Kanye West is all smiles as he spends father-son time with Saint during family trip to California Zoo (Photos)

Rapper, Kanye West was pictured all smiles as he posed with his son Saint West during a family trip to a zoo in California on Thursday.

His wife, Kim  Kardashian and their daughter, North West were also spotted at the Sandiego Zoo.

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality star took to her Instagram Story and Snapchat to share several photos from the zoo outing.

See more photos below.

Special Fraud Unit arrests 'fake' Benin prince who defrauded ex-lawmaker of $1.5m

Police detectives attached to the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Milverton, Lagos State, have arrested some men, who posed as international businessmen, members of House of Representatives and members of Benin Kingdom’s royal family to defraud a former lawmaker of $1.5 million.

According to reports, Investigation of the suspects started on July 28, 2017 with a crack team of detectives going to Murtala International Airport, Lagos State, to arrest the syndicate’s leader identified as Franklin Osiemwonyi Izekor, 45, aka Prince Joshua Akenzua. It was learnt that rather than follow the policemen, Izekor resisted arrest, fought the policemen and even attempted to abduct one of the policemen in his car.  

Although the lawmaker, Eseme Eyiboh, told detectives that he was swindled of over $1.5 million, Izekor insisted that the money was just $1 million and another N47 million. A police source said: “The amount of money involved in this scam is no longer the issue. What’s important is that the principal suspect, Franklin Osiemwonyi Izekor, who was posing as a prince of Oba of Benin, admitted that he actually defrauded the victim.”

Aside Izekor, other members of the syndicate are Stephen Victor aka James Ajayi, Bolade Babatunde aka Honourable Lawal Adewunmi, Tola aka Peter Ajayi (still at large) and Alhaji Saka Jimoh (67). How the syndicate was able to zero in on the lawmaker is still nebulous, however, it was learnt that trouble started for Eyiboh after he landed a juicy contract with Exxon Mobil.

He needed some items, which were mostly overseas to execute the contract. The lawmaker was aware that there is an anti-bulk movement of money treaty, including dollars, which Nigeria is a signatory to. He was not too sure how to get the vital items from overseas, especially since he couldn’t transfer bulk dollars.  One day, he received a phone call from his colleague Honourable Lawal Adewunmi (Bolade Babatunde), who was also a member of the House of Representatives.

He didn’t know that he was speaking with a fake ‘Honourable Lawal Adewunmi.’ ‘Adewunmi’ exchanged pleasantries and soon delved into businesses. Eyiboh, thinking he was speaking with a concerned friend, spilled out his gut and his present contract. ‘Adewunmi’ then promised to link him up with some international businessmen, who were agents of a company called ‘International Foreign Exchange Monitoring Agency. Eyiboh was made to believe that it was an international money order organisation and an affiliate of American Forex Organisation with address at Plot 16, Agbara Estate, Ogun State.

Twitter Stories: Final year student dies after consuming alcohol, codeine, tramadol and marijuana

A 24-year old final year student has died after taking alcohol, codeine, tramadol and cannabis at a party.

According to Twitter user @imperatorduduosa, 'he attended a party where he ingested an unknown quantity of liquor, codeine syrup, tramadol and marijuana. He ended up with bleeding from nostrils and mouth. And intractable seizures. He died in ICU'.

Graphic: Grandmother burns granddaughter's hands because she ate Indomie without her permission

A grandmother has been arrested in Benin city, Edo state after she burnt her grand daughter's fingers because she ate a plate of indomie without her permission. According to eyewitnesses, the grandmother tortued her granddaughter by placing her hand on a gas stove until it got badly burnt.

A person who witnessed the incident reported the case to the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs who alerted the police and the grandmother has been arrested. The little girl is currently receiving medical care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital UBTH.

Filmmaker, Chika Ike Shoots a TV Commercial for Abia State Government

The TV Commercial is called Dial a Doc Direct, an Abia State Tele Health Initiative.
Below are behind the scenes photos of the commercial.

