STRANGE: House Help Found Dead In Employer’s Home Swimming Pool?

Onyeka Kingsley Raphael, 22, (pictured below) was found dead Saturday morning at the bottom of a swimming pool in the home he worked as a domestic servant. Kingsley’s lifeless body was removed from the pool which is located at a house on Babatunde Asimi Street, Ogudu GRA.

His family is however suspecting foul play and have petitioned the police – they claimed that when Kingsley’s body was recovered by policemen from the Ogudu police station, eye witnesses said there were no visible body injuries on the corpse but a twisted neck; a sign that the domestic worker may have had his neck snapped before being dumped into the pool.

Kingsley’s family also found it strange that dinner which the deceased had apparently made for himself the previous night, was lying cold on the kitchen table, with his cap beside it. The family also claimed that Kingsley and his employer, a retired accountant named Tunde Williams had a misunderstanding a month earlier which almost led to Kingsley getting sacked.

Kingsley, who had wanted to quit the job was asked to hold on by his elder brother because he needed the money for school. The security man who was on duty at the time the incident is believed to have taken place, said he didn’t see or hear anything.

The police have promised a thorough investigation with a view to ascertaining Kingsley’s cause of death. To achieve this aim, they have assured the deceased’s family that an autopsy will be carried out.

Meanwhile, the police have revealed that Mr Williams has so far not cooperated with them in their investigations.

OPINION: Sneaking Around Ladies? Don’t Get Caught

If you hook up with the right guy he may be very, very good, and that will be a very good thing for you, but keep in mind what your goals really are. If you need and want some good hot sex where you climax a dozen times in four or five hours and you find it that is great, but, is it worth giving up your marriage for?

INTERESTING: Venus Williams Now In Nigeria?

American tennis star, Venus Williams, arrived in Nigeria Tuesday ahead of her younger sister Serena as part of the first leg of the recently launched “Breaking The Mould” (BTM) campaign, a women’s empowerment initiative.

£400,000 DISCOVERED: Oyo Governor’s Wife In Money Laundering Scandal?

The London Metropolitan Police has confirmed the arrest of wife of the Oyo State Governor, Chief (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi for attempting to smuggle about £400,000 and several thousands of U.S Dollars into the United kingdom.

A Met Police Detective who was also involved in the James Ibori case told pointblanknews.com that investigation has already commenced and that she would soon be charged to court.

“We have her in our custody and investigation is on. We will head to the Court when we are done,” the Detective who does not want to be named said in a phone conversation.

The detective who did not want to give details of the arrest of the Oyo Governor’s wife, said officials of the Met Police have been on her trail for several months.

Mrs. Ajimobi is said to have traveled outside Nigeria, a record 52 times and during this period, Met Detective said within the period she visited the United Kingdom, she had been suspected to have smuggled in money.

When Pointblanknews.com contacted officials of the Oyo State Government, they declined comment. However, an official who offered to speak on condition of anonymity confirmed that the Oyo first lady is still in London. He would neither confirm her arrest nor explain why she is London despite reports of her arrest.

As at the time of going to press, none of the spokesperson of the Governor or his wife has issued any official position of the Government on the matter. It could not be confirmed if Governor Abiola Ajimobi is in London or Oyo State.

But sources told Pointblanknews.com that Politicians and Government officials are worried over what may become a major scandal on the administration and a black eye for the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN in the South-West.

Attempt to reach Dr. Festus Adedayo, spokesman to the Governor and Dr. Adeolu Akande, Chief of Staff to the Governor were futile. But Mrs. Yemisi Dada, Special Assistant, Media to the embattled Governor’s wife said she is not in the position to talk about the issue, claiming she is not aware of the arrest of her boss.

An official of Government who does not want to be named told Pointblanknews.com that the Oyo first lady left the state on Sunday for London.

Source: Pointblank News

UPDATE: Ajimobi Sue PM News Over News

The Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has sued the Independent Communications Network Limited, publishers of PM News for the sum of N1 billion.

This was disclosed in a release issued by Festus Adedayo, the governor’s Special Adviser on Media.

The evening newspaper had on Tuesday published a piece entitled ‘Anxiety over Florence Ajimobi’s alleged arrest in UK’ , wherein it published a story purportedly written by an online agency named Newsleak, which alleged that the wife of the governor had been arrested in London for money laundering.

According to the release, the government of Oyo State had the responsibility to ensure that the media does not become an instrument in the hands of blackmailers for such acts.

“We want to state unequivocally that this report is not only wicked, it is the figment of the imagination of the writers. Mrs. Ajimobi was never arrested for any offence whatsoever. Even though our investigations have shown that this is the work of some arrowheads of the opposition, it was done in such an amateurish way that beats the imagination of any responsible reader,” the release said.

