Obama to host anti-IS coalition summit

US President Barack Obama will host a summit in New York next month of leaders of the international coalition fighting Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq, diplomats said.

The summit on countering violent extremism on September 29 comes one year after Obama vowed to crush IS during his United Nations speech.

Since then, the jihadists have captured territory in Syria and Iraq and gained a foothold in Libya, Yemen and elsewhere in the Middle East, with alliances as far afield as Nigeria’s Boko Haram.

On Wednesday, IS released a picture on Twitter of a Croatian hostage abducted in Egypt, who apparently was the latest victim of the group’s horrific beheadings.

The United States last year assembled a coalition of 50-plus countries to beat back Islamic State, which declared a caliphate in June 2014 after seizing the Iraqi city of Mosul.

Diplomats said the summit, to be held on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting, will allow leaders to take stock and chart a way forward in the campaign to defeat Islamic State.

Obama last year hosted a Security Council meeting during which a resolution was adopted to curb the flow of foreign fighters joining IS extremists on the battlefields in Iraq and Syria.

But UN monitors report that the number of foreign jihadists has grown to at least 22,000 and there is no sign that the flow is abating.

Vanguard

Ooni of Ife to be buried on Friday

Adetokunbo Sijuwade, the son of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, on Wednesday officially announced the death of the monarch, saying he would be buried on Friday.

Addressing newsmen at the Government Office in Osogbo, the younger Sijuwade said that the body of the late monarch would be flown in from London on Thursday and buried on Friday at 10 a.m.

Also speaking, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola said the “ late Ooni represented the Yoruba nation and has done a lot in uplifting the traditional institution in the state.”

Aregbesola, who read the last text message he received from the Ooni at the briefing, said the late monarch informed him of his frail health, adding that he was travelling to London for treatment.

He described the death of the Ooni as a great loss to the state and the Yoruba race, stressing, however, that a king could not die in Yorubaland.
Oba Solomon Omisakin, the Obalufe of Iromo and Vice Chairman of the Ife Traditional Council as well as High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, the Lowa of Ile-Ife, both corroborated what Sijuwade said.

They expressed gratitude to the people of Osun and prayed that God would provide another king who would excel as the late Ooni did.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the press briefing was also attended by the Ooni’s daughter, Mrs Aderounmu Fadeyi, and members of Ife Traditional Council.

Monarchs lead protests against blackout in Ekiti

The Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Olu Adeyemi, today led his subjects to lead protest against power cut by Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

The traditional ruler of Aramoko Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, lamented that the community had been thrown into darkness in the last sux months.

At a nearby town in Erio Ekiti, the regent of the community, Princess Adejoke Adetoyinbo Ojo, also led her subjects to the streets to protest blackout she also said had lasted for about six months.

The protesters blocked the busy Erio-Aramoko-Ijero-Ado Ekiti roads which led to gridlock for vehicles travelling from Ado and Ijero through Aramoko, as well as those coming into Ekiti State from Osun State.

Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Kolapo Olubunmi Olushola, while addressing the protesters appealed to them to clear the barricades.

Oba Adeyemi lamented that the BEDC had disconnected the community from the national grid without the community’s knowledge, even though they were among the communities that pay their bills.

“The BEDC has not done well by disconnecting us without our knowledge. This unjust treatment is part of the insult and injury we are suffering in the hands of BEDC.

“Our request is direct: Fayose administration did it before, he connected us to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), and we were enjoying it. We want him to return us to IBEDC. In terms of payment, we are among the communities that pay our bills.

“BEDC is cheating us. When they give us electricity for five minutes, they would have five hours in their record. We found that they haven’t got measuring rod in this area but they said they have a pool where they take the records from where they distribute the bills. How can we pay for services not rendered? That is one of the problems we have with them.”

While thanking the governor for promptly stepping into the problem, Princess Ojo said the communities had been meeting and debating what to do because our people are agitated.

- Punch

Four die, two missing in Lagos helicopter crash

Four bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed into the Lagos Lagoon this afternoon.

