Anxiety as Buhari misses Friday Jumat prayer, as Soyinka urges him to make his state of health public

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make his state of health public to Nigerians.

Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Friday, Mr. Soyinka said the current speculations about the president’s health is “unnecessary.

“Why is the president hiding his state of health? He’s supposed to understand he’s public property, me I’m still private property, that’s why I’m not in Aso Rock,” said Mr. Soyinka, a professor of Comparative Literature.

“Once you are in Aso Rock, or you occupy a similar position, you have a responsibility to come out frankly to your citizens.

Guarding your state of health like Donald Trump is guarding his tax returns is not what we expect from a Nigerian president.

“Let him address the nation and stop all thesespeculations which creates unnecessary political manipulations among other things.”Meanwhile,President Buhari did not attend today’s congregational Friday prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque.

Mr. Buhari has been observing the weekly prayer at the mosque located behind his office since his return from medical vacation in the UK.

Staff of the Aso Villa also confirmed the president was indoors and did not go to any other mosque for the ‘Jumat’ prayer.

-Premium Times

TODAY'S QUOTE 28/04/2017

Love yourself. It is important to stay positive because beauty comes from the inside out.

--Jenn Proske

Open Heavens Friday April 28 2017

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL.BY PASTOR E A.ADEBOYE

PRIVILEGES OF GOD‘S CHILDREN I Friday April 28 2017

Memorise:
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Galatians 4:7

Read:
Mark 7:24-30
24 And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

Message:
Without a doubt, the responsibilities associated with being a child of God in this present age of spiritual perversion are highly demanding. Nevertheless, our benevolent Father, knowing our frame, has placed several pleasant privileges at our disposal as His children, to ease our sojourn through this wicked world. The first privilege we enjoy when we become children of God is that we are moved from the position of a servant or slave to that of a son and an heir of God (Galatians 4:7). This is the reason why we must have passion for evangelism, especially to Muslims, who believe that they are slaves of God. God did not create us in His image for the purpose of making slaves out of us. Anyone who has
not come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is indeed a slave to sin and not a slave of God Romans 6:16-18

In the story of the Syro-phoenician woman in our Bible text, Jesus Christ did not mince words in revealing her true
spiritual state to her as a slave of sin, in order to cause a change in her spiritual life. Fortunately for this woman, she admitted her spiritual poverty, and she was therefore given the hand of fellowship in adoption, so that she could be a partaker of the food meant for God‘s children. Matthew 5:3 says,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Another striking thing in this story is that this woman was likened to a dog and she accepted it. Do you know why? It's because this verdict came from the Way, the Truth and the Life Himself: when He speaks, He speaks with valid authority.

So, when Jesus calls a sinner a dog, that is exactly what he or she is. This is why the liberal theologians who want to be
21st century compliant would want to rewrite the Bible so that it can be "politically correct". Take note of the fact that what is politically correct can be spiritually bankrupt.

In light of these truths, you can therefore see how great your privilege is when you are a child of God, Being a child of God grants you access to the food of salvation, deliverance, healing and prosperity that is meant only for children of God, If you are not yet a child of God, don't delay further; today is the day of salvation and adoption. Give your life to Christ today, admit your spiritual poverty and let Him cleanse you in His Blood,

Prayer Point:
Father, I call You Father because you are a Father indeed, Make me Your own child through Jesus Christ, and bestow upon me the privileges of being Your child today.

Bible in One Year:
Numbers 23-25:
Jeremiah 22:11-23

In Jesus Christ Name!Amen!
Let your morning be sweet!0

If you are not comfortable with Senate decision, go to court – Reps tells Buhari

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to seek interpretation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Act before a court,following the Senate’s rejection of Ibrahim Magu as substantial Chairman.

The House also urged the executive to refrain from making statements that connote the suppression of the powers of the judicairy considering its negative effects on the doctrine of separation of powers.

This followed a motion on Thursday in Abuja by Rep. Leo Ogor (Delta-PDP) on the “need to prevent erosion of the Doctrine of Separation of Power”.Ogor, while moving the motion, explained thatby the clear provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC Act, the chairman of the anti-corruption agency shall be nominated by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

He said, “Convinced that the EFCC Act is an Act of the National Assembly that can only be set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction,and until that happens, the law remains in force and binding on all persons and authorities in the country.

Further aware that the Executive Arm of Government has not filed any proceeding in any court to challenge the provision of Section 2 (3) of the EFCC (established) Act of 2004.

