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Benin Film Academy Unveils Future Nollywood Stars

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By Akinwale Kasali

The likes of Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Mercy Johnson, Funke Akindele, Ramson Nouah, Jim Ikye and a host of other known Nolly actors may soon take the back seats as Nollywood unveils a new set of actors and actresses.

The move has placed Nigerian film industry popularly known as Nollywood  in a joyous mood. The reason: The addition of new sets of Actors, Cinematographers, Editors, Script writers and producers to the fourth largest movie industry in the world is a good omen.

The glamorous and high octane event was held in Benin City the capital of Edo State, Nigeria, and witnessed by hundreds of people.

Those unveiled are graduates of the Benin Film Academy, BFA, a movie school tucked in the heart of Benin City, and ran in conjunction with The Igbinedion University, Okada.

Nollywood acadamy

While unveiling them at a very colorful and well attended Festival of Short Films and Graduation ceremony held at Kada Cinema, Benin City, the entertainment center of Nigeria which is the core of the Academy, these new sets of Nollywood actors vowed to take over the industry in a short period of time.

Tagged “From The Street To The Big Screen”, short films made by the graduating students were screened to the wide admiration of a large audience made up of people from all works of life.

During their 6 months course, seasoned and notable actors and producers like; Segun Arinze, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, Judith Audu, Emem Isong, Kanayo. O. Kanayo, Andrew Osawaru, Hyginous Ekwuazi, and Eseosa Egbon were some  Nollywood greats who drilled them.

The Movie Academy went into partnership with Igbinedion University Okada, Benin City and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Nollywood Project 101 on January 14, 2017 at the 18th Matriculation ceremony of the University, the move which makes the Higher Institution the first private University in Nigeria to achieve such a feat.

Benin Film Academy which is described as the gateway to the heart of Nollywood across the country is an initiative of Igbinedion University and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Nollywood project 101.

Joshua Defeats Ruiz To Reclaim His Title

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By Akinwale Kasali

Ogun State-Nigerian-Born British Boxer, Anthony Joshua, heaved a sigh of relief Saturday night. And so did most Nigerians.

Joshua reclaimed the World  Heavyweight Boxing Titles six months after losing the belts to Mexican Born boxer, Andy Ruiz at the Madison Arena in Las Vegas, United State of America. His defeat by a less- fancied Ruiz  was a shock to boxing enthusiasts, analysts and bookmakers.

It stunned the world and Joshua who lost his first fight in his professional career. A second defeat would have  left Joshua’s career in tatters.  But he served up 36 minutes of movement and well-timed punching to take the IBF, WBA and WBO titles back to Britain.

As expected, Joshua took control of the fight from the first round to the 12th round, giving Ruiz no room to dictate the pace of the fight.

His jabs were accurate, as he landed a retinue of punches on the Mexican who was unable to respond till the end of the bout.

The three referees, in a unanimous decision, gave  Joshua the deserved result.

After cutting his Mexican rival inside the first round, he never looked back, and picked out smart jabs and right hands, throughout, before being serenaded with chants of “AJ, AJ, AJ” by over 16,000 fans in the Diriyah Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Joshua stunned Ruiz. The Mexican never looked  close to landing a knockdown and when scores of 118-110 118-110 and 119-109 were read out, Joshua jumped up and down in the ring in celebration, just as the man who wrecked his US debut did in June.

In an interview with Ruiz, he said he lost the fight due to the fact that he added more weight. However, he is seeking a third fight with the British Boxer.

Reinhard Bonnke Dies; The World Mourns

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By Gideon Njoku

The Christian world has lost one of its most charismatic Televangelists.

Reinhard Bonnke, German-born, has died, aged 79.

The world-renowned Crusader passed on after he appealed to the Christian world to pray for him for a surgery he was billed to undertake.

Founder of the All Nations For Christ Ministry, and very well travelled, he was, until recently,  a regular in Nigeria where he was well loved and revered. He always drew unprecedented crowd at such crusades held in Nigeria.

Born on 19th April 1940, he was popular for outdoor crusades. His focus was usually salvation, and he gave hope to thousands of people, and saved not a few souls.

In death, the Christian world is, both, at once, mourning and celebrating him.

Okorocha’s Aide Loses N1.5b Hospital To EFCC; Imolites Say One Down,More To Go

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By Gideon Njoku

There was subdued jubilation in parts of Imo State, on Friday, when  news filtered in that a former Aide to former Governor Rochas Okorocha, has lost his, alleged,  expansive hospital to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Dr Paschal Obi, now a member of the House of Representatives, was Permanent Secretary, Government House, and Principal Secretary to   Okorocha.

