Zenith bank, UBA, GTB and Sterling bank to pay N3.2bn fine -CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria has imposed a total fine of N3.2bn on United Bank for Africa Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and Sterling Bank Plc for committing various kinds of regulatory infractions.

The offences, which were committed during the 2015 financial year, were contained in the annual reports of the affected banks, copies of which were obtained by our correspondent on Friday.

UBA had the highest fine among the four banks, paying the sum of N2.969bn as penalty to the CBN for committing eight offences.

The offences are: failing to meet the Treasury Single Account reporting and remittance deadline, N2.946bn; failure to update customers’ records and conducting continuous due diligence on some accounts, N2m; and failing to review credit policy at least every three years in line with section 3.1 of the prudential guidelines 2010, N4m.

Others are bidding for export proceeds in excess of the Bankers’ Committee guidance rates, N4.8m; violating the CBN circular in respect of the 2015 Risk-based Examination, N2m; and inadvertent omission of two customers from the PEP returns, N2m.

Others are errors in response to an enquiry on offshore subsidiaries, N6m; and processing import transaction for a customer, pending the receipt of the customer’s renewed NAFDAC certificate.

Zenith Bank, which had the second largest fine, paid the sum of N60.1m to the central bank for committing nine offences.

If a Southwest man doesn't become PDP chairman, some of us Yorubas in the party may reconsider our membership' - Doyin Okupe

Ahead of the PDP National convention where new party leaders including the National Chairman will be elected, former aide to former President Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, says that failure of the party to consider a Yoruba man as the new party chairman will make some of them reconsider their membership of the party. Okupe said this in an article he shared on Facebook today. Read it after the cut

There is an embarrassing falsehood being propergated by political charlatans from the southwest and some influential collaborators in the top echelon of the Pdp.

The seed of this misrepresentation was sowed by a group of political clowns and court jesters under the leadership of Senator Buruji Kashamu, a political impostor who claims he is the leader of the party and the Yorubas in the Southwest.
On the 21st of April 2016, the cream of the authentic Yoruba leadership in the southwest gathered at the Golden Gates Hotel on kingsway road, ikoyi, under the Chairmanship of Chief olabode George, a retired Air Commodore, Fmr Governor, former Dep. National Chairman of the Pdp and a grandson of the revered, legendary and world acclaimed, distinguished Yoruba Icon and Politician,
Sir Herbert Macaulay.
At that meeting the true sons and daughters of Yoruba land in an unprecedented unity condemned the erstwhile claim by the Yoruba Traitors who went and lied to the PDP chairman, His Excellency Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, that the Yorubas do not want the chairmanship of the pdp.
I want to state categorically here, without any fear of equivocation, that We the Yoruba's from the Southwest, desire and demand the post of the national chairman at the next convention of the party.
The followings are the past chairmen:
Chief Solomon Lar, chief Gemade, chief Audu ogbe, prince Ogbolafor, Dr Nwodo, Alhadji Baraje, dr Haliru Bello(AG), Alhadji Bamangar Tukur, Alhadji Adamu Muazu, prince Secondus(Ag),and Sen Sheriff.
From the above within the last 18years there have been 11 chairmen from 5 geopolitical zones. Only the Yoruba Race from the south west have been precluded from this exalted office.
In the interest of fairness, equity and Justice, it is most compelling that the Yorubas of the Southwest zone must be allowed to contest for this post at this coming National convention.
Any attempt to do anything to the contrary, no matter the reason advanced cannot be acceptable.
Failure for a Yoruba man to emerge as the national chairman can only mean two things.
1. That there is a pervasive and concealed hatred for the southwest in the PDP. OR
2. That the PDP has very little or no regard for Yoruba interest as was envinced by the obvious cheating of the Southwest from the position of the Speakerin 2011, which was never rectified nor compensated for the whole of four years.
The sad implication of the above is that, regrettably, many of us from the southwest may have to reconsider our membership of this great party we have helped to nurture and supported through thick and thing, a party we have loved almost more than our very existence, and the party we have served with all our natural endowment, in victory and defeat.
If there exist any conscience, anywhere in this party, let that conscience speak now and stop the new and alien conscienceless power currently holding sway within the party hierarchy.

