TOO BAD: Acid Bath Victim, Chika Egbo Dead?

 Sulaimon and Chika

Twenty two-year-old Chika Egbo, who was bathed with acid by her fiancé, David Sulaimon, in Ikotun, Lagos, died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, in the early hours of Thursday.
Her death is coming six weeks after the November 5 attack that left her without the use of her nose, eyes and mouth.
She was fed through a pipe, connected to her neck.
At the hospital on Thursday, Chika’s father, Matthew, stood at the front of the mortuary, looking forlorn.
Matthew told PUNCH Metro, amid sob, “Her body has been transferred to the mortuary. She died around 1am today (Thursday).
“I looked at her about four days ago and realised her eyes had changed. The doctors later told me the eyes were condemned. She really suffered these past three days. I prayed to God that if it was His wish, God should take her life so that her suffering would cease. She suffered so much.
“The police have come to get the necessary details. The investigating police officer said he had to go to the court in order to prepare documents that will authorise an autopsy.”
He added that he wished the process would be hastened to enable him to take the body of his daughter for burial after the autopsy.
Chika’s death coincides with the hearing of the case at an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on Thursday, where Sulaimon is facing trial for the assault.
At the court, Chika’s family was represented by three lawyers, Mr. Nnabuike Edechime, Mr. Ben Edechime and Mr. Vincent Onwo, who are handling the case pro bono (free of charge).
The lawyers had expressed their concern about the bail granted the accused person when he was first arraigned.
They also informed the court that the victim had died.
But the Chief Magistrate, Mr. O. Olatunji, said the offence (attempted murder), which Sulaimon was charged with, was bailable.
He however said he did not approve his release since he could not perfect the bail conditions.
It was learnt that Sulaimon had remain in custody since he was first arraigned.
The prosecution applied to the court for a substitution of the attempted murder charge for murder.
Olatunji adjourned the case till January 9, 2013 for the hearing on the charge substitution.
Chika, a student of the Enugu State College of Education, fell in love with Sulaimon and had a child for him.
Their relationship had gone sour, after which Sulaimon allegedly invited her to Lagos from her Enugu base under the pretext that his mother wanted to see her.
Sulaimon poured a substance believed to be acid on Chika, resulting in extensive burns on the upper part of her body.
Chika underwent three surgeries to remove the destroyed tissues and reconstruct her face.
Matthew said Chika’s mother had not been informed about her daughter’s death. He said she would probably be informed on Friday (today).
Source: Punch

HOT LIST: Top 5 Richest Pastors In Africa?

Pastors are no longer solely interested in getting people to Heaven; they’ve devised intelligent ways to make good money while reaching out to souls.
Forbes releases its list of the richest pastors in Africa and Nigerian pastors made the top 5
Below are the 5 richest pastors in africa.

Bishop David Oyedepo

Affiliation: Living Faith World Outreach Ministry, aka Winners Chapel
Estimated net worth: $150 million
David Oyedepo is Nigeria’s wealthiest preacher. Ever since he founded the Living Faith World Outreach Ministry in 1981, it has grown to become one of Africa’s largest congregations. The Faith Tabernacle, where he hosts three services every Sunday, is Africa’s largest worship center, with a seating capacity of 50,000. Oyedepo owns four private jets and homes in London and the United States. He also owns Dominion Publishing House, a thriving publishing company that publishes all his books (which are often centered on prosperity). He founded and owns Covenant University, one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary institutions, and Faith Academy, an elite high school.

Chris Oyakhilome

Church: Believers’ Loveworld Ministries, a.k.a Christ Embassy
Estimated net worth: $30 million – $50 million
Last year, the charismatic preacher was at the center of a $35 million money laundering case in which he was accused of siphoning funds from his church to foreign banks. Pastor Chris pleaded no wrongdoing and the case was eventually dismissed. His church, Christ Embassy, boasts more than 40,000 members, several of whom are successful business executives and politicians. Oyakhilome’s diversified interests include newspapers, magazines, a local television station, a record label, satellite TV, hotels and extensive real estate. His Loveworld TV Network is the first Christian network to broadcast from Africa to the rest of the world on a 24 hour basis.

Temitope Joshua

Church: Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN)
Estimated net worth: $10 million – $15 million
Nigeria’s most controversial clergyman is also one of its richest and most philanthropic. T.B Joshua heads the Synagogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN), a congregation he founded in 1987, which accommodates over 15,000 worshippers on Sundays. The Pastor has remained controversial for several years for his inexplicable powers to heal all sorts of incurable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, cancer and paralysis. For miracle-craving worshippers, it’s the perfect seduction. The church currently has branches in Ghana, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Greece. In the past three years, he has given over $20 million to causes in education, healthcare and rehabilitation programs for former Niger Delta militants. He owns Emmanuel TV, a Christian television network, and is close friends with Ghanaian President Atta Mills.

