Britain sets out Brexit plan to ‘end EU supremacy

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Government set out its plans on Thursday for a “Great Repeal Bill” to incorporate EU law into British law and “end the supremacy of EU lawmakers” after Britain leaves the European Union.

The government white paper “lays out a pragmatic and principled approach to converting EU law into UK law on the day we leave the EU, giving businesses, workers and investors as much certainty as possible”, Brexit Secretary, David Davis, told parliament.

Davis said: “It also means the negotiation over our future economic partnership with the EU will be unlike any other in history, because we will start from a point of exact equivalence.

“After that, it will be for parliament to determine what EU legislation it wants to amend, repeal or improve finally, ending the supremacy of EU lawmakers.”

The white paper was published one day after May formally notified Brussels of Britain’s intention to leave the EU, in a letter triggering two years of Brexit negotiations.

Ahead of the publication, the library of the House of Commons, parliament’s elected lower house, warned that assimilating EU law into British law was “potentially one of the largest legislative projects ever undertaken in the UK”.

The parliamentary library estimated that more than 13 per cent of primary and secondary legislation enacted in Britain between 1993 and 2004 is EU related.

Human rights and trade union groups have raised concerns that some rights could be eroded in the legal transition.

Source: The Eagle Online

Apostle Suleman sues Stephanie Otobo, Sahara Reporters

Apostle Johnson Suleman the founder and general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide has reportedly filed a lawsuit at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos State, against Stephanie Otobo, his alleged mistress, and Sahara Reporters (an online news outlet) for libelling his character and image.

Following Mrs Tope Otobo's (Stephanie Otobo’s mother) visit to the pastor at his church headquarters, who knelt and begged Apostle Suleiman to forgive her daughter. 

photo: stelladimokoko

In addition to the suit, as reported by the man of God’s media team, is Sahara Reporters who was the reporter of the case and as well taking the lead in publishing interviews by the Canada-based stripper who keeps maintaining her position of being romantically involved with the Apostle Suleman.

However, in the suit ID/ADR/347/2017 filed at the Ikeja High Court, Apostle Suleman has requested for N1 billion with respect to each for damages done to his reputation and has hired four lawyers namely; Chief Efe Akpofure (SAN ), Erhabour O.I, Victor Idiapho and Emmanuel Usoh to stand for him.

UBA Grows Profit by 32%, Declares Final Dividend of 55kobo

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, the pan-African financial services group operating in 19 countries, has released its audited 2016 full year results, showing a significant growth in gross earnings and profits. The bank on Sunday attributed the improved earnings and profits to its resilience, enhanced productivity and geographic diversification, evident in the impressive contribution from its African subsidiaries. 

The UBA Group reported a 22 per cent growth in gross earnings to N384 billion for December ending 2016, from N315 billion at the end of the 2015 financial year, illustrating the bank’s ability to grow profitability despite the difficult macroeconomic environment. In addition to the rising adoption of electronic banking channels in many of the African markets where UBA operates, the bank leveraged its strong franchise and geographical footprint. As reflected in the results released on March 24, 2017 at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) covering the period January to December 2016, the UBA saw a 32 per cent growth in profit before tax to N91 billion, compared to N68 billion profit recorded over the same period of 2015, while the bank’s profit after tax grew by 22 per cent to N72 billion, from N60 billion recorded the previous year. The performance was buoyed by considerable growth in both interest and non-interest income, as well as increasing efficiency gains from cost management initiatives. 

The statement added: “UBA’s subsidiaries outside Nigeria are increasingly gaining market share, reinforcing the strong and impressive subsidiary contribution to the Group, estimated at one-third of profit in 2016, from a quarter in 2015 financial year.” Following the impressive performance, the Board of Directors proposed a final dividend of 55kobo per share, subject to the approval of the shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled to be held on April 7, 2017 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. 

The bank had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20kobo per share to shareholders, bringing the total dividend for the 2016 financial year to N0.75, an unprecedented yield of 13.9 per cent, based on the stock’s unit price of N5.39 on the floor of the NSE. UBA stated: “The results and dividend proposal justify investor confidence in the bank, as reflected in the 20% year-to-date rally in the share price, compared to the overall market loss of 5% over the same period.” Commenting on the results, Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA expressed satisfaction with the resilience of the bank, despite the macroeconomic challenges in a number of countries where UBA operates. “Given the operating environment in 2016, I am very pleased with our profitability – an impressive 32 per cent growth in profit before tax to N91 billion – whilst we have also focused keenly on operational efficiencies, illustrated by the reduction in our cost-to-income ratio,” 

Uzoka said. Speaking on its outlook for the 2017 financial year, Uzoka expressed optimism on the bank’s pan-African operations increasingly gaining critical mass across its chosen markets. “As we implement our Customer First Philosophy, we are approaching 2017 with real optimism, especially with the outlook remaining positive in many of our markets, where we benefit from our increasingly diverse revenue streams. “We reiterate our pledge to delivering excellent services to our customers, and remain committed to creating superior and sustainable return for our shareholders.” 

Ugo Nwaghodoh, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of UBA Group, stated that the bank extracted efficiency gains across its operations to boost profitability. He confirmed that the bank has seen significant improvement across major performance metrics, including an improvement in the net interest margin. 