No mix feelings! Lola Omotayo wishes her brother in-law Jude Okoye a happy birthday

Peter Okoye's wife took to instagram this morning to wish the former P-Square manager a happy birthday. See his wife's birthday message below.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan Honored by two Californian cities

On Saturday the 23rd of April, in Antioch, California, President Goodluck Jonathan was honoured by the cities of Antioch and Lathrop for promoting peace and democracy in Africa.

At the award ceremony, the mayor of the city of Antioch, Mayor Wade Harper, expressed his admiration for Jonathan and declared that the city of Antioch, California was proud of his legacies, especially his act of overseeing free, fair and conclusive elections and leaving the scene when the ovation was loudest.


He recommended Dr. Goodluck Jonathan's behavior to other leaders. Former President Jonathan, who was represented by Mr. Reno Omokri, gave a goodwill message to the two cities that had gathered to honor him as well as to the Nigerian community in the Bay Area of California. Dr. Jonathan said he was "proud of Nigerians in the diaspora and more so of Nigerians in the US and even more so of the Nigerian diaspora in California."

Continuing, the former President said Nigerians in the diaspora were an asset to Nigeria who remitted over $20 billion home annually, "much more than the World Bank, IMF and foreign direct investment."

Dr. Jonathan ended by saying he was proud of diaspora Nigerians and tried to show his appreciation for their support of Nigeria by ensuring that during his time in office at least three direct flights were initiated between America and Nigeria to ease travel and reduce costs for travelers to Nigeria.

(Representative of former President Jonathan, Reno Omokri, receiving an award from Mayor of Antioch, 

Wade Harper)

(Representative of former President Jonathan, Reno Omokri, presenting Dr. Jonathan's goodwill message)

(epresentative of former President Jonathan, Reno Omokri, receiving an award from the rep. of the mayor of the city of Lathrop, Council man Paul Akinjo)

Jonathan;s Goodwill message to the Cities of Antioch and Lathrop
I send this message of goodwill to the Nigerian community in the Bay Area of California who have gathered at Open Heavens Community church to celebrate with me as I am honored by the cities of Antioch and Lathrop. I had planned to be there. Indeed I had concluded travel plans. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control I could not make the trip.

I have always been proud of Nigerians in the diaspora and more so of Nigerians in the US and even more so of the Nigerian diaspora in California. Some of you may recall that upon my ascension to the office of President on May 6th, 2010, one of my first acts was to open up a Facebook page to personally interact with Nigerians.

In June 2010, a diaspora Nigerian from the Bay Area of California informed me on my Facebook page of an abandoned building belonging to Nigeria in San Francisco and I dispatched our then ambassador to that city to claim the property and renovate it.

Hopefully, the building may again host a consulate as it once did in the 80s. The point I am trying to make is that I have been communicating with you and I see you as an asset to Nigeria that makes me proud. Elsewhere, I have mentioned that aside from oil, diaspora Nigerians are the single largest source of capital inflow into Nigeria. In my last year as President you remitted $21 billion home. Much more than the World Bank, IMF and foreign direct investment. My people, you are an asset to your fatherland.

Because of the importance with which I held you, my administration facilitated direct flights to Nigeria from the US to Nigeria. We ensured no less than three airlines fly direct between Nigeria and the US including one from Houston to Lagos for the benefit of those of you from the West Coast.

We also ensured that Enugu airport was upgraded to an international airport and I recall that a number of diaspora Nigerians from the US boarded the inaugural Ethiopian airlines flight that landed there in August of 2013. Again let me say that I appreciate the Nigerian community in the Bay Area.

I would also want like to thank Mayor Wade Harper and the council members of the city of Antioch for choosing to honor me for my efforts in promoting democracy. I am indeed humbled by their thoughtfulness in recognizing our modest efforts. I also wish to express my gratitude to the city of Lathrop and its mayor and council for also deeming it fit to recognize our efforts.

