EFCC Arraigns Woman Who Blamed Snake For Eating JAMB's N35m Today

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Friday, May 31, 2019, arraign the controversial official of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Philomina Chieshe, who claimed that the missing N35 million, JAMB proceeds in her custody,  was swallowed by a snake in Makurdi, Benue State JAMB office.

Chieshe will be arraigned alongside five others, namely: Samuel Umoru, Yakubu Jekada, Daniel Agbo, Priscilla Ogunsola, and Aliyu Yakubu before Justice Peter Afen of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.

Chieshe became notorious when she made an outlandish claim that a mysterious snake swallowed about N35million cash arising from the sale of e-JAMB cards in the state.

The controversial JAMB official is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an eight-count charge, following her refusal to furnish the management of JAMB the true information on the financial status of JAMB e-cards supplied to the Benue Zonal office between 2014 and 2016. 

Chieshe’s action is contrary to Section 139 (a) of the Penal Code Law.

FULAFIA Lecturer Dies Two days after wedding

Amarachi Sandra Olua, a First Class Sociology graduate and a lecturer at the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, and six others lost their lives in a fatal accident along the Hawan, Kibo–Jos road.

The accident, which occurred on Tuesday evening, came two days after Sandra had her traditional wedding, on Sunday, May 26, 2019. It involved a truck and a commercial bus.

The deceased, who finished her NYSC in March 2019, was returning from her hometown where she had her wedding when the tragic incident occurred.

Buhari Govt should privatize govt-owned refineries – BudgIT

BudgIT has called on President Buhari to privatize all government-owned refineries while also fully deregulate the petroleum downstream sector.

According to the findings of our new policy brief “Inside Nigeria’s Local Refineries” Nigeria’s government-owned refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri incurred a cumulative loss of N32.8 billion in 2017 and N126.2 billion in 2018, making a total loss of N159 billion in the two most recent years alone. Moreso, with an average combined refining capacity utilization of merely 8.27% in 2018, the government-owned refineries are consistently unable to meet local demand, putting Nigeria in a precarious situation of importing nearly 91% of locally consumed petrol and significant portions of other refined products used locally. It is instructive that only one private refinery, Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (NDPR), has commenced operation in Nigeria despite the country issuing over 44 refinery licenses to investors so far – some of them issued since 2007. Of these licenses, as issued by DPR, 15 are already expired. It is no coincidence that the only Modular Refinery that has commenced operation is the NDPR which produces AGO (diesel), one of the refined petroleum products that are fully deregulated. On the heels of the foregoing, BudgIT is asking the Nigerian government to deregulate the downstream sector. This will make many stagnating private-sector refinery projects more attractive to investors, we maintain. “If the remaining 29 refinery projects with active licenses come onstream, Nigeria will successfully unlock refining capacity of nearly 32.7billion litres of PMS per year, 19.6billion litres of Diesel per year and 6.5billion litres of Aviation fuel per year. This is sufficient to meet the country’s refined products needs and also supply the West African market,” noted Gabriel Okeowo, BudgIT’s Principal Lead. A refinery industry as vibrant as this could generate product sales of nearly N13.1trillion per annum for investors and create additional 439,062 well-paying jobs for Nigerians across the entire value chain, the policy brief says. The Nigerian government needs to invest at least 5% of its annual budget for the ministry of petroleum on research and development, especially concerning optimizing the local refining technology in Nigeria. As an example of local efforts, Prof. Ibrahim Mohammed-Dabo and his team from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) have developed an early prototype for local crude oil refining. Unfortunately, this isn’t receiving sufficient attention from the government and the private sector for further research, development and commercialization.

2019 Budget: Buhari to spend N1bn on travels

President Muhammadu Buhari is to spend N1. 001 billion on travels this year. The detailed 2019 budget, which he signed into law early this week, showed that the president would spent N751.296 million travelling around the world and another N250. 021 million locally.

