BREAKING: James Ibori released from prison

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori has been released from prison.

His media aide, Tony Elumenor made the disclosure Wednesday afternoon.

He said Ibori was released a few minutes past noon upon a court order.

Ibori was sentenced by a United Kingdom court to prison for 13 years and served out his term midnight yesterday.

It is not yet known if Ibori will return to Nigeria anytime soon as the EFCC is plotting to re-arrest him.

A Southwark Crown court had on April 17, 2012, sentenced Ibori to prison after the ex-governor pleaded guilty to 10 counts of money laundering and stealing $250m.

Following his conviction in the UK, there were criticisms of the Nigerian justice system.

There was national outrage after Asaba High Court struck out the entire 170 charges which the EFCC had brought against Ibori.

I am not fighting with Tinubu – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has debunked rumours that he and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are at loggerheads with the National leader of the Party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari said such rumours were unfounded and mischievous.

He insisted that he was in constant communication with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo governorship election last weekend.

Buhari hailed Tinubu as a priceless political asset to the party and said the presidency and APC leadership was not working to destroy the former Governor of Lagos State.

Deported Nigerian man re-arrested in US for scamming woman of over $9,000

A 47-year-old Nigerian man, Chigozie Valentine Agu, has been arrested in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana, US, on charges of ‘Felony Theft’ in excess of $5,000, Bank Fraud, Money Laundering, and Racketeering.

Agu was nabbed after he scammed an elderly woman to the tune of nearly $9,000.

The suspect was deported to Louisiana and booked into the Vermillion Parish Correctional Center and was arrested at the weekend by the Metro Washington Airport Authority at Dulles Airport, following an investigation by General Landry’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) as he re-entered the United States.

Malcom McLaren's Son Burns $6 Million Worth Of Punk Memorabilia

The 40th anniversary of Sex Pistol's first single, "Anarchy in the UK" occurred over the weekend and to celebrate Joe Corre, the son of Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren and punk designer Vivienne

Westwood, burned $6 million of rare punk memorabilia outside Buckingham Palace. It has been reported that burned items included Sex Pistols recordings, clothing belonging to Westwood and Johnny Rotten, and a Sid Vicious doll with a swastika on it.

In an interview with The Guardian, Corre said that punk has become nothing more than, "McDonald's brand … owned by the state, establishment and corporations." He went on to explain about burning the memorabilia, "I think this is the right opportunity to say: you know what? Punk is dead. Stop conning a younger generation that it somehow has any currency to deal with the issues that they face or has any currency to create the way out of the issues that they face. It's not and it's time to think about something else."

5 Helpful tips for Nigerians who use Wifi

Gone are the days when most Nigerians relied on cables for internet access. With the introduction of Wifi, internet access is seemingly easier, faster and much more convenient. 

Although the almighty Wifi is one of the most useful and important aspects of using a computer, it can also be frustrating as sometimes the Wifi network can be sluggish, defective, and insecure.

If you are plagued with bad reception, slow speeds, and other issues, Jumia Travel, Africa’s No. 1 online hotel booking portal presents 5 ways you can power up the Wi-Fi and improve your network speeds. 

Turkish warplanes launch airstrikes on Syrian city of al-Bab

Turkish warplanes have carried out a series of airstrikes on the Syrian city of al-Bab in yet another blatant act of aggression against the sovereignty of the Arab state.

According to the Turkish military, the airstrikes were conducted against targets in the city of al-Bab, located some 40 kilometers northeast of Aleppo, shortly before 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Friday.

The military claimed the attacks targeted Daesh.

The strikes are part of an ongoing incursion by Turkish military inside northern Syria.

On August 24, Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by warplanes from the US-led coalition launched their first coordinated offensive in Syria. On the same day, Damascus strongly denounced the intervention as a breach of its sovereignty.

Senior officials in Damascus have said that any side willing to fight terrorism on the Syrian territory should cooperate with the government and the Syrian army.

The threat of a new political party by Reuben Abati

When aggrieved politicians within the People's Democratic Party (PDP) decided to join forces with members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the All Progressives Peoples Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013.

