Nigerian Leaders Stole N3.047trn For 10 Years

Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washington-based research and advocacy organization, in its newly released report, has said that out of the 20 biggest exporters of illicit financial flows for decades, Nigeria occupies the 7th position with $19.66 billion (N3.047trn).
It said Nigeria, termed the 7th biggest money laundering country in the world, exported $19.66 billion by leaders who had access to the nation’s money between 2000 and 2010.
The report, which was co-authored by GFI’s Lead Economist, Dev Kar, and GFI’s Economist, Sarah Freitas, is the first by the organisation in incorporating a new, more conservative estimate of illicit financial flows.
It facilitates comparisons with previous estimates from GFI updates and identifies crime, corruption and tax evasion as biggest channels with nearly $6 trillion stolen from poor countries within the decade and $859 billion in 2010.
According to the report, China is leading the pack with $274 billion average ($2.74 trillion cumulative); followed by Mexico with $47.6 billion avg. ($476 billion cum.); Malaysia, $28.5 billion avg. ($285 billion cum.); Saudi Arabia, $21.0 billion avg. ($210 billion cum.); Russia, $15.2 billion avg. ($152 billion cum.); and Philippines, $13.8 billion avg. ($138 billion cum.).
“Astronomical sums of dirty money continue to flow out of the developing world and into offshore tax havens and developed country banks. Regardless of the methodology, it’s clear developing economies are hemorrhaging more and more money at a time when rich and poor nations alike are struggling to spur economic growth.
“This report should be a wake-up call to world leaders that more must be done to address these harmful outflows,” Raymond Baker, GFI director said.
Kar explained further: “The estimates provided by either methodology are still likely to be extremely conservative as they do not include trade mispricing in services, same-invoice trade mispricing, secret transactions, and dealings conducted in bulk cash. This means that much of the proceeds of drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities, which are often settled in cash, are not included in these estimates.”
The report goes further, “The $858.8 billion of illicit outflows lost in 2010, is a significant uptick from 2009, which saw developing countries lose $776.0 billion under the new methodology.
“This has very big consequences for developing economies. Poor countries lost nearly a trillion dollars that could have been used to invest in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. It’s nearly a trillion dollars that could have been used to pull people out of poverty and save lives.”
Naij.com

Former basketball star stabbed to death by wife, caught him looking at child pórnography

A former basketball star was allegedly stabbed to death in his sleep by his wife after she caught him looking at child pórnography, it has been claimed.
Maria Rey Garcia-Pellon used two knives to murder Matthew White in the early hours of Monday morning at their suburban home in Media, Pennsylvania.
The teacher reportedly stabbed her husband - who played for the University of Pennsylvania and led the Penn Quakers to the Final Four in 1979's NCAA Tournament - several times in the throat. The 53-year-old, who also played professionally for the Portland Trail Blazers and in Spain, woke up during the frenzied assault and tried to fight her off.

Matthew White (21), right, was found stabbed in the neck Monday, Feb. 11 in bed at his home in Philadelphia, police said.

But he was too weak and soon succumbed to his injuries and died, reports Philly Garcia-Pellon, who also attended the prestigious Ivy League university, reportedly told police: "I caught him looking at pórnography, young girls, I love kids. I had to do it."
After the attack, she changed her clothes and went to a friend's house. Police were called to the couple's home and White was found dead in his bed.
Garcia-Pellon also arrived at the home, where officers arrested her and charged her with first-degree murder.

TalkOfNaija

Pregnant women who take folic acid could reduce their child’s risk of autism

 by Daily Mail Reporter

* Reduced risk seen in mothers who took folic acid from four weeks before to eight weeks after pregnancy start.

* Taking supplement up to 12 weeks of pregnancy known to protect against spina difida 

Women who take folic acid supplements early in their pregnancy may reduce their child’s risk of autism by 40 per cent, a study found.

But mothers-to-be should start taking them four weeks before conceiving and eight weeks afterwards to get the full benefit for their unborn child.

