Russian 'fertilizer king' ordered to pay $4.5 billion to ex-wife in Swiss divorce settlement

GENEVA (AP) -- A Swiss court has ordered a Russian billionaire to pay more than $4.5 billion to his ex-wife in what could become the biggest divorce settlement in history.

In papers delivered Monday to both parties, the Geneva Tribunal of First Instance said Dmitry Rybolovlev, an owner of the French soccer club AS Monaco, must pay 4,020,555,987.80 Swiss francs ($4,509,375,184.80) to ex-wife Elena Rybolovleva of Geneva. Both are aged 47.

The judgment also granted his ex-wife property worth 130.5 million francs ($146 million) in property in Gstaad, Switzerland, where the couple owned two swanky chalets. It awarded his ex-wife two other pieces of real estate in the ultra-wealthy area of Geneva known as Cologny, where the couple once lived together, but listed no value for either address. And it confirmed her custody of their 13-year-old daughter, Anna. The couple also has an adult daughter, Ekaterina.

Her lawyer Marc Bonnant called it "the most expensive divorce in history," an unheard-of amount for Switzerland and for Russian oligarchs.

But Rybolovlev's lawyer said that the judgment's cash order was likely to be whittled down in coming appeals.

"There will definitely be a new appellate review and therefore this judgment is not final given the existence of two levels of appeal in Switzerland," said Tetiana Bersheda.

A separate statement by Bonnant and two other lawyers in the case, Corinne Corminboeuf Harari and Caroline Schumacher, called the record judgment "a complete victory" for her and said that under Swiss law she was entitled to half the fortune he made during their marriage. Most of that fortune was transferred to Cyprus-based trusts in 2005.

The three lawyers said Monday's ruling demonstrated that "no one — not even a Russian tycoon who put his fabulous fortune into legal structures such as trusts and offshore companies — is above the law."

But Rybolovlev's lawyer suggested the opposite, praising the judgment for "confirming both the validity of the trusts created by Mr. Rybolovlev and the validity of the asset transfer to them that occurred long before his wife initiated divorce proceedings."

His ex-wife had demanded $6 billion from the man known as the "fertilizer king," whose fortune from potash mining once made him the world's 79th richest person. He is now ranked 147th on the Forbes list of billionaires, with an estimated fortune of $8.8 billion.

The couple met as university students in Perm, Russia, and married there in 1987. Divorce proceedings began in 2008, when Forbes estimated his worth at $12.8 billion.

A Geneva court had provisionally frozen Rybolovlev's assets in Switzerland and abroad, but it may prove difficult for Rybolovleva to obtain the money because Switzerland has no legal aid treaty with Cyprus.

In the United States, Rybolovlev and his daughter Ekaterina used trusts to acquire some of the priciest real estate in the country, including a penthouse apartment at Central Park West in New York and a mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Drake Laughs At Jay-Z For Being Beaten By A Girl

Jay has shot some mean words at Drake recently and now Drake is ok Solange could put him in his place.

The trio left the elevator with no smiles


While 50 Cent thinks Jay Z handled the shocking vicious elevator attack withSolange Knowles last Monday in NYC like a true gentleman, Drake thinks, Jaydeserves the beat down because he often think he's on top of the world; but just got whooped by a GIRL!


A source claims because Drake's been attacked by Jay more than a few times he thinks that Solange was just Jay's latest victim, "He thinks that HOV probably said some f**ked up stuff to her, or tried to come off like he's the illest person who's ever walked the face of the earth, like he portrays in his music."


The younger rapper also thinks Solange was trying to put the rapper in his place. "Solange probably got tired of Jay Z's hype and tried to bring him back to earth," the source adds.


And no surprise here, but Drake actually enjoyed seeing his hip-hop rival take a few shots from a girl. And like everyone else, one viewing of the footage just wasn't enough: "Drake thought it was funny and watched it on repeat about ten times while laughing his ass off." the source concluded.

Another Hit track out

 

From the heart of Jos comes MAJESTIC with his latest track he titled "Mashemileshe".  Download and listen while having a beautiful  Sunday evening.

#Cheers

 

                                                                 

Download HERE!!!

