Zenith Bank Plc has become the first Nigerian Bank to successfully launch its Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) account control code, *966*911#.

This unique code stops unauthorized transactions and protects the account holder’s funds in the event of mobile phone, ATM Card or hardware token loss as well as account details compromise.

Speaking at the launch of the new *966# Eazy Banking account protection code, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Peter Amangbo opined that the Bank has always been at the forefront of innovating products that enhance customer comfort and safety at all times.

He also pointed out that all debit transactions on an account would be prevented once the account holder dials *966*911# from any phone and follows the text prompts. Such a restriction can only be lifted when the customer visits a Zenith Bank branch in person.

The Bank MD also stressed that the *966*911# account control code is a flagship code aimed at further enhancing account security.

The Senate Committee on Gas Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) have finally reached an agreement over the $1.05 billion NLNG fund.

This agreement clarifies that the $1.05 billion, which was initially thought to be missing, was never missing at all. Instead, the money was, indeed, expended on the importation of refined petroleum products just like the NNPC had insisted all along.

In the same vein, the NNPC has also claimed that being a state-owned company, it is empowered by section 7 of the NNPC Act to withdraw money from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividend account.

The NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Isiaka Abdulrazaq, provided the necessary documents backing up the corporation’s action.

According to the NNPC, it became necessary to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and refined petroleum products in order to ensure constant availability of the commodities and at subsidised pump prices.  PMS currently sells at the official pump price of N145 per litre.

Senate Committee speaks

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Albert, also commented on this development. According to him, it was important to clarify that the Senate was investigating into the use of the NLNG fund and not its supposed missing. After all, the fund was never missing, he said.

He specifically stated that the Committee was most interested in establishing the legal backing for the NNPC’s withdrawal of the fund; something it has now done.

He also used the occasion to chastise what he described as “sensational and misleading reports” by some media outlets.

In all fairness, it should be noted that there has not been any incident of fuel scarcity this year. This is unlike what happened this time last year and year before.

Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the NNPC have urged Nigerians not to panic.

“Consumers should avoid panic purchase of petrol. We have enough of the products in the depots, adding that storing of petrol at homes is dangerous because fire outbreak.

“The NNPC has also build up strategic reserves across its hinterland and coastal areas to meet emergencies arising from price volatility in the international oil market.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has released the names of members of its Presidential Campaign Council for the 2019 elections, with Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Bola Tinubu and others making the list.

See the full list below...

CHAIRMAN

President Muhammadu Buhari

CO-CHAIRMAN

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

DEPUTY CHAIRMEN

1. The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.

2. The APC National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole

VICE CHAIRMAN NORTH

Senator George Akume

VICE CHAIRMAN SOUTH

Senator Ken Nnamani

DIRECTOR GENERAL

His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL (OPERATIONS)

Senator A.O. Mamora

DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL (COORDINATION)

Arch. Waziri Bulama

SECRETARY

1. Adamu Adamu

2. Dele Alake

ZONAL DIRECTORS

a. North West: Senator Aliyu M. Wamakko

b. North East: Senator Muh’d Ali Ndume

c. North Central: Senator Abdullahi Adamu

d. South West: Sola Oke, SAN

e. South East: Sharon Ikeazor

f. South South: Senator Godswill Akpabio

DIRECTORATES

a. Director, Buhari Support Groups - Dr. Mahmoud Mohammed

b. Director, Strategic Communications - Festus Keyamo, SAN

a. Deputy Director- Abike Dabiri- Erewa

c. Director, Contact & Mobilization - Hadiza Bala Usman

a. Deputy Director South -Victor Eboigre

b. Deputy Director North- Senator Bashir Nalado

d. Director, Election Planning & Monitoring - Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN

a. Deputy Director I- Baba Kura Abba Jato

b. Deputy Director II-Chief Emani Ayiri

e. Director, Logistics – Dr. Pius Odubu

a. Deputy Director- Senator Umanah Umanah

b. Deputy Director II- Nasiru Danu

f. Director, Policy Research & Strategy- Prof Abdulrahman Oba

a. Deputy Director- Prof. A.K. Usman

g. Director, Youth Mobilization- Hon. Tony Nwoye assisted by the APC Youth Leader sadiq

a. Deputy Director North- Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed

b. Deputy Director South - Jasper Azuatalam

h. Director, Admin- Onari Brown

a. Deputy Director I- Chris Hassan

b. Deputy Director II- Abubakar Magaji Gasau

i. Director, Women Mobilization- Woman Leader Salamatu Baiwa

a. Deputy Director North – Binta Mu’azu

b. Deputy Director South - Adejoke Orelope Adefulire

j. Director Security – Gen. A. . Dambazzau

a. Deputy Directors - Brigadier General Gambo and Mr. U. Ukoma

k. Director Legal – Emeka Ngige, SAN

a. Deputy Director- Prof. Maman Lawan Yusufari

l. Director Field Opertaions- Mallam Nuhu Ribadu

M. Director Finance - Wale Edun

Deputy Director ….Alhaji Adamu Fadan

SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MR. PRESIDENT

1. Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

2. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

3. Senator Ahmed Lawan (Senate Leader)

4. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila ( Leader of the House )

5. APC Party National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomole

6. Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

7. Mr. Femi Otedola

COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. Chief Bisi Akande

2. Chief John Oyegun

3. Senator Ita Enang

4. All APC serving Senators

5. All APC serving and former Governors

6. All APC Members of the House of Representatives

7. All members of the National Working Committee of the APC

8. All Zonal Women Leaders

STATE COORDINATORS

1. Governors are to serve as State Coordinators in their respective states

2. Gubernatorial Candidates in non- APC States will serve as State Coordinators in their respective states

Barcelona and Argentine superstar, Lionel Messi, 31, has responded to his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo's challenge.

