"The Union" To El- Rufai, "We Stand By Our Story"

The Union newspaper on Thursday said it stands by its story that the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, declared assets worth N90 billion in his form with the Code of Conduct Bureau. This is inspite of the threat by the governor to head to court to seek redress over the story. The Editor-in-Chief of The Union, Casmir Igbokwe, told an online publication, News Express, that for now the newspaper has no reason to believe the story filed by its reporter was inaccurate. This was more so that the newspaper made efforts to speak with the spokesmen of El-Rufai and the CCB in Kaduna State. Igbokwe told News Express: “Well, for now, yes, we stand by our story. “The story was based on information from our reporter. “We have no reason to doubt our reporter. “He got the story from reliable sources and he contacted his (El-Rufai’s) media people and Code of Conduct Bureau but they chose not to comment. “He has the right to sue us; it is his fundamental human right. “If he says what we wrote is false, let him release what he declared. “We have no malice towards him. “He should give us what he is worth.” The newspaper had reported that El-Rufai owns 40 mansions, mostly in Abuja, as part of his estimated N90 billion worth.

Man Peeps At Neighbour's Wife In The Bathroom

A 36-year-old man, Oludare Adewale, has been arrested and charged before Oshodi Magistrates’ court for allegedly peeping at his neigbour’s wife, Victoria Emmanuel, in their bathroom in Lagos State western Nigeria. The court ordered him to be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri, Lagos. The incident happened at 23, Arowojobe Street, Oshodi where both the defendant and victim reside. The woman had gone to take her bath in one of their bathrooms in the morning and Adewale followed her and entered the other bathroom under the guise of taking his bath as well. The police alleged that Adewale peeped at Victoria through an opening in the bathroom as she was bathing early in the morning. And while Adewale was busy peeping, Victoria, who had always suspected Adewale of doing such, caught him in the act and raised the alarm which attracted other neighbours. He was caught and handed over to the police by the neighbours. At the Makinde, Oshodi Police Division where he was taken, he allegedly admitted that he actually peeped at Victoria but did not know it was an offence. The police charged him to court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Code but he pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mr A.A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail. The matter was adjourned till 23 July, 2015. P.M.NEWS learnt that the parents refused to stand as surety for him because of the shame he brought to the family. It was gathered that Adewale lives with his parents in the same house where the incident happened and he has refused to marry and settle down

I Want To Have Sex On My 18th Birthday - Bunmi Sofola

I will be celebrating my 18th birthday soon. I have been going out with my boyfriend for some time now and I am still a virgin. However, I have promised to have sex with him after my 18th birthday and have told him to buy some condoms as I don’t want to be saddled with an unwanted pregnancy. I am still a student and my parents are old-fashioned, so I can’t ask my mum about contraception. My boyfriend said I shouldn’t worry as I couldn’t possibly get pregnant the first time I have sex. Is he right?

