CNN Silver Fox Anderson Cooper has added to his burgeoning property portfolio, picking up an historic 18-room Connecticut mansion for himself and boyfriend Benjamin Maisani, according to reports.
Sitting on over 210 acres in the affluent Litchfield County, the sprawling stone manor - called Rye House - is believed to have set back the 47-year-old news anchor between $5 million and $9 million.
Built in 1908 and designed by celebrated architect Wilson Eyre - a founder of House & Garden magazine - the English Country estate measures at over 10,000 square feet, complete with a private four-bedroom guest wing.
The area is known for being home to the rich and famous, and is where Oscar winner Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer raised their four children.

Historic: Anderson Cooper and his boyfriend, Benjamin Maisani, are the proud new owners of this 1908 estate in the affluent Connecticut county of Litchfield

The stone home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has a total of nine fireplaces

 

 

Rye House offers six main bedrooms, six full baths and three half-baths. The third floor includes an additional bedroom and bath

  Classic: The English Country estate features homely touches and hand-carved wood finishings

No country home would be complete without a full-sized swimming pool and a garden house, right?

The 18-room home was restored about 15 years ago, preserving many of its original features

 

The manor sits on over 210 acres and has a gated front entrance with a security system

The veteran TV journalist lives with Maisani in a renovated firehouse in New York's Greenwich Village, which he bought in September 2009 for $4.3 million.
In 2012 Cooper also bought a waterfront in the Hamptons hamlet of Quiogue for $1.7 million.
Rye House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis court and green house, according to vacation rental site

Long-term: Anderson Cooper (left) and Benjamin Maisani (right) - a Manhattan bar owner - have been together for about five years

 

With a private four-bedroom guest wing, the mansion is perfect for entertaining

There is seemingly no end to the grounds of the property, which is close to fantastic hiking and biking trails

There are 18 rooms in the house, 11 of them bedrooms

Many elements of the house have been hand-carved from wood, as seen in the dining room

And what would a veteran reporter do without a private study?

Looking out the windows of the manor, there is not another house for miles

Cooper is said to have paid between $5 million and $9 million for the historic mansion, according to reports

The home includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool and tennis court, and is on the National Register of Historic Places

 

 

The elaborate and well-kept gardens are among of its many distinctive features

The main house has has six bedrooms, six full baths and three half-baths.
The third floor has an additional bedroom and bath, with another four bedrooms in the guest wing.
There are a total of nine fireplaces.
The entrance of the residence is gated with a security system.
The house is close to scenic biking and hiking trails as well as Bantam Lake and Lake Waramaug.
It was previously owned by former Miss Connecticut Karen Shaw, who starred on Dallas and The A Team, and could fetch a nightly rental rate of $1,800.
Cooper, the son of famed socialite and jeans designer Gloria Vanderbilt, recently told Howard Stern: 'My mom’s made clear to me that there’s no trust fund.'
He said that not relying on Vanderbilt money has allowed him to stay motivated and prosper on his own.

Main stay: Cooper's main home is a re-purposed fire house in New York's Greenwich Village neighborhood, which he bought in September 2009 for $4.3 million

Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani seen out and about in New York City in 2010

Summer retreat: This six-bedroom home in the tony Hamptons was bought by Cooper in 2012 for $1.7 million.

See the Best Time of the day to Have S.ex, if you want to last longer in Bed

A new study has found out the best time for s*x that can make any man last longer in bed and also found out that s*x can improve ones mood throughout the day.

You’re most likely to get an erection when you have a high level of testosterone, as the hormone is responsible for s*x drive.

So if you’re wondering what the best time of the day to have s*x is, take a look at how your testosterone levels change throughout the day.

A bar chart, created by Stephen J. Winters at the University of Louisville, mapped mens’ average fluctuations in testosterone levels over a 24-hour period.

And as you can see testosterone levels are highest between 4am and 8am – reaching a peak at 7am.

This explains the “morning glory” phenomenon and also why se.xperts believe the morning is the best time to enjoy a quickie.

When a man has higher testosterone and is well-rested, he has more energy meaning that he’ll be able to last longer in bed naturally.

According to se.xual health and wellbeing expert Samantha Evans just several minutes of morning s*x can also keep you looking younger and improve your mood for the rest of the day.

Samantha said: “Men accumulate testosterone as they sleep and from the time they wake up, they have a three hour window when they are brimming with testosterone.

 

“That early morning erection is not called ‘morning wood’ or ‘morning glory’ for nothing.

 

“Whatever it is called, having an erection on waking up is as good a reason as any to initiate a little morning sex.”

