11 super cars worth over N3bn belonging to Vice president of Equatorial Guinea seized by Swiss authorities

Teodorin Obiang Nguema, the vice president and son of the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has seen over N3billion worth of his 11 super cars seized by Prosecutors in Switzerland who are presently investigating him for money laundering.

According to Francois Pilet, an investigative journalist with L’Hebdo, he confirmed the seizure of the vehicles, which includes a Porche, Ferrari, Bugatti Veyron and others took place in Geneva on Monday October 31, 2016, where he was accused of plundering his country's oil wealth to buy luxuries, including a private jet and Michael Jackson memorabilia.

Report also has it that the Vice President whose assets will also be seized will appear in court next year in France on similar charges.

The Authority Newspapers Today November 4, 2016

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Today's top stories:

EFCC ignores Federal Character in staff recruitment - https://goo.gl/0DXFCz

NJC suspends seven indicted judges - https://goo.gl/1GiEXZ

INEC silent on Anambra rerun, fixes dates for others - https://goo.gl/FmJ2Cw

 

Buhari's 2016-2018 economic agenda is empty - Senate - https://goo.gl/EdP1IL

Empty Treasury: I almost absconded from office - https://goo.gl/omP8P6

$29.9bn loan: South East Reps demand projects for Ndigbo - https://goo.gl/psZlXA

Fed Cup Final: FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Nasarawa Utd go to war - https://goo.gl/fSIgY3

Today's AUTHORITY ICON on Page 3 is Chief Mrs Patience Ozokwor - https://goo.gl/HuODia

For the full list & profiles of THE AUTHORITY ICONS from inception till date, click below:

http://authorityngr.com/authorityicon?all

See extracts of today's AUTHORITY Newspaper:       

Check out the profiles of the board of judges of the season three of The Next Titan (Nigeria’s Entrepreneurial Reality TV Show)

Brought to you by Heritage Bank Plc. Are you the next entrepreneur we are searching for? Five Million Naira Grand Prize. Register now: www.thenexttitan.com. Auditions hold in Abuja, PH and Lagos in August, 2016

KyariBukar
Chairman,
Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)

     • Current Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group
     • Current CEO, Central Securities Clearing Systems Plc
     • Former CEO, Valucard NigeriaPlc
     • Former Executive Director, FSB International Bank (Now Fidelity Bank)
     • Former Senior Engineer with Hewlett- Packard  (HP) in USA
     • Former Worldwide Technical Marketing Manager, (Hewlett- Packard )HP, USA

KyariBukar is highly talented in turning around companies, a quality he has exhibited in different organizations including Valucard Nigeria Plc where he was instrumental in turning around the Company from a nil-profit-making entity to what could aptly be termed a highly profitable entity before his exit.

By virtue of his present position as Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, KyariBukar has been involved in economic policies and formulations of government, as well as playing advisory role to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

KyariBukar is the Lead Judge of THE NEXT TITANSeason Three.

Tonye Cole
Co-Founder/CEO,
Sahara Group

Tonye Cole is a terrific entrepreneur, and a co-founder of Sahara Group; a conglomerate and a multi-national company of repute which is presently in about 20 countries and whose interests cover Oil trading, Storage, Energy and Power Resources, Aviation, Farming and Real Estate. From a small office in 1996, with the core business of trading excess fuel oil from the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries in Nigeria, the Sahara Group has expanded its tentacles to offices in Geneva, Switzerland -which actively trades in Crude oil, Gas oil, Jet A1, mogas and bitumen in global markets; Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, France, Singapore, Dubai and Brazil.

The success of Sahara Group, a company founded by Tonye Cole is simply astounding, more so because it is a 100% indigenously grown company from Nigeria, competing with established giants in the energy industry.

In Tonye’s words

“Entrepreneurs require very little to get started, primarily their talents, their dreams, their self -belief and their determination. The myth about access to huge amounts of capital being required to commence is often times proved wrong in the story of all legitimately successful entrepreneurs”

Tonye is an alumnus of the University of Lagos, Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil, and Harvard Business School.  Before founding of Sahara Group in 1996; Tonye, as an Architect worked in a Brazilian architectural firm GrupoQuartro SA in Goiania Brazil from 1990-92. He was involved in the design and implementation of the urban planning and city development of Palmas, the capital city of the newly created state of Tocantins in far-away South America. He later moved to Nigeria, and was quickly employed as the Director of Operations EMSA S.A., a Brazilian Civil Engineering Company.