The government said that though it had a lot of respect for the media, there was the need to drag the runners of these media to court to explain the details of their reports to the rest of the world.

The government decried what it called dirty politicking by the opposition in the state who use the media for the propagation of their falsehood, stating that the courts would be able to compel those behind this wicked lie to provide details of the veracity or otherwise of their claims on the governor’s wife.

Source: Daily Post

NOLLYWOOD: Pete Edochie, My Husband And I - Rita Edochie

She is not a new face in the Nigerian movie ndustry. The Anambra-born ace actress seems to have gone underground in the movie business. In this interview, she spoke on her relationship with veteran actor, Pete Edochie, sex in Nollywood and other issues bothering on entertainment. Excerpts:

Tell us your name?

My name is Rita Tony Edochie, I am of the Nollywood. I grew up with my uncle, Mr. Okaka of the Railways Corporation because my mother took me to him immediately after the civil war. I was very small, I was just two years old. I lived with him throughout my primary school and after that, I came to Onitsha for my secondary school. Immediately after my secondary school, I got married. I entered the university and graduated in 1990, I have been a broadcaster with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS). Acting is a flair and I love it very well.

What is your relationship with Pete Edochie?

A very great one, Pete Edochie happens to be the elder brother of my husband, Tony Edochie of Anambra Broadcasting Service. They are from the same father and mother, that is the relationship.

He brought you into Nollywood?

Well, let me say I followed his steps as well, but it has been something that is inborn, something that I love so much. Even when I was in primary and secondary schools I have been doing stage acting, so it is not just because of Pete Edochie, it is something that is a flair, something that I love so much. Incidentally, thank God in heaven, I got married to the linage of broadcasters and film makers and I joined them.

Why did you dump broadcasting for acting?

Yea, I have been in ABS, I went into Nolloywood. Like I said, it is a flair, something I love doing so much and when you watch acting and broadcasting, they marry each other, so I love doing the two, anyway I try to do my best.

When did you join The movie industry?

Since 1997.

What was the first movie you featured in and what role did you play?

Waterloo, I can’t remember vividly the role I played there but I know I played a role of a mother. I can’t remember to whom I played the role to but it was either to Saint Obi or whomever, but it was Waterloo. After Waterloo, Evil men, then Igodo, immediately after Igodo, everything sparked off.

Did you experience stage fright the first time you were on set?

Let me tell you the truth, as a broadcaster, all eyes were always on me, so I just can’t say I had stage fright but at the same time I can’t say I didn’t fidget. I fidgeted seeing others that started before me, I said ‘oh God am I going to get this?’ But at the end of the day, I got it and that is it.

How many movies have you acted?

Oh, will I be able to count? I will not be able to count but I know it will be up to 100.

Which of them threw you intto stardom?

I can’t really say, some people always say it is Igodo, some say August Meeting but to me as Rita Edochie, I know the ones I did and I believe they threw me to stardom, that is it.

You are not on set in the recent times, what happened, have you resigned?

There is no way I can resign because this is something I know I can do even in my old age, so there is no way I can resign. Actually, it is all about the fees they pay us, you know the least paid artiste, that is the known one earns N400, 000. So there is no way a person that earns N1 million and all of a sudden you want to pay him N200, 000, but it is not their fault, it is the fault of all these pirates. The marketers and producers are no longer making their money, it is not their fault, it is the fault of the pirates. So, I ventured into other things, I went to Abuja, from there, I traveled outside the country, from London back to Gambia, I have been in Gambia for a while doing business, trying to make sure my family is okay, I ventured into business.

When are your fans expecting you back?

Already I am back, there was this movie I shot in Enugu, I can’t remember the name because by the time we shot it, it had no name, it is owned by Remmy Jes. We shot it in Enugu, I don’t know whether it has been given any name, the movie is very great, it was a very massive one, we used four Cannon cameras, the new cameras and you know what it means to use four cameras and when the movie comes out, everybody will be thrilled because it is a very great one. In the movie, I was a witch, I went off my kind of role, I was a witch in that movie because at least people always believe that in every movie, I must cry because I am a very emotional person but this time around, I dealt with people, I didn’t cry. Patience Ozokwor was in the movie, Kenneth Okonkwo, Uche Jumbo, Chioma Chukwuka and others were in the movie and I dealt with Patience Ozokwor, you know she deals with people a lot but I am happy I dealt with her in that movie.

Was that kind of vendetta?

She dealt with me all these years, in fact, I was happy the only one I had opportunity to pay her back.