Ronaldo, 33, who made a £100m move from Real Madrid to Italy's Juventus last summer, ending their rivalry in Spain, said in a previous interview: 'I played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, in the national team, while he is still in Spain. Maybe he (Lionel Messi) needs me more.

'For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy. I would like him to come to Italy one day. Like me, accept the challenge.'

Now Lionel Messi has responded to Ronaldo's suggestion saying he won't be joining him in Italy.

'Accepting Ronaldo's challenge to join Italian football? I don't need any change,' the Argentine told Marca.

'I'm at the best team in the world. My challenges are renewed year after year.

'I do not need to change teams or leagues to set new goals. I am at home and I do not need to change.'

Last night, one of the many dramas that went down at Davido's concert was when Kizz Daniel's manager, Tumi Lawrence got slapped at the backstage.

This morning, he took to Twitter to call out Davido and his team who witnessed him getting slapped and did nothing.

'I was backstage talking to Asa (Davido's manager) because we've been waiting for like twom hours to perform and we actually had other engagements that we cancelled just to come and show Davido love based on the fact that we have a popping song together 'One Ticket' and he's also showed us love too'.

So I talking to Asa like when are we going on stage and his countenance wasn't really welcoming so I was trying to inform Kizz and my guys and I noticed someone pushing me from behind, and I looked back like 'who go dey push person for GreenRoom (backstage)'.

When I looked back, It was Davido and his guys asking 'who be dis one, who be dis one' and they told them, 'na Kizz Daniel manager' before I knew it they pured drink on my face and slapped me

When asked who actually slapped him, he said,

'first they poured drinks on my face before the slap landed and I immediately saw stars and I saw one black guy but people around were saying it was David himself, but I can't verify that because if dem slap you na stars you go dey see.

'It doesn't make any sense though, because we were there just to show love and it wasn't like they were in front of me and I pushed them, they just came from behind' he added.

Davido and his team are yet to react or respond to his accusations.

EFCC says it has secured a total of 312 convictions between January and December 24, 2018 which is a significant improvement from the 189 convictions recorded in 2017.

More significantly is that it includes the conviction of two Politically Exposed Persons, PEPs – Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba State and Joshua Dariye, a serving Senator and a former governor of Plateau state. Both are currently serving jail terms at Kuje Prison. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joseph Nwobike, who has been stripped of the highly revered legal title, was also convicted for perverting the course of justice.

Dariye and Nyame, who were sentenced to 14 years in prison had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the "guilty" verdict handed down on them by a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Gudu presided over by Justice Adebukola Banjoko. However, while upholding their convictions, the Appellate Court commuted Dariye's jailterm to 10 years, and that of Nyame to 12 years with a fine of  N495 million.

With the convictions, the EFCC, led by Ibrahim Magu as the acting Chairman, has remained consistent in its concerted efforts aimed at ensuring that the negative narrative of pervasive corruption in the system is changed for the better, and the perception that some persons are above the Law, is altered.

The record of convictions cuts across the various offices of the EFCC with Lagos securing 85 convictions, Abuja with 53, followed by Kano with 36. Port Harcourt secured 33 convictions, Gombe recorded 28; Benin had 27; Enugu, 15; Maiduguri, 11; Ibadan, 10; Uyo, 8, and Kaduna, 6.

The disagreement between the cartels that are involved in illegal mining in Zamfara is responsible for the lingering crisis and killings in the state Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) said.

“There are cartels there and most of the fighting you see there are fights between different cartels.” He said that illegal mining of mineral resources was a main cause of the violence in the state. 

Speaking on Channel Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, he said: “The disagreements between the cartels were taking a toll on the state, resulting in the death of innocent people. Many people don’t know; what we see is fighting, killing, and all the rest. But the undermining issue there is the illegal mining of minerals.

It thinks we have a serious problem in Zamfara and I think it’s basically a lack of governance. I can tell you, the kind of money that is coming out of the illegal mining is more than what oil is giving us today.” 

He regretted that despite the security reports forwarded to government authorities in the state by intelligence agencies, the situation was worsening. According to him, the present issue of illegal mining in the state is escalating and it involves a lot of people, including some foreigners. 

He described the situation as “a big market” in which natural resources such as gold and diamond were carted out of the country illegally.  “I have personal experiences where minerals are being carted out of this country without any control,” Amachree said.  Scores of people – including residents, bandits, and security officials – have lost their lives this year as a result of the activities of the criminal elements.

 Frontline entertainment company and record label, Ericmany Entertainment has won a N14,000,000 suit filed against it and its act Douglas Jack Agu (aka Runtown) by the Dynamic Minds League. The suit was for claim of damages against Ericmany for a ‘no-show’ by Runtown at a carnival in Anambra State organized by the group in January 2015.

The case, Suit No LD/ADR/251/2015, was filed on 19th August, 2015 by the Anambra group through its leader, Mr. Chizuo Anetoh. They dragged Runtown, Ericmany Entertainment and Prince Okwudili Umenyiora, the billionaire Chairman of Dilly Motors Limited and Ericmany Entertainment before the Lagos High Court, claiming the sum of N14 Million as damages for failure of Runtown to perform at their Harmattan Carnival held at Adazi-Nnukwu, Anaocha in Anambra State.

Ericmany lawyers, Chijioke Emeka & Colleagues [Auxano Law] argued that the group first breached the contract having failed to provide all that was required and in good time for the artiste to make the appearance. Ericmany’s case was that the group made inadequate and shoddy arrangements. Being the Christmas period, Ericmany’s crew had to sort out late hour flight tickets to Port Harcourt instead of Asaba or Owerri nearer to the Anaocha venue. Upon landing in Port Harcourt it was late to proceed on a dangerous night road journey without adequate security, Ericmany’s lawyer claimed.

