‘Panama Papers’ firm partner says Panama leader received Odebrecht ‘donations’

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View of a sign outside the building where Panama-based Mossack Fonseca law firm offices are in Panama City, on April 4, 2016. A massive leak -coming from Mossack Fonseca- of 11.5 million tax documents on Sunday exposed the secret offshore dealings of aides to Russian president Vladimir Putin, world leaders and celebrities including Barcelona forward Lionel Messi. An investigation into the documents by more than 100 media groups, described as one of the largest such probes in history, revealed the hidden offshore dealings in the assets of around 140 political figures — including 12 current or former heads of states. AFP PHOTO/ Rodrigo ARANGUA / AFP / RODRIGO ARANGUA

A partner in the law firm at the heart of the “Panama Papers” scandal fell out publicly with Panama’s president — a former friend — on Thursday, accusing him of accepting “donations” from a Brazilian company that has admitted to graft.

Ramon Fonseca Mora told reporters that President Juan Carlos Varela confided he received from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction giant that paid millions of dollars in bribes to land huge public works contracts in Latin America.

Fonseca — who used to be a high-ranking advisor to Varela but was dismissed when the Panama Papers leak burst forth in April last year — made the allegation as Panamanian prosecutors conducted a surprise raid on his firm as part of their probe into the Odebrecht bribes and the Panama Papers.

Varela last year said he and Fonseca were longtime friends.

He had promised to stand by the prominent lawyer as the Panama Papers scandal — a vast data leak from the Mossack Fonseca law firm that detailed how the world’s wealthy stashed assets in offshore companies — unfolded.

But on Thursday it appeared that amity no longer held.

“President Varela told me — may lightning strike me if I lie — that he had accepted donations from Odebrecht because he couldn’t fight everyone,” Fonseca said as he arrived to respond to prosecutors’ questions related to Thursday’s raid.

Several countries in Latin America, among them Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Uruguay, are carrying out investigations into bribes paid by Odebrecht.

In December, the Brazilian company agreed with the US Justice Department to pay a world record $3.5-billion fine after admitting it paid $788 million in bribes to win fat construction contracts in 12 countries.

More revelations are expected soon because current and former Odebrecht executives have signed tell-all plea deals in Brazil in exchange for lighter sentences.

In Panama, ex-president Ricardo Martinelli’s son and brother are under investigation.

Fonseca wrote in his Twitter account that he and his partner at the law firm, Juergen Mossack, had “nothing to do with Odebrecht.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kVuO7y

NBA nominates Agbakoba, 8 others for Supreme Court posts (Read full details)

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Olisa Agbakoba

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has forwarded names of nine eligible candidates to the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Justice Walter Onnoghen, for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The short-listing followed a rigorous process of selection done by a select committee chaired by the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud, with eight other eminent lawyers as members.

Among candidates nominated for selection by the NJC was former President of the NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

Others are Anthony Ikemefuna Idigbe (SAN), Yunus Ustas Usman (SAN), Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), Miannayaaja Essien (SAN), Awa Uma Kalu (SAN), Professor Awalu Hamish Yadudu, Tajudeen Oladoja and Ayuba Giwa.

The above-mentioned applicants were shortlisted from a total of 89 expressions of interest that were scrutinised.

Recall that the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, had earlier forwarded a request to the president of NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN “to nominate a suitable candidate for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

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NBA nominates Agbakoba, 8 others for Supreme Court posts

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Olisa Agbakoba

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has forwarded names of nine eligible candidates to the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, Judicial Service Commission, Justice Walter Onnoghen, for appointment as justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The short-listing followed a rigorous process of selection done by a select committee chaired by the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmoud, with eight other eminent lawyers as members.

Among candidates nominated for selection by the NJC was former President of the NBA, Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).

Others are Anthony Ikemefuna Idigbe (SAN), Yunus Ustas Usman (SAN), Babatunde Fagbohunlu (SAN), Miannayaaja Essien (SAN), Awa Uma Kalu (SAN), Professor Awalu Hamish Yadudu, Tajudeen Oladoja and Ayuba Giwa.

The above-mentioned applicants were shortlisted from a total of 89 expressions of interest that were scrutinised.

