FG offered me Biafra without Rivers, Benue but I rejected-Nnamdi Kanu

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday, disclosed that the Federal  Government offered him Biafra Republic while in Prison with only the five South East States as the component parts but he rejected it. According to him, he rejected it because that did not constitute the complete Biafra, saying that he told them that he wanted a Biafra with Rivers and Benue States inclusive. The IPOB leader also claimed that he was offered an oil block and mansion in Dubai aimed at making him to abandon the cause but that he rejected them and insisted on the actualization of Biafra. Nnamdi Kanu Kanu said those things were Greek gifts to buy him over and maintained that he has no price other than to actualize the restoration of Biafra Republic and liberate the Igbo. “They gave me Biafra in prison with only the five Igbo states; I said no, I want Benue and Rivers”, Kanu said, pointing out that “Biafra is coming, there is nothing to stop it”.

Kanu, who spoke when leaders of Igbo Civil Society Coalition led by Prof. Obasi Igwe paid him a solidarity visit at his Umuahia home, also gave knocks to Igbo elites for their anti-Biafra activities, saying that they have no interest in the Igbo masses. He lambasted Igbo elites who he said are bent on scuttling the Biafran agitation, saying they were doing so for their selfish interest and challenged them to show the Igbo masses what they have been able to do for them since their romance with Nigerian Government. He said they would not succeed. Kanu lamented the deplorable condition of roads in Igbo land and general lack of social amenities and wondered what the elites have been doing in Abuja other to fight for their self interests. He further dismissed Igbo elites whom he said had thought he could be bought over, saying he has no price tag. “They can’t buy us with money. If I can turn down oil block, turn down mansions in Dubai, what can they offer us? All the roads in Biafra land are in deplorable condition, yet we have elites who are just interested in their pockets. “All the roads in Biafra are bad. Apart from Okpara (late Michael Okpara), Mbonu Ojike and Sam Mbakwe, I have not seen any elite in Igbo land. Let them show us what they have done, no roads, no water, nothing. Because they are in Abuja, they are now elites, let them show us what they have done for the people as elites. “They said everything has price, I told them that Nnamdi Kanu has no price. All of you here know my wife, I sacrificed her for two years; so what can they offer me. “Self actualization is not war. We are not for war. We are not talking of war but self actualization. Self determination is not war. Any elite that interprets self determination to be war does not understand English. “Biafra is coming; there is nothing that can stop it, no matter the level of intimidation and blackmail. Some people are running around, saying why must it be Nnamdi Kanu, why not me. I am not an elite, I was born to restore Biafra. We are not interested in any violence, self actualization is not violence”, Kanu said. Adding to the IPOB leader’s statement, Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB, Emma Powerful said  Kanu’s  position has always been clear. “Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu had discussion with government in prison   and he rejected every offer and demanded a referendum in all the states in South East and South South, including those of our brothers and sisters living in some parts of Benue, Edo and Kogi States. Federal Government should fix a particular date for the people to decide where they want to be. We cannot afford to abandon those in Igbanke, Igala, Idoma and Igede because they are Biafrans unless they decide otherwise. “To join or be part of Biafra is not by force but through referendum, we ascertain who wants to be part of Biafra or not.” In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Prof. Obasi Igwe commended Kanu and IPOB for their non-violence approach to the agitation and urged him to maintain that approach. He said their aim of visiting him was to encourage him and urge him to ensure that the Igbos have one voice for peace and prosperity of Igbo nation, the entire Eastern region, southern region as well as the middle belt. In an interview, Prof. Igwe insisted on non-violence approach to the issue, and called for appropriate sanctions for the Arewa youths who gave the Igbo quit notice.

 

Linkin Park Singer Chester Bennington Dead, Commits Suicide by Hanging

 Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington has committed suicide.

Law Law enforcement sources tell us the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in L.A. County. His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 AM.

Chester was married with 6 children from 2 wives.

The singer struggled with drugs and alcohol for years. He had said in the past he had considered committing suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male.

Chester was very close with Chris Cornell, who himself committed suicide by hanging in May. Today would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday. Chester wrote an open letter to Chris on the day of Chris’ suicide.

Cornell’s wife, Vicky, tweeted out a message following the news of Chester’s death, saying, “Just when I thought my heart couldn’t break any more … I love you T.”

The band has had a string of hits over the years, including “Faint,” “In the End” and “Crawling.” Linkin Park crossed music genres, collaborating with Jay-Z.

The band’s album, “Meteora,” was one of the biggest alternative albums in music history.

 

Khloe Kardashian & Tristan Thompson Eyeing $9 Million House With Hoop, Putting Green

The crib Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson checked out Wednesday is a basketballer’s dream where the Cavs player can still get in some serious hoopin’ in the off-season, as well as work on his putting game.

