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Senate President Bukola Saraki denies 13 charges of corruption by code of conduct bureau 

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After code of conduct bureau released their statements earlier this morning saying Bukola lied about his assets declaration, the senate president has reacted to the allegations in a press statement released this afternoon, 

Saraki said all the allegations were false, incorrect and untrue. The Press statement below… The attention of Dr. Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, has been drawn to a charge sheet being widely circulated on the online media, upon which he is expected to be tried at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). 

It should be noted that at the time of writing this statement (10.00am on September 16, 2015), Dr. Saraki has not been served the court process. However, we recognise that as a public officer, he owes members of the public explanation on the allegations contained in the charge sheet. 

We therefore state as follows:

1. That all the claims contained in the charge sheet are false, incorrect and untrue.

2. That Dr. Saraki has consistently declared his assets as required by law at every point before resuming any political office and that of 2015 is not an exception. It is surprising that the alleged charges is now referring his asset declaration made in 2003 while in office as Governor of Kwara State to formulate their charges. They therefore ignored the recent declaration for which they last week issued an acknowledgement.

3. That we believe that the Code of Conduct Bureau following their processes in which after a declaration is submitted to the bureau they carried out verification of the assets and ascertained the claims made, should not wait till 12 years later to be pointing out an alleged inconsistencies in a document submitted to it in 2003. This same Dr. Saraki submitted asset declaration form in 2007, 2011 and 2015. It is unexplainable that the case in question is now based on the 2003 declaration.

4. This is why we are of the opinion that present effort is a desperate move initiated due to external influence and interference.

5. It should also be noted that contrary to the procedure indicated in the law setting up the CCB, the bureau never wrote to Dr. Saraki to complain of any inconsistency in his asset declaration forms.

6. It should also be noted that Dr. Saraki as Governor of Kwara State never operated a foreign account.

7. That some of the issues contained in the charge sheet are subjects of earlier decided and on-going Court cases. We therefore believe those behind filing of these charges are engaging in forum-shopping.

8. It should be noted that we do not know on whose authority these charges are filed when the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act clearly indicate that any prosecution must be authorised by an Attorney General and we know the nation last had an AG in May 2015. This is another clear indication that the CCT is acting under influence from outside its domain and therefore ready to bend the rules to achieve this obnoxious objective

9. We therefore conclude that this is not an anti corruption driven case and cannot be part of the moves aimed at fighting corruption. It is simply a pure malicious and politically motivated prosecution aimed at undermining the person and office of the Senate President.

10. That those behind this plot will definitely meet Dr. Saraki in court as this case which is based on outright fabrication and mischief will not and cannot stand the test of justice.

11. it should be noted that throughout his career as a public official democratically elected to high public service, Dr Saraki has always held himself, to global standards of transparency and accountability, to a far higher standard of diligence, disclosure, and compliance, than required or even requested by Nigeria’s Code Of Conduct protocols. Thus, Dr Saraki has always, lawfully and accountably, declared his assets, both directly owned, and in which he may derive any historical and on-going degree of beneficial interest. 

12. In view of the above, Senator Saraki hereby affirms his belief in the justice system and that when the proposed case comes to the tribunal, he will diligently state his case. He is also ready to co-operate with the Tribunal and other lawful government agencies in the bid to genuinely fight corruption and eliminate impunity in our public affairs.

13. We also note that anytime you try to fight corruption or insist that the right thing should be done, the system will always come after you. This is another case of desperation to fight Dr. Saraki because of his recent stance on national issues.

Media Office of The Senate President
*Assets declaration season two. Eni wo tan

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Mide Martins bullied me into bleaching, says Habibat Jinad

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Habibat Jinad, the Nigerian actress famous in the Yoruba film industry, has revealed why she decided to bleach her skin.

In a recent interview on Talk To B podcast, Jinad alleged she was verbally abused by Mide Martins, a colleague, on the set of a movie.

She claimed that Mide insulted her and called her a “monkey with a black face”.

Jinad said people always complain about her dark complexion, advising her to “lighten up”.

She added that she “decided to change after Mide insulted me” to make people happy.

“We were at Afeez Owo’s rehearsal ground and a colleague of mine did something wrong which I was not a part of,” she said.

“They told us to kneel down. Mide Martins, my boss and some other people were there. Mide Martins insulted me and called me someone with a black face.

“She said so many things to abuse me and I felt very bad. I later found out that she called me a monkey with a black face.

“I’m sure that till now she might not know that what she said to me the other day somehow affected me.

“Even before then, whenever I was on set, people would say that I’m too dark-skinned and that I need to lighten up.

“So after Mide insulted me, I thought about what I could do to make these people happy. So I decided to change.”