Recall that the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, had earlier forwarded a request to the president of NBA, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN “to nominate a suitable candidate for consideration as Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kaqQDC

Tiwa Savage poses with DJ Khaled, P Diddy & Emeli Sande in LA (see photos)

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”In the midst of greatness”, reads Tiwa Savage’s caption for this photo. Pictured with her are DJ Khaled, Emeli Sande and P Diddy.

Tiwa attended DJ Khaled’s album title announcement event last night and got to hang out with the stars. She’s currently in LA for the Grammys. More photos below.

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Kaduna Refinery loses N2.2bn to water pipeline vandals – NNPC

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By Michael Eboh
ABUJA — The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, stated that its subsidiary, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, was losing an average of N2.2 billion annually to illegal tapping of its raw water pipeline, running from Kaduna River.

The NNPC, in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, also disclosed that the Kaduna Refinery was currently operating at 65 percent installed capacity, producing 1.7 million litres of petrol, 1.7 million litres of diesel and 700,000 litres of kerosene daily.

Managing Director of KRPC, Mr. Idi Mukhtar, explained that the illegal acts were committed mostly at Janruwa, Kamazo, Namaigero and Mahuta areas of Kaduna metropolis, which were the communities along the raw water intake pipeline Right of Way.

Mukhtar noted that the water generates power for the running of the refinery, serves as coolants for its equipment and is also deployed to combating fire outbreaks, adding that sequel to the series of tapping, the refinery now spend more on diesel and other material inputs in the maintenance of its generators and other equipment.

According to him, the consumption of raw water from the tapped pipes by settlers, who encroach on KRPC premises was an unnecessary additional burden to the refinery industrial requirements, which must be resolved urgently by relevant state government agencies.

Other form of the losses due to the act of illegal tapping of the refinery raw water pipeline, he explained, was that it slows down the build-up rate of water in the reserve tanks which endangers the refinery, as the plant is expected to maintain a minimum level of water requirement that is considered safe for operations.

He said, “We require a particular amount of water sufficient enough to generate steam and other industrial consumption needs, but because of the incidents of illegal tapping of our water pipeline, we need to put more effort to meet our industrial requirements as well as satisfy appetite of illegal tappers.”

He, however, advised the individuals concerned to desist from the act, warning that the raw water was not fit for human consumption because it was untreated.

Also speaking, Executive Director Operations, KRPC, Mr. Shehu Malami, expressed the fear that if the challenge was not attended to urg

 

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Corruption: Osinbajo holds meeting with IG, EFCC, ICPC, AGF

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By Levinus Nwabughiogu
ABUJA – Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last night held a meeting with head of security and anti-corruption agencies.

The meeting which lasted for more than 2 hours held behind closed doors in the office of the Acting President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those who attended the meeting included the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

Others were Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),Ekpo Nta,‎ the Department of State Services (DSS), Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Mangu ‎and the DG Nigeria Processing Zone Authority (NIPZA).

The agenda of the meeting was not made public.

But when approached by the State House correspondents, Acting Chairman of EFCC, Magu said that the present economic recession in the country was caused by corruption.

He therefore called on all Nigerians to join in the anti-corruption war.

He said: “I’m asking all Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption. Adults, children, men, women and including you journalists.

“Corruption is the greatest menace we are facing in the country. Corruption is responsible for the recession we are witnessing today. So all Nigerians must join in the fight against”.

On his part, the Inspector General of Police when confronted with the accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP that he had destroyed the credibility of the police by the way he’s handling of the Rivers state election re-run investigation parried the question saying, “what’s you own assessment?”

Meanwhile, the heads of the anti-graft agencies had earlier met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

Also, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ‎Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah were seen leaving Kyari’s office.

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Herdsmen barricade Delta road, rob passengers

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By Perez Brisibe

UGHELLI—SUSPECTED herdsmen, numbering over 20, yesterday, blocked the Ohorhor-Bomadi Road, Delta State, attacking and dispossessing passengers of their valuables.

The Ohorhor-Bomadi Road is a major road linking many Ijaw communities in Bomadi and part of Burutu Local Government areas of the state.

Although details of the incident was sketchy at press time, sources at the community told Vanguard on phone that the herdsmen barricaded the road for over 50 minutes, as they unleashed mayhem on travellers.