According to the budget, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will also spend N217.060 million on foreign travels and another N83. 74 million on local travels. N3.822 billion was earmarked for annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations in the Villa. According to the budget, N576. 747 million was set aside for the phased replacement of vehicles, spares and tyres in the presidential CVU, security/police escort and State House operational fleet. Another N395. 834 million was earmarked for the construction of the Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic, while N395. 834 million would be spent on the construction of office buildings. The President would spend N164. 176 million on honourarium and sitting allowance, as well as, N25 .652 million on meals and refreshments. The Office of the Chief Security Officer to the President got the sum of N 433. 457 million for the purchase of security and operational vehicles. The State House Medical Centre was allocated a total of N798.856 million, with drugs and medicals supplies taking N208. 350 million and N 244.364 million earmarked for the purchase of health and medical equipment. Conversion/upgrade of Villa Ranch and construction of wildlife conservation capture would take N27. 463 million; while rehabilitation of animal enclosure/procurement of Vet Lab equipment was allocated a separate N11. 865 million. Meanwhile, the Office of the President would spend N8,580,741 on the purchase of books in the 2019 fiscal year. Similarly,  N26, 432, 346 was provided in the budget for the purchase of newspapers, while N3, 511,909 was set aside for magazines and periodicals.

Newspaper Headlines

The Punch

Pele meets Obama in Brazil

Sit-at-home order: South-East states record mixed compliance

Declare your assets, CCB warns civil, public servants

Election: Judge summons NAWOJ, NUJ officials

Reps want murder of Igbo men by soldiers probed

Rich Nigerians buy judgment, says Lawan as Senate confirms Sadeeq

Christian Party: Some Christians are at it again

Ambodes govt was a failure, says former aide, Bello

Ekiti PDP stakeholders want Fayose sanctioned for anti-party activities

Bombshell for gas cylinder owners

Heritage Bank gives $40,000 grants to start-upsTechnical committee approves N124.3bn bids for Afam, Yola Disco

China not to blame for trade talks failure Consul General

DAPPMAN, MOMAN, IPMAN decry multiple taxation, beg govt

Weak network: Discos blame low capital expenditure allowance

Foreign reserves rise by $294.99m in one month

Senate flays FG for spending N11tn on subsidy in six years

FAAN, airline operators to address service gaps at airports

Infrastructure tops manufacturers wish list for Buhari

Experts identify factors preventing $50bn investment in agric sector

Food, product exhibition tackles SMEs sustainability challenge

CBN extends lending programme to 1,059,604 farmers

LCCI opens online trade fair portal

EFCC denies arresting Okorocha

Nigerian Breweries to drive sales via innovation

Ihedioha stops banks from honouring withdrawal requests from states accounts

Mouka celebrates children

Udom Emmanuel fails to stop NBA Presidents corruption trial

Portland Paints eyes improved performance in 2019

Aisha Buhari: Conscience in the shadows

NBCC to promote Nigeria, UK business opportunities

Sacked Oyo LG bosses vow to defy Makinde, APC kicks

American Tower to acquire Eaton in $1.85bn deal

Why I was absent at Makindes inauguration Ladoja

Unity Bank promotes financial literacy in schools

Leadway Assurance pays N33.8bn claims

Housekeeper defiled my daughter, niece, woman tells court

Man kills HIV-positive wife, hangs body on tree to make it look like suicide

Homeless persons allegedly steal nine chickens, cell phone

Recent UEFA Champions League winners

Inter Milan name Antonio Conte as coach

Some NGOs providing humanitarian support to BHaram Army

Osinbajo receives Imam who hid 200 villagers in mosque

EFCC to arraign woman who blamed snake for missing N35m JAMB funds

Nigerian innovators can learn from Nordic countries Osinbajo

Blame individuals, not church, for moral decadence Cleric

One year remembrance: Family, friends celebrate late PUNCH chairman, Aboderin

NSA, military draw up national strategy on banditry, terrorism

British Council, Lagos collaborate on Childs Rights Law

Vanguard

Confusion, accusations in Imo over demolition of Akachi Tower

2019 Budget: Buhari to spend N1bn on travels

2019 Budget: Buhari to spend N1bn on travels

Senate says economy in danger, as FG spends N11trn on subsidy payment in 6 yrs

Agenda for Buhari's second term

AFCON: Super Eagles camp kicks off Sunday

Babayaro: Mikel deserves his place in Nigeria's AFCON squad

Crocodile tears for Zamfara and a culture of interference

Health tips: Avoid erectile dysfunction

Biafra Day Sit-at-Home: Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi shut; zero compliance in Awka, Asaba, Owerri

