N1.5bn contract scam: Court jails ex-NIMASA DG, Omatseye …….. PUNCH

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Friday convicted a former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Raymond Omatseye, of N1.5bn contract scam and sentenced him to five years imprisonment.

The judge pronounced Omatseye guilty of 24 out of the 27 counts pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

She sentenced him to five years imprisonment for each of the 24 proven counts, holding that the sentences would run concurrently.

“I am satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt in the face of the offences contained in counts 1-20, 23, 24 and 26 of the amended charge and I accordingly found the defendant guilty as charged,” the judge held.

Poll: Both Clinton, Trump unpopular ……. CNN

Despite being the front-runner candidates of their respective parties, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are extraordinarily unpopular heading into their party’s conventions this summer.

According to a recent New York Times/CBS poll, nearly two-thirds — 64% — of registered voters answered “No” when asked if Trump and Clinton are “honest and trustworthy.”

Poll: Trump trails Clinton by nearly 40 points with Latinos

Two-thirds of voters also said Trump does not share their values, while only 37% percent of voters said Clinton did share their values.

Seventy percent of registered voters said Trump does not have the right temperament, while only 48% said the former Secretary of State had the right temperament, the poll found.

Amid criticism from Gov. Martinez, Trump to make campaign stop in New Mexico …… FOX

Early next week, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump will make his first campaign stop in New Mexico — the state with the highest percentage of Hispanics in the country and whose GOP Latina governor has had harsh words for the real estate mogul.

His campaign website announced Thursday that Trump will hold a rally Tuesday evening at the Albuquerque Convention Center as New Mexico prepares for its primary two weeks later, on June 7.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, the nation’s first Latina governor and a rising star within the GOP, has openly criticized Trump’s statements about Mexican immigrants and Mexico. He has vowed to build a wall along the border and last year he compared Mexican immigrants to rapists and drug dealers.

Martinez has urged comprehensive immigration reform and asked candidates to tone down their rhetoric amid strong anti-immigration sentiment from some fellow Republicans.

Latinos favor Clinton over Trump by 39-point margin, Fox News Latino poll finds …… FOX

With less than six months to go before the presidential elections, Latinos overwhelmingly support Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton over presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, according to a Fox News Latino poll released on Friday.

The poll found that 62 percent of registered Latino voters would head to the ballot box for Clinton in November, while only 23 percent would support Trump on Election Day – a finding that many experts say is not surprising given the two candidates’ differing stances on issues important to Latinos.

“There’s a more hospitable tone that Hillary Clinton is taking in terms of communicating with Hispanics,” Evelyn Perez-Verdia, analyst with Political Pasión, told Fox News Latino. “Compared to Donald Trump, it’s a much different message.”

French investigators say smoke detected in EgyptAir plane before crash …….. FOX

French investigators announced Saturday that smoke was detected in multiple places on the ill-fated EgyptAir plane before it plummeted into the Mediterranean Sea.

The Aviation Herald initially reported that sensors detected smoke in a lavatory, suggesting a fire onboard the aircraft before it went down.

David Learmount, a noted aviation expert, told Fox News Friday that the data received from some satellites indicates that a fire could’ve started in the avionics compartment of the plane which knocked out computers and control mechanisms on the flight. He said that would’ve caused the plane to crash.

French officials didn’t say what could have caused parts of flight 804 to fill up with smoke. Spokesman Sebastien Barthe told the Associated Press the plane’s automatic detection system sent messages indicating smoke a few minutes before it disappeared from radar.

NIGHT OF TRIBUTES TO DIMGBA IGWE @ 60 By Mike Awoyinfa

WE were not too many, but Pas­tor Dimgba Igwe who would have been 60 on May 16, 2016, would not have wanted it any better way: a room filled with his family, my fam­ily, close friends, his church people, old Weekend Concord staffers and journalists from The Sunwho had all come to dine in this Chinese restau­rant somewhere in Ikeja, GRA.

We had gathered here this beauti­ful Monday evening for the posthu­mous celebration of a man whose life was brief like a candle in the wind, but impacted positively on so many of us.