Six persons were rescued alive from the crash and rushed to the Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Two other persons are said to be missing among the 12 occupants of the ill-fated helicopter.

The helicopter was said to be on its way from Ikeja, Lagos, before it suddenly crashed into the swamp behind the Oworonshoki Police Station.

Policemen from the station and residents of the area told our correspondent that a loud noise was heard from the helicopter as it flew over the area before it crashed into the lagoon.

The National Emergency Management Agency, the Police, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and firefighters are involved in rescue operation.

Three persons were initially pulled out of the wreckage while one more body was pulled out a couple of minutes later.

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ranti Adebule, visited the crash site but said it was too early to guess the cause of the crash.

Meanwhile, security agencies have condoned off the area as residents and visitors, who heard about the crash immediately swarmed the crash area.

The news of the crash has equally created a heavy traffic gridlock on the Third Mainland Bridge, which overlooks the site of the crash.

Miss Pennsylvania fakes cancer, raises thousands of dollars

Beauty pageant queens typically stand for things like, beauty, poise and intelligence.

Press them just a bit and they'll talk about world peace and the need to feed starving children.

Authorities accuse Brandi Lee Weaver-Gates, Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International, of casting aside those attributes and faking cancer in an elaborate scheme that raised thousands of dollars.

Weaver-Gates lead everyone to believe that she had been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in March 2013.

In the years since, she took part in fundraisers to pay for her treatment. Police told CNN affiliate WJAC the most recent event was held in April and raised $14,000.

A police investigation found no evidence that Weaver-Gates had ever been under a doctor's care for cancer.

State Police Trooper Thomas Stock called her efforts to make people believe she had cancer "an elaborate scheme," telling WJAC that Weaver-Gates would have relatives drive her to Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

They would wait in the lobby for hours for her return, while she went to another part of the hospital.

An anonymous letter to police tipped them off to the scheme.

"When confronted with what the investigation revealed the accused advised that she did not want to incriminate herself and invoked her right to an attorney," police said in a release.

Weaver-Gates is being held in the Centre County Correctional Facility after she was charged with felony counts of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

She is due in court next week.

The pageant is taking the news seriously too, pulling her Miss Pennsylvania U.S. International title.

"When you deceive the public and take people's money that is under the pretense of fraud, we will not tolerate those actions," said a statement fromButler's Beauties, pageant organizers.

"Ms. Weaver-Gates will be required to return her crown and sash upon her release from being detained."

CNN

Woman dies during fight with another lady over boyfriend

 A woman identified as Iklima Alhassan, has died as during a fight with another lady over her boyfriend identified as Nasiru Usman Banki in Bauchi State.

The 28-year-old deceased lady who hails from Bukuru village in Plateau State, had gone to visit her boyfriend at Rafin Makaranta area, behind Awala Hotel in the state.

She was shocked when she met another lady identified as 22-year-old Fatima Baba Isa, from Makera ward in his apartment, which suggested that her boyfriend was probably cheating on her.

A fight reportedly ensued between the two rivals and Alhassan fell unconscious along the line before she was taken to a hospital where the doctors confirmed her dead.

Confirming the incident to journalists, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed said: “On August 9, at about 12:50a.m., an uncon-scious young lady was found along Maiduguri by-pass, near Awalah Roundabout, Bauchi.

“The police patrol team attached to Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate Division visited the scene and rushed the victim to ATBU Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, were she was certified dead on arrival by a medical doctor and the corpse was deposited in the mortuary for post-mortem examination.”

The duo of Banki and Isa have been arrested and are currently helping the police with useful information which would help them determine what actually killed the deceased.

‘I Am Richer Than Bill Gates’ – Pastor Adeboye

According to a report by Leadership Newspaper, The General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E.A. Adeboye, stated that he is ‘Richer Than Bill Gates,’ while speaking about his spiritual endowment.

Teaching the worshipers in the mission during the church’s 63rd Annual Convention on Saturday shortly before the Holy Communion Service on the topic; ‘Overflowing Cup,’ Pastor Adeboye said that if Bill Gates needed shoes, he would have to go to the market to buy them, but that if he should announce that he needs shoes at the Redemption Camp, where the convention took place, the auditorium might not contain the shoes people would donate to him.

