Breaking News Revered Helen Ukpabio’s 3 Brothers Murdered by Police

There was shock and consternation when the news filtered out about how Nigeria’s most successful female preacher,Lady Apostle(Mrs.) Helen Ukpabio loses four of her siblings –same father and same mother on Sunday,March 25,2012 in Mbente,Ini local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

As the story goes,the three brothers(Charles,Emmanuel and Joseph Akpabio) were allegedly shot by Nigerian police before their aged mother (Mrs. Etim Akpabio) and their younger sister,Elizabeth,upon hearing the sad news,slipped into coma and also died.

We learnt the three brothers were accused of armed robbery and kidnapping. The three brothers were allegedly first crippled with gun shots.And as they wailed and queried what they had done to deserve what they were doing to them,they were taken back to the village.

Now in their father’s compound,their mother immediately took to crying upon seeing her son’s condition-in their broken state and with broken legs.

They allegedly dragged them down and beside a nearby plaintain tree finished all of them,with their mother and some family members weeping,wailing and watching.

Findings revealed that the Police team was allegedly led by one Noel Nduka.

And since then,the family of the three brothers has been crying themselves hoarse,wanting to know what exactly their sons did as well as why they were not charged to any court to defend themselves before judgement was pronounced and they were immediately executed.

In a recent chat with newsmen,Helen Ukpabio said “I have never seen anything like that in my life before.Four corpses,from one family.Ah ! Even if they had something against them,they should have taken them to court and not waste them like that. I still can’t believe my brothers and sister are no more.In Fact,I hardly sleep since the incident”

On the family’s next line of action,she said We will not follow them illegally.We will follow them legally.And that is why we are crying out,begging all conscionable people all over the world to hear us and ensure that justice is done on this issue.
-------

Abia Speaker Explains Increase In 2012 Budget Estimate

 The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly , Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu  has stated that the increase  in the budget estimate was prompted by the need to adequately provide for the payment of the new minimum wage, transformation of Aba City, revival of ailing industries, creation of enabling environment in the oil and gas industry.

Oko Chukwu disclosed this during the signing of the budget by the state governor, Chief  Theodore Orji at the Government House ,Umuahia

The Speaker added that the budget will turn boost all sectors of the state economy.

Recall that Gov. Orji had on December 19, 2011, presented before the House of Assembly a budget of N122, 390, 433, 920.00.

However, after the various ministries had defended their budget estimates under the auspices of the Appropriation Committee led by Hon. Martin Okechukwu Azubuike, the House of Assembly increased it to N129, 959, 325, 170. 00.

Signing the 2012 Appropriation Bill into law, Gov. Orji promised to effectively implement the budge

UPDATED WITH FULL TRANSCRIPT: Boko Haram Releases Video On ThisDay Bombing, Threatens To Attack VOA, Guardian, Daily Trust, SaharaReporters

The extremist group, Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihadl, popularly called Boko Haram, today named more media houses and staff as targets of their attack.

In an 18minutes video, the group threatened to attack more media houses, naming Voice of America (Hausa), Radio France (Hausa), Daily Trust, Guardian Newspapers, among others. The group also gave reasons why they bombed Thisday office in Abuja and other media houses last Thursday.

“This is a message from jamaatu ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, and we wish to inform Nigerians our reasons for attacking some media houses,” the group said.

The video also shows that the radical group carried a live coverage of the bombing in Abuja showing and filmed the exact explosion of the Thisday bombing. The group created the new Youtube video under the name Alhaji Mani.

Read full transcript of video below. 

 Boko Haram video transcription

Video has a background music in Hausa language, saying," Nigerians, our name is not Boko Haram, we are Muslims, Ahlis sunnah". The lyrics also said, “We attacked Thisday because we will never forget or forgive anyone who abused our prophet.”
First written message says the video is from ‘Public awareness department which presents; ‘Reasons for attacking Thisday Newspaper’
The Video also shows coverage of the suicide attack at Thisday office in Abuja.
It also shows a man wielding a rifle and reciting some prayer verses. Shots of the late leader of the sect Muhammad Yusuf, delivering a sermon, and in other clips, preaching, was shown.

Full transcription

"This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.
"We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on Thisday Newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some Media Houses, especially Thisday, is because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW) during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.
"At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they have forgiven those who committed the offence.
"But based on our knowledge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgement, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

"No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgement is for such persons to be killed.
"This lady that committed this crime, the judgement on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.
"We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.
"It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.
"We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the Thisday incident.

"Thisday newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

"Some of the offences of Thisday and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we have nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.
"Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the president’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader said what they attributed to him.

"Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to potray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III.
"Recently too, they came out with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it, that was just a big lie to convince the world.
"The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they  wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

"These are all lies, and they are many.
"These media houses have committed a lot of offences that is detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorized into three groups.
"The first group is the likes of Thisday whose offences are big.
"The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.
"There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.
"VOA Hausa for instance have recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us.

"The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, Peoples Daily and RFI(Radio France international)
"There is an online medium known as Saharareporters who have their office in New York, and who have made their site as a platform for attack against Islam. So we are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam, otherwise we will find a way of attacking them too.
"We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists; which made them refuse to conduct the conference.
"We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

"Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially, tertiary ones.
"We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys.
"We have already started with Gombe and Kano."

Source: Saharareporters

Osama tweets from hell!

A year after Osama bin Laden was killed by US Navy SEALS in the Pakistani garrison city of Abbottabad, the world's number one terrorist is keeping busy tweeting from hell!
Dozens of fake accounts were floated on Twitter shortly after bin Laden's death and ever since, there has been no stopping the updates and 'fatwas' from 'hell'.
"My ex-wife is talking to ABC News. This is even more disrespectful than the time she asked to look out a window...," read a tweet by a fake account operated by 'Osama'.
Another one pronounces that 'hot chocolate is haram'. The descriptions of Osama on the many fake accounts are hilarious.
One such account describes him as 'former public enemy #1'.
One tweet on a fake account went: "...faked my own death, now travelling the world. Maybe I'm coming to your city! Check your local Al Qaeda branch!"
On other accounts, the messages are matter-of-fact: "I was the leader of Al Qaeda. Now I'm dead" or "Those still alive can reach me at OsamaInHell" or "I was once the best terrorist of all time! Greatest ever at hide and seek!"
Sometimes the tweets are scary. "I may be dead...but life continues!!!" or "71% of the Earth is covered in oceans. So I may be anywhere!! (Remember that!)"
The American commandos took away bin Laden's body after shooting him in his compound located a short distance from the Pakistan Military Academy. His body was later buried at sea.
Bin Laden's three widows and 11 members of his family were recently deported to Saudi Arabia. One tweet on a fake account on the first death anniversary of bin Laden was rather philosophical.
"It's been almost a year... Time flies when you're dead!" Another one read: "What is it with Obama and surprise visits on May 1st?"
A popular spoof website went a step further and published an interview with bin Laden: "The guys in Heaven all want to come down here. There's no hot stuff up there - not even a Lamb Tikka Masala. Man, I tell you, it's sure great fun here in Hell".
Bin Laden claimed he was friends with Stalin and Hitler. "Stalin's a great guy. Vow! If only I had met him while I was still in your Earth zone. Adolf is a nice guy too, but he is a bit of a stiff. Keeps on about how he should not be down here in Hell but up in Heaven 'cause of the good things he'd done in his Earth life".
Unfortunately, the biggest spoof-like story emanating from Pakistan on bin Laden's first death anniversary is for real.
The Express Tribune reported that people were visiting the site of bin Laden's razed compound to offer 'fateha' and witness a 'miracle' – water gushing forth without use of an electric motor.
Though this could have been caused by a fractured water line, many claimed that water gushes forth like a spring because those killed at the place were innocent.

