Akon to build new city in Senegal with own currency called AKoin

Image:Akon wants to build his own futuristic cityGrammy-nominated artist Akon is planning to build a futuristic city in Senegal and base its entire economy around a new cryptocurrency named after himself.

The multi-platinum-selling music producer unveiled the ambitious project at a creative festival in Cannes, where he spoke at a panel titled Branding Africa: Blockchain, Entrepreneurship and Empowering the Future.

According to page six, he told an audience at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity that his proposed cryptocurrency - dubbed AKoin - could be "the saviour of Africa in many ways" because of how secure it would be.

It would all be based on a mobile app, which he said would allow citizens of Akon Crypto City "to utilise it in ways where they can advance themselves and not allow government to do those things that are keeping them down".

Image:AKoin already has an official website

According to the official AKoin website, the 45-year-old - who has founded two successful record labels - has already been gifted 2,000 square acres of land for his planned city by Senegalese President Macky Sall.

The website describes it as a "real life Wakanda" - the hi-tech fictional African nation which served as the backdrop for Marvel's award-winning Black Panther, which took more than $1.3bn at the box office after its release in February.

In the film, Wakanda combines lush river valleys and mountain ranges with space-age technology, featuring towering skyscrapers and state-of-the-art science labs.

Akon - who was born in Missouri but is of Senegalese descent and spent much of his childhood there - envisions his city and its bespoke currency allowing "brands, businesses and high-profile individuals to do amazing things".

Image:Wakanda is the setting of Marvel's Black Panther

It would be just a short drive from the capital of Dakar and apparently will boast homes, shops, parks, universities, schools and even its own stadium.

But Akon admitted he is only involved in the envisioning of the project, with him happy to "let the geeks figure it out" when it comes to making it a reality.

And his ambitions do not stop there, as during the same panel he also put his name forward as a potential US presidential candidate in 2020.

• James Corden cries during Paul McCartney carpool

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The Don't Matter singer said he was hoping to "go after" both Donald Trump and rapper Kanye West, who has also expressed an interest in running for office in future.

"It's perfect, a masterplan," he reportedly said.

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Rat shreds million in notes after getting into ATM in India

Image:The rat got into the machine through a hole meant for cablesA rat has nibbled its way through more than a million in Indian rupees after getting into an ATM machine.

The rodent entered the cash terminal in northeastern India through a small hole meant for cables, police superintendent Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said.

The machine, in the town of Tinsukia, broke down on 20 May, but technicians did not arrive to fix it until 11 June.

When they opened it up, they found the dead rat and notes worth almost 1.3 million rupees (£14,000) chewed to shreds inside.

The notes were in 500 rupee and 2,000 rupee denominations.

Image:The money the rat shredded was worth more than £14,000

"We are surprised at what has happened. An investigation has been ordered," said an official from the State Bank of India, Bimal Debroy.

The ATM is overseen by another company, he added.

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‘Journalist’ Abiri was caught by DSS for pipeline vandalism - Presidency speaks

The presidency has reacted to the continued detention without trial of Jones Abiri, an alleged journalist, arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). He was said to have been nabbed for militant activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidency denied that Abiri is a journalist as he had paraded himself.

Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity clarified in the night of Thursday, June 21, that the suspect does not belong to any chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

Shehu said Abiri was arrested for pipeline vandalism and crude theft, including militant activities in the Niger Delta.

Shehu gave details of the development while reacting to a statement at the World Congress of International Press Institute in Abuja that a journalist, known as Jones Abiri, was arrested in the course of his work.

“On the issue of the arrest and continued detention of Jones Abiri, who allegedly parades himself as a journalist, by the Department of State Services (DSS), it is instructive to note that the accused is a guest of the security agency because of his alleged involvement in militant and criminal activities.

“Admittedly, the issue of Abiri had been brought to the attention of the presidency by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

“As a true believer in the rule of law and the integral role of the media in a democracy, the presidency did interface with the security agency involved in the matter and our findings confirmed that the suspect is in custody because of alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism and theft.

“Abiri is not a registered journalist with any of the media professional bodies in the country,” he said.

According to the report, Shehu further stated that there was no evidence to show that Abiri belonged to any chapel or membership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) or payment of the union’s check-off dues.

“Abiri’s stock-in-trade and notoriety in the liberalised Nigeria media industry include fronting as a spokesman for militants engaged in economic sabotage in the Niger Delta region,’’ he added.

The spokesperson said President Buhari is resolutely committed to the freedom of the press and his administration will ensure that media personnel in the country discharge their duties without any hindrance.

