DRBAM FORUM

Just when Nigerians thought no lawyer will step out to defend notorious billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike a.k.a. Evans, Voice Olukoya Ogungbeje has proven an exception. Ogungbeje who heads Lawflex Chambers and is the Chairman of Voice Vanguard, stepped out Wednesday. He grabbed the headlines as he filed a fundamental rights suit on behalf of Evans, by dragging the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over Evans alleged illegal detention. Joined as respondents are the Nigeria Police Force, Commissioner of Police Lagos State, and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command. In his fundamental rights the confessed kidnapper is seeking a court order directing the respondents to immediately charge him to court if there is any case against him. He is in the alternative, seeking an order, compelling the respondents to immediately release him unconditionally in the absence of any offence warranting a charged.

– Applicants for 2017 will be required to go through a list of processes including application, pre-selection, physical verification etc. – The 2017 application is expected to close on Thursday, July 13 – Only applicants whose BVN records match their applications will move to the assessment stage A new process for recruitment was rolled out by N-Power, the employment scheme of the federal  government  on Friday, June 30 via its Twitter handle. The tweet read:  “To avoid some of the issues of the 2016 applications, 2017 applicants will have to go through the process listed below. #NPowerNG”. The requirements listed are: –Application –BVN Validation –Test –Device Selection –Pre-selection –Physical verification –Selection –Deployment Furthermore, the N-power Twitter handle also disclosed that the only applicants who will move to the assessment stage are those whose BVN records match their applications. The 2017 applicants have also been advised to stay tu

Chiadikobi Emmanuel, a Nigerian cleric, shared the photo below with caption on his facebook page. According to him, pictured (right) is a 130-year-old Nigerian man. “Today I bless the name of God meeting a man above 130 years. In 1930, Mr Ifem used to ride his biscyle from Amazu Ebenator IMO state to Port Harcourt. Today he is still very strong and healthy. Long life is reality. As I celebrate Mr Ifem, I covet his long life. May the grace for long life rest upon you and your family in Jesus name,”

Convener of the Viral Hallelujah Challenge, Nathanial Bassey escaped death, after he was involved in a ghastly car accident, but came out of the crash without a scratch. He shared the testimony on his Instagram page, with caption; Thank You Jesus! We cancel that appointment with death. #####Good morning,I just want to use this opportunity to thank God and share my testimony with you. On the 28th of June I was on my way home from the last halleluyah praise challenge night which took place at the glitz event centre, I was inside a car and another car ran into us just at the lekki 3rd round about (ikate) and my car somersaulted inside the roundabout. People were scared that we were dead. The only thing I remembered saying last was the Blood of Jesus. I and the driver came out alive without a single scratch. The most amazing thing is that this happened two days to my birthday. I just want to bless God because the devil failed. He is the olowogbogboro indeed and I b

Comedians are special acts in the entertainment industry as they make people laugh in different ways. Nigerian comedians sure have a great taste for women as among all the entertainers in Nigeria, they tend to have the most beautiful wives. 1. AY Makun Comedian Ayo Makun popularly known as AY is one of the top comedians in the country who has also delved in film production and has continued to stay relevant. He got married to his beautiful wife, Mabel on the 28th of November, 2008 and they have a daughter together. 2. Bovi Top Nigerian comedian, director, producer, actor, and writer Bovi is married to Christabel and they have 3 children together. 3. Klint Da Drunk Klint Da Drunk is one unique act in the comedy industry that has differentiated himself from the regular way comedians act on stage with his drunk act. He got married to his better half, Lillen in the year 2007. Their marriage is blessed with three kids. 4. Seyi Law Seyi law has really m

The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Director-General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to cause the release of promotion letters of all members of staff who passed the last promotion examination or face industrial action. In the letter signed by the union’s Secretary General, Olayinka Abioye, NUATE also petitioned the Ministry of Transportation, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, and other unions, saying it had placed other branches on alert on its plan to shut the agency should the agency not accede to its demands. The statement said that consequent upon the complaints arising from the recently released promotion letters to members of Staff of the authority, and bearing in mind that peace of mind of the worker translates to industrial peace in the workplace, they were compelled to draw the attention of management to the “unwholesome and unacceptable outcome” of the last promotion exercise. The exercise, it sa