The triumph of the APC in the 2015 elections resulting in victory at the Presidential level, in 23 states out of 36, and also in the legislature, state and federal, was propelled on the wings of the people’s embrace of this slogan of change. Change became the aphrodisiac of Nigeria’s search for democratic progress. The new party’s promises were delivered with so much certainty and cock-suredness. Those who were promised free meals were already salivating before casting the first vote.

The permanently opportunistic players in Nigeria’s private sector could be seen trading across the lines as they have always done. Everyone knew the PDP had too much internal baggage to deal with.

The opposition exploited this to the fullest and they were helped in no small measure, not just by the party’s implosion, but also the offensiveness of the claims by certain elements within the PDP that their party will rule Nigeria forever. This arrogance had gone

Toke Makinwa opens up about her s*x tape, bleaching and estranged husband

Popular media personality Toke Makinwa has released her first book "On Becoming" and we're excited.The TV host and Vlogger talks about contemplating suicide, finding God, bleaching and more.

On sex tape and bleaching,

"At some point while we were dating, Maje had asked if he could tape us having sex. This was a new one for me but I would do anything to keep my man, or so I thought, and so I obliged. But I was nervous afterwards because I didn’t want the tape to get into the wrong hands…. I dragged the file back to his desktop, and I could tell from the stilled image in the video that the person in it was not me…. I clicked play and

Green Party’s Jill Stein raises $4.5 million for presidential vote recounts

US Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein has raised over $4 million to force a vote recount in the three battleground states where Donald Trump scored narrow wins in the 2016 presidential election.

Stein’s website said Thursday it has exceeded its initial goal for raising $2.5 million and has reached its target of raising $4.5 million to force recounts in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

The deadlines to petition for recounts are approaching in Wisconsin on Friday, Pennsylvania on Monday and Michigan on Wednesday.

"We deserve elections we can trust," Stein’s campaign said, adding that the effort was not intended to help defeated Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Stein’s push for recounts comes as a growing number of academics and computer scientists, as well as election lawyers, believe foreign hackers could have modified vote totals.

Nigerian designer for U.S fashion show

Helen Apreala, a Nigerian born international designer will on November 1 take part in the world highest catwalk at the Grand Canyon Skywalk, on the Colorado River, United States.

The open air catwalk will feature an exquisite combination of Haute Couture and Prêt-à-Porter collections from America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Spanish artist Diego Cortizas is bringing his bold colours of red, yellow, and green to the grand catwalk.

Expressing abstract creativity, Russian sensation Lidia Demidova is combining texture and shapes based on the laws of geometry.

On a softer side, Portuguese fashion house Joana Montez and Patricia de Melo will focus on the usage of multiple layers, light materials, transparency, and floral designs. Lebanese Haute Couture designer Ziad Nakad will demonstrate a captivating fusion of material and colours while celebrating simplicity and sophistication.

Battle erupts over Trump's secretary of state pick

A battle has erupted in Donald Trump's camp over his pick for US secretary of state, with loyal supporters seeking to block the appointment of Mitt Romney, a fierce critic of the President-elect during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The debate over selecting the head the US State Department has led to an internal dispute in Trump’s team between supporters of Romney, those favoring former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others who believe Trump should keep searching for candidates.

Romney, who was nominated by the Republican Party in 2012 to be US president, is the leading prospect to become America's top diplomat in Trump’s incoming administration.

However, some of Trump's loyalists have united to oppose the appointment of Romney, who called the celebrity businessman a "fraud" and a "conman" during the presidential campaign.

Read Tinubu's letter to Atiku on his 70th birthday

Former Governor of Lagos State and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a man of faith, saying that faith has kept him going and waxing strong.

In a letter he personally signed, Asiwaju Tinubu felicitated with Atiku on attaining the proverbial age of 70 and urged him to accept that “there is a tide in the affairs of men”.

He said in the letter in which he addressed Atiku as his dear brother:

“I write to felicitate with you on the attainment of the proverbial age of three scores and ten, 70.

“Your life has been a life of service to your people, your country and the causes you believe in. Nigeria has been well served by your stewardship and leadership.

