BREAKING: George Weah wins as Liberia’s president-elect

George Weah acknowledging cheers from supporters.

Former world’s best footballer presidential candidate of Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), George Weah has won the Liberian presidential election after securing over 60.5 per cent of the vote, against his major opponent, Vice President Joseph Boakai.

Earlier before the announcement of the results by the Liberia’s election commission (NEC), backers of the soccer star, Weah, on Thursday had said he was poised to declare victory in Liberia’s presidential election after their data showed him winning more than 60 percent of the vote.

Liberians voted on Tuesday in a run-off for a successor to outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, meant to usher in the first democratic transfer of power in more than seven decades.

Liberian election officials began collating the votes from Liberia’s 15 counties on Wednesday but a possible announcement of preliminary results in the afternoon did not materialise, until Thursday it came out with final results.

Unofficial partial results announced on local radio stations earlier on Wednesday all showed Weah in the lead. Weah, the only African ever to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, lost to Johnson Sirleaf in a 2005 election as a political novice. He has served in Liberia’s senate since 2015.

A senior Weah adviser, Morluba Morlu, had told Reuters he expected Weah to win with about 70 percent of the vote based on precinct-level vote tallies he said were trickling in from across the country after Tuesday’s vote.

“It is clear. We are only waiting for the (election commission) to announce the results and declare him president,” Morlu said. “We are calling on … Boakai to concede defeat and congratulate George Weah.”

Armed and helmeted police were deployed outside the poll body’s headquarters and Weah’s supporters were already rejoicing, as the National Election Commission announced the results.

“The Liberian people clearly made their choice… and all together we are very confident in the result of the electoral process,” tweeted Weah.

Weah topped the first round of voting in October with 38.4 percent of ballots but failed to win the 50 per cent necessary to avoid a run-off. Boakai came second with 28.8 percent.

Weah is the only African ever to have won FIFA’s World Player of the Year and the coveted Ballon D’Or. The 51-year-old starred at top-flight European football clubs Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan in the 1990s before playing briefly in England for Chelsea and Manchester City later in his career.

Chelsea icon Didier Drogba has already sent Weah a congratulatory message.

The United States-based Carter Centre, assessing the voting situation said there were “notable improvements” in the handling of Tuesday’s vote from the first round in October, echoing positive assessments from other international observers.

“We are very confident. We have not heard from Mr. Boakai but we anticipate a call at some point,” the secretary-general of Weah’s campaign, Janga Kowo, told Reuters.

Kowo said his team’s figures were based on nearly 60 percent of ballots cast and showed him ahead in 14 out of Liberia’s 15 counties.

In an interview in the courtyard of his home on the outskirts of the capital Monrovia before results were officially announced, Weah’s opponent, Boakai said he thought he would win.

“I don’t have a sense of losing the election,” he said.

“What we wanted and all hoped for were free, fair and transparent elections. I doubt seriously if that is what we are going to get,” he added, without elaborating.

Weah, the only African ever to be named FIFA World Player of the Year, had been widely considered the favourite to succeed outgoing president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Liberia is Africa’s oldest modern republic and was founded by freed U.S. slaves in 1847. Its last democratic transfer of power occurred in 1944 and was followed by a military coup in 1980 and a 14-year civil war that ended only in 2003.

The ballot was delayed for seven weeks due to legal challenges lodged by Boakai’s Unity Party against the electoral commission over the conduct of the first round of voting, but many of the complaints appeared to have been addressed in the second round.

The Liberia Elections Observation Network, which had more than 1,000 observers stationed across the country, hailed a vote it said had passed calmly with better organisation than the first poll on October 10, as did observers from the European Union.

Retired footballer George Weah elected Liberia’s president

Former Monaco player, George Weah, has been voted president of Liberia after clinching 12 of the 15 counties in the west African country.

Weah has taken to Twitter to thank all his supporters, saying that he plans to liberate the country.

The striker-turned politician becomes the 25th president of the country.

“I am deeply grateful to my family, my friends, and my loyal supporters who contributed to our campaign during this extremely long election season,” Weah said on Twitter before the results were announced

Magu not removed from office as EFCC files fraud charge against Innoson’s boss, brother

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed a fraud charge against Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, alias Innoson, his company Innoson Nigeria Limited and his brother, Charles Chukwuma.

The charge was dated November 30, 2017, and filed at a Lagos High Court.

Ibrahim Magu, EFCC boss

In the case, the EFCC is accusing Innoson of obtaining containers of motorcycle spare parts by false pretences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos, ‘with intent to defraud’.

The goods, said to be property of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, were allegedly obtained from Mitsui O.S.K Lines Limited in Apapa.

The anti-graft agency claims that Innocent Chukwuma and Charles Chukwuma, “with intent to defraud, induced the staff of Mitsui O.S.K and Maersk Line Limited to deliver”, to them through their clearing agents, the motor cycle spare parts, moulds of spare parts and steel structures and raw materials, called polyvinlchlorid, imported from China.

The charge said the accused falsely pretended that they were authorised by GTB to clear the goods and take delivery of them.