”He further explained that under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the interpretationof the constitution and Acts of parliament was the sole responsibility of the judiciary and not that of any person or official of the other arms of government.

Ogor noted that the statement credited to Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was capable oferoding the doctrine of separation of powers with its obvious implication of instituting a dictatorship in the country. 

-Daily Post

Why I went back to the love of my life, Annie, amidst other ladies’ – 2Face opens up

2Baba in an interview with Soundcity 98.5 Radio, opened up on why he went back to the love of his life, Annie and how the love they share reflects on who he is.

When asked How and Why he went back to Annie Idibia the ‘Coded Tinz’ crooner said;

“Every reason. I was just deceiving myself that .. you know as man dey do sometimes. He go see wetin actually dey down but he go feel say make I see whether..

You know all that kind nonsense behaviour. But at one point in time, I was like look I’m not going to let this girl go.

I just started realizing that this is who I want to be with.This is actually who I want to spend the rest of my life with. This is the person that actually does it for me. So there is no need to deceive myself anymore. Icome beg, them come gree.”

RCCG pastor who stabbed wife to death in Lagos pleads for mercy

A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Akolade Arowolo, who stabbed his banker wife, Titilayo, to death, is pleading with the Lagos State government forpardon.

Arowolo, alongside 73 other inmates of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, yesterday, sought pardon under the Lagos State Prerogative of Mercy conferred on the Governor, claiming they are reformed and should be pardoned.

He was sentenced to death by an Ikeja High Court three years ago after he was found guilty of his wife’s murder on June 24, 2011. He was seen in prison, pleading that he needsanother chance to right his wrongs.His plead came as the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy said that the state will not fail to exercise its prerogative on prisoners, who proved to be reformed.

The pastor was among 74 prisoners called out by the committee, led by Professor Oyelowo Oyewo, set up by the governor to review their applications.

The Oyewo-led committee was on a fact-finding visit to the prisons to have first hand information from the inmates that are eligible for mercy and pardon.

Pastor Arowolo, who delivered a remark on behalf of his fellow inmates, pleaded for mercy, stressing that they are all remorseful and have learned from their mistakes.

Chairman of the committee, Oyelowo, said thegovernor will act on the committee’s recommendations based on the rules and guidelines set by law for the committee to conduct its work.

Saraki, El-Rufai instigated Buhari not to pick me as VP – Tinubu

A National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has alleged that Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, worked against the plan to make him President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the 2015 presidential election.

Tinubu stated that Saraki, El-Rufai and other stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party, who defected to the APC in the build-up to the 2015 elections, instigated Buhari and some APC chieftainsnot to pick him as the would-be Vice-President.

The APC leader’s comments were contained in a book titled ‘Against the Run of Play,’ written by the Chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay, Olusegun Adeniyi.

Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State, said his opponents persuaded Buhari to look for another running mate on the grounds that Christians in the North would not embrace a Muslim-Muslim ticket, and as such, could jeopardise the party’s victory.

The former governor said the arguments put forwardby the party members were not genuine, adding that El-Rufai had the intention to ensure the emergence of the Serving Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly,Pastor Tunde Bakare, Buhari’s running mate.

Tinubu added, “What they (Saraki and others from the PDP) did behind my back was wrong.

We always do things as a group. By the time they joined, we were already too far ahead in our processes but we accommodated them.

“We agreed to take their state structures and subsume them into the part and they all had their opportunity to nominate the candidates of their choices for different political offices.“But they went behind to instigate Buhari and some other people in the party against me on the pretext ofreligion.

That was not right. They were canvassing arguments that the Christians in the North would not vote for a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

-Punch

Jonathan, from beginning, was too small for the Presidency – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan from his first days as President showed he  was too small for the office, saying he, Obasanjo, acted more as an opponent of Jonathan than a supporter of Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the 2015 presidential poll.

Obasanjo, who said Jonathan deceived him that he would not give Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke the petroleum portfolio in his cabinet was deceived into believing that he could use money to buy the 2015 presidentialelection.

Obasanjo in the book, Against the Run of Play: How an Incumbent President was defeated in Nigeria, written by former presidential spokesman, Segun Adeniyi, also revealed that Jonathan was gripped by the fear that Buhari, as president, would jail him or lead him to an early grave.