Meanwhile, if you’re someone who enjoys an afternoon delight, it might be because you get a surge of testosterone at around 1pm.

It also explains why you might experience an unwanted or random erection at this time of day. On the other hand a guy’s testosterone level is plunges between 8pm and 10pm.

Low testosterone and erectile dysfunction (ED) go hand-in-hand so if you already find it difficult to get it up, then it might be better to avoid this window.

Source: Dailystar

Dangote’s (N5Billion) $30Million Multi Million Dollar Abuja Mansion, See Photos Of The interior

 

This is said to be the $30m home of  Africa’s richest man’s home, Dangote..According to Africa Cradle who were given access to,the mansion situated in Abuja is  Mr. Dangote has called this place home for a good twelve years, and he said he is selling the property because he has just completed a new piece of real estate in the United Kingdom.
See photos after the cut

On his living room,he said
Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn’t have in your home.” I love watching television. I watch a lot of business channels, such as Bloomberg TV, which is my favourite and many others. I look forward to the day when AFRICA will have quality media, which gives us good entertainment, and insightful information into African business trends and those from other parts of the world as well. But yeah, welcome, this is my living room.”

 

And this is where the wealthiest man in Africa sleeps.
“I feel bed to show you where I sleep, you know,” he said, showing us into the bedroom. “But here is where I sleep. My wife and I try the best we can to keep this place as serene and quite as possible.” “To tell you the truth, I spend less time here than I do in my office and elsewhere where I can work. I do value relaxation and unwinding, and I have read a lot of news articles and research studies that recommend eight to ten hours of sleep.” “But why should one sleep so much? To relax? Don’t get me wrong, relaxing is good, but if you love to sleep, poverty will be your portion. Well, this is my bedroom, let’s move on.”

This is Aliko Dangote’s home office, where he does all the business if he is away from his office. “Whether you work from home fulltime or a few hours a week, setting up your home office properly is important for your comfort and productivity,” he said. “I have hosted a number of  very important people here, including Bill Gates, President Goodluck Jonathan, and many others I am not inclined to mention. ”

 

“They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  It is where the meals are created – it fuels the bodies, minds and souls of friends and families all over the world. Some say that while life may be created in the bedroom, it is certainly lived in the kitchen, ” Aliko Dangote said

This is where Mr. Dangote hosts most of his meetings with business associates and government officials

 

See how Newly Wedding Couple Crashes a N68Million Ferrari Spider They Rented to Celebrate

Unlucky wedding couple hire a 240,000 Pounds Ferrari Spider to celebrate big day and leave it a mangled wreck after crashing into wall.

 

A £240,000 (N67,789,663) Ferrari owned by a millionaire father and son was crashed into a house by a couple who are believed to have hired the supercar for their wedding day.

Photographs show the mangled remains of the white Ferrari 458 Spider moments after it drove into the wall in Burnely, Lancashire, yesterday afternoon.

The luxury vehicle is believed to be owned by a car company run by 21-year-old Aleem Iqbal, who goes by the name ‘Lord Aleem’ on the internet, and his father.

 

 

It is thought the Italian supercar, which has a top speed of 199mph, had been rented by a couple as a treat for their wedding day.

Lancashire Road Police tweeted pictures of the accident along with the caption: ‘Damage only car crash in Burnley’. The image shows how the bonnet was crushed and the headlights were shattered in the accident. No one was injured.

Mr Iqbal’s father Saleem originally set up Platinum Executive Travel, which offers Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley models for hire, in Birmingham.

Unbelievable !! See The Pictures Of World’s Largest Aircraft that is Big as a Stadium

Technological inventions are being made up every day and the latest is the making of the world’s largest plane which is reputed to be as big as a full stadium.

 

 

 

The world’s longest aircraft is set to take its first test flight in a few days time.

The unique aerodynamic balloon-like shape of the Airlander 10 – which cost $100 million (£60m) to make – can fly for five days straight, carry around 10-tons of cargo and land on water.

Measuring 302ft (92m) in length the new airship is about 60ft longer than the biggest airliners, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.

It generates lift through being filled with helium and it can travel at a top speed of 92mph.

 

 

To put the size of the object into perspective it’s the length of a football pitch and as high as SIX double decker buses.

It’s been made by Bedford-based Hybrid Air Vehicles, and the designers are also rumoured to be planning an even bigger version that will eventually be able to carry 50 tonnes at a time.

The company has received £2.5m of UK government funding to develop the technology and engineering for the project.