Four bankers charged with fraudulently obtaining N129 million

The Enugu Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday March 27,2018 arraigned one Nwachukwu Placidus, a former manager of First City Monument Bank Ltd, Onitsha Branch and  three former bankers with Idemili Micro Finance Bank Ltd, Nnewi namely; Ohaegbunam Chinyere,Egbosi Chiemenam and Nkeiru Okeke before Justice Ike Agu of the Anambra State High Court on a 12–count charge of stealing, conversion and obtaining ‎N129,000,000 by false pretence.

The first defendant,  Placidus allegedly diverted funds received from Idemilli Micro Finance bank meant to be placed as fixed deposit to his personal accounts.  while claiming they were severally rolled over and presented forged fixed deposit certificates to cover his tracks.

The co- defendants are alleged accomplices to the crime. All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read To them.

Caption this photo of Blac Chyna, 29 and her 18-year-old beau

Let's have the best caption for this photo of  Blac Chyna, 29 and her 18-year-old beau YBN Almighty Jay.

Buhari in Lagos: Documentary photographer narrates how a man was beaten because he drove past closed road

Fati Abubakar is the internationally acclaimed documentary photographer behind the series,  Bits of Borno. Read her post below: 

This morning I slept at 3am and woke at 4am and was ready at 5am to catch a flight for 7am. The driver and I were on our way when we were told roads to the airport were closed. Because President Buhari is coming to Lagos. I had been warned the previous night. We got down from the car and trekked with luggage the remaining distance. There were tons of people in suits and children going home for Easter break. It was hot. It was frustrating. As I dragged my luggage, I saw a man being beaten because he had drove pass. He was head butted and punched. I understand why people cross the seas to get to Europe. A kind elderly woman and her driver stopped to pick me and another man and his son. It is the every day Nigerians that help bandage you up when the government continues to shoot you in the foot.

Nigeria is an unfair country that does not give a damn about its people. I remember when we hovered in the air for an hour as we were about to land in Abuja because the plane could not land till Patience Jonathan’s plane did. So we just moved around in the air for an hour. What if something had happened. There was exasperation even in the pilots voice. Foreign pilots who work here, I applaud. This country will kill a thick skinned long suffering Nigerian person much less a mild mannered man from an efficient country. Now I am watching a live show telling and showing us a school feeding program and trying to say it cares.

It is safe to say Ambode or Buhari, whoever decided to shut down Lagos has lost the Lagos vote. Lagosians are livid today. And they have a right to be. How do you close the roads in a mega city.

"His mother’s only child'' - Family of Nigerian House of Reps member pay tribute to their son shot dead in the UK

The family of a man murdered in Hackney yesterday paid tribute to their son and brother, saying they are "beyond heartbroken", and urging the public to help find his killer.

Abraham Oluwatosin Dolapo Badru, aged 26, was found on Sunday, 25 March to Ferncliff Road, E8, suffering from gun shot wounds. He died at the scene. Read story here 

Read the tribute by his family below...

"We are beyond heartbroken, filled with emptiness as we put together our feelings on our greatest loss. A bright light, Abraham Oluwatosin Dolapo Badru, was put out by the hands of evil person on Sunday night. His mother’s only child, the pillar of her existence, and the first of his father's two children. He was the best son any parent could ever pray to have and a very loving and protective brother; he was humble, conscientious, respectful, kind and exuberated love and confidence.

Photos: 27-year-old Ambrose Alli University student hacked to death in Lagos by suspected cultists

A 27-year-old student of the Ambrose Alli University, Edo State was hacked to death at Obalende roundabout in Lagos.

The student identified as Emmanuel Onaghise, was reportedly ambushed by suspected cultists around 10.25p.m on Monday, 26th March 2018.

2 students found dead in Lagos after heavy rainfall

Two male students of a private secondary school were picked up dead in the flood after a heavy rain in Alagbado area of Lagos on Thursday March 29th.

According to PM news, the boys were found floating on water at Casso Bus Stop on Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway by shop owners and people waiting to board vehicles to their destinations.

Some commercial motorcycle riders carried them to a private hospital which confirmed them dead.

An eyewitness said the boys who were in their school uniforms, were discovered floating on the water.

