Throwback photos of Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun and his family

Photos:Fathia Balogun at the City People Awards 2016

Yay! Peter Okoye says P-Square is back! And that brother Jude Okoye is back as his manager

Peter Okoye says the problems with P-Square is over and that they are back! Can I hear amen from all P-Square fans? Continue to read his statement and video he released...

Two killed in Florida nightclub shooting

At least two people were killed and 14 others wounded in a shooting early Monday at a Florida nightclub, police said, in an incident that reportedly occurred at a party for teenagers.
The attack comes just six weeks after an attack at a gay club in the state left 49 dead in the worst massacre on US soil since 9/11.
Officers have detained one “person of interest” and two other individuals for questioning over the latest shooting, which happened at Club Blu in Fort Myers.
The venue was holding a party for teens at the time, according to the local CBS affiliate.

The Fort Myers Police Department reported that while two individuals were fatally shot, “at least 14-16” more sustained minor to life-threatening wounds during the episode, which occurred at approximately 12:30 am (0430 GMT) in the club’s parking lot.
A nearby home and vehicles were also shot at, resulting in one minor injury, the department said in a statement.
“At this time the scene is still very active as investigators and crime scene personnel attempt to determine what had occurred,” the statement said, adding that multiple area streets had been closed.
Officers are “actively canvassing the area looking for other persons who may be involved in this incident,” although the area had been deemed safe.
An attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida on June 12 left 49 dead in the worst gun massacre in recent US history.
Police killed the gunman, Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old US citizen of Afghan origin, after a three-hour standoff.
The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for that attack, calling the Mateen “one of the soldiers of the caliphate.” US authorities have said he was apparently radicalized after watching jihadist propaganda online.
That rampage and other recent shootings have renewed debate about gun laws in the United States.
After the incident, the White House denounced the “cowardice” of US senators who failed to pass gun control legislation.
President Barack Obama, a Democrat, has repeatedly called for Republicans to realize the cost of their opposition to gun control and spending on mental health and drug treatment.
“We refuse to fund drug treatment and mental health programs. We flood communities with so many guns that it is easier for a teenager to buy a Glock than get his hands on a computer or even a book,” he said at a recent memorial service for five police officers shot in Dallas.
Last month, Democratic lawmakers staged a virtually unprecedented 24-hour sit-in in Congress after Republicans refused to allow a vote on two widely supported measures.

BREAKING: Edo Speaker steps down

Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, has stepped down from the role.

She was replaced by the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, by 18 out of the 24 members of the House and sworn in at about 11am on Monday.

It would be recalled that Ativie was sworn in on May ‎3 her predecessor, Victor Edoror, was impeached.

Ativie decided to step down after a motion was moved by the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe, under matters of urgent public importance, for a change in the leadership of the House.

‎Ogedengbe explained that the change was necessary to ensure fairness in the political system, so that the three senatorial districts would be represented.

The incumbent State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, hails from Edo North senatorial district while his deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu, and Ativie hail from Edo South.

Okonoboh represents Igueben constituency in Edo Central senatorial district.

Rules 1(2), 20, 22 and 73 of the House were relaxed before the member representing Owan East ‎asked Ativie to step down for the Igueben lawmaker to assume officer while she took office as his deputy.

Ogedengbe “I going to move that there is a change of leadership in the House in order that this state moves forward, that there will be fairness and equity in the system, that the three senatorial districts will be properly accommodated. I am going to move with a heavy heart.

“I move, therefore, that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, should step down and assume office as Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and that the Deputy Speaker, Dr. Justin Okonoboh, be promoted as the new Speaker.‎”

He had noted that 17 members had supported the change of leadership.

But 18 members stood up for identification in support of the motion, which was seconded by the member representing Oredo West, Chris Okaeben.

 While accepting the change, Ativie said that her short stay in office recorded tremendous achievements as the members worked as a team.

Ativie commended the lawmakers for giving her the opportunity to serve and urged them to accord same to her successor.

She said, “Although this is a huge a difficult sacrifice to make, I believe that it should be done for the sake of the people of Edo State. No sacrifice will be too big to pay in meeting the yearning aspirations of or people, who elected us to this House‎.

“Today, I bury my pride and my ambition for the general good of the people and the state, through which I emerged as a legislator.”

On his part, Okonoboh said that his emergency was a result of wide consultations within the All Progressives Congress

He noted that the new development was a House matter that was devoid of any interference from the governor.

