Though the political enemies of Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu have refused to go to sleep, the kinsmen of the dark-skinned Aninri-born lawyer turned politician have issued a note of warn to those seeking to unseat the Deputy Senate President, insisting that further attacks on him will surely draw their wrath.

As they wonder why Ekeremadu’s political enemies want him out of the Senate leadership, Kano state chapter of Aninri Local Government Union on Friday accused Owelle Rochas Okorocha of being used by politicians outside Igbo land to run down Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

Senator Ekweremadu’s kinsmen feared that a group of powerful politicians have perfected plans to unseat Ekweremadu, describing the move as act of injustice to Enugu state and Ndigbo.

In a press statement signed by Chief Moses Odi and Mr. Gabriel Aniude, President-General and Secretary-General of the Union, and made available to 247ureports.com, the Union noted that recent political attacks on Senator Ekweremadu is a clear indication that some powerful people are running after his seat.

The statement further described Ekweremadu as, “a true son of Aninri and good ambassador of Ndigbo who needs the sympathy and support of all Igbo sons and daughters. From every calculation, there is no gainsaying the fact that Senator Ekweremadu remains a beckon of hope to the political emancipation the Igbo race and Nigeria at large.”

According to the statement, “going by Senator Ekweremadu’s rising political profile; enemies of democracy who have foreseen his fortunes and prospects have now resorted to cheap blackmail, back-biting and name-calling all in their bid to run him down.”

The statement, however, frowned at recent comments credited to Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha on plans by the All Progressive Congress Senator from Imo state to take over Senator Ekweremadu’s seat as Deputy Senate President.

“In as much as it is not a crime for a political godfather to secure job for his godson, we the kinsmen of Ike Ekweremadu frown at such  comment coming from a highly respected Igbo son in the person of Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

“We have taken time to analyze Owelle Rochas Okorocha’s latest comments and attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu; and we have come to the conclusion that such disrespectful comments were weaved to run down the political career of the Deputy Senate President.

“At this juncture, we are calling on Owelle Rochas Okorocha to retrace his steps in terms of the use of political innuendoes. It is also important to remind Owelle Rochas that Senator Ekweremadu remains the highest-ranking political office holder from the Igbo extraction and should be accorded that respect,” the statement added.

Three diplomatic sources on Friday in a report in Tashkent confirmed the death of 78 years old, Uzbek President, Islam Karimov, after suffering a stroke.

The Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports, but agreed that the health of Karimov, who has been in hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated.

Karimov was long criticised by the West and human rights groups for his authoritarian style of leadership, Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, first as the head of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991.

Meanwhile, critics said that Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, became the first foreign leader to offer condolences over the death of Karimov, whose former Soviet republic has close ethnic, cultural and linguistic ties with Turkey.

They said that Karimov did not designate a successor and said that the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members.

“If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilise Uzbekistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants.

They said that a hint at successor may come with the government’s announcement of his death,

“The funeral appeared likely to take place in Karimov’s hometown of Samarkand, where his mother and two brothers are also buried.

“Municipal authorities there mobilise public workers to clean the central streets late on Thursday,’’ they said.

The critics said that according to the constitution, Nigmatilla Yuldoshev, the Chairman of the Upper House of Parliament, is supposed to take over after Karimov’s death, and elections must take place within three months.

They noted that unfortunately the man was detained and thus eliminated from the line of succession.

They warned that whoever that succeeded Karimov would need to balance carefully between the West, Russia and China, which all vie for influence in the resource-rich Central Asian region.

They added that another task of the new leader would be resolving tensions with ex-Soviet neighbors Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over borders and the use of common resources such as water.

Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter and is also rich in gold and natural gas.

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has said the process of developing a database of journalists nationwide has commenced to rid the union of fakes.

The NUJ president, Mr. Waheed Odusile, said this when he visited Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office on Friday in Abuja.

He said that having the database had become imperative to ascertain the exact number of journalists who are members of the NUJ in order to reposition the union and to enhance professionalism.