Boko Haram speaks: Why we attacked THISDAY

Boko haram while claiming responsibility for Thursday's attacks, says more bombings are coming the way of the media - The Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram, says it attacked THISDAY

Thursday to send a strong message to the media that it would no longer condone reports misrepresenting it in the press, or blaming it for acts it knows nothing about. Abul Qaqa, spokesperson for the sect told Premium Times, in an exclusive interview, that his organisation was fed up with the deliberate misinformation being peddled about it in the Nigerian and foreign media.

“We have repeatedly cautioned reporters and media houses to be professional and objective in their reports. This is a war between us and the Government of Nigeria; unfortunately the media have not been objective and fair in their report of the ongoing war, they chose to take side,” Mr. Qaqa said.

 

He identified three instances where he claimed his group was deliberately misrepresented by the media. The first, according to him, was the rumour of his capture by the Nigerian intelligence agencies.

“Some reporters are aware that I am Abul Qaqa, they know my voice through our long interactions and they also know the role of Abu Darda who heads the enlightenment committee and sometimes facilitates interviews; yet they (media) go by the unsubstantiated view of government that Abul Qaqa is in custody and I am the new spokesman or number two,” he said.
Premium Times had continuously reported that Abul Qaqa was not arrested contrary to reports and that it was Abu Darda, another member, that was arrested.
The second misrepresentation, according to Mr. Qaqa, was the reporting on the kidnappings of foreigners in the Northern part of Nigeria.

“Another issue was the recent kidnappings in the north; we were clear with our position as a group during a teleconference with reporters but we were shocked the next day when newspaper headlines added a lot of things which I never said during that interview.”
The third example, Mr. Abul Qaqa said, is the mistranslation of the video the group posted recently.
 “Another example is the recent video posted on YouTube by our Imam; I challenge every Nigerian to watch that video again. There is no place our imam either said he will crush President Jonathan or issued an ultimatum to the government in Nigeria; but nearly all papers carried very wrong and mischievous headlines.”
When asked why THISDAY appeared specifically chosen for the attack, Mr. Qaqa said THISDAY’s “sins” are more grievous.
 “It is not only THISDAY that has been engaged in negative media campaign, fictional stories and constantly promoting fake stories by the JTF to give an impression that they are making headway against us yet there is no time the media investigated further as an objective and responsible bystander in this war.
“But the sins of THISDAY are more,” he said.
“They once insulted the Prophet Mohammed in 2001 and we have not forgotten. They recently said our Imam executed me which is false. Here I am speaking to you, I am alive and healthy.”
Expect more media attacks
The group’s spokesman further warned of more attacks on the media.
“We have just started this new campaign against the media and we will not stop here, we will hit the media hard since they have refused to listen to our plea for them to be fair in their reportage,” he said.
Mr. Abul Qaqa also said his group  would give further information on biases by the media.
“In the coming days we will give details and instances where the media have not been fair to us and why we are going to attack them as well.”
Media should be neutral “The media in Nigeria are not a problem to us if they will do their job professionally without taking sides,” Mr. Abul Qaqa said.
“But each time we say something, it is either changed or downplayed. But when our enemy says something even without logical proof, it is blown out of proportion.”
"We have repeated asked some reporters to retract some stories or even give us the right of reply but none of these requests were given to us."

Breaking News .Assassin Plots Against Soyinka, Akinrinade Uncovered?

A group, the Yoruba Intelligence Network said it has uncovered a plot to assassinate some key Yoruba leaders by fifth columnists in a effort to arouse the Southwest region into  violence.
A statement by the head of the information bureau of the network, Kunle Aribisala said that prime on the list of the targets are Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka; former Chief of Defence Staff, Lt General Alani Akinrinade and former NADECO chieftain, Dr Amos Akingba.
"Information at our disposal indicates that the group behind the plot has chosen to strike against Dr Amos Akingba on Friday, said the network.
The Network also added that the fifth columnists in their build-up to the heinous acts have sold a dummy to Soyinka months ago through some fake security reports that Boko Haram was planning to eliminate him and other leaders which made him grant an interview to The News magazine where he raised the alarm.
The Network also said that in the last few months, the fifth columnists have tried all they could to create a Boko Haram scare in the South West through all kinds of false alarms.
"Their failure to achieve a precipitate action in the region is the reason they are now eager to eliminate these leaders to provoke violent reactions in the region"
The Network equally alleged that the news of a container expulsion at the Tin Can Port on Monday which was broken on AIT but suppressed in the media since then has forced it to cry out on these plots " part of the facts that we gathered was that an explosion would take place at Tin Can before these strikes"
It asked the people of the South West to look closely at a report planted in all newspapers in Nigeria a few days ago that a detention centre for Boko Haram members was to be built in Lagos.
"Who planted this story and to achieve what? Was it to prepare an excuse for strikes in the name of Boko Haram in South West? Are we seeing an orchestrated plan to create a war situation in the country by precipitating violence in a big nation like the Yoruba to achieve some sinister agenda by other people? These are posers to ponder on"
Courtesy Sahara Reporters

Rochas ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim

I read a Sun Newspaper article written by Godson Offoaro were he said that Rochas Okorocha the Governor of Imo State ate his lunch by wrestling power out of the hands of Ikedi Ohakim. I 'do bale' at Offoaro's style of trying to get another lunch pack, this time from the Prophet of Rescue, the man with shinning white buba and red cap by speaking sweet talks and shouting 'Ranka dede'. With the confidence of his gift of the pen, Godson Offoaro with the spirit of 'any government in power' invoked the highest hypocrisy by trumpeting and advertising sham accomplishments of the Imo State Governor. One of Okorocha's accomplishments according to the gospel of Offoaro is the tarring of roads. Missing in his claims is the poor quality of the roads that Okorocha has tarred.

Offoaro failed to tell us that our Governor poured 'coal tar' on sand to give the appearance that roads have been tarred. He failed to tell us that Imo State has a proper way of awarding contracts such that it must take a tender board to put up adverts for contractors to apply. He failed to tell us that Okorocha did not follow due process of putting up invitation for tender in awarding the so called road contracts. He failed to tell us that contractors were not invited, screened or shortlisted for the road contracts. He failed to tell us that the contracts were awarded to friends and relatives as their own share of Imo State cake .
Going against the law in other to compensate friends and relatives will end up inflicting more harm than good to the scheme and system of things. Why must we be pouring 'coal tar' on sand in Owerri when the rural areas where over 90 percent of 'Imolites' are living are not accessible? .It is only a professional sycophant that will feel duty bound to cheer a Governor to failure because of a lunch pack. Reading Offoaro , you will think that there were no roads and services before Okorocha came to power.We all know that Okorocha is currently battling to resuscitate his dwindling popularity. We all know that he has contracted many Spin Doctors to build fake mass support for his deceitful activities. But no amount of spin from his Spin Doctors will disguise the fact that he has not performed well so far.