The timing of taking prenatal supplements is critical, scientists warn.

Folic acid - Vitamin B9 - is required for DNA synthesis and repairs. It’s naturally occurring form, folate, is found in leafy vegetables, peas, lentils, beans, eggs, yeast, and liver.

Folic acid is known to protect against spina bifida and other neural tube defects in children but the latest research, which looks at more than 85,000 babies born in Norway between 2002 and 2008, shows that it may offer protection against Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Epidemiologist Pel Surin of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said: ‘We examined the rate of autism spectrum disorders in children born to mothers who did or did not take folic acid during pregnancy.

‘There was a dramatic reduction in the risk of autistic disorder in children born to mothers who took folic acid supplements.’

Since 1998 the Norwegian health authorities recommended that all women planning to become pregnant take a daily supplement of folic acid from one month before the start of pregnancy.

Scientists looked at the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study and its sub-study of autism, the Autism Birth Cohort Study in which 85,176 babies born between 2002 and 2008 participated.

In the study, published Journal of the American Medical Association, expectant mother’s dietary habits were recorded and families were regularly surveyed for three to 10 years to measure the development of autism spectrum disorders.

A total of 270 cases of autism spectrum disorders were identified in the study population - 114 autistic disorder; 56 Asperger syndrome; and 100 atypical or unspecified autism, otherwise known as pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

The study found mothers who took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy had a 40 per cent reduced risk of having children with autistic disorder compared with mothers who did not take the supplement.

The reduction in risk for autistic disorder - the most severe form - was observed in those who took folic acid from 4 weeks before to 8 weeks after the start of pregnancy.

No reduction in risk was observed for atypical or unspecified autism while for Asperger syndrome the number of children was too low to obtain sufficient evidence.

The study found the use of folic acid in early pregnancy increased substantially from 2002, 43 per cent, to 2008, 85 per cent, among women who participated in the Norwegian research.

However, many women began taking folic acid later than recommended, and only half started before the beginning of pregnancy

The researchers also analysed whether the risk of autistic disorder was influenced by the use of other dietary supplements, such as cod liver oil and omega-3 fatty acids or vitamins and minerals, but found not link.

In recent years, researchers have started to investigate whether folic acid has other beneficial effects on the development of the foetus’ brain and spinal cord.

A study of language development in the Norwegian cohort published in 2011 showed that children whose mothers took folic acid supplements in early pregnancy had only half the risk of severe language delay at age three years compared with other children.

A separate 2011 study from the University of California demonstrated a lower risk of autism spectrum disorders in children of mothers who had used prenatal vitamin supplements during pregnancy.

Prenatal vitamin supplements contain folic acid in combination with other vitamins and minerals.

Professor of Epidemiology Ezra Susser at Columbia University added: ‘Our findings extend earlier work on the significance of folate in brain development and raise the possibility of an important and inexpensive public health intervention for reducing the burden of autism spectrum disorders.’

DailyTrust

Every player at 2014 World Cup must have biological passport – FIFA

By Bisola Adeniran

Every player at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be required to have a biological passport, the sport’s world governing body FIFA announced on Friday.
FIFA intend to introduce the system of biological profiling at this year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, as part of the worldwide crackdown on doping in sport and it should be fully operational by the next World Cup.
A delegation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) met FIFA officials at their Zurich headquarters on Thursday, and WADA president John Fahey said his agency was “very satisfied with the commitment of FIFA on the biological profiles”.
FIFA medical officer Michel D’Hooghe said: “FIFA was the first international organisation for team sport to start with longitudinal profiles.”
He explained that FIFA is developing plans to introduce profiling, including a steroid profile through urine and a blood profile, for the Confederations Cup, where in- and out-of-competition tests would be conducted on all participating players, as well as unannounced blood testing at training camps and games.

