FG Pay out over N100 million to 600 members Farmers in Nasarawa State

The federal government yesterday disbursed over N100 million to 600 members of the United Farmers’ Association Kadarko (UFAK) in Nasarawa State under its anchor borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Similarly, the government also disbursed to the Kadarko farmers farm inputs made up of 1,800 bags of assorted fertilizers, 600bags of 50kgs of rice seedlings and cartons of herbicides for cultivation on a 100 hectares of farm land acquired by the farmers for rice cultivation this year’s cropping season.

Disbursing the incentives to the farmers at Kadarko town in Keana Local Government Area of the state, the North Central zonal manager of Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ibrahim Alamba, said each of the 600 beneficiaries of the Kadarko farmers association would receive the sum of N179,000.

The BOA North Central zonal manager continued that each of the beneficiaries is to also receive two bags of NPK and one bag of urea assorted fertilizers as well as one bag of 50kgs rice seedlings.

German researchers has created an automatic landing system for small aircraft without a pilot (video)

A team of German researchers has created an automatic landing system for small aircraft that lets them touch down not only without a pilot, but without any of the tech on the ground that lets other planes do it. It could open up a new era of autonomous flight — and make ordinary landings safer, to boot.

Now it would be natural to think that with the sophisticated autopilot systems that we have today, a plane could land itself quite easily. And that’s kind of true — but the autoland systems on full-size aircraft aren’t really autonomous. They rely on a set of radio signals emitted by stations only found at major airports: the Instrument Landing System, or ILS.

These signals tell the plane exactly where the runway is even in poor visibility, but even so, an “automatic” landing is rarely done. Instead, the pilots — as they do elsewhere — use the autopilot system as an assist, in this case to help them locate the runway and descend properly. A plane can land automatically using ILS and other systems, but it’s rare and, even when they do it, it isn’t truly autonomous — it’s more like the airport is flying the plane by wire.

You can see the full flight in the video below.

Minority Leaderhip Crisis: PDP Suspends Elumelu, Others

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Friday slammed a one month suspension on the Ndidi Elumelu led Minority leadership of the House of Representatives, accusing them of indiscipline and disobedience to party directive.

Addressing newsmen after its NWC  meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of PDP,  Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the party  met Friday and reviewed issues surrounding the Minority Leadership of the House of Representatives. According to the spokesperson of PDP,  “The Party noted the roles played by the under-listed members which resulted in the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reading another list for Minority Leadership of the House other than the list submitted to him by our party, the PDP.

“The members are; Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Hon. Wole Oke, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Hon. Anayo Edwin, Hon. Gideon Gwadi, Hon. Toby Okechukwu and Hon. Adekoya Abdul-Majid. “After preliminary examination by the NWC, it was evident that the roles played by the above mentioned members, bordered on indiscipline, insubordination and disobedience of party directives contrary to Section 58 (1)(b)(c)(f)(h) of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017), which provides that: “Subject to the provision of this Constitution, the Party shall have power to discipline any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt; disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party; engages in anti-party activities; or engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party”.

Ologbondiyan said,  “Consequent upon this, the above mentioned members of our party are hereby suspended for one month and this matter is hereby referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of our party, in keeping with Section 57(3) of the PDP Constitution”.

Atiku has tendered additional 26,175 documents to prove his petition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 poll

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded general election has tendered additional 26,175 documents to prove his petition against President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 poll.

The documents were tendered by his lead counsel, Dr Levy Uzoukwu (SAN), at Friday’s proceedings of the hearing of the petition of Atiku and PDP against Buhari’s re-election.

Only on Friday, the petitioners at the commencement of hearing in the petition tendered 5,196 documents from Niger and Yobe States in their bid to substantiate their claims of alleged rigging of the outcome of the February 23 presidential poll in favour of the incumbent president.

The documents tendered included election results of units, wards and local government areas as well as receipt for certification of documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The presiding justice of the five-member panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, admitted the tendered documents as exhibits after the respondents registered their objections against the admissibility of the documents, particularly on the receipts which they claimed contained some attachment.

With the figures of Friday, the petitioners have so far tendered 31,371 documents from 10 states of the federation where they alleged substantial fraud in the February 23 presidential election. Though the petitioners said they were yet to conclude tendering documents from Kano State.

The eight states whose documents were tendered include Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna and partly Kano.