As we reported, Tristan’s looking for a rental in L.A. where he can crash when he’s in town. He’s got a budget … $60k a month and Khloe tagged along as they did a walk-through on a $9 million crib in Studio City.

Mayweather Attacted By Crazy McGregor Supporters

As Mayweather’s Rolls-Royce was leaving the SSE Arena in London on Friday, dozens of McGregor fans swarmed Floyd’s ride … flipping him off and shouting insults at the car.

Security tried like hell to keep the hooligans away … literally ripping people from the car … but during the process, one guy appeared to get rocked by the front of the Rolls.

You can’t actually see the collision — but you can hear it — and you can see the security guy go flying down the street. He appears to be okay.

Eventually, Floyd made it out … but damn, craziness!!!

 

Senator McCain vows quick return to Washington

 U.S. Senator John McCain promised on Thursday he would return rapidly to Washington despite his newly diagnosed brain cancer, flashing the fighting spirit that has defined him since he was held in captivity as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War.

McCain, a veteran senator and former Republican presidential candidate known as a strong and sometimes fiercely independent voice on defense and security issues, was found to have an aggressive form of brain tumor, glioblastoma, after surgery last week for a blood clot above his left eye.

The news, issued by his office late on Wednesday, drew a wave of support from across the political spectrum, and raised questions about how long McCain would be absent from the Senate, where Republicans have a narrow majority and are eager to notch up some legislative successes for President Donald Trump.

“I greatly appreciate the outpouring of support – unfortunately for my sparring partners in Congress, I’ll be back soon, so stand-by!” McCain, 80, wrote on Twitter shortly before issuing a news release through his office related to Syria.

McCain was making phone calls from his home in Phoenix, Arizona, to stay abreast of congressional matters.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one McCain’s closest friends in Congress, said the senator called him three times on Thursday morning. He wanted to discuss healthcare legislation that is at the center of the Senate’s attention, and a sprawling defense bill McCain would usher through as the Senate Armed Services Committee’s chairman, Graham said.

Graham told reporters McCain admonished him, “‘No more woe is me.’ He is yelling at me to buck up. I’m going to buck up.”

The son and grandson of admirals, McCain survived more than five years of captivity during the Vietnam War. As a lawmaker he has been a strong advocate for the U.S. military as well as being willing to cross the political aisle and work with Democrats. Among Republican lawmakers, he has been one of the most critical of Trump.

Well-wishers included Democratic former President Barack Obama and Trump, who called McCain on Thursday to wish him well, the White House said.

Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said the flood of “bipartisan respect and love for John McCain as he faces this cancer battle reminds us that, after all the meanness, there is a human side to politicians. Count this Democrat in John McCain’s corner.”

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and most deadly form of brain and nervous system tumor, typically killing half its victims within a year. Patients rarely survive more than three years. Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy died of the disease in 2009.

McCain’s doctors said he was recovering from surgery well, and praised his underlying health as excellent. His doctors told CNN on Wednesday that he had no sign of neurological impairment before or during his surgery. Treatment options include a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

McCain’s illness has potential policy implications for healthcare legislation and other agenda items in Washington. Republicans hold a narrow 52-48 seat majority in the Senate, and McCain’s absence has made it more difficult to gather the 50 votes needed to advance a healthcare bill.

He has been recovering at his Arizona home since his initial surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix last week. It was not immediately clear when he would return to Washington.

McCain has previously battled back from injuries suffered during his time as a prisoner of war, and has had non-invasive melanomas removed at least three times.

McCain, who ran a failed White House race in 2008 against Obama, won a sixth six-year term in the U.S. Senate last November.

If the senator were to retire or die before his term ends in January 2023, the state’s Republican governor would pick a Republican replacement, who would serve until a special election in November 2018. Whoever was elected would fill out McCain’s term.

Arizona’s other senator, Republican Jeff Flake, is up for re-election next year.

The state’s electorate is divided: one-third Republican voters, nearly one-third Democratic and one-third independent.

Matt Roberts, spokesman for the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, said registered independents would soon exceed Republicans. But Republicans tend to turn out to vote on Election Day in stronger numbers than their counterparts.

The Southwestern state is the birthplace of former Senator and 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater, who some call the father of the Republican conservative movement.

Arsenal demands £20M for Chambers

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Arsenal have turned down a £16m bid for Calum Chambers as they hold out for £20m, according to the  Daily Telegraph .

Crystal Palace are interested in signing the versatile defender, but have seen their second offer turned down by the Gunners, who are refusing to sell for anything less than £20m.

Spurs turns to Mahrez to boost squard

Tottenham are still interested in Leicester playmaker Riyad Mahrez’s transfer situation, according to the Evening Standard .

Spurs would like to add the midfielder, but feel the asking price will have to come down substantially from the Foxes’ current valuation of £50 million which the London outfit are not prepared to meet.