TODAY'S QUOTE 27/04/2017

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

OPEN HEAVENS 27/04/2017

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL.BY PASTOR  E.A ADEBOYE!

RESPONSIBILITIES OF GOD'S CHILDREN II Thursday April 27 2017

Memorise:
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22

Read:
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
2C0 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2C0 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2C0 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;
and I will receive you,
2C0 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Message:
Yesterday, we looked at some of the responsibilities of the childrenits God in ensuring that they finish the Christian race
in triumph. Another of these responsibilities is that children of God must be on the lookout for whatever appears to be evil and run away from it Anything that can lead to fornication or adultery, anything that has a shade of idolatry, or anything that has to do with the love of money falls into the category of things you should flee from (1 Corinthians 6:18,
1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Living a holy life is not automatic as some presume; we have to make a conscious effort to live holy. We wrestle not against flesh and blood; rather, we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). To be effective in our warfare, our strategy has to be both offensive and defensive in nature. How do we engage in defensive warfare? It is by tactically abstaining from the world of darkness and sin.

In today’s Bible reading, we are exposed to the practical way of engaging in defensive spiritual warfare. The first thing is not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers because the Bible expressly says that friendship with the world is enmity against God, and that whosoever will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God James 4:4). It is however
unfortunate that some Christians don‘t see this as an eternal truth. Even some pastors will tell you that we must be friendly with the world in other to win them. The question is, ever since we have been making friends with worldly
people, how many of them have we won? Instead, on arrival, they pollute the Church, and we end up becoming more like them!

The problem is that the Church does not want to take the lonely stand for the truth anymore: we want to be world-compliant. Have we forgotten that the Almighty God assures us that even if the world forsakes us, He would be with us (Hebrews13:5)? How happy our God would be, if His Church would take the stance that Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego took in Babylon, when they were faced with Nebuchadnezzar‘s great fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-18).

Beloved, it is your responsibility not only to rebuke the works of darkness but also to run away from all appearances of evil when necessary. Joseph did this successfully, and although he suffered for it for a while, he was later exalted to become the Prime Minister of Egypt (Genesis 39:11-23), That will be your story in Jesus' Name, As you separate yourself to the Lord in holiness, your purity will stand you out from the crowd and cause you to be exalted in Jesus' Name,

Action Point:
Read Psalm 1 meditatively and pray that God will help you to always shun the presence of evil and its agents.

Bible in One Year:
Numbers 22
Jeremiah 21:11-22:10

AMEN! LET YOUR MORNING BE A BLESSING IN JESUS NAME!

OPEN HEAVENS 14/04/2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE: FRIDAY 14TH APRIL 2017

THEME: CHANGE YOUR WAYS

Memorise:

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matthew 3:8

Read: Acts 3:13-19

3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorif|ed his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

3:17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

3:18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfllled.

3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord

MESSAGE

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, hypocrisy has been a character trait of mankind. For this reason, God has continuously reached out to man with the message of living a changed life. The Mosaic Law was all about making the Israelites live a life that was different from that of all the other nations around them, a life of change which conforms to God's expectation. At different points in time, when they erred from the Mosaic Law, God still sent prophets to them with the message of change. One of such prophets was Ezekiel. Speaking through him, the Lord demanded that His people repent and change from their hypocritical ways (Ezekiel 14:6). The Lord also spoke through Prophet Ezekiel about the change of life He would bring about by the regeneration of the human spirit through Christ (Ezekiel 36:25-27). When this prophecy was to be fulfllled, the Lord sent John the Baptist to preach the baptism of repentance. However, John discovered that some people were just coming religiously for baptism without any intention of changing their ways, and he had this to say to them:
"Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham." Matthew 3:8-9

The apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ also had the message of change forming the central theme of the gospel they preached. In spite of the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit with signs and wonders, the apostles did not mince words in declaring heaven's demand for a change of life to the people of their day. Peter in Acts 3:19 boldly declared thus:
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord,"

It is sad, however, that many modern-day preachers have deleted the message of change from their sermons because they would not want to be "offensive" to modern minds. What such preachers fail to realise is that the message of change is the only hope for the world. The message of change brings repentance, and repentance brings times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. I therefore beseech you to effect the necessary changes befltting of a Christian pilgrim in your life today. Remember, tomorrow may be too late!