FG to adopt new strategy in tackling insecurity, says NSA

All-new A-Class leads Mercedes-Benz sales growth in four months

Reps speakership: 195 members-elect sign for Bago

Edo ADC House of Reps candidate defects to APC, backs Obaseki

My experience on Ethiopian Airline that nearly crashed in Lagos ' Obasanjo

Lagos arraigns doctor-couple for negligence

New Land Rover Defender set for final testing

INSECURITY: Don't withdraw licensed guns, Reps tell Buhari

Forensic expert lauds NASS for passage of CIFIPN bill

Mimiko's associate charges police to unravel those behind attack on him

Need to appoint NASS Service Commission

Confusion, accusations in Imo over demolition of Akachi Tower

Finance Minister has no power to suspend SEC DG ' Industrial Court

African trade pact takes off without Nigeria

Nigeria cuts fuel sulphur cap, but still above target

Unity Bank rolls out financial literacy for children

FG advises South African Govt to invest in Nigeria's gas sector

Naira converges around N360/$ at major Forex markets

Sanwo-Olu appoints former HOS, Folashade Jaji as SSG

EFCC denies arrest of Okorocha, says he has no invitation from agency

Increasing suicide rate: Which way out

A question on moslem dominance of our politics

Assessing Okowa's giant strides in Delta

Lagos: Rousing welcome as Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat arrive Alausa Secretariat, charge workers

AFCON: Tanzania won't be pushovers ' Amuneke

Finalists emerge in Zenith Bank/Ikoyi Club Tennis tourney

Samuel Chukwueze to replace Shaqiri at Liverpool

NPFL Playoff: Mfon Udoh says there's no pressure for goals

Lineker hails Iwobi after historic goal against Chelsea

Don't link violence, insecurity with religion' Adedimeji

That hadaya project can be transparent, good

Britain, go or stay, stop diverting attention

Making Power Available For Nigerian Businesses

Cameroon declares polio public emergency after 4-year absence

Israeli govt, FG team up to fight fake drugs

Fulanisation of Nigeria, product of Obasanjo's failed policies ' Jamiu Abiola

Manufacturing sector in 20 years: Our position ' LCCI

Villagers bury man alive for beheading elder brother

The Nation

Trump threatens Mexico with 25% tariff over migrant surge

Heritage Bank empowers start-ups with $40,000 grants

Chinas trade in creative goods now $191.4b

Banks CEOs move against debtors

Conte is new Inter Milan manager

Reps adjourn for Eid el Fitr

FCMB gives promo winners cash, gift prizes

Steel plant to produce 5.4mt daily coming

May & Baker Nigeria to drive growth with new investments

Nigeria central to our operation, says Western Digital

Court orders reinstatement of suspended SEC DG, Gwarzo

Falana, others urge FG to fight insecurity

Army warns saboteurs of war against terrorism

Buhari declines assent to Maritime Varsity bill

NAWOJ crisis: Court summons NUJ Trustees, women journalists leaders

Ugwuanyi is patron of cattle dealers association

Ihedioha didnt demolish Akachi towers

Automated technology will boost Osuns revenue

Adamawa governor appoints SSG, media aides

Why we dont fight our governor, by Taraba Speaker

Almajiri may become Nigerias greatest nightmare, says ACRI

Ogun workers honour ex-deputy governor

Buhari urged to deploy more troops to Taraba/Benue border

Operation Puff Adder recovers 74 rustled cows in Nasarawa

Why I boycotted governors inauguration, by Ladoja

Appeal Court upturns judgment faulting Adelekes qualification

Oyo APC to Makinde: you started on a disappointing note

Absence of defence counsel stalls Tufaces libel suit against Blackface

Manager faces N468,000 theft charge

Son accused of stealing dads N4.3m

De-Tastee Fried Chicken organises competition

Group moves to stop underage drinking

Well defend trust reposed in us, VP Osinbajo assures Nigerians

IPOBs sit-at-home witnesses partial compliance in Southeast

Panic as suspected vandals spill petrol at Ejigbo

N11tr subsidy claims paid in six years

Apapa gridlock: Trucks take over roads, bridges again

House knocks Buharis order on gun licences

Kuwait embassy lifts orphans, widows in Jigawa

Bauchi distributes foodstuff, clothings to 2,000 children

Eid Mubarak!

Muslim journalists mourn Kola Animashaun

NGO distributes relief materials to 250 widows in Ibadan

Okorocha denies rumoured arrest by EFCC

Sanwo-Olu appoints six new Permanent Secretaries

Walid expresses regrets over herders activities in Nigeria

Ihedioha puts financial transactions with Imo Govt. on hold

Osun: PDP hails A/Court judgment on Adeleke

We will work for a greater Lagos

COURT GRANTS NAIRA MARLEY 2MILLION NAIRA BAIL

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi has granted Nigerian Musician Azeez Fashola bail.

