Tonto Dikeh disses Mercy Johnson on twitter

Lol Tonto Dikeh's blood is hot. Oh well. Last year, the actress said on twitter that the only actress she respects is Uche Jombo and also said she's got love for Rita Dominic. But when a fan asked her about Mercy Johnson she said, Fcuk you all. Now today, she tweeted this;

Drug Barons Abandon N74m Worth Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport

Cocaine weighing 5.9kg worth N74 million has been abandoned by a suspected drug trafficking syndicate.

The drug was detected by men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. The drug which was hidden inside industrial equipment originated from Panama, Central America.

This came as a suspected drug trafficker excreted 54 wraps of cocaine he ingested in Brazil.
NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said that the cocaine consignment was left unclaimed. “The luggage was imported from Panama. When nobody came forward to claim ownership, we invited other security agencies and carried out a search. It was in the process of the search that the cocaine was discovered inside the industrial equipment.

“Meantime, a 36-year-old man, Onyema Watson Goodman Nnamdi, was also apprehended in connection with the ingestion of 54 wraps of cocaine weighing 875 grammes. Both seizures weighed 6.775kg.”

The suspect said he wanted to get married with the $4,000 they promised to pay him.

According to Onyema, “I have struggled in my life but I have nothing to show for it. I was in Cape Verde for six years before I went to Brazil in March 2013. My decision to smuggle drugs was to use the proceeds to marry and settle down.”

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade, promised to investigate the illegal shipment and expose those behind it.

He said: “Drug barons have no hiding place. This abandoned seizure is an indication that control measures are working and the country is winning the war on narcotics. This case shall be thoroughly investigated and those that are responsible will be exposed and brought to justice.”

He urged members of the public to support the anti-narcotics campaign in the interest of humanity. The suspect will soon be charged to court, he said.

Soldiers Deployed In Rivers State House Of Assemby

Pro and anti-Amaechi supporters being contained by riot policemen in Port Harcourt… on Wednesday

Troops from the Joint Task Force were deployed in Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday to prevent a bloody clash between supporters of Governor Rotimi Amaechi and those of the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt.

Both groups, comprising mainly youths and those believed to be ex-militants, had gathered at the Assembly at about 7.30am to witness the sitting of the lawmakers and to know who would be recognised as the Speaker.

Policemen on the ground at Assembly watched as the youthS argued on the disagreement between the governor and Wike, but a team of JTF operatives, who came in four Hilux vehicles, dispersed them within 10 minutes.

The soldiers fired tear-gas canisters, forcing some of the protesting youths to relocate to the front of the Government House.

An ex-militant, who was among the youths was arrested by the riot policemen and taken to the Swift Operation Squad, ostensibly for interrogation. An identification card with an inscription ‘Amnesty’ was found in his pocket.

One of the pro-Wike youths, Kennedy Mbiere, said they were not happy with the way the state government disrupted the process of inuagurating Mr. Evans Bipi as the new speaker of the Assembly on Tuesday.

Mbiere said they were at the Assembly complex to show solidarity with Bipi, arguing that the governor should not have been there (Assembly) on Tuesday to prevent an elected Bipi from being inaugurated.

Also, a pro-Amaechi supporter, who identified himself as Tonye, lamented the interference of Abuja politicians in the affairs of the state.

“In a democracy, is it possible for five members to impeach the Speaker of a state House of Assembly with 32 members? We will not allow that. We are prepared to die than allow that to happen in Rivers State, ” Tonye said.

Gov. Amaechi Raises Alarm Over Safety After Soldiers, APCs Are Removed From Govt House

The embattled governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi, has raised the alarm about his safety after military authorities abruptly withdrew soldiers detailed to the Rivers State Government House on Wednesday in a new twist to the political tumult that has enveloped the state.

Mr. Amaechi said late Wednesday that while police and State Security Service operatives remained with him, he could not predict how things might turn out within the next hours in an utterly fast-paced set of events unfolding in the state since Tuesday.

“Although I feel safe at this time, you never can tell what may happen even this night,” the governor said Wednesday night in response to a telephone enquiry.

His fears resonated as the over more than two dozens soldiers attached to his office and residence were suddenly withdrawn on Wednesday, leaving behind a police detachment that has been accused of indifference, or even complicity, in the series of crises bedeviling the state for months.

