Labour threatens to begin nationwide strike on November 6th if FG fails to adopt proposed N30k minimum wage

The last has definitely not been heard in the demand for a new mimunum wage for Nigerian workers as the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has served a formal notice to the Federal Government, of plans by its members to go on an indefinite strike from November 6th if the N30,000 new national minimum wage being proposed is not adopted.

Rising from its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja yesterday, the leadership of the Labor unions said the Federal government must adopt the new minimum wage, adding that workers would not be intimidated by any threat of “no work, no pay” policy by the Federal government. Minister of Employment, Chris Ngige had recently stated that the Federal government had proposed N24, 000 minimum wage which has been rejected by the unions.

The labour unions accused the Minister of Labour and Employment of putting up an anti-labour and anti-workers disposition. With reference to the recent policy of no work and no pay enacted by the Federal government, the NLC said the Federal government is gradually drawing Nigerians back to the Abacha days when workers were denied their rights to protest any inhumane action.

The communique signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba and General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, argued that fixing of tenure for workers holding union executive positions in contravention of the provisions of ILO Convention 87; and the prohibition or exclusion of non-card carrying members of trade unions from leading or being part of negotiation delegations of trade unions were reminiscent of the Abacha military era.

The labour leaders said as part of efforts to address these ''anormalies'' they would organise a national day of mobilisation and sensitisation rallies for workers to show their outrage and mourning in the 36 states of the federation and FCT on Tuesday November 6th.

The day, according to NLC NEC, will also be used to educate and sensitise Nigerians on the plight of workers and pensioners, the insensitivity and duplicity of government on labour issues, and to protest the proposed obnoxious policies of government against organised labour.

EFCC re-arraigns Ex-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido and his sons over N1.35bn fraud

On Wednesday October 24, 2018, EFCC re-arraigned the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, on a 43-count amended charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja.



The case had previously been heard by Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Babatunde Quadri before its eventual transfer to Justice Ojukwu by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati. It would be recalled that, Lamido had earlier challenged the transfer of his case at the Federal High Court, Abuja from Justice Adeniyi Ademola (now retired) to Justice Babatunde Quadri for determination.



Lamido was arraigned alongside two of his sons - Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido; Aminu Wada Abubakar, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd for allegedly defrauding the state to the tune of N1.35billion. He allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as fronts.



The former governor was equally alleged to have collected kickbacks from contractors in the state, with the funds allegedly paid into accounts that were managed by his sons.



Particulars of count one of the new charge reads: ”That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido, while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria, on or about 15th of December, 2008 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court in your account in the name of Bamaina Holdings (also referred to as Bamaina Holding Limited) domiciled at Unity Bank Plc, Kano, converted the sum of N14,850,000.00 (Fourteen Million Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) being the value of Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank Plc) cheque no;00000025 paid by Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Limited which represented the proceeds of your illegal act to wit: using your position as a public officer for gratification by purportedly obtaining contracts for company in which you have interest from Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited which was awarded contracts by Jigawa Sate Government with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and punishable under Section 14(1) of the same Act”.



Count forty of the charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Sule Lamido, while being the Governor of Jigawa State, Nigeria, Aminu Sule Lamido, Mustapha Sule Lamido, and Speeds International Limited on or before 26th March, 2010 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court retained in the account of Speeds Intl Ltd domiciled at Skye Bank Plc, Dutse the sum of N26,000,000.00 (Twenty Six Million) being the value of Skye Bank Plc cheque no.10000659 which funds you knew represented the proceeds of illegal act of Alhaji Sule Lamido who used his position as public officer for gratification by purportedly obtaining contracts for the said Speeds Intl Ltd, (a company in which he is a shareholder and director) from A.G Ferrero & Co Ltd which was awarded contracts by Jigawa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 16 of the same Act”.



Defendants pleaded not guilty to the counts. In view of the defendants’ plea, Chile Okoroma, counsel to EFCC, urged the court to fix a date for trial. However, counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi, SAN, informed the court of a pending application for the bail of the defendants. He added that the defendants were currently on bail for the same offence before another court. He further told the court that the defendants had also been granted administrative bail by the EFCC, and did not violate any of its terms.



Justice Ojukwu, thereafter, adjourned to November 22, 2018 for trial.

Gunmen kidnap 10 boat passengers including a community chief in Rivers State

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped 10 boat passengers, including a community leader in Abonema waterways, Akuku-Toru local government area of Rivers State.



The victims, including the Chief identified as Benibo, were said to be returning to Abonema from a neighboring community, Idama in the same LGA. They were said to be returning from a meeting called to resolve a leadership tussle in Idama community when the gunmen struck and whisked them to an unknown destination.