He commended Ativie for her willingness to step down in a manner unprecedented in the entire country, vowing that all her appointments would remain‎ valid

Why I starved, chained my son – Pastor Francis

Francis Taiwo, a Celestial Church of Christ pastor who starved and kept his nine-year-old son in chains for months, has been arrested.

The 40-year-old pastor was apprehended by the police from the Onipanu division on Sunday at his church – CCC, Key of Joy Parish – in Ajibawo, Atan, in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Police sources told PUNCH Metro that Francis might be charged with attempted murder, among other offences, after the completion of investigation.

“The pastor may be charged with attempted murder. His action was capable of killing the boy,” one of the sources said.

Our correspondent had reported that Francis chained his son, Korede, to the altar in the church for more than a month and starved him until he went into a coma in an attempt to cast out the supposed spirit that made the boy to steal.

Korede was, however, rescued on Friday during a joint operation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police, after receiving a tip-off from residents of the area.

Korede’s stepmother, Kehinde, had also been arrested for allegedly aiding the cruelty meted out to the boy.

Korede, who said he aspired to be a doctor, had blamed his father for his stealing habit.

“It is true that I stole a pot of soup and a bowl of eba in our house. I also stole in the neighbourhood. My father’s inability to give money to my stepmother for the upkeep of the family caused it. When I was chained, my father and stepmother fed me twice a day. Some days, I was not given any food. I want to go back to school because I want to be a doctor in the future. I do not want to go back to my father’s house,” Korede had said.

Francis, a father of five who hails from Benin Republic, confessed to the act in his statement to the police, adding that Korede’s mother was late.

He said, “I was ordained a pastor in the CCC in 2012. I had divorced two wives, including Korede’s mother, Maria; she is late now. She had four children for me – two boys and two girls – before she divorced me in 2007 after she gave birth to Korede. I chained Korede because he is possessed. An evil spirit makes him to steal. He needs deliverance. His siblings are not living with me.”

A resident, who identified himself only as Elijah, said Francis had been warned on several occasions against unleashing violence on the victim.

He said, “His father has been chaining him for the past six months. He would chain him for hours and release him. His grouse is that Korede steals and runs away from home and he thinks a spirit is controlling the child. He once took him to a river in chains for deliverance.”

The Ogun State police spokesperson, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, said the case had been transferred to the child labour unit of the command for investigation.

“The case has been transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the command for necessary investigation and actions as directed by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 2, AIG Abdulmajid Ali,” he said.

Egypt trains 100 Nigerians in medicine, agric

Egypt says it had trained over 100 Nigerian officials in medicine, agriculture, security and counter-terrorism investigation and engineering in order to improve Nigeria’s expertise in various fields.

It stated that the training courses were provided and funded by the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, an organ of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ashraf Salama, disclosed this on Thursday night during the 64th anniversary celebration of the Egyptian revolution that toppled the monarchy in Egypt peacefully and established the republic.

The envoy, said his main objective was to bring his country and Nigeria closer and to strengthen bilateral ties thereby setting a solid example of inter-African relations on the continent.

Salama, who is approaching the end of his tenure after spending four years as ambassador, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Egypt had further cemented the cooperation between the Arab nation and Nigeria.

On the multilateral level, the envoy said that Egypt and Nigeria have supported each other’s nominees in various international organisations, the last of which was the support of Nigeria to Egypt to become a non-permanent member at the United Nations Security Council.

“Another emerging area of cooperation between the two countries is in the field of training; In the last year, Egypt has trained more than 100 Nigerian officials in different fields which include security and counter-terrorism investigation, medicine, engineering, agriculture and so on,” Salama said.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Khadija Ibrahim, lauded Egypt for the donations and medical assistance to displaced Nigerians in various Internally Displaced Peoples camps in Abuja and the North-East

Two on trial for stealing onions

The Police on Friday arraigned two men, Toheeb Adesokan and Mutiu Olatinwo in an Iyaganku Senior magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, for allegedly stealing onions and other items valued at N100, 000.

Adesokan (20), a motorcycle mechanic, and Olatinwo (25), a motor mechanic both residents of Olunde, Aba Baale, Ibadan, were charged on a three charges of conspiracy, break-in and stealing.

The prosecutor, Insp. Samad Aliu, told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired to break into the house of one Funmilayo Ogunsanya on July 16.