During the trial on 10th May, 2018, Mr. Aneto testified for his group. He narrated how Runtown flew from Lagos to Port Harcourt but refused to further proceed on the road journey to Adazi, even after they engaged a police escort for him at the airport. Ericmany’s witness, Amani Henshaw gave an account of the breaches of the contract by the group, especially its failure to provide flight tickets for the crew and failure to provide sufficient security for the night road journey to Anambra State.  He told the Court how his team waited for many hours at the airport until it became very late and they had to cancel the trip.

In his judgment, Hon. Justice K. O. Alogba gave victory to Ericmany. The Judge found that the failure of Runtown to get to Adazi in Anambra State and perform at the carnival was justified as the group’s arrangement was very shoddy. The Court agreed with Ericmany that the Dynamic Minds League was reckless about the contract when it failed to book flight tickets ahead. The Court also held that the group did not prove how they are entitled to their N14 Million claim as it did not adduce cogent evidence. Each of the claims was therefore dismissed.

Justice came the way of Ericmany Entertainment barely three years after the Dynamic Minds League flooded the print media, social media and several blogs with news of the alleged breach of contract and its N14 Million suit against Ericmany and Runtown.

Zenith Bank Plc is set to light up the social and entertainment scene this December with the launch of “Style by Zenith”.

 “Style by Zenith”, a flagship Lifestyle, Beauty, Fashion, Accessories and Entertainment fair, powered by Zenith bank in conjunction with Fashion One, a foremost international lifestyle and entertainment company, would hold in Lagos on Saturday, December 29 and Sunday, December 30, 2018 at the Open Ground by Four Points Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two-day fair is a potpourri of Lifestyle activities featuring runway modelling by leading Nigerian and international models accessorized by top designers, beauticians, beauty and lifestyle products manufacturers, accessory makers, food and confectionary, entertainment for adults and children as well as  performances by top Nigerian artistes, amongst other activities.

Speaking on the launch of the platform, the General Manager of Zenith Bank Plc. and Coordinator of the event, Mrs. Adobi Nwapa, noted that: “‘Style by Zenith’ is a unique platform through which the bank will connect with and create value for its customers by focusing on various aspects of their lifestyle. It is an all-inclusive fair that seeks to engage and entertain both the young and old during this festive period ’”.

“Style by Zenith” is geared towards engaging the Lifestyle ecosystem and connecting the consumers to every aspect of quality and affordable living, thereby helping them live their best lives in their own interest.

 It is a holistic event aimed at connecting the SMEs and retail segment to a multiplicity of clientele through multiple factors which dictate and direct their everyday lifestyle choices ie; beauty, fashion, entertainment, food and general lifestyle (Travel, automobile, houses) thus facilitating the growth of the individual retail and SME businesses.

The crux of the ‘Style by Zenith’ campaign is the by-line… Live your best life. It is an aspirational call to people on all socio-economic strata of society, telling them they deserve and can indeed get, not just more, but the BEST QUALITY, out of life at affordable prices.

The fair will be multi-media and experiential as well, covering as much of human lifestyle existence as possible by taking advantage of all the product offerings by the exhibitors

Established in 1990, Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s biggest bank by tier-1 capital, provides corporate, business retail and personal banking products through its network of over 500 branches and business offices, serving millions of customers.

The Zenith brand, which centres on “People, Service and Technology”, proudly identifies with the ‘Style by Zenith’ Fair, which offers the retail space quality and affordable lifestyle, enabling us all to live our best lives.

In his address at the inauguration ceremony, Buhari told guests that on October 25, 2018, while he inaugurated the Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal in Rivers State, the Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, had promised that the Abuja airport would be completed and ready for inauguration before the end of this year. He commended Sirika for keeping to his word.

Sirika said the new terminal was designed to handle 15 million passengers annually.

Nigerian rapper, Olamide and Lil Kesh, are currently under fire for their new song which most people believe is promoting ritual killings and illegal means to make money.

The song titled 'Logo Benz' has lyrics like “If money no enter i go do blood money” and Nigerians aren't finding it funny at all.

👑 DaddyMO 👑 🚀♠️

@officialdaddymo

 Why is the new Lil Kesh and Olamide song promoting/glorifying ritual killings/blood money?? Why must you use terrible lyrics like this??

“If money no enter i go do blood money”

There needs to be a line that you can’t cross when it comes to lyrics in music. This is one of them.

Terry

@Terrybrainz

 Olamide is a cancer to the Nigerian music industry and youths in general

This new song with lil kesh is just rubbish

What kinda lyrics is this ?

“If money no enter i go do blood money”

Are you freaking kidding me ? ? ?

Super wow !

Nah! Olamide is canceled!

Isima Odeh

@IsimaOdeh

 This Olamide and Lil Kesh song is painful to listen to. A song that glorifies rituals, internet fraud and blood money. What does "If money no enter, I go do blood money" mean? That song will get across to millions of youth, that's the worst part. There is no excuse for this.

director D.

@DirectedByDiji

 ~ Reason why likes of Reminisce, Jhybo & Seriki will come first for me before any rapper that claims to be king of street.

Being street doesn’t make you insensitive via lyrics -

“If money no enter, I go do blood money” - Lyrics from new lil kesh & Olamide song.

TRASH!

Bhadmus Hakeem

@Bhadoosky

 “If money no enter I go do blood money”

LOL I have been shouting for years but people seem unbothered. Can we all come together and tell Olamide and Lil Kesh that "enough is enough"???