Can the Spin Doctors erase the fact that Okorocha is looting our LGA funds? Okorocha sacked democratically elected LGA Chairmen and Councillors and appointed Sole Administrators for our LGA's. The Sole Administrators are his agents for diverting our LGA funds for his personal use. Today, the Councils in Imo State are dysfunctional. Nothing is happening in over 90 percent of Imo State Councils. Our LGA funds are held hostage and we are deprived the opportunity to function democratically. Instead of conducting Council election in Imo State our Governor says he is into LGA reforms and that our LGA's will soon be called Committee of Government Councils where each Council in Imo will be headed by a Traditional Ruler and members will be LGA Sole Administrators,Town Union Presidents,Women Leaders and Youth Leaders .
Okorocha's praise singers should please tell him that we don't need his unconstitutional Committee of Government Councils.We need LGA election in Imo State.They should tell him to stop looting our LGA funds. He must hands off Council funds so that our Councils can begin to thrive as expected. Unless our LGA's are free to govern self, we have no grassroots democracy. We must permit the LGA's to elect their own leaders, who in turn can embark on developing their areas. We must stop denying the people governance at the third tier.

Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor whose policies have been changing like the British weather. Okorocha has made so many promises that he did not fulfil. For example,he promised to pay 20,000 naira minimum wage to Imo State Civil Servants instead of the Federal Government approved 18,000 naira.He has since failed to pay the 20,000 naira minimum wage.During one of his showmanship events in Owerri recently, Okorocha with his gift of gab spoke to Civil Servants of the State telling them that Civil Servants in the State can beat their chest that their salaries come to them by 25th of every month and their 20,000 naira minimum wage has been paid,The Governor was interrupted with shouts of No! It is a lie! The Civil Servants shout Rochas down for telling lies yet professional sycophant are praising him.
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who has crippled all Ministries, Department and Agencies of government in the State by starving them of funds. Okorocha directed all Ministries in the State to generate money to run their Ministries themselves which has resulted to over taxing of Imo people. Okorocha's government now churns out multiple taxation and harsh levies on Imo citizens using indecent task forces and unethical conducts. The question is whether the Ministries can really fund themselves. LGA's cannot even generate enough revenues to run their affairs not to talk of Ministries. What is happening to the allocation of the State? Who is looting what?
Only a professional sycophant will sing the praise of a Governor who since he came into office has not being able to create jobs for Imo youths rather he sacked 10,000 Imo State graduates in the State Civil Service. Okorocha has no reason to sack the workers other than he is anti-people and anti-workers .When decisions made and actions taken directly deflates job creation, the result is always more problems for the citizens .Imo State is regarded as the 5th richest state in Nigeria and it is not difficult to pay salaries to the 10,000. Tell me why we can't help these poor youths.

The same man who told us that Imo will have problems in paying salaries to the sacked 10,000 workers is the same man that is now boasting everywhere that Imo State has money and went ahead to declare free education for tertiary schools in Imo state. Governing Imo State is not Rochas Foundation, neither is it Baba Sala's nkwobi and pepper soup joint were we dish out alms to the poor. Promising free education to Imo tertiary students is playing to the gallery. Free education for Imo tertiary students as announced by Okorocha few days ago is another Nollywood drama.It is another deceit. I say so because Okorocha will never sustain the free education for tertiary schools. He knows that sustaining the free education policy in tertiary schools in Imo State will make Imo to run into difficult financial circumstances. What Okorocha should have done is to reduce tuition fees. The Governor is responsible for the State's fiscal health, and cannot afford to run negative balances. He must restore taxpayers' confidence that their naira are being used wisely and in the best interests of all people.He should be honest to the people and stop playing to the gallery.

The professional sycophants should tell Okorocha to sack his present cabinet if he wants to succeed. The fact of the matter is that Okorocha's cabinet which is his toolbox has unfit tools in it and he needs better tools. His unfit tools are the cause of his administration's political missteps. He should do away with the unfit tools in his toolbox and get better ones. Some of those in his cabinet are spent forces. They have no ideas on how to lift the state to an enviable height. I am of the view that his cabinet is overdue for a shake-up. Sacking his cabinet has become very imperative in order to inject fresh blood that will correct all his administrative missteps.

What is the Commissioner that collected 5 million naira bribe from his classmate as reported in the media still doing in government. What about the Commissioner that was slapped by a sex hawker at a high flying night club in Owerri.What about those that advised Okorocha to relocate IMSU sited in Owerri to of all places,Ogboko his village in Orlu zone.Okorocha should surround himself with people with sound ideas of how to put 'Imolites' into jobs; people who have the passion and capacity to develop the state; people who can look him in the face and challenge him on the workability of the state, people that will remind him that the sycophants around him will not remember him beyond the present if he does not leave behind concrete and credible achievements.

Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria

Woman Rapes Pastor at Gunpoint

A pastor was allegedly forced to be intimate with a woman under duress from two male accomplices.The latest report of an attack on a man hitch hiker by people hunting for sperms for ritual purposes has prompted police to issue a warning to men to avoid traveling at night alone, or without reliable transport.

Police said the pastor was offered a lift by the suspects driving a Toyota Ipsum model at Karoi town, west of Harare, around midnight last Friday. The car’s occupants were said to be two men and a woman. They drove towards Harare, but suddenly stopped at a secluded place and ordered the pastor to have sexual intercourse with the woman.

He reportedly refused, but was threatened with unspecified harm by the men, forcing him to be intimate with the woman without protection. “We strongly suspect that the woman was wearing a female condom, although the complainant has not indicated whether protection of the female type was used,” police spokesperson Clemence was quoted as saying by the reporter.

After the act, the suspects forcibly took $30 from the pastor’s pockets and drove off, leaving him stranded. A number of attacks blamed on “sperm harvesting syndicates” have been reported in Zimbabwe in the last two years. via 247nigeriannewsupdate

Obasanjo resigns as PDP BOT chairman

 
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has resigned  as  chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP.

In a statement he personally signed and  made exclusively available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, Obasanjo said he had sent the letter of resignation to the chairman of the party.

``I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BOT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution,’’ he said.

The former president added: ``‘I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect.

 ‘‘By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me.’’

He further said that the step would give him time ‘‘to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share’’.

Obasanjo said his exit would afford him more time to develop ‘my Presidential Library and to mobilising and encouraging investment in Nigeria and Africa.’

He noted that before the last general elections, he believed that if PDP produced the President, it would be time for him to reduce his partisan political activities.

Obasanjo recalled that he was actively involved in bringing forth ‘my successor president from PDP in 2007.

`‘In 2011, I was in the vanguard of working for PDP to produce a president for Nigeria. God answered our prayer.” (NAN)

72-year old, other 456 Nigerians languishing in Brazilian prisons’

Representatives Committee on Diaspora,  says 457 Nigerians, including a 72-year-old woman, Fausat Abosede are languishing in various prisons in Brazil.
Dabiri-Erewa  in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the committee had visited Brazil and was  touched by the pitiable condition of the inmates.