Prayer Point:

Father, grant me the grace to change my crooked ways, and give me the strength of character to walk with You on the straight and narrow path all the days of my life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 26-27
Jeremiah 13:15-27

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 11: l HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I'II carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I'Il carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I'Il carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me,
The cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me,
The cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

Whistle-blower: EFCC uncovers over N13 billion cash in empty apartment

The whistle blowing policy of the Federal Government appears to be paying off as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday announced that it uncovered foreign currencies and Naira notes to the tune of $43.4 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million at a four-bedroomapartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The total amount of money recovered at the current Central Bank exchange rate is over N13 billion.

The operation followed a confidential information received by the Commission’s Lagos office regarding some suspicious movement of bags in and out of a particular apartment in the building.

Another source who is conversant with the apartment indicated that a woman usually appeared on different occasions with ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags, the EFCC said.

She comes looking haggard, with dirty clothes but her skin didn’t quite match her outward appearance, perhaps a disguise”, the source said..On getting to the building, operatives who were armed with a search warrant, met the entrance door locked.

The guards at the gate explained that nobody resides in the apartment, but some persons come in and out once in a while. The EFCC operatives used minimum force to enter the apartment, the statement said.

Monies were found in two of the four bedroom apartment. Further probe of the wardrobe by operatives in one of the rooms, yielded three fire proof cabinets hidden behind wooden panels of the wardrobe.

Upon assessing the content of the cabinets, neatly arranged US Dollars, Pound Sterling and some Naira notes in sealed wrappers were found.

The funds are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity while investigations are ongoing‎, the EFCC said.

OPEN HEAVENS 13/04/2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

THURSDAY13TH APRIL   2017.

TOPIC : l WILL PAY YOU YOUR WAGES.

MEMORISE :
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
PSALM 127 : 3.

READ : EXODUS 2 : 1 - 9 :

1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a
nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called
the child's mother.

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR :
LEVITICUS 25 & JEREMIAH 13 : 1 - 14.

MESSAGE :

Many people who are blessed with the gift of children are not conscious of the fact that children are the heritage of the Lord, meaning that God is their rightful owner, and they are gifts from Him. This is why an adage from my village says "Rich people cannot find children to buy in the market." What money cannot buy can only be obtained from the Almighty God. What then should be the attitude of parents to these priceless gifts? The answer can be seen in the story of the birth, adoption and upbringing of Moses, the child who later became the mouthpiece of the Almighty God. Moses was born at a time when Pharaoh had commanded that every newborn male child should be immediately killed. his mother tried to hide him for three months, but when he could no longer be hidden, she decided to drop him off by the bank of River Nile. Pharaoh's daughter picked him up from there and adopted him as her own. By God's providence, the princess gave Moses to a nurse who happened to be his mother. Hear what the princess said to her :

"Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it." Exodus 2 : 9b.

There are many lessons we can learn from this story. By adoption, Moses was the child of Pharaoh's daughter, but she gave him over to a nurse to nurture him for her. This mirrors God's divine arrangement, whereby He, being the owner of children, hands them over to parents to nurture them for Him. ln other words, just as the princess told Moses' mother, "nurse this child for me", God is also saying to parents, "nurse this child for Me." The princess also told Moses' mother that she would pay her wages for a job well done. God is equally telling parents that if they properly nurture children for Him and not for themselves, He will reward them well. lt is unfortunate that many parents are nursing God's heritage for themselves or the devil; hence, they are getting their wages from the flesh or from the devil. This is the reason why many children have turned out to be a curse to their parents - breaking their hearts because the parents nursed the children for themselves and not for the Lord. On the other hand, godly parents who train their children to fear the Lord are paid the wages of peace of mind from God at old age. The children of such parents prosper under the grace of Jesus, which they have been exposed to from infancy, and they are battle axes in the hands of their original Owner, the Almighty God.

PRAYER POINT : Father, give me wisdom to nurse the children You have divinely placed in my care, and may I not miss my reward for nursing them according to Your counsel

SING : HYMN 16.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.

HYMN I6: GOD GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES!

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,
Homes where the Master's will is sought,
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the father is true and strong,
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong,
Homes that are joyous with love and song;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the mother, in caring quest,
Strives to show others Your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

God give us Christian homes!
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so,
Homes where the altar flres burn and glow;
God give us Christian homes;
God give us Christian homes!

EFCC ‘uncovers N4bn’ in two accounts, owneron the run

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday said it has uncovered N4bn courtesy of a tip-off by a whistleblower.