Acting Chairman of Ohorhor community, Mr. Power Oba, told Vanguard: “I was not around when they stormed the road. But I was informed on phone that they barricaded the road about 3p.m., and disposed passengers of valuables.”

Giving details of his ordeal, a passenger, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “It was a scary sight as they freely robbed us without fear that police might drive into them.”

Attempts to speak with the state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Aniamaka, was fruitless as calls to his phone were unanswered.

 

The post Herdsmen barricade Delta road, rob passengers appeared first on Vanguard News.

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Olubadan: Eleven months on the throne, multiple chieftaincy battles

Amosun, Daniel, others chart way out of youth unemployment

Ajimobi and the storm in a tea cup

39 Nigerians, tech-empowered with Lenovo’s new promo

Adamawa dedicates Friday, Sunday to pray for Buhari

Flying on the wings of 4G

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By Laju Iren

ANYONE who cares about internet speed at its best in Nigeria today, is definitely thinking 4G. But in this economy, 4G enabled devices do not respond merely to wishful thinking, but to deep pockets.

That is perhaps why Telecoms giant, Globacom  is not only providing 4G coverage, but offering  its subscribers the opportunity to get free 4G LTE Smartphones. With the new development, customers can get 4G LTE smartphones when they buy a special LTE data plan on the network.

Telephone subscribers

The company said in a press statement that the offer, which is expected to excite telephone subscribers in Nigeria, would enable Glo subscribers who did not have 4G smartphones to enjoy the exceptional speed of the advanced Glo 4G network. For instance, a subscriber who purchases 75G LTE data plan for N75, 000 will get a smartphone worth N75, 000 with exciting features such as 13 Megapixel camera, dual SIM, a 5-inch screen and 2GB RAM.

For a 60GB 4G data plan for N60,000, Globacom said the subscriber would get an 8 megapixel 4G smartphone worth the same amount absolutely free, while a 48GB data plan worth  N48,000 will give the subscriber a 5 Megapixel camera smartphone worth the same amount, also free.

Both 4G LTE smartphones are also dual SIM-enabled. Both offers have 1GB RAM. Globacom also said that all the “phones are ideal for 4G, 3G, and 2G networks.” “Glo Mobile offers the most innovative services and data plans at affordable rates. With this special free 4G LTE smartphone offer, we have once again demonstrated our resolve to always give our subscribers the best value. It cannot get better than this,’’ Globacom concluded.

The post Flying on the wings of 4G appeared first on Vanguard News.

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In Pictures: See the new buses that will replace yellow-danfo in Lagos (see photos)

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The Governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Monday said there were plans to remove yellow buses, popularly known as danfo, from Lagos roads.

Ambode explained that danfo would give way to a more efficient, well-structured and world-class mass transport system that would facilitate ease of movement within the city.

See the buses below.

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How nuts inhibit growth of cancers

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*Using enough water to cook rice reduces heart disease, tumour risk
Roasted and salted, ground as a baking ingredient or fresh from the shell — for all those who enjoy eating nuts, there is good news from nutritionists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany). Their latest research shows that nuts can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

“For a long time now we have known that nuts are full of substances that are good for the heart and the cardiovascular system, or that protect against becoming overweight or developing diabetes,” says Dr. Wiebke Schlörmann.

Some studies have also indicated a protective effect against colon cancer, she adds. “What we have not known in detail up to now is what this protective effect of nuts is based on.”

Schlörmann and her colleagues from the Department of Nutritional Toxicology at the University of Jena are now in a position to give specific answers to that question. In a publication in the specialist journal ‘Molecular Carcinogenesis’, they present results from a recent study, which throw light on the molecular mechanisms of this protective effect.

According to this study, nuts have a positive effect on health because, among other things, they are involved in activating the body’s own defences for detoxifying reactive oxygen species. Such substances, which are created by ultraviolet radiation, various chemicals or distinct food metabolites, for example, can cause Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage that leads to cancer development.

“The body has a whole series of protective mechanisms that render reactive oxygen species harmless,” explains Schlörmann. The nutritionists in Jena have now shown that these mechanisms are stimulated by nuts and the substances they contain.

The researchers investigated the effect of five different types of nuts: macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and walnuts, as well as almonds and pistachios. The nuts were artificially ‘digested’ in test tubes and the effects of the resulting digestion products on cell lines were then analysed. The researchers established that the activity of the protective enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase increases in the cells that are treated. In addition, the digestion products induce what is called programmed cell death in the cancer cells thus treated.