If they want to perish, they should perish alone and not drag other youths along.

Alhaji ROYZ👑

@royzkingin

 At this moment, Olamide and Lil kesh are toxic to the music industry.

IG: Omope Abdul Azeez

@Iam_Abdulaxis

 Suddenly, Nigerians are woke. Falz spoke against Yahoo boys & praising illegal acts sometimes ago & majority came for him and labeled him a privileged child. Lil kesh & Olamide just remixed what 9ice said sometimes ago which was glorifying blood money. It’s now a norm.

@JajaPhD

 Music is usually a reflection of the society from which it originates at the time it is produced.

So, Olamide and Lil Kesh are just producing music that reflect our society at this point in time just as Fela's music in Fela's time.

Manny ✂

@DeGentleman_

 Pata ni logo Benz???

No. Lil Kesh has to go. What the entire fuck is this nonsense song?

What's worse is Olamide is featured, even if Kesh is a lost battle, bros u no suppose encourage am na 😑😑😑😑😑

Adémola 🕊

@DaflowABIOYE

 That New song with Lil kesh

Olamide said if money no enter I go do blood money 💰

Hell Nah wait! Fvckin what? We don’t fvck with such energy around here! that’s Trash lyrics 💩😧 Smh none of y’all gonn talk now!

BREZZIDENT

@OlaTheOG

 This "Pata ni logo benz" song is a totally insensitive song.. Infact, if you find it funny, you're stupid.. Olamide and lil kesh should be banned.. Their desperation to stay relevant has gotten out of hand

Tutu of Port Harcourt

@tutuofPH

 Olamide will soon come and tell us that the aim behind the Logo Benz song with Lil kesh is to dissuade young boys from involving in rituals, same thing after being bashed by the media for releasing a song like science student that promotes drug use!

Durodola Abraham

@abrahamdurodola

 I don't know how somebody will sit down and write song, and the next thing the song is promoting is rituals and killings in the society. Olamide and Lil Kesh should be fined for that song release.

@faddenblogger

 After people will say that songs didn't contribute to the high rate of rituals.

When people who look up to you starts hearing "if money no gree enter I go do rituals" wetin you expect.

Olamide and Lil Kesh una no try o

A GoFundMe campaign titled "We The People Will Fund The Wall" has raised over $2.5 million and counting, to build President Donald Trump's border wall. More than 16,000 people have pledged donations to the campaign created Sunday, by a "fundraising team" in Miramar, Florida. Its initial goal of $200 million has been bumped to $1 billion.

On Tuesday, White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, revealed the administration is exploring "different" sources to pay for his proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexican border. Trump has demanded $5 billion to pay for the border wall he promised to build during his campaign, according to reports.

Kolfage, a staunch supporter of the Trump presidency, believes the crowdfunding campaign can reach its goal if the 63 million people who voted for President Trump contributes.

Makeup Mogul and reality star, Kylie Jenner is now the fifth Wealthiest American Celebrity of 2018. 

In a new list compiled by Forbes Magazine, the 21-year-old's net worth of $900 million sees her tied at fifth place with rapper Jay-Z.  

The mother of one who launched her Kylie Cosmetics two years ago, has already shifted over $630 million in makeup products, according to Forbes.

This is the first time Kylie has landed on the list, which ranks the wealthiest American celebrities based on fortune they have amassed off their fame.

The number one spot on the list this year went to George Lucas, whose net worth was listed at $5.4 billion. The second place spot goes to Steven Spielberg, who is valued at $3.7 billion, while Oprah Winfrey landed in third with $2.8 billion.

Michael Jordan's net worth of $1.7 billion placed him in fourth place, David Copperfield's $875 million landed him in seventh, Diddy's $825 million saw him take the eighth spot.

Tiger Woods and James Patterson tied for the ninth spot with a net worth of $800 million. 

Manchester United has appointed their former striker, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club's new interim manager following Jose Mourinho's sacking on Tuesday.

The Old Trafford legend, 45, who scored 126 goals in 366 appearances for United during 11 seasons at the club replaces Mourinho on what is effectively a loan move from Norwegian side Molde.

He will be joined by Mike Phelan as first-team coach, also working alongside Michael Carrick and Kieran McKenna.

In comments published on Molde's website, Solskjaer said that he will return to the club, whose league campaign begins at the end of March, when his duties at United are complete.

Solskjaer said on Molde's website: 'In football you never know what can happen. We get proof of time after time. This is an opportunity I had to take. I am looking forward to leading Manchester United until the summer.

'At the same time, I will follow closely what is happening here at home. We have built stone for stone and the end of the season this year gives us hope for another good season.

'Erling, Trond and Per Magne will do a lot of work while I'm gone. At the same time, I would like to thank the club, and Kjell Inge and Bjorn Rune once again congratulate me on the world's biggest club.'

'Manchester United is in my heart and it's brilliant to be coming back in this role. I'm really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club,' said Solskjaer in United's club statement.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward added in the club's announcement: 'Ole is a club legend with huge experience, both on the pitch and in coaching roles.

'His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back. We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.' 

Nigerian born heavyweight boxer, Anthony Joshua was awarded an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to sport by Prince Charles. The award ceremony held at Buckingham Palace, on Thursday.

Prior to this, the 29-year-old boxer was previously awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire back in 2013, for his success at the London 2012 Olympics where he won gold in the heavyweight boxing.

An OBE is a Queen’s honour given to an individual for a major local role in any activity such as business, charity or the public sector.

On Tuesday, Manchester United announced they have sacked Jose Mourinho after the club lost 3 - 1 to Liverpool on Sunday.

According to reports, Mourinho arrived at the training ground at 9am on Tuesday - before being called to a face-to-face meeting with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward where he was told he was fired.