Matthew Ashimolowo

Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC)
Estimated net worth: $6 million – $10 million
In 1992, Foursquare Gospel Church, a Nigerian church, sent Ashimolowo to open a satellite branch in London. But Pastor Matthew had other ideas and decided to set up his own church instead. Today, his Kingsway International Christian Center is reportedly the largest Pentecostal church in the United Kingdom. In 2009, the church posted profits of close to $10 million and assets worth $40 million. Ashimolowo earns an annual salary of $200,000, but his real wealth comes from varied business interests including his media company, Matthew Ashimolowo media, which churns out Christian literature and documentaries. Ashimolowo’s representatives did not respond to a request confirming his net worth and ownership of all these assets.

Chris Okotie

Church: Household of God Church
Net worth: $3 million -$10 million
Pastor Okotie made his first success as a popular pop musician in the 80s. He found the light, embraced the bible and set up the Household of God Church, one of Nigeria’s most flamboyant congregations. His 5,000 member church consists predominantly of Nollywood celebrities, musicians, and society people. He contested and lost Nigerian presidential elections for the third time this year under the Fresh Party, a political party he founded and funds. An automobile lover, he owns a Mercedes S600, Hummer and Porsche among several others.
Source: Forbes

Niger State Governor, Aliyu Berates Those Celebrating Yakowa’s Death

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger has chided those Nigerians reported to have celebrated the death of late Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State, describing their action as “inhuman”.
Aliyu made the remark while receiving the Speaker of Niger House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Usman who led other members of the Assembly to pay a condolence visit on him.
The visit on Aliyu was with regard to his position as chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum.
“No matter the religion one professes, the simple tenet is that we should sympathise with the dead and the bereaved and pray for the repose of the soul of the departed whose death is a colossal loss,’’ the governor said.
RELATED ARTICLE: Kaduna Muslim Youths Celebrate Governor's Death
He described as unreligious and inhuman the Nigerians reported to have through the social media rejoiced over the death of the former governor..
“Immediately we start praying for our leaders to die, then we are asking that the whole society should die. We must pray for our leaders. We must go back to our faith and practise our religion as demanded by the almighty Allah.
“We must talk to our children. We must be involved in the moral and religious education of our children. This development shows that we are failing in the duty to train our children,’’ Aliyu said.
He described late Yakowa as a bridge-builder who brought Muslims and Christians in Kaduna state together, saying the late governor provided peace and tranquillity.
Earlier, Usman had said the legislators were impressed with the humility the late governor displayed throughout his lifetime which endeared him to a large number of Nigerians.
He said Speakers in the Northern part of the country received the news with great shock but were consoled that the deceased had left an indelible mark in the sand of times. (NAN)

Source: Vanguard 

Fashola, Wife Celebrate With Children At End Of Year Party

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and his wife, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola hosted children at the 2012 End of Year Party with Governor Fashola enjoining the children to continue to study hard and be obedient students.

Falana Queries Use Of Military Planes For Shuttles

Following the crash of a naval helicopter on 15 December which led to the death of Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, former National Security Adviser, Andrew Owoye Azazi and four others, Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana has queried the use of military helicopter for shuttle services.
In a statement he issued on the crash, Falana tasked the naval authorities to explain to Nigerians whether the crashed helicopter was designed for a shuttle service.
The human rights activist and senior advocate also accused the naval authorities of trying to subvert the report of the presidential inquiry into the crash ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan.
In his statement entitled: ‘Beyond the probe of the latest plane crash,’ Falana stated: “In a desperate bid to subvert the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba was reported to have set up a board of inquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the helicopter crash.
“As if that was not enough, the Naval Chief of Training and Operations, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbo has pre-empted the report of the presidential inquiry. While addressing reporters at Abuja on Monday,December, 2012, Admiral Ogbo claimed that the chopper which was acquired in 2004 was airworthy, well maintained and flown by well trained and experienced pilots.
“Since the naval authorities have claimed that the chopper was air worthy and regularly maintained, they should tell Nigerians whether it was designed for a shuttle service.
“Being a military plane, the authorities should show evidence that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Jonathan, issued a mission order through the Ministry of Defence and that an operational order was consequently issued by the Chief of Naval Staff authorising the use of the service aircraft by a political office holder on Saturday, December 15, 2012,” he stated.
While sympathising with families of the victims, Falana advised that the investigation promised by the Federal Government should be conducted in the open.
He charged the government to stop the use of official assets as if they were personal properties.
Instead, he advised the government to embark on maintenance of roads, waterways and railways.
He warned against the setting up of a new national airline by the government. Instead, he counselled government to assist private airlines and ensure that travelling by air is safe and affordable.
Falana also urged the National Human Rights Commission to ensure that families and dependants of people who lost their lives in air crashes in Nigeria are adequately given monetary compensation in line with the provisions of the Montreal Convention which has been domesticated by the Federal Government.