“I have houses in at least 188 countries of the world, where we have our churches, so I am richer than Bill Gates. Each time I visit these countries, my children would be struggling and saying ‘daddy, come and stay with me.’

If I announce here that tomorrow morning, I need a car to travel to the new auditorium, how many cars do you think would be made available to me by you my children? Those of you that do not have a car of your own, very soon, God will give you your own cars. So, I am appealing to you to become an incurable soul winner before you leave this convention ground and your cup will overflow,” Adeboye said.

From The quotes, The Houses he Has meant RCCG is stationed in at least 188 countries of the world, and the quote ‘Richer Than Bill Gates’ isn’t referring to his personal net worth but in the context of the church’s growth and development all over the world.

Zahra Buhari becomes ACE Ambassador

Daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, Zahra has been unveiled as one of ACE Charity Ambassador at large.

ACE (Assisting, Caring and Empowering) charity is a non-profit organisation making a sustainable, realistic and effective difference in the lives of Africans.

The mission of the organization is to re-define the meaning of charity in Africa while providing education, literacy skills and training to African children and youths.

Zahra, a medical microbiology student of the University of Surrey in England, is one of Buhari’s eight living children.

The president’s daughter first made public limelight shortly before the presidential election of March 28, 2015 when Buhari’s social media handlers released her pictures on Twitter, sparking several debates about her beauty and sex appeal.

‘Men Are Gold-Diggers, Snoop and Monitor Your Husband', Toke Makinwa Advises Women

Toke Makinwa has urged women in her latest vlog to snoop on their men as she describes herself as a ‘Proud Snooper’.

She also urged all women to join the ‘Team Snoop’ as she claims it saves them a lot of heartache.

Toke admitted that snooping was bad but that women were left with no option but to use it to monitor their husbands

Here are a few things she said:

“You should snoop. People have found out that their houses are on fire; people have found out that they are married to other women’s husbands. I am a proud snooper and this is my advice for you, I am a proud snooper; this is me.

When you snoop your boyfriend or your husband, it is like you are stealing from the pot. But what else should we do? It is better women find out in the hard way. If you do not check, you will not know.

It gives you opportunity to know, the kind of relationship you are into. Checking has saved lives, and I would rather have my life saved.

Some men are gold-diggers. If the lady you are with is not good for you, leave her and look for another one. The earlier women know the better for them.

It is funny how God uses even the most unbelievable things to bless you. I have been given a voice, a platform but I woke up one day and I found God, and with that came purpose. It is never about you.

Sometimes you go through things not for you but for the people around you who need direction. It is tough being a woman, the pressure is real.

You don’t have to be a victim; you can rise above it all. Do not let the society tell you otherwise. Be bold, be strong.”

Banks Reduces Withdrawal Limits on ATMs

In the new arrangement, all ATMs that were enabled for domestic and foreign transactions have been restructured to limit Naira cash withdrawal at ATMs from N150,000 per day to N60,000 per day while foreign currency is $300 per day.

The new arrangement has separated traditional ATM from MasterCard credit card where the former has now been deactivated and can no longer be used for transactions abroad.

Henceforth, a single ATM card serves for transactions for both domestic and abroad.

Also, the restructured cards now have spending limits on POS/eCommerce (online shopping) at $300 (about N60,000) per day. Before this, the limit was N2 million per day.

In a communication to the customers, the bank explained:

“In view of the increased difficulty in sourcing foreign currency to settle international transactions on Naira MasterCards, we have reduced the daily international spending limit on your Naira MasterCard to $300.This means that you can only spend up to $300 daily when using your Naira MasterCard for international payments via POS and online.

“You will, however, continue to have the option of paying for medical bills, school fees, mortgages and credit cards using Form A, as these are eligible transactions for foreign currency. Simply visit any GTBank branch to complete a Form A along with the required documents to make these payments.”

