Emeka Offor, Abike Dabiri’s firms, others owe banks N143.81bn

Nigerian Deposit Money Banks on Monday continued with the policy of naming and shaming their delinquent debtors with further publication of the names of firms and their directors whose loans have become non-performing for more than one year.

While nine banks published the names of the loans defaulters on Monday, four banks released the lists of their chronic debtors, owing a total of N143.81bn, on Tuesday.

The four banks are First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Unity Bank Plc.

The banks, which had published the list of their delinquent debtors on Monday were Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Heritage Bank Limited and Enterprise Bank Limited.

First Bank, which has its total amount of non-performing loans as N43.72bn, published 92 names of delinquent debtors.

The first five companies on the lender’s list owe a combined sum of N23bn. These are Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Starcomm Plc; BGL Securities Limited, where a former Minister of Finance and National Planning, Kalu Idika Kalu, is a director; Shield Petroleum Limited and Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited.

Shield Petroleum, the number one on the list, owes N6.883bn; while Zurich International Service, the last on the list, owes N26.69m.

Unity Bank also released 260 names of delinquent debtors with a combined NPL figure of N45.52bn.

The list has the companies of some prominent Nigerians. These include Umar Mutallab’s DeanShanger Project Limited, N3.6bn; Senator Ayodele Arise and a former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Dayo Adeyeye’s International Payment Devices Limited, N81.9m; and Prince Adeyanju Olateru-Olagbegi’s Cupid Investment BDC, N90.1m.

Other prominent companies on the list are Ekiti Kete Mass Transit, which owes N991m; Fargo Petroleum and Gas Limited, N2.5bn; Ava Cement Limited, N.8bn; and Plywood Chemical and Accessories, N1.1bn.

Ava Cement topped Unity Bank’s debtors’ list with N9.8bn, while Malcolm Akpokodje owes the least with N20m.

Access Bank Plc published a list of 11 delinquent debtors, with a combined NPL figure of approximately N3.4bn.

Top on the list are Bioka Ventures Limited, which owes N1.15bn, while Derukas International Limited was last on the list with a debt of N56.3m.

Diamond Bank Plc has N47.17bn as its total NPLs, with companies belonging to prominent Nigerians owing sizeable amounts.

These include Sir Emeka Offor’s Global ScanSystem Limited, which the bank says owes N181m; a former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s Thriller Eneavours, which owes N122m; and a former Delta State Commissioner for Sports Solomon Ogba’s Delta Mega Trend Limited, which owes N89m.

Aside the 13 banks which have published their debtor lists, other banks which will publish theirs this week are Ecobank Nigeria, First City Monument Bank Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Keystone Bank Limited, United Bank for Africa Plc and Wema Bank Plc.

Investigations by our correspondents on Monday revealed that most of the banks had cut their list of delinquent debtors due to litigation with their customers over disputes arising from loan terms and last-minute renegotiations by some clients.

A top bank executive, who spoke to one of our correspondents under the condition of anonymity, said, “Some of the banks have to remove the list of some clients due to issues that border on litigation.

“Some names were removed at the last minute after the affected customers came to renegotiate with us. Some banks have had to cut the names on their debtors’ list by at least 50 per cent.”

Officials of banks, who spoke to our correspondents, linked the relatively high figure of the NPLs in some banks to inside connivance with customers, lingering margin loans and huge oil and gas-related loans.

According to them, customer relationship managers in some of the banks connived with the customers to obtain huge loans that eventually became bad.

They also said that long-standing margin loans in some banks were responsible for the high figure.

“A huge chunk of the loans are oil and gas related. The drop in oil prices has also worsened the situation for some oil and gas companies. They borrowed relatively large amounts of money, which later became bad loans,” an official of a tier-1 bank told our correspondent.

Meanwhile, the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria will publish the list of its debtors early next week if they fail to regularise the terms of their loans with the agency.

The spokesperson for AMCON, Mr. Kayode Lambo, who confirmed this on Monday, said companies which failed to regularise the terms of their loans with the agency would have their names published.

“As many companies who have not been servicing their loans will have their names published,” he added.

The names of firms belonging to prominent Nigerians who have not been servicing their loans may appear on the list.

In 2009, the Federal Government spent about N5tn to buy the NPLs from banks to save them from imminent collapse.