“We are trying to have a database of all journalists in Nigeria. We lay claim to being the largest in Africa, that we have between 30,000 and 40,000 members.

“But if you ask me, where is the list, we cannot produce it because we do not have the comprehensive list of journalists in Nigeria.”

“We are trying to engage an ICT firm to capture the information of all our members; we will soon commence the e-registering of our members, where we will capture their information including their finger prints.

He said that the union would be able to use whatever information generated to produce new Identity cards for journalists.

He said that with the introduction of the ID card through the database system, the union would be able to eliminate quackery in the system.

According to him, quacks in the system has become worrisome and creating a lot of problems for the professionals.

“But we are trying to see how we can get rid of all these people from our profession and the truth is that they are not even qualified to practice.’’

Odusile also appealed to the management of NAN to sponsor staff who do not have professional qualification to attend either the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) or Nigerian Institute of Journalists.

“There are certain things you also need to learn not just on the job but in the classroom. It will uplift the standard of practice of our members.’’

He said the union will also fashion out ways of elevating the two institutions especially the IIJ as a finishing school in journalism just like the Law School.

Sunday Ode, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja commended the  Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of social networking  website, Facebook, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg for sharing his  wealth of knowledge with Nigerian youths, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Receiving the internet entrepreneur in the State House,
President Buhari said the various meetings held with  Nigerian youths since his arrival were most timely as the  country was already exploring opportunities to spur  development through entrepreneurship.

Nigeria has always been identified as a country with great potentials for growth, especially with our youthful population, but now we are moving beyond the potentials to  reality.

I am impressed by your simplicity in sharing your  knowledge and wealth with those with less income,’’ the President said.

President Buhari noted that the simplicity and magnanimity  of the entrepreneur, who is among the world’s richest men,  had also challenged the culture of lavish wealth display and impulsive spending that had become peculiar to Nigerians.

In our culture, we are not used to seeing successful  people appear like you. We are not used to seeing successful people jogging and sweating on the streets.

We are more used to seeing successful people in air-conditioned places. We are happy you are well-off and simple enough to always share,’’ he added.

In his remarks, Zuckerberg said he was impressed by the  interest, energy and entrepreneurial spirit displayed by  young Nigerians in all the ICT camps that he had visited.

I was highly impressed by the talent of the youths in the  Co-creation Hub in Yaba. I was blown away by their talent  and the level of energy that I saw,’’ he said.

Zuckerberg also said he was in the country to promote the  penetration of “fast and cheap” internet connectivity,  Express-wifi, that would help people create online businesses and reduce poverty.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has explained that the looted fund recovered so far by government is far cry from what the country needs to revive the economy.

The minister said this on Friday when he appeared on a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

According to him, the amount of money recovered is always being made public.

“What we have recovered and if my record is right is about N78 billion, and 3 million dollars.

“We have been able to block various accounts in which about 9 billion dollar is found but those are not money available to us because we are still in court over them.

“The government spends N165 billion every month to pay federal civil servants, even what has been so far recovered will not even pay 50 per cent of the salaries in a month.’’

Mohammed assured Nigerians that every penny recovered will be judiciously spent and nobody could re-loot what had been recovered under the administration.

The minister further explained that Nigerians should understand that what had been recovered was so little compared to what the people needed on a continuous basis.

On budget release, he recalled that the Federal Ministry of Finance released N400 billion for capital projects, mostly on roads, railway, and power.

“N400 billion seems a lot, but you must also understand that for three or four years contractors were not paid.

“So, when we paid this money to contractors, they also use part of it to settle their own debt, they use part of it to recall laid off staff.

“But the truth of the matter is that many of them have been paid, they are yet to mobilise to site and they cannot do so until the rains are over,

ohammed said that what the government owed the contractors was about N2 trillion.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested an Islamic cleric, Kabir Ibrahim, for allegedly butchering a 25-year-old farmer, Lukman  Adeleke, and  dumping his remains along the Akure-Ilesa Expressway.