The soldiers were reportedly asked to leave on the orders of the state Brigade Commander. It is not clear who ordered the commander to withdraw the officers.

Army spokesperson, Brigadier General Bolaji Koleoso, did not comment when reached by telephone. A man who answered our call on his behalf said Mr. Koleoso was away and would respond to our enquiries on his return. He is yet to return our call.

The withdrawal of the soldiers came several hours after federal lawmakers at the Senate and the House of Representatives spent the entire legislative sessions Wednesday discussing the crisis that began after five members of the state House of Assembly, opposed to Mr. Amaechi, moved to impeach the Speaker who enjoys the backing of 27 members.

The Speaker, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree, survived the plot. But the impeachment call by lawmakers led by Evans Bipi, who himself sought to take over the office, only manifested months of repressed acrimony; and the violence that followed left four lawmakers hospitalized.

At the centre of the crisis is the spat between Mr. Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan over the 2015 election. The renegade legislators are said to be backed by a faction of the state Peoples Democratic Party supported by the president.

An infuriated National Assembly passed separate motions sternly condemning the turn of events, especially how only five lawmakers could claim to have impeached a speaker, and how the state police commissioner failed to stem the violence in the chamber.

The House asked for the immediate redeployment of the police chief, Joseph Mbu; and invoked its constitutional powers to assume the legislative functions of the crisis-ridden state assembly.

The Senate said it needed further investigation to be certain of an appropriate response, but warned of tougher actions and a willingness to defend the constitution “even if it means sacrificing” members’ blood.

As the deliberations held, reports of gunfire near the state government house in Port Harcourt emerged, stoking fears of a large-scale breakdown of law and order- a concern the House of Representatives cited as reason for what some view as a hasty takeover by the House.

That decision, meanwhile, will require the concurrence of the Senate to be effective.

But hours after the vote, Mr. Amaechi and other state officials said the soldiers were recalled from their posts and the Armoured Personnel Carrier positioned closed to the Government House driving away. As commander-in-chief, Mr. Jonathan receives briefing on such decisions, but it is not clear whether he is privy to the actions taken by the Brigade Commander in Port Harcourt

The president, who is away on a state visit to China, has not sent in a comment on the events 48 hours after.

But after an opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria, accused the president of having a hand in the crisis, calling for his impeachment, a presidential spokesperson, Doyin Okupe, scrambled a response, denying Mr. Jonathan’s culpability.

“The President is not, has not and will never engineer any act that can cause disaffection between Governor Rotimi Amaechi or any other Governor and the state legislature or any other institution of government,” Mr. Okupe said.

Meanwhile, a security source in the state said the violence in the state might worsen in the days ahead if urgent steps were not taken to check the influx of cultists and militants into Port Harcourt.

He said information at his disposal suggested that 10 flying boats and four busloads of fully armed militants had invaded the city in the past 24 hours and might wreck havoc if not checked.
We were unable to independently confirm the claim.[Premium Times]

Police Deny Firing Tear Gas At Rivers Government House

The Rivers Police Command said on Wednesday that its personnel did not fire tear gas at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Angela Agabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt that policemen deployed to disperse protesting youths did not shoot tear gas at the government house.“No, it’s not true. Police personnel deployed to stop protesting youths did not fire tear gas into the Government House.“Tear gas was used to disperse youths who attempted to enter the state House of Assembly and others who also took over some streets.“Our personnel did not fire tear gas at the government house,’’ she said.

Ms. Agabe said normalcy had been restored to the state legislature while the protesting youths had been successfully dispersed.“There is calm and things are quiet everywhere, and the police is on top of the situation,’’ she assured.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, had alleged that anti- riot mobile policemen fired tear gas at the government house early Wednesday.Ms. Semenitari added that the tear gas was also fired at supporters of the state government.

The Rivers House of Assembly had been enmeshed in violence on Tuesday as five lawmakers, believed to have the support of the presidency, tried to impeach the speaker of the assembly, who has the backing of 27 lawmakers and the state governor.(NAN)

ACN Wants President Jonathan Impeached Over Rivers House Crisis

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has heaped the blame for the ongoing crisis in Rivers State on President Goodluck Jonathan and asked the National Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceedings against him, for failing to live up to his oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, the party said by his abhorrence of the rule of law and majority rule, the latest indication of which is his unmistakable support for a group of renegade lawmakers who are fomenting trouble in Rivers State, the President has become  a clear and present danger to the country’s democracy, and must be shown the way out in accordance with the  Constitution.

