Presidency Reacts To Brouhaha Over Buhari’s Telegraph Interview

The State House has described as misconstrued, the various interpretations of President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments in an interview granted to the UK’s Telegraph newspaper on February 5.

In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, said that the wave of negative reactions to the President’s remarks about the reputation of Nigerians abroad was as a result of an incomplete understanding of President Buhari’s point.

“President Buhari was asked about the flood of migrants from Nigeria and the fraudulent applications for asylum put in by people desperate to leave their motherland at any cost, and it was this question that elicited his response,” Mr Shehu said, encouraging Nigerians to avail themselves of a full text of the interview, which has now been made available on the Telegraph’s website.

The President’s spokesman added that it was preposterous for anyone to imagine that the President of Nigeria would describe all the citizens of the country he leads as criminals, when he himself is a Nigerian – obviously not a criminal – and when there are many Nigerians of honest living making their country proud all over the world.

“Unfortunately, there are also Nigerians giving their country a bad image abroad and it is to those Nigerians that the President referred in his comments,” he said.

Mr Shehu maintained that people may play politics and online games with the President’s comments, but the fact of the matter remained that Nigeria’s reputation abroad has been severely damaged by her own citizens.

“These Nigerians who leave their country to go and make mischief on foreign shores have given the rest of us a bad reputation that we daily struggle to overcome,” he said.

The President’s aide called attention to the many efforts of President Buhari to clean up Nigeria’s image such as the war on corruption, stating that “Acknowledging you have a problem is the first step to preferring a solution.

“President Buhari is very aware of the problems the people of Nigeria face both at home and abroad; and he is not shying away from admitting them even as he focuses on solutions to bring them to a permanent end,” he said.

With Channel TV

Court rejects Kanu’s request for his seized passports, money

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed an application by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biaf‎ra, Nnamdi Kanu, for the release of certain items, including his British and Nigeria passports, which are in the custody of the Department of State Service.

Justice James Tsoho dismissed the application made orally by Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Chuks Muouma (SAN), who had sought the release of the items because they would not be needed by the prosecution since they were not listed as part of exhibits to be tendered.

Apart from the passports, other items which Muouma sought to be released to the IPOB leader who is currently in detention at Kuje prison along with his two co-accuse, are cash sums of $2,200 and N87,000, The PUNCH reported.

Justice Tsoho, in dismissing the application for lacking in merit, insisted that the fact that the items were not listed as possible exhibits did not foreclose the possibility of their being later used by the prosecution as exhibits.

‎He then adjourned the case till February 19 for the hearing of an application by the prosecution for protection of its witnesses.

The judge, before adjourning the case,  granted the request by the defence lawyer to the effect that relations of the accused persons be allowed in the court room subject to security screening and the capacity of the court room.

Kanu, David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu are being prosecuted on six counts of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession ‎of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

‎Justice Tsoho had on January 29 denied bail to Kanu and the two other defendants and ordered that they remained on remand pending the period of their trial.

The judge in rejecting the accused persons’ bail application, held that they were not entitled to bail as they failed to challenge the allegation by the prosecution that they would continue to commit the alleged crime for which they were being prosecuted if granted bail.

Kanu was in the custody of the Department of State Service from the time of his arrest in a Lagos hotel on October 14, 2015 till January 20, 2016, when he was transferred to prison by an order of Justice Tsoho , shortly after he was arraigned along with two others.

Popular Yoruba actor, Arakangudu, is dead

Top Yoruba actor, Sikiru Adeshina, popularly called Arakangudu, died between late Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday, The Punch reported.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone from his base in Ekiti State, veteran thespian, Chief Jimoh Aliu, said those with the late actor broke the news of his death to him on Tuesday morning.

“I was called by those who were with him and told that he died after making a noise from his sleep,” Aliyu said. “They told me he died early this morning.”

Apart from acting, late Adesina produced movies like Ilu Gangan, Idunnu Mi, Ogbologbo, Iya Oju Ogun, Agbede Ogun, Ere Agbere among others.