Aliu alleged that the defendants broke into the house at about 4 p.m. at Olunde area of Ibadan.

He said that they stole rechargeable lamp, manual blender, fragile plates, glass cups, electric blender and food stuffs such as yam flour, rice and onions.

Aliu said the total value of stolen items was N100,000, while the offences contravened Section 390 (9), 411 (2) and 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs Patricia Adetuyibi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till Sept. 27, for hearing.

IMF MD, Lagarde, to stand trial over $400m payout

IMF chief Christine Lagarde was ordered Friday to stand trial in France over a massive state payout to a colourful tycoon when she was French economy minister, dealing a setback to her stellar career.

France’s highest appeals court dismissed Lagarde’s challenge against the decision to try her for negligence in her handling of a dispute between a state-owned bank and businessman Bernard Tapie.

Tapie walked away with a staggering 404 million euros ($445 million) in compensation in 2008 after Lagarde ordered the long-running row over the sale of sports gear giant Adidas to be resolved by arbitration.

Friday’s ruling means the 60-year-old IMF chief will go before a special tribunal that hears cases against government ministers accused of wrongdoing in the discharge of their duties.

The ruling is a blow to the IMF boss, who has long been touted as a potential future French president.

She insists she acted in France’s best interests in the case, and the IMF expressed firm backing for her as it was confirmed she would face trial.

The Washington-based lender “continues to express its confidence in the Managing Director’s ability to effectively carry out her duties,” said IMF spokesman Gerry Rice.

Her lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve said he was “convinced” that Lagarde would be “absolved of all responsibility”.

Lagarde will be the third successive IMF chief to face trial.

Her predecessor, compatriot Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was acquitted of pimping by a French court last year, four years after he resigned his IMF post to fight separate sexual assault allegations.

Spain’s former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato has also been ordered to stand trial for misusing funds when he was head of Spanish lender Bankia.

Lagarde was placed under formal investigation in 2014 over her handling of a long-running dispute with Tapie, who claimed he was defrauded by the state-controlled bank Credit Lyonnais in its handling of his sale of Adidas in the 1990s.

The case against Lagarde stems from her decision to allow the row be settled by arbitration instead of by the courts, which would likely have resulted in a much smaller bill for the state.

Prosecutors have also questioned her failure to challenge the massive award.

A court has since found the arbitration to be fraudulent because one of the arbitrators had links to 73-year-old Tapie, a flamboyant figure who served as cities minister in the 1990s and has also dabbled in acting.

– ‘Clear conscience’ –

Lagarde has denied any wrongdoing or that she acted on orders from then president Nicolas Sarkozy, of whom Tapie was a supporter.

In an interview with AFP in Washington earlier this month she insisted she had a “clear conscience”.

“I’ve always acted in accordance with the law, and I’ve always had in mind the public interest.

“It was not my duty to select the arbitration panel, to investigate their past and history, and I had no reason to doubt their probity and honesty,” she said.

Investigating magistrates however found evidence of “serious negligence on the part of a minister tasked with conducting affairs of state” and in December ordered the case go to trial.

Lagarde appealed the decision, but her challenge was struck out Friday.

The former corporate lawyer became the first woman to head the IMF when she replaced Strauss-Kahn in July 2011.

The ruling comes just days after she began her second term as head of the institution, where she has been hailed as both a tough negotiator and a skilled consensus-builder.

If tried and convicted, she risks up to a year in prison and a fine of 15,000 euros.

Air force plane goes missing with 29 on board

India on Friday mounted a massive search and rescue operation for an Indian Air Force plane that went missing with 29 people on board over the Bay of Bengal.

With concern mounting hours after its disappearance, five surveillance aircraft and 13 navy and coastguard ships launched the search for the aircraft, which vanished shortly after take-off from the southern city of Chennai.

The aircraft was on its way to Port Blair, the capital of the remote Andaman and Nicobar islands.

“Full scale search & rescue launched to look for IAF AN 32 overdue at Port Blair since 1130 hrs. Max assets being deployed at earliest,” the defence ministry tweeted.

The Russian-built Antonov AN-32 military transport plane was carrying service personnel and six crew members as it undertook a routine courier service to the Indian islands.

The last contact with the plane was made around 15 minutes after take-off from Tambaram Air Force Station on the outskirts of Chennai, an IAF spokesman said.

“A search operation is on. The plane was airborne at 8:30 am (0300 GMT)and was supposed to land at Port Blair at 11:30,” Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said.