“We were touched by the psychological traumas that the inmates were going through, despite the cleanliness and orderliness of the prison environment,” she said.
She said the visit was prompted by a hint it got from a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Youth Without Borders, led by two Nigerians, Taiwo and Kehinde Afolabi.
The lawmaker said out of the figure, 14 of the inmates were female, who were been kept at Sao Paulo Women Plenipotentiary Prisons.
She said one of the women had completed her term and was undergoing a rehabilitation training.
Dabiri-Erewa said the delegation was, however, disturbed by the predicament of 72-year old Abosede , who told the delegation that she went to Brazil for medical treatment, through a Nigerian.
She added that the woman decided to return to Nigeria when she realised that the treatment she was promised was not forth coming.
Abosede was, however, arrested at the airport in September 2011, with drugs in a bag she claimed was given to her by an acquaintance, named Patricia, to deliver in Nigeria.
The lawmaker faulted the Brazilian authorities for keeping the old woman in prison, contrary to the laws of the country,which stipulates that a suspect of her age be kept in house arrest pending sentence.
Dabiri-Erewa said the committee had formally presented Abosede’s case and those of other inmates to the Director, Department of Immigrations of Ministry of Justice of Brazil, Dr. Izaura Miranda, who had expressed surprise on the woman’s case.
She said the official had since commenced investigation into the various cases.
The lawmaker urged the Federal Government to sign the Memorandum of Understanding presented to it in 2009, which would facilitate the exchange of prisoners and repatriation of criminals between Nigeria and Brazil.
She said the committee had also worked with the assistance of an NGO in Brazil, the IITA, and the Nigeria Consuler Officer, Jane Okocha.
The committee, she added had provided assistance to the inmates and formally requested that Abosede be put under house arrest pending her trial, in line with the Brazilian law.
The lawmaker said the committee had also interacted with the Nigerian community in Brazil who complained of “total disconnect between them and the Nigerian Embassy”.
She, therefore, called on the Minister of Foreign affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, to do something about the situation, so that Nigerians living there would enjoy full consular services.
According to her, the committee met with some members of Brazilian Parliament, President, Petrobras Nigeria and the President, National Bank of Social and Economic Development to explore areas of interest between the two countries.
Dabiri-Erewa said the bank had indicated its interest to invest in Africa, especially in Nigeria. (NAN)

Shooting Stars fire Allen

    The manager was given the sack after three straight losses on the road

Following three straight away losses in their Nigeria Premier League games, the management of Shooting Stars Football Club (3Sc)have asked Festus Allen to step down as coach of the Ibadan-based team.
3Sc completed an hat-trick of loses when they fell 1-0 to former League champions Heartland on Sunday. Before that the club lost 2-0 to Kaduna and 3-0 to Kano Pillars in a mid-week feature. The losses mean the "Oluyole Warriors" reside at the 19th position on the League table with just 17 points in 15 matches.
Allen, who took over from Fatai Amoo at the beginning of the 2011/2012 season, will be replaced temporarily by his assistants, Tunde Odubola and Busari Akeem, ahead of Thursday's home game with Kwara United.
Meanwhile, Enyimba FC's striker Gbolahan Salami have said the club owe Amoo an apology for how he was eased out of the club.
Salami, who joined the Peoples Elephant from 3SC at the close of the League last season, said the club was wrong to have fired Amoo after he saved them from relegation last season.
 
“The 3SC management need to apologise to Amoo if they need to start getting positive results this season,” he said. "He saved the team from the relegation zone last season and finished with 11th on the table, but where are Shooting Stars this season with the re-organisation they carried out on the team? Amoo is a very good coach and he did nothing wrong when they fired him before the commencement of this season.”

"Personally, Amoo is still the best man for Shooting Stars because he knows how to handle the younger ones and I can tell you if he is given a free hand to work and enough funds to buy players, the sky will be a limit for 3SC.”

Heat wave: Lagos warns against over exposure to sun

LAGOS — Following the prevalence of heat wave in Lagos State and other parts of the country in the past two weeks, the Lagos State Government has urged residents to reduce the time they stay in the sun by staying indoors more.

Pure (sachet) water peddlers in the Sun in Lagos

Environmental experts have also blamed the harsh weather situation on the rapid deforestation and degradation of Nigeria’s rainforest.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who gave the warning in Lagos, weekend, said continuous exposure to  excessive heat was dangerous and could cause health problems, particularly to young children, the elderly and people with medical problems such as asthma or those on medication for certain conditions.
Precautions
Urging the people to stay indoors, Idris said if any strenuous exercises must be done at all, “it must be done in the early hours of the day when the temperature is coolest.”
He  implored the people to drink enough water and avoid drinks that contain alcohol and caffeine, use protective gadgets such as hat or umbrella, sunglasses and sunscreen, take cold baths  and leave water to dry on the skin, as well as never leave  children and pets inside closed cars.
Idris said: “Lagos is currently experiencing heat wave, which is a prolonged period of excessively and abnormally hot weather with temperature exceeding 32.2oc and it is usually accompanied by humidity that usually lasts for at least one day but could last several days to weeks. Continuous exposure to this excessive heat is dangerous and could cause problems such as heat rash, heat stress, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
Expert decries deforestation
Similarly, environmental experts, at a three-day workshop in Calabar, Cross River State, weekend, said it was time for Nigeria to embrace global programmes, such as the REDD+ initiative.
Speaking on “Background and Context for REDD+ in Nigeria,” a lecturer with the University of Calabar, Prof. Francis Bisong, said forest and vegetation resources had been dwindling over the years.
He said the current deforestation rate estimated at 3.7 per cent was among the highest globally, placing Nigeria seventh on the list of Greenhouse Gases emitters due to land use change.

PDP Convention:PDP is not a secret society – Olisa Metuh

…says candidates themselves called for consensus
Chief Olisa Metuh, the new national publicity secretary of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP was until his election last Saturday, the national vice-chairman (Southeast) of the party. Following the election, he spoke in a telephone interview on the intrigues that shadowed the convention, the challenges ahead of the party and on the competence of the old men that now call the shots in the party. Excerpts:
HOW do you assess the ninth convention of the PDP?
It is one of the best so far, very transparent, orderly and in line with our constitution. Everything was done including auditor’s report, speeches by the secretary and most of all, all the candidates were free to make their own choice and where people didn’t agree to step down, there was election into those particular offices and the elections were done transparently.
Ballot boxes were transparent, people queued up and voted for candidates of their choice. So, I think the PDP is coming better, we are getting better every day. We are not unmindful of criticism against us, so we try to change and adjust accordingly.
From your perceptive could you point at any flaw during the convention?
For me as a candidate I was more interested in my campaign and what I saw was perfect, excellently done.
Convention committee
I give kudos to the national convention committee and the outgoing national working committee. I can’t point out at any flaw.
Why is your party inclined towards consensus in the election of its officers?
I wish you could ask that to the opposition parties. Every time we do elections, we do contests and we have a lot of people that contest for positions in PDP. People actually contest, people actually campaign for these offices then if there is consensus just before the election, or a day to the election, it is different from the case with opposition parties who never seem to have other candidates, who never seem to have campaigns, who never seem to have anything democratic at all.
All they do is to come and anoint people and appoint people even secretly. So, I think that PDP has shown that we are a lot better, that we are miles ahead of the other parties in Nigeria in terms of how we conduct our primaries and our congresses. We are setting the pace.
The opposition has its flaws but that begs the issue, why does your party prefer consensus to election?
You know there are people that buy forms not necessarily because they will win but they want to be heard, some people want their posters to be seen, some people are praying for God to intervene for them and others are just seeking for the attention of the leaders of the party.

From left, Vice President Namadi Sambo,President Goodluck Jonathan, acting National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje, former President and Chairman of BOT, Olusegun Obasanjo and Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon.Aminu Tambuwal.

Arranging for consensus
But before then, once you see that the leaders of the party and the delegates are headed in one direction…indeed, I am aware that in this election that some candidates were even meeting the leaders to arrange for consensus so that they can see an honourable exit. Once they see the direction that the delegates are going, the people would demand an honourable exit and that was what happened. It is the candidates that appeal for it (consensus).
What would you describe as the major agenda of this new executive of the party?
It is the chairman that would determine. The chairman’s role is to set the agenda with the National Working Committee. Mine is to brief the press and I will not exceed my powers under the constitution. I will continually brief you on the decisions of the National Working Committee and the agenda being set by the leadership and I will make sure that I do it in a very open manner so that you can understand what we are doing. If we are not doing it well, you criticize us and we can adjust accordingly. We will run this party in a very open manner. PDP is not a secret society, PDP belongs to everybody and we owe it as a duty to our people nationwide to educate them on why decisions have been made on their behalf.

