Founder of the Synagogue Church,T.B Joshua gets rousing welcome in Israel

Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) received a rousing welcome in Israel during the week.

He was met on arrival by Rabbi Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, founder of Zaka, Israel’s award-winning rescue agency.

Meshi-Zahav presented Joshua with an award in honour of his extensive humanitarian efforts.

He praised the Nigerian preacher for intervening during the extensive heart quake in Haiti in 2010 by sending relief materials worth millions of dollars, including medical supplies and food items.

He equally intervened in Indonesia when he visited the ‘House of Love’, a charity that provides shelter for orphans, unwanted children, the elderly and the homeless.

He donated $10,000 to Hana Ananda, founder of the charity home.

In Ghana, food items were donated to Muslim communities.

The same gesture was extended to Agege and Alabarago in Lagos.

During his visit, which ends today, an Israeli television station, Reshet TV ran an 11- minute documentary on Prophet Joshua over his impending arrival in the country.

The documentary, which was in Hebrew language with subtitles in English, has since been uploaded on YouTube.

Joshua also held series of meetings with Israeli government officials.

FIRS seals Lagos firms over multi-million tax liabilities

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has sealed two companies in Lagos over sundry tax liabilities.

The exercise, executed by the agency’s enforcement unit, saw the shutting of Tracit Ventures Ltd at 5B Cappa, Palmgrove Estate in Ilupeju.

The FIRS said the company’s tax default between 2009 and 2014 totalled N21, 042,946.39K.

The figure comprises Company Income tax, Withholding tax, Value Added Tax and Education Tax.

The team also sealed Satek Nigeria Limited at 8/10 Ilupeju Bye Pass.

The tax-collecting agency said the company failed to pay its Company Income Tax, Value Added Tax and Education tax, amounting N24, 794, 394.

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Obanikoro on his way to APC

Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, may have made up his mind to dump the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pitch his political tent with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Koro, as he is fondly called, according to reliable sources, has been making overtures to leaders of the ruling party as part of efforts towards his joining the APC.
The Nation at the weekend gathered that baring last minute changes, the former governorship candidate of the PDP will join APC in a matter of days. According to sources within the ruling party in Lagos State, leaders of the APC will be discussing the defection plan of Obanikoro this week. The decision to look into his request to join the party followed what some sources described as a positive nod from the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It was however gathered that Tinubu initially showed reluctance to Obanikoro’s return to his political camp which he deserted over a decade ago to join the then ruling PDP. But the national leader soft pedalled on his stance after the former Minister reached out to some prominent Lagosians to intercede on his behalf before Tinubu.
The Nation gathered that Tinubu eventually agreed to meet with his erstwhile godson after much pleading. “It was after the two met that Obanikoro started getting good response from APC leaders in his quest to join the party. Many prominent Lagosians, including monarchs and business moguls, intervened on his behalf.
“And when he met Asiwaju, he apologized profusely for his past misdeeds and political miscalculations. You know Asiwaju has a large heart. It appears he forgave him and gave a positive nod to his quest to join the APC. Following that, Obanikoro met and discussed with several other party leaders.
“It is likely that the party leadership will formally discuss his request to join the APC this week. It is most likely that he will be considered positively. On his part, the former Minister is not leaving anybody in doubt that he is ready to join the ruling party. There are even talks that he nurses a return to the senate on the platform of the APC come 2019,” our source added.

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Aisha Buhari, Sanusi demands justice over the rape of six months old child

•Kano State wants life imprisonment for suspect

Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II are demanding that the man who raped a six month old baby in Kano be made to face the full wrath of the law.

They condemned in strong terms the rape of baby Khadijat Bashir, now eight months old, by 30 year-old, Muktakar Muhammad.

Muhammadu is said to have committed the offence with the help of his wife.

Their motive remains unknown.

Mrs. Buhari on a visit to the baby at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano yesterday, described the act as inhuman.

She hailed the state government for its immediate response which saved the life of the defiled minor.

The First Lady’s visit was preceded by that of the Emir of Kano.

He urged security agencies and the state government to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.

The Emir sympathised with the parents of the child and promised the Emirate Council’s assistance for the child and her parents.

For its part, the state vowed justice for the baby.

As a first step, it is pushing for life jail for the suspect, according to Information Commissioner Muhammad Garba.

Garba, in a statement, said it was “deeply saddened” by the story of rape by a close confidant of the baby’s parents.

He declared that government “will make whoever is found guilty to pay the supreme price of life imprisonment.”

He added:”Governor Ganduje has directed the State Ministry of Justice to handle the matter properly by ensuring that it is delivered to the letter.

“Whoever is involved in this sordid sexual crime will be prosecuted under the relevant provisions contained in the Kano State Penal Code amendment law referred to as the ‘Principal Law’ as amended under Section 283.

Government further promised to foot the bill for the treatment of the baby, and advised parents to “look after their wards, their movement and those they keep company with,” as part of the collective efforts to bring to an end the appalling incident of rape cases, particularly, against minors.

It charged clergies to use their places of worship to propagate the ills of rape.

Health Commissioner Kabiru Ibrahim Getso who gave an update on Khadijat’s treatment, said: “she was initially admitted at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital where she stayed for three weeks receiving treatment and she was treated for rape and other associated medical condition like malnutrition.

“She has done very well and that was why she was discharged based on the clinical assessment and the laboratory parameter  that were assessed and based on this, the physician that was managing the case felt that she was fit enough to leave the hospital.”

He said Khadijat  was first admitted at the Referral Centre in Murtala Muhammed Hospital where cases like this  are being handled.

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FG to receive freed 82 Chibok girls exchanged for Boko haram suspects

President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to receive the 82 Chibok girls released on Saturday by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
A statement on Saturday night by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the girls were exchanged for some Boko Haram suspects in custody.
It reads “The President is pleased announce that negotiations to release more of the Chibok Girls have born fruit with the release of 82 more Girls today.
“After months of patient negotiations, our security agencies have taken back these abducted girls in exchange for some Boko Haram suspects held by the authorities.
“The Girls are due tomorrow in Abuja to be received by the President.
The President expressed his deep gratitude to security agencies, the military, the government of Switzerland, the Red Cross, local and international NGOs for the success of this operation.
‘It may be recalled that when the first batch of 21 Girls were released in October last year,the President directed the security agencies to continue in earnest until all the Chibok Girls have been released and reunited with their families.
“The President has been receiving full reports from the Director-General of the State Security Services at each stage,” he added

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