Hybrid Air Vehicles anticipate the Airlander 10 will be used for commercial endeavours such as leisure cruises, and for transporting cargo to hard-to-reach places.

The Airlander 10 – which can also stay floating, unmanned, for three weeks even with bullet holes in it – was originally developed from 2009 for the US Army, which abandoned the project.

 

 

Company spokesman Chris Daniels told Sky News: “It’s not an airship. It’s a mix between an aeroplane, an airship with a bit of helicopter thrown in.

 

“It uses the latest materials, it’s got the latest fly-by-night technology, avionics and computer software.

 

“It’s very much an aircraft for the 21st century.”

But aviation expert David Learmount questioned whether there will be a big demand for it.

He also told the channel The Airlander 10 was “highly specialist” and would not appeal to the “mass market”.

Source: Mirror UK

The Budget Monitoring Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, has accused the management of the institution of expending N3. 5billion meant for hostel renovation and construction of new lecture theaters in breach of due process and transparency. The funds were part of the N100billion released by the Federal Government in 2013 for all universities in response to the long drawn agitations of ASUU against the government. The implementation monitoring committee had spelt out guidelines for accessing the intervention fund for Nigerian Public Universities, but the school failed to abide by the guidelines. According the report of the committee addressed to ASUU members, and which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the management failed to follow due process in contract awarding as well as failing to utilize needs assessment phase 1 funds made available to the institution in August 2013 as required by the guidelines. The report which was signed by the committee’s chairman, A.O, Aderibigbe, on 4th of January 2016, also noted that the approval for the release of the funds was done in writing by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education addressed to the Vice Chancellor of OAU on 23rd of August 2013. The report indicated that the letter from the Ministry of Education conveyed the approval of NI3.5billion needs Assessment phase 1, funds to OAU under the Special university revitalization programme based on the needs Assessment report. The monitoring committee reported that the following projects, namely Rehabilitation/Renovation of hostels for N200million; Rehabilitation/Renovation of lecture theaters and lecture rooms for N250million; Construction of new facilities-Hostels, N 2billion; Construction of new facility -Lecture Theaters and lecture rooms, N300million and Construction of new facility -Laboratories and Library, N300million, all totaling N3.5billion, were to be carried out as approved. The committee noted that the second tranche of the funds totaling N2.833billion was transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria to two commercial bank accounts operated by the institution. Foramfera “On 30/09/2014 I was reliably informed that the sum of N2,833,703,703.61 was transferred from the CBN into the OAU account with the bank and in this regard the university administration directed an officer to issue receipts as follows (a) First Bank, account no: 2023659287 Account name:OAU Special revitalization programmer Account , Amount N1,308,703,703.61billion and Zenith Bank, Account number:1013549122 Account name: OAU Presidential Implementation of Needs Assessment Account, Amount :N1,525,000,000billion and the officer complied, the truth will surely prevail sooner than later,” Mr. Aderibigbe stated in the report. “The letter informing the university of the transfer of N3.5billion directed that there should be strict compliance with the procurement act 2007 in the implementing of the projects.” The ASUU monitoring committee stated that while the approval letter quoted an allocation of the sum of 3.5billion, the university claimed it received only N2.833billon. The committee wondered how an allocation of N3.5billion naira meant to execute projects worth the same sum, would turn out to become N2.833billion. The committee further alleged that the university had unilaterally identified, prioritized and awarded contracts for some of the projects with total exclusion and sidelining of university budget monitoring committee, ASUU BMC said that in compliance with the IMC Guidelines the projects should be awarded with the knowledge of ASUU’s monitoring committee, adding that the management was in violation of stipulated guidelines and due process . The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, told PREMIUM TIMES that ASUU’s allegation was false, as all funds received by the institution from the Federal Government had been judiciously used. He said the management of OAU had also been transparent in the handling of the funds and the execution of projects in line due process of procurement. “To the best of my knowledge we always advertise all the infrastructural projects in two national newspapers and the tenders journal in Abuja,” Mr. Olanrewaju said. “Fortunately, my office is in charge of placing the adverts for interested persons to be aware. “If there is agreement between the management and ASUU regarding the administration of the funds, I am not aware.”