China academics expect Trump to pursue 'hegemony' in Asia

An influential government think tank in China says the US will not disengage from Asia and the South China Sea under President-elect Donald Trump and will continue to seek “regional hegemony.”

“There will be no overturning change to US policy in the South China Sea [under Trump],” said Wu Shicun, the head of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, on Friday.

“China could possibly set up an Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea if the US continues to intensify patrols and low-altitude spying in the region,” he further told reporters in Beijing.

The think tank said in a report on the same day that “absolute control” was the ultimate US military strategy in the South China Sea.

Blazes billow across Israel-occupied lands for 4th day

Wildfires rage across Israel for a fourth straight day after a conflagration broke out in the northwestern city of Haifa, prompting tens of thousands of evacuations.

The blazes billowed in many locations throughout the Israeli-occupied territories on Friday. The fire in Haifa, the hardest hit city, has forced some 80,000 people to flee.

The fires are also still burning in the forests west of Jerusalem al-Quds, on central and northern hilltops and in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Police said hundreds of people were evacuated from the village of Beit Meir near Jerusalem al-Quds overnight. They also reported the outbreak of a new fire near the southern town of Kiryat Gat.

The Haifa mayor urged residents with water sprinklers to help put out the flames as thousands of residents of the mixed Jewish-Arab coastal city spent the night in temporary accommodation.

Tunisian president confirms presence of US drones on Libyan border

Tunisia’s President Beji Caid Essebsi has confirmed that the US is operating spy drones over the Tunisian border with Libya, in an admission likely to cause controversy.Essebsi said in a recent interview with the regional channel El Hiwar Ettounsi that the drone flights were needed to avoid such cross-border terrorist attacks as a raid in March on the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan.

Essebsi said in a recent interview with the regional channel El Hiwar Ettounsi that the drone flights were needed to avoid such cross-border terrorist attacks as a raid in March on the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan.

“We do not have clear information, and we should act instead of waiting until another Ben Guerdan,” the Tunisian president said.

Dozens of Daesh terrorists stormed the Tunisian border town of Ben Guerdan back then, attacking army and police posts. At least 53 people were killed in the attack, including civilians.

The question of the presence of the US military in Tunisia is likely to

No crisis in APC – Governor Ajimobi insist

The Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi has insisted that there is no crisis within the ranks of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ajimobi made this remark while addressing reporters after a closed-door meeting held at the government house, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The governor also explained that he was absent during the APC mega governorship rally in Akure, Ondo State last Saturday because he was not in the country.

Recall that Ajimobi, the Lagos governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, his counterpart from Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, and a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu  were noticeably absent at the APC rally last weekend graced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Giving reason for his absence, Ajimobi said, “some of us were out of the country. Me for example I was in China”.

The closed-door meeting had

Teenager passes out after pastor raped her during ‘anointing’ in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a pastor, identified as Adekunle Francis, for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl, simply identified as Dolapo.

Francis was arrested on November 22 at Ipamesan, Sango Ota, after he allegedly lured his victim into an uncompleted building under the pretext of praying for and anointing her.

He was said to have raped her until she passed out.

The pastor was paraded on Thursday before newsmen at the state police command headquarters.

Parading the suspect, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the victim reported her ordeal at the Sango Police Station.

PDP in Ogun suspends Kashamu, six others

The Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has announced the suspension of some top members.

This is contained in a statement jointly signed by Hon. Sikirulai Olawale Ogundele, State Chairman, and Hon. Olabode Bankole, State Secretary.

It said the development follows the report of a Panel which was constituted in June, 2016 to investigate allegations of financial improprieties, anti-party activities and sundry reckless acts that are capable of bringing the party to disrepute.

“The Panel on several occasions invited some of the above named who were implicated in the misapplication and outright diversion of party funds to defend and acquit themselves of those allegations but they refused to honour the invitation.”

Nigerian Newspapers: Friday morning

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know this Friday morning

 Today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers

1. The Supreme Court of Friday threw out the appeal filed before it by business mogul, Jimoh Ibrahim, challenging the decision of the Appellant court, which removed him as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State.

A five man panel led by the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen in its decision said Jimoh’s case lackd merit and should be discarded in entirety.