People prefer epic movies to other kind of movies, WHY?

That is what I am saying, the movie is epic and if you watch my movies each time I am producing, it is epic because I am an African, I love Africa a lot and I am a Nigerian and I love Nigeria a great deal. What we are doing is to showcase our culture like there is this programme I am trying to do in Africa Magic, it is all about culture, you know we don’t speak Igbo language again but when you watch Africa Magic, you will see Yoruba movies and Hausa movies, and we are not happy. So, I have been going to their office all this while for them to give us airtime, and they were like we don’t have content.

Is it true that we don’t have content?

Yes, we don’t have content but I came out to beg our people to come out so we can have our own content, let us start shooting Igbo movies, start doing something about our culture, let us do a lot of things that will showcase our common heritage because we are a great people like the Ofala and new yam festivals, it is all about culture in Africa Magic.

Ghanaians seem to have dominated the industry in the recent times what happened?

Actually what happened was that when we started, we used some Ghanaians, they came down and shot movies with us but at a time, it was like if you don’t use their people we will not sell there and it was a big problem. At a time, they even stopped our people from acting there but I think they are now resolving it. We came to a point that they refused our entry into their country to shoot movies saying that it must be their people alone. We taught them and after that, they were like we have learnt it. So if you don’t use their people, they will not allow you to shoot there.

The old faces are fast faDIng out, why?

They brought in new ones because they have got to pay them peanuts and we are not ready to take that peanuts, the only thing we are doing is to see how we can reorganize our industry, when we do that, then we will be able to come out and say this is the way it should be done. What they do is once they call one senior actor, they will pay others anything and that is what we are going to look into.

People are tired of seeing the old faces every tIME, can’t you groom younger ones?

We have young ones but they can never be like the old ones because they are not doing it well. Ok, Sam Loco is dead, there is nobody that can act Sam Loco, nobody can act Pete Edochie, somebody can act Osuofia, already many people are acting Osuofia, somebody can act KOK but nobody can act Sam Loco or Pet Edochie, that is what I am telling you and what we are trying to say is can we get them? Most of them are just ready to do anything but at the end of the day; they will end up not doing it well. For me, I am a very emotional person, I will not want to go into acting wicked roles not because I can’t do it but when I am acting wicked role, you will know I am just trying to show but for somebody that it is inborn, when the person is doing it, you will see the person over-reacting in the very movie because the person will get it right.

Why do you always cry in movies?

When we shot Igodo, people around were carried away, Pete Edochie couldn’t stand my cry and the producer could not stand it too, they walked away, all the village women around could not stand it, they were crying as if something really happened because I did it real but these people will like to rub rob in their eyes for tears to come out, it has to be natural. Even when I am watching movies that I also participated in, I cry also, so it is just real me, am very emotional.

Do you cry in real life?

That is me, that is what people say about me, I can’t really separate myself from the role I play in movies because like I said I am a very emotional person but it can be separated for others. Take for example, somebody like Pete Edochie, what he acts is not his real life because I know him very well, he is a very typical example. What he acts is opposite of whom he is Pete Edochie is a man that can not leave his house without saying 15 decades of Holy Rosary, he can’t even open his door for you, he is a serious Christian, he is only trying to interpret the script given to him.

What about the controversial allegation of sex before role in the industry?

I love that question, sex before role in the industry. As a person, I have never been harassed by anyone, be it executive producer or producer in order to give me role. But let me tell you the truth, they don’t harass them, the girls are the people that harass, quote me anywhere. Do you know one funny thing that is happening now? Ladies in Asaba pay producers for them to appear in movies, it is happening right now in Asaba. They furnish the producer’s house, buy cars for them just for them to appear and show face in a movie. But I don’t know whether they want to be carrying drugs or not but it is something that is happening in Asaba. They want to pay for them to be seen in the movies. For me, you are paying me for my services. In those days, when we started, I used to drive from Onitsha to Enugu for audition, as a broadcaster. Then, I will just walk straight to the table and register my name and elegantly walk out, the people doing the audition will call me back and give me roles. But these days, instead of the girls going to audition, they will be going from one hotel to the other looking for executive producer’s and producer’s rooms and after that, nobody would want to waste his tape and time because even if you give them the role, they will not do well and at the end, they will end up not giving them the role. After the producers used those stupid girls, they will still not use them in their movies and they will start going around saying, ‘the producer said if I don’t sleep with him he will not give me role’, they are all liars, they are the ones harassing them because when you refuse to go for auditioning and instead go from one producer’s room to the other, what are you looking for? But hey will be the ones crying that they were being harassed.