The Budget Monitoring Committee of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, has accused the management of  the institution of expending N3. 5billion meant for hostel renovation and construction of new lecture theaters in breach of due process and transparency.
The funds were part of the N100billion released by the Federal Government in 2013 for all universities in response to the long drawn agitations of ASUU against the government.
The implementation monitoring committee had spelt out guidelines for accessing the intervention fund for Nigerian Public Universities, but the school failed to abide by the guidelines.
According the report of the committee addressed to ASUU members, and which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the management failed to follow due process in contract awarding as well as failing to utilize needs assessment phase 1 funds made available to the institution in August 2013 as required by the guidelines.
The report which was signed by the committee’s chairman, A.O, Aderibigbe, on 4th of January 2016, also noted that the approval for the release of the funds was done in writing by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education addressed to the Vice Chancellor of OAU on 23rd of August 2013.
The report indicated that the letter from the Ministry of Education conveyed the approval of NI3.5billion needs Assessment phase 1, funds to OAU under the Special university revitalization programme based on the needs Assessment report.
The monitoring committee reported that the following projects, namely  Rehabilitation/Renovation of hostels for N200million; Rehabilitation/Renovation of lecture theaters and lecture rooms for N250million; Construction of new facilities-Hostels, N 2billion; Construction of new facility -Lecture Theaters and lecture rooms, N300million and Construction of new facility -Laboratories and Library, N300million, all totaling N3.5billion, were to be carried out as approved.
The committee noted that the second tranche of the funds totaling N2.833billion was transferred from the Central Bank of Nigeria to two commercial bank accounts operated by the institution.


“On 30/09/2014 I was reliably informed that the sum of N2,833,703,703.61 was transferred from the CBN into the OAU account with the bank and in this regard the university administration directed an officer to issue receipts as follows (a) First Bank, account no: 2023659287 Account name:OAU Special revitalization programmer Account , Amount N1,308,703,703.61billion and Zenith Bank, Account number:1013549122 Account name: OAU Presidential Implementation of Needs Assessment Account, Amount :N1,525,000,000billion and the officer complied, the truth will surely prevail sooner than later,” Mr. Aderibigbe stated in the report.
“The letter informing the university of the transfer of N3.5billion directed that there should be strict compliance with the procurement act 2007 in the implementing of the projects.”
The ASUU monitoring committee stated that while the approval letter quoted an  allocation of the sum of 3.5billion, the university claimed it received  only N2.833billon.
The committee wondered how an allocation of N3.5billion naira meant to execute projects worth the same sum,  would turn out to become N2.833billion.
The committee further alleged that the university had unilaterally identified, prioritized and awarded contracts for some of the projects with total exclusion and sidelining of university budget monitoring committee,
ASUU BMC said that in compliance with the IMC Guidelines the projects should be awarded with the knowledge of ASUU’s monitoring committee, adding that the management was in violation of stipulated guidelines and due process .
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, told PREMIUM TIMES that ASUU’s allegation was false, as all funds received by the institution from  the Federal Government had been judiciously used.
He said the management of OAU had also been transparent in the handling of the funds and the execution of projects in line due process of procurement.
“To the best of my knowledge we always advertise all the infrastructural projects in two national newspapers and the tenders journal in Abuja,” Mr.  Olanrewaju said.
“Fortunately, my office is in charge of placing the adverts for interested persons to be aware.
“If there is agreement between the management and ASUU regarding the administration of the funds, I am not aware.”

Senate’s purchase of exotic cars “criminal” – TMG

The Transition Monitoring Group, TMG, a coalition of over 400 grassroots organisations, has described as “ungodly” and “criminal”, the latest acquisition of new Toyota Land Cruiser automobiles by members of the Nigerian Senate, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy all his powers to stop the “hedonistic acquisition in these lean times”.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Ibrahim Zikirullahi, on Wednesday, the group said the senators circumvented extant procurement laws and the Fiscal Responsibility Act in acquiring the exotic vehicles.
The Senate has come under intense criticism following reports that the top lawmaking body has started taking delivery of 108 four-wheel drive Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles.
The Senate says it purchased 36 units of the vehicles at N36.5 million each, an amount many Nigerians say was inflated.
“The gluttonous manner in which less than 500 individuals are cornering the resources of a country where poverty and many other forms of privations are the order of the day, calls for concerted efforts among citizen groups, to reject the reign of these thieves garbed in legislative robes,” TMG said in a statement.
“TMG is incensed that at a time Nigerians in many states are grappling with the difficulties of living life without salaries, and the dire economic conditions biting so hard, it is provocative for Senators to be living in criminal opulence. Ironically, this is the same Senate led by a character currently standing trial over weighty allegations of false and anticipatory declaration of assets. It is the same institution that has been hijacked by shady figures, including their leader who has also been mentioned as one of those hiding suspicious assets in offshore tax haven, as revealed in the leaked Panama Papers. In defiance to extant procurement laws and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Senators have gone ahead to acquire the cars at prices that are twice the actual market value. It is barefaced stealing from the Nigerian people for the Senate to have paid N35.1 million for each of the Toyota Landcruiser purchased, while independent checks confirmed that the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV V6 2016 model is sold at N17 million.
“To show that the greed of these characters is limitless, TMG recalls that in February, the Senate President’s cars were changed in a move that cost taxpayers the sum of N330 million. The architects of these wasteful expenditures on fancy items in a time of hardship, are the enemies of the Nigerian people. Those who arranged and benefited from this rude plunder of scarce resources must be investigated and brought to book. 