AMCON, the government agency created after the 2009 banking crisis, was the special purpose vehicle used to acquire the NPLs from the banking sector.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had on April 22, 2015 directed the banks, discount houses and AMCON to publish the list of delinquent debtors from August 1.

They are to publish the names in at least three national newspapers on a quarterly basis.

In line with the directive, the banks gave the chronic debtors a three-month grace period, which expired on July 31.

The Director, Banking Supervision, CBN, Mrs. ‘Tokunbo Martins, had in a circular dated April 22, 2015, said, “In order to ensure that the industry NPL ratio does not exceed the prudential limit of five per cent and to improve the credit culture in the banking industry, banks and discount houses are directed to observe prudent credit underwriting and monitoring standards.”

The debtors are those whose accounts have been classified as lost and include persons, entities, directors, subsidiaries and other related parties, according to the central bank.

The central bank had stated that delinquent debtors in the category described above would be blacklisted and “banned from participating in the Nigerian foreign exchange market and in the Nigerian government securities market.”

The PUNCH had on March 15, 2015 reported that the volume of the NPLs in the Nigerian banking industry was set to rise further on the back of the devaluation of the naira amid weak global crude oil prices.

Global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, had in February, after the second round of devaluation of the naira, predicted that the banks’ non-performing loans would rise above the CBN’s five per cent limit by the end of this year, but below 10 per cent.

http://www.punchng.com/news/emeka-offor-abike-dabiris-firms-others-owe-banks-n143-81bn/

How Ooni of Ife’s Death Should Be Announced

Yoruba has a rich tradition. The age-long culture gives form, content and predictability to the beliefs of its people. The custom has been inherited from generation to generation. The symbol of the unity of the race is kingship. Its cradle is Ile-Ife, the cherished sacred abode of its progenitor, Oduduwa.

Whenever any Owooni (Ooni) Adimula joins his ancestors, the news is not broken without following the due process of culture. Ooni is the property of Yoruba race. He is the custodian of the household of Oduduwa, its shrine and the protector of its legacies. Therefore, it is absolutely a taboo for any prince, royal family and palace chiefs to break the news without clearance or approval from the appropriate traditional quarters.

The announcement of the Ooni’s death is a traditional role conferred on his brother, the Oore of Otun and Mobaland, a son of Oduduwa and one of the 16 foremost monarchs in Yorubaland. The reigning Oore is Oba Adedapo Popoola, an economist and chartered accountant.

After ascertaining that the Ooni has waja (died), the palace chiefs are expected to inform the Oore. The Oore will mourn his passage in a traditional way. He will not waste time in breaking the news to other Oduduwa children, especially the Alaafin, the descendant of Oranmiyan Akinorun, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Oba of Benin, the Onipopo of Popo, the Onisabe of Sabe, and the Owa Obokun Adimula. The Oore will also carry along the Ajero Asotemaru, the Alara and the Obalufon Alayemore.

The foremost rulers will break the news to their towns and vassal towns. Days of mourning will be declared. The attention of the towns and villages will focus on Ile-Ife, the Orirun, where their kings obtained their legitimate crowns.

In ancient times, a celebration will be proclaimed, with its characteristic visitation to the cradle by monarchs, accompanied by their chiefs and families. The palace chiefs will play dominant roles during the burial ceremony. They will also play dominant roles during the selection of a new prince for the prestigious throne.

After the new Ooni is crowned, Yoruba monarchs will accord him automatic recognition and respect. He may visit selected palaces of his brother obas in the spirit of brotherhood. As a prince, the history of the race must be on his lip. He is expected to be factual. In the days of yore, the Ooni was the custodian of knowledge. Thus, during the early days of colonial era, Owooni Derin Ologbenla, the Ooni of Ife, who doubled as the Baale of Oke-Igbo, was the only son of Oduduwa, whose testimony could be trusted when the foreigners were trying to resolve the rift between the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Epe monarch over land. The Ooni declared that Epe and Ikorodu were extension of Ijebuland. His evidence was upheld by the British.