Gov. Shettima declares 3-day fasting for abducted girls

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno on Friday declared three days of prayers and fasting to seek divine intervention to rescue the more than 200 school girls abducted by insurgents in Chibok.

The governor made the announcement while addressing members of the Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), Chibok, who were protesting the abduction of the girls in Maiduguri.

According to him, the fasting will take place between Monday and Wednesday, May 12 to May 14.

“We are calling on all Muslims and Christians to embark on a three-day fasting to seek God’s help toward rescuing our girls.

“All of us must fast because we worship the same God.’’

“There is no politics or religious issues in this matter because the abduction of the girls is something that should bother us all as parents, uncles and guardians.

Shettima expressed gratitude to the international community for the concerned shown over the abduction saga, especially the American first lady, Mrs Michelle Obama.

The governor, who expressed shock that some individuals were expressing doubt over the genuineness of the abduction, said “it is unthinkable for anyone to say such a story could be fabricated.’’

“We pray that our prayers will be answered and our girls returned safely back home.’’

Earlier, Mr Alabe Grema, the Spokesman of KADA, had urged the Federal Government to take concrete steps to free the abducted girls.

He said “my people have been facing psychological trauma following the abduction of the girls.’’

Grema also presented a letter to Shettima for onward delivery to President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue.

Insecurity: Fashola reiterates need for state police

Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has advised the National Assembly to make laws to allow for establishment of state police in view of the security challenges in the country.

The governor made the call at the 11th Lagos State Executive and Legislative Parley in Lagos on Friday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parley had the theme: “Public Sector Management Engineering: The Continuing Story of Lagos”.

According to him, the current security challenges demanded that the country adopted a new and different approach to address the problem.

Fashola said that state police held prospects to address the country’s security issues.

“The most urgent and compelling challenge our nation face now is that of security, law and order.

“Of course, security, law and order are the very foundation of good governance and economic growth.

“I believe the time has come for our national legislators to dig deep as no nation can have the kind of security challenge and refuse to be imaginative about law enforcement.

“Whatever the arguments and fears about state police may be, the truth is that we have nothing to fear, but fear itself.

“We must find the courage to do something new to bring collaborative capacity to law enforcement.

“To the best of my knowledge, the constitution prescribes perhaps there shall be one police force, but it has not forbidden multi-level policing.

“I believe very seriously that legislators can be imaginative and make a law that lives within the confines of the law to allow multi-level policing,” he said.

Fashola also urged legislators to review the National Inland Waterways Decree to strengthen water transportation in the states.

He contended that the laws limited the powers of states to freely use their inland waters as it placed the control of such waterways in the hands of the Federal Government.

“Through that law today, our capacity to effectively operate our water transport is being impeded by federal agencies like the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

“They require us to apply for permits to build jetties and terminals whereas water transportation is a concurrent matter under the constitution.

“So, it is anomalous for NIWA to ask us to seek permission before building such facilities.

“This is the time to review that law because it affects all the coastal states in Nigeria,” he said.

Fashola advocated stronger relationship between the legislature and executive to deliver democratic dividends to the citizens.

Mr Muslim Folami, Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Powers Bureau, said the parley was a platform for political office holders to brainstorm on ways to move the state forward.

“So far, we have had 10 parleys which ended with various life changing resolutions to guide government on how best to move the state and nation forward,” he said.

The parley was attended by federal and state lawmakers, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as members of the state executive council.

Some of those at the occasion included Speaker of the State Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji , Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, Rep. Yakub Balogun and the state APC Deputy Chairman, Mr James Odunbaku.

Prof. Ademola Popoola of Obafemi Awlolowo University delivered a lecture titled: “Towards Consolidating and Improving the Gains of Democracy in Lagos”.

Letter of protest against maltreatment of Borno state govt officials by the presidency

Two journalists have written a letter of protest over what they describe as the "maltreatment and humiliation" of some Borno State officials when they were summoned to the State House by Pres. Jonathan on Saturday May 3rd and Sunday May 4th

Sahara Reporters obtained the protest letter signed by Bashir Shuwa and Aliyu Biu. Find it below...
“We the undersigned wish to register our total protest to the President, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan over the degrading manner in which Borno State Government officials were chastised and reduced to nothing by the Presidency. Continue...
“Last week Friday, on May 2nd, 2014, the President appeared to have cause to invite key Borno State Government officials together with some Federal Government functionaries to the Presidential Villa over the abduction of the more than two hundred school girls at the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, Borno State three weeks ago.