A relative of one of the occupants of the attacked boat told Dailypost that no contact had been established with the gunmen. He revealed that there had been tension in the community as other leaders of the community were currently in a meeting over the issue.



Efforts to reach the Chairman of Akuku Toru Local Government Area, Rowland Sekibo, has been difficult. However, when contacted, spokesman of the Rivers state Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said he is yet to be briefed about the incident.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas to get married in India in December months after they began dating

It's been a whirlwind romance for Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas after they began dating in May and got engaged weeks after. Now, the couple are about to tie the knot.

An insider told US Weekly:


The wedding is happening in India in December.

Priyanka, 36, has reportedly been in the midst of planning her wedding to Nick, 26.

A source told US Weekly in September:


They really want to blend wedding traditions from both of their cultures that are important to them.

Priyanka is having a really good time planning the wedding because it’s a mix of Indian and American styles and customs, which she knows so much about.

Another insider told US Weekly earlier this month that the stars "keep talking about starting a family together.







The source added:


They have amazing chemistry and can’t wait to have kids. They are going to wait till after the wedding to start trying. But it’s definitely on the agenda.

Priyanka told E! News back in October:


I just have a few of my friends who are having babies right now and I’m like, 'God, I need to catch up!'

The couple got engaged in July and had a traditional Roka ceremony in Mumbai in Augu

Veteran actor Richard Gere and his pregnant wife Alejandra Silva step out in Madrid (Photos)

Veteran American actor and humanitarian activist, Richard Gere, 63 and his wife Alejandra Silva are expecting their first child together.

And on Wednesday, the pair who are currently in Spain stepped out in Madrid for some quality time together.

The duo cut casual figures for their outing, with his wife showing a hint of her baby bump in a stone-hued maxi dress and trainers.







Richard and Alejandra who tied the knot in April are already parents to a child each from previous relationships. Richard has an 18-year-old son called Homer with former wife Carey Lowell.

They married in 2002 and split 14 years later. The actor had previously been married to first wife Cindy Crawford for four years between 1991 and 1995.

See more photos below.

Two friends docked for conspiracy and N16.4million fraud

Two suspected fraudsters, Allen Ruskin and Prince Amakiri Geoffrey, were on October 22, 2018 arraigned before Justice A. B. Mohammed of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Gudu, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.



Ruskin and Amakiri were arraigned on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N16.4million.



The long arm of the law caught the defendants following a petition by one Festus Nnamdi Chukwu alleging that they approached him for financial assistance to fix their vessel which was siezed by the EFCC and also to execute a contract they won from Symbol Regency Oil and Gas Limited. The contract according to them was for the shipment of crude oil allocation to Namibia, at the cost of $15.75 million.



The complainant allegedly gave the defendants the sum of N16,450,000 (sixteen million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira). Investigations into the matter revealed that there was no contract between the defendants and Symbol Regency Oil and Gas Limited and that the money was fraudulently collected by the defendants for personal use.



The offence is contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No 14, 2006.

One of the counts reads:



“Allen Ruskin and Prince Amakiri Geoffrey sometime between July 2017 and November 2017 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N16,450,000.00 (Sixteen Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from Festus Nnamdi Chukwu under the pretence that you own a shipping company named Decok Marine Nigeria Limited and the money is for fixing of your shipping vessel to execute a contract with Symbol Regency Oil and Gas Limited for the shipping of crude oil allocation to Namibia at the cost of US$15.75 million, which representation you knew to be false”.



The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.



In view of their pleas, Elizabeth Alabi, counsel to EFCC, prayed the court for a trial date to enable the prosecution present its witnesses and prove its case. She also prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody.



In admitting the defendants to bail, Justice Mohammed said the first defendant (Ruskin), shall present two serving Directors with landed properties in Abuja Municipal Area. He shall also deposit his international passport with the court.



The second defendant (Amakiri), according to the judge shall be remanded in Kuje prison, until the next adjourned date, November 5, 2018, which is the date for hearing of his bail application.

Governor Amosun visits 67 years old woman who gave birth to a baby boy after 39 years of marriage

Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Wednesday, visited 67 years old Mrs. Ajibola Olutayo Otubose, wife of 72 year old Prof.Oluwatowoloju Otubose, who gave birth to a baby boy, after over 39 years of marriage.



Mrs Otubose has become the oldest Nigerian woman to give birth through IVF (in-vitro fertilization). She is also the oldest African in recorded history to give birth to a baby, and the 2nd oldest mum in the world.



More photos below..