NOLLYWOOD: Pete Edochie, My Husband And I - Rita Edochie

She is not a new face in the Nigerian movie ndustry. The Anambra-born ace actress seems to have gone underground in the movie business. In this interview, she spoke on her relationship with veteran actor, Pete Edochie, sex in Nollywood and other issues bothering on entertainment. Excerpts:

Tell us your name?

My name is Rita Tony Edochie, I am of the Nollywood. I grew up with my uncle, Mr. Okaka of the Railways Corporation because my mother took me to him immediately after the civil war. I was very small, I was just two years old. I lived with him throughout my primary school and after that, I came to Onitsha for my secondary school. Immediately after my secondary school, I got married. I entered the university and graduated in 1990, I have been a broadcaster with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS). Acting is a flair and I love it very well.

What is your relationship with Pete Edochie?

A very great one, Pete Edochie happens to be the elder brother of my husband, Tony Edochie of Anambra Broadcasting Service. They are from the same father and mother, that is the relationship.

He brought you into Nollywood?

Well, let me say I followed his steps as well, but it has been something that is inborn, something that I love so much. Even when I was in primary and secondary schools I have been doing stage acting, so it is not just because of Pete Edochie, it is something that is a flair, something that I love so much. Incidentally, thank God in heaven, I got married to the linage of broadcasters and film makers and I joined them.

Why did you dump broadcasting for acting?

Yea, I have been in ABS, I went into Nolloywood. Like I said, it is a flair, something I love doing so much and when you watch acting and broadcasting, they marry each other, so I love doing the two, anyway I try to do my best.

When did you join The movie industry?

Since 1997.

What was the first movie you featured in and what role did you play?

Waterloo, I can’t remember vividly the role I played there but I know I played a role of a mother. I can’t remember to whom I played the role to but it was either to Saint Obi or whomever, but it was Waterloo. After Waterloo, Evil men, then Igodo, immediately after Igodo, everything sparked off.

Did you experience stage fright the first time you were on set?

Let me tell you the truth, as a broadcaster, all eyes were always on me, so I just can’t say I had stage fright but at the same time I can’t say I didn’t fidget. I fidgeted seeing others that started before me, I said ‘oh God am I going to get this?’ But at the end of the day, I got it and that is it.

How many movies have you acted?

Oh, will I be able to count? I will not be able to count but I know it will be up to 100.

Which of them threw you intto stardom?

I can’t really say, some people always say it is Igodo, some say August Meeting but to me as Rita Edochie, I know the ones I did and I believe they threw me to stardom, that is it.

You are not on set in the recent times, what happened, have you resigned?

There is no way I can resign because this is something I know I can do even in my old age, so there is no way I can resign. Actually, it is all about the fees they pay us, you know the least paid artiste, that is the known one earns N400, 000. So there is no way a person that earns N1 million and all of a sudden you want to pay him N200, 000, but it is not their fault, it is the fault of all these pirates. The marketers and producers are no longer making their money, it is not their fault, it is the fault of the pirates. So, I ventured into other things, I went to Abuja, from there, I traveled outside the country, from London back to Gambia, I have been in Gambia for a while doing business, trying to make sure my family is okay, I ventured into business.

When are your fans expecting you back?

Already I am back, there was this movie I shot in Enugu, I can’t remember the name because by the time we shot it, it had no name, it is owned by Remmy Jes. We shot it in Enugu, I don’t know whether it has been given any name, the movie is very great, it was a very massive one, we used four Cannon cameras, the new cameras and you know what it means to use four cameras and when the movie comes out, everybody will be thrilled because it is a very great one. In the movie, I was a witch, I went off my kind of role, I was a witch in that movie because at least people always believe that in every movie, I must cry because I am a very emotional person but this time around, I dealt with people, I didn’t cry. Patience Ozokwor was in the movie, Kenneth Okonkwo, Uche Jumbo, Chioma Chukwuka and others were in the movie and I dealt with Patience Ozokwor, you know she deals with people a lot but I am happy I dealt with her in that movie.

Was that kind of vendetta?

She dealt with me all these years, in fact, I was happy the only one I had opportunity to pay her back.

People prefer epic movies to other kind of movies, WHY?

That is what I am saying, the movie is epic and if you watch my movies each time I am producing, it is epic because I am an African, I love Africa a lot and I am a Nigerian and I love Nigeria a great deal. What we are doing is to showcase our culture like there is this programme I am trying to do in Africa Magic, it is all about culture, you know we don’t speak Igbo language again but when you watch Africa Magic, you will see Yoruba movies and Hausa movies, and we are not happy. So, I have been going to their office all this while for them to give us airtime, and they were like we don’t have content.