Source: Punch

EFCC Nabs Courier With $130,000

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, December 19, 2012, arrested one Bash Abdu at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano over money laundering.

Jonathan, Kukah Praise Yakowa At Burial

The remains of former Governor of Kaduna State Patrick Yakowa were buried at his country home at Fadan Kagoma on Thursday.
In a tribute at the burial service held at St Paul Catholic Church, President Jonathan eulogised Yakowa describing him as a “bridge builder’’ who loved his people irrespective of their religion and tribe.
He described December 15 as a “dark Saturday.’’
“Yakowa was a nationalist. He played his roles very well as a civil servant of the old not as a civil servant of today when a director has more houses than Dangote.”
`No ethnic or religious divide in his blood,” he said.

BLOODY: Landlord Machete Tenant Over Rent?

A landlord and another tenant have landed in trouble in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria after they used machetes to settle scores. While the landlord, Frank Uduzon inflicted injury on the face of his female tenant, Chioma Obi, a tenant, Sochukwu Donatus, also used a cutlass in inflicting injury on his landlady, Mrs Felicia Egwu. The incident happened at both Ikotun and Meiran areas of Lagos.
Both victims suffered their fate over quit notices served by the landlords.
The 53-year old landlord, Frank Uduzon was arrested by the police and arraigned before Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria for injuring Chioma Obi on her face, which caused her to be rushed to Igando general hospital.
The incident happened at 41 Toluwaloko street, off Alake Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos.
The woman suffered the fate after she was asked to pack out of her one room apartment by the landlord.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Uduzon gave Chioma notice to pack out of his house due to disagreement between two of them. At the expiration of the deadline, the landlord asked to know why she refused to vacate his house. P.M.NEWS learnt that Chioma insisted that if he wanted her to leave, he should follow due process.
P.M.NEWS gathered that it was during the exchange of words between the duo that the landlord attacked her with a cutlass, inflicting a deep cut on her face. He was arrested and charged to court on a two-count charge of breach of the peace and of inflicting harm. The prosecutor, Femi Adeleye told the court that the offence he committed was contrary to sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Code, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.
He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs M. B. Folami granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. The matter was adjourned till 14 January 2013, while he was remanded in prison custody pending  fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Donatus was angry after his landlord, Chief Okakadike Egwu served him notice to pack out of his one-room apartment at 10 Messiah Street, Meiran, Lagos.
The landlord told P.M.NEWS that he asked him to leave his house because of PHCN bill which had risen to N100,000, a sum of money he (Donatus) was instigating other tenants not to pay.
On the day of the incident, Egwu said he was outside discussing with his wife when Donatus descended on his wife with a cutlass. He was thereafter arrested and detained by the police. When P.M.NEWS visited the police station, it was gathered that he would be soon charged to court.
Source: PM News

AT LAST: Nkiru Sylvanus And Kenneth Okolie Released?

The Special Assistant to the Imo state Governor on Public Affairs and Popular Nollywood Actress Miss Nkiru Sylvanus is said to have been kidnapped in Owerri the Imo state capital, South East Nigeria.
Channels Television reports that, “Sources close to the Nollywood actress said she was Kidnapped yesterday night around Concorde hotel in Owerri where she went for an official engagement’’.
The Kidnappers have contacted the Imo State Government demanding for the sum of N100 million for her release but the Imo state Police PRO, Mr Vitalis Olugu, said he is yet to be informed about the kidnap.
Source: Citizens Platform
UPDATE: Former Mr. Nigeria Was Kidnapped With Nkiru Sylvanus
We all heard that actress Nkiru Sylvanus was kidnapped late Saturday night December 15th, what we didn’t hear until now was that 2010 Mr Nigeria Kenneth Okolie was with her when she was kidnapped. His friends just contacted me with the info.
Kenneth, Nkiru and another yet to be identified passenger left a movie location in Owerri late Saturday night and were heading to another location when gunmen blocked Nkiru’s car between Concorde Hotel and Cathedral Road in Owerri, and took all three passengers in the car.
Kenneth left Lagos two weeks ago to feature in the movie and was due back home sometime this week. The kidnappers are yet to make contact with Kenneth’s family. Truly sad what is going on in our country.
Source: Linda Ikeji
UPDATE: Nkiru Sylvanus And Kenneth Okolie Released