”Under President Jonathan’s watch and with his tacit support, a few lawmakers dictated to majority of the members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, which was locked for a long time. Under President Jonathan’s watch, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum was sabotaged by his minions who declared a Governor with 16 votes a winner over the one who  scored 19 votes, in an injurious blow to the concept of democracy.”

And under his watch, five lawmakers – out of 32 – have become the majority and, simply because they have the backing of the presidency, are now being given police protection to disrupt the proceedings of the House. As we write, Rivers state has been taken over by current and former militants who have been unleashed to destabilize the state and cause a breakdown of law and order, to pave the way for the imposition of a State of Emergency.”

This cannot and must be allowed to continue, hence our call on the National Assembly to move quickly to remove the source of the crisis. Since this is no longer an intra-party dispute and because of its potentials to set the country on fire, we also call on civil society groups, professional bodies and ordinary Nigerians to rise up and defend the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution over arbitrariness,” ACN said.

The party decried the anarchy that is now reigning in Rivers, simply because the five renegade lawmakers have the backing of the presidency, which has emboldened them to take extra-Constitutional measures to try to remove the majority-backed Speaker of the State House of Assembly.”

Taking a cue from the presidency, the State Commissioner of Police has turned himself into a politician and abandoned his constitutional role. Instead of providing security for the entire House to sit, he chose to back the renegades and their thugs to unleash mayhem on their colleagues. This is what you get when a leader dons the garb of a partisan instead of being a statesman. All sorts of minions simply follow suit,” it said.

The party said that in the aftermath of the crisis, the soldiers attached to the State House in Rivers have been withdrawn while there  are real fears that the police security will also be withdrawn by a Commissioner of Police who, apparently, no longer takes orders  from his boss.”

This is not the democracy that was watered with the blood of many Nigerians. This not what Nigerians bargained for after years of military rule. We should not and must not allow those who are now reaping where they did not sow to reverse the little progress that we have made,” ACN warned.

Rivers Crisis: Governor Amaechi Is Too Small For President Jonathan To Fight -Doyin Okupe

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe

The Presidency Wednesday described calls by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for the removal of President Goodluck Jonathan over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly as a flawed position.

According to the Presidency, President Jonathan was absolutely not connected and also not involved in the Rivers State political quagmire, just as it stressed that Governor Chibuike Amaechi was too small politically for President Jonathan to fight with.

Addressing Journalists  Wednesday in Abuja,  Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, described as unfair attempts to link the President to the crisis in Rivers State.

Chaos In Rivers State Day 2 [Photos]

These photos show people being harassed and teargassed by the police at the Rivers State Government House.

A crowd peaceful protesters who massed at the State Assembly this morning were running into the inner confines of the Government House after been teargassed by the police. In the photos, the policemen can be seen launching canisters of teargas into Government House, Port Harcourt, the official residence Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. The young men with the wounds in the photos claimed that the police shot them at during the protest. [SR]

Let's us Pray

Let's us Pray

1st Day Of Ramadan


Allahumo Ijhal Siyamee Feehi Siyama S-Sa-Imeena Wa hab Lee Jur'mee
feehi Yah Ilahil Halameena Wah'fu Hanee Yaa Hafiyaw Hanil Muj'rimeen

"O Allah, accept my fast in it (Ramadan) as fast of those who fast is
acceptable to You, Forgive my sins in it, O the Lord of the Universe,
Pardon me, o the Pardoner of Sinners."

Chelsea v Spurs... in race for Benteke! Mourinho ready to pounce for £25m hitman... but Villa ace wants Spurs deal

Aston Villa have told Christian Benteke’s suitors that they will not be bullied into losing the Belgium striker after making him available for £25million.
Spurs are favourites to secure the services of Benteke, 22, following his transfer request but Villa are determined to stick to their guns over the price and are not interested in any part-exchange deal.
The suggestion is that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will try to force through a move as the transfer window is about to close but Villa do not need to sell in order to raise cash.