“That was how we discovered the boys and quickly the Okada (motorcycle riders) people rushed and lifted them on their shoulders but they were lifeless because their legs and hands were just dangling. I wonder why they should go to school today which was declared work free and see how they have ended their lives just like that; it’s painful,’’ the eyewitness said

There was heavy rain in the area in the afternoon which resulted in heavy flooding.

Internet fraudsters are using my?name to scam people - Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo cries out

Nollywood actor and producer Femi Adebayo Salami has warned his fans to stay away from fraudsters who perpetrate evil and fraudulent activities with the use of his name.  

The actor cum politician in a one minute video shared earlier today on Instagram said that it has come to his notice that many of his fans have fallen victim of the heinous crimes of these fraudsters.

“Under no circumstance will I ask my fans to pay money into any account for anything” he said.

See the video below...

Senate rejects Governor El-Rufai’s $350m World Bank loan request

On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate rejected the request of Governor Nasiru El-Rufai to secure a 35 million dollar World Bank loan for Kaduna State. The senators rejected the request on the premise that obtaining the loan may put so much pressure on the management of the state which presently has a debt burden of $232.1 million.  

The Senate took the stand after accepting the recommendations of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debt and contributions by all the three Senators from the state, who declined support to the loan request. Senator Shehu Sani, who presented the report on Kaduna State Development Policy Operation (DPO) Credit Facility from the World Bank, said although it was approved by the bank in 2016, accepting the loan would compound the financial situation of the state.  

''Don’t accept PDP’s apology'' Bola Tinubu tell Nigerians

National leader of the All Progressives Congress APC, Bola Tinubu, has asked Nigerians not to accept the apology issued by the opposition party few days ago. PDP National chairman, Uche Secondus at a Nation Building event organized by the party, said the party has in the last three years seen all the mistakes they made during their 16 years in office and will like to correct them if given the opportunity to come vack to office in 2019. Secondus appealed to Nigerians to vote the party back into power during the 2019 election.

Reacting to the apology, Bola Tinubu at the colloquium organized to mark his 66th birthday which had in attendance President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and many others, said Nigerians should not accept the oppositions apology. Tinubu likened the party's apology to the case of a thief who is only begging because he was caught in the act.

''Dear Nigerians, do not take their apology. They lied. They falsified. They even changed figures. For 16 years, they made fake promises and gave us fake figures. And they said we should not talk about it. It is like saying after all they did wrong, do not look at me. Just steal your own. That we will not take it off the table…no matter how twisting the mind of PDP and their supporters may be, we will continue to talk about it because you wasted our resources. You did not do what you promised Nigerians, what you said you would do when you were in office. The market gave you the maximum and production was also at maximum.”

Continuing, the former Lagos state governor said 

“President Buhari has changed the economy from the wrong direction to steer the ship back before the final crash because it was necessary. We have started the journey. And the voyage is on the voyage of hope and the voyage that we are reclaiming Nigeria. We are retooling Nigeria. We are reinventing Nigeria. We are redirecting Nigeria.”

''Don't allow yourself to be used again'' PDP tells Bola Tinubu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to stop playing god as Nigerians can decide on the leadership that best suits their desires without any body’s control.

The party also advised Tinubu not to allow himself to be used a second time as he still bears a gross part of the blame for the enthronement of this incompetent, divisive, nepotic and inherently corrupt administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which has brought the nation to its knees in three years.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Thursday, said Asiwaju Tinubu’s speech, at his colloquium, rather than being a damage of the PDP, ended up amplifying an admittance of the failure of President Buhari and the APC administration.

The party said without listening to the prompting of any politician, Nigerians across board have taken the liberty to accept PDP’s apology which was made patriotically in the overall interest of national healing, reconciliation, unity and cohesion.