“And it’s our commitment to have all players participating at the 2014 FIFA World Cup having biological profiles,” he added
Biological profiling is considered one of the most effective methods of detecting the use of performance-enhancing drugs and blood boosters like EPO.
EPO was first tested for by FIFA at the 2002 World Cup where all players had to underego urine and blood testing and whenever the results were abnormal, an EPO test was performed. All results were negative.
FIFA is also developing the hormonal profiling project, a new initiative in collaboration with the WADA-accredited laboratory in Switzerland.
“There is always more which can be done in the fight against doping, but we know FIFA has always been serious in this domain,” Fahey said.
DailyPost

Tribute: Goldie we didn’t take you seriously, we apologise

by Samuel Olatunji

It was a hot, Sunday afternoon when the BBM request beeped on my phone. I was totally engaged with the English Premiership football match showing on my TV. Not in the mood for any chit-chat. Checking out the identity of the sender showed me a ‘Goldie Harvey’ and my first impulse was I was face-to-face with another impersonator trying to take the place of one of Nigeria’s many hardworking entertainment celebrities. My curiosity got the better of me and I confirmed the request consciously granting the ‘impostor’ some measure of access into my life.I figured he\she will delete the connection in due course like others usually do. As at then, Goldie and I had never actually met in the true sense of the word. We weren’t friends. Neither were we enemies. We had bumped into one another a couple of times at events and that was it. Nevertheless, I was still surprised as to how the ‘impostor’ got my PIN.
Still caught in the reverie of the football match, my phone buzzed few minutes later and it was celebrated comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka. He wanted to introduce Goldie to me (like I didn’t know her) and informed me of her desire to work with my PR firm, Bigsam Media. He it was who had passed my PIN to her. Goldie herself requested my number and later called.
God, that voice on the phone! It wasn’t sweet or golden but plain…. and heavy laden with sadness. ‘I’m tired,’ she said to me like we had known for years. ‘I’ve worked with many people, spent a lot of money but not gotten much in return’.
She wanted to work with us as she had heard so much about us and was hoping we would stand out from the myriad of half-baked,briefcase PR firms(experts) running rings around entertainers and promising celebrities a dinner date in the White House ‘if only you can spend good money.’
I listened calmly and gave her an appointment at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja but for some reasons I showed up three hours late. She was understandably angry and was on the verge of leaving when I breezed in and apologised. We fixed another date to meet and finalise details on how we could work together regarding her blossoming brand. Sadly, I never made the appointment. Way before our meeting, Bobby Taylor and Gbenga Bada, fellow journalist friends had tried all they could to get me to interview and feature Goldie on my page while I was still in the employment of The Sun Newspapers. I just played an unwilling horse all through.
Looking back now, I realised that like many others, I didn’t take her serious at all. Many people had dismissed Goldie from the very beginning of her career, contending she was all beauty and no talent. Peeps were quick to condemn her art or lack of it. Check the popular blogs and see the deluge of negative comments that follow any post on Goldie and you’ll get a feel of what I mean.