“Those invited included His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, the Honourable Kashim Shettima, the State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Inuwa Kubo, the State Commissioner of Police, and the State Director of the Department of State Security Services. Others are, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School Chibok, the Chairman of the Chibok Local Government Council, and the Division Police Officer of Chibok, as well as the Chief Security Officer of the school.

“Upon their arrival at the Presidential Villa, on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014, President Goodluck Jonathan personally interrogated these key officials, from 9 PM to 2 AM, as if all the official information relayed to him by his security apparatus in Borno, was meaningless, unreliable and suspicious.

“At the end of interrogation, President Goodluck Jonathan handed over these officials to the Inspector General of Police, with the clear instructions to do his job. These officials were then driven to the Force Headquarters where they were detained, and made to make written statements on how the girls were abducted, and later, released on bail on self recognition, as if they were directly, or indirectly, responsible for the abduction of their own children.

“The following Sunday, May 4th, 2014, they were again taken to the Villa at 5 PM for further interrogation, and this time by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. While at the Villa, they remained standing for four hours, after which, they were ushered into the First Lady’s chambers. It was there where they were treated to verbal assaults, as to the veracity of their claims on how the school-girls were abducted, to the admiration of her cheer leaders, including the president of market women association, and Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, as well as some members of the Northern Governors Wives Association, who were present.

“One would have expected that the First Lady would have sympathized with these government officials for the traumatic events they went through, but unfortunately, they were subjected to all sorts of embarrassing humiliation. The sum total of the First Lady’s vituperations appeared to be directed toward negativity, and substituting fact with fiction, in order to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. Also there were attempts made to play on religious sentiments, an attempt that failed woefully, having realized that the girls abducted came from various religious groups.

“As if that was not enough, the First Lady made a number of threatening remarks, including the order to security officials to arrest some women protesters, and shouting down on the State Director of State Security Services, and other officials, whom she allegedly labeled as “Boko Haram sympathizers.” She also ordered all of the officials to resign their appointments forthwith, on their return to their respective duty posts.

“This is highly unfortunate, and totally unacceptable, because the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended,) has not mentioned, or given any clearly defined responsibility, or role, or power to First Ladies to issue such directives. Nor is there any constitutional amendment to the First Lady to exercise the powers of the State Chief, or executive, directly, or indirectly, or otherwise in matters of governance. The Nigerian First Ladies are enjoying the current privileges courtesy of their husbands’ position.

“This official highhandedness exhibited by Dame Patience Jonathan, is primitive and unconstitutional, and therefore totally unacceptable. Similarly, the president (will) also need to clarify the grounds on which he ordered the detention and interrogation of the key government officials from Borno State, who were equally victims of the insurgency in Borno State by the Boko Haram.

“In view of the foregoing, we call on the International Community to ask President Goodluck Jonathan to explain to the world why he appeared to have doubts, as the security information sent to him by his own security apparatus, and (had) decided to descend on Borno State Government Officials.

“If he has any doubt on such reports, are the Borno State Government Officials who did [not issue] these official security reports going to be held responsible and asked to clarify what they have not written and reported? To us the sum total action of the presidency tantamount to blaming the victim, hence the purpose of our protest.

The office of President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to respond publicly to the letter written by the two journalists.

#BringBackOurGirls: Nigerians protest all over the world (photos)

 

As the protest about the missing girls continues world wide, today Another protest took place in London  May 9th at Nigerian High Commission and in attendance were MP David Lammy, Funmi Iyanda, DJ Abass, Kayode Ogundamisi and many other high profile personnel. photos below...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actor Bob-Manuel Udokwu joins Gov Obiano’s cabinet as SA on entertainment

 

Nollywood actor, Bob-Manuel Udokwu has been appointed Senior Special Adviser on Entertainment by Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano. He made the announcement via a BB message yesterday.

The message read:

"The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has appointed me Bob-Manuel Udokwu (FCAI) his Senior Special Assistant(SSA) on the Movie/Entertainment Industry with immediate effect"
Bob-Manuel was also the former Special Adviser on Entertainment to the immediate past Governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi. This new governor retained him. Congrats to him.