Let me start by thanking you for your responses to my last Saturday’s piece on “Unforgettable Dimgba Igwe @ 60.” I was overwhelmed by your appreciative text messages, emails and phone calls. My prayer is that none of you will die before your time. And may you accomplish your mission and purpose here on earth to the glory of your Father in heaven.

New Aviation Minister, New Policies By Daniel Omale

Last week, the Minister of state for transportation (aviation), Hadi Sirika, received from the chairman committee, a Reviewed and Amendment of Civil Aviation Act 2016. While Sirika may not be the proponent of the revised Act, the unnecessary euphoria and celebration attached to it does make no sense. Nothing is wrong with the 2006 Civil Aviation Act, implementation has always been the outstanding issue.

Therefore, a new Civil Aviation Act is of little consequence to how we practice and promote the aviation sector. If there is need to change the Act, stakeholders must be invited to deliberate on it before forwarding it to the National Assembly for verification, vetting and approval. The process also requires numerous public hearings.

From 1999 to date the aviation sector in Nigeria has witnessed about 12 ministers. This high turnover of politicians has definitely led to serial policy somersaults as the majority of the new appointees discard existing policies to enact new ones that would, most times, support their personal interest.

CBN releases N120b power stabilisation fund …….. NATION

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said N120 billion out of the N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF) has been disbursed in four tranches. CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele who disclosed this during the disbursement of the fourth tranche of N55.45 billion to power companies in Lagos, said the project is meant improve the power situation in the country.

According to him, a review of the fund utilization and reports of impact by beneficiaries revealed that the intervention resulted in the restoration of a total of 905 Mega Watts of power into the grid as a result of facility turn around maintenance, contribution of over 25 per cent of the annual capital expenditure budget for the sector. The CBN initiated a N213billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilization Facility (CBN-NEMSF) as a follow up to commitments it reached with other stakeholders to address debts owed by generating companies to gas suppliers.

Fuel price hike and its aftermath …… SUN

LESS than two weeks from now, the APC/Buhari government should be celebrating its one-year in office. Amid several issues upon which the govern­ment’s performance can be judged are, its unmistak­able strides in the curbing of the terrorist and insur­gency war waged by Boko Haram in the North East of the country and the advance it has made in the anti-corruption crusade.

The fact that all the local govern­ment areas seized by Boko Haram over which it was set to establish a Caliphal reign have been virtually retrieved and valiant attempt is being made to reset­tle the over two million internally displaced persons to their homes shows in no uncertain manner, that the government is delivering on the security sphere of its mandate. This is without deference to the issue of the Chibok girls still being harboured by the sect and over which there is much national anxiety. Sec­ondly, in spite of the charge of fantastic corruption leveled against the country by the undiplomatic Brit­ish Prime Minister, the whole world knows that the crusade against the corruption cankerworm is very much on. There is the well-made allegation of impu­nity against due process in the battle, but there is also widespread public support for the government in its Messianic drive to wrestle corruption to the grave in the country. These two battles of the government will go down as landmark successes on its one-year per­formance sheet and record.

When Sycophancy Nurtures Mediocrity By Martins Oloja

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I began to notice the power of sycophancy in shaping destiny of man in 2003 when a young but diligent Pastor, Kunle Omotoso of the Redeemed Christian Church, (RCCG) Central Parish, Wuse 2, Abuja was transferred to The Desire of Nations Parish, Jabi District Abuja. I was present at the send-forth party organized by the Central Parish parishioners then. Typically, at the impressive ceremony in the auditorium of the Provincial Headquarters of the church, all sorts of testifiers came up one after the other to say so many good things about the very diligent and gifted.

Giving back… By Muyiwa Adetiba

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I spent a very delightful evening with a certain gentleman in a village somewhere in the middle belt last week. It was an evening that stretched far into the night. With choice liquor, soft jazz music and the enveloping peace and quietness of an agrarian village night to keep us company, we discussed what many Nigerians gather together to discuss these days—the state of the nation, our profligate and reckless leaders, the fuel situation, the general level of impunity, and the increasing poverty level in the country. Almost as an afterthought, the subject of giving back to the society, and empowering the young ones, creeped into our conversation. This was when he told me about his ongoing project in the village which had gulped millions.

