What you should know about the newly appointed Service Chiefs (Photos)

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the appointments of new service chiefs and National Security Adviser for the country.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, their appointments came after Buhari sacked the former occupants of the offices.

Below are the newly appointed service chiefs and everything you should know about them;

1. The new Chief of Army Staff, Buratai, who hails from Borno State was the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force which has its headquarters in Ndjamena before his appointment.

He has previously served as Commander of the Nigerian Army’s 2nd Brigade in Port Harcourt and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

Buratai has served as the Director at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja before his, also a Commander, Operation PULO SHIELD.

2. The new Chief of Defence Staff,  Abayomi Olonishakin who hails from Ekiti State was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State until his new appointment.

3. Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, who hails from Cross River State was enlisted into the Nigerian Defence Academy as a member of the 26th Regular Course in 1979 and was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in 1983.

His previous appointments include: Naval Provost Marshal, Chief Staff Officer, Naval Training Command, Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and Chief of Logistics, Naval Headquarters.

Until his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Navy Holdings Limited.

4. The new Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, hails from Bauchi State, his previous appointments include Chief of Standards and Evaluation, NAF Headquarters; Chief of Defence Communications and Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command.

5. Chief of Defence Staff,  Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin hails from Ekiti State. Until his appointment as Chief of Defence Staff, he was the Head of the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command in Minna, Niger State.

6. National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno has worked as Commander, Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).

Continue to see more photos....

Detained ex Jigawa gov, Sule Lamido and two sons flown to Abuja

Kano central prison officials have on Monday, July 13, 2015 transported former Governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, and his sons, Aminu and Mustapha to Abuja.

The transfer to Abuja is in preparation for the bail hearing of the trio by a vacation judge on Tuesday, July 14, 2015.

Vanguard reports that prison sources disclosed that they all left the detention facilities for Abuja by 10.00am.

Prison warders reportedly informed those who showed up to visit that Lamido and his sons have been taken to Abuja.

It is believed that the vacation judge will grant their bail application at the hearing on Tuesday.

President Buhari sacks all Service Chiefs (Photos)

President Muhammadu Buhari , has sacked all the service chiefs of the Nigerian Army.

These includes the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force.

The information was disseminated by the Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, while briefing journalists on Monday, July 13.

Buhari is expected to announce their replacements soon.

Cossy Ojiakor shares new sexy photos

The busty actress is looking hot in these new photos. See another pic below :

Amber Rose Fires Back at Fake Twitter Account Using Her Name to Bully Caitlyn Jenner

A warning to those who seek to use Amber Rose's name to create dummy Twitter accounts for the purpose of harassing other celebs: Muva Rose will not tolerate it.

Amber posted a scathing message to her Instagram and Twitter accounts on Saturday, firing back at a fake Twitter account that has been posting some gross things about other celebrities, including Caitlyn Jenner.

This is NOT my Twitter. These "Roast" are corny as fuck. I'm not a mean girl and I don't jump on the bandwagon of bullying ppl AT ALL especially when the whole world is against them (I've been there) I'll only defend myself if need be and even that comes off wrong in so many ways via social media. Trust me I've let malicious stories and the Internet get the best of me plenty of times. Shits weak. Furthermore I Love the LGBT community and would never say the ignorant things this Parody account is saying - Muva 👽

 Amber bounced back from the Twitter drama as she always does, by posting the flawless swimsuit photo above,  on her Instagram. 

Nollywood Celebs attend Tchidi Chikere and Nuella Njubigbo’s daughter’s dedication (PHOTOS)

Director Tchidi Chikere and wifey, Nuella Njubigbo dedicated their daughter Tess in church yesterday.

The likes of actors Olu Jacobs, Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw and other friends and colleagues from the entertainment industry turned up at the star studded event.

This is the couple’s first child together with Tchidi having 3 sons from a previous marriage to actress Sophia.

LASTMA official slumps and dies during traffic duty (Photos)

An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Kazeem Lawal, has died after slumping while controlling traffic on Ishaga Road in the Idi-Araba, Mushin area on Saturday.

Lawal, who was attached to LASTMA Zone 3, Iponri, reportedly collapsed while gasping for breath.

He was subsequently rushed to a hospital after he did not respond to preliminary treatment.

According to Punch, the LASTMA official was dead on arrival when he got to the Randle Hospital, Surulere.

His death has been reported at the Alakara Police Division.

One of Lawal’s colleagues revealed the following:

“He was initially taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, but he could not be attended to because of the ongoing strike action. He was then rushed to the Randle Hospital where he was confirmed dead. We do not have any insurance policy. We do not have any hazard allowance. It is very painful.