US Intelligence say missing girls may have been trafficked out and shared into smaller groups

 

A report on CNN says US and UK intelligence believe the missing Chibok girls may have been trafficked to Chad, Niger and Cameroon and shared into smaller groups to facilitate easy trafficking.

Meanwhile 7 US anti-terrorism agents have arrived Nigeria today to help in the process of rescuing the missing girls.

Will and Jada are reportedly upset over Willow's bedroom pics

According to reports, Will and Jada Smith are angry over the recent photos that surfaces showing their 13 year old daughter lying in bed with partiallydressed 20-year-old former Hannah Montana star Moises Arias


Sources tell Showbiz Spy


“Will and Jada are quite relaxed when it comes to raising their kids. But they don’t want Willow or Jaden doing anything that makes themselves or the family look bad. And these photos make everyone look bad."
“They’ve read Willow the riot act. They don’t think it’s appropriate for her to be so

Rick Ross Sued For Stealing Pictures!

Rick Ross sued by famed photographer for stealing a picture

The rapper is still in court with the LMFAO for stealing his lyrics and now he also stole photographs? Damn it Karma!

A famous hip hop photographer has just sued hip hop giant Rick Ross for allegedly stealing his snap shot for his personal use!

Funny thing is Rozay is currently in a legal fight with the LMFAO music group for stealing the lyrics to his hit track , "Hustlin"; which he says they changed to "Shufflin" in the hit songParty Rock Anthem. So did Rozahalso steal another person's artistic work?

According to Armen Djerrahian's new lawsuit, he shot photos of Ross for a magazine layout which included the iconic photo of Ross pointing a finger to his head like it's a gun - but claims Ross ripped off the image and is now using it illegally.

The photographer now claims he also shot a bunch of rappers from Ross' Maybach Music group - including Meek Mill, Gunplay and Omarion - and now those pictures are popping up everywhere - including posters, ads, internet banners, mixtape and CD covers, websites and all over social media ... even though he never gave anyone permission.


Damn! So Rozay can also steal some other person’s art? Guys what do you think of this Karmaof a thing?

Photos: Nicki Minaj stunning on set of wine beverage commercial

The rapper looked sexy in a peach Norma Kamali two-piece & Gucci heels, on set of her commercial for Myx Fusion, the fruit-infused, single serve moscato wine beverage, which she also partly owns. Continue to see more photos...

Sexy or Senseless???

Fuji Musician Osupa Saheed's Band member Caught Nak*d In Bed with Married Woman, Forced To have Sex in Public (VIDEO)

One of the band member of a very popular Lagos base fuji musician known as osupa saidi, was caught liver in the act, with a married woman popularly known as mama junior in the area of orile Lagos.

The band guy is said to have been sleeping with this obviously adulterous woman for a very long time until nemesis finally caught up with him.

He was heavily beaten by guys in the area who caught him who according to the sources were allegedly sent by the husband of the woman.. The Guys Then Forced Them To have Sex Right in their front while beating them.. Absurdity



CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

Dramatic images of Chibok girls who escaped from Boko Haram

SaharaReporters has obtained photos of some of the girls who managed to escape from Boko Haram men after they were kidnapped (pictured above with their mothers/relatives) with many of them weeping as they publicly re-tell the horrors of the late night raid on April 14th.

The photos were taken in front of the Government Girls’ Secondary School, in Chibok according to SR, with the remains of the burned out building seen in the background. These images tell a dramatic story of a tiny, and isolated village, Chibok, that the world has now come to know as the site of a mass and disturbing kidnapping. See more photos after the cut...

'No girls are missing' - ex Niger Delta militant Asari Dokubo declares

                          I can't even put the things he said into words...read it after the cut...

Graphic photos: Another mob killing in Akure, Ondo StateOK you know what, if the government doesn't do something about jungle justice then I will be forced to think they approve. This is getting out of hand and the sooner we deal with it, the better. Yesterday a woman was set ablaze in Abule Egba, Lagos and today another mob killing took place in Akure, Ondo state. The man they burnt to death at Adegbola junction in Akure was allegedly found with a child...some claimed the child was found dead, others said the child wasn't dead, but everyone agreed that the man was either mad or pretended to be mad. They beat him and set him ablaze. See graphic pics after the cut...