The police said the cleric wanted to use his victim’s hand for a money making ritual for another man. They are now both in police custody in Osogbo.

A police source told our correspondent on Friday that Adeleke sold his cocoa and made N300,000 from it and wanted to buy an uncompleted building with the proceeds.

But  not wanting to invest the money without spiritual guidance, the young farmer was said to have consulted  Ibrahim, who is also known as Akewusola, to pray for him.

Ibrahim allegedly asked the cocoa farmer to come with the whole N300,000, promising to pray over the money. He said the young man would also have to sleep over at his place for the prayer session.

He allegedly put up the farmer in a room where he later killed him while he slept.

To conceal his act, Akewusola dismembered the corpse and dumped the body parts packed inside a sack along the expressway.

The family of the young farmer was said to have become worried, when they could not locate him for many days. They reportedly went to an okada rider with whom he was last seen.

Our correspondent learnt that the okada rider took them to the alfa’s residence and following rigorous questioning by the police , he confessed.

However, before Akewusola dumped the victim’s body on the highway, he  was said to have removed the  victim’s right hand, which he wanted to use to do a money ritual for his client.

A police source told our correspondent, “He told them how he killed and butchered the man. The alfa said he wanted to use the right palm of the deceased for money ritual for another client. So he and the client were  arrested.”

The Police Public Relations Officer  in Osun State, Mr. Ajigbade Egbedele,  confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the telephone.

“The case is still under investigation. We will do everything to get to the root of the matter, We cannot say if he  (alfa) actually butchered him because the body was already decomposing as of the time we recovered it but investigation would reveal everything,” the PPRO said.

Kelechi Iheanacho saved the day for Nigeria, scoring the only goal as the Super Eagles laboured to a slim 1-0 win over Tanzania in their final game of the AFCON 2017 Qualifiers.

Despite the huge crowd cheering them on at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Saturday, the Eagles had to wait till the 78th minute before they could register the first and only goal of the game.

Tanzania keeper Manula gave a man-of-the-match display, stopping the Eagles on a number of occasions. But the shot-stopper had no answer to Iheanacho’s thunderbolt in the 78th minute.

Saturday’s win was the only one recorded by Nigeria in the AFCON 2017 Qualifiers as they finish with five points in four games.

Egypt, on their part, topped the group with unassailable 10 points from same number of games like the Super Eagles.

In what is clearly a keenly contested All Progressives Congress primary election, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was on Saturday elected candidate of the party for the November 26 governorship election.

It is the second time he is emerging candidate of the party, as he was the candidate in the 2012 governorship election.

In Saturday’s election, he defeated Olusegun Abraham, the preferred candidate of the National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tunubu, by 669 votes.

Mr. Abraham, an international businessman and a one-time Chairman of Owena Motel under Governor Adefarati, scored 635 votes to place second in the race.

He was a governorship aspirant in 2012 on the platform of the defunct ACN but was pressured to step down for Rotimi Akeredolu who flew the party’s flag at the time.

Despite the initial controversy over alleged imposition of Mr. Abraham on the party, the results showed that the election was keenly contested with all the major aspirants showing political strength.

Although 24 persons vied for the ticket, the contest was strictly among Mr. Abraham, Olusola Oke, Robert Boroffice and Mr. Akeredolu.

Mr. Oke pulled some surprises with his performance. He is a new figure in the party, joining the party from the PDP shortly after the 2015 loss to APC in the presidential election.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the Peoples Democratic Party, as a dying political party that is currently in comatose and needs to be taken to an intensive care unit.

He said this on Saturday at his Abeokuta Presidential Hilltop residence in an interview with journalists, after emerging from a closed-door meeting with a factional national chairman of the party, Senator Ali-Modu Sheriff, which lasted for close to one hour.

Obasanjo, who was a former chairman of PDP’s Board of Trustees, said the party he superintended for eight years was vibrant, but currently it has lost its soul, adding that he prayed that Sheriff would not be the one to bury the party.