The N4 billion found in two bank accounts aresuspected to be proceeds of crime, says the anti-graft agency.

The funds are said to belong to a former deputy governorship candidate in Niger state.

The yet-to-be-identified owner reportedly used Katah Property & Investment Limited and Sadiq Air Travel Agency to launder the funds.

Both companies have N2 billion fixed in their respective deposit accounts in Guaranty Trust Bank.

According to the anti-graft agency, the suspected owner of the account and the account officer are currently on the run.

Some people are threatened by my international profile, says Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied an allegation that he received $200m from the $1.3bn Malabu oil deal.

Jonathan, who stated this in a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, on Tuesday, described a story published by Buzzfeed as false.

He said that it was sponsored by those who were threatened by his rising profile in the international community, adding that the story was meant to tarnish his image.

The former President said, “It is one more in the series of fake news sponsored by those threatened by Dr. Jonathan’s continuously rising profile in the international community.

Commonsense should have shown the purveyors ofthis slander that the Malabu oil deal far predated the Jonathan regime and it would only make sense for him to be bribed if he had a time machine to go backin time to when the deal was struck.

”According to Jonathan, the report relied on hearsay evidence from a man, who provided no substance to back up his false claim.

Angry judge discharges armed robbery suspects, blames Nigeria Police

Justice D. D. Longji of a Jos High Court in Plateau on Tuesday discharged two armed robbery suspects, Mustapha Mohammed andAmos Emmanuel, over lack of diligent prosecution by the police.

“I am discharging you and it is with a heavy heart; I am discharging you not based on merit, but because my hands are tied,” a visibly miffed Mr. Longji declared, while accusing the police prosecutor of refusing to do his job.He said that he was discharging the duo “because of the position of the law on lack of diligent prosecution”.

I have no reason to hold you because the prosecution has not diligently prosecuted the matter and seem uninterested in it.

But, if it is in your character to be a thief, you will come back here again; you will be re-arrested one day and brought back to court to face your charges.“There is no peace for the wicked, you are hereby discharged, but not acquitted,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspects were discharged after their counsel, David Adudu, prayed the court to strike out the case and discharge his clients as the prosecution had not shown any interest in thematter.He also claimed that the prosecution had consistently frustrated hearing on the case since it commenced in June 2016.

Mr. Longji, while agreeing with the defence counsel, said that the prosecution was not interested in the case and had been absent at the hearings.

Because of the persistent absence of the prosecution, the case suffered series of adjournments. The worst aspect is that no reasons were usually given for the absence,” he said.

At their arraignment in June 2016, the police prosecutor, E. A. Enegbonoise, had told the court that the accused persons, armed with a knife and a pistol, robbed one Chinyere Onyeabor, at Abattoir, Jos, on April 14, 2016.

Mr. Enegbonoise said that the accused persons, in company of a third accused, Kenneth Okafor, currently in Bauchi prisons over another matter, attacked Ms. Onyeabor and dispossessed her of a hand bag, three phones and an undisclosed amount of money.

The police prosecutor said that the first accused person, Kenneth Okafor, had told the police, in a confessional statement, that the knife and pistol belonged to the first accused (Mohammed), who brought them to his houseand suggested that they should go out to rob.

Mr. Enegbonoise quoted the accused as saying that when they went out to rob, they picked a woman at Farin-Gada roundabout in their tricycle, but later pushed her out of the moving vehicle and took her belongings.

The prosecutor further quoted the accused assaying that at a military check point at Abattoir, soldiers discovered the arms and apprehended them.

The statement also quoted Mr. Mohammed as saying that he bought the gun from one Isiaka Sani, a resident of Congo-Russia area of Jos, at the cost of N5, 000.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 1 (1 and 2), and 27 (1), of the Robbery and Fire Arm special provision Act, CAP R11, of the Federation of Nigeria, and punishable with death and a prison term of up to 14 years.

-NAN

Controversial Journalist, Kemi Olunloyo Gets N1m Bail After One Month In Prison

American trained journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, was on Tuesday granted bail in the sum of N1 million by a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The controversial Journalist, daughter of a former governor of Oyo State, was remanded in Port Harcourt prison over alleged defamatory report against Port Harcourt-based cleric.

She was granted bail by a Magistrate’s court and was immediately re-arraigned by the federal high court.

She was, however, granted bail in the sum of N1 million on Tuesday.

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 12/04/2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

WEDNESDAY 12TH APRIL 2017.