Bamanga Tukur casting his vote at the convention, Saturday in Abuja.

Not too long ago, some members of the party described it as a cult. Do you think you have moved far from that description?
No responsible member of the party would describe PDP as a cult. PDP is open, we have divergent views, people from different backgrounds, people with different opinions but at the same time, we are all agreed on one thing, that we belong to the party, we want to work hard for the party, we want to work hard for the country and we want to ensure that democracy stays in Nigeria. Unity in purpose in making sure that we survive as a democratic nation is the propelling thing behind PDP decisions on major issues.
The new national chairman of the party is about 77, the Chairman of the board of trustees is about 76 and the National Youth Leader is 50? Does the party have a position for the youths?
I think it is totally wrong, PDP is a party of experience,  a party of people who are capable and committed. You cannot exclude a man who is best for the job because he is older than the others, you cannot exclude him because he is younger than others. On a personal level, I have always remained one of the youngest in the party hierarchy and nobody has ever highlighted that.
It is a question of competence and how to handle issues, it is not a question of age. We have competent people at the right places. Our national chairman is very competent and he is very fit. Yesterday, (Saturday) I had to walk with him from the stand to the podium and I was practically running to catch up with the national chairman. He is intellectually capable and he has a lot to offer the party. Did you listen to his speech? I was moved. Even me having served this party for 13 years at the highest level, I was moved and actually inspired to work with such a man. I think he will do well as national chairman of PDP and that is what is most important.
Are you insisting that the older men are more competent?
No, sometimes, you find the competent people older and sometimes you find the competent people younger. Our national legal adviser is one of the youngest national legal advisers in the history of our democracy and nobody is saying that. He is a young man from Plateau, but he is competent. He is a sound lawyer. Very articulate, very young man and we did not refuse to vote for him because he is not so old.
Ahead of this convention there were reports of intrigues centering on the President insisting that the national chairman must be Tukur and no one else. Why?
Well, I think I read this in the press like all others. The President reserves the right to support the national chairman of his choice. In supporting that candidate if he decides to sell his candidature to other stakeholders, it is within his democratic rights. As long as he does not interfere with the constitutional right of other candidates.
The president deserves the right to have a candidate of his choice and to promote his candidature among other stakeholders. But when it happens behind the doors people think that it is something that is being manipulated. No. He is a PDP super delegate, he can support someone and others can say no but if they buy his argument, it is very democratic.
Lastly, what mechanism would you bring to bear to polish the image of the party?
There is nothing else you can do other than to be open and transparent. As long as you are open and you connect with the people they will see the truth. I think the perception they have of the PDP is very wrong.
Wrong perception
The perception is totally wrong and mine is to assist the national chairman in correcting that impression because as a party we have done good, as a party we have done well. Let me tell you the truth, people think that party people do not go through pains, they don’t go through sufferings,  that they are not human beings, we are Nigerians, we have families, we have extended families and this propels us in some of the decisions we take.
But because we don’t explain those reasons, because we don’t like to enlighten Nigerians about the processes that are being done they tend to misread it and now give it negative connotations. But I will make sure that I keep on engaging the media and engaging Nigerians in explaining the decisions of the party.

Civil Defence parades fake NYSC members

Eighty-seven persons believed to be fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were, on Wednesday, paraded in Abuja by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Ade Abolurin, the NSCDC Commandant General, said the suspects were arrested by members of the agency in Nasarawa following a tip-off.
The fake corps members will be arraigned before a court as soon as investigations are completed, the commandant general said

Couple Found Dead Inside Car in Kano

A man and a woman, both in their twenties, were found dead inside a Peugeot 406 car today at Kundila quarters in Kano. The young man has been identified as Abubakar Abba by his brother Ahmad Lawan Maduwa who owns the car with the registration number AW 576 KMC while the young lady has also been identified as Ummul khair Muhammad. The cause of their deaths has not been ascertained.

PIC: The couple lying lifeless in the car earlier today.
Passers-by mill around the car while military personnel stand guard.

Maduwa who spoke to Daily Trust said he gave his brother the car on Tuesday around 9pm and asked him to take it to a mechanic the following day (today).

He said he was woken up by a phone call from one of his friends, who told him that he had spotted his car and that soldiers and police men had the car surrounded and a crowd had also gathered.

It was gathered that the late Abubakr was a student of Saadatu Rimi college of education while the lady was said to be living with her mother in Kano.

Police spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya confirmed the incident and said the two corpses had indeed been identified. He also said an investigation had commenced to ascertain the cause of their deaths as no visible injuries were seen on them or any sign of torture. DAILYTRUST

FEMALE CONDOM SAVES IGBINEDION FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE

 

Tongues are wagging in Edo State especially Benin-City,over how a 300 level female student of the College of Social Sciences of the Igbinedion University,Okada,narrowly escaped death after a steamy sex session with her super rich Sugar daddy,who is an Alhaji.

The female student who hails from Asaba,the Delta State Capital was a regular bed mate of the super rich Alhaji,who constantly and regularly takes care of her needs and spoilt her silly with money and other material things.

It was learnt that on the fateful day,the Alhaji,who is said to shuttle between Abuja,Lagos and Benin called her up to book an hotel around her campus,pretending that he wanted her to be closer to school.

She did as the Alhaji instructed and subsequently packed her bag ready for the weekend for the arrival of the Alhaji.

At the hotel, the fun started as usual and everything was going on well.

It was learnt that usually,the Alhaji use condom any time he wants to sleep with her,but on this day,he insisted that they should be comfortable in each other’s company since they are no more strangers to each other.

She refused initially,but when she realized the Alhaji was getting angry,she remembered that she had a female condom in her bag,so she went to the toilet and inserted the female condom after which she agreed to have sex with him.Immediately after the show Alhaji’s phone beeped.

His mood changed and he got dressed and started hurrying to leave her saying that he got an urgent call to be in Abuja.

She went into the toilet to remove the condom and was shocked to find tiny black ants attempting to crawl out.

The territory sight made the lady scream aloud from the hotel room when she had lodged with the Alhaji thereby attracting the attention of the hotel workers and management,who subsequently killed the crawling black ants.

Jos suicide attack : Death toll rises to 10

(AFP) – Ten people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on a Catholic church in the city of Jos on Sunday, the state government said, raising an earlier death toll.
The dead included three men shot as security forces fired on a crowd of onlookers who gathered after the blast, state government spokesman Pam Ayuba told AFP, adding that “there were 10 dead, seven parishioners and three that were shot dead by soldiers.”

...one of the buildings affected

“Three people were shot dead by soldiers in a bid to disperse the crowd,” he said.
The bomber was also killed, “mutilated beyond recognition”.
Ayuba said the church building was badly damaged in the blast.”The church suffered substantial damage, with the roof brought down.”
Several others were seriously injured when the suicide bomber blew himself up when he crashed his explosives-laden car into the gate of St. Finbar’s Catholic church as worshippers were filing out from morning mass.
Boy scouts tried to stop the car, he said.
“The security guards, who were mainly members of the Boys Brigade, tried to prevent the car from entering the compound and in the process the car exploded.”