Jinad had previously said she would no longer continue to bleach her skin.

“Nobody can bully me again into using bleaching cream. I’m not bleaching my skin anymore,” she said on Instagram.

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Eniola Badmus, Lege Miami clash over matchmaking service

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Eniola Badmus, the actress, and Lege Miami, the entertainer, have clashed over a matchmaking service.

Lege, who hosts a matchmaking show on YouTube, recently claimed that the actress sought his services to find a partner, but described her as “picky”.

In a viral voice note online, Badmus lashed out at Lege’s comments and criticised his approach to running his matchmaking show.

She also advised him to learn the proper rules of matchmaking if he lacked understanding.

“Hello Lege, it is like your brain is messy, what do you mean no one should look for your trouble? Who is your grandmother? Who are you? I am saying you have to be discreet about what you are doing,” she said.

“You are doing a matchmaking, if you do not know rules, f**king go online and Google rules about it. How dare you put my name out there saying Eniola is picky. You are mad!”

In response, Lege questioned if Badmus paid for a private service and insulted her appearance.

“Eniola Badmus did you pay for a private session? Did you tell me you did not want anyone to know? You are not alright and you will be well soon,” he said.

“You know I used to respect you, I am now running away from you. Did I post the video we made in Abuja? Are you a fool? Wule bantu, you are shapeless”.

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Kwam 1 finally addresses rift with ex-drummer Ayanlowo

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Wasiu Ayinde, the Fuji singer fondly called Kwam 1, has finally addressed his rift with Kunle Ayanlowo, his former drummer.

Ayanlowo recently alleged that Kwam 1 was fond of treating his band members like “slaves”.

The instrumentalist claimed he “achieved nothing” while working under the Fuji singer for over three decades.

Ayanlowo, who left the Fuji singer in October 2022, also asked the public to hold the ace singer responsible should any harm befall him.

Kwam 1 had earlier refused to address the allegations.

But speaking with journalists at his Mayegun Resort in Ìjẹ̀bú Ode, Ogun, the Fuji star denied Ayanlowo’s allegations.

Ayinde also shared his side of the story on his rift with Ayanlowo. The singer said he “single-handedly” formed his band,” adding that the initial sharing formula with members was 60/40.

Kwam 1 said as time went on, he adjusted the sharing formula to 40/60 due to the burgeoning size of his music band.

He explained that whenever they perform at an event, he takes 30 percent of the cut while his band members receive 50 percent. 10 percent of his cut and that of his band go to their management.

The singer also spoke about the years-long financial challenges he faced and his “numerous sacrifices” to ensure the smooth running of the band.

“You know how many things I have overlooked in my life to be able to keep a band working? I never can say how many times I have gone to borrow money to finance my band’s trip,” he said.

“From inception, the agreement between me and my group was 60/40. 40 percent to them because they were not many then. Maybe about nine of them. But when they were becoming larger, getting to 14, 15 there was an adjustment of money conditions. I said okay 50/50.

“It is a sole band. I have the grace of God to be able to be someone that is contented. Do you know how many times I have sold my things to fund my band?”

“In my band now I have like 27 or 28. You can imagine.”

Giving an illustration of the sharing formula, Kwam 1 said: “For instance, if we make N10 million from a show, I take only N3 million. and I pay my security details from the N3 million”.

Wasiu also referred to Ayanwolo as a “troubleshooter” who “complains too much”. The singer said due to the drummer’s troubles, he has left the band on several occasions.

The musician said about seven people have apologised to him on behalf of Ayanlowo to reinstate him in the band.

“Like Ayankunle has been a former member of the band. He has been a troubleshooter. He has gone and come back on several occasions. I will tell you, of all my bandmen, he is the only member that over seven times people have come to beg for to restore. Ayankunle that you see complains too much,” he said.

He also alleged that instrumentalists once absconded from the band when they travelled to England to perform in the 90s.

Kwam 1 claimed Ayanlowo’s “dubious act” was eventually uncovered at the British Embassy after overstaying in the city.

“Ayankunle that is complaining that we tore his passport, let me tell you his story. He ran away from the band in England while we were on tour in the 90s. He ran away from the band with his passport. Together with him and another two members of the band. And we came back to Nigeria,” the singer said.

“After overstaying in London, he now gave the passport to somebody to renew it at the embassy. They took the passport, changed the head, and put another person’s head. When they got to the embassy, they discovered that the interview they did for that one did not tally with the visas in the passport. They now asked the person he sent to tell the owner of the passport to come and collect it. Ayankunle’s passport is inside the British embassy.

“This is a man I did the passport for. He cannot write and read. I did everything for him. He ran away with the passport, how come you that ran away with the passport claimed it is with me?”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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