'No way' Neymar coming to Barca but talks are open over Griezmann, says Bartomeu

Despite asserting that the Brazilian is unhappy at Parc des Princes, the Blaugrana chief recognised his club are not willing to sell

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has admitted defeat in his club's efforts to re-sign Neymar, while revealing that talks have begun over the arrival of Antoine Griezmann.

The Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid forwards are the Catalans' top priorities this summer, with little transfer activity elsewhere.

Frenkie de Jong, Emerson and Neto are the only new faces currently confirmed at Camp Nou, while Marc Cardona, Jasper Cillessen, Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes are among those to move on.

The Blaugrana's chances of recapturing the Brazil international they sold for a world-record fee in 2017 were heightened by reports he was unhappy at Parc des Princes and angling for a move.

But Bartomeu has now poured cold water on that talk, recognising that if PSG are not willing to sell then Barca's options are limited.

New Video: D’Banj feat Slimcase – Mo Cover Eh

D’Banj has released the video of his street-themed banger “Mo Cover Eh” which features Slimcase. 

Directed by Unlimited L.A, the song shows amazing chemistry between father and son as they effortlessly delivered their lines and showed extreme artistry in the visuals.

Watch:

P*ssy doesn’t pay well here in America - Huddah Monroe explains

Huddah Monroe who few days ago was accused of selling her body for money by OAP Kamene Goro, has explained that having p*ssy doesn’t pay well in United States where she relocated to.

Recall we reported earlier that Kamene Goro said there was no way a girl with standard 3 English can own a Range Rover and a Kileleshwa apartment if not by being a prostitute.

“Has she been selling p**sy? A girl with standard three English owns a Range Rover and an apartment in Kileleshwa, what else have you been selling other than p**sy?”  she said.

Huddah Monroe who neither denied nor confirmed the claim in her first response to the comment, has dropped a rejoinder in which she stated that a man giving a lady $1000 in cash is a nightmare in America.

The Kenyan socialite who revealed there is money in business in the United States, also told her critics she won't be revealing her business no matter how much they try to downplay her hardwork.

Pop star, Rihanna showed off her stunning look as she made a trip to her hometown of Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.(Photos)

Pop star, Rihanna showed off her stunning look as she made a trip to her hometown of Bridgetown, Barbados on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Umbrella hitmaker was pictured in a graphic tee and futuristic sunglasses as she carried a Louis Vuitton box trunk bag while stepping off a private jet  She completed her look with black joggers and bright white sneakers.

The outing comes amid reports her Fenty Beauty brand has been sued by a legally blind woman over a lack of website accessibility.

According to her, the website has not been adapted to her needs.   

Beatriz Gutierrez requested in court docs an injunction against Fenty Beauty to modify its website immediately to conform to federal statutes for people who are visually-impaired, according to The Blast.

Gutierrez told the court the site has significant 'access barriers' and believes the site doesn't have standard screen-reading technology that would enable her to shop on it.

Gutierrez is also requesting $15,000 in damages from the Umbrella singer's brand, which is a subsidiary of The French luxury line LVMH.

AFCON 2019: Angry Guinean youths storm footballer Naby Keita’s home to blame his family of ‘witchcraft’ over the player's injuries

A group of angry Guinean youths reportedly stormed footballer Naby Keita’s home to confront his family after the Liverpool player was forced to pull from the 2019 AFCON because of injury.

According to the gang, they believed that a member of the midfielder's family had performed an act that affected his ability to perform for his country.

Injuries have set Keita back recently and he even got a fresh knock in last Sunday's African Cup of Nations win over Burundi.

Following that, it was confirmed that he had flown back to Liverpool for "consultation" on treatment.

With the country's star player not fit to play in their last-16 tie, a group of frustrated young fans led a protest to Keita family home in Conarky, the capital of Guinea.

BBC quotde a police source as saying: “We sent a team of policemen to a house at Coleah in Conakry to restore calm after some youths attempted acts of riotous conduct in a house believed to be the family home of footballer Naby Keita."

Reports locally detail the belief that witchcraft, allegedly performed by a relative of Keita, was believed to be behind the incident.

A Guinea team spokesperson told BBC: "He consulted with medical staff [at Liverpool] and they asked him to come back for two days.

"The idea is that he is here to play in the last 16 but I don't think we can say he will 100%."

