Presidential Inauguration Gala Night- Photos

More photos from the presidential Inauguration Gala night

More photos from the Inauguration gala night which held at the Presidential villa on Friday night May 29th. Continue to see them..

Photo credit: Dele Momodu/Ovation 

Posted by Linda Ikeji at 6:57 AM

President Jonathan presents handover notes to Buhari - Photos

Pres. Jonathan this morning officially handed over the comprehensive report of his administration to President-elect Buhari at the State House in Abuja today, May 28th during his facility tour of Aso Villa. Outgoing ministers were present at the ceremony. More photos after the cut..

 

Group Files Suit To Stop Buhari's May 29 Inauguration

Just as everything seems to be ready for Muhammadu Buhari’s May 29 inauguration, a Nigerian initiative calls Abuja Federal High Court to stop the process.
Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative on May 26 filed a suit to stop Mahmud Mohammed, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, from swearing the president-elect, the Punch reports.
The plaintiff insists that the certificate of return issued to Buhari by the INEC contained false information.  The demand is to have the certificate nullified as Buhari allegedly provided false information about his academic status.
Thus, group lawyer Philip Ekpo explains that the APC politician did not even have right to run for presidency, based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and and the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff seeks:
“A declaration that the 3rd defendant be stopped from swearing in the 1st defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as the issue of perjury involving the 1st defendant has not been resolved.
READ ALSO: How Jonathan Decided To Concede Defeat – Niger Delta Adviser, Kingsley Kuku

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“An order restraining the 3rd defendant or any person appointed for such purpose from swearing in the 1st defendant as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 29, 2015 or any future dates whatsoever for giving false information to the 2nd respondent on oath.
“An order annulling the Certificate of Return given to the 1st defendant by the 2nd defendant.”
Grounds for suit:
“The 1st respondent (Buhari) gave false information in the affidavit he presented to the 2nd respondent (INEC) and on the strength of which he contested and purportedly won the presidential election which was conducted by the 2nd respondent on March 28, 2015.
“The 1st respondent deposed to an affidavit dated November 24, 2014 that his West African School Leaving Certificate is in the custody of the Secretary to the Military Board.
“The Nigerian Army on January 20, 2015, said that in the personal file of the 1st respondent with the Nigerian Army, they do not have the original copy of his West African School Leaving Certificate nor does the Nigerian Army have the Certified True Copy of his WASC results neither do they have a photocopy of the said result.
“The 1st respondent has not met the qualifications enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, Cap E6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 (as amended) to have contested the position of President of Nigeria at the 2015 general elections.
READ ALSO: Security Beefed Up In Abuja Ahead Of Buhari’s Inauguration 
“That the authority conferred by Section 140 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) on the 3rd respondent to administer oath of office to any person who will occupy the office of the President of Nigeria cannot be exercised in respect of the 1st respondent who has not fulfilled the requirements of the same constitution and the Electoral Act as it relates to his eligibility to occupy the office of President of Nigeria.”
It should be recalled that a number of suits was initiated against Buhari before the polls over his eligibility to contest for presidency. The months-long messy saga tracked the situation with Buhari’s school leaving certificate. Groups and individuals demanded the APC candidate to prove his academic status.
After a series of controversies, the already mentioned school finally released the computer printout of his certificate. However, later some officials disowned the copy of the document, doubting its genuineness.
It is worth mentioning that after Buhari’s victory all the suits challenging his eligibility were withdrawn. President Goodluck Jonathan immediately conceded defeat and refused to go court over any allegations against the president-elect.

PDP Accuses Buhari Of Belittling His Position In UK

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, of embarrassing Nigeria during his current trip to London.

The PDP released a statement on Sunday, May 24, saying that Buhari was left almost stranded after waiting for about half an hour before he was welcomed by Davide Cameron, British prime minister.