TOPIC : DIVINE VISITATION II.

MEMORISE :
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people
LUKE 1 : 68.

READ : JEREMIAH 29 : 10 - 11 :

10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that l think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LEVITICUS 23 - 24 & JEREMIAH 12.

MESSAGE :

''And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people." Luke 7 : 14 - 1 6.

The account of events in the above passage of Scripture is indicative of what a divine visitation looks like. Divine visitation with its attendant supernatural occurrences brings joy to the heart of those visited. I pray that God will visit you today and your joy shall be full in Jesus' Name. In our Bible text today, Prophet Jeremiah gave a revelation concerning the future deliverance of Israel from bondage. He prophesied that this would be realised by the power of divine visitation. When God comes visiting, He comes with deliverance from bondage and servitude like He did when He visited the children of Israel in Egypt ( Exodus 4 : 31 ). When the children of Israel, because of their spiritual decadence found themselves in Babylonian bondage again, His love for His friend, Abraham their father, compelled Him to promise another divine visitation. In Jeremiah 29 : 10, He sent His word to them in Babylon saying :

"For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."

Also, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied under the influence of the Holy Spirit about the coming of redemption to Israel through yet another divine visitation ( Luke 1 : 68 ). Divine visitation brought salvation to mankind, when God personally came in the form of man to dwell among us, suffered, died and rose again so that we may obtain salvation ( 1 Timothy 3 : 16 ). Beloved, do you want a divine visitation of salvation? Jesus Christ says this to you today: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, | will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Revelation 3 : 20.

Open the door of your heart to him today, accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, and He will come in right away and give you the gift of salvation.

PRAYER POINT : Lord Jesus, please visit me today, make Your abode in my life and give me Your gift of salvation.

AUTHOR : PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE.

HYMN 11: l HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
Though none go with me,
I still will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

My cross I'II carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I'Il carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I'Il carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me,
The cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me,
The cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

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Illegal Niger Delta refineries to produce 1,000 barrels of oil daily — NNPC

The group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, has thrown some light on the modular refineries the Federal Government is planning for the Niger Delta.

Mr. Maikanti, at the 53rd International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in Abuja, said the government would organise the youth now engaged in illegal refining of crude into consortia.Each consortium will refine 1000 barrels of crude daily.

Mr. Baru also defended the Federal Government’s plan to transform illegal refineries in the Niger Delta into legal entities for proper integration of the youth in the region.

He argued that getting the youth to form consortia to set up 1000 barrels per day modular refineries would get them off criminality and create jobs.

He said the reform programme being executed by the NNPC is geared towards transforming it from an oil and gas company into an integrated energy outfit with interest in power generation and transmission.

Buhari should reopen case, says Abiola’s son

One of Chief MKO Abiola’s children, Abdulmumuni Abiola, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to reopen the case of his father’s death.

Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election annulled by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, was incarcerated by Gen. Sani Abacha, who took over power from the Interim National Government headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan following Babangida’s exit.

The politician, who ran for president on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, was imprisoned by Abacha for refusing to renounce his mandate as the elected president of the country.

He was in detention when Gen. Abdulsalami took over power after the death of Abacha.While negotiations were ongoing for the release of the politician, he was reported dead under controversial circumstances.Speaking with Punch on Saturday, the younger Abiola noted that no matter how long it would take to get justice for his father, he would wait.

He said, “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Even my own kids will ask for the truth about their grandfather’s death.

The truth will always come out. I have always known that the cause of my father’s death is questionable. I appreciate Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi for coming out to speak the truth that he knows. I salute Gen. Bamaiyi for being steadfast with the truth. I hope others involved in this matter will come out and speak the truth.

As far as I am concerned and the family of Chief MKO Abiola is concerned, nothing has been let go. We are still interested in getting justice done. Justice delayed will not be justice denied in unravelling the real cause of my father’s death.

My father is not somebody that should die and there is mystery surrounding his death. I am looking forward to a day when a leader of this country will findout the real cause of my father’s death.

MKO Abiola was a good man,” he said.Calling on the Federal Government to revisit the case, Abdulsalami stated, “I am calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to do his best to get to the end of this matter – not only to unravel the killers of my father but also the killers of my mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

They deserve justice.“Since Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar was in charge of the country when my father died, I believe he has a case to answer.

He needs to come out and tell Nigerians the truth. All the people involved in my father’s death should come out and apologise for what they did anddid not do.