Prosecutor Closes Case In Metuh’s Trial

The prosecution has closed its case against the spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Olisa Metuh.

The case was closed after the 8th prosecution witness briefed the court on how Mr Metuh had destroyed his statement during investigation by the anti-graft agency, according to Channel TV.

Under cross examination, the witness, Mr Junaid Sa’id, said that after Mr Metuh had written in his statement that the monies he received from the Office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki, was for campaign activities as approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan and for the payment of his personal debt.

He added that about 77.5 million was allegedly paid to one CMC Connect for campaign publicity for the PDP while 25 million was giving to one Abba Dabo for the same purpose.

The witness, who is an investigative officer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also told the court that the National Women Leader of the PDP, Kema Chikwe, got five million Naira from the said money while the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Tony Anenih, received the sum of 21.7 billion Naira.

He also told Justice Obong Abang that 500 million Naira was paid in two tranches to a company, Daniel Ford International, by Mr Metuh for the purchase of a landed property at Banana Island in Lagos State.

The witness said that ‎investigations revealed that the former NSA had on November 27, 2014, made a 10 billion Naira withdrawal from the Central Bank of Nigeria and converted same to $47 million which was shared to some PDP party members at its national convention.

According to him, the two million dollars allegedly laundered by the PDP spokesman is strongly linked to the said withdrawal.

It was four days after the disbursements that Mister Metuh gave the money to his then wealth manager, Nneka Ararume, he claimed.

The official of the EFCC further told the court that out of the 400 million Naira that was fraudulently transferred to Mr Metuh and his company by the former NSA, the accused person kept 50 million Naira for himself

But when asked if there was any documentary evidence to substantiate his testimony, the witness ‎answered in the negative.

‎The trial judge then adjourned the case till February 18 for the defence to open its case.

Women in Jordan fight for their rights

SheFighter, the first gym in Jordan to provide specialised self-defence and martial arts training for women, was founded in 2012 and commended last year in a speech by US President Barack Obama.

Founder Lina Khalifeh says the gym's methodology unites classic martial arts techniques with self-defence and self-empowerment strategies, noting: "Training in SheFighter has a bigger impact on women's lives than 10 conferences on women's rights."

Years ago, Khalifeh said that she decided to begin teaching self-defence after she saw a colleague being physically abused by her brother. Today, SheFighter has trained more than 3,000 women, and Khalifeh hosts workshops outside the capital Amman and at universities. She is aiming to expand further, opening more gyms, both in and outside Jordan.

Each week, a stream of young women pour into the gym to learn self-defence and have fun. "She angry, SheFighter!" they scream at the end of each training session.

With Aljazeera

Dead baby resurrects just before burial

A Chinese baby boy who was declared dead and spent the night in a morgue showed signs of life just as he was about to be cremated, local TV reported.

Workers at the crematorium in Pan’an in the eastern province of Zhejiang were preparing to cremate the baby on Friday when he suddenly starting moaning, provincial television reported.

The boy had been declared dead the day before and had spent 15 hours in the morgue at a temperature of about -12 degrees Celsius (10.4 F).

After finding the child alive, the crematorium notified his father and the baby was taken to a hospital intensive care unit.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen this. It’s a true miracle,” said a doctor at the Pan’an hospital where the infant was born prematurely in January.

The child spent 23 days in an incubator and was then taken home by his father, who wanted him there for the start of the Lunar New Year which began Monday.

But the baby’s condition worsened a few days after returning home. He was declared dead on February 4 after a doctor decided his heart had stopped beating.

Before the baby was sent to the morgue, his father had wrapped him in two layers of clothing and a thick bag which may have saved his life.

However, doctors are cautious about his chances of recovery.

Breaking News: Andy Murray celebrates becoming a father after wife Kim gives birth to a baby daughter

Parents: Andy and Kim Murray have had a baby daughter, the couple's first child

Andy Murray has become a father after his wife Kim gave birth to a daughter, the couple's first child.

