem). Banky W of Nigeria and P Square topped this year’s nomination list with 7 and 5 nominations respectively. Followed by Dama do bling of Mozambique and the late rapper Da Grin, with 4 nominations each. The SMVA which has got international artistes like Nas grace the event has replaced and also added some categories. Categories like best R&B or pop video category has been separated and replace with best R&B video and best pop video, and also best special effect editing replaced with best special effect video and best editing,  African video of the year we assumed was replaced with best eastern, best western, best central. This year’s SMVA will be taking place at Expo hall of Eko hotel on 20 November. Here is the full list of 2010 SMVA nomination list:

Vote Here

Best Male Video

1. LAY AWAY – SARKODIE – GHANA
2. IMPLICATION – 2FACE IDIBIA – NIGERIA
3. CONTINUA ASSIM – DON KIKAS – ANGOLA
4. STRONG TING – BANKY W – NIGERIA
5. ZAMBESI – TINASHE – ZIMBABWE
6. PON PON PON – DAGRIN – NIGERIA

Best Female Video

1. WITHOUT YOU -  AIRIS – NIGERIA
2. ESTILO XAKHALE – LIZHA JAMES – MOZAMBIQUE
3. DON’T LEAVE ME – IBIYEMI – NIGERIA
4. YOU KNOW IT – GOLDIE – NIGERIA
5. MOZA GIRL – DAMA DO BLING – MOZAMBIQUE
6. FIRE – BECCA – GHANA

Best Choreography

1. WHO BORN THE MAGA – WANDE COAL – NIGERIA
2. SEXY DANCE – FALLY IPUPA – D.R.CONGO
3. STRONG TING  – BANKY W – NIGERIA
4. MOZA GIRL – DAMA DO BLING – MOZAMBIQUE
5. READY TO GO – STYL PLUS – NIGERIA
6. YOU GOT ME LIKE – CURTIZ – NAMIBIA

Best Special Effects

1. CATCH FIRE – ZAAKI AZZAY – NIGERIA
2. PARTY TIME – JOZI – SOUTH AFRICA
3. FAIRY TALE – LIQUID DEEP – SOUTH AFRICA
4. OVERKILLING DJINEE NIGERIA
5. SHOW DEM JR SOUTH AFRICA
6. GINGER YOUR SWAGGER KC PRESH NIGERIA

Best Editing

1. OWO ATI SWAGGER (RMX) – CARTIAR – NIGERIA
2. SEXY DANCE – FALLY IPUPA – D.R.CONGO
3. DANGER – PSQUARE – NIGERIA
4. LAGOS PARTY – BANKY W – NIGERIA
5. MHLOBO WAMI – TEARGAS – SOUTH AFRICA
6. MOZA GIRL – DAMA DO BLING – MOZAMBIQUE

Best Duo Or Group Video

1. TELL ME NOTHING – SHOW DEM CAMP – NIGERIA
2. WE RUN THE CITY – DEEP LEVEL – SOUTH AFRICA
3. DANGER – PSQUARE – NIGERIA
4. I THINK I LIKE AM – V.I.P – GHANA
5. MHLOBO WAMI – TEARGAS – SOUTH AFRICA
6. READY TO GO – STYL PLUS – NIGERIA

Best Cinematography

1. FIRE IS LOW – FRESHLYGROUND – SOUTH AFRICA
2. FAVOURITE – STELLA MWANGI – KENYA
3. STRONG TING – BANKY W – NIGERIA
4. E NO EASY – PSQUARE – NIGERIA
5. MHLOBO WAMI – TEARGAS – SOUTH AFRICA
6. ZAMBESI TINASHE ZIMBABWE

Best Hip Hop Video

1. PON PON PON – DAGRIN – NIGERIA
2. TELL ME NOTHING – SHOW DEM CAMP – NIGERIA
3. LAY AWAY-  SARKODIE – GHANA
4. PUT IT DOWN – SASHA – NIGERIA
5. MOTO – TAYGRIN – MALAWI
6. WILD LIFE – JOZI – SOUTH AFRICA

Best R & B Video

1. LET YOU KNOW – DAREY ART ALADE – NIGERIA
2. BE HAPPY – YVONNE – KENYA
3. STRONG TING – BANKY W – NIGERIA
4. DON’T LEAVE ME – IBIYEMI – NIGERIA
5. ADDICTED – URBAN REIGN – SOUTH AFRICA
6. FINE FINE LADY – MIKE ANYASODO – NIGERIA

