Thursday, July 26, 2012

Oil Subsidy Fraud Suspects Funneled Nearly $1billion To Jonathan Election Campaign



Ada Ugo-Ngadi-MD of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited yesterday
By SaharaReporters, New York
Some of the high profile suspects arraigned on Wednesday for stealing $6.8 billion oil subsidy funds have sent a strong warning to President Goodluck Jonathan to desist from prosecuting them or face a full disclosure of how they funneled close to $1 billion towards his 2011 presidential campaign through the oil resources minister Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Minister for the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.
 
SaharaReporters sources say that operators of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, whose Managing Director, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, was docked along with 20 others, have compiled information that was sent to President Jonathan that includes:
 
• How they specifically handed over $300 million through the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Allison-Madueke, towards the election of President Jonathan in 2011; and 
• That they bought a mansion for Mr. Orubebe in Abuja worth N600 million.
 
Saharareporters learned that the accused Ontario Oil chieftains were shocked by the public humiliation brought upon them by the EFCC. The most powerful member of the Ontario clan, Walter Wagbatsoma, reportedly left Nigeria for Paris shortly before the commencement of prosecution by the EFCC. 
 
Meanwhile, EFCC officials have confirmed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Wagbatsoma has not written any statement or appeared before the agency even though he was listed as one of those to be arraigned by the EFCC. He is believed to have the key to unlocking the involvement of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the oil subsidy fraud. 
 
Specifically, Wagbatsoma is reportedly in possession of a private jet bought last year that he is holding in trust for Mrs Allison-Madueke. A source in Abuja also said that Mr. Orubebe is on the board of Ontario Oil, although he may not be publicly listed. Wagbatsoma is listed as the owner of several companies used to siphon off funds from the oil industry, they include: Ontario oil & gas Ltd., Ontario trading Ltd, Ontario storage terminals Ltd., ontario vessels Ltd., Ontario Drilling and Engineering services.
 
In Lagos today, the prosecution suffered another setback as the court adjourned following the failure of Wagbatsoma to appear  at the trial. The proceedings were equally stalled yesterday by the absence of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
 
Sources knowledgeable about the intrigues surrounding the trial have already predicted that due to the current threat to expose President Jonathan and some of his most powerful ministers, the case will fizzle out over time.

Uche Jombo's Wedding Pictures in WOW Magazine

Uche Jombo got married to Kenny Rodriguez in a low key destination wedding (Puerto Rico) on May 16, 2012. WOW magazine, run by Julie Odia who was on the bridal train, exclusive rights to the wedding pictures and has just published the pictures. Enjoy the few shots here...
Don't forget to get your current edition of WOW magazine for the real deal...

Wedding Ceremony Photos: Rafael
Cover Shoot: Angel Nieves
Courtesy: WOW Magazine






EXCLUSIVE: Katherine Jackson -- Could Lose Millions in Perks



The plot to turn Katherine Jackson against the Michael Jackson Estate has backfired in the most ironic of ways ... because the money grab could end up costing Katherine millions in perks.When Katherine was appointed guardian of Paris, Prince and Blanket, the Executors gave an allowance of $60,000 per month for the care of the children ... that's $720,000 a year.  Less than a year later the judge increased the 60k to 70k, and that would make the yearly take $840,000.The judge is now in position to strip Katherine of guardianship altogether.  If that happens, the executors will almost certainly petition the court to funnel the money in TJ's direction, since he would be caring for the children.Katherine never had control of the money for the kids, but she enjoys a lot of the perks the kids get, and that goes away if she loses guardianship.  She would still, of course, retain the allowance he personally receives from the Estate.Short story ... Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie set out to turn Katherine against the estate so she could get more money during her lifetime -- money she could dole out to them -- but the plot may have actually screwed Katherine.When she realizes what hit her, mama's gonna be pissed.