The tennis star had promised to fly home from the Australian Open if his wife went into labour during the tournament, and after losing in the final he said he would be on 'the first flight home' in an emotional message.

The Murrays' daughter was born on Sunday night, according to reports.

The baby girl, whose name has not yet been revealed, is the youngest member of Britain's foremost tennis family.

Mr Murray's brother Jamie won the Australian Open doubles championship last month, while his mother Judy is a successful coach who captains the British women's tennis team.

The new parents, both 28, have been together since they were teenagers, and they married last April in Mr Murray's hometown of Dunblane before announcing the pregnancy in the summer.

Among the hundreds of fans congratulating the couple today was Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who wrote on Twitter: 'Lovely news. Congratulations to @andy_murray and Kim on the birth of their daughter. Wishing every happiness. Congratulations to the (very glam) grandma @judmoo [Judy Murray] too!'

Presenter Gabby Logan added: 'Kim and Andy Murray have had a baby girl - huge congrats @judmoo - great news for Fed Cup team 2036...' 

Angus Robertson, the SNP's leader in Westminster, tweeted: 'Congratulations to Andy Murray and Kim Sears on the birth of their daughter.'

Speaking before his latest tournament, the world number two predicted that his life would have to change after he became a father.

'My child is more important to me, and my wife is more important to me, than a tennis match,' he said.

'It's a big change for me and my wife, but that's the current priority and I'll see after that.'

After being defeated by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, Mr Murray addressed Kim directly in a choked-up speech in front of the global TV audience.

He said: 'You've been a legend the last two weeks, thank you for all your support. I'll be on the next 

The family had a scare during a tournament when Mrs Murray's father Nigel Sears collapsed while watching Ana Ivanovic, the player he coaches, in her third-round match.

The 58-year-old was later cleared to fly back to the UK and Mr Murray said previously he would have pulled out of the tournament if there had been any doubts about his father-in-law's health. 

The player has already announced his plan to skip two tournaments in February and take the whole month off.

His next match is likely to be in the Davis Cup, where Great Britain are taking on Japan in the tournament's first round starting on March 4.  

The family had a scare during a tournament when Mrs Murray's father Nigel Sears collapsed while watching Ana Ivanovic, the player he coaches, in her third-round match. 

He will then play in the French Open - the only Grand Slam tournament where he has never reached the final.

Judy Murray recently spoke of her excitement at become a grandmother - but promised not to get involved in teaching the new arrival tennis, saying she had had enough of coaching her family.

'When it happens I shall be an active granny,' she told Hello! this week. 'My mum Shirley was very involved with Jamie and Andy when they were growing up and I hope to be the same with my grandchild.

'I'm actually looking forward to cutting back on my work and spending more time with my parents, and yes, the new baby.'

With daily mail

Power Minister Says Tariff Hike Will Attract Investment

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, says the new electrify tariff is the first major decision that will attract needed investment in the sector, according to Channel TV.

Fashola’s comment in Lagos on Monday came just as the Nigeria Labour Congress the Trade Union Congress and their allies held nationwide protest against the tariff hike of 45 per cent.

“The question on the lips of everybody is; why can’t we have power first before we pay?

“I wish we could do that, but if they understood that power business is funded from finance from banks. So, no bank is going to lend money to you if you can’t show a recovery price.

“That is the reason we can’t have power first before tariff. It has to be produced before we have it and it has to be paid for.

“The supplier of gas is not going to supply unless he sees his cash,” the Minister explained.

On the protest by the unions, Mr Fashola urged them not to start a new fight, saying “we don’t need one”.

“In any event, there are part of the employee of all these DISCOs and GENCOs that are still working, so let’s get to productivity. Let’s stop fighting (and) let’s produce.”

On the level of electricity supply which the unions are insisting must improve before a new tariff is issued, the Minister said that the capacity Nigeria had in January had never been reached before.