“Nigeria can no longer afford to shoulder the burden of funding the wasteful and opulent lifestyles of a few hundred legislators, many of who suffer from severe reputation deficit. It is indeed worrisome that the gluttons in the National Assembly cannot spare a thought for the millions of unemployed young Nigerians in the country, and make some sacrifices to free some resources, for this excluded and vulnerable segment of the population. In the face of this unconscionable affront, the silence of many legislators, who should ordinarily be condemning this impunity is deafening. Suddenly, we are not hearing any partisan bickering in the Senate over this latest ungodly attempt to share the national patrimony.”

Mr. Zikirullahi, therefore, called on the president to take all measures to stop the purchase.
“With the logic that exceptional times require exceptional measures, TMG calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to take all necessary measures to stop the corrupt and insensitive purchase and distribution of these vehicles by the Senators. Provocative steps like this insensitive purchase and distribution of exotic cars in the face of the current economic struggles remind us of the urgent need to vanquish all forms of corruption and greed from the system. This is why the vendors involved in these shady supplies should be investigated because they are also aiding and abetting the corrupt and wasteful spending by the legislators. TMG again calls on the Nigerian people to brace up for the coming struggle to confront legislative greed, impunity and corruption,” Mr. Zikirullahi said.

Nigeria Customs seize N572 million worth of goods in 3 months

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Lagos, of the Nigeria Customs Service said it has seized smuggled and contraband goods worth N572 million between January 2016 and the first week of April.
The comptroller of the zone, Mohammed Dahiru, according to information released on Tuesday by the Customs, gave the details of the seizure as follows: 4,911 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, 1,5048 cartons of imported frozen products, 1,884 (25 litres) of Vegetable Oil, and 17 trucks of unprocessed teak woods.
Mr. Dahiru said he had resolved to deal ruthlessly with smugglers, “as long as they are ready to circumvent the fiscal policies of the Federal Government in terms of trade”.
“We will continue to arrest and prosecute them as a deterrent to others,” he added.

APC lawmaker advises Buhari to tame Fulani herdsmen

The chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Strategy and Security has told President Muhammadu Buhari to put measures in place to check criminal activities of Fulani herdsmen.
The lawmaker, Tunde Braimoh, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Mr. Braimoh (APC-Kosofe II) said taking such a step would boost the integrity of the president and re-affirm the people’s confidence in his administration.
“The president needs to be courageous; we know him as a man of integrity, he will not be swayed away by myopic, parochial, religious and inglorious tendencies.
“We want him to protect his integrity. Fulani herdsmen have done a lot of havoc in Nigeria.
“Fulani herdsmen are aggressive and excessive, they wreak havoc on innocent citizens in various parts of Nigeria.
“The president needs to deal with the issue of Fulani herdsmen decisively. They have constituted nuisance across the country,” Mr. Braimoh said.
According to him, the Federal Government’s investment on the herdsmen through nomadic education has not yielded the desired results.

 The lawmaker advised the government to change the system of education for the herdsmen and build ranches for them.
He said the government should be able to educate the herdsmen to know their right from wrong.
Mr. Braimoh recalled that some herdsmen had once brought their cattle to graze on the highway in some parts of Lagos.
He urged the Department of State Security to be diligent and proactive in handling security issues affecting herdsmen.
Social and economic activities were on Tuesday disrupted at Asaba in Delta as thousands of people took to the street to protest the growing involvement of Fulani herdsmen in criminal activities in the state.
(NAN)

2016 Hajj for first timers only, NAHCON says

 