EFCC had on Tuesday arrested Innoson in Enugu, stirring some controversy that the arrest bore some ethnic motive and that the agency should not have waded into a dispute between GTB and the businessman.

Central to this was the story that the parties were locked in a dispute over illegal deductions from Innoson’s accounts by the GTB, with Innoson claiming that the bank was indebted to him and his company to the tune of billions of naira.

In press and TV interviews, he said he had got judgement at both lower and appelate courts and that the GTB has an appeal at the Supreme Court.

GTB responded tersely that it would not join issues with the businessman as the issues between them are in the court.

The EFCC in releasing Innoson on bail Wednesday, explained that he was arrested after he refused to honour invitations by the commission.

He had been arrested by the commission before and granted administrative bail. But he reneged on the bail and his surety could also not be found.

The agency said Innoson and his brother, Charles Chukwuma (who is still at large), were being investigated by the Insurance and Capital Market Fraud Section of the Commission’s office in Lagos over matters bordering on N1.47 billion fraud and forgery and other infractions. He was also alleged to have used forged documents to secure tax waivers.

“Unfortunately the industrialist resisted arrest and stirred controversy by bringing six truck-loads of thugs to block the entrance to his Plot W1, Industrial Layout, Abakaliki Road, Emeni, Enugu, home.

“His unruly thugs encircled and manhandled operatives of the Commission who had gone to effect the arrest.

“Consequently, a distress call was sent to the commission’s Enugu Office for reinforcement.

‘’In all of this, the commission’s operatives acted with decorum and civility.

“No one was manhandled or assaulted by the EFCC team, and not a single shot was fired, despite the provocation.”

Meanwhile, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, PACAC, Prof.  Itse Sagay,  has described as untrue speculations indicating that acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, has been removed from office.

Sagay described the speculation as wishful thinking.

Speaking, the chairman of PACAC said: “I am certainly not aware of it and it is untrue. It is certainly untrue, he has not been removed.”

He, however, said peddlers of the rumour of Magu’s removal are those who want corruption to thrive in Nigeria.

“It is the rumours of those who wish corruption continues in this country and who want corruption to thrive. It is wishful thinking, he has not been removed,” Sagay said

Gunmen raid Maina’s house, handcuff guard

Abdulrasheed Maina

Gunmen on Christmas Eve (Sunday) raided the Kaduna home of the former Chairman of the Presidential Task Team on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.

The gunmen were allegedly said to be in search of cash and ammunition in the house.

Residents of Kano Street, Kawo New Extension, Kaduna where the house is located, said some of the gunmen came in military uniform, while others were in mufti.

The spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Aliyu Mukhtar,  who confirmed the incident, noted that the command got a report from the Divisional Police Office in Kawo regarding the raid.

“We got a report from the DPO Kawo of Police Station regarding the raid on Maina’s house. But we are yet to confirm whether they are really officials of the EFCC. Investigation is ongoing,” he told our correspondent on phone on Monday.

According to an eyewitness account, the gunmen came in a Hilux van,  armed  with guns and stationed in front of the house.

The gun-wielding men, the eyewitness said, had begun surveillance of the area between 5pm and  8pm when another car, a Peugeot 406 with plain clothes security personnel, forced the gate open and drove into the compound.

But on entering the house, the operatives  met a security guard, Imrana Ahmadu, and quickly handcuffed him, just as they forced him to take them round the four-bedroom flat.

The 22-year-old Ahmadu while speaking with journalists said the gunmen continued to ask him whether the house belong to Maina or whether he (Maina) was staying there.

Ahmadu said the gunmen told him that they were from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to carry out search on the house for alleged hidden arms and ammunition as well as cash (money).

He said, “They came in military uniforms and Hilux van with another small car after they had forced the gate open around 8pm.

“They handcuffed me and started forcing doors open to the bedrooms. They turned everything upside down.

“They were communicating with somebody somewhere in Hausa, directing them to one room or the other where to find cash.

“They must have been disappointed because at the end, they found nothing, neither cash nor arms as they claimed.

“They now drove away with me and dumped me in the bush along Mando Road close to the Kaduna International Airport.

“They said I should go to any police station so that the police can unlock the handcuff on my hand.

“I hid my handcuffed hand in my shirt, so that nobody could suspect me and that was how I got a commercial motorbike that took me to the Kawo Police Station where the handcuff was unlocked.”

The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, could not be reached on the telephone for comment.

Prophet Nwachukwu releases 2018 prophecies

Prophet Anene Nwachukwu of Rhema Deliverance Mission, Lagos, has released his prophecies for 2018.

According to him, there will be greater turmoil in the political arena in 2018, months before the 2019 general elections.

He also urged older politicians that have dominated Nigeria’s political space for long to vacate the space for the younger generation with fresh ideas to move the country forward.

In an interview with the Sun Newspaper, he said: “We will witness a better Nigeria in 2018. However, we must pray seriously.

“There will be serious political crises. The National Assembly will be at loggerheads with the presidency and vice versa. There will be a lot of intra and inter-party squabbles.

“Nigerians must pray hard to avert the confusion and its dire consequences.