The news was then officially confirmed at 9:46 am with the club releasing a statement to announce his dismissal.

United have also announced that the recruitment for a new manager is on while a caretaker manager will be at the helm of affairs for the rest of season. However, sacking Mourinho is going to cost United a fortune as the club might have to dish out an amount close to £24 million (Close to USD 30 million/ Close to Rs 215 crores), as reported by SportsJoe.UK.

Mourinho who was appointed Manager in May 2016, had signed a new contract, earlier this year, of worth £65 million, earning him close to £18 million a year.

However, due to early termination of the contract, United will be paying out a whopping amount of money to the Portuguese.

The apex bank has endorsed the proposed merger between Access Bank Plc and Diamond Plc.

The Central Bank in a letter dated December 17, 2018, addressed to the Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank and signed by Director of Banking Supervision, Mr. Ahmad Abdullahi, said it had no objection to the proposal, advising the commercial bank to proceed to obtain other necessary regulatory approvals for the merger.

“We refer to your letter dated December 17, 2018 on the above subject (application for pre-merger) and write to inform you that the Central Bank of Nigeria has no objection to your proposed merger with the Diamond Bank Plc.

“Furthermore, you are required to obtain other necessary regulatory approvals for the merger.”

Waiting for SEC’s approval

In a related development, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said it is waiting for formal application from the banks on the merger. According to the apex capital market regulator, however, it is aware of the intention of the banks to go into a merger.

According to SEC

“Access bank and Diamond Bank have both notified the Commission and the general public. It is a notice to merge, they have not merged yet. SEC is awaiting their application on the matter.

“SEC received on Monday, Dec 17 2018, notice of intention by Diamond Bank & Access Bank to merge. The Commission is currently waiting for their formal Application”.

The completion of the merger is subject to certain shareholder and regulatory approvals expected to be completed in first half of 2019.

The shares of Access Bank jumped 9.40 per cent – the bank biggest daily gain since January 2016 – to a six week high of ₦8.15 per share while those of Diamond Bank appreciated by 9.47 per cent to close at ₦1.04 per share the highest in five weeks.

The Nigerian police today re-arraigned the Osun State governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, on allegations of examination malpractice. 

Adeleke, who was first arraigned on a four-count charge brought against him in September, for alleged conspiracy and impersonation among other offences, was re-arraigned on Tuesday, with the charges increased from four to seven-counts, still bordering on similar offences. 

Adeleke has been accused of conspiring to procure illegal examination results with workers at the Ojo-Aro community grammar school and arraigned him along with a principal and three others accused of conspiring to commit the alleged crime. The police force also accused Mr Adeleke of making false documents, regarding his age and violating the exam malpractice act, CAP E15, 2004. 

Adeleke, who contested closely with his counterpart from the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Adegboyega Oyetola, is challenging the outcome of the election which saw Oyetola emerge winner, after a declaration by Nigeria’s electoral umpire that the election was inconclusive on September, 22. Adeleke is accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC of colluding to ensure the candidate of the APC emerges winner in the September elections in the state.

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Manchester United.

The Portuguese was told of his fate at around 9am on Tuesday in a face-to-face meeting with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward at United's Carrington training base.

Woodward was keen to speak to Mourinho in person and the 55-year-old then departed Carrington at around 12.20pm.

Michael Carrick will take care of first-team affairs before a new interim manager is put in charge until the end of the season. The external appointment is expected to be announced within the next 48 hours.

United are understood to be interested in hiring a technical director for the first time in their history with the new man expected to be in place before they appoint a permanent successor to Mourinho in the summer.

Mourinho's future had been the subject of intense scrutiny this season - and the club's worst start to a campaign in 28 years was confirmed with defeat at Liverpool on Sunday.

The 55-year-old Portuguese insisted at Anfield that he had not lost the dressing room, as his team sat sixth in the Premier League table and 11 points off the Champions League places.

Woodward is understood to have told Mourinho of his fate shortly before the club announced that "manager Jose Mourinho has left the club with immediate effect".

The United statement continued: "The club would like to thank Jose for his work during his time at Manchester United and to wish him success in the future.

"A new caretaker manager will be appointed until the end of the current season, while the club conducts a thorough recruitment process for a new, full-time manager."

Mourinho only signed a new two-year contract until 2020 earlier this year but his troubled season began when he publicly criticised the United board for not backing him in the summer transfer market.

He had wanted at least one new centre-back but he did not get one, with the club signing £50m midfielder Fred, Porto youngster Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant as a backup goalkeeper.

Fractures in his relationship with Paul Pogba began to emerge in September and the France World Cup winner was stripped of the vice-captaincy before Sky Sports News filmed them having an animated disagreement on the training ground.

Pogba was left on the bench for the game against Liverpool on Sunday along with other star players such as Anthony Martial, whose ongoing contract dispute with the club has only added to the inner turmoil at Old Trafford.

Mourinho leaves having won a Europa League and EFL Cup double in 2016-17, winning 84 of his 144 matches in charge.

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the retirement of Alhaji Baba Tela as its Non-Executive Director. Tela’s retirement took effect from October 2, 2018.

The Bank’s Board of Directors at a meeting held on November 15, 2018, approved Tela’s retirement having served the Group for almost 12 years.

Alhaji Baba Tela’s profile

Tela graduated with B.Sc. in Business Administration and Finance from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in 1982.

Tela served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2002 to 2003 and was again, re-elected for a second tenure from 2003 to 2007. At the Senate, Tela served on various Committees including Water Resources, Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD. He also served as Director on other boards including the Boards of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Mina, Coats Brothers (W.A.) Limited among others.

