Thursday, 31 October 2013
Nollywood stars at Patience Jonathan's mum's Service of Songs
Pics: Stella Oduah faces House Committee hearing over car scandal
11:40
The minister has finally arrived at the
venue of the hearing, 100 minutes after the hearing was scheduled to
kick off. The lawmakers now setting up to start the hearing.11:56
Stella Oduah, the aviation minister has just taken her seat before the committee. The hearing begins.
12:00
Hearing committee chairperson, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, gives her opening speech, explaining the delay in starting the hearing and that the committee would be just and fair.
Delay was because venue used for hearing on Wednesday had been taken over for a another hearing on Land racketeering.12:06
“This committee is out to get to the bottom of the matter. But committee is not on ‘witch-hunting’”
Onyejeocha quips on the tense mood here. “We are not mourning, there is no aeroplane crash; I want to see everyone smiling,” she says. “Feel free and relax.”
The minister is about to be called upon to testify. She takes oath to say “nothing but the truth, the whole truth.”
12:10
Ms. Oduah starts by apologizing for inability to attend previous hearings. She said said her absence was not out of disrespect and thanks the committee for rescheduling her appearance.
12:17
Ms. Oduah says opportunity to appear will allow her give her side of the story. “For the past week, I have been bashed in the media, many have also risen to my defence.”
She said her spokesperson’s admission of the alleged purchase, while right on concerns for her safety, was “inaccurate”.
She goes ahead to say online publications that she compelled NCAA to purchase cars for her were “false and malicious” allegations. “False in its entirety!”
Says online allegations not substantiated but based on “erroneous” comment of her aide.
12:19
“It is not true, cannot be true that NCAA bought bullet proof vehicles for honourable minister of aviation. My understanding is that what NCAA has done is to plan for its vehicle needs for the next three years under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework,” — Stella Oduah12:34
Oduah: NCAA has real needs for new operational vehicles. Insists armoured cars not meant for her but foreign dignitaries.
“NCAA acted within the ambit of law”.12:40
“Nothing in the stated documents mentioned my name. I did not request for any vehicles. All I did was to approve the purchase, subject to the agency doing the needful(following the law). NCAA followed due process as required by law.”
“The Federal ministry of aviation under my watch has always ensured we act in a prudent manner and under the ambit of the law”-Stella Oduah
The aviation minister still rendering her opening remarks.
The “First Bank facility to NCAA to the tune of N643 million mere understanding not an obligation” she daid.
“Nigeria’s airspace is now rate among the safest in the world”. She adds that allegation about car purchase is meant to discredit her team and give the impression her effort at reforms is not succeeding.
NCAA has not spent any money not appropriated by the National Assembly. The agency has even saved the nation a cost and further embarrassment that may occur in future.
12:51
The minister’s initial presentation is over. She is now receiving questions from the lawmakers.
13:08
Minister insists NCAA did not exceed its limit or violate the law.
She is reminded by by Jerry Manwe (Taraba state) that the National Assembly rejected armoured cars in the budget which she is defending, the minister buckles: “NCAA will answer that,” she says.
Minister is pressed by Zakari Mohammed(Kwara state) why she exceeded her approval limit, she said her comment on the letter to NCAA was not final but advisory to NCAA to follow the law.
On the said letter, the minister wrote “Approved. Do the needful”.
Brief game on semantics here. Minister says “Do the needful” could mean anything”. But the lawmakers are not having that. NCAA is called to explain the “needful” it did. And the NCAA director general shirks to the former acting DG who was in charge then.
13:25
Blame briefly leaves the minister to officials of NCAA over “do the needful” directive. For a moment, lawmakers appear to agree with the minister the all-encompassing comment exonerates her. The former acting DG of NCAA is tackled for even initiating a memo to Odua for a purchase out of budget, and beyond approved limit.
13:47
Jerry Manwe (Member) to minister: If the armoured cars were not for you as you claimed, who is using them now?
Former acting DG answers for minister: Any one can use any car in the pool
Manwe: Do you mean a cleaner can use those kind of cars?
Former DG: Anybody can use; but those kind of cars are for VIP movement, including foreign dignitaries, including the minister, and even you honourable member!
Manwe; Thank you. But the law of the country does not allow me to use those cars.
14:14
Attention has left the minister for more than half an hour. Lawmakers again tackle Coscharis over the disparity in chassis numbers of the cars.
A frustrated Chief Executive of Coscharis, Cosmas Maduka,makes it clear his company has nothing to hide as the committee would think. “We are not doing monkey business here,” he asserted. Mr Maduka was asked to withdraw the comment and he promptly complied.
14:22
Reps wrapping the hearing. Chairperson Onyejeocha said despite the testimonies from those invited since last week, the committee has received sufficient documents that will inform its report. “We have given everyone fair hearing,” she said.
“We assure everyone and all Nigerians we will do justice”.