Tonye Cole is a main judge of the Season 3 of THE NEXT TITAN

Chris Parkes
Founder/Chairman
CPMS AFRICA

Chris Parkes is a British; and the founder of CPMS Africa, a Marketing Solutions Company with offices in Nigeria: (Lagos, Kano, Calabar), South Africa, and Ghana.  Chris has over thirty five years’ experience in the advertising and marketing industry, eight years in the UK with top agencies, plus his own partnership in London, clients included, American Express International Dollar Card & TC’s, MasterCard, Securicor Granley, and; and  fifteen years in South Africa with Lintas and then his own business, working on Levers, Standard Bank, SAA, SAR, Allied, KFC and Kimberley Clarke.

Chris moved to Madagascar where he set up an Advertising Agency, an import export company and finally a billboard company for a South African agency. This was highly successful with the country’s top brands becoming long term clients. Over sixteen years in Nigeria, six of them building Tequila Nigeria from scratch to become the largest BTL company under his management working for British American Tobacco, Guinness Nigeria Plc, MTN and a number of other top clients.

CPMS Africa (Chris Parkes Marketing Solutions) was established in July 2002. Over the years British American Tobacco, Guinness, Zain, Etisalat and many others have enjoyed the CPMS experience. Nigerian Breweries Plc and Distell South Africa joined CPMS in the last four years to maintain the high quality client portfolio.

In his words “We believe we are the most professional, effective and integrated through the line consultancy specializing in advertising, and trade marketing in West Africa”.

Chris Parkes is a main Judge of the Season 3 of THE NEXT TITAN

LilianOlubi
CEO,
Primera Africa Securities Ltd

LilianOlubi is a seasoned investment manager with over fifteen years of Capital Markets experience. She is a founding Partner and member of the Board of Directors of Primera Africa Finance Group, a leading boutique Investment and Financial Services group which operates four business lines; Securities Trading, Financial Advisory, Consumer Finance and Principal Investments.

She serves as Chief Executive Officer of one of the group’s subsidiary companies, Primera Africa Securities Limited, which provides Equities and Fixed Income trading and actionable investment research to its Domestic and International clients.

Lilian began her Securities trading career at CSL (a member of the FCMB group), working in various capacities spanning Operations, Investment Management and Research before joining the Sales & Marketing team. Prior to Primera Africa Securities, she worked at Afrinvest West Africa Limited as Head of its Private Client Services overseeing the marketing functions and initiatives across its branches.

She is a Chartered Stockbroker and Authorized Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, an Associate of the Certified Pensions Institute of Nigeria and an alumna of the Lagos Business School.
LilianOlubi is a main Judge of the Season Three of THE NEXT TITAN

Dino Melaye denies instigating impeachment proceedings against Pres. Buhari

Dino Melaye has released a statement denying media reports that he is instigating impeachment proceedings against President Buhari. Read the statement below.

Senator Representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory, Senator Dino Melaye has debunked rumours doing the round about his involvement in some moves to impeach the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is pertinent to note that the incredulously machinated misinformation was orchestrated by forces bent on destabilizing the upper chambers of the Nigerian Parliament for selfish reasons. One of the mushroom and faceless online platform used to promote the ill-fated, calumnious write-up has been notorious for serving as the propagandist machinery of political commercialists who are pushing for the extension of their fiefdom to the National Assembly.

While I remain unimpeachably committed to the leadership of the Senate, I believe the respected arm of government charged with the onerous responsibility of law making should be given the independence to conduct its business.

It is untrue and malicious ; the narrative of the attack dogs of demagogues who have decided to turn Nigeria upside down for failing to choose leaders for Senators. I am a responsible Nigerian, role model and a champion of anti-corruption and equity which my party stands for . I therefore urge the general public to discountenance the libellous publication as I will continue to respect the history, culture and excellence of my Kogi West people on the floor of the Senate. The true threat to the current Republic are those who believe a Nigeria not led by them must not exist. Thanks and God bless.

Signed Sen. Dino Melaye

Elderly couple celebrate 64th wedding anniversary with a stylish fashion shoot (photo)

A 95-year-old man shot a series of photos with his beloved wife to celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary in Handan city of Hebei Province, China. The photos went viral online, as they were not some cliché look-backs, but a fresh take incorporating the latest fashion trends. The photos features the couple playing basketball in sportswear, drinking coffee in French-style outfits, and reading books like two young students. See more photos after the cut...