Is it true that we don’t have content?

Yes, we don’t have content but I came out to beg our people to come out so we can have our own content, let us start shooting Igbo movies, start doing something about our culture, let us do a lot of things that will showcase our common heritage because we are a great people like the Ofala and new yam festivals, it is all about culture in Africa Magic.

Ghanaians seem to have dominated the industry in the recent times what happened?

Actually what happened was that when we started, we used some Ghanaians, they came down and shot movies with us but at a time, it was like if you don’t use their people we will not sell there and it was a big problem. At a time, they even stopped our people from acting there but I think they are now resolving it. We came to a point that they refused our entry into their country to shoot movies saying that it must be their people alone. We taught them and after that, they were like we have learnt it. So if you don’t use their people, they will not allow you to shoot there.

The old faces are fast faDIng out, why?

They brought in new ones because they have got to pay them peanuts and we are not ready to take that peanuts, the only thing we are doing is to see how we can reorganize our industry, when we do that, then we will be able to come out and say this is the way it should be done. What they do is once they call one senior actor, they will pay others anything and that is what we are going to look into.

People are tired of seeing the old faces every tIME, can’t you groom younger ones?

We have young ones but they can never be like the old ones because they are not doing it well. Ok, Sam Loco is dead, there is nobody that can act Sam Loco, nobody can act Pete Edochie, somebody can act Osuofia, already many people are acting Osuofia, somebody can act KOK but nobody can act Sam Loco or Pet Edochie, that is what I am telling you and what we are trying to say is can we get them? Most of them are just ready to do anything but at the end of the day; they will end up not doing it well. For me, I am a very emotional person, I will not want to go into acting wicked roles not because I can’t do it but when I am acting wicked role, you will know I am just trying to show but for somebody that it is inborn, when the person is doing it, you will see the person over-reacting in the very movie because the person will get it right.

Why do you always cry in movies?

When we shot Igodo, people around were carried away, Pete Edochie couldn’t stand my cry and the producer could not stand it too, they walked away, all the village women around could not stand it, they were crying as if something really happened because I did it real but these people will like to rub rob in their eyes for tears to come out, it has to be natural. Even when I am watching movies that I also participated in, I cry also, so it is just real me, am very emotional.

Do you cry in real life?

That is me, that is what people say about me, I can’t really separate myself from the role I play in movies because like I said I am a very emotional person but it can be separated for others. Take for example, somebody like Pete Edochie, what he acts is not his real life because I know him very well, he is a very typical example. What he acts is opposite of whom he is Pete Edochie is a man that can not leave his house without saying 15 decades of Holy Rosary, he can’t even open his door for you, he is a serious Christian, he is only trying to interpret the script given to him.

What about the controversial allegation of sex before role in the industry?

I love that question, sex before role in the industry. As a person, I have never been harassed by anyone, be it executive producer or producer in order to give me role. But let me tell you the truth, they don’t harass them, the girls are the people that harass, quote me anywhere. Do you know one funny thing that is happening now? Ladies in Asaba pay producers for them to appear in movies, it is happening right now in Asaba. They furnish the producer’s house, buy cars for them just for them to appear and show face in a movie. But I don’t know whether they want to be carrying drugs or not but it is something that is happening in Asaba. They want to pay for them to be seen in the movies. For me, you are paying me for my services. In those days, when we started, I used to drive from Onitsha to Enugu for audition, as a broadcaster. Then, I will just walk straight to the table and register my name and elegantly walk out, the people doing the audition will call me back and give me roles. But these days, instead of the girls going to audition, they will be going from one hotel to the other looking for executive producer’s and producer’s rooms and after that, nobody would want to waste his tape and time because even if you give them the role, they will not do well and at the end, they will end up not giving them the role. After the producers used those stupid girls, they will still not use them in their movies and they will start going around saying, ‘the producer said if I don’t sleep with him he will not give me role’, they are all liars, they are the ones harassing them because when you refuse to go for auditioning and instead go from one producer’s room to the other, what are you looking for? But hey will be the ones crying that they were being harassed.

SHOCKING: Former Akwa Ibom Governor's Wife Dead?

The wife of the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Allison Attah has died.

Mrs Attah, originally from Barbados, died in a Lagos hospital at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday after she lost a six-year long battle to a terminal kidney condition that left her depending on regular dialysis.

Family sources told PREMIUM TIMES in confidence that the burial is likely to take place within the next two weeks, in line with Roman Catholic doctrine.