His family members are in disarray at present. We work round the clock, and we are usually overwhelmed. He must have collapsed from accumulated stress.

Since the government sacked some LASTMA workers last year, there has been a burden on the workforce. Work posts, where seven personnel were handling, have been reduced to one or two.”

How my father beat me with barbed wire because of mum (Photos)

Operatives of Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Ebutte Metta chapter, have rescued a 12-year-old girl (names withheld), who was battered by her father in Lagos.

It was gathered that the victim was found in critical condition at Oyingbo market, Ebute- Metta, following beatings she allegedly received from her father.

A close family source said: “The victim, a Junior Secondary School, JSS, 1 student with the Canal Secondary School, Orile, Lagos State, would have died from the wound she sustained after her father flogged her with barbed wire, but for the intervention of vigilante members, who found her writhing in pains in the dead of the night.”

He broke my mother’s knees’

Narrating how she incurred the wrath of her father, the girl said: “I live with my parents at 4, Kuforiji Street Orile, Lagos.

“On July 7, I ran away from home after receiving severe beating from my father. My offence was that I tried to stop him from beating my mother.

“My father accused my mother of using his hard-earned money to play lotto game and he descended on her with anything he could lay his hands on. My father alleged that my mother loves patronising lotto game and he beat her up mercilessly and broke her knees.

“Despite my mother’s cry for help, none of our neighbours came to her rescue because they are afraid of my father. When I could not bear the beating anymore, I begged my father to stop. He became furious and pounced on me, using a barbed wire to flog me.

“This is not the first time my father will beat my mother and I. I have lost count of his endless beatings. On one occasion, I begged my mother to relocate four of us, her children, to Ilorin so we can stay away from our father due to his constant beating.

My mum said he’ll change’

“I am the first child. My mother said my father will change, but he gets worse by the day. My mother is currently on admission at the Charity Hospital, Orile, following the beating my father gave her.

“I could not stand his beating anymore and I ran away from home to meet one of my mother’s friends at Oyingbo market, but I did not meet her when I got there.

 “I was in great pains and I decided to sleep in the market because I do not want to go back to my father’s house. It was while I was sleeping at the market that some vigilante men came and rescued me. I told them my plight and they took me to the hospital.”

Police refuse to intervene

Agbodemu Musbau, Secretary of the VGN, said: “At Iponri Police Station, they said they do not handle such a case. At Area C Police Command, Surulere, they told me to take her to the office of the Public Defender.

I have been running around with this girl to get the necessary authorities to look into this matter and arrest the father, but they have refused to take up the case.”

Ebola-affected Countries Gets $266m Aids From US

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Administrator, Mr. Alfonso Lenhardt, has announced the US Government’s plans to provide an additional $266 million to help West African countries address critical gaps caused by the Ebola outbreak.

This was disclosed in a press statement made available to journalists yesterday few days after the International Ebola Recovery Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

According to the statement, the funds will help Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea to address secondary impacts of the crisis.

“As case numbers continue to drop, and as response efforts continue, the US has also begun to focus on helping countries in West Africa with critical recovery efforts, including improving food security, health systems and non-Ebola health services, governance and economic crisis mitigation, and innovation and communication technology.

“When the first case of Ebola landed in the US, epidemiologists were predicting that the world might soon see a million and a half cases. The US Government responded by providing more than $2 billion for response efforts, including supporting 10,000 civilian responders, providing personal protective equipment, funding and training 1,500 healthcare workers, setting up laboratories, supporting epidemiological surveillance and disease tracing, and launching a massive social messaging.’’

Romance rumor trails Drake and Serena Williams

The 28-year-old singer and 33-year-old tennis champion were spotted kissing in the clubhouse after her victory against Victoria Azarenka in the Wimbledon quarter final earlier this week, and then embraced him after her press conference on Friday, following her win, and was heard joking with him about being grilled on their relationship.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “Publicly she says they’re just friends but Drake has been by Serena’s side throughout the tournament and when they’ve been away from the public and relaxed, it’s been pretty obvious that they are together.

“Even Serena’s team have been talking about it in the clubhouse to a few people they trust. She has been incredibly focused on her title bid. But if she’s had a quiet moment she’s spent it with Drake, even going to watch his Wireless set and having dinners in London.”

Drake was at Centre Court on Friday as Serena lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the sixth time.