14:25
Hearing Ends. Thanks for following our updates. Do stick around our site for the rest of the day as we will put the proceeding in their correct perspective for you.
Photos: Remy Martin celebrates DJ Jimmy Jatt in grand style
Friends and fans came together with Remy Martin to celebrate DJ Jimmy Jatt in grand style amidst great music courtesy of DJ Sose and Remy Martin food pairings and cognac. Ayo Animashaun, Audu Maikori, Cecil Hammond, Wande Coal, Ice Prince, Burna Boy, DJ Humility, Tiwa Savage, Toolz, and Fade Ogunro were there to celebrate with him. See more photos after the cut...
Pogba will extend Juventus Contract- Marcotta
The Bianconeri official is confident that the
young Frenchman will add years to his existing deal in Turin, with a
salary increase included.
Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta has revealed that the wheels are in motion for midfielder Paul Pogba to be offered a contract extension at the club.
The France international has emerged as one of Europe's brightest young prospects, with Bianconeri president Andrea Agnelli fuelling speculation of a possible departure by claiming the club would accept a big-money offer for the 20-year-old.
However, Marotta insists that Pogba - whose current deal expires in 2016 - has no intention of leaving the Turin club, where he looks set to be offered the opportunity to extend his stay with the Scudetto holders the near future.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said: "Pogba is happy at Juventus and he has no intention of leaving.
"We will meet with the Frenchman's agents soon to extend our agreement and, at the same time, we will give him a pay-rise for his development."
Marotta went on to comment on Fifa's shortlist for the Ballon d'Or and World Coach of the Year, with Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo and coach Antonio Conte among the nominations - the former of which is Serie A's solitary representative.
"We are proud," he added. "We re-launched Pirlo's career and that fills us with joy.
"As for Antonio, he is a young coach, an emerging one and the fact he is included is a motive of honour for all of us.
"The omission of Arturo Vidal? The only player nomination from Serie A is our playmaker, so this shows the selection was very rigid."
Juventus, who sit two points adrift of high-flying Roma at the summit of Italy's top flight, travel to Parma on Saturday, before hosting Real Madrid in Turin three days later in a crucial Champions League encounter with the Spanish giants.
Messi and Ronaldo cannot touch my record- Inzaghi
AC Milan legend, Fillipo Inzaghi has claimed that his goalscoring record in cup finals in unrivaled by anyone in Club Football, not even Messi or Ronaldo.
The 40-year-old struck a total of eight goals in finals throughout his playing career for both Juventus and the Rossoneri.
But the legendary Italian striker is particularly proud of his goalscoring exploits in 2007, where he fired both of Milan's goals in the Champions League victory over Liverpool in Athens, before scoring a further three times in the club's subsequent wins over Sevilla and Boca Juniors in the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa World Club Cup respectively.
And Inzaghi is confident that his prowess on the big stage will not be matched by anyone - including the Ballon d'Or frontrunners.
"[Then Milan coach] Carlo Ancelotti was uncertain whether or not to play me or Alberto Gilardino in the Athens final, but I played and scored twice," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Then I scored in the Super Cup final win over Sevilla and another two against Boca Juniors.
"Five goals in three finals, which were three of the most important finals and we won all of them. Not even Messi or Ronaldo will achieve that. It's a record I will hang on to."
Inzaghi, now training the younger generation of Milan stars, went on to state that he wants to spend the rest of his coaching career at San Siro.
"Now that I coach the youngsters, what I try to convey to them is that hunger for victories that we had, that endless ambition," he added.
"My dream is to stay at AC Milan for my entire career."
The veteran called time on his 21-year career in July 2012.
MBGN Universe Stephanie Okwu stunning in white bikini
Photo: Woman caught with dead day old baby in sack in Lagos
It was gathered that a member of the community, High Chief Babatunde Balogun caught the mother of seven when she was trying to dispose the baby at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday. When questioned on the content of the sack, she claimed she was coming from the market where she bought some household items.
However, on a closer look, Balogun discovered that the sack contained a dead day old baby the woman allegedly had just delivered. He then called the attention of the other residents. Neighbours told P.M News that after Mujidat’s husband known as Baba Mushin died about three years ago, they have seen men visiting her residence, the house built by her late husband.When asked if she planned to throw away the baby because of an alleged paternity mess, she denied, claiming that a welder turned block maker near her residence was responsible for the pregnancy that resulted in the birth of the dead baby she was caught with.
She claimed she took delivery of the baby by herself because she found it easy and therefore did not go to any hospital or sought anybody’s help.
At about 9 p.m yesterday when P.M.NEWS visited the area, residents of the area were still milling around the residence of the woman.
Officials of the Community Development Association, CDA, in the area later accompanied the woman and her sack of baby to the Isheri-Oshun Police Division where the matter was reported. At the time of this report, the woman was still being interrogated.
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