Also, only the Ooni’s voice was trusted by the colonial masters in ascertaining the authenticity of claims and counter-claims to royal crowns by the children of Oduduwa. In those days, there was no rival between the Ooni and the Alaafin of Oyo Empire. While the Alaafin’s empire extended from Ilorin, where Afonja rebelled against the suzerain, to Popo and Sabe in the present-day Republic of Benin, he still regarded Ife as his ancestral home. Thus, there was no friction, but cooperative governance, based on history and traditional consultations.

But, neither Ooni nor Alaafin could prevent communal clashes and wars that ravaged Yorubaland for over 100 years. The wars were motivated by expansionist tendencies and desire for autonomy. The old Oyo empire was weakened by the Fulani warriors who assisted Afonja to sustain his rebellion against Alaafin. Later, these intruders who wanted to run over Yorubaland to dip the Koran in the Lagos Lagoon were stopped by the Ibadan powers. Also, Ife caved in, following the onslaught by Modakeke in a rebellion fuelled by Oyo vassal towns in the days of Owooni  Abewela.

Tradition has it that, when Ife was dispersed, the lot to “re-assemble” the ancient town fell on Olubuse, the great warrior, who invited dispersed people who had gone to sojourn in Ifewara and Ifetedo and its environs for the historic war of liberation. Olubuse Ere invoked the spirit of his forefathers, urging them to rise in defence of the cradle. He regained Edun Abon, Ipetumodu and other towns and silenced the Modakeke insurrection.

However, after his death, Owooni Ajagunlaforikan Ademiluyi renewed contract with Modakeke. It was in the early days of the colonial rule. He coveted the colonial purse, with an intention to enlarge his wealthy coast. Then, rulers received stipends from the authority, based on the population of their towns. But, when war broke out between Ife and Modakeke, Ife was again under siege. The acrimony pervaded in Ile-Ife and Modakeke until 1930 when an eminent prince, Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi, ascended the throne.

Aderemi’s coronation in 1930 was a turning point. It connected the past with the present. According to historians, as he was being crowned, a rainbow was said to have appeared. The palace was worried by the curious sign. Herbalists and other ancient fathers of secrets were assembled to interpret the signs. In unison, they congratulated Aderemi as they paid homage. The Ooni was informed that a prince had been born into the royal family. When a search was conducted, it was discovered that the son of Ooni Adelekan Sijuwade Olubuse 1 had given birth to a son. He was named Omo-Oba Okunade. The old people gazed into the future and told the king that he would live to an old age and prosper. They did not rule out the reality that a successor had been born.

Okunade Sijuwade was born into opulence. He was born with silver spoon in his mouth. When he was a student of Abeokuta Grammar School, he flaunted his background as a royal prince of the cradle. The principal, Canon Israel Oludotun Ransom-Kuti, was a disciplinarian. But, when he wanted to flog Okunade after committing an offence, the prince objected. He told Kuti: “I am the future Ooni of Ife.” Kuti was a highly respected Yoruba man. He was versed in the history and culture of the race. Before he was transferred to Abeokuta Confederation, he had served as principal in Ijebuland.

The principal took the young prince to his office. He made enquiries about Okunade’s claim. When he found out the truth, he exclaimed: “I will not cane the future Oba of Yoruba.” The old teacher admonished him to behave well henceforth, saying that anybody who aspired to lead Yoruba must not be found wanting.

After leaving Abeokuta, Sijuwade worked in his father’s company and in The Tribune before going abroad for higher studies. He returned as a big boy-a sales manager with Leventis Motors. He made money and ventured into private business. He recorded huge success. He became a philanthropist. His best friend was Bobo Doherty.

In December 1980, Sijuwade fulfilled his destiny. He had prepared for the throne in advance. It was a great privilege for him to succeed Aderemi, a former member of the House of Representatives and minister.  In fact, he contributed immensely into the rehabilitation of the palace during Aderemi’s reign. Prince Sijuwade was a king-in-waiting. Yet, there was no rivalry and mistrust between him and Sir Aderemi, who had ‘adopted’ him as a son.

One of his rivals during the obaship tussle was Dr. Ademiluyi, a respected surgeon. But, Sijuwade’s popularity, charisma and carriage dwarfed them all. The emerging political class was competing for the attention of the traditional rulers. During the formation of the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, which later became the Action Group (AG), Oba Aderemi was the patron, along with Pa Akinola Maja and Olowo of Owo, Oba Olateru-Olagbegi. The Alaafin, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi, was a fanatical supporter of the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Ooni’s support for the Egbe and AG gave the party an edge.