He frowned at individuals or groups insinuating that President Buhari was in support of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media.

“It is therefore very uncharitable for anyone or group to suggest otherwise or infer that the President is in support of restrictions on freedom of expression and the media,” he said maintaining that the Buhari administration would continue to promote the freedom and safety of journalists.

He further promised that the administration would not do anything to damage the credibility it had demonstrated in promoting press freedom since coming into power in May 2015.

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Shehu Sani in trouble,asked to provide information on location of His constituency project

There seems to be trouble brewing for the Senator representing Kaduna central over as a development tracking group has demanded accountability on some of the projects in his constituency.

The group in series of tweets on their official Twitter page have called out several lawmakers to give needed information of projects alleged carried out in their communities.

One of the lawmakers called out by Tracka.ng is Senator Shehu Sani.

Tracka.ng in its tweet said: "Dear @ShehuSani the people of Kaduna Central Senatorial district will appreciate your kind gesture to avail them with locations and implementation status of the projects you nominated in 2017 Budget."

"We are aware FG has released 70% funds for implementation of the projects," Tracka added.

In a more elaboration detail, Tracka.ng in an infograph titled, '2017 unspecified projects in Kaduna state', listed various projects which funds have been released for execution in Kaduna Central - Sani's constituency.

These projects include, a N50 million supply of hospital equipment and construction of primary Health Care Centre in Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna central, a N50 million rehabilitation and provision of agricultural equipment, a N4o million provision of tricycles for rehabilitation, a N50 million provision of agricultural equipment in Kaunda north, Kaduna south and Igabi local government area of Kaduna central and N40 million provision of empowerment materials for women and youth in Kaduna central.

The Senator is yet to respond to the inquiry or make available details of the listed projects in his constituency.

Shehu Sani has been asked to provide information on location of multi-million Naira constituency project in Kaduna Central. Photo credit: Tracka.ng

Meanwhile,Senator Sani had raised a poser on the assent of the Appropriation Act by the President

The Senator in a tweet queried why the President signed documents he had no confidence in.

Sani said the Senate will point by point respond to the issues raised by the president concerning the 2018 budget

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Lagos CP reveals identity of policeman alleged to have N2bn in his account, declares lady behind mask wanted

The Lagos state police command has revealed the identity of a policeman who was accused on social media of having billions of naira in his bank accounts.

 He is Inspector Christopher Marcel Nnabugwu, attached to the divisional crime branch at Ogudu police division in Lagos. 

Our source gathered that a masked lady in a video that went viral, who gave the name of the policeman as Sergeant Marcel Nnabugwu, serving at the Mobile Squad 18, Owerri, Imo state, called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the source of the cop’s wealth.

It was reported that the unidentified lady in the video stated that Nnabugwu owned a property at house number 27, Fani Kayode street, GRA, Ikeja which she estimated at N250 million.

She was also said to have alleged that the cop used and exotic car with customized number plate titled ‘MCON’ and that whenever he entered into a night club, the club would shut down to attend to his need.

She further alleged that the Sergeant was worth over N2 billion and that he spent millions during his 30th birthday party, last month at a club on the Island.

In a move to get to the root of the matter, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, directed the Lagos state commissioner of police, Imohimi Edgal, to carry out discreet investigation.

CP.Edgal  personally led a team of policemen to the acclaimed GRA apartment of the cop, only to discover that it was owned by another person.

Briefing journalists on Thursday, June 21, on the outcome of the investigation, Edgal, stated that the lady’s claim was not only targeted at the cop but the entire Mobile Police Squad in particular and the Nigeria Police Force in general.

According to him: "Investigation by detectives from the Lagos command revealed that there exists indeed one Christopher Marcel Nnabugwu, alias MCON.

"The said Christopher Marcel Nnabugwu was enlisted into the police force in the year 2000 and was trained at the police college Oji River, Enugu state.

"He is presently an Inspector of Police serving at Ogudu police division where he is attached to the Divisional Crime Brand (DCB) and not a Police Sergeant serving at MOPOL 18 Owerri, as alleged.”

"Inspector Marcel Nnabugwu has never served in Mobile Police Force (MPF) since his enlistment into the Nigeria police.

"His picture in Police Mobile Uniform that was down loaded by the masked woman from his wall on Facebook as attested by the lady, was the uniform he wore when he went for mobilization exercise into the PMF for which he was not successful.”