At the resumed bail application, his lead defense counsel Olalekan Ojo for the singer apologized for his absence at the initial arraignment on May 20 due to heavy down poor.

Ojo urged the court to accept the bail application Prima Facie based on the presumption of his innocence in accordance with Section 162 (1)

The defense also pleaded that a liberal approach is taken in hearing the bail application.

The prosecution counsel, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, however, argued that it is not the temporary release of the singer that mattered but the final judgment.

He, therefore, urged the court to grant accelerated hearing rather than bail.

He added that since the lawyer of the defendant said the defendant is a celebrity, then his actions and inactions have a multiplier effect on youths in the entire federation.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo who presided over the bail hearing after listening to the defense and prosecution arguments granted the singer bail to the sum of two million naira, two sureties.

The trial has been adjourned to 22, 23 and 24 of October for accelerated hearing.

CAN to Buhari, govs: Don’t disappoint masses

Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the 29 state governors, who were inaugurated yesterday, to live up to the expectations of the masses and serve them without fear or favour.

CAN President, Rev Samson Ayokunle, made the call in a chat with reporters in Abuja. According to him, it is the failure of the past administrations at both federal and state levels that has placed the nation in a deplorable state on many fronts. He said: “It is our wish and prayer for those that are being sworn-in today (yesterday); the president and the vice president, the new and returning governors, that they will live up to the expectations of the masses, who voted them into office. “They should not disappoint the people and make them regret voting them to power. They should live up to the expectations of the oath of office and the oath of allegiance they swore to.

“They should serve the country without fear or favour; they should not allow personal interest to conflict with the constitution.” “If they live up to this expectation, the whole country will grow, our economy will come out of the woods, and there will be peace and unity in every nook and cranny of the country. “It is their failure to do so that has made us be, not only stagnant in many areas but also the poverty capital of the world.” Ayokunle urged Nigerians to continue to pray and cooperate with the newly inaugurated leaders to get it right in the next four years…

Newspaper Headlines

The Punch

Security, welfare my priority, says Ugwuanyi

Ihedioha declares free health care in Imo

Umahi pledges more infrastructural devt

Our administration will make a difference in Kwara Abdulrazaq

Mohammed vows to fix education, health sectors

Buhari heads to Saudi Arabia for OIC summit

Kogi permanent secretaries back Bello for second term

FGs social safety programme gulps N471bn in three years

Experts decry non-passage of PIB during Buharis first term

Firm to produce ethanol from 6,000 hectares cassava plantation

FGs preference for borrowing slashed savings bonds by 50% CBN

Airtel Nigerias planned listing will boost market performance Analysts

Bank CEOs to go tougher on bad debtors

PENGASSAN warns against oil production disruption

Kaduna refinery stays idle for 12 months, others wobble

Britain increases investment financing in Nigeria to 1.25bn

Wike accuses FG of politicising security issues in Rivers

CBN injects $205m into forex market

Mixed reactions as FG suspends seafarers overseas training

STCW convention: Nigeria escapes being delisted by IMO

Why wealthy Nigerians evade taxes Oxfam

Kresta Laurel, others discuss project delivery delay

Firm, automobile technicians sign five-year MoU

No financial irregularities in CRFFN council

Stocks: Analysts expect market sentiment to weaken

FBNQuest adopts GIPS standards to boost investor confidence

FG to use technology to tackle fuel, power supply gaps

Private vehicle bonded terminal berths in Kano

Buharis inauguration: PDP, others knock President for keeping mum, Obasanjo, Jonathan absent

Makinde says Oyo cant pay N30,000 minimum wage, scraps tuition

Well make painful decisions, El-Rufai warns

FG liable for rising insecurity, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, emir tell Buhari

Ill prioritise education, health, rural roads, says Abiodun

Okowa vows to consolidate on first term feats

Emir of Kano absent at Ganduje inauguration

Niger gov unfolds development agenda

Ikpeazu to create 2,000 jobs

Weve not abandoned 140 Nigerians in Ethiopian prisons FG

Fintiri assures residents of security of lives and property

Attack on judiciary, threat to Nigerias democracy, says Dickson

Court orders prompt hearing of Okorochas certificate of return suit

Expert advises Abiodun on environmental protection

Hold your leaders accountable, Saraki tells Nigerians

Plane conveying Obasanjo, others experiences bad weather, lands at second attempt