He said, “And, as they all want to say now, ‘well, you were once the father of PDP’, I was once the leader, for eight years. I was the leader of PDP but the PDP that I was the leader of is not the PDP of today.

“The PDP of today, if you can talk of a party again as PDP, its soul has been taken out of it and those who allowed that to happen are, unfortunately, either in the country or out of the country unperturbed about the fate of the party and indeed the fate of the country.

“I have said to my brother (Sheriff), that I wish him well in the dying baby they have  put on his laps, because PDP is in comatose and he was of course not in the PDP, he has never been in the PDP until now.

The former president who reiterated his non-partisan stance, said he didn’t belong to any political party, Sheriff’s faction nor any other faction of the PDP.

The Ogun State Government has announced the passage of Mrs Betty Olubunmi Odumusi, a senior civil servant in the state’s Ministry of Information and Strategy who was recently promoted to the position of a permanent secretary.

The late Odumusi, who died in the early hours of yesterday, was one of the 14 newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state civil service who were sworn into office on Thursday, September 1.

A career civil servant, described by colleagues as “hardworking, conscientious and dedicated,” the late Odumusi had served the Ogun State government for 31 years before her death, aged 57.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, while commiserating with the Odumusi family, prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.

The governor also prayed that the good Lord grants the husband of the deceased, her children and colleagues she left behind in the state civil service “the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned the Federal Government to put in place short-term measures to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis on the Nigerian masses or risk the lives of the people before he completes his reforms.

The lawmaker, who criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for not having an independent economic team to drive Nigerian economy out of recession, pointed out that many lives would have been lost before the current reforms are completed.

He said, “If you happen to be in a position of power, inasmuch as you want to bring reforms that are painful, you have to understand the need for you to carry the people along because if you keep on bringing reforms and continue to unleash hardship on the people, you may as well say there is a paradise but people need to be alive to reach that paradise.

“If you keep reforming and reforming and the people are suffering and dying, you may reach the Promised Land alone because by that time everyone has died. Of what use would that be?”

Sani, who is the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, added that the goodwill the All Progressives Congress enjoyed at the polls,  which led to the emergence of Buhari as president, was waning fast, especially with the increasing number of open letters on the hardships being suffered by Nigerians.

He said, “Let me tell you how it started, which is general with all persons who just took power in Nigeria. In 1979 and 1999, when a new president assumed office, he would have the support of all Nigerians. The first stage will be, ‘We support you; we stand by you and we are going to back you.’

“The second stage will be, ‘We are advising you.’ The third stage will be, ‘We are cautioning you.’ At the fourth stage, Nigerians will say, ‘We are warning you.’ The fifth stage will be, ‘We doubt you.’ The sixth stage, it will be, ‘You are incompetent.’ The seventh stage will be, ‘You should go.’”

“When you study these stages, you will see that we have moved behind 100 per cent support to “advise.” And with letters flying and criticisms following, it is about “cautioning.” And I think the handwritings are on the wall for everybody to see.”

Organised Labour has advised the political and economic class to embrace a bipartisan and pan-Nigerian approach to tackle the current economic crisis instead of trading blames and giving excuses.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria on Saturday in Owerri, the Imo State capital, a member of the National Executive Council of Nigeria Labour Congress, Issa Aremu, said rising inflation, high interest rates and factory closures needed to be addressed.

“Nigerians are seriously affected by rising inflation, double digit interest rates, factory closures and general underdevelopment. Nigerians must collectively confront underdevelopment instead of giving excuses and blaming each other,” Aremu said.

According to him, wage increase linked with productivity improvement and prompt payment of the backlog of salaries owed by state and local governments are necessary to reduce the hardship of Nigerians.

Reacting to the views of the past two governors of the CBN, Dr. Charles Soludo   and Alhaji Sanusi Lamido  Sanusi, on the policy thrust of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Aremu stated that  the views of the former governors “sounded  too familiar, predictable but unhelpful” for an economy begging for solutions.