Best Pop Video

1. NZEWUWO – TONIKS – UGANDA
2. OVERKILLING – DJINEE – NIGERIA
3. LOVE ZONE – JON GERMAIN – GHANA
4. IMPLICATION – 2FACE IDIBIA – NIGERIA
5. SWEET MISTAKE – SAMINI – GHANA
6. TODAY NA TODAY OMAWUMI NIGERIA

Best Collaboration In A Music Video

1. WE ARE AFRICANS (AFRICA RMX) – JJC FT. FEMI KUTI, KEL, ELDEE, AY.COM, MO MONEY, RAGGA REMI – NIGERIA
2. SOMEBODY-  D’BLACK FT. KWABENA – GHANA
3. SAMPLE (RMX) – TERRY DA RAPMAN FT. STEREOMAN, PHEROWSHUZ – NIGERIA
4. LAY AWAY – SARKODIE FT. SWAY & JAYSO – GHANA
5. OWO ATI SWAGGER-  CARTIAR FT. DAGRIN, TERRY THA RAPMAN – NIGERIA
6. WONBERI – KNIGHTHOUSE FT. SAUCE KID – NIGERIA

Discovery Of The Year

1. IF YOU WANT ME – MO’ CHEDDAH – NIGERIA
2. FAIRY TALE – LIQUID DEEP – SOUTH AFRICA
3. GBON GBON GBON – JAYWON – NIGERIA
4. FINE FINE LADY – MIKE ANYASODO – NIGERIA
5. SHOW DEM – JR – SOUTH AFRICA
6. PUMP IT UP – JESSE JAGZ – NIGERIA

Best Video

1. MOZA GIRL – DAMA DO BLING – MOZAMBIQUE
2. STRONG TING – BANKY W – NIGERIA
3. DANGER – PSQUARE – NIGERIA
4. FIRE IS LOW – FRESHLYGROUND – SOUTH AFRICA
5. OVERKILLING – DJINEE – NIGERIA
6. ZAMBESI – TINASHE – ZIMBABWE

Viewers Choice (Voting)

1. PON PON PON – DAGRIN – NIGERIA
2. LAGOS PARTY – BANKY W – NIGERIA
3. PARTY 101 – TEAR GAS – SOUTH AFRICA
4. SAFE – M.I – NIGERIA
5. YOU BAD – WANDE COAL – NIGERIA
6. EZANDLHA PHEZULU – BUFFALO SOULJAH – ZIMBABWE

Hit Producer Of The Year

1. SAFE – M.I – NIGERIA
2. SHOW DEM – JR – SOUTH AFRICA
3. IMPLICATION – JAY SLEEK / 2FACE IDIBIA – NIGERIA
4. PON PON PON – SOSSICK / DAGRIN – NIGERIA
5. SEXY DANCE – FALLY IPUPA – DR CONGO
6. BUMPER 2 BUMPER – DON JAZZY / WANDE COAL – NIGERIA

Best Western

1. ADIOUZA – SENEGAL
2. PSQUARE – NIGERIA
3. SAMINI – GHANA
4. 2FACE IDIBIA – NIGERIA
5. EMMERSON – SIERRA LEONE
6. WANDE COAL – NIGERIA

Best Eastern

1. WAHU – KENYA
2. WYRE – KENYA
3. AMANI – KENYA
4. MARLAW – TANZANIA
5. XOD – UGANDA
6. NAMELESS – KENYA

Best Southern

1. PRO – SOUTH AFRICA
2. DJ CLEO – SOUTH AFRICA
3. BLACK COFFEE – SOUTH AFRICA
4. THE DOGG – NAMIBIA
5. LIZHA JAMES – MOZAMBIQUE
6. PROVERB – SOUTH AFRICA

Best Central

1. FALLY IPUPA – DR CONGO
2. BA’PONGA – GABON
3. BARBARA KANAM – DR CONGO
4. JUMO SELESAO – DR CONGO
5. NADEGE MBADOU – GABON
6. AWILO LONGOMBA – DR CONGO

Soundcity Fresh Video

1. MR. ENDOWED – D’BANJ – NIGERIA
2. BELIEVE – D-BLACK – GHANA
3. CRITICAL – IKECHUKWU – NIGERIA
4. NHI NGUGU HALADZA – TANIA TOME – MOZAMBIQUE
5. MALI DEBOUT – MOKOBE – MALI
6. BEAUTIFUL MUSIC – ROTIMI – NIGERIA

Vote Here

Abdulrahman

President Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazzau and Chief of Air Staff,Air Marshall Paul Dike in what appears to be their indictment in the planned award of an inflated N500 Billion defense contract to General Ibrahim Babangida.