Man City to sign Benjamin Mendy in record deal

Manchester City are prepared to make Benjamin Mendy the most expensive defender ever to bring him from Monaco, according to reports from France.

City have already paid £50m for Kyle Walker, equalling the amount paid for David Luiz by PSG, but could raise their offer for the full-back to more than their outlay for Walker to ensure they get their man.

Court Orders Forfeiture Of Alison-Madueke Banana Island Mansions, N86b To FG

Justice Chuka Obiozor of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the temporary forfeiture of a property located at Banana Island, Lagos bought for $37.5m in 2003 by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to federal government.

Justice Obiozor made the order that the property, designated as Building 3, Block B, Bella Vista Plot 1, Zone N, Federal Government Layout, Banana Island Foreshore Estate, be temporarily forfeited to the government after listening to an ex parte application Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Apart from the property, which has 24 apartments, 18 flats and six penthouses, the judge also ordered the temporary forfeiture of the sums of $2,740,197.96 and N84,537,840.70, said to be part of the rent collected on the property, deposited in a Zenith Bank numbered 1013612486.

He further directed that the order should be published in a national newspaper.

The ex parte application was filed by the EFCC pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006 and Section 44(2)(k) of the constitution.

The commission listed as respondents in the application: Diezani, a legal practitioner, Afamefuna Nwokedi, and a company, Rusimpex Limited.

While arguing the application on Tuesday, the EFCC counsel, Anselem Ozioko had told the court that the anti-graft agency reasonably suspected that the property was acquired with proceeds of alleged unlawful activities of Diezani.

Ozioko also told the court that investigation by the EFCC revealed that Diezani made the  $37.5m payment for the purchase of the property in cash, adding that the money was moved straight from her house in Abuja and paid into the seller’s First Bank account in Abuja.

The lawyer maintained that, “Nothing could be more suspicious than someone keeping such huge amounts in her apartment. Why was she doing that? To avoid attention.

“We are convinced beyond reasonable doubt because as of the time this happened, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was still in public service as the Minister of Petroleum Resources,” he submitted.

In a 41-paragraph affidavit attached to the application and deposed to by an investigative officer with the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, the anti-graft agency averred that Nwokedi, in connivance with Diezani, purposely incorporated the company, Rusimpex Limited, on September 11, 2013 to facilitate the alleged fraud scheme.

Bawa also alleged that when Nwokedi was questioned by the EFCC, the lawyer explained that he had approached Diezani for opportunities in the Oil and Gas industry but the ex-minister told him that being a lawyer, she did not have any such opportunity for him and asked him whether he could in the alternative manage landed properties, an offer which Nwokedi accepted.

Bawa further claimed that Nwokedi later registered Rusimpex Limited at the Corporate Affairs Commission, wherein a lawyer in his law firm, Adetula Ayokunle, and a Russian, Vladmir Jourauleu, were listed as the directors of the company, while the address of Nwokedi’s law firm in Ikoyi, Lagos was registered as the business address of Rusimpex Limited.

Bawa averred that when Ayokunle was questioned by the EFCC, he claimed that he only appended his signature on the CAC documents at his boss’ instruction, while Jourauleu denied knowledge of the company.

He said, “Sometime in 2013, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, invited Barrister Afamefuna Nwokedi, the Principal Counsel of Stillwaters Law Firm, to her house in Abuja for a meeting where she informed the said Barrister Afamefuna Nwokedi to incorporate a company and use same as a front to manage landed properties on her behalf without using her name in any of the incorporation documents.

“She further directed Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi to meet with Mr. Bisi Onasanya, the Group Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc for that purpose.

“Mr. Stephen Onasanya was invited by the commission and he came and volunteered an extrajudicial statement wherein he stated that he marketed a property at Bella Vista, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, belonging to Mr. Youseff Fattau of Ibatex Nigeria Limited to Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke later bought the property from Mr. Youseff Fattau, through her lawyer, Mr. Afamefuna Nwokedi (who she introduced to him) and that payment for the said property was made through the Abuja office of First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

“First Bank of Nigeria Plc, through Mr. Barau Muazu, wrote to the commission and also volunteered an extrajudicial statement in writing that they made the payments totaling US37,500,000 to Ibatex Nigeria Limited & YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited on behalf of Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and that they collected the entire cash from Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke at her residence of No. 10, Fredrick Chiluba Close of Jose Marti Street, Asokor, Abuja and paid into the First Bank of Nigeria Plc accounts of Ibatex and YF Construction Development and Real Estate Limited on her instruction.”

After listening to the EFCC lawyer, Justice Obiozor made an order temporarily seizing the property and the funds and adjourned the matter till August 7, 2017 for anyone interested in the property and funds to appear before him.