Kidnapped Nkiru Sylvanus and former Mr Nigeria, Kenneth Okolie have been released hale hearty after being in the custody of kidnappers for days.
The kidnappers tied their eyes and dropped them off at an unknown location where they were able to call friends to come pick them up
More details on how they were released soon.

There Was A Country: A Personal History of Nigeria By Debo Adejugbe

“Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
No!
I’m not here to dissect Chinua Achebe’s book one bit. Even though in my opinion the book has achieved the author’s expectation: a need for discourse on those things that have been taboo-etched on the tablets of our minds. In trying to be politically correct in our associations, friendships and national discourse, we miss a salient point – the very foundation development is hinged on in a developing society (or under-developed) like ours – which is the need for consistent and truthful discourse to know where we should jack-lift when changing our worn out tires of under-development.

N4 BILLION FRAUD: Abubakar Audu On The Run?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has said that plans have being made to declare former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, wanted over alleged N4bn fraud.
The financial crimes watchdog, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the decision to declare the ACN chieftain wanted was prompted by his recent alleged evasion of arrest.
EFCC said the ex Governor “fled when operatives of the commission stormed his 32 Suleiman Barau Street, Aso Villa, Asokoro-Abuja residence in the early hours of today.”
According to the image maker, Audu was believed to had embezzled N4bn during his tenure as the Governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003.
Hear him: “The latest effort to arrest the ex- governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed his appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by the EFCC. The Supreme Court ruling therefore clears the way for his fresh arraignment.”
Uwujaren added, “Audu was arrested in Jos in 2006, after a six months manhunt by operatives of the Commission, before his earlier arraignment at the Kogi State High Court on December 1, 2006, on an 80 counts of conspiracy, fraud, criminal breach of trust and embezzlement of public fund.
“The EFCC had, while the case lasted at the High Court, cause issuance of nolle prosequi by the former Attorney- General of Kogi State, Dr. John Agbonika and the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), on February 8, 2007 for the case to be discontinued at the Kogi State High Court, as the commission claimed to have lost faith in the handling of the matter by the State High Court.
“But rather than discontinue the matter in the spirit of the nolle prosequi, the trial Judge, Justice Medupin, went ahead and referred two questions to the Court of Appeal for determination.”
Earlier in a ruling by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, the Supreme Court said it was not proper for the Court of Appeal to consider the questions referred to it for verdict, knowing fully well that from the records of Appeal that a nolle prosequi had been filed.
UPDATE: Abubakar Audu still on the run
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared former governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, stealing and misappropriation of public fund.
The action followed the failure of the suspect to respond to invitation by the anti- graft agency.
Attempt by the EFCC to arrest Audu at his 32, Sulaiman Barau Street, Asokoro, Abuja residence on December 11, 2012 failed as he allegedly evaded arrest.
The former governor is alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself to the tune of over N4 billion while he held sway as governor of Kogi State between 1999 and 2003.
The move to arrest the ex- governor followed a Supreme Court ruling of November 23, 2012, which dismissed the ex-governor's appeal to continue to protract his corruption trial by EFCC.
The Commission implores any one having useful information about the whereabouts of the suspect to notify its offices in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Kano and Enugu or report at the nearest police station.
Source: Sahara Reporters

TRAGIC: Murtala Mohammed International Airport On Fire?

The fire from a distance tweeted by @Kofi_Bartels

Fire broke out Thursday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos.
Electrical spark at the extension of the arrival lounge of Nigeria's Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, sparked a fire outbreak Thursday, at noon.While officials struggled to downplay the incident, witnesses have uploaded armature photos of the fire fire.



The fire caused a scare at the airport. But witnesses say it was quickly put out by fire fighters.
More detail soon....
Source: Premium Times

BIG BUDGET: House Of Reps Okay N4.987 Trillion 2013 Budget?