The husband, Victor Attah, could not be reached to confirm burial plans. Immediate family members said the former governor, who has deep emotionally attachment to his departed wife, was not in a good emotional state to attend to enquiries when our reporter called his Lagos hotel room.

Mrs  Attah, a mother of two, was a graduate of Leeds University, UK, where she qualified as a Librarian.

While serving as the first lady of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Attah, who had passion for child care, was chairperson, Child Development Trust, CDT, a non governmental organization that sought to change the lives of under-privileged rural children in Akwa Ibom through the provision of free health care services.

“Nneyin, as she was popularly called among women and children in Akwa Ibom will be missed by millions that her pet project touched their lives,” Ukoh Eshiett, an Abuja-based native of Akwa Ibom said in reaction to news of the death.

Source: Premium Times

FOOTBALL: Ahmed Musa Nominated Best Young Player In The World?

Ahmed Musa is up for nomination as one of the best footballing talents in the world under the age of 21 to succeed Mario Gotze – the Borussia Dortmund playmaker.

The CSKA Moscow attacker is on the list for the second consecutive year and his exploits with the Russian team coupled with his goals for the national team would have helped him into the list of the contenders given by Tuttosport.

The winger originally from Kano Pillars has scored goals at whatever club he has joined. He was the leading scorer in the Nigeria Premier League with 16 goals in 2009, before joining VVV Venlo of the Netherlands where he also excelled scoring 10 goals in 37 matches in two seasons, primarily as a winger before getting his big move to the former UEFA Cup champions.

This season, he has been asked to play further forward after Serge Doumbia picked an injury and has been scoring frequently since.

Musa, 21, is considered as one of Nigeria’s brightest football talents and he is expected to be a part of the Super Eagles that will compete at the next Africa Cup of Nations tournament that is coming up in South Africa next year.

Other notable nominees are David Alaba of Bayern Munich, Thibaut Courtois from Atletico Madrid, Philippe Coutinho from Inter Milan, Stephan El Shaarawy from AC Milan, Christian Eriksen from Ajax, Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund, Ola John from Benfica, Iker Muniain from Athletic Bilbao and Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

The award will be given out in Turin in December and the winner will be picked by the votes of respected journalists from some of Europe’s most respected newspapers.

Source: Goal

REVEALED: N1.05 Billion Was Spent On Third Mainland Bridge?

After months of closure, and hardship to commuters, the Third Mainland Bridge , the longest bridge connecting Lagos Island to the mainland was re-opened on Tuesday, earlier than estimated.

Rehabilitations on the bridge started in July resulting in its partial closure.

Reports had been rife that the bridge was oscillating in 2006. This led to the inspection of the bridge and the eventual rehabilitation and replacement of expansion joints in July.

Speaking on the occasion of the re-opening of the bridge, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen said he is delighted that the project was delivered 10 days ahead of schedule.

He said that the contract was “completed at the awarded contract sum, devoid of variation”.

The contract was awarded to Messrs Borini Prono Company Nig. Ltd at the cost of N1.05 billion.

The minister thanked the contractors as well as agencies concerned for providing security and effectively managing traffic during the period.

The minister urged the public to disregard speculation disparaging the integrity of the bridge. He said his ministry used under-water divers to assess the bridge and certified it fit.

“The structural elements are intact,” he said.

While inspecting an expansion joint on the bridge, the minister said that there was a need for the laid pipes to be strengthened so that the street lights could work.

“We would take a step further and rehabilitate the street lights,” he said.

Mr. Onolememen said that the ministry would move to the Marine Bridge in Lagos, Murtala Mohammed Bridge in Lokoja, and other bridges requiring attention across the country before the end of the year, to make travelling easy.

Relief to motorists

Motorists heaved a sigh of relief after months of manic traffic.

A motorist, Joshua Imokhare, said that he was pleasantly surprised when he heard that the bridge had been opened.

“Such a thing is rare to come by in Nigeria because there have been many projects that never met the schedule,” Mr. Imokhare said.

“I was surprised when I learnt that the bridge was opened and I was among the first motorists to ply it,’’ another motorist, Abiodun Anjorin said.

“The reopening of the bridge today will ease the traffic gridlock experienced since the repair work began; such affected our operations, especially with this lingering fuel scarcity,” Musiliu Ajibade, a commercial bus driver, said.

Source: Premium Times

TRAGIC: Man Develop Kidney Problem 6 Months After Wedding?

“If God gives me a second chance to live after this kidney transplant, I want to become a pastor. I will pray to God to give me the power to heal the sick, especially people with kidney problems. I want to become a pastor because I want spiritual healing for people that have renal failure.”