The comment reads: ”Nigerians, as citizens of a sovereign nation were thoroughly embarrassed when they saw their President-elect cheapened and kept waiting at the door of 10 Downing Street to see the British Prime Minister due to shoddy arrangements by his handlers.
”Indeed, they are becoming increasingly worried about the frightening unpreparedness of the APC for governance and the huge embarrassments they have been attracting to our nation. We know that the APC has been lying over issues. We also know that the APC and the President-elect have been flip-flopping and reneging on their campaign promises; but to embarrass the nation by embarking on such a sensitive visit without adequate preparations is shameful and completely unacceptable.
”We share the fear of well-meaning Nigerians on how a party which cannot adequately handle a simple task of organizing a diplomatic outing will effectively administer a country as complex as Nigeria,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the president-elect noted that his visit is private and rejected exotic cars from Nigerian Embassy in the UK.
Buhari traveled to United Kingdom capital on May 22, on board with controversial minister of petroleum and resources Dieazani Alison-Madueke.
According to the media team of the president-elect, he is expected back in Nigeria on Tuesday, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony slated for May 29, 2015.

Mario Balotelli thanks Liverpool fans with bizarre instagram photo

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has scored just one premier league goal since he arrived at the English club so Liverpool fans are not particularly happy with him. But yesterday, he shared this bizarre instagram photo to thank the club's fans for their support this season. The image shows the footballer overlooking Wembley stadium with chains attached to his hands in a dungeon. He wrote "Thanks to Liverpool fans for this year .... I'm loading for next season. #beast."

Posted by Linda Ikeji

Basketmouth – “Can’t GEJ Handover To Buhari This Morning?”

Posted by: Haliwud May 25, 2015

With the crazy fuel scarcity, a lot of Nigerians are presently frustrated and apprehensive.

BasketMouth took to his Twitter account to express his frustration.

He asked if President Goodluck could not handover to the President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari today instead of Friday, May 29, 2015. “Can’t GEJ handover to Buhari this morning? I don tire I swear down” tweeted the frustrated BasketMouth.

His tweet echoes the opinion of several Nigerians who are tired of Jonathan Goodluck’s inability to deal with the fuel scarcity and low power situation in the country.

President Goodluck will handover to President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari on Democracy Day, May 29, 2015.

Okonjo Iweala Berates Fuel Marketers, Osinbajo Over Fuel Scarcity, Nations Debt

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has vowed not to pay the fuel marketers the millions they are requesting while slamming allegations by vice-president elect, Pro. Yemi Osinbajo that President Goodluck Jonathan’s adminstration will be leaving $60 billion debt burden for the in-coming government. Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala-picture Okonjo-Iweala yesterday said she will not be paying the marketers payment claims to the tune of N159billion in exchange rate differentials because they reeked of fraud. Speaking to reporters at a farewell meeting in Abuja, Okonjo-Iweala said the marketers payment will not be approved unless they were verified by the relevant authorities. According to the Nation, Okonjo-Iweala said, “Marketers were asking for N159 billion for exchange rate differentials from the outstanding N200 billion. There has been so much fraud and scam so I have refused to sign for that money but have agreed that a committee be set up involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to verify marketers’ claims. dele2 ”Marketers just want to make Nigerians suffer,” she added. The minister urged Nigerians not to take sides with the marketers because they were blackmailing Nigerians. The minster said marketers were making loads of cash via black market activities. She said Nigerians“people should rise up against the blackmail of oil marketers” as she will not “pay the N159 billion without verification, Nigerians should not allow themselves to be blackmailed.” She continued, “I cannot say that the problem is due to not paying marketers, the process of paying marketers is always a rolling process and there has never been a time government reduced its financial obligation to marketers to zero. “In a year where so much effort has been made to pay marketers including prioritizing their payment as subsidy claims in favour of other financial obligation like paying contractors, yet fuel scarcity still persists at this particular point in time suggests that something suspicious is happening.” Reacting to claims by vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that the Jonathan administration will be leaving a $60 billion debt burden for the in-coming government, the minister said, “No $60 billion was accumulated under the Jonathan administration.” Though the minster was quick to agree that Nigeria’s total debt indeed stands at $63.7 billion but said it is the totality of all the debts incurred by successive governments since 1960. Her words:“Current debt stock includes both federal and state governments debts made up of $9.7 billion external debt or 15 per cent of total debt stock and $54 billion or 85 per cent domestic debt stock. “Nigeria is still repaying the multilateral loans it collected on concessionary terms with as long as 40 years maturity periods.” “The breakdown of the accumulated domestic stock is $18.575 billion outstanding by 2007, $17.3 billion accumulated between 2008 and 2011 and $18 billion accumulated between 2012 and 2015. The minister blamed the government of Musa Yar’Adua for the difficulties to pay debts. She said, “This is so because of something that happened in 2010 because of the salary increment under Yar’Adua administration which increased civil servants salaries by 53 per cent. “Those bonds have been rolled over and government had to weather the difficulties because resources to fund such increase were not there,” she said. Okonjo-Iweala, also speaking on her tenure as finance minster said she has no regrets in serving the country and declared that anyone called upon to serve Nigeria should consider it a privilege. Critising Prof. Osinbajo, she said, “Some people criticise from afar but some came home in spite of challenges to serve.” She denied claims that she had mismanaged the economy saying: “The economy is reacting to the forces of demand and supply but there is hope for the country. Only that people will have to make sacrifices. “The out-going government has achieved a lot but there are very serious attempts to rewrite history.” While both outgoing and incoming governments are trying to find out reasons and solutions to the current fuel scarcity, Nigerians have taken to social media to express their concerns about the issue.

