The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command Francis Mobolaji Odesanya, is dead.
The CP reportedly died today in a hospital in India, where he went for treatment for kidney failure according to police sources.
CP Francis Mobolaji Odesanya assumed duty as the 37th Rivers State Commissioner of Police in August, 2016. He succeeded CP Folunso A. Adebanjo who was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police and who is currently in charge of Information and Communication Technology Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The later Rivers Commissioner of Police enlisted into the force on February 2, 1986, as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police and rose through the ranks to the position of Commissioner of Police on the 12th day of July, 2016.
Odesanya was born in Lagos and hailed from Irolu in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State. He bagged a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science (B.Sc) from the University of Lagos, Akoka and a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) from the Lagos State University, Ojo.
Odesanya attended various professional courses both at home and overseas.
A truckload of pump-action rifles imported through the Lagos ports was intercepted by government authorities yesterday.
The Marc truck containing 49 boxes with a total number of 661 pieces of pump-action rifles and concealed as steel doors was impounded by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Comptroller-general of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (retd), who gave details of the seizure at a press conference in Lagos, yesterday, said the contraband 40ft container was intercepted along Apapa Mile 2 Road on January 22, 2017 by officers of the service, Federal Operations Unit (A), Ikeja.
He said three men linked to the illegal import had been arrested.
“On Sunday 22nd January, 2017, the roving team of the NCS Federal Operations Unit (FOU), while on information patrol, intercepted a Mack truck with registration number BDG 265 XG conveying a 1x40ft container with number: PONU/825914/3 along Mile 2 Apapa road.
“The truck was immediately taken to the premises of FOU (A), Ikeja, where physical examination revealed 49 boxes containing a total number of 661 pieces of pump-action rifles concealed with steel doors and other merchandise goods.
“These rifles are under absolute prohibition; therefore, its importation is illegal. Such deadly contravention of the law is even more unacceptable considering the fragile security situation in some parts of the country.
“Already, three suspects have been arrested in connection with this illegal importation. They are 51-year-old Mr Oscar Okafor who is the importer; 56-year-old Mahmud Hassan, a clearing agent, and a 28- year-old Sadique Mustapha who was found accompanying the consignment to its destination,” ,” Col Ali said.
The Customs boss said the huge seizure signposts the new era in the Service
“This seizure underscores the determination of the service to enforce all laws relating to the importation and exportation of goods into and out of Nigeria, thereby contributing to the economy, security and wellbeing of the country.
“This feat is also no doubt commendable and represents the new normal in the Service where most officers and men are, on a daily basis, working to ensure that all illegalities are not allowed go unchecked.”
He commended the comptroller of the Lagos State command and all officers and men involved in the seizure of the arms for their good work.
Oprah Winfrey. The award-winning media mogul, actress, philanthropist and cultural icon inspires so many people every day. Perhaps because we see so much of ourselves in what she represents: a very real person trying her hardest every day to live well – while challenging others to do the same. And she’s been inspiring so many for so long. September 2016 marked the 30-year anniversary of her legendary talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. The daytime talk show had the biggest celebrities, the most in-depth interviews and tips for living life at your very best.
But when asked does she miss it, the network channel owner said, “I never wanted to be the person for whom people were saying, ‘Oh that show was so good two years ago.’ I never wanted to be the person who [was told], ‘You should’ve gotten out of the ring before you got punched stronger,'” Winfrey shared. “I never wanted to be the person who didn’t know when to exit the party.” “It was the most glorious, most amazing platform anybody can have to speak to millions of people every day and I think I exited in the exact right moment,” she continued. “So now, I get to tell stories in a different way.”
And that too has proven to be a success, with the OWN network at at all-time high of viewership with a plethora of original programming including Greenleaf and the newest show, Queen Sugar.
Now, just about on every red carpet, the billionairre gets asked, “how did you do it?” and “what’s the secret to success?” So here we’ve compiled 12 of the beautiful Ms. Winfrey’s top secrets to a healthier, more rewarding life:
1. “Turn your wounds into wisdom.” Turn your mess into a message. Don’t let your pain be in vain. Do something positive with it!