Thus, when he passed on, the political forces were at play again. The former AG Publicity Secretary, the late Chief Bola Ige, was the governor of Oyo State. The late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, the Odole of Ife and his wife, Mrs. Dideolu Awolowo, had given Sijuwade their blessing. The coast was clear for him to mount the throne of his forefathers. The coronation was celebrated throughout Yorubaland and beyond. In attendance were traditional rulers from all parts of the country. Even, Queen Elizabeth of England sent a representative.

After the ceremony, he embarked on tour of Yorubaland. He visited Oyo, Ekiti, Owo, Akoko, Ijebu, Remo, Egba, Benin, Popo, Sabe and Yoruba in Brazil. He donated to palaces, homes and schools.  Oba Sijuwade made HID Awolowo the Yeyeoba of Ile-Ife and later, Yeye Oodua of Ile-Ife.

But, crisis soon broke out in his kingdom. There was resumption of hostilities between Ife and Modakeke. Many people lost their lives. Buildings were in flames. Many houses were deserted. Travelers had a nightmare passing through Ife. Yoruba mourned over the fate of the cradle. It was a wide departure from the reign of Aderemi, who had married Segilola from Modakeke. But, historian cannot blame Oba Sijuwade. The acrimony dated back to the reign of his illustrious grandfather, Oba Adenekan Olubuse. Peace did not return until a separate local government was created for Modakeke.  Also, crisis broke out between the Ooni and other obas- the Alaafin, Owa and Soun of Ogbomoso- over the chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The crisis was resolved when osun State was created. Ooni became the permanent president. The chairmanship is now being rotated among other first class obas.

However, Ile-Ife lost its bid for the capital of Osun State, to the consternation of Oba Sijuwade. The factors- centrality, as it were, past role of Osogbo as the headquarter of Osun Division and government preference favoured the rolling steel city. But, a local government with its headquarter at Enuowa, Ile-Ife, was created to compensate for the loss.

The tension between Alaafin Layiwola and Oba Sijuwade also intensified. Both made antagonistic claims as the overlord. Yoruba obas kept silent. Oba Adeyemi said he is the leader of the Oyo empire. Oba Sijuwade said the empire had ceased to exist. Recently, the Ooni upgraded some community heads into Obaship. His authority was not questioned.

Oba Sijuwade and the Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba Uku Akpolokpolo, also clashed. The Benin monarch had disputed the historical claim that Oranmiya’s children ruled Benin Kingdom. Some historians from Benin alleged that the legendary Ife prince escaped from Benin when he was about to be apprehended for an offence. The Olowo-Eko took sides with the Benin monarch. Oba Sijuwade cried foul. He said even Oba Akenzua acknowledged his Ife connection. He explained that, up to the 1930s, the official language at the palace of the Oba of Benin was Yoruba. Turning to Yeyeoba Awolowo at a ceremony in Lagos, he said: “You are the Yeyeoba of Yoruba, which extends to Benin.”

Oba Sijuwade also had to contend with political crises in Osun State between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

He was also unable to forge unity and cohesion in Yorubaland, which has been bitterly divided by the pursuit of antagonistic interests by members of the political class.

http://www.nigerianmonitor.com/

Banks To Publish Names Of 1600 Debtors This Week

About 18 Banks and discount houses operating in the country will publish the names of at least 1600 customers whose loans have become non-performing this week.

This follows the expiration of the July 31, 2015 deadline set by the Central Bank of Nigeria for banks and discount houses to publish the names of debtor-companies, their subsidiaries and directors in national newspapers.

The CBN had on April 22 directed the financial institutions to commence the publication of the names of their delinquent debtors from August 1.

Banks and discount houses are to publish the list of the delinquent debtors in at least three national newspapers on a quarterly basis.

In line with the directive, banks gave chronic debtors a three-month ‘grace’ period, which expired on July 31.

It was learnt on Saturday that the number of delinquent debtors on the lists under preparation by over 18 banks and discount houses operating in the country range from 100 to over 300 names for each bank.

The chief executive officer of a bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said at least over 1,600 names of delinquents were expected to be published by all the banks during the exercise.