Nigerians React To Dangote's Desire To Buy Arsenal FC

Nigerian football lovers have reacted to the desire expressed by Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, to buy Arsenal FC. Recall that Dangote has recently claimed that he hopes to purchase the English Premier League team “one day at the right price”. Some, however, believe that the billionaire could first think of contributing to the development of local league clubs which need massive investments to grow to the EPL level. Adegboye Onigbinde, former Green Eagles coach, was quoted by Premium Times, as saying: “For him not to think of our league shows that something is terribly wrong. We do not have a structure. In fact going by FIFA regulations, none of our clubs has met the required standards of a club that a person like Dangote could have owned.” Still, Onigbinde realizes that Dangote’s decision has to do with business, not emotions. “We should not be emotional on that ground. It is only when you bring in patriotism that it looks morally wrong, but first and foremost, he is a businessman. And so is only normal for him to spread his tentacles wisely. READ ALSO: What Aliko Dangote Looked Like Before He Made All The Billions (Photos) “Business and sentiments do not mix. If I may advise, I think what we need more in this country is someone to back the overhauling of our grassroots programmes. If Dangote decides to focus on sports development, the youth of this country will not forget him because sports in general are what has brought fame to some ghetto children.” Amos Adamu, a former Director-General, National Sports Commission, expressed a similar point of view: “It is practical, there are people in Nigeria that have never been to the stadium to watch the Nigerian league matches but as businessmen will naturally align with success. “These same people will do anything within their means to ensure that they watch international leagues like the Barclays Premier League and co; they are die-hard supporters of teams like Arsenal. We are looking at it as football, but it is business for him, but people investing in football are doing it to make more money. “He has interest and he can make more money from it so why not, it is purely business no strings attached. There are certain things you like in life that makes you happy.” READ ALSO: Photos: Aliko Dangote’s Daughter Graduates Felix Owolabi, former Super Eagles player, feels fine about Dangote’s decision: “To start with he is a business tycoon that wants to expand his frontiers. So, I personally have no problems with that, there is no point bringing elements of morality into this.” What do you think about Dangote’s aspiration?

Buruji Kashamu threatens suicide if NDLEA enters his home?

Sounds unbelievable but that's what Sahara Reporters is reporting. See below.. SaharaReporters has learned that Senator-elect Buruji Kashamu has barricaded himself in the master bedroom of his Ogun State residence, as Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency agents surround his home. Mr. Kashamu spoke briefly with a SaharaReporters correspondent and said that he would kill himself if anyone entered his home. The stand-off has been ongoing for several hours and Mr. Kashamu has not returned our calls as of recent minutes." See more tweets from SR after the cut...

Aliko Dangote Denies Dating MBGN 2011, Sylvia Nduka

Richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote has denied dating former 2011 MBGN winner Sylvia Nduka.