Is an Apple Car about to hit the road? The California technology colossus behind the iPhone has confirmed its interest in self-driving cars, but experts are trying to deduce the secretive company’s plans for traction in a market where others have been speeding along. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who died in 2011, contemplated putting the company’s hardware and software smarts to work in a car nearly a decade ago, according to reports in trade press. Speculation about an Apple Car became the stuff of myth, with much talk and little evidence until recently. In mid-June, Apple chief executive Tim Cook revealed that the company is focusing on software that powers self-driving vehicles, referring to it as “by far the most important project in artificial intelligence.” Cook depicted electric vehicles, self-driving cars, and ride-sharing as major forces shaping the future of the automobile. Analysts said that driverless cars that can be summoned on demand to whisk people where t

The All Progressives Congress APC, has on Friday, released the current health status of ailing President, Muhammadu Buhari. The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, made the disclosure in Abuja, during an interactive session with Newsmen. The reaction came on the heels of the recent claims by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, that Buhari is on life support, in a United Kingdom, UK, hospital. While disclosing Buhari’s health status, Oyegun said: “We are glad to inform you that President Muhammadu Buhari is recovering in a very robust manner. “We hope he takes it easy and when he comes back; I have no doubt at all that we will have a new and active period of activities.’’ He however, said only the President’s Doctors abroad could decide when he would be fit to return to the country. The National Chairman nonetheless, refused to respond to the Fayose’s comment, saying he would do that at an appropriate time. “If I respond, I will

Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo have moved to quell speculations surrounding his immediate future at Real Madrid by letting the club know that he will stay at the Bernabeu, according to reports in Spain. The 32-year-old has since been linked with a move away from Spain after he reportedly told the club that he will be leaving this summer due to accusation of tax fraud and perceived hate from the press. Ronaldo left the Confederations Cup early after Portugal lost in the semifinals against Chile to see his newly born twin and briefly returned to Madrid, en route to the United States, where he held positive first talks the club’s hierarchy. According to Marca, Ronaldo spoke to Real officials for the first time regarding his future and after brief discussions, the club have been completely reassured that he will remain at the Bernabeu for the foreseeable future. Now the mood in the Los Blancos cam is that of ‘tranquillity and confidence’ as they breathe a huge sigh of rel

The  government of the United Kingdom (UK) yesterday deported about 28 Nigerians for breaching their immigration laws. The deportees arrived in the country via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMlA) Lagos at about 12.13pm on board a chartered Titanic Airways with registration number AWC-761/2. Spokesman of the Lagos Airport Police Command, DSP Joseph Alabi, confirmed the deportation to Aviation Correspondents and said the deportees comprised 21 males and seven females. On ground at the Lagos airport to receive the deportees were officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Police and officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). The deportees were profiled by immigration authorities and were each given a stipend to facilitate their transportation to their respective states.

Football and showbiz stars gathered in Argentina for Latin America’s celebrity wedding bash of the decade as Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi prepared to marry his childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo on Friday. Pop star Shakira and her husband, Messi’s teammate Gerard Pique, were expected among the 260 guests, according to media and locals close to the event. They will join old friends of the couple and footballers, including his Barcelona strike partners Neymar and Luis Suarez, in Messi’s northern hometown, Rosario. Suarez and other soccer stars were watched by curious locals as they stepped off private jets on Thursday at Rosario’s airport. The party will be a respite for Messi from his legal woes. A Spanish court last month rejected his appeal against a conviction for tax  fraud . – All-star guest list – Brunette bride Roccuzzo, 29, will wear a dress by Rosa Clara — a Spanish designer who has dressed actress Eva Longoria and Spain’s Queen Letizia. From 2200 GMT