I wish I could be there in person, however, I have asked Reno Omokri to represent and I am with you in spirit. Thank you and may God bless Nigeria, may God bless California, may He bless the cities of Antioch and Lathrop and my God bless you.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria 2010-2015

Khloe Kardashian praises her sister Kim kardashian post-baby body

Khloe Kardashian shared a photo of Kim Kardashian hailing her post-baby body just few months after giving birth to her second child Saint West. 

"The snap back queen!! Yaaaaasssssss so proud of you Keeks! You look so good! I have such FOMO lol" the 31-year-old reality Tv star gushed

Atiku Abubakar laments brain drain out of Africa. "We need them in Africa. We need them to pitch in"

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed concern over the current brain drain out of Africa, which results in the continent’s best and brightest taking their ambitions, intelligence and drive to other parts of the world, such the United Kingdom and America.

"We need them in Africa," he said. "We need them to understand the problems in Africa. We need them to pitch in."

while speaking at the London School of Economics (LSE) Africa Summit on Saturday, April 23, the former VP explained that a great many more students could be sent to schools like the LSE on scholarships, using the equivalent of the funds currently being channeled to running the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, which he founded, thereby saving costs on the construction of buildings, running of a power plant, and provision of security and the like.

However, Atiku explained, how we are to use philanthropy to identify, motivate, train, and reward people in such a way as to promote development in Africa.

Other speakers at the annual gathering, which showcases Africa’s contributions to the world and fosters debates on the challenges facing the continent, were: Okendo Lewis-Gayle, Founder and Chairman of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance (HEA); Ashish J. Thakkar, Executive Chairman of Mara Sokoni; Sangu Delle, Founder and CEO Golden Palm Investments; Geraldine Joslyn Fraser-Moleketi, Special Envoy on Gender at the African Development Bank and Parminder Vir OBE, CEO at Tony Elumelu Foundation.

While exploring the theme of this year’s event, “Philanthropy: Investing in Human Capital”, Atiku pointed out the various roles his university has been playing in the sustainable development of Nigeria, such as the TELA program (Technology Enhanced Literacy for All), now funded by the United States Agency for International Development, which is using the old technology of radio to reach twenty thousand vulnerable, out-of-school children in the surrounding community.

He also mentioned the Adamawa Peace Initiative (API) which reaches out to local Muslim and Christian religious leaders, as well as local business, community, and educational leaders as a way of fostering peace in a region ravaged by terrorism.

"AUN is, I believe, one of the first universities in the world whose stated mission is to be a ‘development university’," Atiku said, explaining that the school focuses its teaching and research on the problems of development in all of its senses: literacy, economic planning, sustaining and restoring the environment, entrepreneurial skills, public health-the whole spectrum.

"But beyond what happens in the classroom and the library, we are taking the knowledge, the information, and the solutions developed in our university and applying them in the local community, in Nigeria, in West Africa, and eventually in the whole continent."

The former Vice President, however, emphasized that private efforts, including philanthropy, are not a substitute for carefully targeted and efficiently managed public investments in these vital areas.

Photos of Ivanka Trump showing off her baby bod!

Ivanka Trump who went back to work after a short two-week maternity leave, showed off her post-baby body in one of her dress designs. The 34-year-old entrepreneur and mother of 3 took to her Snapchat account to show off her body and talk to her fans.

Dogara visits Adamawa IDPs, says: “Our priority is to return all IDPs home”, thanks military for stepping up fight against Boko Haram

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has again called on the International community to increase its contribution towards the rebuilding of the North East region of Nigeria.

Dogara made the call on Saturday at Bajabure Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp Adamawa State in continuation of his tour of IDP camps across the country, according to a statement issued in Yola by his spokesman, Mr. Turaki Hassan.