Despite the ‘pull-her-down’ at all costs syndrome, Goldie kept pushing the envelope, working and living her life. If she cared about what people said about her, she didn’t show it. They would lambast her for wearing a particular dress and Goldie would defiantly wear something similar next time. They said she was everywhere, strutting the red carpets like a pepper seller but she was undeterred. Goldie was living her life by her rules and not by what ‘almighty’ commentators said. As if she knew she won’t be here for a long time.
I was told a popular producer had told her to go sell her Benz ML before he would sign her on and produce her song. And that was after months of keeping her waiting. She didn’t relent but decided to take her destiny in her own hands and thus embarked on a journey from one radio station to another, buying stuffs for the OAPs for her songs to get airplay.
Goldie eventually teamed up with Kennis Music, thankfully, Keke Ogungbe signed her on.
Upon hearing news of her death, I called Denrele, Baba Keke, KSB but their numbers were switched off. I called Funke Akindele to get across to Denrele’s friend hoping to hear that the rumour wasn’t true. She already did, and was close to tears on phone. A newspaper editor told me Goldie’s step-mum already confirmed it. After speaking with Linda Ikeji who broke the news, I still chose to doubt it.
I saw a tweet that Goldie was scheduled to perform at a certain Princeton Hotel in Ikeja and I dashed out to search for the location in spite of loud protestations from my wife that it was past 1am. She must definitely be at Princeton performing and would be willing to dispel the wicked ‘rumor’ doing the rounds about her passing.
Sadly, all my efforts proved abortive. Goldie wasn’t there. She was gone. Gone to be with the saints.
What was I looking for in the dead of night? What,what,what? All I wanted was just one more chance to make up for my folly of dismissing her and not taking her seriously. Suddenly, wonderful and innovative ideas on how to enhance ‘Brand Goldie’ are popping up in my brain. I want to work with her
We won’t always have people around. Why can’t we celebrate men and women while we have them? Bickerings, pull-him-down, dismissal and nonchalant attitudes because we hold the ace should stop. We won’t always have all the time we want with people we love and life is too short to harbor hate. My heart went out to people whose bluff I have called and those I’m not treating right at present. What if I don’t see them again? Dear Lord, I need to make up for past follies. I’m sorry I didn’t take some people seriously. I need to make some calls and mend fences right away.
Another lesson from Goldie’s demise: live your life. Goldie didn’t allow others write her script for her. She gave life her best. One single after the other, appearances at several red carpet events, Big Brother Africa, upcoming reality show etc Goldie didn’t slow down. She gave life her all like she knew she won’t live up to thirty. We all don’t have the promise to live till 80, if you drop dead today, can you confidently say you gave life your best?
Like the rest of us Goldie wasn’t perfect but didn’t deserve the way some people tried to pull her down. She was hustling on the grind of life, trying to make a name for herself like the rest of us. She wasn’t perfect just like the rest of us with many skeletons in our cupboards. Yet, some people were busy moving from one blog to another knocking her hustle. Now, that she’s gone are you happy?
Goldie, continue to rest in peace. We all owe death but so sad that he showed up too early at your doorstep.
May God comfort your parents, siblings, hubby and loved ones.
YNaija.com