Tela served as Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters between 2001 and 2002.

He commenced his working career as a Financial Analyst with Masenterp Nigeria Limited in late 1983 and has worked in various capacities and organisations until he became Special Assistant to the Presidency on Economic Matters.

Tela was appointed as a Independent Non-Executive Director at Zenith Bank Plc on July 17, 2007. He has served in various capacities in the past including Executive Director, Yarwa Consolidated Industries Limited, Managing Director/Chief Executive – Masenterp Nigeria Limited.

About Zenith Bank

Zenith Bank is a Nigerian multinational financial services provider. It is licensed as a commercial bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Zenith Bank is a large financial service provider in Nigeria and Anglophone West Africa.

The bank recent results for the 9 months ended September 30, 2018 show Gross Earnings fell from N531 billion in 2017 to N474 billion in 2018. This amounts to a 10.7% decline year on year.

Profit after tax, however, increased from N129 billion in 2017 to N144 billion in 2018. That amounts to a 11.6% increase year on year.

Earnings per share also increased from N4.11 in 2017 to N4.58 in 2018.

Zenith Bank Plc is currently trading at N23.15 on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said that it is not the Federal government's problem if some Nigerians do not have electricity.

Punch reports that the Minister said this when he spoke at the Nextier Power Dialogue which held in Abuja yesterday December 12th.

“There are problems without a doubt and we must deal with them. But let me remind you, all of the assets that the Ministry of Power used to control for power have been sold by the last administration before I came. And so if you don’t have power, it is not the government’s problem. Let us be honest. The people who are operating the power sector, generation and distribution are now privately owned companies. I am here because I am concerned. If your telephone is not working, it is not the minister of communication that you go to. Let us be very clear. So for those of you who want to weaponise electricity, face the businessmen who have taken it up. Let us be honest. If your bank over-charges you interest, is it the minister of finance you go to? So let’s be clear. This is now a private business by Act of parliament 2005.  My role is regulatory, oversight and policy, but I have a problem which is the fact that I can’t see a problem and turn my back, so I’m getting involved. So the people you should be talking to about transformers is not me, the ministry doesn’t supply transformers anymore.”

When asked to take the blame since he is the head of the Ministry of Power with the Gencos and Discos under his authority, Fashola said

“I think that NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) is the referee of the game. I am FIFA (Federation of International Football Association). And it is not right as you said that FIFA gets involved, because whether the referee makes a mistake or not the goal stands.

“So the FIFA man does not enter the field to say go and change the result, but it’s an interesting analogy that I’ve also contemplated in my head and that’s why you didn’t catch me by too much surprise. However, it is important to allow the referee to continue to decide the game because investors like to know who decides.”

The Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Tunde Fowler has disclosed how the agency generated N5 trillion as at the second week of December 2018 since the start of the year.

In a statement released to the public, Fowler was quoted to have said the FIRS was at the verge of making N5.3 trillion at the end of the year.

The N5.3 trillion to be generated as revenue by year-end, according to the agency, will be a record-breaking achievement in the history of the FIRS.

It stated, “If the FIRS pools N5.3tn revenue, that will be the highest revenue ever generated by FIRS in history. The highest in FIRS history is N5.07tn generated in 2012.”

During an induction of new members of the Joint Tax Board in Abuja, Fowler stated that FIRS had been able to record significant achievements following maximum support from the Presidency, Ministry of Finance, the JTB and other taxation stakeholders.

“This year, the FIRS, with the support of the Presidency, Ministry of Finance, the JTB and other stakeholders, had been able to generate up to N5tn. We believe that we should be able to close at least at N5.3tn which should be the highest in the history of the FIRS.

“And we believe that with that additional revenue, the state and federal governments would be able to provide more services and more development to the people of Nigeria.” Fowler was quoted.

According to the statement, Fowler’s generation of N5 trillion was significant as it was at a period when oil prices oscillated between $50 and $70 per barrel.

President Buhari will present the 2019 budget proposal before the National Assembly on Wednesday December 19th. This was announced in a letter read on the floor of the house of representatives by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, today Thursday December 13th.

“May I crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 11 hours on Wednesday, 19th December, 2018 to formally present the 2019 appropriation bill in a joint session,” the letter read.

Recall that the Federal government had a special Federal Executive Council meeting last week Friday December 7th and the 2019 budget was approved for presentation to the National Assembly.

Late OAP, Tosyn Bucknor, late Nollywood actress, Aisha Abimbola and Nigeria's main opposition leader, Atiku Abubakar are among the most searched people on Google in 2018.

Google announced the top searched people and other trending stories in Nigeria on Wednesday, December 12, 2018.The Google trend report revealed  2018 moments and top trends based on searches conducted all over the world, and in Nigeria. 

The top-trending lists contain major events in news, loses, movies, sports, lyrics and questions Nigerian asked Google in 2018.

Below is the list of top 10 biggest people of the year 2018 according to Google.

1. Alexis Sanchez

2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

3. Meghan Markle

4. Stan Lee

5. Philippe Coutinho

6. Atiku Abubakar

7. Tosyn Bucknor

8. Avicii

9. Aisha Abimbola

10. Sylvester Stallone

Michael Cohen, the former attorney of President Donald Trump, has just been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to a number of crimes related to work he did for Trump.

Cohen pleaded guilty to 8 federal charges in August, including 5 counts of tax fraud and 2 campaign finance violations, one of which related to the hush money he paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election following Trump's orders.

He was sentenced today in New York City. In addition to the sentencing, Cohen was hit with forfeiture of $500,000, restitution of $1.4 million and a fine of $50,000.

Cohen spoke in court during his sentencing, saying:

Today is one of the most meaningful days of my life. The irony is that today I get my freedom back.