The labour leader said Nigeria must replace the “current disjointed policies” with sustainable national development agenda.

He also called for the realignment of Nigeria monetary and fiscal policies to drive sustainable development.

Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Lagos, Launching of 3.5 million Naira ‘to give a Face Lift to Our Meeting Venue’ held in Maryland Lagos on 3/9/2016. PHOTOS CHINYERE IKEANYI

L-r Management Consultant Professor Williams Olughu, President Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Mr Paul Ikele, Ebonyi State Liaison officer in Lagos Mrs Ogechi Anaso-kalu ,Staff of Diamond Bank Mr Felix Amah Nnachi, at the Launching of 3.5 million Naira by Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Lagos Branch on 3/9/2016. PHOTO CHINYERE IKEANYI

L-r Chief Michael Nwachi, President Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Mr Paul Ikele, Ebonyi State Liaison officer in Lagos Mrs Ogechi Anaso-kalu ,Staff of Diamond Bank Mr Felix Amah Nnachi, at the Launching of 3.5 million Naira by Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Lagos Branch on 3/9/2016. PHOTO CHINYERE IKEANYI

l-r Mr Monday Obasi, Acting Deputy Director Dental Services Nigerian Army Medical Corps Lt .Col Chukwu Ogukwe Obasi,his wife Princess Obasi, President Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Mr Paul Ikele, and Mr. Valentine Agba, at the Launching of 3.5 million Naira by Ebonyi State Development Association (ESDA) Lagos Branch on 3/9/2016.

L-r Pastor Pius Ivo, Pastor Jane Abba,and Dr Solomon okorie..

L-r Publicity Committee Secretary (ESDA) Launching Mr. Emmanuel Ndugo, Former (ESDA) President women wing Mrs Agnes Obaji, president (ESDA) Women’s Wing Lagos Mrs Ngozi Egbo,Mr Emmanuel Umahi and Comarde JosephbIgboji John.

L-r Staff of Diamond Bank Mr Felix Amah Nnachi, a Business man Mr Simeon Okorie,and Mr Innocent Nwangbo.

Cross section of the Members

Contrary to wide speculation, mobile company, MTN, didn’t drop Nigerian pop star, Davido, as brand ambassador because of the squabble the artiste had with media mogul, Dele Momodu.

Davido, 23, was in 2015 accused of child abduction by his baby mama, Sophia Momodu, after it emerged that the singer attempted to travel to Dubai with their daughter, Imade.

Sophia, a niece of Ovation publisher, Momodu, later petitioned the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), accusing Davido of child trafficking.

Bob Dee, who spoke in favour of his niece, was serially abused by the much younger Davido, prompting many to wonder at the kind of training the artiste got from his parents.

When it emerged on Thursday that Davido had been dropped as an MTN ambassador, many in the media concluded that it was because of the clash with Dele and Sophia Momodu.

This online newspaper has, however, learned that the ‘Skelewu’ singer, along with others like Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Banky W, KCee and Harrysong were dropped strictly for economic reasons.

“If it is true that we dropped Davido because of personality issue, why then did we drop Banky W, Dr Sid and Harrysong?” a manager in MTN asked our correspondent who spoke to him on the telephone.

“We are aware of the rumours that Davido was dropped because of the child issue and Tiwa Savage because of the matter with her husband. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”

The company, we were informed, is embarking on a lot of cost cutting measures as fallout of the N330billion fine imposed on it by the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) for failure to deactivate unregistered sim cards.

Like other companies, MTN is also reeling under Nigeria’s economic recession with its attendant loss in income as subscribers choose basic needs over phone recharge.

Davido signed a ₦30 million deal as the face of MTN Pulse, a marketing campaign for Nigerian youths, in 2012.

• Backs Okowa for second term

. Sapele leaders insist on Igbuya

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya, has blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the country’s woes.

He also accused the party of mismanaging the country’s economy.

