Sanusi takes N25,000 per night for local trips —CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that its Governor, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, is only entitled to N25,000 per night for his local trips.

The bank said this in its reply to a letter by civil rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu requesting Sanusi to disclose, among others, his total monthly remuneration and other entitlements.

Bulk of Sanusi’s earnings, including the cost of his foreign trips, was however not disclosed, a development Aturu had said he was “not  completely satisfied with”.

Aturu had, through a letter dated December 31, 2012, requested for the information on the strength of the Freedom of Information Act.

The legal practitioner had also sought to know how much was Sanusi’s monthly impress and the cost of his trips within and outside the country.

Nigeria needs total cleansing – Bakare

Convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said Nigeria needs total cleansing to purge it of corruption and bad leadership.

Bakare, the President Overseer, Latter Rain Assembly, spoke while delivering a sermon on the state of the nation at the church in Lagos on Sunday.

Bakare said, “Nigeria needs total cleansing. We need what happens in Ghana to happen in Nigeria to send a shock wave to the corrupt people in the country. The corrupt people will think of the grave consequences of their actions before they embark on corruption.

“The entire system is rotten. We need more than overhaul of the system. We need a constitution from the people; the one that is not imposed on them.”

On the issue of planned mergers among some parties, Bakare said such would only work if the driving force behind it was for Nigerians to move forward.

“We want good people to emerge. Else, we will be shooting ourselves in the leg again. I am for the merger, if it is for the rebuilding of the nation,” he said.

PUNCH

Muhammad Ali Could Have Days to Live

Muhammad Ali's brother, Rahman Ali, told The Sun "it could be days. I don't know if he'll last the summer. He's in God's hands."

Rahman also said "the worst thing to happen is not the illness, but his wife."

Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1984, and his fragile appearance at the 2012 Olympics led to widespread comment. He was aided at the opening ceremony by his wife Lonnie. Rahman says Lonnie refuses to let the family visit the ailing legend and Muhammad Ali Jr. claims he's been "blocked" from visiting his father as well.

Presidency threatens to return 2013 budget to N-Assembly

After many meetings between the National Assembly and the Presidency on the 2013 budget, there were indications Sunday that the Presidency might throw back the appropriation bill at the legislature.

The Presidency is unhappy with the final packaging of the budget, which saw an inexplicable ‘padding’ of N63 billion by the lawmakers and zero allocation to the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, over irreconcilable differences with its Director General, Arunma Oteh.
Jonathan had sent a proposal of N4.92 trillion to the National Assembly in October 2012 but when the lawmakers passed the budget in December 20, 2012, they jerked up the figure to N4.987 trillion.
They are insisting that Jonathan must first sack Oteh in line with their resolution before any amount is appropriated for the commission.

Hon. Patrick Obahiangbor's Congratulatory Message to the Super Eagles

 

"Its my emblem pleasure to congratulate our Superior Melofarm exclamagated Bermasaur on their recent victory against ivory coast. As the refermed, solid giants are to face winners of the later game in an uncavoured camfamgnam match, my empyrean paradisiac rendezvous advice to the Super Eagles is for them to recumbently metragaloblicly believe in God. If possible, they should parademically paralyze their pistulated orthodexial legs. I wish them arxiatical luck”

‘I was never a stripper’ – Karen Igho

In this interview, 27-year-old Karen Igho reveals to Nigerian Entertainment Today how she managed to survive the many controversies that trailed her victory at the 2011 BBA, her relationship with eccentric VJ, Denrele and her plans for the future.

What has changed about you since you won the show in 2011?

I am still Karen Igho, but a mature one. A lot has changed. I am older and wiser now. You will not catch me doing certain things. I have seen life in a different way and I know a lot more now.

How does it feel being the reigning Nigerian with the Big Brother crown?

I feel very honoured and privileged that I still have the position as the last Nigerian winner of the show. However, I must add that to win the BBA is not a joke, whoever will, has to be a lot more entertaining than myself, Uti and Kevin Pam put together. I just think it is not time yet for a Nigerian. It’s just the right person needed.

I still have two more years with Eagles — Yobo

Now playing in his sixth Africa Cup of Nations and having starred in 91 games for Nigeria — the record appearance by a Nigerian player — Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, looks ahead to the future, saying he has only two years to spend in the national team.
The Rivers-born defender has seen it all in the Eagles- injuries, criticisms, praises and rebuke- since making his debut in 2001 and moving on to become Nigeria’s most capped footballer ever.
“This is my sixth Nations Cup appearance and it’s a great achievement. I did not know that I would get this far in my career. I have had bad injuries and I thank God that I am out of it now,” the 32-year-old said.
“I feel like a 22-year-old player. If I stay out of injury in the next two years, I may still come to one more Nations Cup. But I am in South Africa for this competition so I have to concentrate on that for now.