Call Dogara To Order,Gbajabiamila Group Tells Buhari

Members of the House of Representatives who are in support of Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday evening appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and members of his group to order. They accused the All Progressives Congress’ members on the side of Dogara of allegedly colluding with the Peoples Democratic Party to polarise the ruling party to give room for them to later defect to the PDP. This was one of the issues they raised when they met with Buhari behind closed-doors at the Conference Hall of the First Lady’s Office inside the Presidential Villa on Wednesday evening. Copies of their presentation to the President were made available to journalists at the end of the meeting also attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The 30 lawmakers who attended the meeting on behalf of their colleagues were led by Gbajabiamila. They said the President’s intervention was needed in order to save the party’s integrity. They demanded that Dogara be asked to return to their fold and announce the other four principal officers positions in the House as directed by the party as it has always been the convention. They said, “It is noteworthy that Mr. President and the governors had strongly put their weight behind the party and had severally admonished the House to abide by the party’s position. “The 39 APC members in the House continue to collude with the PDP to flagrantly disobey Mr. President, the governors and the party with a view to bringing the party and government to ridicule before Nigerians. “The conduct of the 39 APC members colluding with the PDP is tantamount to affront, ultimately targeted at polarising our party so as to give room for many of them to decamp to the PDP. “It is therefore imperative for Mr. President to take a stand and save the integrity of the party by calling to order, the 39 members, which include the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, to respect, honour and obey our party Leaders and their directives. “In conclusion, Mr. President, we as loyal party members shall continue to abide by the party constitution, respect and honour our party leaders and their directives. “We strongly appeal to you to direct the Speaker to return to our fold and be truly elected Speaker on APC platform. He should be directed to announce the other four party principal officers positions as directed by the party as it has always been the convention. “We sincerely appreciate Mr. President for the audience trusting in his ability to successfully mediate so as to save our great party, the APC, from further embarrassment.” The lawmakers said while Gbajabiamila and the party’s choice for the position of Deputy Speaker had openly congratulated Dogara and his deputy, the opposition and the 39 APC members continued to hold the APC leadership in contempt. They wondered what would be the reward of the 174 of them that have remained obedient and loyal to the party. While noting that the Speaker’s group had cited the Federal Character principle as the reason why they will not honour the party’s directive on the choice of the remaining principal officers, the lawmakers said that principle was not applicable to the National Assembly. “It should be noted that the Federal Character principle as embedded in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is not justiciable and of no legal consequence. “Its provision in S.14 of the Constitution is only applicable to appointments in Federal Ministries and Agencies. “The House of Representatives is not an agency of the Federal government and the principal officers’ positions are elective and not by appointment. “If the Federal Character is applicable to the National Assembly, then both the Senate President and the Speaker cannot come from the North, one of them should be advised to step down,” they argued. Gbajabiamila later told State House correspondents that he led the lawmakers who belong to the APC caucus to meet with the President in order to iron out the issues that had arisen since June 9 and find a way forward. He described the meeting as a very successful one, saying the APC caucus and the party would come out bigger, stronger and better for it. When asked what the President told them, Gbajabiamila said Buhari is a party man who believes in party supremacy and the party’s ideologies. When asked why Dogara would be absent at the meeting when he claimed that it was for APC caucus, the lawmaker said the Speaker could have other engagements. He said, “The Speaker probably has other engagements. There are a few members of the caucus that are not here. We could not get everybody here. “This is a representation of the caucus. When we are talking about the caucus, we are talking about 210 members. You did not find all the members here. “This is a representation of the 210 members.” When reminded that all those who attended are members of his camp, Gbajabiamila said, “It is not about me and we need to get that clear. Yes, they voted for me but the idea is that they supported the party. “That is who we are and there is nothing more to be said about that. It is not about any individual.” When also asked the way forward after the meeting with the President, the lawmaker said the party’s will would be done. He said the sooner all lawmakers recognised the fact that they did not get to the House as independent candidates, the sooner they would chart a way forward.

Nasir El- Rufai To Sue "The Union" Over False Assets Report

After a busy few weeks as governor, Malam Nasir El -Rufai is dismayed by the blatant falsehood being practised as journalism by The Union newspapers. He has consequently directed his legal team to vigorously enforce his rights to protect his reputation from the vandalism of irresponsible hacks. The Union chose to write a spurious story alleging N 90b as his assets declaration without seeing the declaration made by Malam El Rufai. The circle of blackmail that did the story claimed they heard a rumour, and they pursued the rumour so vigorously they transformed it into news . When some of their cohorts made contact with the governor’ s media team insisting that they respond to rumour, they were told that it is better if they chose the more legitimate route of agitating for a public asset declaration. Fair minded people who read the story will notice that it is not grounded in any evidence . It is just the animus of blackmailers who regard Malam Nasir El -Rufai as easy prey. But since his reputation is not based on purchased kudos , he cannot be compelled into accommodation with venal people masquerading as journalists . Malam Nasir El - Rufai is a privileged Nigerian. He qualified as a chartered Quantity Surveyor early in life and became a dollar millionaire in his twenties. He is a respected leader in in his professional field but as successful as he has been in his career, he certainly has neither N 90 billion nor 40 mansions . He will not be distracted from his total focus on making Kaduna great again . In this endeavour , he will continue to be accessible to practitioners of responsible journalism . Samuel Aruwan Special Assistant, Media 02 July 2015

Buhari Appoints New DSS DG

Buhari appoints new DG for DSS President Muhamadu Buhari has appointed Lawal Musa Daura as the new Director General of the Department of State Services. The appointment was conveyed via a letter by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Barrister Danladi Kifasi, on Thursday. Daura succeeds Ekpeyong Ita. Daura was born in Daura on August 5, 1953. He attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1977 to 1980. He started his carrier in the State Security Service in 1982 and rose to the rank of Director. Daura was the Deputy Director of Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre at the Presidential Villa Abuja between 2003 and 2007. He also served as the state Director of the DSS, then known as the State Security Service, at various times in Kano, Sokoto, Edo, Lagos, Osun and Imo States. He attended various professional courses both home and abroad, including the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru near Jos in Plateau State. The appointment is with immediate effect.