2. “You can have it all. Just not all at once.” Be patient. Have an order. Prioritize. Focus on what you want, now. Plan for what you want later.
oprah gif
3.“If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn’t want you, nothing can make him stay.” All you can do is be yourself, that is the only thing you can control. Focus on that.
4. “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” You know you reached a high level of integrity when you don’t even care if people know or not. You just do it.
5. “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Never become too busy or too preoccupied to celebrate everything you have done, all that you have and all that you are!
6. “One of the hardest things in life to learn are which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.” You can’t keep all of them. You can’t make everyone happy.
7. “You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe.” There is nothing more influential than your thoughts.
oprah gif 2
8. “When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.” Love yourself and all the world to love you too!
9. “Only make decisions that support your self-image, self-esteem, and self worth.” Become extremely intentional with everything that you do. Be fully on purpose. Make sure everything you do supports who you are and who you want to be.
10. “Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.” Stress comes from thinking that things should have been different. But they have worked out this way for a reason. ALL you can do is keep moving forward.
11. “So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.” Everything that we go through gives us new perspective, information and insight. Embrace all of it. 12. “I don’t believe in failure. It’s not failure if you enjoy the process.” There is no failure, only feedback. Everything is either what you want, or what you don’t want. But failure is not real.
And if you need a little bit more encouragement, Here is a 3-step game plan from Ms. O. 1. Find a stress-management tool. It can be yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, etc. Find a ritual that’s right for you to help combat stress, because you WILL have stress. It’s not something to run from, stress IS life. Which is why growing in life involves coping with stress in a healthy way.
2. Devise a physical fitness routine. Ideally, one that you can handle and be consistent with. Talk with a trainer or your doctor to come up with a plan that will help you succeed in both your physical fitness and healthy life goals. Also, remember that consistency is the key. If you visit places where people live a long time – Costa Rica, Sardinia, places in China, Okinawa in Japan – they all follow consistent fitness routines.
3. Have faith in a power other than yourself. The wisest and most successful people on this Earth didn’t achieve what they have alone. Instead, they embraced a strong network of others who helped support and challenge them to do their best. This means everything from making yourself more spiritually healthy to picking up the phone to talk to friends and family. There’s loving support all around you – whether you realize it or not.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday evening said that his administration will continue to harness the massive potentials and creativity that abound in the arts and entertainment sector not only to boost the State’s economy but also to lead the drive to get the nation out of recession.
The Governor, who spoke at the maiden Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition, held at the Eko Hotels and Suites in Victoria Island, said there was no better time for progressive governments to begin to look towards the arts and entertainment sector to create jobs for the teeming youths, which according to him can go a long way to reflate the economy.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; his wife, Bolanle; member,House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson(3rd left) and former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Aderenle Ogunsanya during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017.
He said, “If we are going to beat recession, the real future of Lagos and Nigeria is what you have seen tonight and that’s where we are going.
“In a situation where we have been unable to tap the energy in creative arts, I can tell you for free that the real future of Lagos and the economy generally in Nigeria is in the creative arts, entertainment and in services. Like I have always said, we have an end to white collar jobs, so the future and now is for those who are creative, innovative and those who can use their energy and talent to create employment”.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, pointing to a place of interest on one the photographic arts on display, Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs & Investment, Prof. Ademola Abass; Director, African Artists’ Foundation, Mr. Azu Nwagbogu and Photojournalist, Noorimages, Mr. Kadir Van Lohuizen during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017.
Governor Ambode said his administration believes that no nation or state can achieve its full potential without adequate attention to matters of heritage and culture or without due encouragement for the teeming youthful population that sees and seeks opportunities in the creative industries.
“Creativity is the most valuable asset in any progressive society. Therefore, progressive governments must embrace creativity. We are committed, and we must reward contributors of creative ideas with incentives.
Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, her husband, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Director General, Lagos State Records and Archive Bureau, Mr. Abiodun Onayele during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017
“This is why we are keenly interested in further development of our creative talents; in providing them with support and opportunities to be engaged; in helping to create platforms such as today’s to excel and compete globally and in showing to the world that Lagos is more than ready to announce its arrival as the continent’s frontline destination of choice that gives arts and culture their due,” the Governor said.