Dews of Hope, a- 200 bed hospital located in Owerri,  boasts of modern eqiupments and facilities,  and, is worth N1.5billion.

The permanent forfeiture order was sequel upon a ruling by Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court, Owerri.

Earlier on August 22, Hon. Justice  A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court,  Port Hacourt, had issued a temporary forfeiture order on the hospital.

Announcing its Permanent forfeiture as ordered by Justice Ringim, Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, in a statement said: “Dr Paschal Obi who happened to be the former Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to Okorocha, now a serving  House of Representatives member, representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, was the signatory to the account.

“However, Obi vehemently denied the ownership of the hospital when he was invited by the Enugu Zonal Office of the EFCC,  prompting an invitation to the members of the Board of Directors of the hospital who also said they neither knew how it was built, nor even operated on a daily basis.

“The Managing Director of the hospital could also not explain how the establishment of the hospital was funded.

“These developments, then, led the Commission to file for the final forfeiture of the property in July 25, 2019, under Section 17 of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2016.”

Justice Ringim has just granted the request for the final forfeiture, which elucidated a chorus of “One down, more to go”, in parts of Imo State.

The people’s only plea is that the property be forfeited to the Imo State Government, and not to the Federal Government, as the funds used to acquire same belong to the state.

Obi Slams Churches For Promoting Corruption

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By Akinwale Kasali

Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  at the last Presidential Election, Peter Obi, has slammed Churches for promoting and encouraging Corruption.

Obi said Churches in Nigeria should be more critical in the fight against corruption, and not spearhead it by shielding corrupt persons.

The former Anambra State Governor made this statement while talking on the theme: “The Church and Good Governance” at the All Soul Church, Lekki, Lagos State.

He said all institutions, including the Church, contributed to that failure and the decay in our society either through commission or omission.

“By blessing poor people who suddenly make money in government and come to Church  for thanksgiving rather than calling police for them, the Church  is not showing the right example.”

He also harped on the need for the Church  to be conscious of being the conscience of the world.

He said that to reduce corruption, the government must make deliberate efforts to reduce so many tollgates by changing its procurement processes to ensure money moved directly to institutions they were meant for.

He frowned at the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for the exceptional high cost of governance and proffered solution flowing from his practical experience.

Obi said that when he was at the saddle as governor of Anambra State, he reduced the cost of governance through eliminating many unnecessary things that people in government make a norm,  such as long convoys, maintaining multiple guest houses, traveling with retinue of aides, exorbitant estacodes, irrelevant expenses among others.

“By the time you know it, I had excess money to meet our obligations including clearing arrears of pension to the tune of about N35 billion and saving over N75 billion for the state as of the day I left office,” Obi added.

Sowore: Outraged NBA, asks Nigerians To Rise In Anger; Seeks Suspension Of The DG, DSS

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The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, says it is outraged by the invasion of an Abuja Federal High Court, by personnel of the Directorate of State Security, DSS.

The DSS had invaded the Court on Friday to arrest Omoleye Sowore, a  Presidential Candidate  in the 2019 election, and the Convener of #RevolutionNow after  125 days in captivity. The DSS had arrested him for calling out Nigerians to protest the state of the Nation

The DSS which had disobeyed Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu’s order to release him on bail, on at least, three occasions, finally, did so on Thursday after the Judge threatened the Agency with consequences, and gave them 24 hours to do so.

24 hours after the release, the DSS stormed Ojukwu’s Court to re-arrest Sowore and and his co- defendant,  Olawale Bakare. They disrupted Court processes, and sent Justice Ojukwu and several others, including Counsels, scampering to safety. Several people in Court, rallied round, fought them off, and protected Sowore. However,  his Counsel, Femi Falana, in the middle of the face-off opted to drive Sowore to the DSS headquarters where he and Bakare are currently in detention again.

In its reaction, the NBA, in a strongly worded statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kunle Edun, among other things, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the DG of the DSS from office, for what it called the desecration  of the Court. It, also, called out Nigerians to rise in anger and defend democracy and the country.

Following is NBA’s statement , entitled:

Desecration And Assault On The Federal High Court By DSS:NBA Urged All Nigerians To Defend The Rule Of Law

The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly dismayed at the exhibition of primitivity, thuggery, insane passion for lawlessness, contempt and disrespect for the rule of law by the agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the precints of the Federal High Court, Abuja while attempting to re-arrest Citizens Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare earlier today. Eventually Sowore and Bakare were re-arrested by the DSS inspite of being on bail granted by the Federal High Court.

