celebrity radar - gossips
EFCC Set To Move Against EL-Rafai,Obansanjo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC might storm Ota farm and Kaduna State to interrogate former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and current Kaduna Governor, Nasir EL- Rufai, over allegation of Abuja Rail way contract fraud.
This is coming after the Senate Committee on FCT on Monday, February 15, disclosed that Obasanjo and El-Rufai, awarded the Abuja Rail Project in 2007 at an inflated cost, with neither a design nor Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Chinese Civil Engineering and Construction Company, CCECC.
The committee said the contract, which stood at 60.67 kilometers, was inflated by ten million dollars per kilometers even as the original length of the project was later reduced to 45 kilometers without refund of the cost for the 15.67 kilometers cut off.
As at press time, efforts made by Post-Nigeria to confirm the planned interrogation of the duo from the spokesman of the EFCC proved abortive.
The Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye, has demanded the refund of the sum of 195,878,296.74 dollars being the sum allegedly funneled into private pockets.
Meanwhile, the Project Manager of the company, Etim Abak, said the contract was signed by the then FCT Minister without design and MOU, saying it was carried out based on what he simply identified as conceptual design.
“The contract was awarded based on conceptual design and estimates were not properly done. There was no formal design submitted and rail bridges and crossover bridges were not captured in the contract, “he told the committee,’’ Abak said.
Melaye, while speaking at the site, said his research showed that the rail project was inflated by over ten million dollars per kilometer, wondering why such corrupt act was perpetrated by the handlers of the project.
Melaye, said the entire project was shrouded in fraud, noting that the contract sum was $841.645,898 with project completion period put at 48 months.
“Now, you have reduced the length of the kilometre standard gauge from 60.67 kilometres to 45.245 kilometres, meanwhile, there is no concomitant reduction if you juxtapose the length of kilometres and the reduction in terms of the cost.
“If we are to spend 841 million dollars for 60.67 kilometres and now you have reduced to 45.245 kilometres and the only reduction in terms of monetary value is from 841.6 million dollars to 823 million and with reduction of just about 17 million dollars that to me is not commensurate to the reduction in terms of length.
“The Federal Government has so far invested 31.5 billion dollars and another 7.6 billion from the SURE-P fund and if you put these together, we have altogether 39.1 billion dollars invested in the rail project, leaving the balance of 113. 233,155.32 dollars.
“The sum of three billion dollars proposed in the 2016 national budget of the FCT for the rail project.
“If you look at this, I would want to say that I did a personal research and looked at rail construction of the same specifics, of the same technology across the globe and one cannot but complain that this railway project in Nigeria is on a very high side.” He said.
Melaye also questioned the rationale behind the government’s loan of 500 million dollars from Exim Bank of China for the project, adding that funds injected into the project by the federal government was far enough to execute the entire project.
“From my own calculation, in fact, from my comparison with other rail projects across the world, the federal government investment in this project is enough to execute the project without taking a loan as high as 500 million dollars from China.
”From our research and it’s very simple, the world is now a global village. As you are sitting here now, on your phone you can Google, even in India and Egypt. Fortunately, one of those projects in Zambia was also done by this same company, CCE.
“We have six countries and the average cost per kilometre, none is above four million dollars per kilometre. Why is the Nigerian project is costing 13.8 approximately 14 million dollars per kilometer,” Melaye stated.
celebrity radar - gossips
Former DSS Director’s Son, Abba Bichi Debunks False Claims of Fleeing After Alleged $2 Million Theft (video)
Former DSS Director’s Son, Abba Bichi Debunks False Claims of Fleeing After Alleged $2 Million Theft (video)
Abba Bichi, son of former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, has refuted claims circulating on an online news portal that he is on the run after allegedly stealing $2 million from his father.
The news, widely dismissed as fake, alleged that Abba fled with the stolen money. However, Abba, a professional footballer currently based in Abuja and exploring club opportunities in Germany, addressed the rumors in a podcast recorded inside a stadium in Germany.
In a video released online, Abba could be heard speaking to his father after his team had lost a match. His father, Yusuf Bichi, offered words of encouragement, saying, “In life, you win some and lose some.” The exchange also involved Abba’s coach, identified as Mr. Thomas, who mentioned that their next match would be against Bayer Leverkusen. Yusuf Bichi expressed optimism about the upcoming game, showing his continuous support for his son’s career.
The false report is the latest in a series of online attacks aimed at tarnishing the image of the former DSS boss, who served in his role for over six years with distinction.
How pro Kingsley Predicted Death of Star Ballet Dancer, Michaela DePrince
Sadly, Star Ballet singer, Ballerina Michaela Mabinty DePrince, who performed with Beyoncé and was seen by many as a trailblazer, has died at the age of 29.
Interestingly, popular mouthpiece of God, prophet Kingsley Aitafo gave a prophetic warning about her death. He revealed that prayer should be offered as he saw her passed away in a shock.
A spokesperson announced her death on her personal Instagram page and in a statement her family said she was an “unforgettable inspiration to everyone who knew her or heard her story”.
The cause of death has not been given.
DePrince made a remarkable journey from suffering as an orphan in war-torn Sierra Leone to numerous accolades in the world of international dance.
Her family said her death had been “sudden”, adding: “Michaela touched so many lives across the world, including ours.”
Tributes have been pouring in, including from others in the ballet community.
“Despite being told the ‘world wasn’t ready for black ballerinas’ or that ‘black ballerinas weren’t worth investing in,’ she remained determined, focused, and began making big strides,” American ballerina Misty Copeland wrote on social media.
Born in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in 1995, DePrince was sent to an orphanage at the age of three after both of her parents died during the civil war.
She has spoken in the past about how she was seen as a “devil’s child” in the orphanage because she suffered from vitiligo, a condition in which patches of skin lose pigmentation.
But she was adopted aged four by an American couple and moved to New Jersey. Her adoptive mother quickly noticed her obsession with ballet and enrolled her in classes.
She rose to fame after graduating from high school and made history as the youngest principal dancer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
DePrince has performed across the world, including in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” music video album.
She joined the prestigious Boston Ballet as a second soloist in 2021 and starred in the TV show Dancing with the Stars when she was just 17.
A dedicated humanitarian, DePrince also advocated for children affected by conflict and violence.
Her spokesperson wrote that her artistry “touched countless hearts” and her spirit had “inspired many, leaving an indelible mark on the world of ballet, and beyond”.
They added: “Her life was one defined by grace, purpose, and strength. Her unwavering commitment to her art, her humanitarian efforts, and her courage in overcoming unimaginable challenges will forever inspire us.
“She stood as a beacon of hope for many, showing that no matter the obstacles, beauty and greatness can rise from the darkest of places.”
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