“Going by what we can see across the industry, at least 1600 names are expected to be published by all the deposit money banks and a few discount houses,” the bank CEO said.

Officials of financial institutions confirmed to our correspondents on Saturday that they would publish the names of the delinquent debtors this week in compliance with the CBN directive.

The spokesperson for First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Babatunde Lasaki, told one of our correspondents that the tier-1 bank would comply with the central bank’s directive by publishing the names of the debtors during the week.

“We will comply. We will publish the names this week; any time from Tuesday,” he said.

Also, the Head, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Mike Omeife, confirmed that the lender would comply with CBN’s directive, saying “we will publish this week.”

Similarly, the spokesperson for Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Rasheed Bolarinwa, said the bank would publish the names in line with the CBN’s directive but he declined to give the specific date.

Top bank officials said chief executives were busy fine tuning the list.

“We are fine-tuning the list. As of Friday, some customers were still coming to pay while a few others came to renegotiate. Over this weekend, we are drawing this final list which will be published on Tuesday,” the executive of a tier-2 bank told one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the CBN on Saturday ruled out possible deadline extension on its directive to banks to publish the names of the debtors.

The Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Ibrahim Mu’azu, said there was no extension to the deadline.

As of last week, debtors were rushing to banks to renegotiate their loans.

The CBN had in a circular dated April 22, 2015 gave the July 31 deadline, saying the decision was necessary in order forestall the spate of non-performing loans in the sector.

The CBN also warned banks against being used as conduit for the transfer of illicit funds and money laundering activities.

The bank in a statement issued at about 9:06pm on Saturday night by Mu’azu said the warning became imperative owing to a recent report by the Global Financial Integrity Group which ranks Nigeria as one of the 10 largest countries for illicit funds flows in the world.

The group in the report estimated that about $15.7bn (N3.09trn) of illicit fund goes through the nation’s banking system annually.

But the CBN in the statement said although it had not done an independent assessment of the assertion of the group, it stated that the bank would step up vigilance in order to ensure that Nigerian banks are not used as conduit for illicit funds flow, especially in foreign currency.

http://news2.onlinenigeria.com/

Boko Haram: African diplomats vow to support Nigeria

The African Diplomatic Group has condemned the terror attacks carried out by the Boko Haram sect in parts of the country.

The diplomats also called on the Federal Government to expedite action for the rescue or release of the abducted Chibok school girls even as they commiserated with the government of Nigeria, the families of the kidnapped girls and other victims of the terrorists’ attacks.

The ambassador of Shaharawi Arab Republic to Nigeria and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Oubi Bachir said this on Friday during the Africa and Mandela Day celebrations in Abuja.

Bachir said, “The Africa Diplomatic Group condemns all threats to the progress of Africa, including Boko Haram terror attacks that have taken the lives of hundreds of innocent Nigerians, and families of the victims for loss of their loved ones.

“The group calls for the unconditional release of the over 200 girls, who were kidnapped in chibok, Borno State, on April 14, 2014.

“Africa is committed to garner all the necessary resources to support Nigeria in its quest to combat terrorism.”

The envoy noted that Africa had come a long way since the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963, which later changed to African Union in 2002, adding that the continent, despite its challenges had made tremendous strides in peace and development.

He said the United Nations General Assembly on July 18, 2009 launched Nelson Mandela International Day in recognition of the birth anniversary of the iconic late President of the Republic of South Africa for his immense contribution to the liberation of his country and humanity in general.

The High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, who paid tributes to Mandela, called on all well-meaning individuals to emulate the iconic virtues of the late former South African president.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bulus Lolo called on Africa to unite and collaborate in the fight against terror and insurgency.

Culled from: Punch News

JAMB backs down, says candidates can write post-UTME in their first choice institutions

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board on Wednesday said candidates are allowed to do the post-UTME in their first choice institutions.

JAMB’s Public Relations officer, Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement that candidates can do the post-UTME exercise in the institutions, particularly universities to which they were posted by JAMB.

“Following the various public opinions, we have taken two approaches to ease the problems of our candidates,” Mr. Benjamin said.

The universities will soon get the soft copies of the list of candidates that applied to various institutions as first choice.

“We hope this will help the candidates in their endeavour,” Mr. Benjamin said.