He said with the Arts Exhibition, aside seeking to immortalise the sterling contributions of the late Co-Chair of the Lagos @ 50 Committee, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, presented a veritable platform for his administration to show its passion for the creative arts especially by encouraging young and budding talents.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (3rd right); Founder/CEO, Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon (2nd right); wife of Lagos State Governor, Bolanle (right), being conducted round some of the artworks by Curator, Mrs. Simidele Adesanya during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017.
“This is why we are keenly interested in further development of our creative talents; in providing them with support and opportunities to be engaged; in helping to create platforms such as today’s to excel and compete globally and in showing to the world that Lagos is more than ready to announce its arrival as the continent’s frontline destination of choice that gives arts and culture their due,” Governor Ambode said.
He said aside the six arts theaters and cinemas which would come on board this year, his administration was making several other interventions to engage the arts community for the Lagos @ 50 celebrations, including engaging several artists to decorate various parts of our state with landmark installations.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); his wife, Bolanle (2nd right); Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (right), with an artistic designed car by Visual Artist, Polly Alakija (left) during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017.
“Imagine if you give these young ones six arts theatres and cinemas across Lagos, that means they can display their talents, that means we would create more jobs for people, that means there would be money coming into Lagos and then we would have improved on tourism, that’s what we are doing,” Governor Ambode said.
On his part, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed commended the efforts of Governor Ambode describing him as one of the most passionate governors keen to give the creative arts industry a face lift.
Mohammed said Governor Ambode, aside being the first governor in Nigeria building theaters all over the State, his passion to upgrade the National Museum and the National Theatre to world class standard was second to none.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (2nd right); member,House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson (left) with Hebeeb Audu Artwoks (left) during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017.
He added that through massive investment in the security apparatus in the State as well as the Light Up Lagos initiative, the Governor was putting in place lifelong infrastructures, which according to him was reviving a 24-hour economy for Lagos.
Corroborating him, former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba was full of praise of Governor Ambode, saying that he has succeeded in bringing the old and the new together and restoring Lagos as the modern father of Nigeria.
Also speaking, arts collector extraordinaire, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, said if Lagos can sustain the drive to revive the creative arts and entertainment industry, the State is capable of feeding Nigeria with foreign exchange.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left); former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; wife of Lagos State Governor, Bolanle and Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola during the Opening of the Rasheed Gbadamosi Art Exhibition as part of activities to celebrate Lagos@50 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, January 27, 2017
He cited the Opera House in Paris, France, Spain and South Africa as countries who are raking in millions of dollars through arts, culture and tourism, saying Lagos was already taking a cue.
“Lagos State has blazed the trail. Thank You Governor, you are the Moses we have been waiting for. It takes a lot of insight for someone to identify this great creativity in this state and an industry is being created, joblessness would reduce, people will be busy, we would have less social problems, the image of this state will grow and we would become a great city,” he said.
The Aboyade Cole, Lagos residence of the former Secretary to the Lagos
State Government, Princess Aderele Adeniran Ogunsanya was agog recently
as the ageless daughter of frontline politician, Chief Adeniran
Ogunsanya of blessed memory, celebrated 69 glorious years of glamour,
glam and achievement. Looking resplendent in a single cut red lace attire, the former SSG, who
gave her best serving with the immediate past administration of Mr.
Babatunde Fashola, was all smiles attending to guest from far and wide,
who came to show their love.
The event, which practically did not have a definite time of starting
and ending, saw guest, especially members of the governing All
Progressives Congress (APC), family members, friends and well wishers,
trooping in and out in their number, to celebrate with a woman, who had
touched more lives than one in 69 years sojourn on earth, and as a
public servant in Lagos State. With so much to eat and drink, inspirational music flowing a disc jockey
of repute, the crowd of well wishers and political stalwarts could not
but have the swellest of time, networking and above discussing the good
steps to better the lives of the people of Lagos State, which the
government, led by Mr, Akinwunmi Ambode is known for..
In her birthday message to the people of Lagos in particular, and
Nigerians in general, the woman, who is reputed to have a very spot for
other ethnic nationalities, especially the Igbos, just like her father,
said ‘the best is yet to come, keep believing in the administration of
the APC, especially in Lagos State’.