BRITISH COUNCIL AND THE 500,000 TEACHERS …….. THISDAY

There is good sense in partnering with the British Council to build the capacity of teachers

In his 2016 budget presentation to the National Assembly last December, President Muhammadu Buhari announced his plan to “partner with state and local governments to recruit, train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates and NCE holders”. These graduate teachers, according to the president, “will be deployed to primary schools, thereby, enhancing the provision of basic education especially in our rural areas”.

While the idea is commendable, for it to work, the federal government should partner with the British Council which incidentally has already offered to help. In offering technical support to build the capacity of the teachers to be so recruited, the British Council said recently that it would be its contribution towards revamping the education sector in Nigeria. It is a gesture the federal government must take very seriously and may necessitate setting up a strong team that will liaise with the British Council so that the objective of the support can be met.

The Second Coming of President Buhari By Dele Momodu

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Fellow Nigerians, let me start today’s epistle by saying time flies indeed. Over a year ago, the dream of Major General Muhammadu Buhari to return to power, after being toppled in a military coup by Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and company, was eventually realised after a record fourth attempt. History would record this monumental feat as one of the biggest miracles of our time. It was a testimony to the power of resilience and tenacity.

Not many people would ever have a second chance in life. In fact, a second chance is usually a rare and divine opportunity to correct past mistakes, make amends, atone for sins of omission and commission; and move forward to greater glory. In recent time, only two former Generals have been so favoured. The first Nigerian to return to power in 1999 was General Olusegun Matthew Aremu Okikiolakan Obasanjo. Obasanjo had left power in 1979, in a most controversial manner, after handing over power hurriedly to the newly elected President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari. That election would remain one of the most controversial in Africa’s most populous nation but Obasanjo was determined to quit power and he got a standing ovation from the global community.

Trump rallies gun owners with fiery anti-Clinton speech ……. REUTERS

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump assured gun owners on Friday he would protect their constitutional right to bear arms and eliminate gun-free zones if elected, accusing Democrat Hillary Clinton of wanting to weaken gun rights.

Trump, who will almost certainly be the Republican presidential nominee, picked up the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, a politically powerful lobbying group which claims more than 4 million members.

Trump’s remarks at the NRA’s national convention in Louisville, Kentucky, were not a surprise, but they could solidify his status among conservatives who see protecting the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment as a top priority.

Trump also planned to meet on Monday with U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, a source close to the Trump campaign said. The two are expected to consult on foreign policy. The source said Corker remains on Trump’s list of potential vice presidential running mates.

Has The Pdp Really Learnt anything? By Yomi Odunuga

In an addendum to my piece titled, ‘Between the PDP and its Judases’ published on May 23, last year, I had argued that: “Some persons derisively describe PDP’s major lingering ailment as Eedi Ajatuka – a Yoruba description that connotes a group’s paranormal but largely self-chosen descent into perdition”.

Today, the bubble of deceit has burst and the party is obviously at the latter stages of an implosion long foretold. Many are already battling to win the prize as the writer of a fitting epitaph for the fallen edifice. Adamu Muazu, the man Jonathan handpicked to replace Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, had thrown in the towel, having superintended over the routing of the party from the national political space. Tony Anenih, ‘the leader’ – a man famed for his infamous quote of ‘no vacancy in Aso Rock’ for every sitting President, now wrestles with age-related health challenges. He vacated the political space in PDP for Jonathan to have a free hand in reconstructing a party under intensive care with a life support machine to boot. Anenih’s post has since been taken over by a more sober Walid Jibrin. Papa Anenih just couldn’t permanently fix his rump on the Board of Trustees chair! Olisa Metuh and his co-travelers are already on their way out and will soon be replaced by another group of their ilk, without the usual free flowing money this time around. Something tells me this flailing once-upon-a-time leading party in Nigeria may soon be in the morgue, smothered by sheer, unrestrained arrogance.

One Million Chasing 10,000 Police Jobs ………. VANGUARD

A slogan of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) says: “Police is Your Friend”. Police, indeed, are friends of the citizenry, because they are the ones everybody looks for when confronted with threats to life and property. But it is also true that the Police are not very popular with most people because the average policeman is generally perceived as being highhanded, corrupt, and unfriendly. They are also very poorly treated by the Federal Government. Few of our young people will voluntarily join the Police Force if they have the luxury of choice.