“The APC has not fulfilled its promises. It has not solved the social problems, neither has it solved the economic problems. It has destroyed the economy, particularly the nation’s currency. The poor can no longer buy garri, rice and other foodstuff.  APC is making a mess of the nation’s situation” he lamented.

Igbuya, who spoke in Sapele, described the change agenda of the APC as a mere propaganda, the APC government as clueless and the members of the party as great liars.

He attributed the current economic situation in the country to the propounding of half-baked solutions by the current national government.

Igbuya, who took time to look deeper and higher about the present day predicament, said “our deliverance lies in our own hands”.

The representative of Sapele State constituency urged Nigerians at home and abroad to reject the APC in 2019.

“The APC preaches the gospel of change. Who is deceiving who? As a people, we must face realities squarely and decide what we want.

Igbuya, who was in oil rich Ugborhen, Okuovu, Edegbrode, Amukpe and Sapele-Okpe community for the 2016 town hall meetings urged the people to see politics beyond the spectator-spot.

He said the progress of the country can only be measured by the improvement of the quality of the citizen’s life.

“The House of Assembly will continue to promote good governance, enhance unity and expand the economic base of the state. It will continue to protect the disadvantaged group” he said.

He thanked the people for voting PDP in 2015.

“Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is doing very well. He is a listening governor. The dualization of Amukpe- Ajogodo Road is aimed at making Sapele a modern city. Governor Okowa will work on all the roads in Sapele. He will complete the Sapele market and the stadium. The PDP government will continue to empower the people of Sapele” he said.

Igbuya who endorsed Okowa for the 2019 governorship election, urged the people to support the governor, saying  “2019 is not far. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will rule for eight years”.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Ugborhen, Elume, Amukpe, Sapele and non-natives living in Sapele have praised Igbuya for opening the political space for them to decide the social and economic direction of the constituency.

The leaders also extolled the virtues of Governor Okowa, emphasizing his visionary, exemplary and transformational leadership.

They praised Okowa for charting a new course of development for the people of the state.

Peter Asagba, Williams Ayomanor, Sunday Ikoyo, Samson Edeyan, Walter Oyo, David Urhirhi, Friday Eleko, Sam Akporie, Ukpemueyi  Edata, Eyuro Agawarue, David Ikprukpru, Okokoro Friday, Isaac Ugwujor, Peter Awe, Anthony Okoro, Nasiru Abdullahi Abubakar, Ekpan Bassey, Felix Enadeghe and others praised Igbuya for rejecting politics of exclusion.

The leaders who took a cursory glance at the personalities of political actors in Delta State, described Igbuya as one of the best things to happen to Delta Central.

They applauded the speaker for showing remarkable enthusiasm for development, togetherness and unity.

They commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for fielding Igbuya in the 2015 House of Assembly election.

“We must however in the interest of fairness urge the PDP to field the best in 2019. That best for Sapele State Constituency is the Right Honourable Speaker” the leaders said.

‘We are grateful for the empowerment of the people by Hon Monday Igbuya, the level of development in the area and the number of people appointed into government from Sapele local government through him” they added.

A 36-year-old Chukwuemeka Nwocha, the General Overseer of Tongue of Fire Restoration Ministry located in Igbosere, Lagos, arrested by the Lagos Police command for harbouring 13 teenage girls in his three-bedroom apartment, has confessed that he did not raped them, but only slept with one of them who is his fiancée.

He said: “By His Grace, I did not rape them. I am a pastor; the devil only used the children against me. I only slept with Bola (real name withheld). She is my girlfriend and we actually planned to marry.

“I only tried to help the girls. When the first girl came, she said she did not have anywhere to go. I did not know her parents. I am a pastor and I felt pity for her. After spending three days, I told her she needed to go out and bring some of her relations so that they would know where she was. But she did not.

“Later, some parents in my church also said they would like to send their children to live with me. Some of them came to spend holidays after their exams.”