Along with a picture of the winner holding up the trophy, the ‘Started From The Bottom’ hitmaker shared on Instagram: “Showtime Champ. A big plate for all that food you ate at Wimbledon! (sic)”

Drake and Serena previously dated back in 2011, but was spotted on a date with model Dollicia Bryan in 2012.

Following their split, the tennis player said: “I do make mistakes — like every human does. But the last relationship was too much of a heartbreak for me.”

Nigerians expectations from Buhari is like Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead-Dele Momodu

Ovation International CEO and former Presidential candidate,Dele Momodu has opened up to 

Vanguard

 on President Buhari and why Nigerians are impatient for change..The staunch supporter of Buhari also opened up on the National Assembly crises ad the alleged rifty between Tinubu and Bukola Saraki..

On his thoughts about president Buhari changing..

I am surprised at your comment because I have never changed. I am the biggest supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari today. All I have done is to tell the president what people are saying outside, that is my job. We don’t tell our leaders the truth. I told former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the truth throughout his tenure. This is detailed in my forthcoming book, titled, ‘’Pendulum, a book of prophesy’’. Everything I told President Jonathan happened. I owe that to our president too today.

Once you become the president in Nigeria, people stop telling you the truth. They only tell you what you want to hear. I am a stakeholder in this government. I wonder what would have happened to me if the PDP had returned to power. I was already under constant threat. I received threat messages. I had to name all the numbers anonymous because they were all attacking me for supporting Buhari. I didn’t support the president because I wanted anything from him. I supported him because I believed at this time of our lives, we need a father-figure, what I called the Mandela- option in Nigeria. And I thought Buhari, as a man of integrity, of impeccable character, fits that bill.

But, three months after the election, Nigerians are getting impatient because most of them cannot wait for even one second. I was the first to write an article titled, ‘’In Search Of Patience’’, telling the people to exercise patience with the man. But being patient does not mean we should fold our arms indefinitely. There are things that can still be done. I found a proverb some where which says ‘’the meat of antelope tastes very good, but while it is cooking, we can still make do with groundnut’’. While we are waiting for that big action, some things must keep us going, whether pop corn, ice cream or something. If the National Assembly, within some minutes, approved about 15 Special Advisers; so, what is stopping us from picking our National Security Adviser, if we have to change the one there now.

How about the Chief of Staff, the Principal Secretary, the Secretary to the Federal Government. The longer it takes, the longer the tension, and also the longer the pressure on Mr President. I want the president to know that if they begin to put pressure on him, things may begin to fall apart. Had it been some things are already in place, I am sure the tension would have reduced.

But things have rotten so much so that many people support the president taking his time before making any appointments.

No. I was once a presidential candidate. Before a man says he wants to be president, he must have his plans and blue print of things that he saw not working properly. As such, he thought he had solution to them. Yes, you might not have 100% solution to the problems, but you have a fair idea of what needed to be done urgently. And you said you have the answer to them before you offered yourself to serve. And there is nobody more experienced than President Muhammadu Buhari. He was there over 30 years ago. He also acted in other capacities before now.

So, I expect him to be able to know what he wants to do. Your principal staff, you will know who they are, and you will appoint them. Even the ministers, by now, there is no law that says all the ministers must be ready at the same time. The problems we have in Nigeria are so big that one second is like eternity. I pleaded with people few weeks back to be patient, but I am telling you that the public outcry is no longer favourable to our cause. And I don’t want us to lose that moment to the concerns of the people. It is like a plane that is about to take off..

The outcry, some have said, is genuine but that people are not well informed about the enormity of the problems at hand?

No one is crying foul. Don’t let us misuse language. They are only asking for action. They have the right to that. Their expectation was that of a magician. That was what I wrote in my article. What the Nigerians expect of you is like that of Jesus Christ turning water into wine, raising Lazarus from the dead. I wrote another article, ‘’Buhari and the burden of expectations’’. To whom is given, much is expected. Nigerians saw him as magician. They believe he has talismanic powers to transform Nigeria from penury to prosperity. You can’t blame them. Nobody is blaming Buhari, we are just saying ‘please sir, time is not on your side’. I am not one of those who will rush him.

Talking about sudden change, you were known to be a friend and admirer of the APC National Leader, Ashiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, but suddenly you started supporting the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, against his party?