"Investigation also revealed that he does not own a car nor landed property in any part of Nigeria or anywhere else in the world. He is a tenant in building on old Otta road, Oke-Odo, where he occupies a room and parlour.”

Further findings according to Edgal, revealed that Inspector Nnabugwu is single, owing to his financial status, as he claimed that he was still gathering resources for that purpose.

Details of his account numbers checked in two banks according to Edgal, showed he had N15,000 and N5000 balance respectively.

Irked by the findings, the CP said that the command would do everything to unearth the identity of the masked lady that posted the video.

He said: “This goes to show that the masked woman in the video is out to tarnish the image of the police. She is currently on the police wanted list. We will not rest until we arrest her. She will be hunted and when she is arrested she will be charged to court.”

When the Inspector at the centre of controversy was brought before journalists, he expressed shock over the video clip, saying he did not know anybody with such voice or physic as the masked lady, adding also that he had never jilted any lady to have warranted such action.

Meanwhile, Lagos state command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Sunday, June 10, announced it had dismissed five out of 92 policemen tried for various offences in the first half of the year 2018.

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HEDA urges ICPC to probe lawmaker Gbajabiamila over N75m gift to wife

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been urged to probe the spending of Femi Gbajabiamila, House of Representatives member for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.

The call was made by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a non-governmental and non-partisan human rights resource centre on Monday, June 18.in a press statement sent to media houses.

A letter signed by HEDA's chairman Olanrewaju Suraju has been forwarded to the anti-corruption agency.

In the letter, HEDA expressed worries over Gbajabiamila’s gift to his wife and wondered if the House of Reps member, who is the Majority Leader of the lower house of legislature, was spending within his legitimate salaries as a lawmaker.

The letter read in part: "According to Vanguard of May 28th and 29th 2018, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has been reported to have surprised his wife, with a gift of Mercedes G-Wagon, selling for between N75M and 100M in Nigeria.

"The gift on the 27th May, 2018 was to commemorate the wife’s 50th birthday. He was also reported to have rocked a N1.2M Gucci suit when giving this gift to his wife. The stylish Gucci Heritage web tape crepe wool jacket that costs $3,450, approximately N1.2M.

"His intention could have been right but in a country where the minimum wage is N18, 000, with hunger and unemployed youths roaming the streets, his actions were seen as insensitive to Nigerians especially from his Surulere Constituency.

"HEDA Resource Centre believes that no room must be opened for any person to abuse public trust while in public office. Corrupt practices and misapplication of public funds must be abolished in all fronts by relevant government agencies charge with the responsibilities of investigating allegation or suspicions of corrupt practices.

"On this account, HEDA is calling on your good office to open a wide investigation into the utilization of funds for capital projects allocated to Surulere 1 Federal Constituency under Honourable Gbajabiamila to ensure and convince discerning Nigerians that public funds were not used for private family services and benefits by people elected into offices for service."

Earlier it was also reported in some dailies  that Gbajabiamila dusted Nigerian singer Davido’s assurance to girlfriend Chioma when the Majority Leader of the 8th House of Representatives blessed his wife, Yemisi, with a glittering brand new Benz G-Wagon of yellow colour.

The state-of-the-art luxury car is valued at over N100 million. The gift was to commemorate her 50th birthday.

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'Terrifying': Horse 'spooked' by close-riding Windsor Triathlon cyclists

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Video:Horse 'spooked' by passing triathlon cyclists

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 A woman whose horse was "spooked" by cyclists riding too close during a triathlon says she knew "these individuals weren't willing to stop".

One of the cyclists hit her, Jennifer Katherine wrote on Facebook, and "seemed to show no remorse".

It "smashes along the side of my horse, taking my stirrup in the handlebars and bruising up my ankle", she added.

The man also appeared to lift his "middle finger at me whilst riding off as I screamed", she said.

Organisers of the race the cyclists were taking part in said those responsible would be identified and disqualified from future events.

The rider said that as the horse reared up, it lost one of its back shoes.

Jennifer Katherine, who stayed on the animal but was left "in shock", said no one stopped to see if she was alright.

She said she was "very sore" along one side of her ankle.

Image:The horse is narrowly missed by cyclists

In a video posted on the social media site, the horse can be seen walking down a road as bikes taking part in the Windsor Triathlon start to go past.

Initially it is only a few, but then a group passes, including two bikes that undertake the horse as others pass close by on the outside.

Jennifer Katherine exclaims in terror and her mount becomes agitated and turns into the side of the road.It happened at around 9am on Sunday, she said, and was unexpected because she has lived in the area all her life and her horse is "bombproof on the road".