He insisted the parents knew they were in his house. But denied raping and forcing some of them to do abortions as alleged by the police.

Meanwhile, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, had said  the pastor harboured the girls with the promise of paying their school fees, feeding them and buying gifts for them.

“While they were in his house, three of them allegedly became pregnant and he took them for abortions. He first denied all the allegations but like all criminals, he later confessed to raping them without using protection.”

One of the victims who spoke with thejournaleak.com, a 13-year-old girl, sobbed as she talked, explained that her parents indeed gave her permission to spend the holiday in the pastor’s house.

She said 13 of them live in the pastor’s house in a room in his three-bedroomed flat.

“There is only one bed in the room. We all sleep anyhow we could. I got there two weeks ago. My parents are his church members. I just felt it will be good if I spent part of the holiday in pastor’s house. My parents gave their permission before I went there.

“It was when I got to the house that I saw other girls. Few days after I got there, he called me and took me to his room and slept with me. He told me not to speak to anybody about what he did and that he would buy me clothes. I knew that he was sleeping with the other girls. I don’t know whether anyone of the other girls have had abortion.

CP Owoseni has said Nwocha would be prosecuted along with whoever conspired with him to commit the crimes.

. Pastor accused of raping 13 girls

The ONE Campaign has announced the appointment of the President/Chief Executive, the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, to its Board. A statement from the anti-poverty group said Dangote, one of Africa’s most prominent business leaders, brings a wealth of expertise and experience on how to encourage development and poverty fighting efforts.

The announcement comes shortly after Dangote and ONE’s co-founder Bono travelled to North East Nigeria, where they visited a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), fleeing from instability caused by Boko Haram, and highlighted how, without immediate aid, nearly 50,000 children are at risk of death this year.

On the trip they also announced a partnership between ONE and the Dangote Foundation which will work to strengthen civil society and boost efforts to fight poverty and preventable disease in Nigeria.

Tom Freston, Chair of ONE’s Board, said: “On behalf of the Board, and ONE’s seven million members worldwide, I am delighted to welcome Aliko Dangote. It is a true privilege to have someone with so much knowledge and experience to help guide the efforts of ONE. We are at a crucial point in the fight against extreme poverty with many opportunities, but also many challenges. It is only by working with someone of Aliko Dangote’s calibre that we can succeed in our aim.”

Speaking about his new role, Dangote said: “I am extremely happy to be part of this incredible organisation. The goal of ending extreme poverty is so important that everyone has a duty to help, and I am honoured that I too will be able to play my part by advising and supporting the leadership of ONE.”

Through his foundation, Dangote Foundation, the Nigerian business mogul   has been at the forefront of poverty and disease eradication in Nigeria.

Earlier in the year, he in conjunction with   the tech billionaire Bill Gates announced plans for a $100 million   scheme to cut malnutrition in Nigeria.

The partnership between his Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is meant to address the problem of malnutrition, which affects roughly 11 million children in northern Nigeria.

The new scheme will fund programmes to 2020 and beyond, using local groups in the north-west and north-east. The north-east has for the past seven years been ravaged by Boko Haram’s Islamic militant insurgency.

It would be recalled that Dangote Foundation put smiles on the faces of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North Eastern part of the country during Ramadan session with the distribution of food items and other relief materials.

Also, Aliko Dangote in his recent fact-finding tour of IDPs’ camps in the North-East donated a sum of N2 billion for the sustenance of the IDPs.

Reacting to these wonderful gestures, Governor Shettima of Borneo State lauded Dangote Foundation for the kind gesture and said that words are not enough to adequately convey the gratitude of the people of Borno for the love shown to them by the Foundation.

He said: “In this time of very serious challenges, Aliko Dangote choose to stand with people that are less privileged, the internally displaced persons thereby depicting his love for the common man.

“We remain eternally indebted to his foundation for the show of support in this trying period of our states and we will ensure that the N2 billion donation he made to the state is judiciously used in the area of health care, education and resettlement of IDPs.”