“We need young men with fresh ideas to carry the youths along. Good people are afraid to come into politics because evil people have occupied the space and frustrate genuine people.

“The older politicians should retire and give the youth a chance to rebuild the country. Nevertheless, we will keep praying for God to sanitise the nation and make Nigeria what it should be.”

Poor Man Was REJECTED by RICH mans daughter. 10 Years Later, He Meets Her Again.

  

What are some of the things you look for in a partner? Is it looks, money, religion, or all of the above? Growing up I knew that women looked to have someone who could provide for them and take care of them.

Most but not all women need and look for this is in a man. As I got a little older I realized that they were very mistaken in falling for a guy who could only provide for them financially.

There are many more things in life than just having money. There is looks, wit, wisdom, kindness, love, patience, humbleness, and happiness. If you don’t have those things your relationship will slowly start to fall apart regardless of how much money is trying to hold it together.

The story below tells a tragic tale of a poor boy who was rejected from a rich man’s daughter. His heartbreak gave him the fuel to push through life and the tables turned on her. Read it below:

Overcome with his love for the girl, the boy proposed to her.

However, the rich girl derisively rejected him and said, “Your monthly salary is equivalent to my daily expenses.

How do you expect me to marry someone like you? I can never love you so forget about me. Go find and marry someone else of your level.”

She immediately recognized the man and said, “Hey, how are you? I’m now married to a very smart man, and his salary is $15,700 per month! Can you beat that?”

The man, hearing those painful words from the woman he used to care for, held back his tears and said nothing.

Not a few moments passed when the woman’s husband came back to her side. But before the lady could say a word, her husband immediately recognized the man she was talking to and said, “Sir? G-good afternoon! I see you’ve met my wife!”

“Good afternoon too, Mr…?”, said the man.

“Mr. Carter, Sir!”

The husband then turned to his wife and said, “Dear, I’d like you to meet my boss. He owns the $100 million project I’ve been working on!”

The woman, left flabbergasted by the turn of events, was not able to say anything back.

The man just smiled and said, “Well, Mr. Carter. I’ve got to get going. I have important things to attend to. It was splendid seeing you today. Have a great day!”

For a minute, the couple just stared at the man as he walked away.

Having been over her initial shock, the woman asked her husband in disbelief, “That was your boss?”

“Yes, dear. He’s a very humble person but his life is quite a sad story. They said he once loved a lady but she dumped him because he was just a poor boy back then.

Because of that, he worked really hard. And because he’s smart, he became successful. Now he’s a multimillionaire who earns millions of dollars a month.

Unfortunately though, he couldn’t move on from that heartbreak and remains unmarried still.”

The husband went on and said, “How lucky would that lady have been if she had married that man?”

The lady looked in total shock and couldn’t utter a word.

When Nigerians get to US, they never return to their huts — Trump

US President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump has tongue-lashed countries with immigrants in the US, according to a New York Times report.

In a meeting he reportedly attended in June at the Oval Office, Trump was quoted to have said Nigerians refuse to “return to their huts” after seeing America.

He was also quoted to have said immigrants from Haiti “all have AIDS”, while describing Afghanistan as a “haven of terrorists.”

Trump was said to be angered by the rising number of immigrants in the US despite his travel bans.

He described this as a mockery to his campaign pledge.

TheCable reported that earlier in the year, Trump had issued an executive order banning travellers from six Muslim-majority countries from gaining access to the US.

“More than 2,500 were from Afghanistan, a terrorist haven, the president complained,” officials in the meeting reportedly told New York Times.

“Haiti had sent 15,000 people. They all have AIDS.

“Forty thousand had come from Nigeria, Mr. Trump added. Once they had seen the United States, they would never ‘go back to their huts’ in Africa.”

The White House is said to have confirmed the meeting. It, however, denied that Trump used the words “AIDS” or “huts” in referring to people from any country.

 

Innoson boss flown to Lagos in shorts, released on bail

•Released on bail last night

•Senate wades in as Ohanaeze youths, IPOB, Igbo groups condemn arrest
•Say it’s meant to scuttle industrialisation of Igboland
•Workers protest intimidation, harassment of their chairman

ENUGU— ON a day waves of condemnation trailed his arrest, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, flew Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, to Lagos in shorts, according to one of his aides.

Chief Chukwuma, was however, released, last night. EFCC which confirmed the release said the Innoson boss was arrested for alleged tax fraud and forgery.

The agency flew him to Lagos wearing only shorts and a shirt through Air Peace flight that left Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, at 1:45pm.

Founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma.

Chukwuma was driven in a convoy from the EFCC Enugu office where he was detained after his forcible arrest at his Enugu residence, Tuesday.

A staff of Innoson Company said the businessman was neither allowed to take his bath nor change his wears since he was arrested by the EFCC on Tuesday morning.

Head, Corporate Communications of Innoson Group, Cornel Osigwe, in a statement in Enugu, yesterday, maintained that Chukwuma is not a criminal and was never invited by the EFCC before the arrest.

Osigwe denied that Chukwuma was being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos office and challenged the EFCC to prove its invitation to Chukwuma which he failed to honour that necessitated invasion of his residence.