Moving: Christian Benteke's future is now undecided but it seems he will end up in London

On his way: Benteke says he wants to leave Aston Villa

There is also a lingering feeling at Villa that they did not get good value when Jermaine Jenas arrived from Spurs on a season’s loan and they are not inclined to do the north Londoners any favours.
However, Chelsea are also in the frame and would be Villa’s choice — though not Benteke’s — if their demands were met as there would be the possibility of a player-plus-cash deal with Romelu Lukaku an obvious make-weight in any transfer. But Benteke favours a switch to White Hart Lane, mainly because he would be given top billing in a season that leads up to the 2014 World Cup finals.
He doubts he would be first choice under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and worries about the knock-on effect, particularly with Belgium enjoying a rich choice of forwards from which to choose next summer.

Negotiations: Romelu Lukaku could make a shock move to Villa, who have not forgotten about Jenas' time at Villa Park

Disappointed: Paul Lambert says he wanted Benteke to stay at the club

But Randy Lerner, Villa’s American billionaire owner, has instructed chief executive Paul Faulkner to sell Benteke only once the valuation is met.
Lerner has taken a hard line over his club’s prize asset. Benteke was immediately pulled out of Villa’s pre-season tour to Germany after his transfer request and has been given an extra week’s leave. Villa issued a club statement, acknowledging the forward’s demand, saying he would be free to leave if a suitable fee was received.
Lerner is keen to pursue that line following an earlier situation with Gareth Barry five years ago when  Liverpool made a move for the England midfielder. Villa quoted Rafael Benitez a fee of £18m but Liverpool failed to come up with the money and Barry returned to Villa for a season before moving to Manchester City a year later.

Top scorer: Christian Benteke scored 19 goals in his first season at Villa

Villa manager Paul Lambert is unwilling to lose Benteke, who scored 19 goals last season, and has told him as much, being careful not to burn any bridges with a player he has nurtured carefully since signing him from Genk last year for £8m.
Faulkner talked to Benteke earlier this summer about doubling his £1m-a-year salary on the condition that he extended his current contract. That offer has been left on the table.
Ominously for Villa, Benteke once refused to move when Standard Liege offered him out on loan. Then, at Genk, he effectively went on strike to secure a move to Villa Park.

On the move? A host of Premier League clubs are interested in Benteke

The Benteke situation does not have any impact on the proposed sale of Darren Bent to Newcastle United. The former England striker has been sidelined by Lambert since falling out of favour last autumn.
He is being pursued by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew but that deal now appears to have hit a stumbling block and Bent has attracted German club Wolfsburg.

Governor Liyel Imoke Donates 23 Months Salary to Church

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has donated his salary from this month, July 2013 to May 29, 2015 to Grace Consulate (Grace Network Ministries Incorporated) as his contribution to the church’s youth development program.

Imoke, who was the Chairman and Special Guest of Honor, made his donation at the unveiling and launch of album by the church tagged “Earth Shakers and Frank Edward, “Na’ar Youth Swagger”, at Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel Calabar.

He said the beauty of what the church is doing goes beyond the normal Sunday as it impacts on youth development.

The Governor disclosed that the donation was borne out of his commitment and passion for youth development, which also prompted him to float the Bridge Leadership Foundation, a project dedicated to helping youths develop their talents as future leaders.

Man Jumps Into Canal To Avoid Trial

A suspected fraudster who resides in Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, Olayinka Salau, tried to avoid trial by fleeing from an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos Lagos and jumping into a canal under a heavy rainfall.

The suspect caught the court officials unawares when he escaped while entering the court room.

The 35-year old Salau was, however, re-arrested by the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Akinkumi Muni, who also jumped into the canal and brought him back to the court for prosecution.

As the suspect fled the court, Muni ran after him and jumped into the canal with the suspect where they both engaged in a scuffle as the IPO tried to stop him from escaping.

Salau was initially arrested by the police at Area ‘M’ Command, Idimu, for allegedly stealing ₦430,000 belonging to his lover, Afunku Adeshola.

Adeshola, who is a travel agent, explained that her client gave her the money and she gave it to Salau to keep for her on their way to a bank to deposit the money.

She alleged that Salau convinced her to give him the money so that thieves would not dispossess her of the money on their way to the bank.

She said she gave him the money because she trusted him since they have been dating for four months and their parents knew about their relationship.

Adeshola alleged that she did not t know that Salau had an ulterior motive of stealing the money to travel abroad.

She said she was shocked when Salau ran away with the money along the road at Ijagemo area on the outskirts of Lagos.

After the incident, Adeshola reported the matter at Idimu Police Command and he was arrested and detained at the station.

