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!

Probe Jonathan’s $200 million Nollywood fund, Veteran urges Buhari

A veteran thespian, Lari Williams, on Tuesday urged the government to inquire into the current state of the grant the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration gave to the entertainment sector. Williams told pressmen on Tuesday that he and others needed to know what had been disbursed and what had yet to be disbursed.

Jonathan provided a grant of $200m to the entertainment industry as Nollywood Fund
Williams added that a proper management of the sectors’ resources would help to keep it dynamic with the provision of requisite infrastructure and training schools for stage and movie performance. “There was a cash grant for the development of arts in Nigeria disbursed to the sector by the immediate past president but the practitioners do not know how the grant is being disbursed.

“We need to know how the funds given to the sector is being disbursed because the growth of Nigeria’s entertainment industry will be enhanced by such money if well utilised. “Let’s restructure the industry to give a better foundation for the entertainment sector to grow the way it should,’’ he said.

President Jonathan on Nov. 7, 2010 during the 30th anniversary of Silverbird Organisation, gave a grant of 200 million dollars to the nation’s entertainment industry. The then president said that his administration was determined to pursue a policy that would assist and grow the nation’s entertainment sector from continental to global brand. He charged entertainment practitioners to use the loan to produce quality music and movies that would create more jobs for people and make the country proud.

The funds were eventually domiciled with the Bank of Industry (BoI) for eventual disbursement to those artists who were able to come up with viable business plans. In this vein, Emeka Ossai, a renowned Nollywood actor, told newsmen in 2014 that he was able to get some funds from the BoI after he was able to present a workable business plan.
Williams also emphasised the need for the nation’s artists to be well groomed in the fundamentals of the craft they practice. “The decline in the creativity of sculptors, painters, poets, writers and musicians could be attributed to the lack of facilities on ground to harness these talents.

“I always say no bird can fly high on bald wings which implies that we are focused on just one aspect of the entertainment industry. “We should not develop only screens and leave behind theatres and stage plays.

“The development should be broad based just like America’s broad way. “If the funds given by the former president was made available, grooming talents in arts and culture would be enhanced,’’ he said.

Credit: Vanguard

91-year-old man arrested for smuggling cocaine into Australia

A 91-year-old Sydney man was used by drug smugglers to fly 4.5 kilograms of cocaine disguised as soap from India to Australia, police said Tuesday.

The man was stopped at Sydney airport on his arrival from New Delhi on July 8th when customs officers became suspicious of the contents of his luggage, officials said.

They found 27 packages of soap which tested positive for cocaine. The man was charged with importing illegal drugs.

“Claiming ignorance of drugs hidden inside your luggage does not automatically mean you will not face criminal charges,” acting Assistant Police Commissioner, Wayne Buchhorn, said.

WHY I WAITED LONG TO GET PREGNANT—STEPHANIE OKEREKE

Nollywood actress, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, has disclosed that she never wanted to let people know she was pregnant until her photographs started flying on the internet.

She explained that it was only few family members and friends that were aware of her pregnancy and even went as far as staying away from the cameras to conceal the good news.

Stephanie told Genevieve magazine that, “You just don’t say anything. Your family and friends know, but you stay at home and don’t go anywhere. People have been trying to get me to come out but I keep telling them I’m on bed rest. I didn’t want people talking about it until I was ready to announce it.”

On why it took her long to get pregnant, the actress stated that it was a personal choice.

“Waiting this long to have a baby is a personal choice and God ultimately decides. You have to be ready mentally and physically. I had a lot of films I was shooting and I was travelling a lot too. My movie is out now and I cannot even promote it across Africa like I wanted to do because I am stuck in one place.

“It’s also God’s timing. Neither my husband nor I were pressured. I feel this is the right time for it to happen. Right after we got married, I was on set shooting. But this year was different. It’s the perfect year for me to year to get pregnant,” she said.

Stephanie got married to her husband, Linus Idahosa in April 2012 in Paris, France.

FFK IS SHAMELESS - TONI PAYNE

Recently, a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, who now wants to be called Olukayode, disowned his children from his former wife and his action was greeted with mixed reaction from some Nigerians.

One of those who have kicked against his announcement is former wife of 9ice, Toni Payne, whose marriage to the singer crashed some months after it was consummated.

Toni, who could not hold back her anger, reacted to the issue, saying, “If I were FFK's kids, I would bid him good riddance.

“There is more to life than bothering yourself a man who would say such vile things, I don't know why anyone would want to build a relationship with someone who knows you exist but did not care to raise you; boggles my mind.”

She further said, “Ladies, before you take a man seriously, look at how he talks about or treats his exes. That FFK story is beyond ridiculous. Not all fathers will be fathers. Some men are simply donors. If you find yourself with one, the sooner you accept your situation the better.”

"FFK's kids shouldn't even respond.Just move on and distance yourself completely. It's not worth it fighting someone with no shame," Toni Payne added.

MY EX WAS A CHEAT - TONTO DIKEH

Over the weekend, Tonto Dikeh reportedly held her marriage introduction at her hometown in Rivers State.

This put to rest the stunt the actress started shortly after she commenced an affair with her new husband, Churchill Oladunni, who she first described as Mr X.

Speaking on her former boyfriend, Tonto said he was a cheat and an internet whore.

In her words, "Your partner cheated on you does not mean all humans are cheats. My ex was a cheat. A prolific internet whore and a fake but that did not stop me from loving even harder the next time."

It would be recalled that before now, Tonto dated Michael Awujoola popularly known as Malivelihood.