The President has retired the inspector general of police, the director general state security service and three service chiefs.

General OA Ihejirika takes over as Chief of Army Staff while Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Oluseyi Petinrin now takes over as Chief of Defence Staff. Air Vice Marshall M.D Umar takes over as Chief of Air Staff and Rear Admiral Ola Sahad is the new Chief of Naval Staff.

President Jonathan also sacked the Inspector General of police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo and the Director of State Security Service, SSS, Mr. Afakriya Gadzama. While Hafiz Ringim takes over from Onovo, Ita Ekpeyong takes over from Gadzama

However, it would be recalled that it was reported how the Army Chiefs led by General Dambazzau with support from Secretary to the Government Ahmed Yayale and Minister for Defense, Adetokunboh Kayode had attempted to award a N500 Billion defence contract to companies owned by General Babangida and Yayale.

The same contract had been awarded to the same companies,Suncraft and Doyatechcom in 2009 for N178 Billion according to documents obtained.  – Pointblanknews

Kokomobile.

D’banj is making use of his stardom in more ways than one as he was the first Nigerian act to have ‘Flavour flav- inspired’ reality TV show , Koko Mansion.

Just Recently, Sources close to Mo’ Hit Records inform that he would be endorsing phones branded and customized with his ‘koko’ brand. The mobile phone would be launched on the first week of October in celebration of Nigeria at 50. It is said to be ” a phone for the youths.” with would come with applications like:  Yahoo Messenger, Msn, GTalk, Google Search, Twitter app, Facebook app, GPS, First Bank Online banking app and  Koko Chat.

Tuface headlined the 8th Annual African Festival—Fest Africa 2010 that took place in Baltimore, US on the 14 – 15th August where children aged 10 and under were admitted free. Find pictures from event below and Catch 2face live in Concert on the 26th of september at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos – Powered by Flytime Promotions, Silverbird and Now Muzik.

In related news, 2Face idibia made a duet with South Africa’s hip- hop group Jozi from South Africa. The collaboration took place during the world cup where 2face and other African artiste performed with American singer Kelly Rowland. The song is said to be produced by Ismael and titled “WHAT YOU SEARCHING FOR”.

Tuface at festAfrica

Tuface.

Tuface

Tuface

Fela Kuti.

Twenty eight prolific Nigerians would be inducted to The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science and The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Letters. The induction event would take place at a gala to take place on the 9th of October and it is put together by Nigeria LNG Limited, The Nigerian Academy of Science and The Nigerian Academy of Letters.

The twenty eight individuals have broke barriers  in science and letters in Nigeria, contributed in more than one way to science and letters – promoted learning and scholarship and bettered the lives of Nigerians – they would also receive their prizes at the October 9th event.

The twenty eight individuals were selected by panelist empowered by The Nigerian Academy of Science and The Nigerian Academy of Letters. There are two panels for science and letters. While the science panel is headed by the President, The Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof.  Oye Ibidapo-Obe and the letters panel, by Prof. Romanus Egudu, President of The Nigerian Academy of Letters.

Amongst the honourees are the iconic musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, his elder brother, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti and eminent cousin Professor Wole Soyinka were selected for The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Letters and The Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science. Soyinka is the first African to win a Nobel Prize in literature.

Africa’s foremost novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe, venerable Ladi Kwali, the master potter and Professor Gordian Ezekwe of the Biafran Ogbunigwe fame, are also amongst the 28 eminent Nigerians who will be inducted to the halls of fame by The Nigerian Academy of Science and The Nigerian Academy of Letters. Specifically, the honourees were selected for the following reasons:

1. Adenike Abiose (1943–) is admitted into the Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science in recognition of her pioneering research on field trials and operational use of Mectizan for the control of onchocerciasis (river blindness)

2. Oluwafeyisola S Adegoke (1937–) is admitted in recognition of her monumental contributions to the study of bitumen (tar sands) in Nigeria

3. Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe (1933 –) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the management of hypertension

4. Gordian O Ezekwe (1929-1977) is admitted in recognition of his contributions to product development and the improvement of engineering infrastructure in Nigeria

5. Thomas Adeoye Lambo (1923-2004) is admitted into the Nigerian Hall of Fame for Science in recognition of his introduction of Village Care System in psychiatry

6. Samuel L. Ayodeji Manuwa (1903-1977) is admitted in recognition of his eminent contribution to mental health and tropical medicine

7. Idris Mohammed (1942 –) is admitted in recognition of his original work in the development of polyvalent vaccine against meningococcal meningitis in Nigeria.