Salau reportedly admitted that he collected the money, explaining that he needed the money to travel back to South Africa where he was deported to Nigeria.

When he was rearrested and arraigned in court, he was charged with stealing under the Criminal Code.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Nicholas Atumonye, opposed his bail on the ground that he will jump bail considering how he tried to escape from the court.

However, the presiding magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami granted him bail in the sum of ₦400,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The court also ordered that the parents of the victim and the accused should appear in court since they knew about their relationship.

The matter was adjourned till 18 July and the suspect was remanded in Kirikiri Prisons in Lagos.

Source: PM News

Beyoncé Posts Photo of Jay-Z As a Kid After His Album Goes Platinum

On the day his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail was released to the public, Jay-Z was presented with a platinum plaque for selling a million copies.

So, to properly congratulate her beau on his big accomplishment, Beyonce went to Instagram and told everyone to – I guess – bow down.

Jonathan Doesn’t Need The Support Of Northern Elders For 2015 -Presidency

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Presidency on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan did not need the support of the spokesman for the Northern Elders’ Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, or “his North” to win the 2015 presidential election if he decides to contest.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said this in an interview with our correspondent.

He was reacting to Abdullahi’s interview with The PUNCH in which he said the North would not support Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election.

He had said, “My part of the North will not support him (Jonathan). The South owe us a moral debt and they should pay. There is nothing personal against the person of President Goodluck Jonathan. There is something wrong with the system that threw him up against equity and justice.”
But Gulak said Jonathan could not lose sleep based on that statement because Abdullahi did not support the president when he won the 2011 election.

The presidential spokesman said Abdullahi’s statement only pointed to the fact that the elder statesman was becoming senile.

Gulak said, “One thing that should be clear is that Abdullahi did not support President Jonathan in 2011 and he won the election. He will still not support the President in 2015.

“By the way, which North is he talking about that will not support the President? Is it his North, Buhari’s North, Ribadu’s North?

“Honestly, the position of his North does not count as far as the 2015 election is concerned. He is just one individual.

“So where is Abdullahi’s North. It is clear he is getting senile.”

Woman Delivers Monkey-Like Baby In Kaduna [Photo]

 The latest assertion to the popular saying, “Wonders never end,” has just been recorded in Kaduna State where a young Fulani woman gave birth to a baby with a monkey-like face.

The woman, an indigene of SabonIceh village, gave birth to the monkey-like creature Monday morning at the General hospital Kagarko, Kagarko local government, after several hours of labour.
One of the nurses who attended to the woman on arrival, told LEADERSHIP that, “the pregnant woman was rushed to the hospital at about 7:30 am, Monday. And we immediately took her into the labour room.”

“The woman came in through the out-patient department (OPD) after seeing the doctor on call and I decided to rupture her because the cervix was fully dilated. After I ruptured her, fluid measuring about 26 litres gushed out after which she started bleeding. All this time, the baby was still in the womb.”

“When the bleeding persisted, I sent for the medical director and when she came, we went into the theatre to operate on the woman. In the process, the baby started coming out with the legs. So, the medical director asked me to stop and allow her to deliver the baby by herself.

Speaking further, the nurse said, “She delivered the baby breech and when it came out, we discovered that it was an abnormal baby. It was half human and half animal. We lost the baby shortly after delivery.

The nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity said the baby weighed four kilograms which is healthy but its legs and ears were like those of a monkey, adding that the mother of the baby is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
“She lost a lot of blood so we have to give her blood,” the nurse added.

Cashless Policy: CBN To Introduce Biometrics On ATMs, POS By 2015

CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido

In a bid to address issues of safety of customers’ funds and avoid losses through compromise of Personal Identification Numbers (PIN), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to introduce Biometric authentication of Point of Sale (PoS) and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) by 2015.

CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi made this known during a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on cashless policy organised by the bank in Abuja, yesterday. Sanusi, who was represented by the branch controller, CBN, Abuja, John Chukwudifu, said the bank is aware of the problems being faced by Nigerians since the introduction of the cash-less policy and assured that the apex bank is doing all it can to mitigate them.

He said, “No doubt, with the introduction of cashless society, there would be prevalent use of credit card to perform transactions on ATM, POS and Internet banking, and these transactions would have to pass through the public infrastructure which are prone to cyber threats as being experienced in developed economies of the world. Cases of debit and credit cards cloning are another vulnerable area that needs urgent attention for the country to reap the benefits of cashless society.”