The AN-32, equipped with navigational aids, are the IAF’s workhorse aircraft and capable of flying for up to four hours without refuelling.

An IAF source told AFP the radar data from the missing aircraft showed it making a sharp left turn before rapidly losing altitude.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed. Let’s hope and pray for the best,” he said, requesting anonymity.

Retired Air Marshal Anil Chopra said searching for an aircraft in an ocean was complex and that knowledge of the last known position of the plane would be critical for any breakthrough.

“Unfortunately the radar cover in Indian east coast does not cover full area… As time elapses uncertainty and risk increases,” he posted on Twitter.

“Searching an aircraft in an ocean is as complex as finding a ping pong ball on Siachen glacier,” he tweeted, referring to the Himalayan glacier.

– Poor safety record –

The Indian Air Force, which relies heavily on Russian-made equipment and has around 100 AN-32s in its fleet, has been blighted by a poor safety record.

In one of the worst disasters involving an AN-32 in India, 20 people on board died while three civilians were burnt to death when the plane crashed near a New Delhi airport in 1999.

And in 2013, all 20 people on board a military helicopter were killed when it crashed in northern India.

The Indian air force has gradually been getting rid of some of its older planes, some of which date back to the 1960s.

Experts have warned India’s delay in revamping its outdated military aircraft threatens national security, with some of the fleet virtually on their last legs.

New deals have been mired in bureaucratic wrangles, most notably the agreement to buy 36 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, which has been pending since 2012.

India is the world’s largest arms importer, with the US its number one supplier.

The South Asian nation has been trying to develop its own warplanes but delays and technical shortcomings have marred progress.

Beautiful yet devastating photo: A father makes things fun for his children despite their circumstances

A father from Syria is pictured washing with his children in a bath tub in the ruins and surrounding devastation of a house.

Pregnant Nigerian woman gives birth to baby boy on German naval ship during rescue in the Mediteranean Sea

A pregnant Nigerian woman, who departed from the Libyan coast on a voyage to Europe ended up giving birth on the German naval ship that rescued her and 654 other migrants. 

According to the German Military Chaplaincy, the Nigerian woman named Vivian was one of 655 people who piled onto four flimsy dinghies in order to reach Europe with the hope of a better life.

On July 6, their first day at sea, a German naval ship saw the boats, and, recognizing the precarious condition of the dinghies, described as "un-seaworthy,"  brought them on board.

Immediately after being rescued, Vivian went into labour and delivered a baby boy on board the ship. The military chaplain Fr. Jochen Folz and the medical team immediately offered their support. After only a few minutes Vivan made one wish very clear: she was Catholic, and she wanted her newborn son to be baptized.

So Fr. Folz got to work right away with the help of ship's officers and crew: the radio operator enabled the Internet so the priest could access the English texts needed for the rite of Baptism, while others found a sauceboat, matching tray for a makeshift "baptismal" font and a candle.

A woman named Martina O., who was also rescued from the dinghies, agreed to take on the role of the child's godmother. Fr. Folz asked Vivian:

"What name will you give your child," to which she replied: "Ikpomosa."

After pouring water over the child's head three times with the sauceboat while reciting the ancient biblical formula: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," the priest then lit the candle and passed to his godmother.

Fr. Folz draped his white priestly stole over the newborn as a symbol of the divine sonship since there was no white baptismal gown.

As a baptismal gift, baby Ikpomosa was given a medal of  St. Michael the Archangel, while Vivian and Martina were each given a medal of the Virgin Mary. All three had been prepared by a medical soldier, who tied a ribbon on each so they could be hung or tied somewhere safe.

Breaking: INEC office on fire in Rivers

Nine days to the July 30 rerun election in Rivers State, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area has been set ablaze.

Bori is in Ogoniland.

Reports on the incident are still sketchy but it was learnt that the fire started in the early hours of Friday.

A witness said “the office has been substantially damaged by the fire.”

Kennedy Friday, an Ogoni activist also confirmed the fire on his Facebook post. “I have just received news this morning that the INEC office in Bori is on fire. The whole building is ablaze.”

Omoni Nnamdi, spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident on phone.

He said, “I have received the report but don’t have details yet. I will provide details when I get to the office.

It will be recalled that INEC cancelled the election in the area on March 11 due to violence.