8. Ifedayo Oladapo (1932-2010) is admitted for his contribution to growth of civil and structural engineering in Nigeria.

9. Chike Obi (1921 –2008) is admitted for his monumental contribution to the area of modelling with second order non-linear differential equations.

10. Sanya Onabamiro is admitted in recognition of his work on the taxonomy and life cycle of Cyclops vectors of guinea worm disease which formed the basis for development of strategies for the successful eradication of the disease in Nigeria.

11. Benjamin O. Osuntokun (1935 – 1995) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to his pioneering work in neurology in Nigeria.

12. Victor A Oyenuga (1917-2010) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Animal Science.

13. Umaru Shehu (1930 –) is admitted in recognition of his crucial role in stemming the scourge of poliomyelitis in Nigeria.

14. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti is admitted for outstanding work in primary healthcare in Nigeria.

15. Chinua Achebe (1930 –) is admitted in recognition of his tremendous achievement in the field of literature, which has brought pride to African traditional cultures and earned him a worldwide acclaim as a master story–teller.

16. Jacob Ade Ajayi (1929 –) is admitted for his outstanding contributions to the study of African History.

17. Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938-1997) is admitted in recognition of his prophetic, instructive and creative integration of the Nigerian idiom into world popular music.

18. Ayo Bamgbose (1932 –) is admitted to the Hall of Fame of the Nigerian Academy of Letters in recognition of his pioneering work in linguistics in Nigeria.

19. J.P. Clark Bekederemo (1935 –) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the growth of drama and poetry in Nigerian.

20. Kenneth Dike (1917-1983) is admitted in recognition of pioneering contributions to the evolution of African historiography.

21. Michael Echeruo (1937–) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to theoretical foundation for the study of Nigerian traditional drama and his rebuttal of the European stereotype ideas about Africa.

22. Ben Enwonwu (1921 – 1994) is admitted in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the development of visual art in Nigeria.

23. Abubakar Imam (1911-1981) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Nigerian indigenous literature.

24. Ladi Kwali (1925-1984) is admitted in recognition of her work which has brought Nigerian traditional pottery to international limelight.

25. Emmanuel Obiechina is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the study of West African novels in English and popular literature.

26. Christopher Okigbo (1932 – 1967) is admitted in recognition of his contribution to the growth of poetry in Nigeria.

27. Fela Sowande (1905-1987) is admitted in recognition of his contribution of modernization of Nigerian music and introduction of the Nigerian idiom into symphonic music.

28. Wole Soyinka (1934 –) is admitted in recognition of his outstanding contribution to world literature which has brought fame not only to Nigeria but to the entire African continent.

...

M-Net said it was “disappointed and upset” that the names of the top 14 contestants in the latest Idols series had been published prematurely by People magazine.

The latest edition of the magazine, currently on shelves, revealed the names of all 14 star contestants.

Their names were supposed to be announced for the first time during a broadcast tonight.

Commented M-Net publicity manager Lani Lombard: “The theatre phase (of Idols) was recorded at Sun City months ago and everybody involved in the filming – from crew to contestants – undertook to keep it a secret for viewers.

“The publication (People) has already sent M-Net an apology and before we make any further comments we will first meet with the parties involved to ascertain exactly what went wrong.”

Lombard added that the names of the contestants were supposed to be printed in the next issue of People and that a mistake in the printing process seemingly led to the premature publication of the names.

Representatives of People could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jonathan

After the embarrassing incident in Ugandan, penultimate week, in which President Jonathan was left stranded, the Nigerian Government on Wednesday approved the purchase of three additional aircrafts for the Presidential Air Fleets (PAF) at a cost of $150 million.

Dassault Aviation of France will supply two units of new Falcon 7x Aircrafts, while the Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation of United States (US) will supply the Gulfstream G550.At a briefing, after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, minister of information and communications, professor Dora Akunyili, said that negotiations at the instance of the president led to definite purchase agreement (DPA) signed in May 2010 for the acquisition of the aircrafts.

“The sum of N21 billion has been provided in the 2010 appropriation act for the outright purchase of the two Falcon 7x aircraft and the one unit G550 to be delivered as agreed in the contract”, she disclosed.Akunyuili put the cost of the two Falcon jets at $102 million while the Gulfstream cost $53 million brining the total cost of the three planes to $154 million. She said that the committee which was set up to carryout the negotiations of the purchase of the aircrafts through screwed negotiations a rebate of $2.9 million on the two Falcon jets and $5.47 million on Gulfstream jet.