These were the words of a 41-year-old man, Tokunbo Ogunlusi, who needs the princely sum of N7 million for a kidney transplant. Ogunlusi’s renal failure started six months after his wedding in 2008, affecting one of his kidneys. Though the marriage has not been blessed with any child, his faithful wife has resolved that what God has joined together, no renal failure could put asunder. She has refused to leave her husband, a native of Aramoko-Ekiti in Ekiti State, to carry his cross alone.

She has remained a faithful partner and has been helping her husband to live through the end state renal disease and hypertension. But Ogunlusi is not only lucky to have a good wife, his mother has also volunteered to donate one of her kidneys to him. They have been doing some tests to determine the compatibility of their kidneys. Ogunlusi, a distributor of home videos in Ogba, Lagos, told Daily Sun how the problem started. He said: “It started with malaria, which I treated severally but it refused to go.

This made me to seek medical attention at a private hospital. But the hospital referred me to the Gbagada General Hospital.” “Some tests were conducted after which I was diagnosed with kidney problem. I was placed on dialysis. At the initial stage, it was once in a week. Now, the dialysis is twice a week because my condition is deteriorating. I pay N20, 000 for each dialysis.

“Since then, I have tried to raise funds for the kidney transplant but it has not yielded positive result. The hospital even sent a medical report of my kidney disease to the Commissioner for Health, Lagos, in April 2009, but nothing has come out of it.” A medical report by Dr. B.O. Ojuroye of the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos State and dated November 24, 2008, disclosed that Ogunlusi came to the hospital on September 3, 2008 with a year’s history of hypertension, a week history of facial and abdominal swelling, oliguria and fever.

“Following a thorough assessment, he was diagnosed with end state renal disease and he is presently on maintenance haemodialysis. However, the patient would eventually need a renal transplant which offers a better hope for survival,” Ojuroye said. By 2009, Ogunlusi has been placed on a maintenance haemodialysis two times every week. He said his kidney picked up in 2010 and was stable for about one year, but lamented that the problem has come back.

The turn of events, he said, made him proceed to the St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, for some tests with his mother, who has agreed to donate one of her kidneys to him. “My mother has said she gave birth to me and she wants me to give birth to my own children too. She told me she succeeded her parents and she wants me to succeed her too. This is why she volunteered to donate one of her kidneys for me to live. “The transplant and drugs for a year will cost about N7million. I need the help of Nigerians and corporate organisations.

My friends and family members have been financing my dialysis. I am begging all Nigerians and our government to please help me. The transplant can be done at the St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos,”

Ogunlusi said. For those who might want to help, Ogunlusi can be reached on 08023344386 and 07084203381. A GTBank account no 0010016038 has also been opened for him at Ogba Branch in the name of Ogunlusi Tokunbo Isaac.

Source: Sun News

REVEALED: Governor Suntai Ignored Professional Pilot’s Advice?

Fresh facts emerged on Tuesday about how governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state ignored professional advice to fly the Cessna 208 which eventually led to a crash at the Yola airport.

According to reports, the governor’s hired pilot had earlier warned him against flying to the airport when it was clear they could not meet with the visual flight mandatory for that type of aircraft which is not in the instrument flight category.

The governor who obtained a private pilot licence from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, reportedly jettisioned the advice and instead took control of the cockpit with the said pilot refusing to join the ill-fated flight because of the obvious risk.

Yola airport is not in the category of airports where flights can be operated for 24 hours because it is not well-equipped which makes it a no go area after 6.00 p.m.

Only Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt are on 24-hour flight operations.

According to the country’s aviation policy, small jets like the Cessna plane Governor Suntai piloted on the day in question was only allowed to fly based on visuals from morning to 6.00 p.m. daily.

Hot Photo: St. Rita's Catholic Church Bomb Blast In Kaduna

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) today 30th October, 2012 at about 10am embarked on rapid assessment of hospitals for the second day running to ascertain the conditions of victims of the recent Kaduna bomb attack which occurred at the St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Ungwar Yero, Malali, Kaduna.

INTERESTING: Cameroon Did Nothing Wrong Flooding Nigeria - FG

The waters from the dam caused massive flooding in various states across Nigeria, killing hundreds of people and displacing hundreds of thousands.

The Director of Dam Services at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Emmanuel Adanu, said the Cameroonian authorities did nothing wrong when they released excess water from Lagdo dam and caused massive flooding in communities along River Benue banks in Nigeria.

NOLLYWOOD: Kenneth Okonkwo Now A Pastor?

For some time now, star actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, who played the movie role of ‘Andy’ in the popular movie ‘Living in Bondage’ has not been seen in most movies as he used to in the past.

