EFCC quizzes Coscharis Boss (Cosmos Maduka) over Odua’s N255 million car scandal

EFCC officials on Monday quizzed Cosmas Maduka, the chief executive of Coscharis Motors, the car firm accused of selling two armoured cars to aviation minister, Stella Oduah, at an inflated cost of N255 million.

Mr. Maduka was questioned for hours at the EFCC headquarters in Wuse 11 Abuja on Monday, and was later released, officials of the commission told  PREMIUM TIMES.

No official of government, specifically the aviation minister, Mrs. Oduah, or officials of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, which was the conduit for the purchase, has of yet been quizzed.

But our sources at the anti-graft body said Mr Maduka was questioned for hours, and that on Friday, officials of First Bank Limited, the financier of the contract, will also be interrogated in relation to the contract.

First Bank’s role in the transaction has remained controversial with the bank and the ministry of aviation making contradicting claims. While the bank said it provided N643 million loan to the NCAA to make the purchase, the NCAA said the arrangement was “lease financing”, while Mrs. Oduah said Thursday the credit was obtained as a “mere understanding and not obligation.”

The scandal has smeared several government agencies including the ministry of finance, which allegedly granted import duty waiver for the purchase, the Lagos State government which applied for the waiver, in exchange for a sponsorship deal with Coscharis.

The House of Representatives committee on aviation is already investigating the scandal, as is a presidential panel. Both committees are expected to submit their reports next week.

Appearing before the House committee last week, Mrs. Oduah denied wrongdoing, and said the cars were not purchased for her use. She however admitted approving the purchase.

She claimed the transaction followed procurement due process, and was in the budget, when clear evidences show otherwise.

The purchase of the cars for Mrs. Oduah has generated outrage for weeks and Nigerians have called for the removal of the officials involved, and their prosecution.

Dbanj Booed Off Stage in Zimbabwe as he delivers a lukewarm performance

Dbanj failed to storm and take over Zimbabwe last weekend at the Lion Lager Summer Beer Festival dubbed the "Battle of Africa" but according to reports from Zimbabwe, our man delivered a very lukewarm performance that eventually had him booed off stage.

According to AllAfrica, the festival featured Ugandan reggae musician Bebe Cool and local dancehall artistes Winky D, Guspy Warrior and King Shaddy.
D'Banj represented West Africa while Bebe Cool represented East Africa.

D'Banj was the main attraction and when it was turn for him to perform; he exploded onto the stage 
amid pomp and zest but soon fizzled out and slumped into near- pornography with some fans.

He ran out of steam after exhausting his familiar songs in less than an hour and went into what many revelers described as "hogwash".

His opening song was "Fall in Love", followed by "Oliver Twist", "Kukere" remix, "Don't Tell Me Nonsense", "Igwe" and "Why Me". Then he lost the plot.

Neither his scantily dressed dancers nor his swag was enough to sway the majority of the crowd that became visibly restless and disappointed.
So disappointing was his performance that he resorted to X-rated antics with ladies he calls "Kokolates" on the stage, in a bid to kill time.

Among the "Kokolates" was songstress Ammara Brown, who jumped on stage and joined in the dirty dancing.

"Let me see all my Kokolates on stage, now shake your boom boom and do the catwalk," he said, amid boos from the crowd, especially men.
Some disgruntled fans hurled insults and obscenities. 

D'Banj failed to impress and was the opposite of the Nigerian twins P-Square who performed at the same festival last year and left fans asking for more.
P-Square was even barred from leaving the stage by fans who craved for more.

"This guy should not have been the main act at the show. He has a few hit songs we know that he has performed. Now look at how he is whiling up the remaining time with the ladies," said a fan in the crowd.

Stella Oduah denies Ownership of the BMW Cars,Tells Rep Committee that they are for the Ministry

Nigeria Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah has told members of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that the N255million BMW armoured cars were not bought for her personal use but for the Ministry.

Oduah told members of the committee that the BMW’s were purchased for the official use of the Ministry and the Minister and not her personal property.

“As you all are aware, what necessitated this public hearing were the events that followed a false and malicious online publication that I had compelled the NCAA to purchase for me 2 nos BMW bullet proof cars at the cost of $1.6million. ”

“Let me state emphatically that from the onset that the allegation concerning the purchase of the 2 nos bullet proof cars for me by the NCAA is false in its entirety

On whether she acted within the ambit of the law in giving approval beyond N100 million , she said she approved the money and asked the NCAA to do the needfull.

What is the needfull? The Committee and the minister disagreed on what do the needfull meant.

She had claimed that in her approval she said kindly do the needfull.

Rep Mohammed took on her that saying the needfull means a go ahead to implement.

Responding, Oduah said”no you are wrong on that the needfull does not mean full approval. ”

The NCAA DG Folu Akinkuotu was asked whether he did the needfull, he said he was not In-charge at NCAA when the order was given for the purchase.

The permanent secretary of the Ministry, George Ossi was tackled for misleading the minister by not appropriately advising her.

Nkemakolam said we interpreted the directive to mean to go through it in line with the procurement Act. He said they did the due diligence but they had a mindset that they were within the budget limit.