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON has said only intending pilgrims going to Hajj for the first time would be allowed to undertake 2016 Hajj pilgrimage.
NAHCON in a statement by its spokesperson, Uba Mana, on Wednesday, said the decision is “to give ample opportunity to those that have not performed the Hajj to discharge their obligation”.
Mr. Mana however, said “Hajj officials are hereby exempted from this restriction due to essential nature of their duties”.
He also said the decision was in line with Pilgrims’ Registration guidelines issued by the Commission recently.
“Similarly, all Pilgrims Welfare Bodies/Agencies/Commissions are expected to collect payment deposits from intending pilgrims and remit same to the Commission as and when due, in line with the 2016 Hajj calendar of events.
“Reservation of slots for any reason whatsoever, including Government Sponsored pilgrims beyond the stipulated deadline for pilgrims registration is strictly not acceptable as doing so will undermine Nigeria’s full compliance to the Saudi Hajj e-track requirement which usually results to loss of Hajj slots,” he said.
NAHCON also warned that all Pilgrims Welfare Body or Tour Operators who collects payment from any intending pilgrim for 2016 Hajj and is unable to take such person for Hajj for no fault of the intending pilgrim, will bear the additional cost that might arise in the process of conveying such a pilgrim for Hajj.
Mr. Mana said the positions were taken at the end of the 7th Board meeting of the Commission held on Thursday 14th April, 2016.

Amnesty Scam: EFCC Arraigns two former aides to Kingsley Kuku

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, arraigned Henry Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, both former aides to the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta, Kingsley Kuku, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
They were arraigned on two separate charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55million.
Mr. Ugbolue, special assistant, media and communication and Mr. Pepple, technical assistant on reintegration, were to be arraigned alongside Mr. Kuku, but due to his (Kuku) continued absence in court, his name was removed from the charge to enable the two others enter their plea.
Messrs Kuku and Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests.
Mr. Ugbolue is allegedly the sole signatory of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited, the company which provided integrated management of communications and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
On his part, Mr. Pepple is director and sole signatory for KER Global Wave limited, which was awarded a contract to provide Reintegration Support Services by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Particulars of count two of the charge read:

“Kingsley Kuku while being the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta and Henry Nonso Ogbolue whilst being employed as a public servant as special assistant (media and communication) to the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta on about 26th day of November, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did criminally conspired between yourselves and awarded a contract worth N27, 382, 952. 47 to provide integrated management of communications and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta to Great & Gamaliel Alliance Ltd (wherein Henry Nonso Ugbolue is the sole signatory to the account of the Great nad Gamaliel Alliance Ltd).”

Messrs. Ugbolue and Pepple pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them

In view of their plea, counsel to EFCC, Johnson Ojobane, asked the court for a date for trial to commence.
However, the defence counsel, Karina Tunyan, SAN, citing Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, said the offence is bailable.
The counsel added that the defendants had been on administrative bail and had been voluntarily presenting themselves whenever they were needed at the EFCC.
“This is clear indication that they will not jump bail, prejudice investigation or frustrate their trial,” Mr. Tunyan said.
He therefore urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms.
While not opposing the application, Mr. Ojobane urged the court to exercise its discretion, if it is inclined to grant bail, on such conditions that will warrant the continuous attendance of the defendants.
The judge, M.M. Kolo, granted bail to Mr. Ugbolue in the sum of N10 million and one surety in like sum. The surety, the judge said, must have landed property in Abuja with documents deposited with the court.
Mr. Pepple, on the other hand, was admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million (five million naira) and one surety in like sum. The surety, who must be resident in Abuja, must have landed property in the capital city with the documents deposited in the court.
Mr. Kolo adjourned to May 12 for commencement of trial.
The accused are to be remanded in EFCC custody until they perfect their bails.

The prosecution in the case against former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godsday Orubebe opened its case yesterday. Its first witness gave details of how the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) discovered a property owned by the ex-minister in Abuja, which he allegedly refused to disclose.

Orubebe is being tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on a one-count charge of false assets declaration.

The witness, Samuel Madojemu, an official of the CCB, said Orubebe failed to declare the property on Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja, while he was minister between 2007 and 2011.

Madojemu said his job includes “intelligence on observed breaches of the code and asset tracing investigation”.

 He said Orubebe submitted five asset declaration forms to the CCB between 2007 and 2011. Copies of the forms were admitted by the CCT as exhibits.

On how the CCB discovered that the ex-minister owned the property, the witness said the Certificate of Occupancy (C/O) obtained from the Department of Land Administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) showed that it  was issued to Orubebe on April 10, 2011.

But Madojemu noted that the former minister failed to declare it when leaving office on May 29, 2011.

The witness was led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer Mohammad Diri, who is also the director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.

The witness said Orubebe ignored the CCB’s invitation to him to make statements during investigation.

He said: “The defendant declared his assets to the bureau by virtue of his position as a public officer and as a minister.

“I was instructed to invite him to the bureau for the purpose of obtaining his statement on allegations and intelligence report that was being handled by the bureau concerning him.

