Zenith Bank commits N35M to basketball league

The 2017 Zenith Bank Basketball League has been scheduled to start on April 10 in Abuja with the financial institution committing N35m to the sponsorship of the competition.The Deputy Managing Director of the bank, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, on Tuesday at the Zenith Corporate headquarters in Lagos told newsmen that contributing to the development of the basketball game over the years was a delight to the organization.

Onyeagwu said: “We take sports seriously and that is why we have been with basketball for this long period. It is a delight that many of the players have developed to represent Nigeria at international competitions and that is a success story for us.



“There have been testimonies of players discovered through the league who are now playing abroad. This has given us joy that the initiative we started from humble beginning has grown to become a very big league.

“We will continue to support the initiative, we have already signed on for the next three years, for as long as we see the continued professionalism there, we don’t see reason why we will stop the relationship because you don’t stop a winning team.

 We believe our collaboration is a winning one and our youths have now got commitment and we can only but make it bigger.”

The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijani Umar, however thanked the sponsors for having faith in the federation.

“It is not very easy for partnership to be together for so long, I really want to thank Zenith Bank for standing by us for the past 13 years till this moment. I was privileged to be a board member when it all started in 2005 and remarkably, it has been moving from strength to strength.

“In the eight years God has given me the opportunity to lead the board, it has blossomed, and today, I am part of the success story of the Zenith Bank’s sponsorship of the national women basketball league.

When we started, we have five teams competing, but after 13 years, we now have 18 teams competing which shows how far we have gone.”

Photos from the premiere of '' Tinnah's Empire''. By Toyin Lawani

Serial entrepreneur, Toyin Lawani yesterday premiered her 'reality show'. The show, Tiannah's Empire is set to air on Ebony Life TV.

Tiwa Savage, Iyabo Ojo, Mo Abudu, Moyo Lawal, Denrele and more were in attendance.
Checkout more photos from the event after the cut...

Laura Ikeji shares photos from her wedding, says '' none of her friends kne she was ready to get hitched''.

Blogger, Linda Ikeji's younger sister, Laura Ikeji who got married to Ogbonna Kanu two months ago has revealed that none of her friends knew she was dating or getting married.

The fashion entrepreneur shared the beautiful photos above and also revealed that she couldn't wait to get the whole marriage thing over with and have a quiet time with her man. Read below...

"I couldn't wait to get everything over with. Just wanted a quiet time with my man. 

None of my friends knew I was dating let alone ready to get hitched! Lol. I didn't think I was ready myself, lol. But look at me now. I'm having fun 

With me???? Nothing has changed. Same friends, same hangout spots, same clothes but a lil bigger, lol, same team, same hustle. That's basically what you get when you marry your nicca lol. Nothing changes. The devil you know 😂😂😂😂"

Head mistress allegedly demoted to class room teacher for embarrassing Abia states First Lady

The headmistress of a primary school at Amaetiti Asaga Ohafia, in Ohafia area of Abia State, Mrs. Maryleen Ezichi, has been reportedly demoted to a classroom teacher for allegedly embarrassing the wife of Abia State governor, Nkechi Ikpeazu.

It was gathered that Ezichi has been transferred to the Ukwa-East Local Government Area — about 140 kilometers from her former school — to serve as a deterrent for her ‘impunity and lack of respect for constituted authority’.

The headmistress, it was learnt had, during an interactive session with Ikpeazu’s wife after the inauguration of her free meal programme for primary school pupils in her school, complained that ‘teachers were being owed several months of salary arrears and allowances’.

Ezichi was quoted to have told the governor’s wife that teachers are finding it difficult to meet their financial obligations like the payment of house rents, school fees for their wards, medical bills, transport fares and had pleaded with her to intercede on their behalf.

It was gathered that two days after, the embattled Ezichi was whisked away to Umuahia from the school, where she was handed a letter of deployment and instructed to proceed to the new station immediately.

While defending the headmistress, one of her colleagues, who spoke on condition of anonymity, queried the appropriateness of the government’s action, maintaining that if the government felt embarrassed by her appeal it should do the needful and pay teachers' salaries.

He said, “By the way, of what importance is the meal programme to the pupils in particular and the schools in general? What about other schools in the community? All we are saying is that the government should pay us our entitlements period.”

Toolz goes back to school, aspires to become a fashion designer

Popular on air personality, Toolz confirmed the development via her page as she shared some pics.

'#Earlier on my way to school... #OOTD " and "School is over...off to do my homework.. #BackToSchool".

Omotola dazzles fans at the University of Ghana Business School

Star actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde was invited to speak on Brand Building for Global Relevance, The Omotola Story - at The Business School, University of Ghana, where she was well received by hall packed with many who are her fans. More photos after the cut........

Police arrest ex-sss official who store N310M belonging to Saraki

Polive have arrested a former operative of the State Security Service who was dismissed from the service over his alleged robbery of a bureau de change operator.

Abdulrasheed Maigari, 35, was arrested in Abuja by police anti-kidnap squad in a surveillance operation conducted between March 26 and 28.

Mr. Maigari, a native of Taraba State, was arrested alongside 10 other suspected criminals for allegedly kidnapping Issa Salami, a former General Manager of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria.

The other suspects as identified in a statement released by police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, are: Kelvin Emeka, 28, from Owgu LGA in Enugu State; Ndubusi Prince Ozor, 31, from Nsukwato LGA Abia State; Sunday Travnor, 33, from Ovi LGA in Nasarawa State and Zayor Alfred 23, from Obi LGA of Nasarawa State

The remaining suspects are: Avah Joseph, 25, from Ogbadibo LGA in Benue State; Gabriel Friday, 33, from Ogbadibo LGA Benue State; Rajab Baba Ishiaka, 22, from Wukari LGA Taraba State; Ali Sani, 27, from Takum LGA Taraba State; Nuhu Sule, 20, from Takum LGA Taraba State and Mohammed Abubakar, 21, Mokwa LGA of Niger State.

The police said the suspects were identified by their victims.

“They also confessed to the crime admitting to the various roles they played in the commission of various kidnappings, armed robberies and other violent crimes linked to them,” Mr. Moshood, a chief superintendent of police, said.

In December 2015, the State Security Service announced the arrest of its personnel, including Mr. Maigari, who allegedly robbed a bureau de change operator in Abuja of N310 million.

But the secret police was silent on the identity of the victim.

SR later identified Bukola Saraki as the owner of the huge sum and detailed how the Senate President allegedly engaged the service of a money changer, Abubakar Dantani, to help move the money to his house.

Mr. Maigari and his colleagues in the SSS allegedly robbed a van bearing the N310 million cash as it was about driving into Saraki’s residence in Abuja.

But Saraki denied ownership of the fund at the time.

The police said the robbery case was still pending in court, but Mr. Maigari was granted bail.

He allegedly joined another gang that had terrorised people in Abuja metropolis within the last few months until he was arrested this week in connection with Mr. Salami’s kidnap.

The police said the following arms and ammunition were recovered from the suspects: One AK 47 rifle, three AK 47 magazines, ninety rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, two pistols, fourteen rounds of 9mm live ammunition.

Two bedroom apartments used by the suspects at different locations in Suleija, near Abuja, were also recovered and will be used as exhibit, the police said.

CSP Moshood said Mr. Maigari and other suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.