Also, scientists have found that using enough water to cook rice reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer. They said that cooking the grains in excess water helps to flush out arsenic, preventing any possible chemical poisoning.

A contamination expert claims that while soaking rice overnight slashes levels of the industrial toxin by around 80 per cent, cooking rice in excess water flushes out arsenic – which has been linked to a range of health problems. Arsenic gets into the rice as a result of industrial contaminants and pesticides that were used in the past. It can remain in the flooded paddy fields where the rice is grown for decades, research has suggested.

Professor Andy Meharg, a leading expert on rice contamination from Queens University Belfast, tested chemical levels after cooking rice three different ways. He first used a ratio of two parts water to one part rice, whereby the water was absorbed or evaporated during cooking. Increasing the ratio to five parts water halved arsenic levels and soaking it overnight cut the toxin levels the most.

Typically, rice has ten times more inorganic arsenic than other foods and the European Food Standards Authority has reported that people who eat a lot are exposed to worrying concentrations.

Chronic exposure can cause a range of health problems including developmental problems, heart disease, diabetes and nervous system damage. However, most worrying are lung and bladder cancers.

Professor Meharg has previously suggested that cooking rice in a coffee perculator would stop any arsenic from binding to the rice.

By allowing steaming hot water to drip through the rice, contaminants will be washed away. In previous experiments, there was a 57 per cent reduction in arsenic with a ratio of 12 parts of water to one of rice and in some cases as much as 85 per cent.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kZQqPX

Checkout these throwback pictures of P-square

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Paul Okoye shared the photos on Instagram, he caption; “Costume of life #nobodyugly.”

Another photo after the cut..

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‘Over 108m Nigerians are technically homeless’ (Read full details)

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A slum in Lagos PHOTO: google

100,000 houses built yearly grossly insufficient, says bureau
The Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) yesterday cautioned that urgent attention should be given to the housing shortage in the country which has made over 108 million Nigerians technically homeless.

The bureau described the 100,000 houses built yearly in the country as insufficient, adding that it is time for stakeholders to join government’s efforts in providing affordable houses for the people by taking advantage of the ongoing Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently put the nation’s housing shortage at 18 million, a situation that has been described as not healthy for a developing country.

The Director-General of BPSR, Dr. Joe Abah at a forum titled, “The Federal Integrated Staff Housing Scheme and what it means for public servants” said providing housing for the people has become a great concern with the 189 million population in the country.

Abah urged stakeholders to confront the challenging in the housing sector such as insufficient funds, high cost of land and building materials so that Nigerians would have the opportunity to own their own houses.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, Dr. Hanatu Fika said the government is seeking about N13 billion to give out as housing loans to civil servants.

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$1b no longer realistic for Ogoni cleanup, says governing council (Read full details)

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Ogoniland

The Board of Trustees on Ogoni cleanup has described the initial $1 billion earmarked for the project as unrealistic in the face of rising exchange rate of the naira.

The President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara, disclosed this yesterday after their meeting in Port Harcourt.

He said when the project was conceived in 2011, the exchange rate was much lower, adding that it had since risen to over N500 to a dollar.

According to him: “We had expected that the speed of the implementation process would be faster than what we are seeing. Under the existing circumstance, we need to revalue the exercise to do things properly, instead of being in a hurry and unable to accomplish the task at the end.”

Another member of the board, Dr. Peter Medee, said: “We must not be in a hurry to get the cleanup done, but ensure that the best is given to our people to ensure its sustainability.”

Medee explained that community sensitisation and training of personnel were ongoing in line with the UNEP’s recommendation, promising that other activities would start next week.

He explained that $200 million would be released in five batches each year for the next five years to cover the budgeted amount.

Medee urged the Federal Government to set up policies to generate funds from the multinational companies, instead of depending only on funds from donor agencies.

“Remember that a similar cleanup exercise in the Gulf of Guinea took $36 billion. However, when we receive the money, we would plan how best to utilise it,” he said.

Anyakwee Nsirimovu and Prof. Ben Naanen, who stressed the need for an environment centre in Ogoni, also attended the meeting.

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