It was an irony of sorts when the Police Service Commission (PSC)  recently invited applications from qualified Nigerians for recruitment into the Force based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for the recruitment of 10,000 policemen.  The Commission had advertised for the hiring  of 500 Cadet ASPs, 500 Cadet Inspectors, 1,500 Specialist Officers and 7, 500 Constables.

Ladies Only: 10 hard truths women at 40 tell those at 30

Almost every woman at 40 feels like 40 is the new 20 or 30 and most of them don’t regret a thing but if they could rewind to when they were in their 30s, some things could have been done differently.  Here are 20 brutally honest things women turning 40 want all women in their 30s to know:

Oyo Govt. begins enumeration of lands, landed properties

The Oyo State Government says it has begun the enumeration of lands and other landed properties in state for data gathering and planning purposes.

Alhaji Ishmail Alli, the Secretary to the State Government, said this via a statement in Ibadan on Saturday.

Militants blow up oil pipeline Again

Niger Delta militants have blown up another oil facility in Delta State, The Cable reports.

Details are still sketchy, but report says the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, May 20, around Salvation city, Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West local government area of the state.

The oil installation destroyed was a section of the Escravos gas trunkline.

Facts for Today..

Facts for today is what you won't want to miss! Enjoy......

Cleaning the subsidy removal muddle By Segun Gbadegesin

Let us begin with some knowns. First, Nigeria, a giant of OPEC, does not produce enough fossil fuel for the needs of the populace. Second, while the crude oil it produces is dwindling by the day due to sabotage on many fronts, it lacks the facilities to refine the little. Therefore, it has to outsource to more expensive refinery locations. Third, it thus has to rely on importation of refined products with predictable hardship for its poor masses. Fourth, NNPC, the national oil company, does not have adequate resources for importation. Therefore, it relies on oil marketers as contractors. Due to foreign exchange scarcity, the government has had to subsidise the pump price. This much we know.

Next, to the public at least, there are a few unknowns. First, the pricing of petroleum products by a government agency is arguably a misery. What is the formula? Kerosene, a household product that is used by the poor and needy, has been deregulated, but not petrol. Second, there is confusion in what government has just recently announced through the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Is it removal of subsidy? Is it price hike? Is it deregulation? All of the above? A few weeks ago, we were informed that subsidy had been removed and savings were recorded. And as Labour rightly asked, if the market has now been deregulated, why is government fixing price?

Nigerian Economy: When Will Buhari End the Blame Game? By Bade Adebolu

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Since the swearing in of President Buhari on May 29, 2015, there has not been shortage in the blaming of the previous administration by the president and his officials. We have heard in not less than many cases where the President always shifting the blame and his administration’s incompetency of on the previous administration. Some members of his kitchen cabinet, themselves failures in their several job tasks have used his victory during the 2015 election as a vendetta against persons like Okonjo-Iweala, the immediate past minister of finance.

How long will we continue like this?

Before we proceed, let us be quick to admit that this present writer was a volunteer for the Buhari’s campaign in 2015 and has no regret
whatsoever on his decision.

Kachikwu: Of style and crisis management By Isa Bature

“You can’t control the fact that people will annoy you, what you can control is your reaction” —Buddha

These are trying times for Nigeria and Nigerians. The times are even more trying for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Juxtaposed against the swagger that characterised the boisterous presidential campaign of the President’s All Progressives Congress party (APC), many will be wondering at the turn of events. The swagger is gone. All is now sober. For once, the arrogant posturing of some of his close allies has started to give way to sombre reality. If the contrary had been the case, one would have lost hope in the Nigeria project. As of today, his government is missing out miserably on some of the most fundamental metrics of his campaign notably, the price of fuel and the value of the naira.

