Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he can beat his chest and say that when he was President, he did everything he needed to do for the country and was in charge of the affairs of Nigeria.
While speaking at a lecture held in Lagos recently, Obasanjo who was President from 1999 to 2007, said;
“When I was there, I did everything I should do for Nigeria and I can beat my chest and say that. I took over the affairs of Nigeria as elected president with N3.7 billion in reserves and we were spending N3.5 billion to service debt. So, I decided we must seek debt relief and I went out for it… and we got debt relief. Not only did we get relief from a quantum debt of N3.36 billion, but we also came to a quantum debt of N3.6 billion and I left with over N25 billion in what we call excess crude, that is, the money we saved from the budget and what we actually received and we had a reserve of over N45 billion.”
The former President added that Nigeria may be complex but certainly not difficult to manage.
“I always say Nigeria is a complex country. You must understand that. But Nigeria is not a difficult country to manage. You have to be honest with yourself, Nigeria and your God''
A man has shared the chats Ayomide Adeleye sent to his sister, asking for personal details about her life.
He shared the chats after it emerged that Ayomide kidnapped and murdered a student of FUNAAB, Christianah Idowu, after collecting ransom from her family.
The man, who grew up with both Ayomide and Christianah, shared screenshots that make him believe the suspect was also trying to prey on his sister.
In the chats, Ayomide is seen asking the man's sister when she will return from school.
When she told him it'll be weeks before she's back, Ayomide complained that it's "far".
He's also seen in the chats, expressing concern for his friend Christianah's safety, despite having allegedly murdered her.
It has now been alleged that he had k!lled his ex-girlfriend and his blood sister but both de@ths were swept under the rug.
Kidnapped 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta State (FUNAAB) Christianah Idowu, was allegedly k!lled by a friend after collecting ransom from her parents.
LIB reported that Christianah had left her home in the Itaoluwo area of Ikorodu heading to the University of Lagos where she was observing her industrial training before she was abducted along the Ikorodu-Yaba road.
The abductors contacted her family and demanded a sum of N3m as a ransom before they could release her.
A social media personality, Man of Letter (@LettertoJack) who confirmed the sad development, said the victim was abducted and k!lled by her friend, Adeleye Ayomide, a 200L student of Philosophy at the Olabisi Onabanjo University.
According to him, the suspect killed Christianah and buried her in his father's compound after collecting N350,000 ransom from her family. Read the chilling report below:
"On the 19th of August 2024, Christiannah Idowu was declared missing after her parents were contacted by her abductors using her own WhatsApp contact
The first contact with the parents was established around 8:49pm after which they sent photos of the victim in captivity to them using the WhatsApp ‘view once’ feature.
The abductors requested for a ransom fee of N1,500,000. Christiannah’s parents raised N350,000 immediately. The abductor then requested that the money be sent to a bet account through a bank deposit channel. (Info reserved for now)
After receiving the money, on the 22nd of August, the abductor requested that bank statement of the sender be forwarded to his email (withheld).
On the 23rd of August, family complied. Immediately after that, the abductor stopped communicating with the parents.
Meanwhile, on the 22nd of August, some amount was sent to the GTB account of Christiannah and the amount was then withdrawn into the Wema bank account belonging to the main suspect (Name withheld for now).
Investigation by intelligence operatives began on the 26th to unravel details of the account number. By the 29th, intelligence operatives had confirmation from the bank that the BVN linked to the masked Betting account allegedly belonged to the account owner (name withheld for now) who also operates the Wema Bank (account no withheld for now)
Further investigation revealed that he was able to withdraw the sum of 100,000 from the betting account before agents got the bet company to lock the account.
Armed by these information, operatives began investigation into the suspect whom they observed to have a mutual relationship with Christiannah Idowu, especially judging by Instagram posts as they both commented on each other’s pages.
The crazy thing is: the same account number used to launder some amount directly from Christiannah’s account has been posted on Twitter once to “beg for a give away free money”
With all these information at hand, the operatives began to track down his cell phone activities and text messages. The cell phone tracking led them to his parent’s house, somewhere in IKORODU.
Operatives then got confirmation of his presence in the building through active tracking of his mobile device. Immediately, gallant personnel of the Nigerian army 174bn swooped in on the suspect to conduct arrest.
After the arrest, damning evidences were seen with the suspect and this includes the victim blue ITEL A56 with IMEI:35230******.
Also, in his phones are details of the money moved and also details confirming he owns the Betting account that was locked. It was registered with his phone number.
On his phone, they found an interaction between his personal email and the email address that has been interacting with the family of the deceased.
After reviewing the evidence, the suspect was then taken into custody to enable the operatives conduct further investigations.
Upon reviewing this evidence, suspect was successful taken into custody for necessary action.
On August 3, the suspect reportedly confessed to the father and the soldiers that he killed the girl and buried her in their house.
There is also a new story awaiting further confirmation that in 2018, the suspect’s ex-girlfriend was killed in same manner.
Also that in 2020, the suspect’s own biological sister met the same fate, and the same thing has happened to Christiannah in 2024. It’s really devastating. I’ll give more updates as I get them.
Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro moved Christmas celebrations in his country from December to October.
Despite most of the world celebrating Christmas on December 25, Maduro made a live television address this week urging that the people of Venezuela begin from October this year to celebrate Christmas
In a bizarre speech, the president said: "It is September and it already smells like Christmas.
"And that is why this year, in homage to you, in gratitude to you, I am going to decree the advancement of Christmas to October 1. Christmas starts on October 1 – for everyone, Christmas has arrived, with peace, happiness and security."
But his countrymen are not happy about this, with many saying they can barely feed, let alone celebrate.