He also added that "blind loyalty to this man led me to choose a path of darkness over light."

Cohen added that, "I take full responsibility for each act that I pleaded guilty to" including those implicating the "President of the United States of America.”

When you type in "Idiot" in Google search, photos of US president Donald Trump comes up and Republicans in the US Congress grilled Google CEO Sundar Pichai about this.

Republicans allege that Google's search results are biased and that Democrats who work at Google choose liberal websites over conservative views for prime placement on Google services like Google search.

Several Republicans on the committee, including Rep. Lamar Smith, said there was "political bias baked into" Google's culture.

Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren gave Google CEO a chance to explain and convince them that there's no conservative bias in Google.

Lofgren said to Pichai:

Manipulation of search results - I think it's important to talk about how search works. Right now, if you Google the word 'idiot,' under images, a picture of Donald Trump comes up. I just did that.

How would that happen? How does search work so that that would occur?

Pichai replied: 

We provide search today for - anytime you type in a keyword, we as Google, we have gone out and crawled and stored copies of billions of webpages in our index. We take the keyword and match it against webpages and rank them based on over 200 signals, things like relevance, freshness, popularity, how other people are using it. And based on that, at any given time, we try to rank and find the best results for that query. Then we evaluate them with external raters to make sure, and they evaluate it to objective guidelines, and that's how we make sure the process is working. 

Lofgren added:

So it's not some little man sitting behind the curtain figuring out what we're going to show the user - it's basically a compilation of what users are generating, and trying to sort through that information.

And Pichai replied:

Last year we served over 3 trillion searches. Just as a fact, every single day, 15% of the searches Google sees, we have never seen them before.

So this is working at scale. We don't manually intervene on any particular search result.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Imohimi Edgal says Two hundred and thirty-three policemen have been arrested for corruption related offences in the past one year.

Edgal says of the total arrests made, 16 were dismissed, 26 demoted, one charged to court and 190 served severe punishments with the offences documented in their service files.

He spoke at the Anti-Corruption Day with the theme: “Tackling corruption through collective responsibility”. It was organised by the Centre for Change. Edgal said the command had continued to uphold the mandate of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris, which is to eradicate corruption and human right infractions within the system.

He said: “In the last one year, 233 policemen have been arrested and tried for corrupt practices. Sixteen of them have been dismissed, one policeman charged to court, 26 have been reduced in rank and 190 of them have gotten major entries in their files.

Others were given punishment relating to minor entries and fatigue to act as a deterrent to others. We will continue to partner every other group to fight corruption.”

Edgal, who was recognised by the centre as the Anti-Corruption Champion, said he felt honoured that people were watching and taking note of his actions. The founder of the centre, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said Nigeria was bleeding under the heavyweight of corruption.

“It is either we kill corruption or corruption kills us. It is also certain that all institutions must be strengthened and that there should be synergy. This is why you will find out that the Police as an institution remains the lubricant for the survival of our great country. Talk is very cheap; it is extremely easy for us to continue to talk about corruption. But to act and also ensure that we fight that cancer, there should be no game place. This is why this synergy is very important for us today" she said.

The Lagos state commissioner of police, Edgal Imohimi, has warned that anyone caught having sex inside a car in a public place in the state, stand the risk of being jailed for 2 years.

In a statement released by the command's spokesperson, Chike Oti, CP Imohimi said he had to make this clarification following the recent tweet by ACP Yomi Shogunle who said it isn't a crime to have sex in a public place(Read here).

Read the statement from the Commissioner of Police below.

The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal has been drawn to an online publication credited to @POLICENG_PCRRU to the effect that " Sex in a car in a public place is not a crime in Nigeria provided;

1. Location is not a place of worship

2. Parties are 18yrs+

3. The act is consensual (agreed to by parties)

4. Parties are of opposite sex

If threatened with arrest over above, pls contact @POLICENG_PCRRU"

Sequel to the development, the CP Lagos has been advised by the Director of Public Prosecution of the state Ministry of Justice and the  Legal Department of the State Police Command, Panti, Yaba  with relevant sections of the law as follows:

Section 134 (a) Criminal Law of Lagos state 2015 prohibits any indecent act in any public place without lawful excuse. The law holds that such person is liable on conviction to 2 years imprisonment.

Section 136 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015 provides that any person who commits any act of gross indecency with another person in public commits an offence and liable on conviction to 3 years imprisonment.

It must be noted that section 134 which deals with offences against morality particularly section 134 (a) have it that indecent act in a public place makes both parties engaging in the act liable to imprisonment for 2 years.

In the same vein, section 231 of the Criminal Code Act which is a Federal law and applicable in states other than the northern states where Penal Code is applicable also make Indecent Acts punishable.

Going forward, the authorities of the Lagos State Police Command hereby declares that the assertion that sex in a car in a public place is not a crime in Nigeria is misplaced as the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State prohibits such acts in public even if it is done with consent of the other party

To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Imohimi Edgal wants Lagosians  to be  guided by relevant sections of the law against such acts .

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has warned Nigerians from the South East to be wise and play their cards well so they do not miss their chance of producing the next president of Nigeria come 2023. According to Ngige, voting President Buhari back into office in 2019, is the shortest route to achieving this dream..

Ngige said this when he spoke with newsmen in Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State over the weekend.

“This man (Buhari) has only one term (four years) to do and go home, and an Igboman will replace him. But if you leave this shortest route and  take a gamble, you are on your own. If Igbo refuse to play their cards right in next year’s general elections, the South-West will take away the chance from them. They will produce the next president after Buhari,  because the zone has shown demonstrable commitment to  Buhari’s cause.