He also said Chukwuma never jumped any administrative bail or made attempts at resisting arrest as claimed by the EFCC, adding that “Dr Chukwuma (OFR) is a law abiding citizen, a public figure and a well known industrialist of international repute. He couldn’t have been invited by the EFCC and he would ignore or refuse to honour the invitation.”

Osigwe further said: “Dr Chukwuma has never had any issues or query from the EFCC recently.

How the issue started — Innoson group

The last issue he had with EFCC was an invitation extended to him in 2012 based on a complaint against him by Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, which he duly honoured.

“Upon completion of investigations, EFCC requested him through a letter to pay some money to GTB, saying the money was what Innoson owed GTB after it, EFCC, deducted excess charge of about N560 million, which GTB illegally and unlawfully took from their account.

‘’Innoson rejected the demand, maintaining that it was GTB that was owing him and that GTB is to pay interest on the excess and unlawful charges.

‘’This resulted in a stalemate between Innoson and EFCC. Consequently, Innoson commenced a lawsuit against GTB at Federal High Court in suit No: FHC/AWK/139/2012 at Federal High Court Awka division and, thereafter, got a judgement in its favour in the sum of N4.7 billion against GTB.

“As a consequence of the above, EFCC filed a charge against him at Lagos High Court. The charge was subsequently struck out after EFCC filed a notice of discontinuance.

‘’However, Dr Innocent Chukwuma and Innoson Nigeria Ltd appealed against the order striking out the case on the basis that it ought to be dismissed and not struck out.

‘’The appeal, no: CA/I/1330Cm/2017, till date, is still pending at the Court of Appeal, Lagos State. Since then, EFCC has never invited Dr Chukwuma again.

Challenge to EFCC

“We challenge EFCC to show proof and evidence of EFCC invitation extended to Dr Chukwuma, the various dates of the invitation and the letter of invitation extended to him.

‘’We further challenge EFCC to also show proof of how and when Dr Chukwuma jumped an administrative bail granted to him.

“EFCC also claimed that Dr Chukwuma is being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the commission’s Lagos office. We equally challenge EFCC to show proof of this investigation.

‘’On whose petition is this investigation being carried out and proof of any letter on this investigation ever written to Innoson from this unit, stating also the month and year.

“The commission’s being economical with the truth by stating that Dr Chukwuma mobilised six truckloads of thugs pretending to be staff of his company to his residence, where they manhandled EFCC operatives.

‘’The truth available at our disposal is that some factory workers on hearing that their boss was being arrested, mobilised themselves to his residence to protest what they said was an illegal arrest.

“However, the EFCC operatives together with the Police team, fired tear gas and dispersed them. We have pictures to back up our claim. At no point did these factory workers manhandle the armed EFCC and Police officials at his residence. This is pure falsehood aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Dr Innocent Chukwuma.

“EFCC as a law-abiding organisation and a strong advocate of rule of law as constantly shown and practised by its Head, led by Ibrahim Magu, should allow the court processes to reach their logical conclusion.

‘’Dr Chukwuma’s case against GTB is already at the Supreme Court. We have absolute faith in the Nigeria judiciary. They should be allowed to adjudicate over this matter without undue interference from any quarters, he said.”

Why we arrested him  — EFCC

We’ve released him, we arrested him for fraud, forgery – EFCC

Meanwhile, the EFCC, yesterday night, said it had released Chukwuma on bail. EFCC, in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said it arrested the business man over matters bordering on N1.478 billion fraud and forgery.

The statement read in part: ‘’The business man who runs a local auto assembly plant was arrested on Tuesday December 19, 2017 at his Enugu residence, following his refusal to respond to invitations by the Commission, after initially being granted administrative bail by the Commission, while his surety could also not be found.

“Unfortunately the industrialist resisted arrest and stirred controversy by bringing six truck-loads of thugs to block the entrance to his Plot W1, Industrial Layout, Abakaliki Road, Emeni, Enugu, home.

This was after he initially misled the Police Command by informing them that his home had been invaded by armed robbers and kidnappers despite the fact that operatives of the Commission duly identified themselves to policemen guarding his home.

His unruly thugs encircled and manhandled operatives of the Commission who had gone to effect the arrest.

Consequently, a distress call was sent to the Commission’s Enugu Office for reinforcement.

In all of this, the Commission’s operatives acted with decorum and civility. No one was manhandled or assaulted by the EFCC team, and not a single shot was fired, despite the provocation.

Chief Chukwuma and his brother, Charles Chukwuma (who is still at large), are being investigated by the Insurance and Capital Market Fraud Section of the Commission’s office in Lagos over matters bordering on N1,478,366, 859.66 fraud and forgery.

The industrialist, among other infractions, allegedly used forged documents to secure tax waivers.’’

Senators, Igbo groups react

Dr Chukwuma’s arrest drew criticisms from senators and a host of Igbo groups, yesterday.

Igbo groups that condemned Chief Chukwuma’s arrest included the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB; Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA; Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT; Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC; and Igbo National Council, INC.