The NBA has been properly briefed – beyond the shameful videos of the incident in public domain- by our members who witnessed the disgraceful and crass violation of the hallowed precincts of the law by the officers of the Department of State Services, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The NBA finds it disgraceful that this ‘court riot’ occasioned by the high handedness and insensitivity of the security operatives interrupted judicial proceedings and made the Presiding Judge to abandon judicial proceedings because of safety concerns.

The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the action of the Department of State Security, which is another in the series of impunity and lawlessness exhibited by the DSS. The invasion of the court by the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria runs contrary to the avowed assurances of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he will ensure that the Federal Government and agencies under it obeys court orders. The disrespect of the court by the DSS is legendary and unrivalled.

Few days ago, the officers of the Nigerian Police Force exhibited similar traits when it also invaded the precincts of the High Court, Effurun, to arrest Mr. Ademi-Akpeto, Chairman of Sapele branch of the NBA. Many Nigerians are still in unlawful custody and not charged to court. Nigerians are now under siege by security agents who have no regards for the law and the courts.

The NBA urges all Nigerians to be alive to their responsibilities as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is ready to partner with all Nigerians and civil society organisations to ensure that the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended are not trampled upon by by any agency of government. The NBA therefore, demands as follows:

  1. That the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly immediately investigate the shameful conduct by the DSS and ensure that all persons found culpable are duly punished in accordance with the law.
  2. The immediate suspension of the Director General of the Department of State Security from office. We make this demand bearing in mind the fact that the DSS under his leadership has established itself as a brutish and irresponsible agency that derives immense pleasure from violating the fundamental rights of Nigerians and disrespecting court orders.
  3. That the National Assembly should review the laws setting up the DSS and indeed all security agencies in Nigeria with a view to repositioning them to be more responsible and responsive to the public.
  4. That the Attorney General of the Federation, being the Chief Law officer of the Federation takes over all the political cases or cases involving politically exposed persons presently handled by the DSS.

The above demands of the NBA is without prejuduce to the consultations presently going on amongst critical stakeholders in the legal profession and the judiciary on how best to ensure that this sad incident does not re-occur.

NBA thanks all lawyers and Nigerians who have expressed displeasure over this sad incident. NBA shall keep lawyers and Nigerians alike informed of our further engagements with critical stakeholders.

 

Kunle Edun

National Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association

IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Suffers Double Tragedy; IPOB Holds FG Responsible

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By Gideon Njoku

Three months after he lost his mother, Her Royal Highness,Ugoeze Sally Kanu, self-exiled Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has suffered another loss.

His father, His Royal Highness, Eze lsreal Kanu, traditional ruler of Afara Ukwu, Umuahia Abia State, has also died.

Trouble started for the Royal Family since September 2017, when a detachment of soldiers on “Operation Python Dance”, inexplicably raided the Palace. At the time of the raid, Nnamdi Kanu was in the Palace.

A couple of people lay dead, but Nnamdi escaped, and resurfaced in Isreal more than a year later. Since then, he has been travelling the world, promoting the ideals of IPOB. His parents were also nowhere to be seen, until the passing of his mother, in Germany, was announced four months ago.

Her body is yet to be laid to rest, amid the argument  between IPOB and the Police on whether Kanu would attend the funeral or not.

IPOB insists he would. The police says he is welcome,  but says he would be arrested on arrival because he jumped bail.

The head of the traditional council of Afara Ukwu,  Edward Ibeabuchi, announced the Eze’s passing, aged 86,  on Friday. It was also confirmed by one of the late Eze’s sons, Emmanuel.

Abia State Government,  in mourning his death, said it would stand by the Royal family.

But IPOB says it holds the Federal Government responsible.

If soldiers had not raided the Palace, dislocating their Royal Highnesses, IPOB said, perhaps, they might still have been alive today.

Whether Eze Kanu, also, died in Germany like his wife, or elsewhere, was not made public.

Edo 2020: Court Upholds Oshiomhole’s Suspension

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By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, is in trouble. If the party does not disregard an order, given Friday, by a High Court in the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, Abuja, then, it has lost its Chairman.

The Court on, Friday, granted an order restraining the reconciliation committee, constituted by the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, from acting on the activities of the Edo State chapter of the party.  It also, upheld the suspension of  Oshiomhole by Ward 10 Executives of the APC in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State.

Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Orji in a ruling  December 6, 2019, granted the order of interim injunction in a Motion No. M/680/2019 between Mr Stephen Oshawo & 2 Ors v. Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole & 2 Ors.

The Judge also stressed that Oshiomhole has no authority to constitute the committee as he has been suspended by relevant organs of the party in his ward and local council levels.

Justice Orji ruled that: “an order of injunction restraining the 2nd Defendant, its agents, members and/or privies from purporting to act as a reconciliation committee as the 1st Defendant, who is the constituting authority has no vires to so do since he has been suspended by the Ward 10 Executive Committee of the 3rd Defendant on the 2nd Day of November 2019 and ratified by the Etsako West Local Government Executive Committee on the 9th day of November, 2019 without an appeal, and the seven days period for appeal having elapsed, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory injunction.”

It would be recalled that that  Ward 10 Executives of the APC suspended Oshiomhole and was ratified by  the Etsako West Local Government Executive Committee. The State Executive Committee of the Party subsequently upheld his suspension.

Aisha Buhari: There Is No Pillow Talk, Even In The Other Room; Lashes Presidential Aides Over Jonathan

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By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, says she does not indulge in any pillow talk over the state of affairs in Nigeria, with her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari, anywhere in the Villa, including in the other room.

She also literally accused some Presidential Aides of being busy bodies who poke their noses into things that do not concern them, instead of concentrating on the job for which they were hired.

Breaking another record as First Lady, Mrs Buhari spoke from London  by phone, on a TVC programme in Lagos, “Journalists Hang Out Time”.

Clarifying her stand on issues, she accused some presidential aides of not defending her husband enough. A good example: The fake story of the marriage between the President and one of his newly appointed Ministers. She said none of the aides defended the President by telling Nigerians the truth. He was left on his own.

But, the contrary was the case, Mrs Buhari said, when former President Goodluck Jonathan was accused, after the controversial Bayelsa Governorship election, of working for the APC, against his party, the PDP.

“What is their business? Are they PDP? Is President Jonathan APC?”, she asked

Acknowledging the problems in the country, she said they were many, and required that everybody should talk.

When she was asked if anybody had ever asked her to stop talking, she answered in the negative. “Who will gag me? Nobody can gag me. I am free to talk.  Everybody is free to talk. It is free speech. Freedom of Speech. Nobody can gag me”.

When asked if she indulges in pillow talk with her husband to discuss the problems in the country, she told her interviewers that “there is no pillow talk anywhere in the Villa”, and jokingly added: “Even in the other room”.

Aisha Buhari is reputed for speaking her mind. She is also reputed for speaking truth to power.

Angry Nigerians Attack Amaechi in Spain

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By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria’s Minister for Transportation,  Chibuike Amaechi, Friday evening, had a taste of the anger and frustration of Nigerians. It was in Spain.

He was attacked by angry Nigerians. He would have been hurt, but for the quick intervention of the Spanish police who rescued him.

Amaechi had gone on an official assignment at a Climate change event when he was confronted by some Nigerians in that country.

Confirming the attack in a post, as soon as he was rescued, the Minister described his attackers as misguided.

Amaechi: “Some minutes ago, I was attacked by a few misguided Nigerians while on national assignment at a Climate Change event in Madrid, Spain. They were quickly repelled by the Spanish Police before they could do any harm”.

He assured he was not hurt, and was fine.

Even though he did not disclose the identity of his attackers, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu had the same humiliating experience in Nuremberg, Germany.

Ekweremadu had gone to honour an invitation by his Igbo kinsmen during a new yam festival when a group of Igbo people, allegedly, IPOB members, pounced on him. He was physically attacked, and his clothes, torn. He was smuggled out of the venue, and fled Nuremberg. Till date, no word has been heard about the attackers.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu had promised that his group would attack, especially, high profile politicians of Igbo origin outside Nigeria’s shores.

Since that threat, a number of high profile  politicians, especially, of Igbo stock, have been cautious in their trips outside Nigeria. They have largely ignored most invitations extended to them by Nigerians in the Diaspora who accuse them of corruption.

Being Igbo, even though he is from the South-south, it is not known if  Amaechi was attacked  by IPOB members, or other angry Nigerians. But, from his post, he seems luckier than Ekweremadu.

This attack on Amaechi, in Spain, is likely to instill fears into Nigeria’s political leaders who travel out at the drop of a hat.

They seem to have become endangered.

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