''The PDP watched with amusement as Asiwaju Tinubu struggled with words to appease President Buhari and give him assurances that he can win a second term election in the face of mass failure both in governance and in their discredited, rejected and troubled platform.  It was a direct admittance of failure and indictment on President Buhari’s administration, when Asiwaju pointedly told the President that the ship of the nation, under his (Buhari’s) watch, still needs to be rescued, almost three years down the line. It is tragic that Asiwaju had to tutor his visitor, who had no policy direction since his election in 2015, by engaging in a revision of the programmes and policies of the PDP, such as the leasing system, the mortgage and pension schemes which boosted the economy and directly impacted on the lives of Nigerians. More pathetic is the fact that the APC leader presented the PDP programmes as if he was introduc''ing novel ideas in the economy. This clearly stood with our position that the APC government is incompetent and lacking in ideas of how to move the nation forward. While we congratulate the Lagos Governor Emeritus on his birthday, the PDP considers it needful, to forewarn him to study the current ambience of Nigerian politics as it relates to the failures of the Buhari Presidency and the fact that the citizens have since rejected this Presidency and the APC, so that Asiwaju will not find himself swimming against the tide.

Photos from the Lagos state government's banquet held in honor of President Buhari

Last night, the Lagos state government hosted President Buhari to a banquet that was attended by governors, APC chieftains and others. See more photos below

Photos: Police arrest angry boyfriend who attacked UNIMAID Nursing undergraduate with acid because her parents rejected his marriage proposal

The police in Borno state has arrested one Musa Faisal in connection with the acid attack on his 26-year old girlfriend, Fatima Usman, a final year student of Department of Nursing, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) who was attacked with corrosive fluid by suspected tricycle operators in Maiduguri on March 16th.

The state commissioner of Police (CP), Damian Chukwu, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri yesterday March 29th. The police boss said the suspect, Musa Faisal, was arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Kano. He explained that the police had also arrested one Muhammad Babangida, who conspired with Faisal and attacked the girl.

The commissioner said investigations showed that the suspect and the victim dated for over four years and that when he asked for her hand in marriage, her parents refused. 

''Our findings indicated that the girl and the suspect had been meeting in secret for a long period of time. On the day of the attack, she arranged to meet the suspect at a hotel in Galadima area of Maiduguri and while they were inside a room, his accomplice, Muhammad Banbangida joined them. Babangida was the one who poured acid on Usman and in the process, some of the liquid spilled over to Faisal. It is also established that the suspect vowed to deal with the girl since her family resented their union.”

Chukwu said that the suspects had admitted committing the offence, adding that they would soon be charged to court.

''Those who carried out the criminal looting in this country must be held to account'' VP Yemi Osinbajo says

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says those who stole from Nigeria while they were in power must be made to account for their actions. The Vice President made this remark when he spoke at the 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Lagos yesterday March 29th.

“Let me say that when we began this journey in 2014, and when I say ‘this journey’ I refer to our government, our party, the APC, was determined to change the dominant narrative about our country. We were determined to ensure that the notion of a country rich in all natural resources, but even richer in human capital, but being destroyed daily by grand corruption, and the impunity in the looting of public resources; we had to change that narrative.

“As for our fight against corruption, we realized, as Mr. President said, that if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. Corruption is an existential problem for Nigeria. Let me pause here to reiterate that from all I have seen in government in the past three years, the corruption of the previous five years is what destroyed the Nigerian economy.
“And the reason why we will talk about it is, first, we must let our people know that we cannot afford to go this way again. And this is the point we are making, that there is no country in the world, and we must know this; there is no country in the world that would allow its resources to be plundered in the way our own resources were plundered and expect to be economically viable; it is not possible. Nigeria is unlike any other country because of the level of corruption that was perpetrated. We must stop that corruption and that is why we are so committed.

“When you fight corruption the way we are fighting it, corruption is going to fight back. But we are determined. When you listen to the stories of these young people, when you listen to the stories of the vulnerable, the disabled, and all of these people, these are the people for whom we are responsible; these are the people who voted for us. We must ensure that we defend their rights, it is in the defence of the rights of these people that we will put everything out to make sure that those who have been taking the resources of this country are made to pay for it.”  he said

Ben Bruce criticises Nigerian Navy for destroying 3 million liter per day illegal refinery in Rivers

You agree with him?