Indeed, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, who is IYM founder, ECA secretary and ILT deputy secretary, described the arrest of the Innoson CEO as ‘’endless humiliation of a conquered people’’ noting that the commando style of the arrest was ‘’causing ripples all over Igboland.’’

He said: ‘’The alleged legal issues he has with a commercial bank is also said to be in court. The power-show displayed on Tuesday in Enugu by EFCC’s Ibrahim Magu is a loud statement to the Igbo Nation that we are perceived as slaves in Nigeria.

The total disregard for the ongoing court actions and a resort to military era abductions confirm to all, that Ndigbo remain endangered species in Nigeria.

“To arrest the greatest employer of labour in Igboland and a genius who has transformed the economic landscape of this clime, in the area of automobile manufacturing, in a humiliating manner at his residence in Enugu, ostensibly over issues with a bank, issues which lawyers are handling. This is a loud message to the people of Eastern Nigeria of our status in Nigeria.’’

IPOB

Also, the IPOB, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, condemned what it described as ‘’ongoing harassment of notable Biafran businesmen especially those of Igbo extraction by the Nigerian Government and her security agencies.’’

It said not contented with ‘’the economic emasculation of the Biafran territories through decades of punitive policies, the few successful businessmen that made it against all odds like Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the owner of Innoson Motors is now being harassed and humiliated publicly by government agencies for three major reasons: the impotency of political leadership in the East, coupled with intellectual myopia of the governing class and ongoing policy of de-industrialisation of the East.

“Had Innoson sited his factory in Lagos or Kaduna, every possible line of credit would have been extended to him; and there would be politics of appeasement and sabotage of collective interest by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF and similar interest groups.’

‘’Since the emergence of this Buhari regime, Biafrans of Igbo extraction have been lurching from one persecution to another. After Operation Python Dance which had the backing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership and South East governors, the Buhari regime has turned it’s attention to the destruction of economic interests in the South East starting with Innoson Motors, in the hope of frustrating the first indigenous automobile company in West Africa because he opened his factory in Igboland,’’ it added.

Ohanaeze youths demand Chukwuma’s release

In its reaction, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, in a statement by Comrade Obinna Achionye and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Vice President and Secretary, demanded the immediate release of the business mogul and described his arrest as the height of impunity against the Igbo nation and another move to cripple the economic fortunes of Ndigbo.

The youths stated that they were worried over the clampdown on Chukwuma without proper invitation by the anti-corruption agency, warning that there will be massive protests by Igbo and other ethnic nationalities’ youth groups in Enugu, Abuja and Lagos, if the businessman was not released without further delay.

Workers protest

Meantime, hundreds of workers of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, protested the arrest and detention of their chairman by the EFCC.

The workers, who blocked the Uru Umudim Nnewi, Innoson Industrial Layout Nnewi, chanted anti-intimidation and harassment songs.

“Addressing newsmen, leader of the protesting Innoson workers, Mr. Okwudili Igwemma said: “Most industrialists and their businesses have gone down because of what they have gone through in the hand of some banks, most of them did not get back what they used as collaterals, like lands and buildings, to borrow money from banks, even when they had repaid the bank loans, this is not good for the image of Nigerian banks.”

He recalled that “Chief Chukwuma, last week, unveiled four brand new sets of vehicles, namely IVM G80, IVM G40, IVM 20 and IVM Granite, and while delivering his address, said the only way a manufacturing company like his can succeed in what it is doing to uplift the image of Nigeria is by government, corporate institution and the public, patronizing and supporting it.’’

Senate wades in,  sets up committee

The Senate, yesterday, resolved to wade into Chukwuma’s arrest by the EFCC, following a point of order raised by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

“Yesterday, I got a number of messages indicating that Mr Innocent Chukwuma was arrested by the EFCC over a transaction between him and GTB,” Mr. Ekweremadu said: “This morning (yesterday morning) I made an effort and I spoke with him, his story is straight forward. He said he was at his house at 5:00 am, Tuesday morning, when he heard gun shots and he thought they were assassins and so he went into hiding after about two hours he saw some police and he thought that help had come.

“So, he came out of his hiding and ran to the police man who promptly arrested him. As he was trying to find out what was his offence, they told him when they get to the police station they will inform him of the offence. As at today, nobody has told him what the offence is.

“Any person who is arrested and detained should be informed the reason for his arrest. As I speak, Mr Innoson Chukwuma is yet to be informed of what led to his arrest or detention but if you go through the media today, the story is that he is owing GTB. As a lawyer, I’m at a loss how a transaction between someone and his bank will inform the EFCC’s arrest.
What Innoson boss told me  — Ekweremadu

“The story he told me is that he is not owing the bank anything, he borrowed money from the bank which he has since repaid but the bank kept charging money and withdrawing it from his account. They set up an audit and the auditor came to a conclusion that they had deducted more than N500 million, he was insisting on 22 per cent, the bank said they will pay 7 per cent.

“So, that was where they had the disagreement and they now went to court and it gave judgement in their favour at the federal high court and the Court of Appeal and the matter is at the Supreme Court. The fact that the matter is in court and it was a commercial transaction gives no room for the intervention of EFCC. I’d like to appeal to this Senate to ensure that Mr Innocent Chukuwma is released promptly.”