The National Executive Council (NEC) Thursday extended the lifespan of the federal government’s financial support to various states of the federation, to cushion the biting effects of the recession. Rising from its monthly meeting presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in the State House, Abuja, the council also said it resolved to extend the support in view of pending settlements to some states and local governments. Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, who said the council also received the report on the forensic audits of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), gave the balances in various federation accounts as of June 28. According to him, the Excess Crude Account balance stood a $2.3 billion; Stabilisation Account balance, N28.5 billion; Natural Resources Account balance was N87.6 billion; while the balance in Ecological Account was N28.9 billion. “Council was briefed on the budget support to states becau

Lionel Messi and his bride, Antonella Roccuzzo Football superstar Lionel Messi will marry his childhood sweetheart in his hometown in Argentina on Friday (today). The Barcelona player is returning to the city of Rosario to wed Antonella Roccuzzo, whom he met there before he moved to Spain aged 13. Argentine newspaper Clarín has called it “the wedding of the year” and even “the wedding of the century.” The 30-year-old world-rated footballer and his bride, 29-year-old Antonella Roccuzzo have been in the relationship since 2008. Messi’s teammates, including Luis Suárez and Neymar, will be among the 260 guests, it said. Many have flown in on private jets. Extra police officers have been drafted in to ensure security is maintained around the hotel, while a private security firm will work inside to keep out any potential gate crashers. Around 150 journalists have received accreditation to enter a special press area, but will not have full access to the venue, said organiser

Troops of 27 Task Force Brigade, deployed to Buni Gari in Borno State, said they have arrested another suspected Boko Haram terrorist. Sani Usman, the Director Army Public Relations, made this known on Thursday in Maiduguri. Mr. Usman, a brigadier general, said the suspect, 20, was arrested by the troops on June 25 while on perimeter patrol. He added that “preliminary investigation was initially difficult as he was found to be under influence of heavy dosage of drugs. “However, he has since stabilised and making useful statement.” The director noted that the troops of 29 Task Force Brigade also Discovered Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by suspected terrorists along Wajiro-Mallam Kuramti cattle route. “Troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade also discovered an IED planted by suspected Boko Haram terrorists while on patrol on June 28 along Wajiro-Mallam Kuramti cattle route. “The team safely removed and detonated it,’’ he said. Mr. Usman said the troops of 151 Bat

Manchester United has beaten off competition from neighbours Manchester City and Serie A champions, Juventus for the signature of highly talented France Under-17 international Aliou Badara Traore, according to Goal France. The player was said to have agreed personal terms with the Red Devils earlier this month before completing a four-year deal with the club. However, Traore is expected to resume with the Manchester United Reserve team where he is expected to play for a year before joining the first team for the other three years in his contract. The first-team opportunity will give the youngster a chance of playing alongside other French stars like Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba at Old Trafford. Signing the dotted line with Jose Mourinho’s side effectively ends the pursuit of Juventus and Manchester City.

Rauf Aregbesola Pensioners in Osun State on Friday stormed the State Secretariat and locked put workers in continuation of their protest to press home demand for payment of their pension arrears and gratuities. The pensioners started the fresh protest on Thursday and continued early Friday morning before workers could arrive for work. The protesters locked the main gate as well as the second gate thereby preventing workers from going inside. The pensioners chanted war song. Some of them blocked the gates, while others lined up with placards beside the main road raining abuses on the governor. Policemen, operatives of the Department of State Services and Nigeria Security and Civil Defeñce Corps were deployed to ensure that the protest is not hijacked. One of the leaders of the pensioners, Mr. Yemi Lawal, told journalists that they would not allow any worker to go inside the Secretariat He said the state government was owing them 12-month pensions and the gratuities of tho

Evans Suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (a.k.a. Evans), has again dragged the Inspector General of Police, and three others before a Federal High Court in Lagos over his alleged illegal detention. In the new suit filed on Thursday, Evans is claiming N300 million as general and exemplary damages against the police for alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional media trial. Joined as respondents in his new originating motion are the Nigeria Police Force, the Commissioner of Police Lagos State and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Police Command. Evans had on June 28 filed an ex parte application with reference number FHC/L/CS/1012/2017, before the same court, seeking an order directing the respondents to charge him to court. He had also in the alternative, sought an order directing the respondents to release him unconditionally where no charge is preferred against him. In an affidavit deposed to by his father, Mr Stephen Onwuamadike, i