Two ‘drunk’ pilots dragged from cockpit by police minutes before flight was due to take off

Two pilots were arrested and dragged out of the cockpit by police just minutes before take off in Glasgow after passengers on an AirTransat flight reported that the pair exhibited abnormal behavior.

The flight was due to take off on Monday from Glasgow to Toronto and contained 250 people on board when it was aborted...
Officers arrested the men, aged 37 and 39 and accused them of being “impaired through alcohol”.

A spokeswoman said:

“Police Scotland can confirm two men aged 39 and 37 years have been arrested in relation to being allegedly impaired through alcohol under the Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003 (Section 93).”

The Canadian airline confirmed the arrest of its employees and said the flight had been rescheduled and passengers put up in hotels.

A spokesman said to The Sun UK:

“Air Transat has learned of the arrest on July 18 of two crew members assigned to its Glasgow-Toronto flight. We will await the results of the investigation and judicial proceedings before commenting on the matter. The safety of our crews and passengers is, and will remain, a top priority at Air Transat.”

A source told The Sun:

“It’s believed the pilots and other cabin crew were on the plane and had started to do their checks and prepare for boarding. It’s claimed other members of staff noticed their behaviour was odd and reported them to the police because they thought they’d been drinking. Obviously you can never take any chances with that kind of thing and the cops soon arrived on the aircraft to investigate. 

“It’s claimed the pair were over the limit and were both arrested. The plane had to be grounded for the rest of the day.”

Michelle Obama: Trump defends wife over plagiarism

Donald Trump’s wife, Melania, appeared to take liberal inspiration from a 2008 speech by first lady Michelle Obama for her own address to the US Republican convention.

The move drew fire from critics as the campaign of her husband, the presumptive US Republican Party presidential nominee, came to her defence early on Tuesday.

The US media caught on after it became apparent the speech by Melania Trump shared key phrases with a speech by Obama at the 2008 Democratic Party national convention.

It was when current President Barack Obama was officially nominated as the party’s candidate.

Trump’s speech included the line: “from a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life.

“That your work is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise.

“That you treat people with respect,” Melania said in her speech.

Political blog Talking Points Memo pointed out that this was very close to a part of Obama’s speech eight years earlier.

“And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do.

“That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them.”

The Trump campaign was quick to defend Melania Trump.

“In writing her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.

“Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success,” read a statement by communications advisor Jason Miller on the campaign website.

Fight breaks out inside Shoprite in Adeniran Ogunsanya (Photos)

Looks like a lot people trooped out to Shoprite stores for the holidays. According to a LIB reader who witnessed the fight this afternoon, it started out when the security prevented someone from picking a shopping trolley at the Shoprite store in Adeniran Ogunsanya. Apparently due to the crowd at the store, the security had no choice but to try to limit the amount of people gaining entry inside to buy things.

A staff who spoke anonymously, said this was also to prevent a recurrence of the serious theft that went down in the store when the crowd became uncontrollable yesterday. Tear gas was however sprayed at a certain point to control and chase people out.

Next UK prime minister will be a woman

Britain will be led by a woman prime minister through its complicated divorce with the European Union, it was revealed Thursday, as the sole remaining male candidate was knocked out of the race to succeed David Cameron.

The contest to replace the outgoing Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party — and of the country — will be fought between MPs Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom, after Michael Gove was eliminated in the second round of voting by their party’s MPs Thursday.

May secured 199 votes, Leadsom 84, while Gove won just 46, Graham Brady, chair of the Conservative Private Members’ Committee, announced Thursday.

The outcome means Britain is set to have its second female prime minister. Margaret Thatcher was the first, holding office from 1979 to 1990.

May, Britain’s home secretary since 2010, told journalists outside Parliament that she was “delighted to have won so much support” from colleagues.

“I’ve won votes from Conservative MPs from across the party — from left to right, from leavers and remainers, MPs from the length and breadth of the country,” she said.

“This vote shows that the Conservative Party can come together, and that under my leadership, it will.”

Conceding defeat, Gove told reporters he was “naturally disappointed,” but said there was one “important” and “welcome” outcome of the vote.

“Whoever the next prime minister of this country will be, it will be a female prime minister, and a female prime minister who has formidable skills. And I know whichever one of the two wins, they will lead this country well.”

The defeat is likely to be bitter for Gove, the education secretary, who, alongside fellow MP Boris Johnson was one of the leading campaigners for Britain to leave the EU.