OK you know what, if the government doesn't do something about jungle justice then I will be forced to think they approve. This is getting out of hand and the sooner we deal with it, the better.

Yesterday a woman was set ablaze in Abule Egba, Lagos and today another mob killing took place in Akure, Ondo state. The man they burnt to death at Adegbola junction in Akure was allegedly found with a child...some claimed the child was found dead, others said the child wasn't dead, but everyone agreed that the man was either mad or pretended to be mad. They beat him and set him ablaze.

See graphic pics after the cut...

'How I died twice with my only child' - mother of Nyanya bomb blast victim tells her story

A woman, madam Grace Omokoro Joe whose only child was killed in the Nyanya bombing narrated the untimely death of her only child who was to resume his first ever work on the said date in Abuja. The woman has been going through tough times since she lost her son. She fainted when she saw her son’s dead body at the park, and fainted the second time when the second bomb blast occurred. Right now, her only brother has relocated her from Nyanya since she can no longer stand the trauma.



Madam Grace spoke at a protest staged by the Nigerian Women in Clergy on Friday, under the leadership of Prophetess Nonie Roberson. The clergy women had used the protest to create a forum to target post traumatic syndrome among people they have identified as ‘forgotten victims’ of the bomb blast. Continue..

Narrating her horrible experience, the woman whose husband is also late said on the fateful day, her only child, Joel Olukayode, a graduate of Federal University of Technology, Minna was to resume his first temporary job in Abuja town. She said " on the fateful morning, we had our morning devotion and I asked my Son to take at least a cup of tea, but he said he was okay, and I gave him my blessing. After 10-15 minutes that he left, the blast went off. I went outside to check if he was still there, but I didn't see him, so I quickly ran to the park, and on getting there, I saw my Son on the ground, dead. That was the last thing I could remember. He was my only child, and I guess, I died momentarily with him and I died the second time, but God says, there is still time."

Also narrating how they have been coping with the trauma of the blast, Mr. Balogun, brother to the bereaved woman said it was not easy going from one Mortuary to the other, checking all dead bodies of the victims of the blast before they could identify the body of the late Juel Olukayode, a 29 year old graduate of Chemical Engineering. He said "When she fainted, the body was taken away. So, when she was revived, we had to go to almost all hospitals in Abuja where bodies were deposited, looking for Joel's body, before we finally got it. The trauma of looking at almost all dead bodies deposited in various hospitals can better be imagined." Balogun said.

Please, this woman and many others need help. Well-meaning Nigerians and the government are to join this campaign.
Written by Adoyi Ali

French Govt Has accepted to Help Nigeria in the search

The French govt has offered to help Nigeria by providing intelligence that would help in rescuing the kidnapped girls. This was made known by the Foreign Affairs minister of France, Laurent Fabius.

Speaking about it today, Mr Fabius said;
"The President has instructed to put the (intelligence) services at the disposal of Nigeria and neighbouring countries. This morning he asked us to contact the Nigerian president to tell him that a specialized unit with all the means we have in the region was at the disposal of Nigeria to help find and recover these young girls"
Meanwhile President Barrack Obama in an interview with ABC News condemned the abduction of the Chibok girls saying it was "outrageous" and "heartbreaking". He said this abduction could be the event that how awaken the entire world to work towards stopping Boko Haram activities
"It’s a heartbreaking situation, outrageous situation. This may be the event that helps to mobilize the entire international community to finally do something against this horrendous organization that’s perpetrated such a terrible crime.” he said.

I am the President…Jonathan is not the president — Shekau, Boko Haram Leader speaks in New Video (WATCH)

Boko Haram Leader Shekau Releases Video. Click the link below to Watch the Video:


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Damn! Floyd Mayweather to make $70m for fighting for only 36mins

Mehn, some people are living life. Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather made $32million for fighting Marcos Maidana on Saturday May 3rd in Las Vegas. Its been revealed that Mayweather could earn up to $70 million for fighting for only 36 minutes, following the release of the pay-per-view numbers.

Check out the numbers accompany the pic above which Mayweather himself posted on instagram. He made $14k per second, $888k per min, N2.6m per round, and $32m in 12rounds/36minutes which was how long the fight, which he won by majority decision, lasted.