“In the last week of January, we recorded all time high generation of 5,000mw. Nigeria has never reached that level of generation (and) we need a lot more.

“But even with that 5,000mw, there is a lot of service work that needs to go on so that people can access the power.

“So not paying for power, you are disrupting the system; diverting lines, you are disrupting the system; vandalising pipes, you are disrupting the system, you are cheating the system, it is part of anti-corruption (and) everybody must pay for what he uses.

After a meeting with operators in the power sector, the Minister also inspected a transmission facility under construction.

He urged the contractor to expedite action so that incremental supply could be experienced.

Oil prices up slightly after sharp sell-off

Oil prices rose in Asia on Tuesday after a three-day sell-off that saw the US benchmark sink back below $30 a barrel, but analysts said the supply glut and world economic weakness would keep a lid on the commodity.

The pick-up in the two contracts comes despite a rout across Asian equity markets fuelled by renewed worries about the global outlook.

Traders had sent oil prices plunging Monday as talks between Saudi Arabia and Venezuela on bringing stability to the market came to nothing.

There had been hopes the Saudis would support calling a meeting of the OPEC producers’ group — of which it is the key member — but it was unwilling to do so.

OPEC has refused to cut output as it tries to maintain market share in the face of competition from US shale.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for March delivery sank 3.9 percent to $29.69 and Brent shed 3.5 percent to $32.88 Monday.

On Tuesday WTI was up 31 cents, or 1.0 percent, at $30.00 and Brent gained two cents, or 0.1 percent, to $32.90, a day before the US releases official data on its reserves which are at their highest levels since 1930.

Crude prices have crashed more than 70 percent since mid-2014, hit by a perfect storm of overproduction, oversupply, weak demand, a slowing global economy and a strong dollar.

Added to that is the imminent arrival of Iranian output onto world markets after international sanctions linked to its nuclear programme were lifted.

“It’s a particularly volatile and difficult time for oil,” Ric Spooner, a chief analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told Bloomberg News.

The market would continue to experience oversupply for the next few months, Spooner said. “We have Iran back on, there’s been no significant cut in US production and inventories are high, which means the downside pressure is there.”

With The Guardian

Casey Anthony opens West Palm Beach photography business

Casey Anthony has opened a photography business roughly five years after she was acquitted for murder in her daughter's death, records revealed Monday.

Anthony, 29, filed papers in November effective Jan. 1 to open Case Photography in West Palm Beach, Fla., according to the state Division of Corporations.

                                                             JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES

                                         Casey Anthony leaves custody with her lawyer in 2011.                                      

The Cortez Rd. home listed in the $160 filing belongs to private investigator Patrick McKenna, who acted as her team’s lead private investigator, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

She was cleared in 2011 of murder charges in the death of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee in a case that drew national attention.

                                                                    ANONYMOUS/AP

          Her daughter Caylee's remains were found dead 2008.

McKenna had years earlier found the tapes with Los Angeles police Detective Mark Fuhrman using racist language that discredited him during the O.J. Simpson trial.

Anthony didn’t immediately return requests Monday night for comment on a phone number and email address listed in the filing. McKenna didn’t immediately return a call to his office and declined the Sentinel’s request for an interview outside his home.

We’ll probe Okonjo-Iweala, Diezani soon, says EFCC

                                                                    Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will soon begin the probe of the nation’s oil and gas industry as part of the current anti-corruption war of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The roles of some principal officers in the former Goodluck Jonathan administration, including the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; her counterpart in the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and an oil magnate, will come under intense scrutiny.

The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, said this in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes to defend the commission’s 2016 budget proposals.

In his presentation before the lawmakers on Monday, Magu tactically avoided giving direct answers to questions on whether Alison-Madueke would come under the searchlight of the agency.

The anti-graft agency’s boss merely responded to such questions by saying, “The commission will soon move into the petroleum sector”, but called on the National Assembly to support the efforts of the agency by making more funds available for its operations.