The rumor came up days ago that Dangote had stopped dating Sylvia Nduka because the former beauty queen was allegedly publicizing their relationship.

She even went to add his initials ‘A.D’ to her Instagram profile.

The richest man in Africa has denied dating Sylvia much less breaking up with her.

Sources close to the billionaire said the story is nothing but ‘arrant nonsense and total falsehood’.

“Nothing like that exists. In fact, if at all it exists, it does in the imagination of whoever cooked up the story. We are still investigating the original source of the mischievous and misleading story and will definitely take it up with them once we are done with that. We shall also issue an official statement, reb*tting the cock and bull story.“

“We just can’t understand how someone will wake up in the morning and begin to fabricate and spread falsehood aimed at tarnishing someone’s hard-earned reputation. The story is totally false. Totally false” said an insider close to Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Archaeologists find 2,600-year-old Celtic Princess in Germany

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Celtic Princess who died in 609 BC unearthed

German archaeologists discovered a Celtic grave in the Danube heartland when they found the remains of a Celtic princess, from 2,600 years ago, buried with her gold and amber jewelry.

The princess had remained in her final resting place since about 609BC. Just months ago the German experts began to dig out the 80 tonnes of clay covering the grave to remove it bring it their offices where it could be examined.
Experts believe that the manner that she was buried, with expensive jewels, shows that she was of a high social rank. The brooches found are particularly beautiful with Celtic designs in gold and amber. According to BBC reports the remains of a child were also found in the grave. The child is presumed to be the princess'.
The entire grave and the surrounding clay were unearthed, put onto a truck and transported to the office of archaeological service of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart. The grave, incased in concrete, ended its journey in the back garden of the offices protected by a tent.

They will now use X-rays to examine the find. On the scene, from the top of the hole they had dug, archaeologists found bones and jewels but now modern resources will allow them a more in depth and delicate examination of the grave.
Those working on the grave believe that the remains belong to a Celtic princess and their child, a prince or princess. However this matter is a point of dispute among archaeologists.
Dr Dirk Krausse, who is the lead on the dig, said "It is the oldest princely female grave yet from the Celtic world…It is the only example of an early Celtic princely grave with a wooden chamber."
The grave was preserved in the water-logged soil. It is so intact that they have been able to put an exact date on the woman's death. The oak they found in the floor of the chamber was felled 2,620 years ago. Assuming they were cut down specifically to build the chamber, the princess died in 609BC. Also surprisingly the grave had not been robbed over the last 2,600 years.
Working from above the grave, in the tent, Nicole Ebenger-Rest, has been doing much of the excavation. She has uncovered the teeth of the Celtic princess as well as specks of cloth, food or other organic matter which may reveal a great deal about the Celts way of life.
She said it's difficult to relate to and fathom that fact that this woman lived 26 centuries ago. She said "It is a skeleton but it's still a human being so you have a natural respect…It's a natural respect between two people."
Originally published in 2011.

Tennis: Milos Raonic Pulls Out of French Open

Canada’s Milos Raonic has withdrawn from the French Open because of a foot injury.
The No. 6-ranked Canadaian, who also missed last week’s Rome Open, had hoped to recover in time for the clay Grand Slam, but will now look to continue his recuperation.

“I am sad to have to unfortunately announce my withdrawal from 2015 Roland Garros,” Raonic said in a statement.
“I tried my best to be back on court and healthy in time after surgery but after consulting with my team and doctors, I made a decision to withdraw from this year’s tournament and make sure I am able to return to the court at one hundred per cent.”

Milos Raonic Also Withdrew from ATP World Tour Finals With a Quad Tear. Image: Getty.

Raonic underwent surgery last week to fix Morton’s Neuroma in his right foot- a painful condition that usually involves the thickening of the tissue around one of the nerves leading to the toe. “My rehab will continue this week and I will shortly begin preparations for a strong Queen’s club and Wimbledon,” Raonic concluded.

Islamic State successes fuel fear and anxiety

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The United Nations says it has received "credible" reports that civilians were prevented from leaving Palmyra by Syrian forces before the city fell to Islamic State (IS) fighters.