Rep Manwe asking the former DG of NCAA to disclose who uses the controversial bullet proof cars since the Minister bluntly confessed that they were not bought for her use.

“Who is using the vehicles now since the Minister said they were not purchased for her?” he asked.

To the DG, that was one question that got him jolted. Minutes passed before he could provide an answer. And when he finally found his voice, he said “Anybody can use the vehicles when they are in the pool. They are operational vehicles.”

But the Lawmaker wouldn’t give up. He continued with a rider to the question.

“Do you mean that a messenger or cleaner in the agency can use the cars?” He asked. At this juncture, the hearing room became deadened in silence with the DG losing his voice for the second time.

And when again, he found it, he answered this way: “those categories of vehicles are for VIPs which include the Minister, including you, the Honorable.”

Just then a blast of laughter erupted in the hall which to some extent provided some comic relief to everyone in the hall.

In her closing remark, the chairperson, Onyejeocha assured Nigerians that justice would be done to the report of the hearing.

“Fact speak for itself. We have tried to listen to people: Coscharis, the Minister, NCAA, First Bank We assure everyone and all Nigerian that we will do justice to this hearing,” Onyejeocha said.

Speaking with some Journalists shortly after the hearing, the Minister, Oduah expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for giving her an opportunity to present her own side of the story.

Iyanya’s Visit to the Ikoyi Prison on his birthday performs as he performs with inmates + pictures of his X-rated birthday Cake

Iyanya the highly anticipated Afro-pop superstar celebrated his 27th birthday with a surprise visit to Ikoyi Prison. The singer who just turned 27 was welcomed warmly by the DCP Bamidele and the community; he proceeded into the correctional facility where he spoke with the inmates.

Highlights of the visit included his performance with the talented intimates and he also pledged to build a recording studio in the establishment for the musically inclined inmates.

Checkout the pictures of his sexy looking cake, in my point of view that’s one super sexy cake which he got from his manager Ubi Franklin and the entire Made Men Music Group team. This is officially the sexiest cake I've ever seen and if I’m not mistaken this lady on the cake looks a lot like Yvonne nelson tho…

Dennis Okike wins the 10th Ultimate Prize

Gulder Ultimate Search winner Dennis Okike takes home the N10 million grand prize as he outsmarted Dr.Edmund Umeabuani and Ifunanya Onike in the waters of Usaka River, Akwa-Ibom State where the final battle among the warriors fervently seeking for the 10th symbol took place. 

The final task was to search for the 10th Symbol. To do that, each of them would make use of a clue which would take them to two different locations to retrieve two pieces of the map that would lead to where the 10th Symbol was buried. Another clue at their first locations would direct them to the next location.

  After many futile efforts Dennis eventually dug up the Sceptre from under a slant palm tree in the river and thereby ended the long search for the 10th symbol. He was instantly inducted into the order of Heroes as the 10th Ultimate Man by Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor-man.

For his feat, Dennis will win N10 million and a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero 3.0L GLS AT (full Option) courtesy of CFAO Motors Nigeria, the official automotive partners of Gulder Ultimate Search 10. For emerging the last female contestant standing, Ifunanya is already guaranteed N1 million in addition to her prize money.

In the same vein, Kalu Kalu, a final year student of Industrial Mathematics in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, has emerged as the first winner of the first ever fans edition of Gulder Ultimate Search. The fans edition of Gulder Ultimate Search was hosted by Bob Manuel Udokwu. 

Android 4.4 KitKat updates announced by HTC and Motorola for existing devices

One of the annoying facts of Android is the lack of updates for existing devices when a new OS update is announced. It looks like HTC and Motorola are working to eliminate that frustration with an announcement that their latest products will be updated soon.

 Jason Mackenzie, president of HTC America, confirmed the HTC One would get the update within 15 to 90 days.

  The Google Play Edition should see Android 4.4 within 15 days, the unlocked model and Developer Edition within 30 days, and the carrier variants within 90 days.

Motorola also revealed that the Moto X, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, and Droid Mini will all be getting Android 4.4. There was no time frame reported for these updates.

   

   Many older devices, including the Galaxy Nexus, will not be upgraded to Android 4.4. It is difficult for Google and manufacturers to upgrade these older devices when internals are outdated while it is much easier for Apple to provide updates when they control the entire hardware and software environment.

Samsung announces Android 4.3 and its Galaxy Gear Support.

On Tuesday, Samsung announced that the Premium Suite software will be coming to the Galaxy S4, Note II, and Galaxy S III in the coming weeks with Android 4.3 and Galaxy Gear connectivity support.

Samsung has released Premium Suite upgrades in the past and like those updates, this one brings advanced functionality to current and recent generation Galaxy smartphones.

Samsung also stated that the Galaxy S4 Mini and Galaxy Mega will receive a Galaxy Gear update in the coming months.

In addition to Galaxy Gear compatibility and Android 4.3, the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy S III will see Easy Mode, Multi-Window enhancements, advanced camera options, and more new features to match what consumers with the Note 3 and Galaxy S4 experience. The timing for Premium Suite and features in the software updates will vary by wireless carrier and product model.