These developments came on the heels of Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) statement on Sunday that all legitimate requests for foreign currency for eligible transactions, normally referred to as “invisibles,” such as remittances for school fees, student maintenance allowances, BTA, PTA, medical and other eligible transactions, shall be fully met at the official/interbank exchange rate.

A statement from the CBN added:

“The CBN hereby directs all authorised dealers in foreign exchange in Nigeria to henceforth treat as top priority all legitimate demand for foreign exchange for eligible transactions.

“The CBN once again advises individuals that wish to source foreign currency for such eligible transactions to approach their banks with their legitimate demand as the CBN has made adequate provisions of foreign currency for all such legitimate and eligible purposes.

“Furthermore, holders of Naira denominated debit and credit cards shall continue to have access to the use of their cards at ATMs in any part of the world but subject to the annual limit of $50,000. ATM withdraws shall continue to be a maximum of $300 per day.”

Vanguard

Mother Dies After Undergoing Butt-Enhancing Surgery

A 30-year-old mother of one has died from complications from surgery to put silicon padding into her butt.

Katherine Castano Orozco of Cali, Colombia, died from thrombophlebitis 20 days after the operation. The condition typically occurs in the legs when a blood clot blocks one or more veins.

The vein becomes inflamed by the blood clot, and may become warm or tender.

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Surgery, trauma and prolonged activity are all causes of thrombophlebitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Orozco had been bleeding, which increased over time, before her relatives realized something was seriously wrong.

The death is the 5th recorded case of a woman dying after undergoing surgery this year in Cali.

“It is a crazy thing. People are worried about their beauty and are sacrificing their health for cosmetic changes,” Fernando Gutierrez, Cali’s secretary of municipal health, told said.

He added that there is an urgent need to identify and register providers of these cosmetic operations. So far, the city has registered 340 service providers.

Credit: CEN

MAJEK FASHEK SPEAKS FROM REHAB, THANKS HIS BENEFACTORS

Renowned Nigerian reggae musician, Majek Fashek, who was checked into rehab with the help of a popular Warri-based billionaire businessman, Ayiri Emani, has finally opened up about his current health status.

Speaking from the Synapse Services rehab centre in Abuja to newsmen on Monday, Fashek expressed his gratitude to those who advised him to undergo the rehabilitation process.

He said, "I want to appreciate all those who have contributed to help me access care, especially Chief Ayiri Emami, Monica Swaida who started the campaign and my brothers, Black Rice and Charly Boy who have stood by me during this period."

Majek Fashek fondly called the 'Rain Maker' said that life's circumstance and lack of funds contributed to him going bankrupt.

GIDEON OKEKE REACTS TO TONTO DIKEH’S SECRET MARRIAGE

Mixed reactions have greeted the secret marriage introduction ceremony of Tonto Dikeh over the weekend.

Not many expected the marriage introduction and it was not a surprise when celebs were not spotted at the ceremony, which was held in Port-Harcourt.

However, fellow actor, Gideon Okeke took to Twitter to react to Tonto's marriage.

He said, 'Ha! So Aunty last last marries Mr. X.. not like its stops the rain from pouring though'.

Many people have started attaching different meanings to his post.

TONTO DIKEH’S STYLIST LAMBASTS GIDEON OKEKE

No doubt, many were shocked by the surprise marriage introduction between Tonto Dikeh and her Mr X, Churchill, which was held over the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

There were many reactions to the issue, including from fellow actor, Gideon Okeke.

But the camp of the controversial actress were not happy with comments made by the Tinsel star concerning the matter and this has forced Tonto’s stylist, Michael Ogbodo, aka Swanky Jerry, to slam the handsome actor.

“Ha! So Aunty last marries ‘Mr X.’ Not like it's stops the rain from pouring though,” Gideon had posted on Twitter.

But Jerry is furious and has lampooned the actor.

“A man trying to bring a woman down, my goodness, what is the world turning into? An actor who should be busy going for auditions and trying to get jobs, but is busy checking other people's life and making silly comments about them being married. A man who could not accept his responsibilities.

“The female you are trying to bring down is 1 million times better than you on every level. You need to chill and come back next time when you can afford to feed over 15 dogs; bitter man trying to bring a woman down.