'' Stop singing this old song of blame'' Governor Fayose tells Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

The Ekiti state governor said this via his twitter handle.

is getting nasty : FFK to VP Yemi Osinbajo: ''You are a disgrace, a traitor, corrupt and a pernicious liar;;

Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday at the Bola Tinubu Colloquium, attacked the PDP for being corrupt when they were in office.

Here's President Buhari's 2018 Easter message to the Nations

Fellow Compatriots,

I am indeed delighted to join our Christian brothers and sisters to commemorate this year’s Easter celebration.

We thank the Almighty God for granting us the opportunity to celebrate another Easter at a time of great promise and hope for our dear nation, despite the challenges we also have.

Easter, the season in which Christians mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, represents the triumph of good over evil; and life over death. It is also a time to show love, forgiveness, compassion and renewed hope in the Grace of God.

The Holy Scripture affirms that happiness and fulfilment in life do not flow from acquiring the best things in life, but in being richer in a relationship with God and fellow human beings.

Let us use the opportunity of this special season to deeply reflect on how every one of us can imbibe the profound teachings of Jesus Christ with renewed vigour.

In so doing and by placing the joy, comfort and happiness of others above ours, we will make a statement that vices such as, hate speech, bigotry, corruption, banditry and terrorism have no place in our nation. We must do all it takes to love our neighbours and display increased spirit of tolerance and accommodation.

I commend those who recognise and support our unwavering efforts to prevent the spread of conflicts in our communities; check wanton criminality and the taking of innocent lives; unite the country; and steer the ship of state to a steady path of economic growth, job creation and development.

While we enjoin law-abiding fellow compatriots to work for peace and social justice in our beloved country, let there be no doubt of our resolve to firmly resist others who may want to make cheap political capital out of current national security challenges.

Our programmes and policies in the last three years have resulted in bringing down the prices of staple crops; gradual improvement of road, rail and electricity infrastructure; and making Nigeria the preferred destination for investors. More than ever before, we are ready to consolidate on these gains and ensure that we improve the lot of our communities in the years ahead.

Thankfully, our Dapchi schoolgirls who were safely released recently after 30 agonizing days in the hands of their abductors, have been reunited with their families. I am very optimistic that all others, including the Chibok girls who are still in captivity will be safely released unconditionally to their families. I urge you to continue to pray for their safe return.

In the meantime, I have given clear instructions to our security agencies to prioritise safety in schools in areas where the humanitarian and security situation are still dire, in addition to ensuring adequate protection of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

As we approach the period of campaigns, I appeal to our political actors and other stakeholders to resist any act that could mar the integrity of our electoral process.

I am optimistic that with God on our side, the dark days of Nigeria’s elections being manipulated by violence and rigging by corrupt politicians and their agents are over. They are confined to the dustbin of history where they rightly belong. I remain committed to bequeathing a legacy of supremacy of the people’s will through the ballot box.

May this year’s Easter celebration bring us renewed hope and confidence as a great nation.

Muhammadu Buhari
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria 
March 29, 2018.

Moscow says it will close US consulate in St Petersburg and expel same number of diplomats from nations that have expelled Russians

Russia is on a retaliation spree. Moscow has said it will expel 60 diplomats and close the US consulate in St Petersburg in retaliation for the expulsion of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain.

This announcement was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He said Russia would expel the same number of diplomats from the nations that have expelled Russian diplomats over the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Julia, 33, in Salisbury earlier this month.

Lavrov said that Jon Huntsman, the US ambassador, had been informed of "retaliatory measures" on Thursday.

Lavrov added that the same will go for other nations that expelled Russian diplomats this week.

After the poisoning of Skripal, who was a Russian double agent, and his daughter in England, Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the UK. Moscow retaliated by also expelling 23 British diplomats from Russia. Then America, in support for their closest ally, expelled 60 diplomats and shut down the Russian consulate general in Seattle. Russia has now replied in kind.

Two dozen countries, including the US, many EU nations and NATO, have ordered more than 150 Russian diplomats out this week in a show of solidarity with Britain.