Seven Kenyan officials held in Lagos over deported Nigerian businessman

Seven Kenyan government officials and five airline crew have been detained in Nigeria for two weeks after they travelled to the country to deport Nigerian businessman Anthony Chinedu and two of his compatriots.

The officials from different government departments including foreign affairs, immigration and police, left Nairobi for Lagos in a chartered aeroplane on June 3 escorting the controversial businessman and two other Nigerians, Christopher Nnanyelu and Oluwatosin Adebiyi. The three had been declared prohibited immigrants in Kenya.

However, in a dramatic turn of events, the officials have not been allowed to leave Nigeria. They said authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos were holding them and their chartered East African Safari Express plane.

According to them, Nigerian authorities have insisted the Kenyans will not be allowed to fly out without the three men Kenya kicked out on drug trafficking claims.

Google buys Israel's Waze to keep mobile maps lead

Google Inc bought Israeli mapping startup Waze on Tuesday for just over $1 billion, a source familiar with the matter said, acquiring an online real-time mapping service to safeguard its lead in one of the most crucial aspects of smartphone usage.

Google said in a Tuesday blog post it had closed the long-anticipated deal. It now planned on using Waze's service to enhance its own Maps product, but did not say how much it paid.

Maps and navigation services have become vital for technology companies as consumers adopt smartphones and other mobile devices. Waze uses satellite

signals from members' smartphones to generate maps and traffic data, which it then shares with other users, offering real-time traffic info.

Nigerian Billionaire: Our children are more important than £37m divorce

A multi-millionaire oil trader accused of forcing his wife to live on £150-a-week in a bitterly contested divorce battle today said today he is only thinking of his children.

Michael Prest spoke out with the Supreme Court due to return a potential landmark judgment on the legal wrangle with his ex-wife Yasmin Prest.

He claimed he was “disappointed” rather than angered by his wife’s actions and his biggest concern has always been the impact of the coverage of the case on the couple’s four children.

He adds that he could never be angry with his wife as she has given him the biggest treasure in his life - his four children.

“The part that upsets me is what my children read in the newspapers about their father,” said Mr Prest, who was born in Nigeria but brought up in the UK and educated at leading independent school Downside.

Chanchangi Airline’s workers protest unpaid salaries

About 53 staff members of Chanchangi Airlines have dragged the airline to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over their unpaid salary arrears of about 36 months.

The workers who alleged that the unpaid salaries have accrued since 2010, when the carrier advised them to embark on compulsory leave, yesterday took the matter to the regulatory authority after staging peaceful protests at the airline’s counter at MMA2 Terminal and then to the headquarters of the authority.

The workers said they were asked to stay off work since 2010, when the airline started having operational challenges.

The Director of Human Resources, Mr. Austin Amadi Ifeanyi, and Director of Consumer Protection, Alhaji Adamu Abdulahi, who received the aggrieved workers on behalf of the authority, assured them that the NCAA would look into their grievances and ensure that the airline did the right by paying them the arrears of their salaries.

Saudi prince sues Forbes for libel after it says he’s only worth $20-billion

Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20-billion was short of the mark by $9.6-billion, Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported on Friday.

The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the U.S. magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses after he was ranked number 26 in this year’s list.

An official at the High Court in London confirmed that Prince Alwaleed had filed a defamation suit against Forbes, its editor Randall Lane, and two of its journalists on April 30. Details of the claim were not immediately available.

Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp. and Apple Inc., among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris.

This year’s Forbes World Billionaires list was published on March 4, and the following day Kingdom Holding said the valuation process used “incorrect data” and “seemed designed to disadvantage Middle Eastern investors and institutions.”

WARNING! First Bank To Shut Down Operations On Thursday, Re-opens on Monday

Customers of First Bank Limited may find it difficult to carry out some banking transactions from Thursday to Monday due to the decision to shut down the bank’s branches nationwide during the period.

The shutdown, according to the bank, is to enable it upgrade its core banking application from Finacle 7 to Finacle 10, which will ensure easier and faster customer services and experience.

Our correspondent gathered that the decision to shut down operations in order to facilitate the migration to Finacle 10 would affect the bank’s over 700 branches nationwide.

 Apart from all the branches being shut, Point of Sale transactions and transaction alerts by Short Message Service will not be possible during the period. In addition, all card services, except Visa prepaid card, will not be available via Quick Teller and the Web.

Dangote Hits $20bn Mark, Now 25th Richest in the World

Nigerian billionaire and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote has scored yet another first. This time, he has been named the Africa’s first $20 billion man, thus becoming one of the top 25 richest men in the world.