Akpabio denies governors’ gang up against Jonathan

The Akwa Ibom State governor says it is not true that PDP governors oppose the president’s choice of party chairman
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State has denied that governors of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) were ganging up against President Goodluck Jonathan on the issue of the selection of the party's chairman.
Akpabio, speaking to journalists on Monday at the State House, Abuja, said all the governors were judiciously following their “leader” and cannot gang up against him as reported in the media.
Sections of the media had reported last week that governors elected on the platform of the PDP had begun making moves to stop candidates considered loyal to the president jostling for party offices in the upcoming national convention of the party.
The governors were allegedly upset with the president and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) for denying their former colleague and former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, a ticket to seek re-election on the party's platform.
The governors were reported to have told serving members of the party’s NWC from their home states aspiring for offices at the party’s national convention to drop their plans, as they had no moral basis to seek re-election having worked against Sylva’s re-election.
“No, I don’t believe that; those are speculations,” said Akpabio. “I don’t believe that any governor would do that; to gang up against the president. PDP is a democratic party, and as far as I am concerned, the president is the leader of the party, so there is no way we the follower can gang up against our leader. The president is our leader and we go with our leader. And as far as I am concerned there is no issue because the president will like to see a democratic process emerge.”

EVEN THOUGH YOU WILL BURIED ON THURSDAY( 8/03/2012) BUT....

Even though you will buried on Thursday ( 8/03/2012) but your memories will  still be memorable  in our heart because u have left a good legacy in our everyday life (The Senator) adieu the brilliant Anthony Nnamdi Aganwede

Army recovers soldiers' bodies

Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Antigha, a Nigerian Army spokesperson, has said the bodies of the four soldiers declared missing last week have been recovered.
Speaking in a statement on Sunday, Antigha said that the soldiers, amongst whom was a Lieutenant-Colonel, were killed by pirates. He added that the gang leader, Shedrack Itokofuwei also died in the attack.
“The  attack was carried out by a gang of sea pirates led by Shedrack Itokofuwei, alias Mammy Water, who hails from Azagbene (in) Bayelsa State,” Lt Col Antigha said.
Itokofuwei and his gang left their base in a convoy of five speed boats and on their way, attacked the soldiers.  In an ensuing encounter with a navy patrol, three of the pirate boats were sunk while two others escaped.

Navy probes killing of 3-week-old baby

                                          Moses Joseph allegedly threw the infant into the lagoon
The Nigerian Navy has begun a probe into the alleged kidnap and killing of a three-week-old baby by Moses Joseph, a rating attached to the Western Naval Command, Apapa, Lagos.
Joseph fathered a baby by Glory Yusuf, a lady he was dating. Displeased with the birth, the naval rating stormed Miss Yusuf's apartment with some friends and colleagues, beat up the lady and her aged mother, before forcefully taking possession of the baby.
The baby was later thrown into the Lagos Lagoon from the Liverpool Street area in Apapa.
According to Lieutenant Commander Omodara, the Information Officer of the Command, a committee has been set up to investigate the matter. He said Joseph, if found culpable, would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
“For now, it is an allegation, but a committee has been set up to investigate the matter," he said, "The lady in question had been invited and she has made a statement.  She should be rest assured that the navy will not sweep the matter under the carpet.
“If the rating is found culpable at the end of the investigation, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken and thereafter, he will be handed over to the appropriate authority.”

EVEN THOUGH U WILL BURIED ON THURSDAY BUT YOUR BE IN OUR MEMORIES BECAUSE U HAVE LEFT A GOOD LEGACY IN OUR LIFE (THE SENATOR) ADIEU THE BRILLIANT ANTHONY NNAMDI AGANWEDE

Why? Brother ANTHONY your EXIT has changed so many things in our life including sleepless night, loss of appetite, tears all over my eyes, what a painful exit; you were always there 4 me personally.
Remember that the last conversation we had on face-book last Thursday 23/02/2012
you promise me that u never goner EXIT that I should prepare
4 your coming back 2 Nigeria after your medical surgery in India but why do you finally disappoint me, ANTHONY you sheltered me when I felt like I was in deserted environment,
ANTHONY you were giving me all support even praying 4 me so that I will survive in life,
ANTHONY why? now that is my turn to pay you back all you have done 2 me you just EXIT without even saying bye bye to me, well may your gentle soul rest in the bosom of the lord, we love you ANTHONY NNAMDI AGANWEDE.

Court orders police to pay N12m as damages to a salesboy

 Abuja – An Abuja High Court on Wednesday ordered the Nigeria Police to pay N12 million to a 34-year-old man, Mr Odu Johnson, as damages for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental rights.
Justice Mudashiru Oniyanyi gave the order, while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Johnson, asking for N150 million from the police as damages for unlawful detention.
Johnson had dragged the Inspector-General of Police and FCT Commissioner of Police to court, claiming that he was detained for allegedly stealing 12 tyres belonging to one Mrs Suzy Micheal.
Johnson said that he worked for Micheal as a sales boy and left without receiving his one month outstanding salary.
He said that after two weeks, Micheal called him to come over to collect his salary, adding that when he went he was arrested by the police and detained for 13 days.
Oniyangi said that evidence before him proved that Johnson was held in solitary confinement for 13 days, without being arraigned before any court of law.
“There is unchallenged evidence before me from which I believe the applicant was in detention for 13 days in 2007 and was subjected to untold hardship.
“I also have evidence to show that the police subjected him to degrading and inhuman treatment. He was in solitary confinement and held hostage for 13 days.
“The conduct of the police in detaining the applicant beyond one day, as it is mandated in our Constitution, unless his case is charged to court, was aggravated in nature.
“I hold the view that the action of the  police was reckless, vindictive, high-handed and oppressive.
“It also depicts an abuse of official powers and gross indiscipline by our men in uniform. It is reprehensive to the extreme and showed a gross disregard for the rule of law.”
He also condemned  the attitude of the police in the suit, as the police failed to file counter motion though served with court papers.
“It is on record that the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police were served with court papers, 13 times for them to enter appearance and say their side of the story.
“But they refused to do so since the case was filed in 2008. They never deemed it fit to appear in court even once.
“This  means that they are not challenging their acts.” (NAN)

Terrorism is biggest threat to Nigeria after civil war – Omeri

Abuja- Mr Mike Omeri, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), has described the current bombing in some parts of the country as the biggest threat to the nation’s security after the civil war, which ended in 1970.
He made observation on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference organised by the Homeland Secure, a non-governmental organisation, on the strategy to combat and prevent terrorism in the country.
Omeri, who was represented by an official of the agency, Mr John Tagwai, said that since 1999 the country had passed through many crises, adding that no democracy could thrive in crises.
He, however, said that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the people and warned those behind the current crises to desist, as perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Omeri said dialogue was the best option to resolve contending issues, and described as timely, the proposed conference on how to combat and prevent terrorism scheduled to take place between May 28 and May 30.
Earlier, Retired Brig.-Gen. Soyemi Sofoluwe, the Chairman of Homeland Secure, had said that the conference was aimed at fashioning out strategies to combat and prevent terrorism in the country.
Sofoluwe explained that Homeland Secure was a private sector collaboration of retired senior public servants, diplomats and security officials that brainstorm on matters of national interest.
He said the organisation would host the conference in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and some security organisations.
Sofoluwe said the outcome of the conference would be used to sensitise policy makers on how to create policies that would control the scourge of terrorism and create awareness in the populace through the media and NOA.
He called for the establishment of a “National Centre for Terrorism’’ to handle terrorism and terrorism-related issues.
“We at the Homeland Secure having deliberated on happenings in the recent past, decided to approach the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for permission to organise the conference to develop a holistic approach to combating the challenges. (NAN)

Breaking News Deadly Bomb found in Seme

                         The Lagos police has detonated a time bomb found near the border with Benin

Members of the anti-bomb squad of the Lagos State Police Command have announced the discovery of a time bomb at Seme, the border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
The bomb was discovered at about 6am on Monday morning at an area dominated by residents from Niger, Mali and Hausa settlers from the northern part of the country.
The police anti-bomb squad has detonated the bomb and have commenced a vigorous search on people passing through the Seme Border. Each person was ordered to raise his hands in the air before being allowed to pass.
"The part of Seme Border where the time bomb was found is occupied mainly by Hausa, Niger and Mali Republic nationals popularly known as 'Zongo'," said a police officer in the area who did not want his name published. "It is suspected the planting of the time bomb might have been done by them.”
When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Joseph Jaiyeoba, said he was yet to get any briefing on the report. "I have not heard of anything from Seme Border; give me time to confirm and I will get back to you," he said.