“Stop giving men bad names, go and take care of your responsibilities, time waits for no man. Keep it moving,” he wrote.

I’m not afraid of the EFCC, says Aregbesola

The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said he is not afraid of being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The governor, who said this in response to the petition written against him by Mr. Yinka Odumakin to the EFCC, described the efforts of those who he called blackmailers as exercises in futility.

The governor’s response was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, on Tuesday.

Aregbesola said he had been commended by the ICPC for the prudent manner he was managing the resources of the state.

The statement partly read, “Aregbesola has a record that will be hard to beat in public finance especially given the magnitude of the works done in relation to the resources that are available to the state.

“Please, let them ask the ICPC when they take their petition there next time for a copy of a letter by the anti-graft body written to Governor Aregbesola last year which formed the basis of the agency’s resolve to have Governor Aregbesola as the lead speaker at its lecture in 2014.

“Perhaps, that will further confirm why their efforts to blackmail this governor are exercises in futility.”

Odumakin, who is an indigene of Osun State but based in Lagos State, is one of the brains behind the Osun Stakeholders’ Summit which was allegedly prevented from holding in Osogbo, the state capital.

He accused the governor of massive corruption and financial recklessness which according to him had plunged the state into a financial mess.

He stated that the state and its citizens had been turned into objects of ridicule due to the alleged recklessness of the Aregbesola administration.

He said in the petition, “In addition, the state is littered with abandoned projects even though loans were secured by this administration to execute them. Today, our dear state has become the embodiment of lack, poverty, purposelessness and wickedness.”

 PUNCH

B’Haram kills 50 in Borno market

About 50 persons were on Tuesday killed when a bomb allegedly planted by members of the Boko Haram sect exploded at a village market in Borno State.

Though some members of the youth vigilance group said they counted 20 burnt corpses and 25 others injured victims of the blast, another military source told Reuters that the blast killed at least 47 people and injured another 52.

A member of the local youth vigilance group, Abubakar Ibrahim, told our correspondent on the telephone that “many people were killed in Sabon Gari market, along Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu highway, this (Tuesday) afternoon when a bomb explosion rocked the market.”

He added, “Our men heard a loud explosion at about 1.35pm. When they got there, they saw mangled bodies, burnt beyond recognition.”

Ibrahim added that the incident was not caused by a suicide bombing, but rather from a planted bomb at the centre of the market.

Another member of the youth vigilance group in Sabon Gari, Ishaq Abdullahi, told our correspondent on the telephone that they picked 20 mangled corpses from the market.

Abdullahi said 25 other persons were injured in the attack.

He said, “We were called to evacuate the corpses and assist the injured to the hospital. I counted 20 dead bodies and our men took 25 injured persons to the hospital.”

Sabon Gari is a village on Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu highway, a distance of about 140 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

Meanwhile, the police in Plateau State on Tuesday confirmed the killing of four persons following a cow rustling incident that occurred in Kadunung village in Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

The Mangu Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Williams Nkarang, confirmed the attack to the News Agency of Nigeria in Kadunung.

Nkarang said that he was waiting for the details from his men who went on a rescue mission to the village.

He also confirmed that his men had retrieved the corpses of the “four persons killed in the two different crises.’’

Also confirming the report, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Emmanuel Abu, said the command had commenced investigation into the two attacks with a view to bringing the culprits to book.

Abu said no arrest had been made so far but that the police was on top of the situation.

A reliable source had told NAN that two of the herdsmen were killed on Monday when unknown rustlers invaded a cattle range in the village.

The rustlers, according the source, were reported to have carted away unspecified number of cows to unknown destination.

“Again, just this afternoon, two brothers were killed by some unknown persons following a disagreement on the removal of a grinding machine by one Mr. Dutse Yusuf.

“In fact, as we speak, the whole village is in confusion as to what exactly is happening, ’’ lamented the source who spoke to NAN in anonymity.

The source alleged that trouble started “this afternoon when Yusuf came along with his children and attempted to remove and transfer their grinding machine to Dorong village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, where they reside’’.