2. The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly yesterday passed the bill for the establishment of Peace Corps of Nigeria into law. Senator Nafada-led committee recommended that the Nigerian Peace Corps and the National Unity and Peace Corps should be merged as one, since both formations appear the same.

3. The Agusta AW 101, one of the presidential jets recently handed over to the Nigerian Air Force yesterday crashed at the Nigerian Air Force base in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Neymar responds to legal woes in Instagram post

Barcelona forward Neymar has used an Instagram post to apparently address the latest attempt by Spain's public prosecutor to seek a jail term in relation to his controversial transfer from Santos.

On Wednesday, Judge Jose Perals requested a two-year sentence and a €10 million fine for the Barca striker and his father, along with the same fine and a one-year prison term for his mother, on the grounds of alleged corruption in the Brazil captain's 2013 move from his homeland to La Liga.

The case stems from a complaint by investment group DIS, which owned 40 per cent of Neymar's economic rights and claims it received less money than it was entitled to following the transfer.

Tragedy: Falconets player hospitalised as NFF fails to pay off team

Falconets defender Mary Ologbosere has been referred to the traumatic unit of a hospital in Abuja after she suffered from depression following the inability of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay the players on arrival from the U-20 World Cup in Papua New Guinea. 

The 18-year-old defender lost her father while the Falconets were at the World Cup and the entire family were counting on her to come back and bury him. 

However, on return from the World Cup Wednesday afternoon, they were all shocked when they were each paid a miserly N10,000  to return to their various homes. 

A shocked Ologbosere A shocked Ologbosere cried all through the night and had to be rushed to hospital as a result, where she has now been admitted at the traumatic unit. “She is totally shattered by this heartless treatment,” simply reported a team official at the Serob Legacy Hotel.

“It’s truly a pathetic case.” The 10,000 Naira paid each player was the only money they received from the NFF since they opened training camp for the World Cup earlier this year.

Nigerian crude not abandoned commodity – NNPC

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, has stated Nigerian crude oil is not an abandoned commodity. Addressing newsmen after declaring open the 2016/2017 bid for crude oil grades, Baru said the nation’s crude is not struggling or stranded but remains a hot cake in the oil market.

“Nigerian crude has continued to earn premiums and it is hot cake all over for refiners because of the light nature of the crude.

“It induces very high yields on the valuable products that you produce from crude oil. Nigerian crude oil continues to maintain market.

“In fact, contrary to a lot of speculation that a lot of Nigerian crude goes to China, they do not.

“Most of them are consumed and refined in India and Europe, particularly this year and last year; most of Nigerian crude end up in European refineries.’’

He also dismissed as false, the report that the corporation operated a separate crude account.

Mikel gets N66m a week from Chinese Club

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel has been offered $212,000 a week (about N66m official rate) by Chinese club Shanghai SIPG. 

The offer according to owngoalnigeria.com was made to the player’s agent after the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Algeria. Mikel has been frozen out by Chelsea coach Antonio Conte despite being in a rich physical form. He has been linked to a move in January to French club Marseille.

Lay off Alex Iwobi: Arsenal star needs protection, not abuse

Arsenal’s draw on Wednesday at home to Paris Saint-Germain means their placement in the group is no longer in their own hands. The French champions will seal qualification in first place with a victory at home against winless Ludogorets on Matchday 6, again condemning the Gunners to a round-of-16 tie against one of the winners of the other groups.

The disappointment is stark, not because it is an unfamiliar situation for the Londoners, but because only a month ago, it genuinely seemed there would be a break from the norm. Fight, heart, grit, aggression, all of the factors that had been lacking at the Emirates over the years seemed in abundant supply, and all the team’s moving parts were grinding along in perfect synchronization.

Central to this was the form of youngster Alex Iwobi, and for all the midfield dysfunction occasioned by the continued absence of the metronomic Santi Cazorla, the team’s loss of form has coincided with that of the Nigeria international.

RUMOURS: Mourinho to make £25m Willian move

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is planning to make a £25 million move for Willian when the transfer window reopens in January, according to the Daily Express.The Portuguese is keen to work with the Brazilian again and feels his pace could prove useful as he rebuilds the Red Devils.