Speaking to AP News, local man Ernesto Ruiz raged over the decision.
The 57-year-old in Caracas, said: "Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, parties, presents. But without money and with this political crisis, who can believe that there will be an early Christmas?"
"I don’t think they will improve our salaries or pay us the 'aguinaldo'," she added, referring to the Christmas bonuses that workers usually receive at the end of the year.
The minimum wage has not changed since 2022: 130 bolivars per month, or about £2.67. Workers also earn a monthly food assistance bonus of about £30, and those who have signed up for a system of government benefits get an additional $68.
"We’ll see what this Christmas is all about," Quevedo said.
A pharmacist, Yusuf Dauran, who criticized former president, Goodluck Jonathan, for pegging the price of petrol at N87 a litre, has asked God for forgiveness.
In 2012, Jonathan's administration increased fuel price from N67 to N97 but reduced it to N87 in January 2015.
However, many people including the then opposition party, viewed the reduction as a political move to sway voters.
In the old tweet dated January 21, 2015, Yusuf wrote: “So a liter is now #87 . GEJ carry your change waka we want real CHANGE abeg.”
Quoting the tweet on Tuesday September 3, the pharmacist wrote: “Lord forgive me for I have sinned”
The NNPCL on September 3, 2024, increased the pump price of petrol from N568 to N855, N897 per litre (depending on the location) amidst lingering fuel scarcity.
A five-year-old boy has been seriously injured after he was m@uled by a mountain lion and dragged away by his head.
The boy was with his family at Malibu Creek State Park, California, on Sunday, September 1, and was playing with a group of children when the mountain lion approached.
The animal clamped its jaws around the boy’s head and started dragging him away into the nearby woods.
"It was huge. The mountain lion was not scared at all," his aunt told KTLA.
There were around 40 other people in the picnic area at Tapia park when the attack happened.
As the boy and onlookers screamed for help, his dad fought the mountain lion with his bare hands to save his son.
His aunt added: "Somebody screamed the baby’s name, and the dad started running.
"The father grabbed the mountain lion with his hands and he just fought and then the mountain lion let go."
The boy was airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where his injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening.
He suffered serious cuts and scratches to his face, and his eyes are understood to have been damaged during the attack.
The mountain lion was found in the area after the attack and it remained in a tree until State Parks rangers arrived.
It was killed by a ranger after it was deemed a danger to the public, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said.
DNA taken from the mountain lion matched samples taken from the boy’s wounds and clothing, confirming that they had killed the correct animal.
California State Parks are now investigating the attack.
A statement said: "California State Parks (State Parks) rangers and Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputies responded to a report of a mountain lion attack at Malibu Creek State Park on Sunday, September 1, at 4.21pm.
"A family group from Woodland Hills was having a picnic at Malibu Creek State Park, consisting of at least six adults and a few children.
"The children were playing in the immediate vicinity of the family’s picnic table when a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries.
"One or more adults charged at the lion, and it released the boy. Multiple witnesses saw the attack and observed the mountain lion climb up a nearby tree.
"The lion remained in the tree until State Parks rangers arrived. In consultation with CDFW wildlife officers, they deemed the mountain lion a threat to public safety and a ranger euthanized it via firearm.
"Per standard protocol, wildlife officers contacted the victim and family at the hospital to obtain evidence samples from the bite and scratch wounds and the victim’s clothing.
"Those evidence samples were confirmed a DNA match by CDFW’s Wildlife Forensic Lab in Sacramento.
“CDFW and State Parks officials are thankful that the family is safe, and the child is recovering and no one else was injured.”
The Nelspruit Sexual Offences Court in South Africa has sentenced a 42-year-old pastor, Dumisani Khumalo, to life imprisonment for the r£pe of a 14-year-old girl in 2020.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) DPP Mpumalanga Regional spokesperson, Monica Nyuswa, in a statement on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, said the assault had adverse effects on the victim, including a decline in her academic performance, fear of being alone, and a previous suicide attempt.
“The court's ruling delivered today underscores the serious nature of sexual offences against children and the commitment to ensuring justice for victims,” the statement read.
"The incident occurred on 25 July 2020, when the victim was on her way to the shop with a friend in Sifunindlela, located in the KaBokweni
district.
"Khumalo offered the girls a lift in his vehicle. After dropping off the friend to buy something at the shop, Khumalo manipulated the situation by driving past the store, making a U-turn, and ultimately parking at a playground, where he proceeded
to rape the victim.
In the aftermath of the attack, the victim managed to escape and went to a neighbour, where she reported the horrific event. Following her disclosure, the accused was apprehended by the police.
"During the trial, Khumalo pleaded not guilty and attempted to discredit the victim, portraying her as someone intent on destroying his reputation.
"However, State Prosecutor John Mahlwele presented compelling evidence, including testimonies from the victim, an eyewitness, and medical reports, which the court found credible.
"Additionally, a victim impact statement revealed the profound effects the assault had on the victim, including a decline in her academic performance, fear of being alone, and a previous suicide attempt.
"Before sentencing, Magistrate Recardo Cloete remarked on Khumalo's lack of remorse throughout the trial. He asserted that there were no justifiable reasons to deviate from the minimum sentence of life imprisonment mandated by law for such a grievous crime.
"Khumalo was thus sentenced to life imprisonment, with an order for his name to be added to the National Register of Sexual Offenders, rendering him unfit to work with children.
"The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed satisfaction with the sentence, emphasizing its unwavering commitment to prosecuting cases related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and femicide.
“This case serves as a stark reminder of the need to protect vulnerable individuals in society and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.”