Mrs Maryam Sagir has filed an application to
withdraw as a surety to Olugbenga Obadina, a business man standing trial
for allegedly laundering about N2.4 billion.
Sagir,
at the resumed trial of Obadina at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on
Friday tendered her application before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba.
Sagir
through her counsel, Mr P. Agunzi prayed the court to discharge her as
Obadina’s surety, as he had not kept to the conditions they agreed on.
“I will like to apply on behalf of my client to withdraw her surety ship and to be discharged from that obligation.
“The
defendant since admitted on bail has not kept to the understanding they
had as each time efforts are made to reach him, he is not forth
coming.”
The lawyer said that the application was urgent as Obadina was applying for the release of his passport.
Counsel to Obadina, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said he was not aware of the surety’s intention to withdraw.
“It
would have been more professional if the application was brought to the
notice of the defendant’s counsel since you know that the defendant is
represented by counsel,” Uche said.
Uche also told the court that
the defence had agreed for the matter to be adjourned on the health
grounds of the prosecutor, Mr Larry Aso.
Aso had earlier told the court that he was unable to prosecute the matter due to ill health.
Dimgba adjourned the matter till Feb. 1 to take the application, as this would enable Obadina get a new surety before then.
He also adjourned the substantive matter till March 1 for continuation of hearing.
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obadina and
his company, Almond Projects Limited on an eight-count charge of
criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering to the tune of
N2.4billion.
Obadina allegedly collected the money, paid into his
company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015 from the Office of
the National Security Adviser under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A United States appeals court has upheld a ruling mandating Buruji
Kashamu to face a drug trafficking trial, Washington Post reports.
The ruling means that Kashamu can be extradited from Nigeria to the US to answer to the charges.
The senator representing Ogun east constituency was alleged to have been the ring-leader of a ’90s heroin cartel in Chicago, US.
Kashamu had in April 2015 asked a district court to put a hold on his “abduction abroad by U.S. authorities”.
In its ruling, the US court of appeals on Monday dismissed the complaint and upheld the ruling of the lower court.
According
to the court, the attempt by US agents to arrest Kashamu in
coordination with Nigerian authorities cannot be termed “an attempted
abduction”.
Although several persons indicted in the case had
pleaded guilty, Kashamu maintains that his dead brother was responsible
for the crimes he’s being accused of.
Mr. Chuddy Ugorji, the initiator of the Nigerian faction of the
Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox Ponzi Scheme (MMM) has fled the country along
with his wife, Amaka.
Unconfirmed report said the MMM number one guider has absconded and relocated to the Philippines.
He fled the country when many investors were awaiting anxiously to be paid the money they invested with the agreed interest.
Ugorji’s
relocation came barely 24 hours after he released new condition for the
payment of some three million Nigerian investors.
He had given
the impression that the ponzi scheme had started paying outstanding
mavro (money) to Mavrodians, the participants of the scheme. But the
payment turned out as just symbolic.
The Cable reported a
participant, Kolade Ogunwande, who manages a number of accounts, that
N17,000 was paid into one of the accounts he handled for a friend.
“One
of the accounts I manage for a friend finally got paid. She invested
N20,000 on November 10, 2016, and her money has appreciated to N35,000,”
he said.
“When MMM resumed last week, she said I should withdraw
all the money for her, which I requested for immediately. She was paired
the day after.
“The two people she was paired with had to pay
N17,000 and N18,000 to make up the N35,000, but only one person has
paid,” he said.
Meanwhile, the scheme on Wednesday issued new guidelines on its blog. The guidelines are:
1. As a necessary measure, we decided to set limit to withdrawal this week thus the N31,000 maximum withdrawal on your P;
2. We are still committed to prioritise paying smaller amounts first and gradually increase the amount to higher ones;
3. The system does the calculations and knows how to calculate everyone’s mavros;
4. Between Friday that we opened and today, hundreds of thousands of GH orders have been matched; and
5. More and more GH orders will be matched as time goes on. If you see error notification when trying to GH, just keep trying.
6.