He said the voice of the people is the voice of God, adding that this action would go a long way to show that the Board is a responsive organisation which has concern over the feeling of Nigerians.

“The Board will not relent in its efforts to see that our education is one of the best in the world,” said Mr. Benjamin.

Controversial New Policy

Earlier on, at a combined policy meeting, JAMB announced the adoption of a policy where applicants are reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates.

The JAMB Registrar, Dibu Ojerinde, explained that the benefit of the new policy would help needy universities with lower number of candidates.

Mr. Ojerinde said the policy would also assist JAMB candidates have better chances of admission in universities they are reassigned to.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/

Children and mentally ill lead new wave of suspected Boko Haram suicide bombers

By Peter Foster, telegraph.co.uk

A 12-year-old girl and a “mentally handicapped” woman were among those who carried a weekend wave of suicide bombings by suspected Islamic militants in northern Nigeria and Cameroon that left more than 60 people dead and hundreds fleeing their homes.

The attacks were widely blamed on Boko Haram, the Islamic State-affiliated terror group that has carried out widespread atrocities in the region since 2009.

The most recent bombing came on Sunday morning in a crowded market in north-eastern Nigerian town of Damaturu when a “mentally handicapped” bomber struck, killing 15 and injuring 47 others.

That attack came just hours after a 12-year-old girl killed 20 people in a Saturday night attack on a bar in the Cameroonian city of Maroua, a commercial hub of the extreme north of Cameroon close to the Nigerian and Chadian borders.

It came a day after Boko Haram were blamed for a series of attacks on villages across the border in north-eastern Nigeria that left at least 25 dead and forced hundreds more to flee their burning homes.

Over the past two years Boko Haram fighters have carried out several cross-border raids and abductions in northern Cameroon but the country, which is engaged in a regional fightback against the jihadists, had previously been spared from suicide attacks.

A new, five-nation force – from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin – is due to deploy by July 30 to take on the militants, whose six-year insurgency has left at least 15,000 dead and increasingly threatens regional security.

Earlier this month the new Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari visited Washington and received pledges for greater US assistance, however the US continues to refuse to provide arms shipments to Nigeria citing its poor record on corruption and human rights.

Mr Buhari recently criticised that decision as tantamount to “aiding and abetting” the terrorists, but is under mounting pressure to tackle the militants after a fresh outbreak of violence left 800 people dead since he came to power in May.

But despite repeated promises from Nigerian leaders that the militants would be crushed, the attacks keep coming on both sides of the Nigerian-Cameroon border.

Last Wednesday 13 people were killed in twin bombings in Maroua carried out by two girls said to be "under 15" years of age. That assault was the second of its kind in the area in the past 10 days.

Meanwhile Damaturu, the capital of Nigeria’s Yobe state that has been worst-hit by Boko Haram, was the scene of a triple suicide bombing on July 18 when three girls blew themselves up killing at least 13 people as residents prepared for the Eid festival marking the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Bobbi Kristina Brown Dies at 22

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 22, the only daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, died Sunday, nearly six months after she was found unresponsive in a bathtub of her home, her family said.

Brown has been unresponsive in hospitals and hospice care since she was found in her Roswell, Georgia, home on Jan. 31. Her family said she suffered irreversible brain damage.

"She is finally at peace in the arms of God," her family told NBC News in a statement. "We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months."

Bobbi Kristina was music royalty as the daughter of two superstars — and the granddaughter of another, Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney, who died in February 2012.

Police have said that they investigated the case as a medical emergency and that no foul play is suspected. No criminal charges have ever been brought.She became even better known at age 10 when she was featured on her father's reality TV series, "Being Bobby Brown."

But late last month, Brown's conservator sued Nick Gordon — who has been described as Brown's boyfriend and husband, an attachment her family denies — for $10 million, accusing him of having physically abused Brown and having improperly withdrawn $11,000 from her bank account after she was in a coma.

Whitney Houston brought Gordon into her household as an orphan at the age of 12, raising him with her daughter after divorcing Bobby Brown in 2007. Gordon wore a large tattoo of Houston's face on his arm and called the singer "mom," but she never adopted him or included him in her will.

http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/bobbi-kristina-brown-dies-22-family-confirms-n398756