Photos: Dino Melaye buys PDP nomination form for Kogi State Governorship election in November

Senator Dino Melaye has purchased the PDP nomination form for Kogi State Governorship election in November

The lawmaker who currently represents Kogi West in the Senate, declared his intention to stand for the November 16 poll at a  Peoples Democratic Party meeting a few weeks ago and according to him, 'in God we trust. We shall overcome'.

Dino Melaye will go head to head against his very bitter rival and incumbent governor, Yahaya Bello.

Forfeiture of Diezani ALison-Madueke’s jewelry, gold iPhone worth $40m to FG, Court orders

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has ordered the forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, all valued at $40m, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The presiding judge, Justice Nicholas Oweibo, ordered that the items should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government following an ex parte application moved today Friday July 5th by a lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo.

The EFCC in its application before the court, said that it found and recovered the jewellery and the customised gold iPhone which it believes was acquired with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Senator Ademola Adeleke has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement

Senator Ademola Adeleke has reacted to the Supreme Court judgement which upheld Governor Gboyega Oyetola's victory in the 2018 Osun governorship election.

In a statement made available to newsmen by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed, the PDP Governorship candidate in the 2018 election, said he has accepted the ruling of the apex court irrespective of his misgivings over the verdict

Mr. Adeleke who expressed gratitude to his teeming supporters, leaders and members of the PDP for their profound support, affirmed that his ambition to be governor of Osun was never a do-or-die affair.

“As a Democrat and law abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgivings and wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun state.
“In all circumstances, we must thank God Almighty. We gallantly fought a good fight in pursuance of a democratic cause. The ideals we fought for lives on.
“Our ambition was never a do or die affair. We aspired to serve and deliver democratic dividends to the people of Osun state. Our ambition was altruistic. We wish Governor Oyetola the best in governance of the state”, the statement read.

Designer creates jumpsuits you can easily pee in without getting totally naked and women are here for it

Every woman who wears jumpsuits understands the problem it presents when it's time to pee.

Thankfully, a designer  has created a kind of jumpsuit that doesn't require you to take off the whole thing just to pee.

Henrietta Lawrence’s newest design: the ezp™ jumpsuit is a jumpsuit that lets you use the toilet easily without troubles, thanks to two zips on the trouser half.

With the Zips, you can partially undo the jumpsuit, letting the back drop down so you can go about your business.

The 29-year-old London-based designer who created the jumpsuit told Metro UK: "Being at Glastonbury a few years ago, most of the toilets there aren’t enclosed like Portaloos, you’re open to the elements.

"Try going to the toilet in a jumpsuit, with people peering over the top to see if it’s free and you’re in there naked.

"And then of course there’s the whole winter vs jumpsuit issue – when it’s 0 degrees outside, why would you want to get undressed unnecessarily? Particularly in my office, where the toilet is freezing."

The designer is currently crowdfunding jumpsuit business and if the campaign is successful, jumpsuits will be sold in denim, velvet and linen, and will be available to customers in the UK, Europe, US, Australia and New Zealand.

Women are really excited about this and can't wait for it to go on sale. Some have promised to buy it in every color.

President Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Abba Kyari as his Chief of Staff (COS)

President Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Boss Mustapha as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and Abba Kyari as his Chief of Staff (COS).

This was made known in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu.

According to him, both appointments take effect from May 29th 2019.

Toyota electric cars tested and confirmed

Toyota will start testing a new solar roof for the Prius that it says can add as much as 44.5 km of range to the plug-in hybrid a day. The solar cells, which are being manufactured by Sharp, are just 0.03mm thick, but deliver around 860 watts of power, and can even charge the car while it’s being driven. Testing is due to start on public roads later this month, but there’s no word on when it might make it into a commercial vehicle.

This isn’t the first time Toyota has made solar panels available for its cars. Way back in 2010 the manufacturer sold panels that could be used to recharge the car’s auxiliary battery (which powers secondary systems like the sat-nav and climate control). The difference here is that the new panels are much more efficient. They’re capable of producing almost five times as much power as the previous model, and can give over seven times the amount of range.

Toyota doesn’t currently produce any pure electric vehicles (unless you count the hydrogen-powered Mirai) so these solar roofs are destined for plug-in hybrids for the time being. Toyota has previously justified its decision to focus on hybrids by saying that if it uses its battery production capacity to produce a larger amount of hybrids, then it will reduce carbon emissions more than if it produced a smaller amount of pure electric vehicles. However, last month it announced plans to produce an all-electric drivetrain platform in partnership with Subaru, indicating that an all-electric Toyota could arrive eventually.