Terrified son who sent his mom heartbreaking last text messages during Orlando nightclub massacre confirmed dead

The terrified son who sent his mother texts telling her he was 'in the bathroom' and 'I'm gonna die' as the gunman opened fire inside Pulse nightclub, has died. Eddie Justice was trapped in a nightclub bathroom when he contacted his mother Mina for the last time in a series of messages.

The City of Orlando has now confirmed he was one of the 50 partygoers who were shot dead by Islamic extremist Omar Mateen on Sunday morning. (the 9th name on the list)

Eddie, who worked as an accountant, ran into the bathroom to escape Mateen but he and a group were cornered. He asked Mina to call police as she arrived outside the Orlando gay nightclub in a desperate attempt to find her son.

Eddie then told her 'I'm gonna die' as Mateen discovered where he was hiding and took him and other hostages.

'Mommy I love you. In the club they shooting,' a text from Eddie Justice to his mother read.

'U ok,' she responded before her son wrote back 'trapped in bathroom.'

Source: City Of Orlando- Your Government/Daily Mail

Court orders FG, Okonjo-Iweala to account for ‘missing N30tn’

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Goodluck Jonathan led administration to  account for N30 trillion said to have been missing or unaccounted for while they were in government. 

Justice Ibrahim Buba had given the order in a Freedom of Information suit number FHC/L/CS/196/2015 filed by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).


SERAP’s filed the suit following revelations by the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, that at least N30 trillion “has either been stolen or unaccounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years under the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s watch.” SERAP had approached the court to order the former Minister and the Federal government to provide it with information on the said N30 trillion.

Delivering judgement in the suit last week, Justice Buba said,

“Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have no legally justifiable reason for refusing to provide SERAP with the information requested for. The Court has gone through the application and agrees that SERAP’s application has merits and the argument is not opposed. SERAP’s application is granted as prayed.”

The judgment by Buba reads in part:

“Preliminary objection by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the federal government is misconceived, the court upholds the arguments by SERAP for the reasons stated herein.

“SERAP commenced this proceeding by way of Originating Summons dated 23 February 2015 and filed 25 February 2015. Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government filed a Memorandum of Conditional Appearance, a Notice of Preliminary Objection and written address, all undated but filed on 29 September 2015.

“The preliminary objection is on the following grounds: that SERAP did not obtain the mandatory leave of the Federal High Court to issue and serve the Originating Summons and other processes outside Lagos State; that there is no mandatory endorsement on the Originating Summons that it is to be served on Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government in Abuja and outside jurisdiction of this Court.

“The only issue for determination is whether Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the federal government should be heard on their preliminary objection considering the totality of the circumstances of this case.

“He who wants equity must do equity. This suit was filed on 25 February 2015 and from the record of the court was served on Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government on 3 July, 2015. It took about 3 months for them to come up with technical response to the simple request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

“Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the Federal Government have therefore been caught by Order 29 of the Rules of this Court, which requires that an application shall be made within 21 days after service on the Defendants of the originating summons.

“If Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the federal government want to raise issues about service, the law does not permit of demurer. The proper route for them should have been to join issues with the originating summons and also file their objections. In the present case by SERAP, the Notice of Preliminary Objection by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala and the federal government is incurably defective for not conforming to order 29 of the Rules of this Court.”

Elderly grandmother of air hostess who died on the EgyptAir crash collapses at her memorial service

The memorial service of 26-year-old air hostess Yara Hani Tawfik who died on the EgyptAir MS804 flight was held yesterday, May 21 at St. Mary and St Athanasius Church in Cairo.

The victim's elderly grandmother Anna Yara collapsed at the service and concerned friends and relatives rushed to her aid. One held the grandmother face as she was overcome with grief.


Nahla Wagih, a friend of Miss Tawfik, said: "It is so sad to see the family in this state. There are no words to describe her loss. Yara was the perfect daughter and grand-daughter. The family must be broken. I don’t know what words of comfort to say to them"

Mrs Wagih, who worked with Miss Tawfik as a flight attendant on Egypt Air, was one of hundreds of relatives, friends and colleagues who attended the memorial, to which MailOnline was invited.

A large picture of Miss Tawfik was put up in the church between cross of flowers during the 40-minute service. Afterwards, members of her family stood in a line outside the orthodox church as mourners paid their respects.

More photos...

Source: Daily Mail

Man sold everything to raise money for his wife's cancer surgery in France. They boarded EgyptAir flight MS804

EgyptAir flight MS804 with more than 66 people on board crashed during a flight from Paris to Cairo.

Among the dead was a husband and wife who sold everything to pay for life saving cancer treatment and now leave behind their three young children as orphans.