Photo: Woman Finds Live Python In Her Toilet



A 74-year-old Pensioner from Schwanstetten in southern Germany  could believe her eyes when she lifted  her toilet sit and found a live Python in her Toilet, immediately she called the police, who tried to flush the serpent from its hiding place.
“However, the reptile was in no mood to show itself to the officers so the fire brigade was called in. They opened a manhole in the garden and were able to remove it from the plumbing,” a police statement said.
A snake expert was then calledto access the situation, and Sse identified the serpent as a two-year-old royal python, normally not dangerous to humans, and offered to take it home until the owner steps forward.

PDP Chairman In Trouble Over Son’s Involvement In Subsidy Fraud



The new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, may soon become the former chairman of the party following the embarrassing involvement of his son, Mahmud in the oil subsidy scandal.
Indications to effect emerged in Abuja today when the members of the National Working Committee of the party met at the party secretariat in the city.
A source told SaharaReporters that members of the NWC were of the view that the President may soon ask Tukur to vacate his position on account of his son’s involvement in the oil subsidy mess.  He is listed among the first suspects to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
We also learned that Tukur’s aides have already been asked by members of the NWC to steer clear of both the party’s National Secretariat and its Presidential Campaign office, popularly called “Legacy House”.
One of the key decisions of today’s NWC meeting, which lasted for five and half hours, was that Alhaji Tukur be shielded from the press tomorrow when the party plans to speak on the move by the House of Representatives to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.
Worried that Tukur may be roughed-up by the journalists at the event with questions about corruption and his son, the NWC decided that his deputy, Dr. Sam Jaja, should handle the sensitive assignment.
Earlier, the NWC asked Tukur’s former aide, Alhaji Habu Fari, to resign his position following a media war in which he had engaged with the party’s National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.  The NWC blamed Fari, accusing him of rudeness.
Perhaps as another sign of Tukur’s fading popularity within the top levels of the PDP, the NWC also told that he would be the one to pay Fari and the other aides from his personal purse since he recruited them himself.
Besides, all of those aides had earlier been told to report at Tukur’s own campaign office, located in the Central Area of Abuja. Many of them, we were informed, resigned their appointment in anger.
Earlier today, Jonathan’s government showed it was rattled by the threat of the House of Representatives to impeach him for poor implementation of the 2011 budget.  Following the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, took the place of Information Minister Labaran Maku to plead with the Representatives that the government was doing its best.
“I think the point is that Mr. President is determined to implement this budget as fully as possible and therefore we will be moving towards the figure of as full implementation as we can by the end of the year because the budget was made for the whole year,” she told State House correspondents.

20 houses burnt over youth’s death in Rivers



PORT HARCOURT -  NO fewer than 20 houses, were, yesterday, set ablaze in Omudioga community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, when irate youths reportedly went berserk over the death of a youth, who was simply identified as Benjamin.

Details at press time were hazy but community sources said the rampaging youths speculated that the death of the late Benjamin might have been caused by some members of the community.

Effort to stop the rampaging youths from venting their anger on the property of innocent community folks was futile.

However, attempt to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, was futile, as his mobile lines rang out.

Meantime, community sources said security men had been deployed to quell the riotous situation. Some victims of the attack, said they had to flee their houses when it became clear that the rampaging youths were out of control.

Chairman of the council, Mr Allen Nma, confirmed the incident, adding that the development had been brought under control.

“Several houses were burnt and property worth millions naira destroyed.  The Police had taken over the place to prevent any further attacks, but the youths, responsible for these evil acts must face the wrath of the law,” he said.

P-Square's mum will be laid to rest on August 2nd



The body of the mother of multiple award-winning singers, P-Square, Mrs. Josephine Okoye, 62, which is currently in a Lagos private mortuary, will be laid to rest in her husband’s house at Ifite-Dunu, Akwa Village, Anambra State on Thursday, 2 August, 2012.

Shortly before the burial, there will be a lying-in-state at her Umunachi, Umudioka Village, Anambra State and a church service at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, before the proper burial at Ifite-Dunu, which will also be the reception venue and is expected to be attended by colleagues of P-Square in the entertainment industry and some state governors amid tight security.

Late Mrs Okoye is survived by her husband, Mr. Moses Okoye and eight children namely Christopher, Henry, Jude, Lilian, Tony, Peter, Paul and Mary.

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