Johnson, the previous favorite to succeed Cameron, campaigned closely with Gove in favor of the Brexit before the latter unexpectedly announced he would not support Johnson in the race and was launching his own bid for the leadership instead.

The race is on after Cameron announced his resignation following the June 23 EU referendum, having failed to convince the nation in his campaign that Britain would be better off staying in the union. He will step down in October.

An earlier vote between MPs of the ruling Conservative party on Tuesday saw two of five candidates out of the race — one was eliminated, another pulled out.

Now there are only two, with the 150,000 members of the Conservative Party set to choose between the remaining candidates, who will campaign for their votes over the summer.

Conservative Party officials have said that the winner will be announced by September 9, although there have been calls for the process to be sped up to help minimize the post-Brexit uncertainty.

Due to the structure of Britain’s parliamentary system, the winner will become prime minister, at least until another election is called.

May, an MP since 1997, has been described as “a safe pair of hands” to take the country through its negotiations with the European Union.

One of the longest-serving home secretaries in British political history, May backed remaining in the European Union, though she didn’t take a prominent role in the campaign.

Some have asked how a Remain supporter could possibly be the best candidate to hammer out an exit deal, but May has hit back, saying Britain is looking for more than “a Brexit prime minister.”

May has already said that no general election should take place before 2020, and she has been realistic about abandoning the target of eliminating Britain’s budget deficit before the end of the decade.

Veteran Conservative politician Ken Clarke was caught on camera in the British media describing May as a “bloody difficult woman,” though he appeared not to actually oppose her candidacy.

The 59-year-old has come in for criticism over her stance on whether EU migrants will be able to remain in Britain after a Brexit. While she has assured members of her party that she wants EU nationals to stay, she is refusing to make any promises before carrying out negotiations with the European Union.

May had also wanted the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, but has now dropped the idea with Parliament unlikely to support it.

One of the stars of the Brexit campaign, Andrea Leadsom, has come from nowhere to become a serious contender for the top job.

A fierce advocate of leaving the EU, the energy minister has already said she would quickly invoke Article 50, the action needed to officially begin the separation process from the European Union.

It marks quite a turnaround for Leadsom, 53, who warned it would be a “disaster” for the UK to leave the EU in a speech three years ago. She defended that stance, saying that she had been on a “journey” since and had changed her mind.

Leadsom set out her post-Brexit vision ahead of the vote in a speech that lacked conviction but was peppered with a strong sense of nationalism.

“I truly believe we can be the greatest nation on Earth,” she said, promising “prosperity,” not “austerity.”

Leadsom entered Parliament in 2010 following a career in the financial sector. She has also faced questions over her resumé, with critics claiming that it did not accurately reflect her professional experience in the financial world, according to CNN political contributor Robin Oakley. Leadsom has rejected the criticisms.

Leadsom may lack experience in frontline politics, but, as she pointed out: “Our current prime minister hadn’t been in government at all before he become leader and then prime minister.”

Gove was the least favorite of the three before being eliminated Thursday.

Born and brought up in Scotland, he was a controversial education secretary, making radical reforms that earned him as many enemies as friends. He was eventually demoted by his good friend Prime Minister Cameron to chief whip, a position that requires keeping MPs in line with party policy and making sure they turn up to vote.

The 48-year-old politician’s relationship with Cameron turned sour during the referendum campaign period, as Gove stood on the opposing side, backing a Brexit.

None of the candidates have provided social media with as much comedy material as Gove — from the way he claps to the way he drinks a glass of water. He recently sent the Twittersphere into a frenzy by performing a Wham! rap to young school children.

When announcing his plan to run for party leader, he said: “Whatever charisma is, I don’t have it. Whatever glamor may be, I don’t think anyone could ever associate me with it.”

Alleged fraud: Opposition protests, accuses Fayose of looting Ekiti

A massive crowd of protesters on Thursday took to the streets of Ado Ekiti, calling on Governor Ayodele Fayose to answer corruption allegations against him.

Accusing Fayose of looting the state treasury, the protesters, comprising the opposition All Progressives Congress in Ekiti, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, youths, artisans and traders among others, demanded the prosecution of the governor.

Specifically, the CNPP asked the 17 members of the Ekiti House of Assembly, alleged to have falsified their certificates, to submit themselves for prosecution.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen the governor’s accounts with Zenith Bank and some of his associates after allegedly tracing part of the N4.7bn arms funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), to them and two sons of a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.