In his contribution, Sam Anyanwu, Imo-PDP, questioned the Senate’s silence over alleged continued impunity of the EFCC.

“I want to ask a question. EFCC as it stands today, does it have a chairman? Because I knew in this chamber, the head of EFCC was rejected during screening because of poor performance and yet he has been there as chairman.

“There was a businessman from Imo State that was killed in EFCC custody. The body is still in the mortuary till today. These are the kind of things we are seeing in this country, why must we allow it to continue?

“We have been talking about promoting made-in-Nigeria goods. This man manufactures vehicles, he has over 5, 000 people in his employment, he has international partners. What are you projecting before them? That he is a criminal? If we as Senate allows this to continue, there is nothing else that will ever work.

“We rejected somebody here, yet he is allowed. Are there no other Nigerians who are credible to fight corruption?”

How EFCC official slapped Chukwuma’s wife — Abaribe

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Abia-PDP, threw the Senate into a rowdy session when he announced that operatives of EFCC slapped the wife of Mr. Chukwuma.

“Another incident happened in his house. The wife asked a question; why are you arresting my husband? What has happened and they slapped her.”

Bwacha Emmanuel, Taraba-PDP, said the perpetrator of such act should be fished out and punished.

“As a member of this Senate, I sponsored a motion to call for support for the anti-corruption war but as I listen to this story, if truly the wife of Innocent Chukwuma was slapped by a member of EFCC, something has to be done. Somebody must be held responsible, somebody must lose his job. Otherwise, we’ll be wasting our time here.”

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noted that the EFCC will drag the country into ridicule if the issue is not addressed promptly.

“As a society, we are all planning that our country be civilised, I think this does not speak well of the country. How a private commercial transaction has now become the focus of the EFCC. I think this area is the focus. Whether he is owing or not, I think we must be seen protecting the fundamental rights of citizens. I’ve never seen where FBI interfered between City Bank and Ford Motors, or the financial crime agency in UK intervenes. We are just making a mockery of ourselves and we really should be able to do the right thing.”

The Senate resolved to intervene in the arrest of Mr. Chukwuma, while mandating its committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes to investigate the matter and report back in 24 hours.

Why we arrested Chukwuma, Innoson MD – EFCC

A MILD drama played out between the Chairman of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, as the agency tried to arrest him in Enugu.

founder and chairman of Nigeria’s automobile company, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma.

The EFCC claimed that Innoson staff tried to stop Chief Chukwuma’s arrest by the blocking his residence with trucks but EFCC operatives overcame the hurdles and arrested the business tycoon, who accused a tier-one bank of being behind his arrest.

Chukwuma, who spoke with Vanguard while in EFCC custody in Enugu, yesterday, said the bank owed him undisclosed sum of money of which a court decided the matter in his favour “but instead of the bank paying me my money, they are using EFCC to intimidate me.”

He promised to give details of the transaction and his encounter with the EFCC, once he was through with the agency.

He was arrested yesterday, at about 11:00 am at his Savage Crescent, GRA Enugu residence where his staff allegedly put up resistance against his arrest but EFCC operatives finally had their way and whisked him away to their Enugu office.

EFCC’s Media Officer in Enugu, Mr. Chris Oluka, who confirmed his arrest in Enugu, said there was resistance by the business mogul before his arrest. “He did put up some resistance by using some trucks to block our way to his residence but we finally arrested him,” said Oluka.

The EFCC officer added that Chukwuma was still being kept in the Enugu office as of 3:30 pm but would be taken to Lagos before the end of the day.

Spokesman of Innoson Group of Companies, Mr Cornel Osigwe, decried Chukwuma’s arrest. He told an online newspaper that “his arrest is in connection to the ongoing case he has with the bank.”

Claiming that Chukwuma was accused of jumping bail, Osigwe wondered how someone who was never invited by the EFCC much less being arrested would be accused of fleeing from the law.

Innoson Group has accused the first tier bank of being indebted to the auto manufacturing company to the tune of N8.5 billion in a series of damages stemming from illegal service deductions by the bank. An initial fraud case brought against Mr. Chukwuma was withdrawn earlier this year.

But the Attorney-General Abubakar Malami revived the case at the Federal High Court in Abuja as the bank maintains its allegations that Chukwuma manipulated bank and shipping documents to obtain tax waivers from the Nigerian government.

Why we arrested Innoson MD – EFCC
However, EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement gave reasons the anti-graft agency went after the business man.

He said: ‘’His arrest followed his refusal to honour invitation by the Commission having earlier jumped an administrative bail granted him in a case being investigated by the Capital Market and Insurance Fraud Unit of the Commission’s Lagos office.

‘’Chukwuma rather than honouring invitation by the EFCC, mobilized six truckloads of thugs pretending to be staff of his company to his residence, where they manhandled EFCC operatives.

It took reinforcement from the Enugu office of the EFCC to effect the arrest of the industrialist who is currently being grilled by a team of investigators.’’