Shortly after the presentation of the EFCC’s chairman, however, a member of the committee, Mr. Razak Atunwa, told reporters that Magu actually informed the committee that Alison-Madueke, Okonjo-Iweala and the oil baron would be investigated.

Atunwa was the lawmaker, who asked Magu the question on whether the commission would probe the oil sector.

Atunwa added, “I said the EFCC has recovered a lot of money for Nigeria and he (Magu) mentioned that in that regard, more sectors of the economy are likely to come under investigative activities.

“I said ‘will it include the petroleum sector’? He said, ‘yes’. And I said ‘would it include investigating the following people – Diezani Alison-Madueke, Okonjo-Iweala and a particular oil magnate’, and he said ‘yes’; those people are already under their investigative radar.”

The PUNCH had, in October last year, reported that Switzerland might extradite the oil marchant to the United Kingdom.

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, in an email to the newspaper, had confirmed that the UK had sought for mutual legal assistance from its country.

In an e-mail sent to it, the office of the AGF of Switzerland was asked if it had received extradition request from the UK on the businessman.

It was also asked to specify the time the extradition process would begin and when he would be extradited.

In his response, Nathalie Guth of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, said, “I refer to your request of today and we can confirm that the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has received a request for mutual legal assistance from England in this context.”

Magu told the lawmakers that at a time the commission was stepping up the anti-graft war, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning cut its overheads by over N1bn this year.

He added that while the EFCC proposed N2.9bn as overheads, the ministry slashed it to N1.3bn, a figure, he said, represented a shortfall of N1.6bn, “or 116 per cent.”

He complained that the budget cut would affect the operations of the agency, particularly investigations into corruption allegations.

“The areas that will be adversely affected are investigative activities, manpower development and maintenance of logistics.”

Although he admitted being aware that government’s revenue had dwindled due to a sharp fall in crude oil prices, Magu argued that corruption-fighting was capital-intensive.

He appealed to the committee to consider approving additional N500m for “operational activities as more sectors of the economy may come under investigative activities during the year.”

Magu also spoke of plans by the agency to recruit 750 personnel this year in its bid to build its core members of staff and reduce the number of its operatives on secondment from other organisations.

Ironically, the budget ministry cut the EFCC’s personnel cost for this year by 6.5 per cent.

In 2015, the personnel cost for 2,173 employees was N7.1bn.

But in the 2016 budget, the budget ministry reduced it to N6.6bn, a decrease of “N463.2m.”

The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Kayode Oladele, nonetheless, made promises that the House would look into the complaints of the EFCC.

He said, “As we all know, the current economic downturn has drastically reduced projected earnings for the 2016 fiscal year.

“Despite the paucity of funds, the funding of the EFCC remains a priority for the government.

“The committee shall support the vision of elevating the EFCC to sustain the current anti-corruption crusade.”

With The Punch

Fear grips perm secs, directors over budget-padding probe

Fears have gripped some directors and permanent secretaries in many ministries, departments and agencies of government over revelations by the Presidency that bogus figures were injected into the 2016 budget.

Our correspondent gathered on Monday that many of the top government officials, who had been saddled with the responsibility of preparing the budget in their respective agencies, had become jittery that they could be probed.

Presidency sources had, on Saturday, revealed attempts by a ‘budget mafia’ in the Federal Government’s bureaucracy to scuttle innovations introduced into the budget by inflating figures.

It was learnt that the mafia proposed a budget of N9.7tn for capital spending and overheads, excluding personnel cost, as against the Presidency’s initial total estimate of about N8tn.

The group was said to have proposed N3tn as overheads alone out of the N9.7tn, a figure the Presidency later slashed to N163bn.

The source in the Presidency, who claimed that the mafia was responsible for the controversial provisions in the eventual N6.07tn budget sent to the National Assembly by the Presidency, added, “These bureaucrats also proposed to spend N2.1trn on personnel for the 2016 estimate compared to about N1.8tn in the 2015 budget.”

A director in one of the ministries confided in our correspondent that many of his colleagues were startled about the revelation from the Presidency, stating that heads would roll as a result of the scam.