There is nothing sudden in that. From day one, I supported Saraki for various reasons. I will say that, boldly, any where. And I stand by it. I supported him based on empirical facts of what I know. One of it…..
Saraki was one of the first people who declared total and unflinching support for Buhari. Amaechi adores Kwankwaso. I know that for a fact. Ameachi loves Kwankwaso to death. But because of Buhari, Amaechi refused to support Kwankwaso. I don’t know if Kwankwaso will forgive him for that. But, he was honest enough to tell Kwankwaso that ‘’I have given my word to Buhari, I cannot turn back’’. Same thing with Saraki. I know for a fact that Saraki worships Tinubu. Quote me. Maybe our Oga (Tinubu)does not know it. You know, sometimes, you don’t know those who love you if you have a lot of crowd around you. But I am saying it to you that Saraki, the Senate President, worships Tinubu.

Then or till now?

I am sure till today. Saraki was one of Tinubu disciples. In fact, when some people were saying Tinubu wanted to hijack the party by installing his men, Saraki and Amaechi were among those who said ‘no, we must give our leader whatever he wants; we must not humiliate our leader’, because they(new PDP) had the power at that time to install their own candidate and they would have won, because the new PDP that joined APC at that time was formidable enough. But, they insisted they must defer to Tinubu. It is what I know, not that they told me.
There are people who may go behind and tell the leaders lies, but I love Tinubu to the extent that I will never tell him a lie. I will tell him only what I know. So, among those who worked so hard day and night, gathered those who could support the campaign, Saraki was one of them. Amaeachi risked his entire life for that campaign. In an association of five or more political parties, I expected that immediately after victory, all of you would have come together to decide which of the parties in the association takes what. That was not the case.

My advice to those of us who are close to Ashiwaju Tinubu is that people should prevail on him not to oppose Saraki because he is one of his men. If you have children and you show one that he is the preferred child above other ones, they will be angry. I think Saraki felt betrayed. If I were Ashiwaju, I would have done what the president did. I can almost bet my life that the President Buhari had a preferred candidate even though we didn’t know who the person was, but he said he would not interfere.
It will get to a stage in life where two of your children are fighting for something, you stand back and let them go to the field and whoever wins, you support him, not that you tie the arms of one against the other. You have not even told us why you are supporting one against the other. I have not read it anywhere. The only thing I have so far read was that Senator Lawan is a ranking member, beyond that, what else? Beyond that, nobody sold Lawan to us.

SEE The Names Of Officials Who Will Accompany Buhari To The Crucial Meeting With Obama

Some important details of the upcoming visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States have come out.

The meeting is to be held on July 20 and is expected to be a serious step in the advancement of diplomatic relationships between the two countries. 

Sahara Reporters has disclosed the names of some key figures, in particular five governors, who are likely to accompany the president to Washington D.C., where he will meet his counterpart Barack Obama.

The five governors include those of Oyo, Imo, Edo states and two other governors. They are set to accompany Buhari in addition to the 18-man delegation made up of top presidential aides, including Rotimi Amaechi, Tunde Bakare and Farouk Adamu.

The major issue of the July 20 discussion will be the effective ways of collaboration between the two countries to ensure success in the fight against terrorism and corruption in Nigeria.

Buhari sacks Bianca Ojukwu, Maduekwe, other Ambassadors

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked all ambassadors appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

They were recalled home Friday night by Buhari after three years of service abroad.

Topping the list of the disengaged envoys are a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe (Canada); Chairman of the Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation in the 2011 election, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida (UK); Professor Ade Adefuye (USA); widow of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Bianca (Spain); and former deputy governor of Oyo State, Mr. Taofeek Arapaja (Jordan).

Others include, a former aviation minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze (Switzerland); ex-General Manager, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan, Mr. Yemi Farounbi (Philippines); a one-time governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Olatokunbo Kamson (Jamaica); a PDP front liner in Ondo State, Mr. Cornelius Oluwateru (UAE); Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Bunu (Saudi Arabia); a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Benue State, Mr. Chive Kaave (Argentina); a former financial secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Tukur Mani (Iran); and former permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA Biodun Nathaniel Olorunfemi (Namibia).

Also on the list are: Chief Asam Asam (SAN), (Russia); Mr. Okwudili Nwosu (Burundi); Mr. Okeke Chukwuemeka (Vatican); Mr. Eric Aworahbi (Italy); Dauda Danladi (Pakistan); and Mrs. Katherine Okon (Czeck Republic); Mr. Nwofe Alexander; Princess Victoria Bosede Onipede (Republic of Congo); Senator Haruna Garba (Kuwait); Mrs. Nonye Rajis-Okpara (Singapore); Chief Eddy Onuoha (Hungary); Mr. Adamu Babangida Ibrahim (Syria); Dr. Sam Jimba (Poland)
They were among the 93 envoys posted out in June 2012.