“I invited him. He promised to respond by sending his legal team. He also promised that he might come in person, but he did not come.

“My lord, the bureau issued him with Form CCB 1, which is the bureau’s asset declaration form and he made his declaration between 2007 and 2011 – the period of investigation.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau issued the defendant the Form CCB 1 five times. For those five times, he made his asset declaration to the bureau.

“My lord, after we received the form, we examined the form as part of our procedures’ investigation to ascertain if there was over-declaration or under-declaration.

“We conducted intelligence assessment on the declaration made by the defendant. We discovered that there were some other plots or property that were traced to the defendant, Godsday Orubebe.

“We conducted record examination by writing a letter to the Federal Capital Territory’s Department of Land Administration.”

He added: “My lord, in their response, which was in writing, it was indicated that Plot 2057 Asokoro District for which the Certificate of Occupancy was issued on April 10, 2011, belonged to the defendant.

“We thereafter compared the information arising from the response from the FCT Land Administration Department with the information on asset declaration forms submitted to the bureau between 2007 and 2011 and discovered that Plot 2057 Asokoro District belonging to the defendant was not declared even as at May 29, 2011 when he left office.

“Apart from the letter from FCT land admin registry, we also received a Certified True Copy of the Certificate of Occupancy in respect of Plot 2057 issued to the defendant.

“We also received the CTC of the Right of Occupancy for that same Plot No 2057 issued to the defendant.

“Also received from the FCT land administration registry, was a letter of authority, given to one Engineer Rodney by the defendant authorising him to collect the Certificate of Occupancy and the Right of Occupancy from the FCT land registry. It was supported by the (international passport) page of the defendant.”

“My lords, the question we wanted to ask the defendant was why he did not declare plot 2057 for which the C of O was issued to him on April 10, 2011. Whereas for the period under consideration, 2007 to May 29, 2011, when he made those declarations, he did not make the declaration of the property at the end of tenure asset declaration form 2011. He acquired the property while he was still in office.

“But my lord, he promised to send legal representative to the bureau or come in person, but he did not come. We afforded him the opportunity, but he did not come,” Madojemu said.

Orubebe’s lawyer Selekowei Larry (SAN) objected to the move by Diri to tender copies of the C/O, the Right of Occupancy (R/O), the letter of authority referred to by the witness, which were attached to a letter dated February 18, by the Department of Land Administration of the FCT.

Larry contended that the letter with the documents attached to it was inadmissible under Section 83(3) of the Evidence Act, because it was authored by “a person interested” while the case against his client was pending in court.

The letter dated February 18 was authored by Assistant State Counsel of the Lands Administration, Mrs. Funke Audu, of the Federal Capital Territory.

“These are documents procured during the pendency of this case. The letter is dated February 18, 2016, whereas the suit commenced on October 18, 2015,” Larry said.

Tribunal Chairman Danladi Usman overruled Larry and upheld Diri’s argument that Audu, who was an employee of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, could never be a party interested.

While the witness spoke, Orubebe, dressed in white traditional attire and a black hat, sat quietly in the accused box.

Further hearing has been fixed for April 14 for the defence to cross-examine the witness.

My role in MTN’s N50b payment to Fed Govt, says AGF

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice,  Abubakar Malami (SAN) has explained his role in the payment of N50billion to the Federal Government by a telecommunication firm, MTN Nigeria Limited as part settlement of the fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Malami denied any underhand dealings, insisting that his intervention in the case, which led to the company’s payment of the amount, was a product of a transparent process.

The minister added that there is no hidden transaction in relation to the planned negotiation between the Federal Government and MTN as against the erroneous belief and assumption in some quarters, including the National Assembly that the nation is being mortgaged.

Malami’s position is contained in his letter to the Chairman,

Senate Committee on Communications, led by Senator Gilbert Nnaji.

In the letter authored by the minister’s Media aide, Salihu Isah, Malami faulted the refusal to allow him an opportunity to present his case before the lawmakers.

He faulted the law makers’ position on the issue, which he argued portrayed him as being motivated solely by self-interest.

“For the benefit of those in doubt, it is so far, so good for the role my principal has played. I wish to state vividly that, when Mr. Eric Holder, the counsel to the MTN led a team to interface with my principal as the Chief Law Officer of the nation, he (Malami) insisted that MTN must show some commitment by ensuring a down payment of N50 billion.

“The Federal Government’s insistence was that no audience could be granted to the telecom Company or anyone acting on its behalf while the case is still pending in court and in the absence of demonstration of good faith by MTN.