The director, who described the extent of padding of the budget as mind-blowing, stated that while the issue of padding of budget was not new, the magnitude of figure involved in the current scam was huge.

The source said, “What we read in the news about the padding of the budget by some civil servants who the Presidency referred to as constituting a ‘budget mafia’ is very alarming.

“It tells you the extent of the rot we have in the civil service. But I think this time the civil service is in for a serious trouble because the body language of the President is that of zero tolerance for corruption.

“Everyone in the civil service knows that this government is out to fight corruption and from the recent revelation, the level of fear and anxiety in the civil service, particularly those at the peak of their careers, has been heightened.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered also on Monday that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, would on Tuesday (today) appear before the National Assembly to defend the ministry’s budget and that of its parastatals for the 2016 fiscal year.

Top officials in the ministry confided in our correspondent that the minister would appear alongside Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, the minister of state, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatimah Mede, and other top directors in the ministry.

In the 2016 budget, the ministry has a total allocation of N7.89bn for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure with a capital vote of N3.19bn for capital, giving a total allocation of N11.08bn.

Udoma and his officials in the ministry would be facing the lawmakers for the first time since Saturday when the claims of budget padding was made.

The National Assembly had on Sunday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to institute a high-powered panel to investigate the alleged padding of the 2016 budget by some top civil servants.

The House of Representatives said top civil servants responsible for the padding should be prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.

The Senate, on its part, had said besides probing the padding, Udoma should also be sanctioned.

The senators argued that civil servants could not have perpetrated the embarrassing act alone without the connivance and collaboration of the Budget Office, supervised by Udoma.

Speaking through the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, in Abuja, the House expressed happiness that it was the Presidency that discovered the alleged fraud.

Namdas recalled that in the past, the National Assembly was easily blamed for such malpractices “even where the legislature knew nothing about them.”

He added that having admitted that it had identified the culprits, the Presidency should immediately commence the process of prosecuting them.

Attempts to get the comments of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning on the issue of budget padding raised by Buhari were not successful.

Calls and a text message sent to the mobile phone of the Director, Information in the ministry, Mr. Charles Dafe, were not replied as of 6.30pm when this report was filed.

With The Punch

Senators clash over S’Court ruling on Saraki’s CCT trial

The verdict of the Supreme Court which validated the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, has triggered a showdown between Saraki loyalists and the Senate Unity Forum ahead of the resumption of plenary next Tuesday.

A statement issued by Senate Spokesman, Saabi Aliu Abdullahi, yesterday disclosed that an unspecified number of senators met Sunday night to review the decision of the Supreme Court and resolved to continue to support the Senate President until the conclusion of the trial. According to the statement, the Senators ‎rejected calls for Saraki to resign. It described the trial as a politically motivated persecution initiated to settle scores with the Senate President.

The statement tagged “CCT vs Saraki: Our Stand Remains The Same”reads: “Following a meeting held in Abuja yesterday by some Senators and the wide consultations with our colleagues in which we reviewed last Friday’s decision of the Supreme Court in the appeal on the preliminary matters filed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on the charges filed against him at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), we hereby resolve as follows: That from the beginning of the trial last September, we have declared that this case is not about any fight against corruption. It is simply a case of political vendetta. Our position remains the same. We still believe that the case is politically motivated, The Guardian reported.

“We also noted that the decision of the Supreme Court given last Friday was on preliminary matters arising from the commencement of the trial. The trial proper is yet to begin, and since the fundamental principle in our legal system is that a defendant is deemed innocent until proven guilty, we have decided to patiently observe the proceedings until the case runs its full circle in the nation’s final judicial forum.

“It is on this ground that we want to state categorically that there is no basis for the call on the Senate President to resign until after the matter is decided in that final judicial forum. Such a call at this time is premature, mischievous and unwarranted.

“We therefore, reiterate our support for Saraki as the President of the Senate. We stand by him as he goes through the trial at the CCT where we believe he will be able to prove his innocence”.