According to him, the idea and action were said to have angered some Kadunung people, who engaged Yusuf and his children in an argument which degenerated into a fight that led to the killing of his two sons.

The source said the father of the deceased (Yusuf) was lucky to have escaped from the hands of their attackers.

Jonathan’s kinsmen defect to APC in Bayelsa

Kinsmen of former President Goodluck Jonathan, including Senator Clever Ikisikpo have said they left the Peoples Democratic Party because of the party’s method of operation.

Ikisikpo, a former representative of Bayelsa-East senatorial district in the Senate, spoke at a news conference on Tuesday at Kolo Creek in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The senator said he and past federal and state lawmakers as well as former political office holders from Ogbia dumped the PDP because “it was being run like a one-man business.”

He said they joined the All Progressives Congress because of the transparency, internal democracy, equity and fairness in the party.

It was learnt that many residents in the area besieged the home of the former senator to indicate their interest to join him in the APC.

Ikisipo said, “What is happening is historic in the sense that we have now joined a new party and that is the reigning party.

“We will make sure that the APC becomes the ruling party in Bayelsa State and by the grace of God, come December 2015, the APC will take over this state. Of course, we are all ready to work as a team to make sure that we achieve our goal”.

The senator, who said he joined the PDP in 1998, explained that he left the party when it derailed from its founding principles.

He said the PDP was hijacked by “one man,” lamenting that the level of impunity in the party in the state was unbearable.

He said, “We formed the PDP in Bayelsa State. We made the PDP in Bayelsa but those who do not know how it came about came from behind and hijacked the party. I wont belong to a party where there is a high level of impunity, so I went to a system where there is transparency.

“I went to a place where the voice of every person is recognised, not a situation where only one person will dictate the pace for everybody. You cannot decide my destiny because it is God that gave me that destiny.”

Credit: PUNCH

OAU, banks close for Ooni’s burial rites

Residents of Ife were on Tuesday gripped by fear ahead of the official proclamation of the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, which is expected to be made on Wednesday (today).

The monarch died in a hospital in the United Kingdom on July 28 but despite the media reports announcing the passage, the Ife Traditional Council had insisted that the monarch was alive.

However, the Head of the Oro Cult in Ife, who is also the Aware of Iwara Ife, Oba Layi Adereti, while speaking on the demise of the Ooni on Tuesday, said the worshippers of the deity would perform some rites on the passage of the Ooni on Wednesday.

Consequently, he urged residents to stay indoors between 9am and 4pm when the rite would last.

Some students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, living close to the heart of the town, told our correspondent that they would relocate to the campus till after the rites.

The management of the OAU has asked students who live on the campus to remain on the campus while it asked those living outside the campus to respect the tradition and stay indoors on Wednesday.

The university’s position was contained in a statement signed by the acting Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. I. M. Durosinmi, on Tuesday.

It reads, “This is to inform the generality of students that there shall be a curfew in Ile-Ife, on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 from 9am to 4pm and from 11pm till dawn.

“Students are therefore strongly advised to stay on campus while those outside the campus should remain indoors.

“The Division of the Students’ Affairs counts on the maturity and sense of responsibility of Great Ife students and appeals to all students to comply with the information and continue to keep the peace.”

Our correspondent observed on Tuesday that residents trooped to banks to withdraw money while some rushed to markets to buy foodstuffs.

Some banks in the town have also asked their workers to stay off work on Wednesday.

For instance, a worker at Access Bank in Ife told our correspondent that the bank had given its members of staff a holiday on Wednesday.

The official, who pleaded not to be named said, “We won’t open tomorrow (Wednesday) because of the rite which Ife chiefs said would be performed for the Ooni.

“We were asked to stay at home tomorrow (Wednesday) because of the rite by the Oro worshippers. We will resume on Thursday.”

It will be recalled that the Ooni was reported to have been flown out in an air ambulance following his illness but he died after receiving treatment for five days.

Credit: PUNCH

Looters’ trial will begin in few weeks – Buhari

The Federal Government is set to begin the trial of persons alleged to have stolen from the national coffers, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Tuesday.