EFCC arrests Innoson Motors boss, Innocent Chukwuma

Mr Innocent Chukwuma

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Mr Innocent Chukwuma, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Innoson Group.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the company in a series tweets it posted on its Twitter handle, claiming that its CEO was arrested without prior invitation.

Innoson Group in its tweets blamed the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) for the arrest of its CEO, Mr Chukwuma.

The company via its Twitter handle, @innosonmotors, wrote: “GTB vs Innoson ‘illegal Arrest’ hundreds of factory workers from Innoson factory Emene Enugu protests the illegal bundling of Innoson to Lagos by EFCC organised by GTB.

“Like a commando style, GTB uses EFFC to storm Innoson Enugu Residential Home to bundle him to Lagos like a common criminal without any prior invitation.

The company which said the dispute between Innoson Group and GTB began in 2012, also said in November, the police had withdrawn the charges against its CEO, Mr. Chukwuma.

Female Lawyer ARRESTED For Physically Assaulting Her TEENAGE Maid!

A female lawyer was recently arrested for physically assaulting her 15-year-old house help after the picture of the abused teenager was seen circulating on social media.

The suspect, Tolu Olaoye, a trained lawyer, is said to be in the habit of physically assaulting her house help. She was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command over an alleged violent abuse of her maid, Abigail Opeyemi, 15, at their home near Unique Estate, Baruwa in Ipaja area of Lagos, Nigeria.

Her arrest came after the State Commissioner of Police Mr. Edgal Imohimi, saw the picture of the assaulted house help with a deep cut on her forehead and injury marks all over her body trending online. The Commissioner, who has zero tolerance for all domestic violence and abuse issues, straightaway, gave orders for the young girl to be rescued.

Officers of the Command were also instructed to apprehend the female lawyer. Subsequently, the suspect was taken in for questioning at the Gender Section of the Police Command. Directives were further given that the wounded house help should be taken to a hospital for proper medical attention.

The Command spokesman, Mr. Chike Oti, while confirming the arrest of Tolu Olaoye, said that the suspect will be given an opportunity to defend her actions during a court hearing on Monday.

Many people who have seen the trending pictures of the assaulted house help, Abigail, have condemned the actions of the female lawyer. People who have followed the matter are of the opinion that as someone in the legal profession, the arrested female lawyer should have known the consequences of her action.

We hope that justice will prevail in this case. What are your thoughts? Feel free to share your views in the comments section.

Statement from the Police 

Lagos Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi , has arrested a lawyer, Tolu Olaoye over alleged incessant abuse of her house help and inflicted deep cut on her forehead.

The lawyer lives with the househelp at at 5, El Shaddai Crescent, Baruwa, Ipaja area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The househelp, Abigail Opebiyi, 15, has been living with the Lawyer for some years.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chike Oti said the police had to rescue the girl from the bondage because of the abuse.



“The CP, Edgal, is known for his prompt actions on all issues concerning domestic violence and abuse was moved with compassion on seeing the picture of the victim trending on the internet with a deep cut inflicted on little girl’s forehead by the said female lawyer.

“He immediately ordered operatives of the command to go and rescue the victim and fish out the suspect,” he said.

Oti said the order was carried out diligently, adding that the suspect is now undergoing interrogation at the gender section of state police command.

He said the suspect would be charged to court on Monday.

What Your Sleeping Position With A Partner Says About Your Relationship

we all sleep, but did you know that the way you sleep says a lot about who we are as individuals?

For instance, if you sleep on your back, it often means your the strong, silent type; and if you sleep on your stomach, it typically means you have an open, gregarious, and playful personality.

So, what happens when you throw different sleeping styles — and personalities — into one bed? Or really, any two individual personalities into one of the most intimate and venerable situations we humans experience?

It’s actually quite fascinating.

When we sleep, our subconscious minds take over. Because of this, the body language we use with a partner while we snooze can be a remarkably precise way to gauge what’s going on in our relationships.

“Even if you can’t or don’t articulate those things while you’re awake,” says Patti Wood, a body language expert with more than 30 years of experience and author of Success Signals, A Guide to Reading Body Language. Many other experts and psychologists agree with this idea and have conducted studies in and written books on the subject. They have uncovered the ten most popular couple sleeping positions and the secrets they have found about each is truly intriguing...

The Spoon

According to a study done by relationship psychologist Corrine Sweet, the position is only adopted by a fifth (or 18 percent) of couples and demonstrates a dynamic in which, “ One partner takes a protective stance over the other.”

Although it’s a sweet, it can also be a little saucy. “It’s a very vulnerable position that’s sexual, but says, ‘I trust you,’” said Patti Wood, a body language expert with more than 30 years of experience and author of Success Signals, A Guide to Reading Body Language.

The Loose Spoon

New couples tend to have the most physical contact in bed, but once the relationship matures, the novelty of sharing a mattress wears off.

The loose spoon is typically what a couples that are a fans of spooning eventually do once their relationship matures and each individual wants to revert to a position that produces the best quality sleep, said Paul Rosenblatt, author of Two in a Bed: The Social System of Couple Bed Sharing.