Dangote, the President/Chief Executive of the pan-African conglomerate, the Dangote Group, has become the first African entrepreneur to lay claim to a $20 billion fortune as the stock value of the flagship of his holding, Dangote Cement, leaped just about three-fourths since March, when Forbes last released its annual ranking of the world’s richest people.

With a current market cap of $20.5 billion, Dangote Cement becomes the first Nigerian company to achieve a market capitalization of over $20 billion.

The world renowned business and financial intelligence news magazine, the Forbes has

Nigerian Businessman, Anthony Chinedu amongst six Nigerians Deported from Kenya

Controversial Nigerian businessman Anthony Chinedu who has been facing criminal charges has been deported from Kenya.

Chinedu is among six Nigerians who were deported on Monday from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for being in the country illegally.

They were arrested from their houses on Sunday night in a police operation following reports they were involved in “dirty” businesses.

Sources at JKIA said they were all put on an international airline after being warned against being violent if and when they are there.

“Five of them have been deported and they are no longer in the country,” said a senior security official at the airport.

Nairobi Area head of CID Nicholas Kamwende confirmed the deportation.

Chinedu was facing a number of criminal cases and was in April arrested in his house with 10 grammes of heroin that he is believed to have either been using or wanted to traffic.

Dangote, Six Others Bag Honorary Citizenship of Arkansas

Seven Nigerians were among 17 personalities awarded honorary citizenship of the state of Arkansas in the U.S., each with a key to the city of Little Rock, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Gov. Mike Beebe of Arkansas also proclaimed May 30 of every year as Nigeria Day, which was celebrated with a spectacular display of fireworks.

The certificate for the proclamation was handed over to Prof. Ade Adefuye, Nigeria's Ambassador to the U.S., who was represented by Mr Baba Garba of the Consulate General of Nigeria in Atlanta.

Some of the recipients of the awards are Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group; Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, the Chairman of Arik Air, Gov. Rabi'u Kwankwaso of Kano State; Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, a former lecturer of University of Lagos.

Caverton Helicopters faults Reps' report, denies links with Rivers on aircraft

Caverton Helicopters yesterday faulted the House of Representatives' Committees on Justice and Aviation report that an 'agency relationship' exists between it and the controversial Rivers State owned aircraft N565RS.

The aviation company denied the existence of such a relationship and demanded concrete evidence from those who claim otherwise.

In its reaction on Sunday, Caverton Helicopters said it was surprising how the committees arrived at such weighty position and recommendation 'without an independent, forensic investigation and without any counter-veiling evidence other than the mere say-so of a party to a dispute.'

'We expected more rigour, more nuance, more balance, and greater restraint from such an august body,' added the statement signed by communication consultant to Caverton Helicopters, Mr. Waziri Adio.

Airtel's Chief Marketing Officer resigns

Airtel Networks Limited on Thursday confirmed that Mr. Olu Akanmu, its Chief Marketing Officer has resigned his appointment with the company to pursue other interests-with effect from Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

According to a statement, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Airtel was quoted as saying, “Mr. Akanmu led the marketing function at a crucial time in the life of our organization and brought his over two decades of marketing experience and a rich knowledge of the telecommunications market to bear on his role as our CMO. On behalf of all of us at Airtel, I wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

Starcomms Staff Are Not Smiling – Almost 3 months without Salary

Staffs of telecommunications company, Starcomms, have threatened to file a legal action against the company’s over its refusal to pay their outstanding two months’ salary.

The workers had last month in a protest letter published by DailyPost, accused the management of unjust treatment in the handling of their welfare.

According to them, days after the report on their plight, the management called a meeting to avail members of staff the opportunity to ask questions about the state of the organization.

But in a new statement, they allege that “Instead of the Chief Executive Officer and his team to bow their heads in shame and appeal to the disgruntled, loyal and dedicated staffs, he simply displayed his incompetence in running the affairs of the organization by either avoiding or redirecting questions put to him to other top notch collaborators.”

The workers also said that the CEO further displayed inconsideration by saying he owes no one an apology.

House Threatens to Arrest CEOs of Nine Banks over Tax Remittances

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance Monday opened its probe  into tax remittances by banks, threatening  to issue warrants of arrest on the chief executive officers (CEOs) of nine commercial banks for allegedly shunning the  invitations extended to them to participate in the investigation.

The investigation was to ascertain the level of compliance of the banks to tax collections and remittances to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

However, out of the 21 banks invited, 12 sent representatives while nine did not honour the invitation.