The Speaker, who donated relief materials to the four IDP camps in Adamawa state, reiterated his call to the international community to help in rebuilding the region that has been ravaged by almost seven years of violence and destruction by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Dogara condoled with the people affected by the insurgency and assured them that the current government would not rest until they return home. He also commended the Nigerian security forces for decimating Boko Haram terrorists and recovering territories and communities which were previously under their control. He urged them to push on until all terrorists are routed and displaced persons return to their communities.

The Speaker maintained that although the region is in dire need of development, peace must first be restored in order to provide the atmosphere for construction to commence. While assuring that as the voices of the people at the national level, the House would continue to draw the attention of the global community to their plight, the Speaker also disclosed that he would soon visit IDP camps in Maiduguri.

"Our decision was that we visit IDPs that are outside the theatre of conflict first and we have visited camps that are outside the North East. This is the first time we are visiting an IDP camp within the North East and hopefully, soon, we will cap this exercise with a visit to IDPs in Maiduguri and close the formal outreach; the rest, we will do in an informal way."

“We recognise the efforts of the military and we thank them for the sacrifice and reclaiming the seven local governments that were captured by Boko Haram. The reason we are here is not just to bring you these relief materials; as a responsible government, we know that the security of lives and properties is our primary purpose and so your security is of more importance than the things we are presenting," the Speaker said.

"Even if we were to keep you here and feed you with the best of food, you will never be satisfied until you return home. That is our priority and we will do everything legally and politically possible to ensure that you get back to your homes very soon."

"As your representatives, we will ensure that we tell your story to the world and we promise – as your voice in the national stage – to tell the world about you. In this era of dwindling resources, it will be difficult for the government to rebuild the region alone. We need the support of the international community. We who wear the shoes know where it pinches most and we are in a better position to tell these stories."

Speaking earlier, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Commission (NEMA), Sani Sidi, disclosed that the camp has 2,903 people, out of whom 1, 338 are children below the age of 13 years, 179 are lactating mothers, with 54 pregnant women and 51 unaccompanied children.

Receiving the relief materials on behalf of the IDPS, the chairman of the camp, Malam Madu Gana Goni, commended the Speaker for his gesture towards them. He said that as the Speaker rightfully noted, they were eager to return home.

Customs warehouse in Ikeja raised down by fire

Nigerian customs service warehouse lost billions of naira due to a fire outbreak. The fire started at 11pm on Friday night April 22nd and burnt into the next day April 23rd. According to a source who witnessed part of the incident, the cause of the fire was an electrical issue from a class room located on the top floor of the warehouse for training officers.

The source said it started from a computer that wasn't switched off properly and sank the decking into the warehouse which caused the fire and caused the loss of billions of naira in goods that were seized by customs.

Fire service operators were at the scene but couldn't control the situation due to inadequate water supply.

Fortunately, all gallons of groundnut oil which would have escalated the fire, rice, soap, clothes and some many other items, had previously been moved to IDPs within the last week.

50 Cents' son Davian sheds tears of joy when he meets his father for the first time

50Cent met his 3rd son Davian for the first time yesterday and they took a photo together. Part of what he wrote that was funny was...'I was thinking why you crying I gotta pay for this shit"..this 50 Cent is a clown, lol.

Kim K shares raunchy photos with husband Kanye West on IG

Kim kardashian who attended wedding with her husband Kanye West shared some private photos with her husband both on their way to the wedding and seemingly at the wedding. They are so in love with each other.

Beyonce releases new hit album 'Lemonade' on Tidal

Beyoncé released her long-anticipated sixth hit album, Lemonade, exclusively on Tidal today. 

"The Twelve-song album, the singer's sixth, arrived with a short film and is a "conceptual project based on every woman's journey of self-knowledge and healing," Tidal said in a statement below.

The album features guest appearances by Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, James Blake and the Weeknd, among others. Before the album's release, Beyoncé teased a mysterious, hour long HBO special titled Lemonade. In the special, Beyoncé invokes her ancestral roots, dealing with emotionally hefty issues of race and misogyny. Her proud mum, Tina Lawson, took to her IG page to toast to the release of the album.