The CBN had taken a giant step to gain the confidence of ATM consumers following the circular enforcing migration from Magstripe type of debit card to chip and Pin (EMV compliance) type of debit card. Statistics show that this effort has reduced the fraud incidences by 90 per cent. Many customers are now embracing these electronic (ATM and PoS) channels in their transactions because of near-impossible efforts of would-be fraudsters to clone debit cards to perpetrate fraud as was the case during the pre-migration era, he said.

Sanusi said that the Nigerian economy is heavily cash-oriented in transactions of goods and services (especially retail transactions) which is not in line with the global trend, considering Nigeria’s ambition to be amongst the top 20 economies by the year 2020. He disclosed that “the major focus of payments system reform is to increase the diversity and liquidity of payments instruments. Thus, enhanced efficiency of the payments systems has been achieved in many modern economies, driven by the user’s changing needs, competition among service providers and changes in technology.

Consequently, reform of payment system has been a critical element of major CBN reforms. The cashless policy driven by the CBN does not mean the absence or replacement of cash. However it is the provision of safer and more efficient alternatives of payments to bank customers”.
“The development of the PSV 2020 strategy document attempts to benchmark the Nigerian payments system in line with global best practice of ensuring national utilisation and international recognition of the payment s system.”

Foremost of the challenges in Nigeria is displacing cash as the preferred means of payment. The cost of cash to Nigeria’s financial system is high and increasing. In fact, the direct cost of cash is estimated to reach N192billion in 2012. This escalating cash management cost, most of which is passed on to the customers in the form of bank charges and lending rates, is as a result of cash dominance of the economy.

Some payment channels have been identified to have the great potential impact driving the usage of electronic payments and thereby reducing the use of cash in the economy. They include cash payments through PoS terminals and ATMs, mobile money payments, electronic payments of all forms, Internet banking,” he said.

Sanusi said the CBN has licensed some mobile scheme operators who operate mobile payment transactions with the view to bringing the unbanked or financially excluded into the banking culture and shore up their access to credit facilities. Prior to the issuance of licence, necessary guidelines and framework that would guide the operations of the scheme operators were rolled out by the CBN to curtail excesses and mitigate operational risk.

Making the Best in Ramadan

By Shaikh M. Ibrahim Memon

The Holy month of Ramadan is a great opportunity for all believers to reestablish their relationship with Almighty Allah . During this month, Allah opens the doors of guidance, mercy, and forgiveness and showers His blessings on mankind. Blessed are those who avail this opportunity and work hard to obtain the pleasure of Allah .
Following are some points to remember that may help us have a better Ramadan:
Sahoor: Rasulullah said, “Allah sends blessings on those who eat Sahoor (meal before Fajr) and the angels pray for them.” (Ibn Habban) We should never miss Sahoor as it is blessed food and a Sunnah of the Prophet .
Salat Al-Taraweeh: Perform twenty raka’ah of Taraweeh every night.
Salat Al-Tahajud: Other than Taraweeh, perform some raka’ah of Tahajud prayer.
Dua: After Tahajud, spend some time making Dua for yourself, your family, the community, and the whole Muslim Ummah. This is extremely needed and very few do it. Every person in the family should engage in Dua and prayers in the darkness of the night and in isolation. Cry before Allah for forgiveness and for all of your needs.
Also wake up your children and teach them how to make Dua to Allah . Teach them how to cry before Allah , for those who do not cry before Allah will have to cry before people like themselves.
Crying and begging to Allah attracts His Mercy. Rasulullah encouraged his followers to cry when making Dua.
Salah in the Masjid: Try your best to perform every Salah in the Masjid with congregation (jama’ah)
Perform the additional following ibadah:
1. Recite Istighfaar 100 times a day (i.e. Astaghfirallah)
2. Send blessing on Rasulullah 100 times a day
3. Tasbeehaat 100 times a day (i.e. Subhanallah Wal-Hamdulillah wala Illaha Illallah Wallahu Akbar)
4. Recite at least one Juz of the Qur’an every day
Avoid all kinds of sins: Rasulullah said, “Many of those who fast get nothing out of it except hunger” (Nasa’ee) Advising his wife, once Rasulullah said, “O Aishah, refrain from even the minor sins because Allah will question you about them also.” (Ibn Majah)
Do not become angry: Avoid all quarrels, fights, and arguments which may lead you to anger.
Use only Halal food bought by Halal earnings. Avoid all doubtful items.
Reduce the amount of:
1. Eating
2. Sleeping
3. Talking
Unfortunately, it is very common in many Masajid to sit and chat after iftaar. This time should be used for Nawafil prayers, recitation of the Holy Qur’an, Tasbeeh, and Dua. Masjid is the House of Allah . It must be given its due respect. Disrespecting the house of Allah is disrespect to Allah .
Raising the voice or talking of worldly matters in the Masjid is forbidden. It is the responsibility of every Muslim to maintain the order, silence, respect, and cleanliness in the Masjid.
May Allah bless and guide all of us.