I prefer Queen Elizabeth’s spoken English at 90 By ’Tunji Ajibade

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There is what we popularly call Queen’s English. It is my favourite version of the English Language. My best speaker of it is Queen Elizabeth II of England. Well, the Queen must be the best speaker of Queen’s English, naturally. Never mind that some Nigerians take pride in not being able to speak their native languages well. As for the Queen, each time she speaks, I pay attention. In April, when she clocked 90, some thoughtful TV stations aired her speech. They did this side by side with her in black and white picture, speaking at the time she ascended the throne at 25 years of age. I prefer the former; there was something silky, gentle, musical, experienced, and so great-grandmotherly in the manner she spoke at 90. For me, all of that sums up something about the Queen. Dignity. She has lived her life with dignity, earning global respect in the process. Against the background of traditional leaders in Nigeria who have earned themselves a few unprintable tags, this is worth noting about a woman that has lived not only for herself, but for her heritage, the United Kingdom, our world.

Fashola and Nigeria’s power problem By Pace K. Olaparodi

It has become boring to bemoan the paltry electricity which Nigeria generates.  It is also trite to state that, more than 55 years after independence, we still depend on imported generators for electricity. It grieves the heart that the power situation in the country has impaired development. It is sad to consider that electricity generation for Nigeria, with her about 180 million people and a GDP of about $537 billion, oscillates between a high of 4,800 megawatts in August 2015 and a low of zero megawatt in March 2016. It is still dismal as of the time of writing.

It is not a laughing matter when one considers that South Africa, with a population of about 53 million and a GDP of $350 billion, generates 44,000 megawatts. Spain has a GDP of $1.4tn and generates 102,000 megawatts of electricity for her 47 million people. It is not an exaggeration to say that trying to salvage the Nigerian economy without fixing the power sector is like attempting to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear.

Nigerian Economy: When Will Buhari End the Blame Game? By Bade Adebolu

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Since the swearing in of President Buhari on May 29, 2015, there has not been shortage in the blaming of the previous administration by the president and his officials. We have heard in not less than many cases where the President always shifting the blame and his administration’s incompetency of on the previous administration. Some members of his kitchen cabinet, themselves failures in their several job tasks have used his victory during the 2015 election as a vendetta against persons like Okonjo-Iweala, the immediate past minister of finance.

How long will we continue like this?

Before we proceed, let us be quick to admit that this present writer was a volunteer for the Buhari’s campaign in 2015 and has no regret
whatsoever on his decision.

Fayose 'We'll not sleep until we reclaim PDP from Governor,' PDP Chieftain says

The pioneer Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, Clement Awoyelu, has slammed the Governor Ayodele Fayose, saying he is overbearing and disrecpectful.

He said it is imperative to reclaim the state's chapter of the PDP from Fayose as he lacks respect for both leaders and the constitution of the party.

Awoyelu stated this in  Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, May 19, at the swearing in of the Chief Williams Ajayi-led faction of the State Executive Committee of the party.

Kudos for Omatseye at launch of book on Jonathan years ……… NATION

The consequences of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s maladministration as predicted few years ago by the Chairman, The Nation Editorial Board, Sam Omatseye, in his column were reflected upon yesterday in Lagos at the public presentation of a book: A Chronicle Foretold, written by the award-winning journalist.

One of the eminent personalities, who spoke at the event and Minister of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola said the author was not the only writer who warned Nigerians about the consequences of what the last administration was doing.

“What we are here to present contains what others have warned us about. Sam was not the only one that warned us about the chronicles we are witnessing today. We must learn from the lessons of the season,” he said.

N23bn Diezani bribe: EFCC investigates Uduaghan, Ndudi Elumelu ……. PUNCH

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigations into the roles of  the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, and a former federal lawmaker, Ndudi Elumelu, for in the $115m (N23bn) disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

The EFCC also grilled a former Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief David Edevbie; and a former state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Chief Edwin Uzor, for their alleged roles in the scam.

According to detectives in the anti-graft agency, the ‘Delta share’ of the money, which was N450m, was withdrawn from the Nnebisi branch of Fidelity Bank in Delta State and handed over to Uduaghan.

“During interrogation at the Port Harcourt office of the EFCC, we were told that the money was N450m and it was received through the Nnebisi branch of Fidelity Bank, Delta State, and handed over to Uduaghan for disbursement to the local governments during the 2015 general elections.