Considering the relatively minor power output you can get from putting solar panels on the roof of a car compared to the roof of a building, not to mention the challenges of doing so, it’s not surprising that the idea hasn’t really taken off yet. But there are a few companies experimenting with it. Most notably, the startup Lightyear plans to start delivering its “solar car” to customers in 2021, and Hyundai also announced plans to start installing solar roofs on select cars last year.

Migrant boat with 86 on board sinks off Tunisia, 4 rescued

More than 80 migrants have gone missing and only four were rescued after their boat capsized off Tunisia crossing the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy, Tunisia's coast guard said Thursday.

A Malian survivor, still in a state of shock, said their inflatable sank on Monday, Wajdi Ben Mhamed, an official of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said after meeting the man in his 20s

He said the boat, with 86 people on board, started to leak and tipped over only hours after setting out to sea from the Libyan town of Zuwara, west of Tripoli, as passengers switched to one side of the vessel.

"We spent two days like that, clinging to a piece of wood," the Malian told the IOM representative for southern Tunisia.

"He doesn't know what happened to the others. They're missing and there's a high probability that they drowned," Ben Mhamed said.

The Red Crescent and the navy told AFP that three Malians and an Ivorian were rescued off Zarzis in southern Tunisia on Wednesday by the coast guard who had been alerted by local fishermen.

The Ivorian, however, died in hospital and one of the Malians has also been hospitalised in intensive care.

"About 80 migrants are feared dead. More updates are needed in order to confirm what happened and the actual number of missing," Flavio Di Giacomo, an IOM spokesman, tweeted.

Libya, which has been wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising that killed veteran dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has long been a major transit route for migrants, especially from sub-Saharan Africa, desperate to reach Europe.

On Tuesday night, 44 migrants were killed in an air strike on their detention centre in a Tripoli suburb.

6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Southern California

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rattled Southern California on Thursday July 4th.

This is the largest earthquake to hit the region in decades. The quake, which occurred at 10:33 am was centered in the Searles Valley, a remote area of Kern County about 100 miles from Los Angeles.

The quake was the largest in Southern California since the 1994 6.6 Northridge quake, which caused deaths and destroyed properties worth billions of dollars. Thankfully, today’s quake was located far from the metropolitan Los Angeles area.

Reacting to the tremor, Ava DuVernay tweeted: "Been living in Los Angeles all my life. That was the longest earthquake I’ve ever experienced. Not jerky. Smooth and rolling. But it was loooong. It was so long I thought for the first time ever “Is this the big one?” Damn. Respect Mother Nature. She’s the boss."

"I was in my kitchen trying to get some coffee and all the windows started rattling," said Emma Gallegos, a 34-year-old journalist in southwest Bakersfield. "It was just a little bit at first — I thought something was going by, and then I realized all the windows were rattling. It was kind of a long gentle roll and I felt two distinct waves."

Gallegos said that the dried chiles hanging from a hook on her kitchen wall were all shaking. "It was surreal."

Local emergency agencies have been flooded with calls, and officials urged that people only use 911 for emergencies.

"We are very much aware of the significant earthquake that just occurred in Southern California. Please DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless there are injuries or other dangerous conditions. Don't call for questions please," the LAPD said in a statement.

EFCC accuses judge of bias in cases involving Bukola Saraki and Rochas Okorocha

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has accused Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja of exhibiting bias in favour of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorcha, in his handling of the cases they filed. 

The allegation is contained in two fresh motions the EFCC filed before the court, demanding the withdrawal of Justice Taiwo from the two fundamental rights enforcement cases filed by Saraki and Okocha. 

The EFCC said although it did not hope to always win its cases before the judge, the trend of Justice Taiwo’s orders in cases where it was conducting corruption/financial crimes investigations, made it difficult for it (the EFCC) to believe in the judge’s impartiality. The commission resorted to filing the fresh motion following the refusal by the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Kafarati to transfer the cases from Justice Taiwo’s court, as requested by the EFCC in a petition it earlier wrote against the judge.