-Punch

OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL 2/4/2017

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.BY PASTOR E A ADEBOYE

DATE: SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2017

THEME: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW COVENANT I

Memorise:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Read: Matthew 5:21-24

5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of thejudgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

MESSAGE

The Lord Jesus Christ came to this world to manifest the nature and character of God to us. He also came to establish a new covenant between God and mankind through His blood (Luke 22:20). By establishing a new covenant, He did away with the old. Hebrews 8:7-8 says,
"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:"

He showed us the character of this new covenant through the relationship He had with the Father while here on earth, and through the words that He spoke. For this reason, we need to pay close attention to the things He said, if we want to reap the full benefits of the new covenant in His Blood. 

ln today's Bible reading, Jesus reveals some of the characteristics of the new covenant. He said that being angry with your brother without a genuine reason is tantamount to murder in the sight of God! For this reason, the Bible in Ephesians 4:26 says:
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"

lt is even better not to be angry at all because being angry can degenerate into having murderous thoughts. We tend to say things that engender strife when we are angry. For this reason, the wisdom of God in Proverbs 15:1 admonishes us, saying:
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."

Of course you know that most times, you don't speak soft words when you are angry.

Similarly, Jesus said if you call your brother a fool, you will be in danger of Hell Fire. There are many ways a man can call his brother a fool - not necessarily by the words of mouth alone. When you take a person for granted and take advantage of him or her, you are calling that person a fool. When you cleverly cheat on your spouse, you are calling him or her a fool. In light of these truths, if you have done anything synonymous to murder, you need to repent and make restitution. You may have angrily destroyed the career of a man who has mouths to feed. You have killed such a fellow, because he can no longer perform his obligations as a bread winner. If you are guilty of such, your salvation lies in repentance and restitution: seeking forgiveness from God and the wronged fellow. Whoever has ears, let him give heed to the message of Jesus Christ.

Action Point:

Father, keep me away from the spirit of anger, and grant me the grace not to use curse words on people.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
LEVITICUS.4-5.
JEREMAIAH.6:6-22

! In Jesus Name. Amen!
Good Morning! Lets go thank the Lord in Church for the first quarter of 2017 in our lives.

HYMN 9: ON THE HILL FAR AWAY

On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Refrain:
So I'II cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

[Refrain]

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

[Refrain]

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where his glory forever I'll share.

[Refrain]

OPEN HEAVENS 1/04/2017

OPEN HEAVEN DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

BY PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE.

THE HEALING NAME Saturday April 1 2017

Memorise:
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:17

Read:
Acts 3:1-9
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother‘s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Act 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Act 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name ofJesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising
God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God

Message:
There are many great things the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ can do in our lives, one of which is healing. It is unfortunate that many believers today, like Gehazi of old, prefer financial and material gains to the power in the Name of Jesus. They trade the precious Name of Jesus Christ for the ephemeral things of life. It is also highly regrettable that this divinely exalted Name, which God the Father gave to His Son, is being despised by many today. Philippians 2:9-10
says this about that Name:

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.''

Here‘s good news for you: every kind of sickness in this world is included among the things that bow at the mention of the Name of Jesus.

Todays Bible reading shows us one of the reasons why we need to give pre-eminence to the Name of Jesus Christ. Peter and John, two of the Lord‘s apostles, were entering the temple at the hour of prayer, and a lame man (who was born lame) looked up to them for alms. Although they had no money, but because they knew and cherished that Name, they used its healing power to give what money could not buy to this man. In Acts 3:6b, Peter said:

"Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk"

The result of this effective use of the Healing Name is that a lame man, who never walked all his life, began to walk and to leap! I therefore command every storm raging in your life to be still in Jesus‘ Name. Have doctors written off your case? I command that sickness to leave you alone right now in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

Beloved of God, I am introducing the Healing Name to you today, and that Name is Jesus. If you have not encountered the owner of that Name, may I introduce Him to you as the Saviour of the spirit, soul and body. Through His Name, He can deliver your ailing body from the grip of any terminal disease. All you need to do is to accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. Believe He can heal you, and He will surely heal you by His Name.

PRAYER Point:
Jesus the Healer, I believe in Your Healing name, please have mercy on me and heal me today through your name.

Bible in One Year:
Leviticus 1-3
Jeremiah 5:18-6:5

Amen! Good Morning. Welcome to April. The month of testimony !