Khloe Kardashian single again, split with James Harden weeks ago: report

Kardashian was linked to the Houston Rockets player James Harden since July. 

James Harden is no longer keeping up with Khloe Kardashian.

The 31-year-old reality starlet ended things with the Houston Rockets player —and the romance has been gone for some time, according to US Weekly magazine.

“She dumped him weeks ago," an insider told the gossip magazine.

The news comes after months of rumors that the couple were stationed in Splitsville.

Just this weekend, the younger Kardashian was spotted hiking with Lamar Odom — whom she is technically still married to.

The pair were joined by Kim Kardashian on Sunday before they tuned into the Super Bowl.

ALL ACCESS PHOTO GROUP/ALL ACCESS PHOTO GROUP

Khloe Kardashian is back on the market after reportedly splitting from James Harden.

While dating Harden, Kardashian stood by Odom’s side as he continues to recover following an alcohol and drugs binge in a Nevada brothel in October.

Kardashian married the 14-year NBA veteran in 2009 after one month of dating and was set to divorce the former basketball star prior to his near-death experience.

She has said she put off the proceedings to support Odom with medical decisions.

The “Kocktails with Khloe” host briefly put her relationship with Harden on hold as she tended to a hospitalized Odom.

But the divorce delay didn’t stop Kardashian from rekindling with Harden a few weeks later, when the two were spotted partying at a Hollywood nightclub.

“James has been great. He's been very supportive with everything," she told Ryan Seacrest in November.

Most recently, the pair shared a passionate New Year’s kiss.

But even as sparks flew, the couple was plagued with romantic hardships.

During the same month, Harden was photographed at a strip joint with Tyga, Kylie Jenner’s boyfriend.

The couple was first linked last July, following Kardashian’s split from French Montana — her first publicized relationship since splitting with Odom.

And, in the past few weeks, Kardashian has taken to social media to post several motivation quotes on love.

“You owe yourself the love that you so freely give to other people,” she wrote a few days ago.

SEE IT: O.J. Simpson's infamous white Bronco has been rediscovered, and it's in perfect condition

A mystery surrounding O.J. Simpson’s murder trial that has spanned over two decades could finally be solved on Tuesday.

Simpson’s infamous white Ford Bronco has been discovered, Inside Edition claims.

The owner, whose identity will be revealed on Tuesday, claims that he’s hidden Simpson’s getaway ride for years in prime condition inside his California garage.

O.J. Simpson's White Ford Bronco rides again... this time out of a garage in California.

“It’s iconic,” he said about the 1993 Ford Bronco.

The owner claims to have kept it in such good condition that he hasn’t driven more than 20 miles on the Bronco.

The white Bronco was made famous by O.J. Simpson's getaway attempt in 1994, with a revolver pressed against his head.

His care for the car deeply contrasted with Simpson’s treatment of the Bronco, who infamously lead cops on a low-speed chase through California's freeways for over an hour in 1994.

The owner told Inside Edition that he’s treating the Bronco as an investment.

The Bronco’s claim to fame came when 95 million viewers watched Simpson attempt to flee at 40 mph, ending after the former football star surrendered to police.

It was the nation’s first televised car chase. Two years later, Ford discontinued the Bronco line in 1996.

The Daily News front page when O.J. Simpson was acquitted for murder.

The notorious ride was reported to have been sold for $200,000 in 1996 to an anonymous buyer, but shifted hands several times since.

It was once in the hands of “porn king” Michael Pulwer, but was recently bought by a collector who picked up the Bronco for a reported $75,000.

“It’s well taken care of. It’s not on the street,” Pulwer told the Daily News in 2014.

Simpson’s murder trial has recently resurfaced after“American Crime Story” focused its dramatic series on the case surrounding Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman’s death.

Tuesday’s episode of “The People v.s. O.J. Simpson” is also expected to feature a re-enactment of the infamous car chase featuring the white Bronco.

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