Nigerian escapes death by hanging in Singapore

Omo-Agege pledges support of Delta for Buhari

Well thrive despite hard times Sanwo-Olu

Sign our bill, we will end insecurity, VGN tells Buhari

MASSOB dares security agencies, says no going back on Biafra Day

Vanguard

Why Ambode shunned Sanwo-Olu's inauguration ' Aide

Resignation: Disregard Shuaibu, League of Patriotic Lawyers tells Oshiomhole

Sit-at-home: Security agencies patrol Umuahia, as IPOB talks tough

Attack on judiciary, a threat to Nigeria's foundation, democracy 'Dickson

Withdraw petition against Wike from tribunal, monarchs, others beg AAC candidate

Militants bidding to proclaim N'Delta Republic June 1 non-existent ' RNDA

Stay positive, eschew vendetta, Lagos PDP counsels Sanwo-Olu

Nigerian programmer develops music App

Benue keys into CPS as Ortom signs pension, criminal Justice, state Anthem bills into law

Inauguration : mum, as govs reel out promises

Tackle Boko Haram, kidnapping, PDP chieftain tells FG

I'm for all'Gov Ikpeazu

Make anti-corruption fight a process, Olagunju tells Buhari

CAN to Buhari, Govs: Don't disappoint the masses

Presidential Inauguration: Buhari, APC overburdened by guilt ' PDP

Buhari leaves for OIC summit in Saudi Arabia

No rift between Ex-President Jonathan, I ' Dickson

Gov Abdulrazaq pledges paradigm shift from past administrations

We will take tough decisions, says El Rufai

Inauguration: Fayemi congratulates Buhari, Osinbajo, 29 Govs

Emir Sanusi absent as Ganduje takes oath of office

Amaechi, right man as next President ' Oboro

Inauguration : Dignitaries arriving Eagle Square

Is Buhari poorer four years after

Angst against a rising dynasty in Abia State

Igbo presidency 2023: Nigeria's date with justice and unity

Time to curtail lies, excesses of foreign news wires

Inlaks, Temenos in digital transformation drive for Vista Bank

AFN Crisis: AIG Mohammed heads Gusau probe committee

Coach decries lack of support for celebral palsy football

2019 African Freestyle Football Championships regional audition to hold in June

Breaking: Chelsea beat Arsenal 4-1 to win Europa League

I want to sue him': Blatter to target Infantino, FIFA

We've built a sustainable brand through CSR, LG boasts

Kano emirate imbroglio ' a reflection (2)

Buhari failed in his first term, he mustn't waste his second

The necessity of peace in a leaderless world (2)

Trading Without Limits: A Matter of Time and Cost

Lawmakers task UNILAG stakeholders on peaceful co-existence

Infrastructure Decay in Public School: Bungha-Gida School in the eye of the storm

Oando Foundation donates 2 blocks of 6 classrooms to school

Breast Cancer: Lagos gets two mammography centres

PDP governors congratulate Buhari

(VIDEO) Childhood cancer: Govt should have more political will, experts say

Naira crashed 1450% in 20 years of democracy

BORNO: Big tasks before Zulum

Presidential order on Apapa gridlock: Enforcement suffers set back as trucks remain

The Nation

Makinde sacks Oyo council chairmen, boards

How we financed over 14 estates in Abuja

Japan, Austria vote $1m for climate change investments in Nigeria, others

Still a long way to go to bridge housing gap

Ortom: well improve on our performance

Al-Makura, others make maiden flight from Lafia airport

Masari prays for victims of banditry, kidnapping in Katsina

Tambuwal promises to make Sokoto great

Monarch seeks peaceful co-existence

Zakatul Fitr

Firm donates rice to Muslims

Muslim students to Sanwo-Olu: give priority to education sector

U.S Ambassador urges Nigerians on peace, unity

Challenges before Buhari

House of Reps polls: The Wase factor

Oil producing communities marginalised in Abia

I will not fail my constituency, says lawmaker

House of Reps polls: The Wase factor

I will not fail my constituency, says lawmaker

Anambra stakeholders recommend APC Auditor for ministerial slot

Buhari heads to Makkah for OIC summit

Firm, technicians sign MoU on service

Stakeholders seek more investment in dairy production

US-China brawl drives down oil prices

Smile appoints Farroukh Group CEO

More metering manufacturing firms coming

FG removes VAT on cooking gas

Blackout: Ijebu-Ode community seeks prompt repair of transformer

LADOL officials, stakeholders observe safety week

Why cost-reflective tariff is difficult

Seplat: Africa accounts for 7.5% of worlds proven oil reserves