“My good friend Babatunde Fashola has blown the whistle. What he said should be a warning signal to the Igbo, because you can’t stop the South-West from producing the next president of the country after supporting Buhari and the APC government. That is why I’m telling our people now to come out en masse in next year’s election and vote for Buhari, so that nothing will stop you from succeeding him in 2023.”

Reacting to the allegation that President Buhari is cloned, Ngige said

''We should stop listening to all these gutter talks” that one Jubril from Sudan or Chad is the one ruling the country, as the real Buhari is dead. I’m talking to you as medical doctor. If you are well treated by your doctor,  you will be rejuvenated; that’s the case with Buhari. That is why he is bubbling with life. His doctors treated him well.  I see him regularly. He is the Buhari who worked as the minister of petroleum. He is the Buhari who was the Head of State of this country. He remembers all these.

“I asked our people to come out and vote massively for him in the 2019 general elections. We should stop listening to all these gutter talks. The man in Aso Rock is Buhari and no other person. I see him regularly. He’s the man that employed us as ministers and the one  we meet with during  FEC meetings.”

 He described the vice-presidential slot given to the Igbos by the Peoples Democratic Party as a “mere spare tyre that might be used for over six years”

EFCC has reacted to media reports that claimed operatives of the commission raided the Abuja residence of Atiku's sons.

In its response, EFCC said 'we have received several calls and email messages asking us to confirm the arrest of the sons of the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as being alleged in some quarters. Some only said we raided the apartments of Atiku’s sons looking for foreign currencies. This is nothing but another tales by moonlight'.

See the rest of the statement below...

It is in the news that we have been investigating the former Abia governor, Senator Theodore Orji over alleged N27 Billion Naira money laundering. In the course of investigation, we discovered that he laundered part of the money through his sons. We have been on the trail of some of the purchases made by his son including the cars the boys allegedly bought.

Last Friday, we traced one of the cars to a Nite Club in Abuja. In order not to cause panic, we waited until the business of the club was over and when the owner of the suspected car came to enter to take off, we arrested him and his friend who has a similar brand of car. That was about 5am on Saturday, December 8, 2018.

The two boys we arrested were Ogbonna Orji, 32, and Kelvin Ilonah. While Orji's Car, a Range Rover is valued at about N100 million, Ilonah’s car also a Range Rover, is valued at about N35 Million.

In the course of further interrogation, the two boys led us to their apartment, three flats, and documents retrieved from the apartment showed it was rented for N13 million each per annum.

Another brand new Prado Jeep, a 2017 model was recovered from the boys in the compound. The two boys in question gave useful information to the Commission which is helping in our further investigation.

The EFCC, as a responsible organisation is abreast of the establishment mandate and we shall not deviate from such mandate.

We never went after Atiku's sons neither were Atiku's sons among the two boys arrested. There is no link whatsoever to Atiku.

Only last week, the people’s Democratic Part, PDP was alleged to have raised alarm that the Commission blocked and or freeze the accounts of the Vice Presidential candidate of the PDP, Peter Obi. Again, this was another lie which we immediately punctured as there was no truth in it whatsoever, to the accusation. Till now, only silence has prevailed from the camp of the accusers.

Governor Godwin Emefiele of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has cried out over the outrageous interest rates microfinance banks in the country are charging on loans

Emefiele said the microfinance banks in Nigeria are not lending loans at single interest rates, adding that many small and medium enterprises are unable to access the Federal Government’s loans aimed at stimulating local production and boosting non-oil export.

The CBN boss made this known during a press briefing in Lagos at the end of the annual Bankers’ Committee Retreat with the theme, ‘Export-led transformation of the economy – Engine for sustainable inclusive growth’.

Emefiele said, “Those microfinance banks that we have today are not lending loans at single interest rates today; some of them are even lending money on flat. You borrow N50,000 for 90 days, and they expect you to pay another N50,000 interest to them in another 90 days. That is outrageous and that is too exorbitant.

“We feel that if we have these funds available in the Central Bank of Nigeria, through our own national microfinance, we can make access to funds to these people easy, even if it is not single digit per annum; even at 15 per cent, it is substantially lower than those who are borrowing money at flat arrangement basis. And if you don’t pay the N50,000 interest, they seize your bicycle or your car or machine.”

Nairametrics had reported that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN has left the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 14% and all other variables unchanged. Liquidity ratio was left at 30%, Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 22.5%, and the asymmetric corridor unchanged at +200/-500 basis points.

What do the variables mean?

MPR is the interest rate at which CBN lends to the commercial banks. The MPR is the benchmark against which other lending rates in the economy are pegged and is usually used as an instrument to moderate inflation in the economy.

CRR simply refers to the ratio of customer deposits (i.e. your money in the bank) banks are expected to hold as cash or keep with the CBN.

Liquidity ratio refers to the amount of highly liquid assets that banks should hold in order to meet their financial obligations to customers.

The asymmetric corridor is the range within which the MPR can be increased or decreased.

Juventus striker, Cristiano Ronaldo, has taken a swipe at his former club Real Madrid while praising his current club for having the best team spirit of any club he has played at.

The Portuguese striker who joined the Serie A champions in a shock £100million move last summer from Real Madrid made this known in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ronaldo said: 'I'm very happy. The city is really nice, the fans are very kind and Juventus is a fantastic club, that is incredibly organised.

'The players here are humble and they work very hard. It's been fantastic. This is the best group I've ever played with.

'At Juventus we really feel like a team, unlike elsewhere where some players feel like they are better than others.

'Here everyone is humble, if Dybala or Mandzukic don't score you see still see them happy. That is beautiful.'

When asked directly about the difference between Real and Juve, he said: 'They are very different. Juventus is more of a family.'