“Our performance in 2016 reflects the strong potential and resilience of our business. We grew top and bottom lines by 22 per cent and 32 per cent respectively, despite the stagflation in Nigeria, our core market. “Reflecting improved balance sheet management and better value extraction, our net interest margin (NIM) improved by 40 basis points year-on-year to 6.7 per cent,” the CFO noted. He also expressed delight at the performance of the group’s African subsidiaries (ex-Nigeria), which contributed a third of the group’s profits, adding that the bank would continue to leverage innovative offerings to grow its share of the respective markets. “As we diligently execute our Customer First initiative, I am particularly upbeat on the future of business and the value creation for shareholders,” he added. 

UBA has a presence in 19 African countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and France. The group boasts 11 million customers globally through a diverse service channels in sub-Saharan Africa comprising 632 business offices, 1,750 ATMs, some 13,500 PoS’, and a robust online and mobile banking platform. UBA was the first Nigerian bank to make an Initial Public Offering (IPO), following its listing on the NSE in 1970. It was also the first Nigerian bank to issue Global Depository Receipts (GDRs). 

The shares of UBA are publicly traded on the NSE and the bank has a well-diversified shareholder base, including foreign and local institutional investors as well as individual shareholders.

Buhari dismisses five directors over illegal recruitment

dailypost

Sequel to the reports of illegal recruitment exercise into the federal civil service, President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to the dismissal of five directors at the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD). In other words the (5) directors have been sacked with immediate effect.

Although the identities of these directors are yet to be disclosed by the Head of the Service of the Federation, It has been reported that, all five of them were appointed during the administration of former President, Goodluck Jonathan in breaking one of the public service rules that has to do with their age as at the time of recruitment.

Thus, they were found guilty of employment irregularities after investigation.

Tuface Idibia and Annie Celebrates Fourth Wedding Anniversary

najj.com

amwaltzinmatid

Tuface wrote:

"18yrs ago I met this beautiful human being and 4yrs ago she said yes 2 be by my side thru it all. Words cannot express how much she means 2 me.
My true African Queen. She lit up my life. We laugh we fight, we clown around sometimes and get serious sometimes. If I have 2 do this things all over again it’ll most definitely be with u my love. Thank u 4 choosing me baby. Thank u 4 having been there 4 me all thru this years. Thank u 4 accepting me the way I am. Thank u 4 being the great mother that u are. Thank you my love. We’re not perfect but we’re perfect 4 each other. #mywoman #myeverything #mymine #LYTID #weloveus #4yearsand4eva HAPPY 4th ANNIEversary 2 us. "

stargist.com

Annie also shared:

"We aren’t Perfect !!! But We Are Perfect For Each Other.. Love is a Feeling.. But Love Is Also a Choice.. #LYTID and And In The Life After.. #myMine #WeLoveUs #4yrsAnd4va #soulMates #HeMakesMeFeelLikeAmTheOnlyGirlinTheWorld #HappyANNIEversary"



We also wish you guys a Happy Anniversary...

The Nigerian Artist - Flavour met a Liberian blind boy (Semah) who sang his song better than him...

Nigerian singer Flavour was recently in Liberia on a peace mission where he met an adorable blind boy, Semah G. Weifur.

The 'Mama' singer went on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the African country.

While there he met a blind boy who according to him, sang his songs better than him.

"I made a new friend Semah G. Weifur. He's blind and sang my songs better than me" 

Source: Pulse.ng

Policeman kills passenger for disobedience, hides corpse

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, has ordered the immediate arrest and detention of a policeman, who allegedly shot a man in cold blood at the front of Christ the King Cathedral, Asa Road, Aba.
The deceased, Chinedu Peters, was described as the bread winner of his family.

He was shot dead on March 11, 2017, while returning from a eatery with his girlfriend.


The policeman that killed Peters was on duty with others at the front of Christ the King Cathedral, Asa Road, Aba.
It was gathered that the killer cop, Ibe Uchenna, would have got away with the murder of Peters, but for his girlfriend, who witnessed the incident.

The Abia State Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, Commander Chukwu Jude, a human rights activist, said Peters’ journey to the grave started after Uchenna and his colleagues flagged down the passenger bus that was conveying him and others to their destination.

Jude said: “All the passengers in the bus were ordered to step out. They obeyed and all came out. They were asked to lie down on the floor, which they also did. A few minutes later, the policemen asked the only Hausa man in their midst to stand up and leave. The deceased, Chinedu, out of anger, stood up and demanded to know why the Hausa guy was released.

“He insisted that everyone should be allowed to go since no incriminating item was found on them. One policeman among, Ibe Uchenna, ordered him to lie down or he would shoot him. Chinedu still insisted that the Hausa man should be brought back. And just like that; in the blink of an eye, the policeman shot him. That was how the policeman, who was supposed to protect Chinedu, killed him.”

According to Jude, the most shocking aspect of the whole drama was that the policemen refused to take Peters to hospital, even though he cried and earnestly begged them.

“He was on ground, crying and begging them to take him to hospital. Instead, they took him in their van and dumped him in a location they thought people wouldn’t find out. They took their van to car wash, to remove traces of blood in order to cover their crime. They didn’t know that one of the silent passengers was Chinedu’s girlfriend,” said Jude.

Peters’ girlfriend returned home and disclosed how he was shot dead.
The following morning, the deceased’s brother reported to the police.
He was told that they were not aware of the incident.

When the girlfriend insisted that the incident happened, policemen, who were posted to that area on that fateful day, were invited.

The lady immediately identified the faces of the policemen that were at the scene on the day Peters was killed.
She also identified Chinedu.

When they asked what has become of the victim, they claimed to have taken him to the hospital after he was shot.
They also claimed that he was responding to treatment.

The family of Peters sensed something was wrong when the policemen refused to take them to the hospital.
The corpse of Peters was found on March 18.

Source: The Eagle Online