The Federal Govt on Tuesday inform the Petroleum Special Task force 60 working days within which to probe and clean up the oil industry

The Federal Govt on Tuesday gave the Petroleum Special Task force 60 working days within which to probe and clean up the oil industry. The task force is headed by the pioneer chairman of EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who handed the deadline at the inauguration of the task force in Abuja, said several attempts to reform the oil and gas industry had failed because of vested interests. Alison-Madueke said the time had come to break entrenched interests.

Gunmen attack police post

The Demsa Divisional Police Office in Adamawa state was last night attacked by unidentified gunmen. This was revealed by the state's Public Relations Officer (PRO),  ASP Altine Daniel .
Daniel said that two people - a corporal and one of the attackers - were killed in the incident, adding that no explosive was used.
The attack on Demsa came after a similar attack on Sunday in Shuwa Village of Madagali Local Government Area of the state. That incident had three policemen as casualties.

FLICK OF THE DAY. Goldie Again

Singer, Goldie like to get them talking..,....Here She is Checking the Temperature of a Dude's Er....

LATEST FLICK OF THE DAY.

This Pic of Nigeria's Big Brother Africa 6 rep has been all over the Internet with claims of her stripping in a London Club.....This however looks untrue to us as it seems like her just enjoying a normal Club outing.

FLICK OF THE DAY. Celebration Cake shaped as Private Part.

The new Crase amongst ladies now is to bake Sexually explicit images of  Celebration cakes, The World is sex-crazed!

Poverty, ill-health killed Giringori Akabogu

LAGOS — The dwindling ranks of the original cast of the iconic sit-com of the 80s, New Masquerade, shrank further, yesterday, when James Iroha a.k.a Giringori Akabogu succumbed to the vice grip of ill-health and poverty.
His son  confirmed his  death, yesterday, bringing to three the original members of the cast that have died recently.

The late James Iroha a.k.a Giringori Akabogu

Iroha was the  creator of the now rested  television drama, The New Masquerade, which ruled the screen in the early 80s, on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Network.
He died yesterday at the age of  70. The New Masquerade  started as a radio programme in then East Central State Broadcasting Corporation radio, Enugu  which, at its prime, was the “King of Primetime” on the NTA Network. It ran as a 15-minute radio programme, known as The Masquerade.
The audio format was adapted for an audiovisual recording and was adopted by the NTA Network service in the early 70s. For almost two decades, the half-hour slapstick programme captivated a national audience.
His  son, Uche Iroha, confirmed the death of  his father to Vanguard on phone yesterday.
According to him, the legendary comedian died in the early hours of yesterday in an hospital in Onitsha, Anambra State, where  he was being treated for glaucoma.
Uche said Giringori developed high blood pressure and other  undisclosed ailments in the course of treating the eye problem.  He spent four days in the hospital before giving up the ghost.
Uche said: “His death was totally unexpected. On the day he was admitted into the hospital, he was his usual humourous self. He never gave any indication that he won’t  come back home. So, it was a rude shock  to us, when we arrived in the morning to be told by the doctor that our dad had passed on.”

Giringori‘s death another big blow —AGN

Meanwhile, the outgoing President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Mr Segun Arinze, has described the death of  Giringori as another big blow to the industry, adding: “Giringori was a fine actor with a high sense of professionalism. He will surely be missed.”

Zebrudaya expresses shock
 Also contacted on phone, a former colleague and one of the main characters of New Masquerade, Chief Zebrudaya Okoroigwe Nwogbo alias 4:30 (Chika Okpala), expressed shock although he claimed that he had not been informed.
“I’m not aware of his death. About two people have called me already on phone to confirm his death. But I’m not aware. Though I have called his GSM line severally, it was switched off. I leave everything to God, I don’t know what to say at this moment until I confirm from the son,” Zebrudaya said.
Before his death, Giringori  cried out for rehabilitation, saying he was broke.
A retired Director of Programmes at the Abia State Broadcasting Service, Giringori recently retired from active public life at an elaborate traditional ceremony known as “Igboto Mma” in home town of Amokwe Item, Abia State, in December 2011.
  Giringori gave 40 years of his life to acting. But at 70, he died a pauper. Recently, he was compelled to make a desperate appeal to Nigerians in a national daily: “I am almost begging for food…I need money to pay my rent, buy my medicine. Now there is nothing between poverty and me. I am just nose-to-nose with poverty.”
He was afflicted in both eyes by the deadly glaucoma and cataract, for which he had undergone several operations both at home and abroad with no success. His family and friends  rallied round him to look for a permanent solution to his predicament.
The 1966 graduate of University of Ibadan  battled  with  illness  for over a decade. At one point, he was stranded for 16 days in India where he went for medical treatment.
Other members of the New Masquerade cast who have since passed on were Christy Essien-Igbokwe (Apena) and Claude Ake (Jegede Sokoya).

Nigeria FG Jonathan, Mark, Army Chief, others pay tribute as Ojukwu’s body arrives

Given a full military funeral parade, President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, were among eminent Nigerians, who showered tributes on the revered Igbo leader, yesterday.
Economic activities came to a halt in Owerri, Imo State capital, which stood still as the corpse of Ikemba Nnewi arrived the state.
Ojukwu was flown out of the country in a military ambulance on December 23, 2010. He battled for life for almost a year and died on November 26, 2011.
While Jonathan described Ojukwu as an advocate of a united Nigeria, Ihejirika said he was one of the architects of modern Nigerian Army and Aliyu said Ojukwu could have been made the Nigerian Head of State in 1966 after the second military coup, if intellect, qualification and finesse were the yardsticks.
Triumphantly, Ojukwu’s corpse arrived aboard a British Airways plane at exactly 5.09am accompanied by members of his family, including his wife Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu and some of his children. It was taken to the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja where a colourful military parade, the type reserved for heads of state, was held in his honour.
The casket was draped in the Nigerian flag complete with a green army cap. The ceremony was nearly turned into a political event as politicians from across the political divide thronged the arena to pay their last respects.

The long wait
Before the arrival of the corpse, many journalists had kept vigil at the airport to capture events as they unfolded. Representatives of different groups had also trooped to the airport early in the morning to participate in the military funeral. But only a handful of them gained entry into the highly restricted Presidential wing of the airport as security was very tight.
Proceedings at the military funeral began at about 11.20am when an ambulance brought the corpse of the late Ikemba to the tarmac after which it was taken over by senior army officers, made up of two Brigadier-Generals, four Colonels, two Lt.-Colonels and the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army who acted as pall bearers.