The grounds, on which the EFCC based its fresh motions, include that:  “His Lordship while sitting in Ekiti Judicial Division of the Federal High Court had in two previous cases involving former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, Attorney-General of Ekiti State and officials of Ekiti State Government given orders/decisions wherein the 4th respondent/applicant’s statutory powers to investigate economic and financial crimes were curtailed and gagged contrary to the established principles by superior courts.
“One is suit number, FHC/AD/CS/32/2016 between A.G. Of Ekiti State vs. EFCC and 17 Ors, while the other has been upturned by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. CA/EK/8C/2017 between EFCC V. Mr. Ayodele Fayose & Anor.
“The 4th respondent/applicant does not expect to always win its cases before this honourable court, but the trend of decisions/orders being made against it by my lord in cases where it is conducting corruption/financial crimes investigations. has made it difficult for it to believe in my lord’s impartiality.
“The 4th respondent/applicant had petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking that this matter be re-assigned from my Lord’s court to another court, and the Chief Judge advised that a formal motion be filed to that effect.”

It faulted the ex parte orders parte directing the respondents in the case, including the EFCC,”to stay all action in connection with the subject matter of this suit, to stay all action in connection with the subject matter of pending the determination of this suit”.

The commission said the orders had an indefinite life span “since no one can state when the main case can be determined.”  It added that the orders were in the nature of interlocutory injunction “which ordinarily requires the aderse party to be put on notice”  The EFCC stated:

“Without considering the merit in the application vis a vis the venue of the alleged violation of the fundamental rights, the court made an interlocutory order without hearing from the respondents applicant.

It is well established legal principle that no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the 4th respondent or any agency established under the laws to investigate crimes.”
The commission argued that the orders issued by the court on May 9 and May 14, 2019 restrained it from performing its statutory duty. Other respondents in both cases the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau. 

The EFCC had, in its earlier petition to Justice Kafarati, May 21, 2019, accused Justice Taiwo of being bias against it.  In the petition, signed by the EFCC’s acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, the commission equally complained about the ex parte orders made by Justice Taiwo on May 9 and 14, restraining the commission from continuing its investigations of certain corruption allegations against Saraki, and Okorocha.  

It requested in the petition the re-assignment of the two men’s cases and all other ones involving it in the judge’s docket to another judge of the court. It also recalled in the petition how the judge, out of alleged bias while sitting in the Ado-Ekiti Division of the court, gave rulings in favour of a former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose. 

In their separate responses, Okorocha and Saraki urged Justice Kafarati to ignore the request by the EFCC, arguing that it was baseless.  Saraki and Okorocha also contended that the orders made in their favour by the judge were justified owing to the circumstances of alleged harassment by the commission leading to their decision to file the cases in which the judge issued the restraining orders. 

When the cases came up on Thursday, Justice Taiwo drew parties’ attention to the fresh motions by the EFCC,to which lawyers to Saraki and Okorocha sought time to respond to. The judge consequently adjourned both cases till September 27, 2019 for the hearing of the motions.

Lampard confirmed as new Chelsea manager on three-year deal

 

The former Blues midfielder leaves Derby County after one year in charge to succeed Maurizio Sarri in the dugout at Stamford Bridge

Frank Lampard has been confirmed as the new Chelsea manager, returning to the club where he became a legend as a player.

The Blues agreed a deal with Derby County worth £4 million to cover the final two years of Lampard's contract at Pride Park after a week's worth of talks with the 41-year-old.

He has signed a three-year deal upon his return to Stamford Bridge to succeed Maurizio Sarri, who departed the club after a single season in charge to take over at Juventus.

Boeing gives N36bn to help 737 Max crash families

Following the two crashes involving Boeing 737 Max planes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, the Aerospace giants has offered $100m (N36bn) to help families of those affected.

Recall that two Nigerians, Ambassador Abiodun Bashua and Professor Pius Adesanmi, died in the Ethiopian airlines crash which killed all 157 people aboard, five months after an identical Boeing aircraft owned by the Indonesian carrier Lion Air, crashed into the sea off Jakarta in October 2018.

Boeing in its statement on Wednesday, said the money will go toward "education, hardship and living expenses for impacted families, community programs and economic development in impacted communities," and will be committed over multiple years. It is also said to be independent of lawsuits filed in the wake of the disasters, which killed 346 people

It had been reported that  Boeing faces at least 80 lawsuits on behalf of victims of the accidents. Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, whose grand-niece was among those who died, had also lobbied to permanently remove the plane from service.