There was no warning about the event on the road, she said.

Both she and the horse were wearing hi-vis gear.

"It was terrifying being on a spooked horse and knowing that these individuals weren't willing to stop," she said.

From then on, her horse was "on the defence with every cyclist he met", she added.
Jennifer Katherine said race officials were investigating, and she had had "amazing support from the cyclist and triathlete community".

The organiser of Windsor Triathlon, Human Race Events, tweeted that it was taking the incident "very seriously".

"Riders will be identified and disqualified from all Human Race Events," the company added.

"All riders are briefed to follow the Highway Code.

"We do not condone dangerous cycling of any kind. We sincerely apologise to the individual affected.

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Kaduna 2019: I will contest against El-Rufai - Shehu Sani

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna central senatorial district has declared his intention to contest against the incumbent governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in the state.

Sani also allegedly hinted of his intention to quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The outspoken senator allegedly said he and many others, who were reportedly maltreated by the APC, are presently at the departure lounge of the party, The Sun reports.

Sani allegedly said the ruling APC, as it is, today, stands on a foundation of injustice against its members, adding that the party has failed to live up to its promises and pledges of a transparent internal democracy.

“We condemned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the past for not being fair and just to its members, but the APC has found itself in similar, if not worst situation, as at today.”

The senator reportedly said he and other party members will not tolerate or condone injustices, adding that if solutions to the identified challenges in the APC are not taken care of in the coming weeks, there will be no going back on their decision to leave the party for good.

Addressing journalists who paid him Sallah homage in Kaduna, the senator also reportedly said he will be contesting the governorship of the state, unless the Kaduna political stakeholders, which he is a member, decide otherwise.

“There is a Kaduna political stakeholders, made up of former governors, lawmakers and various party chieftains, and, as a team player, I am a member. I am going to contest the governor of Kaduna state, but, if the stakeholders insist on me going back to the Senate, I will have no objection, whatsoever.

“Nigerians are now more resolved and conscious to vote for people of integrity who will work for them, hence, I have the confidence of winning my election in whatever party I contest, because people will vote individuals based on merit, and not the party, in the 2019 general elections.

“As it is today, over 25 registered political parties have come to us to express solidarity and support, and I can confirm to you that opposition from Kaduna state will come under an alliance of forces in the coming elections.

“I want to make it clear that should I contest and become the governor of Kaduna state, I will open the government house to the masses," he said.

Already a chieftain of the ruling APC, Isa Ashiru, who contested against Nasir El-Rufai for the governorship ticket in 2014 in Kaduna state, announced he had withdrawn his membership from the party.

In a letter to his Kudan ward chairman of the party, Ashiru complained that the APC does not have cohesion and internal democracy.

He complained that despite losing the governorship ticket to El-Rufai, he and his supporters worked relentlessly to ensure victory for the APC with a belief that the welfare of the people of Kaduna state would occupy the front burner of the government.

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Protests in Greece as Macedonia is renamed after 27-year row

Image:A man faces riot police in Pisoderi near the border with MacedoniaGreek protesters have clashed with riot police while a historic deal to end a 27-year name dispute was signed.

The demonstration came as the foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia signed a preliminary accord to rename the country the Republic of North Macedonia.

A woman was hit on the head by a rock and a man was treated for breathing problems during the clashes.

The trouble broke out when about 500 demonstrators waving Greek flags tried to approach the signature ceremony on the banks of Lake Prespa.

But they were surrounded by police near the small village of Pisoderi, about 16 miles from the ceremony.

Riot police blocked the rural road leading to the lake, while others on mountain slopes threw stun grenades and tear gas at the crowd.

Image:Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev

The authorities said about 5,000 people took part in the protest against the agreement.

One protester said: "We are fighting for the land of our fathers. We are not backing down."

:: Can you name these eight countries that changed names 

Since 1991, Athens has objected to its neighbour being called Macedonia because it has its own northern province of the same name, which in ancient times was the cradle of Alexander the Great's empire

At the fishing village of Psarades, where the deal was signed, priests tolled the local church bell in a sign of mourning.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the agreement would heal wounds between the two countries.

He said: "This is a brave, historic and necessary step for our peoples.

Image:The dispute over Macedonia goes back to 1991

"We are here to heal the wounds of time, to open a path for peace, fraternisation and growth for our countries, the Balkans and Europe."

Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said: "Our two countries should step out of the past and look to the future.

"Our peoples want peace... we will be partners and allies."

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• GREECE
 
• MACEDONIA

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