Nation reports that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had communicated the President’s directive to the affected ambassadors.

They were told to hand over to the highest ranking officer in their various locations.

RitaDominic@40: What Funke Akindele, Kate Henshaw, other showbiz stars are saying!

Award-winning screen diva Rita Dominic, who is away in England, is 40 today. Born 12th July 1975, she has featured in hundreds of movies since she hit Nollywood in a big way. Today as she turns 40, her friends and close associates have taken to their various social media accounts to celebrate a diva who isn’t looking any inch a 40-year-old!

Kate Henshaw: Happy Birthday to you my Yellow Glossy gal @ritadominic .Thanks forYOUR friendship over the years apart from being colleagues. Love ya gurl.. Continue to grow in leaps and bounds. The Lord strengthen you and give you peace. Immense joy and favour will be your portion. IJN. Amen. Huge hugs all da way to Queensland.

Ajoke Silva: This is the big ONE founder Audery-Silva HBD Rita dee. Trust you are having a blast in that your hide away. You go come back come do dee parry no escape

Joselyn Dumas: Happy birthday beautiful queen @ritadominic you know I love you xx

Uche Jombo: The fabulous ReeDee is a year older today @ritadominic may you always be celebrated as the amazing person you arehappy birthday luv God bless you.

Funke Akindele: My darling sister Riri,Love u so much! I pray you live long in good health and abundant wealth. Enjoy your day sis! Happy Birthday sis! @ritadominic

After 72 hours in Kano prison, ex-governor Sule Lamido cries out

The immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido who is in Kano Central Prison with his 2 sons has said he’s being witch-hunted for political reasons. Recall Lamido and his 2 sons were arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Kano over allegations of money-laundering worth N1.35 billion. They were slammed with a 28-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust.

Speaking to Sunday Vanguard through his media aide, Umar Kyari said, “Lamido remains nothing but a scion of accountability and integrity who has always fought on the side of the people, particularly the downtrodden and the vulnerable, since he came into the national political scene.

“He remains unshaken over the trumped-up charges slammed on him by the EFCC knowing that he has not committed any offense to warrant being thrown into the prison over a bailable offense. But the refusal by his traducers to grant him and his sons bail when others charged same day and time for even more grievous offences were admitted to bail speaks volume of the intention and mindset of those who are after him.

“Nonetheless, Sule Lamido strongly believes that, after being imprisoned several times all in a bid to pave the way for sustained democracy in Nigeria, the current effort by the EFCC and others to humiliate him and his family over the so-called money laundering charges will not break his resolve to continue to fight on the side of the people. It is Lamido’s strong belief that having not committed any offense against the state to warrant being sent to prison, he and his two sons will be freed and vindicated against the wicked plot of their adversaries”.

In a related development, here are reports that a bail may be considered for the Lamidos on Monday, 13th July 2015 since the trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who adjourned the case till September 28 ruled that the case will be handed over to a vacation judge to listen to the accused persons bail application

We Will Probe Davido For Displaying Hard Drugs In His New Video- NDLEA

The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency has said they are ready to prosecute young hip-hop act, Davido for displaying hard drugs in his video as a means of living. According to them, what Davido did in his new video, Fans Mi, is against the NDLEA rules and he will be probed.  Here is what the Director of Public Affairs of the NDLEA, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, told Sunday Punch.

“I am aware that a panel is working on it (the video). The panel was set up soon after the video was released few weeks ago. When our attention was drawn to it, we viewed it and we discovered that it was improper. There is no moral lesson in it and he was just advertising drug trafficking.

“In the video, he exchanged a brief case supposedly containing narcotics for dollars. He was displaying affluence in the video. If it (the plot) had climaxed in an arrest and possible detention, we would have congratulated him for partnering with us. But the way he portrayed drug trafficking in the video was a means to an end, which the end is a life of affluence which we disagree with”, he said.

Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman escapes from max-security jail

Mexican authorities have launched a manhunt to find drug kingpin Joaquin Guzman, who has broken out of prison again, the country's National Security Commission said Sunday.

Guards at the Altiplano Federal Prison discovered during a routine check on Saturday that Guzman, who known as "El Chapo," was missing, a statement from the commission said.

Guzman was captured in early 2014 after having eluded capture for more than a dozen years.

Guzman is the storied boss of one of the world's most powerful and deadly drug trafficking operations.

He escaped in 2001 from a high-security prison in a laundry cart, and was not apprehended again until February, 2014, when he was arrested at a Mexican beach resort.