The first of the two Falcon jets will be delivered by the end of the fourth quarter of 2010 while the second Falcon and the Gulfstream jest will be delivered by the end of the second quarter of 2011. - Huhuonline

Ibori

Former Nigerian state governor James Ibori, wanted by the UK on charges of money laundering and who was arrested in May by Interpol police officers in Dubai, will soon be extradited to London, confirmed a Dubai Police source.

James Onanefe Ibori served as the governor of the oil-rich Delta State from 1999 to 2007. Ibori, who is believed to have entered the UAE a couple of times on visit visas, was planning to start a business here. He was arrested just a couple of months after he entered the country.

Interpol warrant

Acting upon a red corner arrest warrant issued through Interpol, Dubai Police investigators arrested Ibori at a five star hotel in Palm Jumeirah.He was initially bailed and later he was detained, said the source.Based on a media report, Nigeria’s anti-corruption police tried to arrest Ibori to question him over allegations that $290 million (Dh1064 million) was looted from Delta state government coffers while he was governor.

However, hundreds of Ibori’s supporters prevented police from arresting him and he is believed to be a powerful presence among Nigerians.Faridi Waziri, chairwoman of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was quoted by media reports as saying that Ibori was detained after an arrest warrant was issued by Interpol.

“The EFCC charged Ibori in 2007 with looting more than $85 million during his eight-year tenure as governor of Delta, one of the three main oil-producing states in the southern Niger Delta region, but a court dismissed the charges,

” Waziri said.Ibori is accused of using state funds to purchase several companies under his name. Commission investigators said Ibori would later launder that money in the UK, in bank accounts he controlled — a matter which he continuously denied even while arrested in Dubai.

Several of Ibori’s associates are facing money laundering charges in Britain, where a court froze $35 million worth of his assets in August 2007 on suspicion they were the proceeds of corruption.Ibori was detained by Dubai Police on the sole request by the Metropolitan Police Service, the police source said.

When extradited Ibori would become the second person to be sent to Britain for trial under a 2008 treaty.

British trial

According to various media reports, his wife, sister and personal assistant were all the subjects of a money-laundering trial in London that began in 2007.

Anti-corruption officials in Nigeria said they are working with the Metropolitan Police in London to ensure Ibori is extradited there.

Culled from Gulf News!

DEja Vu.

The event put together by Magic Entertainment and Slick Bar VGC would take place every last friday of the month. DJ Pioneer tells that his intenton with DeJaVu Night is to provide fans who have been the only reason the Nigerian music industry as remained as vibrant and promising as it is, a chance to enjoy good music from premium and tested fastrising artistes without the hassle of paying a fee at the gate.

“The music industry is still without a structure even being a multi million industry, pirates living comfortably of their illict trade, artiste still not getting royalties every time their music is used – radio and TV are still promotional avenues and don’t give the artiste enough for using their materials as content”, DJ pioneer said.
“The only reason there is an industry is because there are fans. Every artiste who is in business and big today from Tuface, D’banj, P sqaure to M.I. had to convince and rake in the fans before the corporate endorsement came.They are career artistes and don’t need to moonlight to make ends meet.” he added.

“I feel an event without a gate fee is got this inviting aura,” he said jokily.

DJ Pioneer is a protege of renowned Nigerian DJ – DJ Humility. Born Eno Henry in the 80s into a family of six as the First child, He dropped out from The University Of Calabar to become a career DJ and presently attends private institution, Grace Polytechnic, Surulere. DJ pioneer is an on-air DJ with Rhythm FM.

His dream is to represent Nigerian in the world DJ championship – DMC.

“We kicking off in Lagos island but it would be moving to the mainland and Abuja in the nearest future”, Pioneer enthused about the event.

Deja Vu Nite promises to be like no other experience as it would parade nextrated artistes and a bundle of A list celebrities. The event, hosted by Silverbird Rhythm FM’s Elboogie and Victoria Pepple will hold at Slike bar VGC Opposite Nicon Hotel Hotel, Victoria Garden City Lagos on the 30th of July, 2010.

It would be hosting Kas (‘fimile’ fame) and Wizkid as well as feature an array of noted artistes, such as: Ajuju, Sleek, A Jay, Ojeezy, King Boston with Nigezie’s Andre Blaze as a special guest. DJ Pioneer supported by DJ Johnny Blaze would be on the wheel of steel all night.

Entry into the event jointly facilitated by Slick bar VGC, Magic Entertainment and powered by DJ Pioneer is free and it is open to all but guest would be denied entry when the club capacity is reached.