PH to GH is still a suggestion to be tabled before Sergey Mavrodi for
consideration. Disregard any info suggesting that you must PH to GH till
further announcement in your PO.
7. Freezing of bonuses for now
is another suggestion to be tabled before Sergey Mavrodi for his
consideration. Which means if approved, you will only be able to GH your
personal contributions for now until the system recovers and
stabilizes.
Others are: Another suggestion for consideration is
whether Mavro growth should stop on the 30th day or continue till you GH
your confirmed PH. How early the system recovers depends on our
positivity. If we work to make it recover, it will recover in a very
short time.
Don’t spread panic; Let’s do more promo tasks to
create further awareness that MMM Nigeria is open, working and paying;
We will keep you informed of any updates as soon as possible. (NAN)
The Nigerian social establishment burst at the seams, literally, on
Friday, 20 January 2017, when Princess Olajumoke Abidemi Okoya-Thomas
celebrated her 60th birthday. The event took place at the Oriental
Hotel, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. The very grand party
featured a heavy A-list of notable personalities, drawn from all the
facets of the Nigerian social circuit.
The ELITES gathered
that the birthday celebration kicked off with a Thanksgiving service,
which was officiated by Pastor J.T. Kalejaiye of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, RCCG, and Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of the Trinity House (
the celebrant is an active member of his church). After the church
service, a grand reception followed and this was anchored by Tunde
Adewale (Tee-A).
The celebrant with her children
The colour dictate of the day was silver, and most of the female guests adhered to this theme.
An
accomplished politician and prominent society matriarch, Okoya-Thomas
is the first daughter of late industrialist and statesman, Chief Molade
Okoya-Thomas.The mother of three is one of the most formidable female
politicians in Nigeria. She is a high-ranking member of the All
Progressives Congress Party, APC, and was a member of the Federal House
of Representatives, where she represented Lagos Island Federal
Constituency 1 and served for three terms. Her legislative interests
were primarily focused on the Social Development of Women and Children. A
former chairman of the house committee of Prisons, Okoya-Thomas served
as the Chairman of the committee on Public Procurement and was also a
member of committees on Banking & Currency, Diaspora, Niger Delta
and Women in parliament. She sponsored a bill on the compulsory breast feeding of babies in 2013. The bill failed because the Representatives
insisted that it is an issue best left out of the public domain as “no
woman has to be forced to breast feed her child” though they admitted
the unarguable health benefits of breastfeeding.
Okoya-Thomas has a diploma in Senior Managers in Government from Harvard University and a diploma in sec. admin from Burleigh College. Two
of the celebrant's three sons and one of her daughters-in-law were
actively involved during the event. And so also were her three siblings -
Tosin Alobo-Bakare, Yinka Taiwo and Deji Okoya-Thomas.
Notable
among those who graced the classy birthday party were;Rt. Hon. Rotimi
Amaechi, Aremo Segun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Senators Tokunbo
Afikuyomi, Ganiyu Solomon, Oloruninbe Mamora, Daisy Ehanire Danjuma,
Florence Ita-Giwa, Folashade Bent, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon.
Mudashiru Obasa, Bolanle Ambode, Abimbola Fashola, Toyin Saraki, Hon.
Titi Oseni, Aliko Dangote, Oba Otudeko, Are Rasaq Okoya and wife, Sade,
Justice Adesola Oguntade and wife, Modupe, Bimbo Ashiru, Lanre Ogunlesi,
Sisi Abah Folawiyo, Chief Kessington Adebutu, Teju Phillips, Sena
Anthony, Foluke Abdulrasaq, Kemi Nelson, Dr. Tunde and Hon. Folake
Oshinowo, Tayo and Tutu Ayeni, Chike and Funke Ogeah, Oba Lateef Adams,
Foluso Adeagbo, Mike Inegbese, Yewande Onileere, Ireti Asemota, Fausat
Aristo Balogun, Abiodun Aisen, Maureen Onigbanjo (Maufechi), Lola
Adefusika, Titi Ogunbanjo, Biola Thomas, Joke Okeowo, Bimpe Ogunsanya,
Toke Benson, Jibike Babatunde, Joko Oni and many others.