“To this request, MTN offered to comply, and indeed complied by withdrawing the case unconditionally and to make an agreed payment of N50 billion ($250 million), an offer the FGN accepted only to grant audience to it and its counsel in relations to the settlement discussions (and without prejudice and in good faith).

“The payment was made on February 24th, into a Federal Government Recoveries Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Company also filed an application to withdraw its pending suit in an attempt to fulfil the second condition for audience with the FGN on the matter.

“This was also confirmed by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before it agreed to grant audience to MTN or its Counsel.

“And having fulfilled the two conditions as demanded by the Federal Government through the AGF, the MTN through its counsel Eric Holder and his Covington legal team thereby sought audience with the AGF, who yet denied going into any negotiations, but demanded a proposal of the terms meant to be discussed in writing.

“Mr. Eric Holder obliged those terms and the AGF, who quickly despatched a mail through the normal official channel to the Minister of Communications and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC inviting for their input before fixing any meeting.

“While still awaiting the responses of both, no meeting or discussion or negotiation has been held on the issue ever since. What the AGF did afterwards was to ask the MTN legal team to formally present its proposals on the matter so that technical input could be sought from all stakeholders before the FGN could grant them any audience.

“This proposal has now been circulated among the stakeholders for their technical contributions and that is where we were on the issue when the invitation of the Senate came in at a time when the AGF was embarking on a trip to attend an anti-corruption summit in the United Kingdom that he was earlier billed to attend before the invitation came handy.

“It is imperative to state at this juncture that neither an audience nor commitment was made by the AGF to MTN, who was then waiting for the technical inputs and comments of the ministries of Communications and Finance as well as the NCC with a view to harmonizing the inputs, and coordinate inter-ministerial meeting for a common position, before considering an audience meeting or negotiation with MTN, all of which were aborted by the pre-emptive conclusion hastily reached by your Committee,” the AGF said.

Nigerians named in Panama Papers may be Probe by EFCC

There were strong indications yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may probe Nigerians associated with secret offshore companies.

Apart from Senate President Bukola Saraki, others mentioned in the secret leak that has been generating worldwide ripples are: Former Senate President David Mark, Saraki’s wife, Toyin, former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Mr. Laolu Saraki, Mr. Obi Asika and Mr. Olufela Ibidapo.

Yesterday, former Defence Minister Gen. Yakubu Danjuma’s name was linked with some firms.

According to a top EFCC source, the EFCC has already obtained a copy of the Panama Papers, which its operatives are studying.

The source said: “We are studying all the documents and definitely we will investigate the allegations against all the Nigerians implicated in the Panama Papers.

 

 

“These allegations may lead to further clues on whether or not public funds were used in acquiring some of these secret assets.

The Panamanian law firm, reputed as one of the most secretive companies in the world, had helped clients to register offshore entities, some of which are then used to launder money, evade tax and dodge sanctions.

Gen. Danjuma, the wealthy philanthropist and one-time Defence minister, according to the Mossac Fonseca files, floated Eastcoast Investments, which he incorporated in Nassau, Bahamas, on March 25, 1997.

At inception, Gen.  Danjuma and a certain Colin Marcel Dixon were directors of the company.

According to Premium Times, Gen. Danjuma formed the company to enable him do business with Scancem International of Norway when the latter decided to expand its business frontiers to Nigeria.

But the company became embroiled in a bribery scandal, with Scancem, according to court papers, later buying out Eastcoast Investment from the project on December 1, 2003.

Gen. Danjuma reportedly resigned as director of the company.

He is also reported to have used other offshore entities.

The database, Opencorporates, indicate that the ex-minister. served as director and vice-president of Cross Group Holdings International, which was registered in Panama on October 15, 1976.

Gen. Danjuma was also director of Zara Logistics, a company registered in Cyprus on September 2, 1993.

He could not be reached for comment yesterday. Sources close to him said he is out of the country.

Also, Enrico Monfrini, a Swiss attorney hired by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to track missing Abacha loot in Swiss banks is himself operating over 178 companies in offshore tax havens.

Mr. Monfrini was hired in 2000 by the government to help establish the existence of and repatriate over $4 billion allegedly looted by the former military dictator.

The documents showed that Mr. Monfrini, an influential legal practitioner in Switzerland, is director of 178 companies scattered around Panama and the British Virgin Islands.

Although the documents did not directly implicate Mr. Monfrini as having committed any crime, still, the revelation points to the hypocrisy of a man widely revered for his remarkable ability to dismantle tax evaders and looters across jurisdictions.