Willian has struggled for game time in recent weeks as Antonio Conte has switched to a new system but only signed a new contract back in July.

Mary Ogunbiyi an ace fashion designer launches a fashion outfit - Hemhay Creations.

Mary Ogunbiyi an ace fashion designer launches a fashion outfit - Hemhay Creations. 

Mary Ogunbiyi, as she's popularly known, is a lady of intricate concepts, she puts in the creative art of Fashion wears. Specialized on female dresses of different kinds, turning the Africa Ankara (fabrics) into world acceptable wears that represents and fits in; from decades on to the 21st century and beyond styles of dress codes. Very articulate in translating best creative ideas into fashion and designing. She had collaborated with a number of fashion designers in the past before setting out to create her own label-Hemhay Creations. She is building on her personal reputation as a style icon.

"Hemhay collections are affordable, and also taking styles from individual who wants a specific style and design" she said  while showing us some of the previous designs.

The Legacy Called The Experience Lagos - Experience 11

The experience, hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has served as a gateway to the secret place of the Most High for Christians and non Christians alike. It has commanded the desire of Nigerians and foreigners to praise, pray and worship like they can nowhere else. Coming up. Find out when!

For a decade, the experience, hosted by Pastor Paul Adefarasin, has served as a gateway to the secret place of the Most High for Christians and non Christians alike. It has commanded the desire of Nigerians and foreigners to praise, pray and worship like they can nowhere else.

When it debuted in December 2006, it was mostly thought of as an over excited gathering of Christians who would soon loose their spark. Although 70,000 people gathered to praise that year, it was hardly impressed in their hearts that it would metamorphose into something bigger in the coming years. But then such is the hand work of the Most High God; using the little things to make the most incredible impact.

Accused families protest as Appeal court’s motion stalls Aderiye’s murder case

The non-adoption of brief of argument at the Ado Ekiti Division of the Court of Appeal has stalled the trial of seven persons accused of complicity in the killing of former Ekiti State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Omolafe Aderiye.

The case could not go on at the Ekiti State High Court 6 on Monday as presiding judge, Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye adjourned to December 19 for mention pending the conclusion of hearing at the appellate court.

The accused persons are Adebayo Aderiye (1st), Adeniyi Adedipe (2nd), Oso Farotimi (3rd), Ajayi Kayode (4th), Sola Durodola (5th), Rotimi Olanbiwonnu (6th) and Sola Adenijo (7th).

Prosecution counsel, M.T. Alaaya told the court that there was a pending motion on the matter at the Court of Appeal praying for an adjournment of the case.

Senate begins public hearings to restructure marine transport

In response to the low revenue profile of Nigeria’s marine transport, Senate on Monday begins public hearing with a view to amend an Act establishing Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA)

In his opening address, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was represented by Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda stressed that the nation’s marine sector had fallen short of meeting the needs of water transportation system and by extension, the nation was losing huge revenues.

He noted that the effective means of water transport was the creation of enabling environment for private participation, saying the 8th Senate was committed to making sure, Acts of NIWA and that of NPA were amended.

“The 8th Senate will take time to create enabling laws for private sector participation and NIWA must be part of Nigeria’s agencies that generates revenues for economic growth,” he said.

Zidane backs Ronaldo to break Stefano, Bernabeu derby record against Atletico

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is two goals away from equaling Alfredo Di Stefano and Santiago Bernabeu records for goals scored against local rivals, Atletico Madrid, and Zinedine Zidane believes his side will benefit from the player’s “positive energy.”

Club legends, Stefano and Bernabeu currently lead the derby scoring charts with 17 goals apiece, but Ronaldo is closing in with his 15 in 25 appearances.

Ronaldo has scored seven goals in 12 outings in all competitions so far. This is relatively poor compared to last season.

The 31-year-old heads into Saturday’s derby at the Vicente Calderon on the back of two goals in Portugal’s 4-1 victory over Latvia on Sunday, a development that must have motivated him.

But he has not scored in the last six matches between the two sides. Ahead of the Saturday’s game, Zidane told a news conference, “Ronaldo always wants more.