Buhari said the trial would begin “in a matter of weeks.”

The President spoke while addressing members of the National Peace Committee, led by a former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Those who have stolen the national wealth will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them,” the President told his guests.

But the committee, which Buhari has transformed into the National Peace Council, also told the President to remember that Nigeria was no longer under military rule and that he should follow due process in the trial of suspected looters.

A statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, quoted the President as telling Abubakar and members of his committee that his administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress,” the President said.

He added that his administration had been gathering facts and figures pertaining to the nation’s stolen funds and that identified culprits would be prosecuted.

Buhari also told members of the committee that the Federal Government, under his leadership, would not only ask for the return of stolen funds but also ensure that those who stole the funds were put on trial.

He said a single treasury account had been established for all federal revenues to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.

Buhari said, “We have really degenerated as a country. Our national institutions, including the military, which did wonderfully on foreign missions in the past, have been compromised. But we are doing something about it. The military is now retraining and morale has been resuscitated.

“As petroleum minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council, asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants.

“That is why security-wise and economically, we’re in trouble.”

Abubakar and members of his committee urged the Federal Government to be guided by the rule of law in its fight against corruption.

A member of the committee, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the closed-door meeting with the President.

The clergyman said, “It (the way corruption war is being fought) is not heating up the polity.

“In our conversation with (ex) President Goodluck Jonathan and members of the parties, I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf.

“I think what we are concerned about is the process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.

Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former President’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that.

“So, our effort really is to make sure that the right thing is done.”

Jonathan had reportedly complained to the committee over alleged victimisation of his aides by the incumbent administration in its anti-corruption crusade.

The former President met with Buhari on Thursday night in what many believed was on the same issue.

Kukah said members of the committee, which was formed in the run-up to the 2015 general elections, gave Buhari an update on the activities of the committee and how members could help to nurture peace in the country.

He confirmed that members of the committee had met with Jonathan after meeting with some political parties.

He claimed the meeting with Buhari was not at Jonathan’s instance, saying the parley was a continuation of a series of intervention aimed at getting feedback from the conduct of the last elections.

He said, “Anybody is free to come to our committee but President Jonathan never by telephone or other means talked to the committee.

“We went to see him, but that is after we had already seen members of the political parties and members of the civil society.

“We planned to see the Speaker (of the House of Representatives) because we couldn’t see him yesterday.

“This is a much-planned series of intervention, essentially just to hear out everybody and I think the good news is that Nigerians are committed to a new nation, they are committed to ensuring that the gains and blessings God has given us come to fruition.”

Kukah said the meeting with the President was neither an intervention nor a hearing session.

He said Buhari also stated the need for the committee to continue to help build confidence when the need arises.

The priest added, “This is not an intervention; it is not a hearing out process. When we had election, it was like a wedding now the reality of government is now the marriage and people need to be encouraged.

“We need to reaffirm that this is our country and the only thing we can collectively be opposed to is injustice, iniquity, corruption and in that regard we all had one single conversation.

“The President has also reaffirmed the need for this committee to continue, and the international community has very much welcomed the contributions of the committee.

“Essentially, we are not policing, but when the need arises, we will help to build confidence in the process.”

Members of the National Peace Committee on the visit included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; Cardinal John Onaiyekan; President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; and the Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh.

Others were Justice Rose Ukeje (retd), Prof. Ameze Guobadia, Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Priscilla Kuye; Senator Ben Obi, Dr. Yunusa Tanko and Dr Arthur-Martin Aginam.

At the meeting, Buhari allowed the committee to transform into a National Peace Council.

PUNCH

Kim Kardashian shares nude pic

Reality star, @KimKardashian who is almost six months along in her second pregnancy, thrilled her fans on yesterday after sharing a nude photo of her baby bump to buttress her sexy style.

The famous TV personality said she uploaded the photograph because she has learnt to love her body at every stage even when she is getting bigger saying she equally sees that as beautiful.

I’ve learned to love my body at every stage! I’m going to get even bigger & that’s beautiful too! I’m blessed to even be pregnant!