The protesters displayed placards with various inscriptions, including ‘Fayose is not above the law’, ‘Impunity is not immunity’, ‘EFCC, please probe Fayose’s account in Access Bank’; ‘Fayose bring back Ekiti money’, ‘Fayose must go’, ‘Immunity not a licence for criminality and impunity’, and ‘Fayose is destroying our image, we are honourable people.’

Security operatives from the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were deployed in the state capital to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

They marched from Fajuyi Park through Okeyinmi and stopped at the Ijigbo area of the state capital, where they were addressed by leaders of each group.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his anti-graft war, the protesters called on the EFCC to probe the finances of the state and prosecute those who were found culpable in the looting of the state’s treasury.

They chanted anti-government’s songs to deride the governor, whom they alleged had been looting the treasury, especially the N1.2bn found in his account; and alleged collection of kickbacks from contractors handling various projects in the state to buy multi-billion naira properties in Abuja, Dubai and Lagos.

The Deputy Chairman of APC in the state, Mrs. Kemi Olaleye, accused the governor of hiding under immunity to perpetrate impunity in the state.

“We are tired of immunity clause; immunity has become impunity in Ekiti. We condemn Governor Fayose’s corrupt tendencies. Things must change. The EFCC must do its job and ensure that looters of Ekiti are brought to justice,” she stated.

A statement presented by the Ekiti CNPP Chairman, Mr. Tunji Ogunlola, asked Fayose to waive his immunity and face prosecution for his alleged involvement in the N4.7bn arms deal.

The CNPP added, “On the issue of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, we ask the 17 members to face prosecution. It is very unfortunate that their primary roles have been abandoned for Fayose’s defence.

 “We also plead with the Federal Government not to release bailout for the payment of salary to Governor Fayose. The Federal Ministry of Finance should pay into workers’ accounts directly because we have lost confidence in the government. The previous N9.6bn bailout should be probed.

“We want to commend the (acting) Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Lawal Daura, for probing alleged political thuggery levelled against the Peoples Democratic Party government in Ekiti.

“We also want a special force to be deployed in Ekiti to maintain peace in Ekiti State because our lives are no longer safe.”

A  students’ representative, Samuel Olaoluwa, commended the anti-graft agency for coming up with comprehensive details on how Fayose allegedly looted Ekiti,  saying nothing must be spared to ensure that all the funds were recovered and culprits prosecuted for the state to move forward.

Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said the “APC protesters” asking him to wave his immunity, were doing so out of “ignorance and desperation to win the state in 2018.”

He added, “But it is a failed agenda abinitio because we are ever ready for them on a daily basis like soldiers guarding the entrance to a military formation. They should know that this is 2016 and not 2006.

“Their whole agenda is about 2018 and their game plans are what we are now seeing, using the EFCC to concoct lies and using the media to disparage Governor Fayose; but they can’t go far.”

Adelusi advised those against the governor to wait till 2018 for him to submit himself to the EFCC as he did in 2007.

He stated, “Till now, even the political EFCC has not alleged Fayose of stealing Ekiti money and if it is concocting one, we shall meet in court at the appropriate time.

“It is very shameful that these protesters have not asked their boss, (Kayode) Fayemi to account for the SUBEB N852m fund he misappropriated or tell Ekiti people why, within four years he landed the state in a valley of debt and what he did with the huge loans he took from the capital market and commercial banks.”

“As far as we know, no amount of harassment or intimidation or character assassination will make members of Ekiti State House of Assembly to succumb to pressure to go against the Governor. The legislators know that their governor has not done any wrong thing

Protesters gather in New York in the wake of Police shootings of 2 black men

Ngige, Kachikwu to meet with PENGASSAN over planned strike

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, is to meet with representatives of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Thursday, a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja said.

The statement, signed by Mr Samuel Olowookere, the Deputy Director (Press) in the labour ministry, said that the “crucial meeting” was being convened to find a lasting solution to the lingering problems in the oil and gas sector.

It said that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, would also participate in in the dialogue scheduled for 10am in Abuja.

PENGASSAN has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike beginning from Thursday over some issues, including the alleged mass sacking of its members by various oil and gas companies

Breaking: Messi ‘given 21-month jail term’

Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after a court in Barcelona found him guilty of three counts of tax fraud, a statement from the court said on Wednesday.

The court also sentenced the Argentine soccer player’s father, Jorge, to 21 months in prison for the same three crimes. The sentence can be appealed through the Spanish supreme court, the statement said.