There are also reports of executions, and fears for the city's world-famous archaeological treasures.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, thousands of people have fled from Ramadi, which was also captured by IS militants recent days.

John Simpson reports from Baghdad.

Source BBC

Apple Inc. Buys Nigerian Born Chinedu Echeruo’s Hopstop.com For $1 Billion

Apple has acquired Chinedu Echeruo’s HopStop.com, The Wall Street Journal’s publication, AllThingsDigital reports. Founded in 2005, HopStop.com makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that covers over 300 cities and that helps people get directions or find nearby subway stations and bus stops. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed as at the time of this publication.

Chinedu Echeruo, formerly an analyst at investment banks and hedge funds founded HopStop in 2005. Echeruo is now Chairman of the Board for HopStop.

HopStop has oft been compared to Israel’s Waze which was recently acquired by Google for $1 billion. The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map offering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze.
A serial entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and attended Kings College, Lagos. He attended Syracuse University and the Harvard Business School in the United States and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions.
He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund.

He founded and raised nearly $8 million for his two U.S based internet companies; Hopstop.com andTripology.com. Tripology.com was acquired in 2010 by American travel and navigation information company, Rand McNally. He was named Black Enterprise Magazine’s Small Business Innovator of the year and listed in the magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and is currently a partner and head of the Principal Investing group at Constant Capital, a West Africa based investment bank.
True to form, Echeruo is working on yet another venture but this time, focused on small businesses in Africa. Check out a video of Chinedu Echeruo below at last year’s TedxIkoyi where he talks about his latest project for small businesses in Africa; “crowd sourced business in a box.”
According to him:
“There is no reason why every entrepreneur should have to reinvent the wheel every single time in all the countries in Africa. My idea is to essentially to have one place where a budding entrepreneur can access a template for starting a business, and then customize it to suit their own situation. Essentially a business-in-a-box.”

Apple Inc. Buys Nigerian Born Chinedu Echeruo’s Hopstop.com For $1 Billion

Apple has acquired Chinedu Echeruo’s HopStop.com, The Wall Street Journal’s publication, AllThingsDigital reports. Founded in 2005, HopStop.com makes mobile applications for both iOS and Android that covers over 300 cities and that helps people get directions or find nearby subway stations and bus stops. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed as at the time of this publication.

Chinedu Echeruo, formerly an analyst at investment banks and hedge funds founded HopStop in 2005. Echeruo is now Chairman of the Board for HopStop.

HopStop has oft been compared to Israel’s Waze which was recently acquired by Google for $1 billion. The move is seen as Apple’s plan to bolster its map offering especially given Google’s recent acquisition of Waze.
A serial entrepreneur, Chinedu Echeruo grew up in Eastern Nigeria and attended Kings College, Lagos. He attended Syracuse University and the Harvard Business School in the United States and founded HopStop.com after working for several years in the Mergers & Acquisitions and Leveraged Finance groups of J.P Morgan Chase where he was involved in a broad range of M&A, Financing and Private Equity transactions.
He also worked at AM Investment Partners, a $500 million volatility-driven convertible bond arbitrage hedge fund.

He founded and raised nearly $8 million for his two U.S based internet companies; Hopstop.com andTripology.com. Tripology.com was acquired in 2010 by American travel and navigation information company, Rand McNally. He was named Black Enterprise Magazine’s Small Business Innovator of the year and listed in the magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and is currently a partner and head of the Principal Investing group at Constant Capital, a West Africa based investment bank.
True to form, Echeruo is working on yet another venture but this time, focused on small businesses in Africa. Check out a video of Chinedu Echeruo below at last year’s TedxIkoyi where he talks about his latest project for small businesses in Africa; “crowd sourced business in a box.”
According to him:
“There is no reason why every entrepreneur should have to reinvent the wheel every single time in all the countries in Africa. My idea is to essentially to have one place where a budding entrepreneur can access a template for starting a business, and then customize it to suit their own situation. Essentially a business-in-a-box.”