According to the Egyptian newspaper Marawy, 31-year-old Ahmed Ashery sold his family's flat and car to raise money so his wife Reham could undergo cancer surgery in France.

The couple left their young son and two daughters with his mother and spent a month in Paris, where Mrs Ashery had surgery and seemed on the path to a full recovery. They boarded Flight 804 on Wednesday night excited to be reunited with their small children but the plane never made it back to Cairo.

"Ahmed sold everything to save his wife and ease her grief," said Mohamed al-Shenawi, a family friend. "I advised him to accept the command of God and look for treatment in Egypt but he insisted on travelling. They spent a month and then they returned onboard the plane which didn't arrive and now will never arrive."
 

"He travelled to Paris with his wife, leaving his three children with his mother. They spent a month and then they retured onboard the plane which didnt arrive and now will never arrive."

Source: Telegraph/Marawy

Photos: VP Yemi Osinbajo represents Nigeria at Equitorial Guinea's Presidential inauguration

President Buhari is being represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, at the swearing-in ceremony of President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equitorial Guinea today. The country's presidential election held last month. The inauguration is holding in Malabo, the country's capital. The Vice President returns to Abuja later today.

David Mark reacts to the Panama report, denies owning any offshore company in the British Virgin Island

Former Senate President David Mark, has released a statement, denying claims in the Panama report that he owned eight offshore companies in British Virgin Island. Premiumtimes on Tuesday April 5th, reported that an investigation carried out by them and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), showed that the former senate president was the owner of eight offshore companies in the Island. In his response, Mark in denying the claim, said some political elements were out to tarnish his image. Read his statement after the cut

"Our attention has been drawn to spurious Media reports on the Panama papers in which former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark was alleged to have operated offshore companies. For the avoidance of doubt, in the released materials of the Panama Leaks, his name is not listed anywhere in the database of Mossack Fonseca Law Firm.

We reiterate categorically, that he is not directly or indirectly connected to any of the companies registered, operated or managed by the Mossack Fonseca Law Firm. We challenge all those behind this propaganda and Media outburst to prove or show that Senator Mark’s name was mentioned in the leaks. He is prepared to stand and defend himself against any accusation in relation to this matter. Senator Mark’s Media team has carried out its own search of the Mossack Fonseca database and found no statement, item or any connection to Senator David Mark or his Family. It follows that there is no record whatsoever of any impropriety or wrongdoing.

We recall that in his quest for Senate Presidency in 2007, there was an attempt to bring a similar issue to the fore in order to stop him. So what are their fears now in 2016 for regurgitating the same issue?Once more, Senator Mark has distanced himself and any member of his family from the said Mossack Fonseca Firm and has no affiliation whatsoever with any company operated, registered or managed by Mossack Fonseca. Senator Mark has not contravened any laws of the land and he is treating this for what it is, an attempt to blackmail and tarnish his hard earned image by some political elements.As a public officer, Senator Mark has maintained a high level of decorum, respects and observes the laws of the land and believes in the sanctity of the rule of law. He will not be distracted by what is clearly a deliberate mischief and propaganda."

Records of all his assets are available with the relevant government agencies and can be verified.He has consulted his legal team and will take this up accordingly.

Must watch! Teaser and character posters for "Pepper Soup" starring Denrele Edun, Layole Oyatogun, Beverly Osu and more

Watch the teaser for the movie Pepper Soup, It follows the normal life of a celebrity/professional played by Denrele Edun and his eventual misbehaviour.The movie reveals how people are subject to substance abuse from eating at random public places.

This is Denrele Edun's first lead role as an actor, Pepper Soup was Directed by  Grace Edwin-Okon while the Executive Producer is Dr. Maymunah Kadiri.

Pepper Soup is the first in a series of advocacy films by Pinnacle Medical services and as part of the campaign in creating awareness on mental health, Pinnacle Medical services will also launch an app and an online health radio.

For more information and sponsorship call  08099731259 or send a mail to pinnaclemedicalnigeria@gmail.com

More photos and pepper soup teaser below

 

 

Photos: Lai Mohammed, Governors of Sokoto, Plateau, others arrives Yola for the wedding of Gov. Bindow's son

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Managing Director Of First Bank Plc, Governors of Sokoto, Plateau State and Deputy Governor of Kaduna State arrives Yola, Adamawa to attend wedding Fatiha of Governor Bindow's son. The Governor and other government officials are presently at the airport awaiting the arrival of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. More photos after the cut.