‘I Refused To Study Medicine’ - B.o.u.q.u.i

Gospel rapper, B.o.u.q.u.i (Bukola Falayan) has lamented the derogatory way women depict themselves in hip-hop videos.
In a no-holds-barred interview with TS Weekend, the gospel singer who just returned to Nigeria after a successful tour that took her to a dozen capitals across the globe described the development as sad and unfortunate.
“I have a problem with the way women portray themselves in hip hop videos. It’s crazy and degrading,” the queen of gospel rap said.
“They even call themselves dirty names. Back in the day if any one called you such names you’d take them out! But today those dirty names have been glamourised and if you don’t have certain things in your video, TV stations won’t play your music.
“Interestingly, on one-on-one basis, these ladies have beautiful spirits. However, they want to make money. I don’t blame them because that comes down to strength of character and purpose. I have no problem with commercial music but the message should be objective and impact the lives of listeners especially youths.”
Years after you established herself as a successful gospel rapper, why is it that more young women are not taking after you?
Her response: “As a guy, you need to put in five per cent to be successful while for a woman it is different; she has to put in 80 per cent. And a lot of girls are not ready to do that especially when they are confronted with the option of sleeping with a boss they think will sustain them.
“But it’s too late when they suddenly realise that will not sustain them and they fall by the way side. It’s not only about gospel music; it happens in every sphere of our lives. Girls have to work twice as hard to get noticed so it’s not about being the only visible female gospel rapper.
“They can do it but it takes a lot of grace. It takes a lot of unction to function and you need to know God, you really need to know God for who he is, not because of what you can get from him.
“When you know God, your priorities are set right, when you know him your life is set straight and it drives your character and so if I have a boss who’s trying to hit on me, I already know it’s a no-no. And it’s not because the guy is not cute but because I can’t do it.”
Have you ever been confronted with a situation where a music producer or a label owner wanted to take you to bed before producing your music?
“The truth is that I have. I am a woman and I am not bad looking so I have had a few experiences but it does not matter because that’s not what drives me. A good relationship is when I like you for who you are and not what I can get from you; that’s extortion and exploitation.”
The Love Hope War Tour
Bouqui also talked about her concert tagged: “The Love Hope War Tour” featuring American gospel artiste, Da Truth, who is a two-time Grammy award nominee, four times Stellar award winner and two times Dove award nominee among a host of other African acts including Abel Chungu Musuka from Zambia, Prince Cjay from South Africa and Illceey from Zimbabwe.
Commenting on the concert Bouqui says: “The concert will also parade the very best of Nigeria gospel stars including Panam Percy Paul, Sammie Okposo, Nikki Laoye, Jahdel, Eben, Tim Godfrey and The Xtreme Crew.
“The Love Hope War Tour was put together to promote Da Truth’s new album entitled, Love, Hope and War. It has already begun in many cities across the United States of America. We were at UNILAG earlier in the week and we will hit Abuja before moving to Zimbabwe and South Africa later in the month.”
However, the rapper also disclosed that the concert in Lagos and Abuja would serve a double function, as it would also preview her forthcoming double album entitled, Marks of A General and Eve of Independence.
“I’m really excited about this,” says Bouqui as she opens up on the project. “My dream is to be the first African woman to release a double album. We have 14 songs in both albums and I also featured Da Truth and a couple of other artistes including the foreign artistes on this tour. It’s a double album because I want to break grounds.
“Apart from being the only visible gospel female rapper, I also want to be the first female to drop a double album in Africa.”
Bouqui is successful, attractive and upwardly mobile. In a career spanning seven years she has established herself as a successful female rapper. When is she tying the knot?
She smiles as she responds, stating that when it is time, the world will know. “The Bible says for everything there is a time and a season,” she says, laughing.
Is there a guy in her heart right now?
Bouqui laughs again as she responds: “Let me keep that to myself.”
Once upon a professor’s daughter Born to a family of six kids, Bouqui is second to the last child. Recounting her early years, she speaks glowingly about her late dad who wanted her to be a medical doctor.
“My parents did not spoil us one bit. My father was a professor who made you work twice as hard for whatever you wanted. He wanted me to study medicine; his dream for me was that I should be a medical doctor,” she said going down memory lane, “but then he passed on and today I am a rapper.
“I wish he was alive today to see that even though I studied Administration in the university, I turned out well. And even though I didn’t become a medical doctor, I am healing souls with my music; for me, it’s also a kind of therapy; a kind of healing which is what doctors do so in some special way, I still see myself as a doctor.”
Bouqui has an advice for young girls who want to take to gospel rap as a career:
“I would encourage them to know God and seek God more because you cannot sing about a God you don’t know. You have to know Him, then He will give you the message that people need to hear.”
 Naij.com

Budget 2013: Sign The Budget Or Return It To Us – Saraki Tells Jonathan

Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday, said that if President Goodluck Jonathan cannot sign the 2013 budget as passed by the National Assembly into law, he should return it to the lawmakers.
The former Kwara state governor said Nigerians who were eager to have the budget signed and implemented,were running out of time.
It would be recalled that President Jonathan had up to yesterday, February 14, to sign the budget into law or have the National Assembly veto his power over a Bill that has been passed for presidential assent.

Yesterday made it 30 days since the bill was returned to the Executive for assent – the number of days required by law for a veto if the President refuses to give assent to a bill sent to him for assent.
Fielding questions from jounalists in Abuja, Senator Saraki said: “Time is running out for the budget to be signed into law; otherwise, the gains for passing the Budget would be lost. I don’t want to speculate on issues with the budget. There is now urgency for the presidency to sign the budget into law or return it to the National Assembly for further necessary legislative action.”
InformationNigeria