“You withdrew $1bn for Jonathan’s election” | “You have numerical diarrhea” | Gov Oshiomhole & Okonjo-Iweala are fighting dirty

The back and forth yet ensues between Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole and former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The latest in the string of accusations by Oshiomhole is that Okonjo-Iweala withdrew $1bn from the Federation Account, to fund the re-election bid of former President Jonathan

Oshiomhole made the claims on Monday at a seminar organised by the state government for permanent secretaries, directors and deputy directors on enhancing internally generated revenue in the state.

The governor had said:

“The truth is, many things went wrong even at the federal level. As you might have read in the papers while the Federal Government, under Goodluck Jonathan, with the then Coordinating Minister of the Economy liked to blame ‘governors’ for wasteful spending; for not saving for the rainy day; for not investing properly, the truth is the real weakness in the Nigerian federal chain has been the Federal Government.

Our hope is that with the new President, given his pedigree, we will break from the past. As I am sure you will soon begin to hear when all the numbers are published. Last week, I complained aloud that Edo State lost about N10bn over a four-year period from only one source – the NLNG remittance to the Federation Account.

How did I arrive at the figure? I used my Four-Figure Table and I asked myself at $2.1bn remitted by NLNG, as taxes, and Shell. And by the way, Shell is not the only oil operative; we have Chevron and several others. They shared the $2.1bn based on the revenue allocation formula, Edo State got about N2.27bn. So I said, thank God this money came after the departure of Okonjo-Iweala and President Jonathan. If the PDP were still in charge in Abuja, this money would have been taken.

That is not the only money Edo State Government has lost. You have heard of the last instalment of $4.1bn that was in the Excess Crude Account as of November, 2014, and from that time till today, we have not, when I say we– federal, states and local governments have not touched that money. We have not agreed to take anything out of it, and yet it has been drawn down to about $2bn, which means $2.1bn disappeared.

But if you talk to those oil marketers, they will tell you that within that period, they were paid $1bn, not $2.1b. So in truth, about $1bn was taken for election purposes and Edo State’s share of that should have been about N4.6bn from that $2.1bn that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the former Minister of Finance illegally took from Excess Crude account.

Governments have lost a lot of money and the $2.1bn, that is Edo State’s share of that, because that would have included derivation, we would have made about N2.6bn. That, we have lost now to Okonjo-Iweala. Now that she claimed she used it, between herself and the last President, they agreed to take the money to pay oil marketers.”

Before the day ended, Okonjo-Iweala responded to the allegations with a blatant denial and a not-so-subliminal jab at Oshiomhole.

In a statement issued by her Media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu, the former finance minister said the governor is suffering from numerical diarrhea, while adding that the allegation is a “ludicrously false statement that has unfortunately become a trademark of the Governor in his public campaign of falsehood.”

“This is just another example of the numerical diarrhea that seems to have afflicted His Excellency in recent times in his effort to damage the reputation of the former Minister.”

He has, within the last few months, asked Okonjo-Iweala to explain all kinds of totally wild and unsubstantiated figures, ranging from $30bn, $20bn, $2.1bn, N720bn and now $1bn.

To say the obvious, the accusations are totally lacking in credibility. Governor Oshiomhole’s published comments also contain other falsehoods.”

Dr Okonjo-Iweala never said the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee approved spending out of the ECA. Rather as the commissioners themselves stated, the former Minister of State Finance informed them that former President Jonathan approved the expenditure to end the debilitating fuel queues across the country.”

Detained Ex-Governor, Sule Lamido Sons Arrive Abuja Court...Photos

Former Governor Sule Lamido and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, incarcerated in Kano Prison on the orders of a Federal High Court judge since last week, appeared in an Abuja court today, ostensibly to fight for bail.

Metronaija reported exclusively yesterday that Lamido and his sons were moved from the prison yesterday morning.

Sule Lamido and his two sons were charged by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with money laundering, abuse of public office and subtle bribery, amounting to N1.351 billion.

Justice Evelyn Anyadike last Thursday ordered that Lamido and his two sons be remanded in Kano prison, following administrative hitches that foiled their bail application.

She adjourned the case to 28 September for formal trial

It is expected that a vacation judge will hear Lamido’s plea for bail today.

Metronaija

How 5 people died in a stampede over Ramadan gifts in Kaduna

Five people recently lost their lives while many others fainted during a stampede in Kaduna.The people were scrambling to collect Ramadan gifts from a businessman who deals in dairy products at Kabala Constain area, Kaduna.

An eyewitness, Bala Mohammed, who spoke to Punch newspaper disclosed that a large number of people flooded the place where the gifts were being shared.

“Everyone was there, both able and physically challenged persons came in their hundreds, the whole place became chaotic which led to a stampede. Women were asked to queue on  separate line.”

According to Mohammed, when the businessman arrived to give out the gifts, the women line was first chosen and it was in the process that the stampede occurred.

The Kaduna Police Command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Zubairu confirmed the incident.

Empress Njama shares cool pics with her mum as they return to Nigeria

The actress and her mum have been on summer vacation for a few weeks. She shared new photos as they fly back to Nigeria.

Caityln Jenner on why it took so long for her to transition

Caityln Jenner has opened up on her transition and why it took so long..She wrote in a blog post.She said 

"I had all of the issues, but I was growing up in a very different time and I had no information. Meanwhile, I had all of my diversions sports…this…that…married…family but after 65 years, here I was right back with the same problems that I had when I was 10 years old and I had to finally do something about that.Just being able to be myself. Recently I went on a trip with some of my new friends and I had such a wonderful time.I packed for the first time — as just Caitlyn, nobody else — which is the first time I’ve ever done that."

Goodluck Jonathan spotted at a bank for his BVN, customers pose with him (PHOTO)

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan visited one of the banks inGwarimpa, Abuja yesterday to process hisBank Verification Number.

On arriving at the bank with his signature hat, Nigerians who adore him flocked round him for selfies and group photos – an action that he willingly obliged.

See the photo below:

Aww! How cute is this? Justin Bieber defends Kylie Jenner On Instagram

Kylie Jenner got into an online row with The Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg on Saturday.

The 17-year-old reality star was slammed by the actress on Instagram after sharing a photo which showed her with her hair in cornrows.

Amandla accused Kylie of 'appropriating black culture' without using her celebrity 'to help black Americans'.

Well, Justin Bieber to the rescue, even her man, Tyga is not sticking up for her. Good work Justin!  

Policewoman arrested for killing her policeman-Husband in Delta

A female police officer simply identified as Sergeant Kelechi has been arrested by the Delta state police command for allegedly killing her estranged husband Kelechi Aririguzo who was also a police officer.
According to Sahara reporters, Sergeant Aririguzo who  has been separated from Sergeant Kelechi had on July 9th gone to Ogwashi Ukwu in Delta state to see the daughter he had with Sergeant Kelechi.
On getting to the village, the ex wife was not pleased with his visit and decided to raise a false alarm claiming he was a kidnapper. Villagers immediately gathered and clubbed Sergeant Aririguzo to death.

Confirming the incident, the delta state police spokesperson, DSP Celestina Kalu said the suspect is being held in custody along with her accomplices.