The erring banks include CitiBank, Enterprise Bank, Zenith Bank, Eco bank, Sterling Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Keystone Bank, Heritage Bank and First City Monument Bank.

Employees Get Tattoo of Company Logo for Pay Raise

Kiyo: A New York-based real estate firm Rapid Realty has offered its 800 employees a 15% pay raise if they tattoo the company’s logo on their bodies, no matter where or how large; and the offer is snowballing, according to CBS New York. So far, nearly 40 employees accepted the challenge, AOL Jobs reported.

Would you get a tattoo for a pay raise?

Filo: Love this comment “there are no slaves in America. Only rugged, free-spirited individualists who opt to get branded with their employer's mark in return for enough money to pay rent”.

HAPPY WORKERS DAY

Happy workers day to our amiable readers and thanks for making the No1 interactive news blog, kiyoandfilo your favourite page.

In less than five weeks of launch, we already have close to 10,000 hits, and we hope to do more to get you enterthrilled.

Drop us a comment or suggestion on how to improve on our content for your reading pleasure. Email: kiyoandfilo@gmail.com

Once again, thanks for your support.

Kiyo and Filo

Nigerian Gaming Company KULUYA Valued At $2m

Filo: Nigeria-based online gaming company, KULUYA.com, on Thursday announced it raised another small seed stage investment to expand commercial activities, thereby propping the company’s valuation to $2 million.

Kunle Ogungbamila, Head of KULUYA said: “We have grown the company to a $2 million valuation in six months. Our goal is to become one of the most successful media companies in Africa, and with today’s news, I see this as being totally achievable”.

Kiyo: With games such as ‘My Oga @ the Top’ which Kunle claimed was played 60,000 times within the first 72 hours of its release, one wonders if Mr Shem Obafaiye received royalty.

Ventures-Africa

PICTURES: Banky W at the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch in SA

Banky and the MD Samsungmobileng, Emmanouil Revmatas

Filo: Banky W was at the launch of the android beast, Samsung Galaxy S4 in Johannesburg, South Africa and has confirmed the Naija launch would be on May 10th.

Information reaching us suggests the phone might go for ₦104k to ₦110k when released in Naija. What do you think of the price?

Banky W

More Pix On The Flip

South Africa to get first Porn Channels

Kiyo: South Africa’s broadcasting regulator has granted a local satellite television service permission to air the country’s first pornography channels, amid resistance from religious and community groups, a statement said Wednesday.

The Independent Communications Authority (ICASA) ruled that “there is no law of general application prohibiting the production and distribution of adult content” by TopTV

The three channels, “Playboy TV,” “Desire TV” and “Private Spice” will be broadcast between 8pm and 5am.

Filo: If TopTV did this to increase viewership, it simply means their primary mission is not to add value but maximize profit.

Inquirer

AIRTEL RELEASE MNP ADVERT DISSING MTN

Kiyo: Taking cue from MTN but presented in a subtle manner, Airtel has released their commercial for the number portability regime. The ad started with a family moving from a yellow painted building to a larger and more elegant one painted red with the guy saying ‘finally’. One key element in the ad is that the family moved with the yellow painted house number; this is to let the consumers know that you can still retain your phone number (MSISDN) despite porting.

Filo: Interesting, waiting for Glo 

SAKA Finally ports to MTN, jettison Etisalat

Filo: Afeez Oyetoro fondly called SAKA is a popularly name in the entertainment circles possibly because of his hilarious interpretation of roles.

The lecturer cum actor before now was known as a brand ambassador of EMTS (Etisalat); however in the recent porting advert of MTN, Saka seems to have dumped his first love. The ad started with Saka dressed in green traditional attire only to metamorphose into a yellow costume singing ‘I don port o, I don port go MTN. I don upgrade to MTN‘.

Let’s recall an interview he granted Saturday Tribune last year, SAKA said “As you must have known I had a very poor background and I have said it before that at a point in my life, poverty was too evident with bread and beans as well as guguru and epa being my anointed foods but today it is all history. The Etisalat campaign is blessing my pockets, it has also boosted my profile to the point that I believe that real stardom will soon come. However, I am still my humble self”

Saka, so what happened?

Kiyo: Many questions begging for answers;

1. Was there a contractual agreement between Etisalat and Saka or his rep?

2. If yes, has the contract elapsed?

3. If no, why would a company in the calibre of EMTS have a brand ambassador or propagandist without a contractual document?

4. Is MTN more afraid of Etisalat than other competitors?

5. Would the advertising war obviously started by MTN be healthy for our nascent porting regime?