And now he's waiting to make an additional $38million from the Pay-Per-View of the match!

Nigeria’s Stolen Girls - What New York Times wrote about GEJ

Below is a New York Times editorialpublished yesterday May 6. Y'all need to read this. Find below..

Three weeks after their horrifying abduction in Nigeria, 276 of the more than 300 girls who were taken from a school by armed militants are still missing, possibly sold into slavery or married off. Nigerian security forces apparently do not know where the girls are and the country’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, has been shockingly slow and inept at addressing this monstrous crime.
On Tuesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund said Boko Haram, the ruthless Islamist group that claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, abducted more young girls from their homes in the same part of the country in the northeast over the weekend. The group, whose name roughly means “Western education is a sin,” has waged war against Nigeria for five years. Its goal is to destabilize and ultimately overthrow the government. The group’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, said in a video released on Monday, “I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah.”
This is not the first time Boko Haram has attacked students, killing young men and kidnapping young women. The security situation in Northeast Nigeria has steadily deteriorated. In the first three months of this year, attacks by Boko Haram and reprisals by government security forces have killed at least 1,500 people, more than half of them civilians, according to Amnesty International. Until now, there has been little response to the violence, either in Nigeria or internationally. But the kidnapping of so many young girls, ages 12 to 15, has triggered outrage and ignited a rare anti government protest movement in Nigeria.

On Sunday, after weeks of silence, Mr. Jonathan admitted that “this is a trying time for our country,” and he said that Nigerians were justified in their anger against the government and appealed for international help. The reaction of Mr. Jonathan’s wife, Patience, was stunningly callous; according to state news media, she told one of the protest leaders, “You are playing games. Don’t use schoolchildren and women for demonstrations again.”

Boko Haram’s claim that it follows Islamic teachings is nonsense. A pre-eminent Islamic theological institute, Al-Azhar in Egypt, denounced the abductions, saying it “completely contradicts the teachings of Islam and its tolerant principles.” Although Boko Haram is believed to number no more than a few hundred men, Nigerian security forces have been unable to defeat them.

Mr. Jonathan, who leads a corrupt government that has little credibility, initially played down the group’s threat and claimed security forces were in control. It wasn’t untilSunday, more than two weeks after the kidnappings, that he called a meeting of government officials, including the leader of the girls’ school, to discuss the incident. There is no doubt the intelligence and investigation help President Obama offeredon Monday is needed.

The kidnappings occurred just as President Jonathan is about to hold the World Economic Forum on Africa, with 6,000 troops deployed for security. That show of force may keep the delegates safe, but Nigeria’s deeply troubled government cannot protect its people, attract investment and lead the country to its full potential if it cannot contain a virulent insurgency.

13 year old Willow Smith seen in bed with half-naked 20year old man

Will and Jada Smith's 13 year old daughter, Willow, was photographed in bed with her friend, 20 year old actor, Moises Arias, who is shirtless in the pic. Many feel it's inappropriate because she's just 13, whether anything inappropriate happened or not. Willow and the Disney actor have been friends for a while.

The pic was shown to L.A law enforcement who say there's nothing "sexual enough" in the pic to raise concern. Do you think it's inappropriate?

Substandard phones also responsible for poor network services - NCC

 

 According to Director of Public Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission, Mr Tony Ojobo, the use of substandard phones is a major contributor to the poor network service telecommunications subscribers experience sometimes. He said this yesterday at Abuja while speaking with journalists.

"Substandard phones have contributed to the level of poor services because there is a certain required power in cell phones that would enable it to transmit signals. If the requirement is not met, then it will create problems in the network and that is why when people call a particular number they are unable to reach the number. This is not necessarily because there is no service there; but because their phones are not powered enough to sense signals because they are substandard" he said. Really? Who believes substandard phones contribute to poor network services in Nigeria. Continue...

He said the NCC was working with the Nigeria Customs Service to curtail the importation of substandard phones into the country.

"We are collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service, where we have provided a list of approved phones. We, therefore, expect that at the port of entry any phone that did not meet the standard will be seized. We are using this to reinstate that all vendors must be licensed by the Commission first and foremost. You can’t sell anything without having the authorization of the Commission" he said