It’s like the big spoon saying, “I’ve got your back, you can count on me,” but it’s not as sexual as spooning closer, Woods said.

The Chase

This is like spooning, but it’s when one person is in pursuit of the other. One person has drifted to the other side of the bed, and the other one is “chasing” them.

This can mean two things. One that the person who is being chased wants to be pursued, or is playing hard to get.

The other thing it can be, according to Samuel Dunkell, author of Sleep Positions: The Night Language of the Body is something called “illegal Spooning” because the person has retreated because they want space.

The Tangle

This extremely intimate position is even more rare than the Spoon. It tends to happen when there is either intense emotions at play (like after lovemaking) or at the start of a romantic relationship.

Some couples maintain it throughout their relationship but it isn’t necessarily a good thing. According to Elizabeth Flynn Campbell, a New York psychotherapist, “[the couple] could be overly enmeshed, too dependent on each other to sleep apart.”

The Unraveling Knot

This position starts with The Tangle position, but then unravels after 10 minutes or so.

Believe it or not, this position is a sign of a stronger relationship than The Tangle. Yet only eight percent of couples adopt this two-part position. Dr. Sweet said it’s, “A compromise between intimacy and independence, allowing for the best of both worlds.”

The Liberty Lovers

If you and your partner sleep facing opposite directions with space in-between ­- don’t fret! This is actually a good thing.

According to a study done by relationship psychologist Corrine Sweet, couples that sleep back-to-back without touching are “connected and secure in themselves. This position shows both closeness and independence in the relationship.”

It’s also popular, 27 percent of couples prefer this sleeping style.

The Back Kissers

If you sleep back-to-back but you touch with your butts or backs, this is also a good thing — but it’s also novel.

According to Dr. Sweet, this means, “Both partners are relaxed and comfortable with one another.” Yet this position is more common amongst newer couples, or those that have been together for under a year, rather than a more long-term duo.

The Nuzzle

This sweet position, in which one partner rests their head on the other’s chest, while their legs are intertwined is often seen in early relationships and occasionally rekindled ones, according to Dr. Sweet.

This is a very nurturing posture that creates a sense of protection. Shirley Glass, a psychologist and martial therapist, also notes, “There’s a high level of trust here,” as this snuggling position has a “strengthening sense of comradeship and protection.”

The Leg Hug

According to Wood, if your partner plays footsie with you in bed, or intertwines their legs with yours, it means they crave an emotional or sexual connection.

A pair of tangled legs is also a sign that the two of you can’t get enough of each other — even when you’re sleeping. “It means your lives are intertwined, that you function as a pair. You probably finish each other’s sentences and take care of each other,” Wood said.

The Space Hog

If a partner takes the “starfish position,” one in which they sprawl out and hog the bed, this means that they tend to be selfish — especially if they begin to push the other partner so they’re hanging off the bed.

If this is happening in your relationship, it’s time to have an honest conversation.

“One partner dominates the space, while the other takes a secondary role,” said Sweet, and most people do not want to play second fiddle.

You can also tell who is dominating a relationship by where their heads are when they sleep.

When a couple’s heads are right next to each other, it means they are equal, and if they touch, even better — it’s a sign that they have like minds and know what’s going on in each other’s heads, Wood said.

People who sleep closer to the headboard tend to feel more dominant and confident, while those who place their heads further away from it tend to be submissive and have lower self-esteem, she also said.

Inter Milan set their sights on Manchester United outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan as they eye a January move

• Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks set to leave in January
• The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season
• Inter Milan have identified him as a target as they look to bolster their squad  

Manchester Unitedplaymaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set for a move away from Old Trafford in January with Inter Milan interested in his signature.

Despite a strong start to the campaign, the Armenian has fallen down Jose Mourinho's pecking order and has been starved of regular first-team minutes.   

Mkhitaryan was not even in the match-day squad as Manchester United beat West Brom on Sunday and has not started a game since the defeat to Chelsea on November 5. 

Inter Milan are eyeing a move for Manchester United outcast Henrikh Mkhitaryan in January 

Manchester United could

Corriere della Sport say Inter Milan are in the market for a midfielder in January 

According to Corriere della Sport, Inter are in the market for a midfielder and may look to swoop for the 28-year-old when the winter window opens in the new year. 

The Serie A outfit want to bolster that area in their squad and have identified both the United man and former Chelsea star Ramires as possibilities. 

Any deal would likely be a loan initially with Inter reluctant to spend beyond their means. However, this could change if they are forced to sell one of their big stars. 

Mkhitaryan has shown glimpses of the magic he produced at Borussia Dortmund during his time in the Premier League but has failed to do so on a consistent basis.

Inter fell to third in Serie A after defeat to Udinese on Saturday and may look to strengthen
Mkhitaryan has been outcast at Old Trafford after falling down Jose Mourinho's pecking order 

This has seemingly frustrated Mourinho who has run out of patience, saying before their match at the weekend that every player has their price.

The Armenian has scored just once in the current league campaign but has produced five assists.

Inter could benefit from his creativity as they look to reclaim top spot in Serie A, after falling down to third with a defeat by Udinese at the weekend.