What are the reasons for which one may be excused from fasting in Ramadaan?

 

Praise be to Allaah.  

One of the ways in which Allaah has made things easy for His slaves is that He has only enjoined fasting upon those who are able to do it, and He has excused those who are unable to fast for a legitimate shar’i reason. The legitimate reasons for which one may be excused from fasting are as follows: 

1 – Sickness 

Sickness means everything that means that a person is not healthy.  

Ibn Qudaamah said: the scholars are agreed that it is permissible for the sick person not to fast in general. The basis of that is the aayah in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:184] 

It was narrated that Salamah ibn al-Akwa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “When this aayah was revealed – ‘And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)’ [al-Baqarah 2:184 – interpretation of the meaning] – those who wanted not to fast could do that, and pay the fidyah (i.e., feed one poor person for each day). That remained the case until the following aayah was revealed, i.e., the verse: 

‘And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)’

[al-Baqarah 2:185 – interpretation of the meaning] – so it abrogated it.”  

The sick person who fears that fasting may make his sickness worse or that it will slow down his recovery or damage a part of his body, has the option of not fasting, and indeed it is Sunnah for him not to fast and it is makrooh for him to complete his fast, because that may lead to his death. So he has to be cautious and protect himself. Moreover, if the sick person is very ill, that makes it permissible for him not to fast. But if a healthy person fears difficulty or tiredness, it is not permissible for him to break his fast, if all that happens to him when he fasts is that he becomes tired. 

2 – Travelling 

In order for traveling to result in a concession excusing one from fasting, the following conditions must be met: 

a-     The journey must be long enough that prayers may be shortened.

b-    The traveler must not intend to settle in the place to which he travels.

c-     His journey must not be for any sinful purpose, rather it should be for a sound purpose, according to the majority of scholars. That is because being allowed not to fast is a concession and relief that the sinner does not deserve on his journey, because the purpose of his journey is to commit sin – such as one who travels in order to commit banditry, for example. 

Cancellation of the concession for traveling: 

This concession of traveling is cancelled by two things: 

(i)                When the traveler returns home and enters his hometown, which is the place where he resides.

(ii)              When the traveler decides to stay indefinitely, or for a lengthy period in one place, and the place is fit for settling in. Thus he becomes a resident (or non-traveller), so he should pray his prayers in full and not break his fast in Ramadaan, because the rulings on travel no longer apply to him. 

3 – Pregnancy and breastfeeding 

The fuqaha’ are agreed that pregnant and breastfeeding women may break their fast in Ramadaan, on the condition that they think there is a risk that they or their children may become ill or more ill, or be harmed or may die. The evidence for this concession in their case is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning: 

“and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be made up] from other days”[al-Baqarah 2:185] 

This does not refer to merely being sick, for the sick person who will not be harmed by fasting is not allowed to break the fast; here sickness is mentioned as a metaphor for any situation where fasting when sick may cause harm. This is what is meant by sickness here. That may be the case in pregnancy and when breastfeeding, so these two cases are included in the concession of breaking the fast. The evidence that women in these cases are allowed not to fast is the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik al-Ka’bi (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has relieved the traveler of fasting and half of prayer, and He has relieved the pregnant and breastfeeding woman of fasting.”  

4 – Senility and old age 

Senility and old age refers to one who is old and has lost his strength, or who is approaching death, so that every day he becomes weaker, until he dies, or who is suffering from a terminal or incurable illness and has no hope of recovery. The evidence that it is prescribed for such people not to fast is the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)”[al-Baqarah 2:184] 

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that this aayah has not been abrogated, and it applies to old men and old women who cannot fast, so for each day they should feed one poor person. 