Children of Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu at Abuja International Airport . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

They carried the corpse out of a military ambulance amidst military music to a spot close to the military guard of honour after which a Christian prayer session, led by the Catholic Bishop of Abuja Diocese, John Onaiyekan, followed.
In his remarks during the service, Onaiyekan described late Ojukwu as a hero, adding that most of those who were present at the occasion attended because they identified with the values he lived for.
Roll call
After the ceremonial parade, witnessed by Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan; Dame Patience Jonathan; Senate President David Mark; Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Deputy House of Representatives Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha; Justice Chukwudifu Oputa (rtd); Governor Peter Obi; Chief Tom Ikimi; Chief Jim Nwobodo; Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo; Lt. General Chris Obiakor (rtd); and FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, the corpse was carried into Nigeria Airforce C-130 aircraft registered NAF 917 and flown to Owerri.
Other eminent Nigerians at the funeral parade were Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Chris Ngige and Andy Uba; Labour Minister, Chief Nwogu; Comptroller-General of Customs, Mrs. Uzoma; Prof. ABC Nwosu; Senator Authur Nzeribe; Chief Ojo Maduekwe; APGA Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh; Mrs. Josephine Anenih; Chief Ben Obi, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu and Bishop Hilary Okeke of Nnewi Diocese.
‘He fought until the last plane left Biafra’
Speaking at the ceremony, President Jonathan, who was represented Vice President Sambo, described Odumegwu-Ojukwu as an advocate of a united Nigeria.
He said: “In all his life he displayed strong leadership traits, epitome of service and sacrifice, and a vibrant advocate of good governance.
“No word can adequately describe the nature, character, legacy and lessons left behind by this soldier and gentleman. I believe the outpouring of encomium cannot stop coming the way of this gentleman because everything said about Ojukwu is due to his contribution— both personal and professional— to our great nation.
“Let it be said that Ojukwu died when the country needed his service most; let it be said that he lived and served with all his might when Ibo and Nigerians needed him most. He stood up and fought for what he believed in. He stood up for justice and refused to compromise. He challenged man’s inhumanity to man and faced issues affecting his kit and kin. He stood his ground and fought until the last plane left Biafra.”
Describing Ojukwu as a man, who was born ‘with a silver spoon’ but chose to drop the spoon for the cause he believed in, the President said: “He lived a humble live despite being the son of one of the wealthiest men in Nigeria and had his education in United Kingdom as well as his Masters degree in history. On his return he was at the civil service and later joined the Nigerian Army where he began his rise in the military. As the first Quarter Master General of the Army, he instituted some policies, which are the hallmark of the Army and are still being used.”
Recalling that Ojukwu made the front cover of Times Magazine of August 23, 1968, Jonathan said this was a rear achievement by any black or African for that matter at the time, adding, “after the Biafra war, he was in exile for 13 years until former President Shehu Shagari granted him official pardon and opened the road for his return in 1982 when the people of Nnewi gave him the popular title of Ikemba.
“On his return to Nigeria, he joined politics and was instrumental to the creation of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. His bravery, courage and sacrifice lived after him and whatever contribution he has made or people think he has made will for ever be interred with his bones. He has over the years displayed physical and moral courage throughout his life with excellent intellectual and inter-personal communications skills. One would not be wrong to say that he was an advocate of united Nigeria.”
Ojukwu was founding father of modern Nigerian Army— Ihejirika
Speaking after the parade, Lt. General Ihejirika declared that the late Eze Igbo Gburugburu was a founding father of modern Nigeria Army as he was one of the few that enlisted into the Army as a graduate, while other colleagues of his were enlisting with primary and secondary school certificates.
He said: “The death of Ojukwu is a big loss not only to the nation, but also to the army. Ojukwu happened to be one of the first few Nigerian officers to enlist with a university degree into the army. His love for service to the fatherland, exemplified by his enlistment into the army is unparalleled, considering that he elected to start his career even as a recruit at the Depot. As at then, Depot was open to primary school certificate but Ojukwu joined with a university degree from Oxford and he endured the type of training and hardship that is part and parcel of recruits training like using bare feet to run.
“When the Army had just five battalions, he was one of the Commanding Officers at his time. So his entry helped to shore up the image of the Army at the time. So you can say he is one of the founding fathers of the modern day Nigeria army.”
Ikimi, Tambuwal, Anyim pay tributes
Former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, said Ojukwu lived ahead of his time, adding that it was the Almighty God who chose to take him away at this period in the nation’s history.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, stated that Ojukwu’s death marked the end of an era in Nigeria’s political history.
He said: “He fought injustice; he would be remembered for his fearlessness. Africa has lost a statesman of uncommon ability. My wish is that Nigeria as a nation should correct the wrongs which he fought against.”
Senator Anyim, who thanked all who attended the occasion, said Ojukwu had left his footprints on the sands of time.
He could ‘ve been Head  of State— Aliyu
Delivering a lecture on Governance, Social Conflict and the Imperatives of Communal Harmony, organised by the Business Hallmark newspaper, yesterday, at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, Lagos, Governor Aliyu of Niger State said given his intellect, qualifications, qualities, Ojukwu was supposed to have been appointed the Nigerian Head of State after the second coup of 1966.
Aliyu absolved Ojukwu of blames in the 1967-70 Civil War, saying, “if I were in Ojukwu’s shoes, I would have picked arms to defend my people. When the first coup took place, Ojukwu was in Kano. He joined the Army as an Oxford trained graduate and made a lot of contributions. When soldiers carry out coups they share the posts among themselves. They don’t go out to look for the most qualified. Otherwise, Ojukwu should have probably been appointed the Head of State.”
Owerri stands still for Ojukwu
In Owerri, the day was ushered in by a strong but non-violent wind. This gradually snowballed into an early morning rain that started at about 3.05am, became heavier and poured till about 4am, a sure proof that even the heavens wept for the late Ikemba Nnewi.
The preparation for Ojukwu’s lying in state was elaborate. Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, was on top of it all, although he appointed a Local Organising Committee headed by the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Uwajimogu.
Schools were closed. Market and government offices were similarly shut. Civil servants were ordered to head to the Heroes’ Square, Owerri, where the corpse was scheduled to arrive at 12noon. But this was delayed.
People got tired of waiting. Some went home, while the diehards, including scores of the members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, remained at the two major points— Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and the Heroes’ Square. The early morning rain made the weather very clement throughout the day.
Eagle-eyed security personnel were everywhere. Vehicular movement into the arena was restricted but people defied all odds in their attempt to be part of the funeral ceremony of their departed leader.
They did not wait in vain. Signs of Ikemba’s arrival became evident, following the touch-down of an aircraft with registration number 5N-BCR at about 2.45pm. Dignitaries like the Governor Peter Obi, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Imo leader of APGA, Chief Martin Agbaso, alighted from the aircraft.
Welcome home
At 3pm a Nigeria Air Force jet, NAF 917, touched down at the airport. Governor Okorocha and some senior army officers alighted. Many wept like babies when no fewer than 10 army generals, who were fully clad in their ceremonial attire, lifted the casket bearing Ikemba Nnewi’s remains, accompanied by his widow, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu, and some of his children.
President Jonathan had directed that the late Igbo leader be given full military burial.
The casket-bearing generals moved in consonance with the military music supplied by soldiers, who were on ground to add flavour to the event. The casket was moved to a waiting military ambulance, NA 459 EO.

Ojukwu goes Home: From left, First Lady Patience Jonathan paying tribute to Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu –Ojukwu at Abuja International Airport . Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

The convoy then took off from the airport to Owerri town. The entire stretch from Imo Airport to Owerri was lined up by people, who wanted to catch a glimpse of the great man. The atmosphere was serene. The corpse made a brief stop-over at the Government House, Owerri, before being moved to the Ikemba Ojukwu Convention Centre