However, under Spanish law a prison sentence under two years can be served under probation, meaning Messi and his father are unlikely to go to jail.

The court ordered Messi to pay a fine of around 2 million euros ($2.21 million) and his father to pay 1.5 million euros for the crimes.

Euro: Russian players punished for €250,000 champagne party

Two Russian national team players have been punished by their clubs after video of them at a champagne-fuelled party in Monaco following the squad’s dismal exit from Euro 2016 sparked outrage.

Russian media reported that midfielder Pavel Mamayev and forward Alexander Kokorin allegedly splashed some 250,000 euros on 500 bottles of champagne for revellers at a night club in Monaco.

Shaky internet footage of event that went viral showed waiters carrying dozens of bottles of bubbly with sparklers attached to them as the Russian national anthem blared out in the background.

Kokorin’s club Zenit said late Tuesday that they had demoted him to the reserves while Mamayev’s team FC Krasnodar announced he would be training with the youth squad. Both players were also fined.

“Unfortunately, Russian footballers often get themselves into scandalous situations because they lack a sense of restraint and culture of how to behave in public places,” Zenit said in a statement.

A Kremlin spokesman said Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin had heard of the incident and that “God would be the judge” of the players if they were responsible for the party.

“Of course everyone has heard about this excess, including the president,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

“We have to be very careful and work out to start with whether our footballers paid for this beastliness or someone else,” he said.

The owner of the Twiga nightclub where the two players were seen partying denied that they had ordered the champagne and insisted the pair were out with their wives and did not drink the alcohol.

“There was a private party in Twiga organised by some Russians,” club owner Flavio Briatore wrote on Instagram.

“They recognised Kokorin and Mamayev and as a sign of respect, as they are fans, they started sending them some bottles of champagne and they asked our DJ to play the Russian Anthem”.

Russia was dumped out of Euro 2016 at the group stage after managing only one draw against England before losing to Slovakia and Wales.

The dismal performances ignited fierce criticism of the team and saw manager Leonid Slutsky step down.

Russia is gearing up to host the World Cup in 2018 but the next national manager faces a tough task trying to turn around an ageing squad.

Father dies after ‘being hit by his son’ who he had not spoken to in four years (photos)

25 year old Morgan Isles-English, from Teneriffe in suburban Brisbane, was arrested and charged on Monday night after allegedly punching his father in the mouth causing him to smash his head on a concrete. His dad, 53-year-old Mark English who had not seen his son in 4 years has now died from the life-threatening head injuries.

Investigators are considering upgrading the charges to manslaughter as Isles-English was initially charged with grievous bodily harm.

The Brisbane Times reports that the son fled the scene as his father lay unconscious, face down on the street, and was given first aid by his partner Varri Telfer who waited for an ambulance. He was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital suffering life threatening head injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma before later giving up the ghost.

On Tuesday, the young man looked to be in distress at the Brisbane Magistrates Court where he repeatedly hit his head against the glass of the dock.
He called out to a woman thought to be his mother in the public gallery asking about his father’s condition.When she indicated that Mr English was still in a coma, the 25-year-old broke down in tears.

Isles-English reportedly shouted to his mother: “I love you mum” to which she responded with “I love you too.”

BREAKING: Nollywood actress, Bukky Ajayi, is dead

Veteran Nollywood actress, Bukky Ajayi, is dead.

Ajayi studied drama at the Institute of Drama, London.

She was part of the TV series Village Headmaster which aired in the 1980s.

Buhari Hotels And Restaurants Spotted In India (See Photos)

Buhari Hotel is part of a chain of South Indian restaurants called Buhari Hotels & Restaurants. The group has been in existence since 1951. The hotel has many outlets in various parts of Chennai.

The restaurant is famous in the metropolitan city of Chennai. It provides vegetarian as well as non vegetarian food. The service is well organized by the team of trained professionals.

The restaurant is famous for its Buhari Biryani. It is also served with a boiled egg sitting atop with its Mutton or Chicken variant which is very catchy. The Biryani is so popular that it is mentioned in many Tamil movies, songs and other articles and still remains the flavor of Madras/Chennai. Many celebrities and renowned people prefer ordering food from the restaurant.

It is unclear to IGBERE TV if President Buhari has any link with the hotel.Considering the year of establishment,it is unlikely President Buhari will have a link with the hotel