5 – Intense hunger and thirst 

If a person is overtaken by intense hunger or unbearable thirst, then he should break his fast and eat just as much as he needs to ward off that hunger, then he should refrain from eating for the rest of the day, and make up that fast later on. 

The scholars added to intense hunger and thirst the fear of weakness when meeting the enemy, or fearing or expecting an attack, such as when one is surrounded. So if a fighter knows for sure or thinks it most likely that there will be fighting because he is facing the enemy, and he fears that fasting may make him weak when fighting, and he is not traveling, then he may break his fast before fighting. 

6 – Compulsion 

Compulsion means one person forcing another to do something or not to do something against his will, by means of threats. 

Al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, vol. 28, p. 73.

Mikel Obi's Brother Talks About Love & Mikel

In a recent interview, Mikel Obi's elder brother, Ebele talks about his social life, love life and that of his brother, Mikel. Enjoy;

Sex and romanceAs a footballer and as a popular figure, one must learn to cope with every situation that comes his way. Concerning my social life, I’m currently into a relationship and I don’t want to be distracted. I want to be focused and keep on praying that everything works out fine so that I can settle down with the same person I’m into a relation with. I’m not carried away with my brother’s wealth. No doubt girls come around me but I remain focused on my career. Mikel too is into a relationship at the moment right there in the United Kingdom. When you stick to one person at a time, I think it saves you a lot of trouble. But when you jump from one today to another tomorrow, you create room for every other girl to come in. We are not on that track at all.

Mikel won’t marry a white lady
No, no, no! We cannot advise Mikel to marry a foreigner knowing full well what it involves. We’ll make him realize that if he gets married to a foreigner, whatever comes out of the marriage, he should be prepared to take it. I wouldn’t want my brother to be a victim of a failed marriage.
Even when I visited him in London, I warned him about white ladies. I told him that even if he’s having a relationship with a white lady, it should stop at that; he should not allow such relationship to end up in marriage. I told him whenever he wants to settle down in marriage, he should come down to Nigeria and pick a wife. If he’s thinking towards the direction of getting married to a white lady, we are not in support of that. My parents are not in support of him getting married to a white. If he’s in a relationship, that’s just a relationship.

OJB Jezreel puts stop to donations

In a press conference that held yesterday, OJB said:

"Appreciate all those who stood by me one way or the other. I'm sincerely grateful and feel blessed that people could go miles just to make me well again. Now that I have gotten all the money needed for my medical bill, I want to officially put a stop to all forms of appeal or request in bid to save OJB. I want Nigerians to know that I have gotten the N16million needed for my treatment. Therefore, no donation should again be made to any source in respect of the said case. I will be going for my operation by mid August"

Police arrest 10 suspected cultists at a party in Ogun

10 Suspected burglars belonging to an unnamed secret cult in Igbesa area of the Agbara Industrial town in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun state have been caught.

The Ogun State Police Command recovered stolen goods worth about N3.5m from the suspects some of whom were identified as Ojo Razak, Abioye Ismail, Oladapo Akin Akala, Oluwaseun Adegboyega and Orepodun John.

On Tuesday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the suspected criminals were arrested at about 10am on Monday while they were having a party.

According to reports, Adejobi, a deputy superintendent of police, said a team of the anti-crime unit of the command, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ayo Sonubi, arrested six of the suspects, who were members of a dreaded cult group in Igbesa, while the remaining four were caught within the premises of a polythene company in Agbara where they attempted to steal raw materials.

The Punch reports:

The statement further said the police anti-crime teams had placed the suspected cultists under surveillance following an intelligence report from the command’s Intelligence Bureau in the area on the deadly plans of these suspected cultists who had over the period unleashed terror on the people of the community.

The police spokesman said the raw material the suspected burglars attempted to evacuate from the premises of the company was worth N3.5m and listed their names as 26-year-old Oluyemi Ayodeji, Omololu Odedina (22), Opeyemi Bolarinwa (24) as well as the 38-year-old Kabiru Iyanda.

The police said the suspects gained entry into the premises with the assistance of some personnel of the company, who had already arranged labourers to load the stolen goods into a waiting truck with number plate (LAGOS) XY 862 FKJ.

Adejobi, however, added that the labourers, arranged to load the vehicle, took to their heels before the arrival of the police team.

The police spokesman said all the arrested suspects would soon be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and prosecution.