It can confirmed to you that the prolific actor has added the gospel of soul winning for God to his already acquired two professions; acting and law profession. The actor surprised many when he was seen at a lawyers’ forum few years ago.

RIDICULOUS: EFCC Demand N488 Million For Trips?

Nigeria’s biggest airline, Arik Air, on Tuesday, begged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to allow banks in the country lend money to the airline again.

Last month, the Central Bank barred Arik and Aero Contractors airlines from receiving any additional loans over their massive outstanding debts.

Arik Air, the nation’s top carrier owes the Assets Management of Nigeria, AMCON, more than $534 million, (about N85 billion) according to the CBN, while Aero Contractors, owes more than $203 million to the state-run company.

Ugo Okoroafor, a Central Bank spokesman, had even warned that any bank that goes against the CBN directive on the airlines would face serious sanctions.

“Adverse consequences exist for people who take part in such unhealthy acts,” Okoroafor warned.

But at the press conference on Tuesday in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, called on CBN to have a rethink.

“We hope that the CBN will have a rethink. It’s not appropriate for a business like ours,” Ndulue said.

He disclosed that if Arik can no longer borrow money in Nigeria, it will get loans from outside the country.

“If we can’t borrow in Nigeria, we will have to borrow outside Nigeria. We have borrowed money outside Nigeria before and. I think that may be the way to go again,” Ndulue said.

Arik Air Chairman, Joseph Ikhide, who was at the conference, said his airline has never defaulted on its debts and lashed on journalists who write always negative reports about its airline.

He said this year alone Arik has paid about N5.8 billion to Nigerian banks.

The press conference was called to assess Arik Air operations in the last six years.

Arik Air began operating on 30 October 2006 with four daily flights between Lagos and Abuja, using three brand new Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft.

Nigeria’s biggest airline now has 23 aircraft and has carried over 10.2 million passengers in six years of operation, Ndulue said.

“We control 65 percent of the total domestic market share. We do about 120 daily flights from our two hubs in Lagos and Abuja and we serve 22 destinations across Nigeria, five in West Africa (Accra, Monrovia, Freetown, Banjul, Dakar), two in Central Africa (Angola, Douala in Cameroon), One in South africa, One in London Heathrow, one in New York JFK. We also service 42 routes across the world,” Ndulue said.

Ndulue said Arik Air is now a full member of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, and has completed a successful renewal of its International Operational Safety Audit.

He said Arik Air has invested at least $2 million on cadet pilots training and created over 2500 direct jobs for Nigerians.

“We have made it possible to connect many key cities in the country direct to Lagos and Abuja,” Ndulue said.

Ndulue however, did not know the total money Arik Air has invested over the last six years or how much their expansion will cost them.

“But it’s in billions of dollars,” he said.

Ndulue said that Arik Air will expand its operations to many African countries, including Ivory Coast, Guinea, Congo, Equitorial Guinea, Gabon.

He said the airline will also start flying to Houston from Lagos, as well as Abuja-Kano-Jeddah, Accra-London, Freetown-London.

“We will also expand interlining and code share arrangements to develop services to points beyond Europe, Middle East and USA. We will launch new maintenance hangar, a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in partnership with Lufthansa Technic. We will have a new super hangar for wide bodied aircraft,” Ndulue said.

Source: PM News

RIDICULOUS: EFCC Demand N488 Million For Trips?

The assurance by President Goodluck Jonathan that his administration will reduce travel cost to save money for more capital projects may be an empty one, as Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has proposed a whopping N488m on local and international travels next year.

The breakdown of its 2013 budget shows that its officials will travel within the country with N400.5million while N88.2million will be used to travel around the world.

In addition, N43.8million will be spent on international training while N66.2m will be used for local training of officials.

Its legal department has proposed to pay N100m as legal service charges while N14.7m will be used for refreshment and meals in the 2013 budget.

The agency has also proposed to spend N31.9m on motor vehicle fuel while its power generating plants will gulp N74.3m in the agency’s next year budget which allocated N2.1bn for capital projects.

For sporting activities, a total of N39.3m is needed while N24.1m will be used to buy and sew new “uniforms and other clothes” for some of its personnel.

Many Nigerians believe the Federal Government reneged on its promise to drastically slash the recurrent expenditure in the 2013 budget.

Source: Sun News

HALLIBURTON SCANDAL: Bribe Money Was Used To Fund 2007 PDP Campaign?

As pressure continues to mount on President Goodluck Jonathan to re-open the Halliburton bribe scandal, indications have emerged that the money was funnelled into the PDP’s political machinery towards the 2007 elections.