The House of Representatives has just passed the 2013 budget of N4.987 trillion as against the N4.924 trillion presented by President Goodluck Jonathan.
This represents a difference of N63 billion. It is comprised of N387.9 billion for statutory transfers, N591.7 billion for debt services.
The budget is also made up of N2.3 trillion as recurrent non-debt expenditure, N1.6 trillion for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending Dec. 31, 2013. All unutilised capital expenditure in the 2012 budget has been rolled over
to form part of the 2013 Appropriation Act.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr Emeka Ihedioha, who presided enjoined all standing committees of the House to carry out their oversight function in order to ensure full implementation of capital projects. The spending plans assumed a 79 dollars a barrel benchmark oil price as
against the 75 dollars submitted to the National Assembly by the
president.
Source: Daily Times

BIG FRAUD: Godsday Orubebe Exposed?

Orubebe's Ministers Hill mansion built by SETRACO

An anti-corruption group led by former House of Representatives member, Dino Melaye, has revealed five properties purchased by the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.
The choice properties were acquired in the last three years that Mr. Orubebe has been a minister, first under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and later as one of the most powerful figures in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr. Melaye’s group revealed that a construction company, SETRACO, built and delivered a brand new mansion to Mr. Orubebe less than six months after the company received a contract to build part of the East-West highway in the Niger Delta region.
Mr. Melaye’s group obtained documents indicating that Mr. Orubebe was the owner of the properties they identified. One of the documents is the certificate of occupancy for Plot 2722, Kyami District in Abuja. The plot contains 1883.63 square meters. Another certificate of occupancy obtained by the group shows that Mr. Orubebe owns Plot 2460 in the notoriously expensive Maitama area of Abuja. In addition, the minister, who is reputed as one of the most corrupt associates of President Jonathan, also owns Plot 1736 in the Guzape area of Abuja. The certificate of occupancy for the plot was issued in 2008. The Minister for the Niger Delta also acquired Plot 2057 in the Asokoro area.
A source at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told SaharaReporters that he was not aware that the anti-corruption agency had opened any investigation into Mr. Orubebe’s land deals or other financial activities. “As far as I know, the EFCC is not investigating Elder Orubebe,” said the source, adding that the agency was unlikely to act “unless the Presidency specifically orders us to go after him.”

Mr. Orubebe’s land documents are attached:

Source: Sahara Reporters

INTERESTING: Power Generation Now 4350 Megawatts?

The Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, Mr Beks Dagogo-Jack on Tuesday disclosed that the nation’s power generation hit a new peak at 4350MW.
This is despite the recent closure of the Escavros gas plant belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited, which reduced the power output of the nation by 300MW for three weeks.
Although the task force chairman was delighted with the new record, he said authorities were not satisfied with it and were working hard to surpass the record.
“This is very exciting and cheering news. To be clear, we are not surprised. We are fully focused as a team to prove to Nigerians that this government is serious about power, and shall succeed despite challenges,” said Dagogo-Jack.
He also said this feat was possible due to the diligence of key operational players, especially the systems operator and the team from the management contractor for the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Manitoba Hydro International, who played strategic roles to produce higher levels of electricity generation.
Power generation in the country has been between 3000 and 3700MW for most of this year. This is despite the fact there is capacity for much higher generation, as the country is yet to enjoy the full benefit of the construction of more power stations due to insufficient gas supply.
Power authorities are optimistic that the power generation could reach 6,873MW by the end of 2013.
The Chief Executive Officer, Egbin Power Plc, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, said that a target for 6,873MW for 2013. He made this disclosure during the signing of performance agreements between the Minister of State for Power, Mrs Zainab Kuchi, and the chief executives of organizations in the Ministry of Power.
He said while the successor companies to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria would generate 3,879MW, the remaining 2,500MW would come from the National Independent Power Producers.
Uzoigwe said that the target was jointly at the meeting with the minister, the Presidential Task Force on Power and the CEOS of all successor companies, where capability and performance of all generation stations were reviewed.
“It is pertinent to note that some NIPP units have been fully inaugurated but cannot run due to gas supply issues. The Geregu power plant is still experiencing gas supply shortage,” he said, noting that availability of gas for thermal stations was critical to realizing the projections.
Source: The Herald

Hot Photo: The Lagos Pipeline Explosion

Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has finally reached the position of a pipeline fire in Ijedodo area of Lagos.
NEMA's spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye states that pipeline fire may be put out by the late hours of today.
NNPC and NEMA officials reached the point at exactly 2:00 p.m Nigerian time according to NEMA, the fire rages within 6 meters radius and four other smaller points. No casualty was recorded contrary to earlier speculations that oil thieves were roasted by the fire which started some 48 hours ago.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Can Anything Good Come Out Of President Jonathan? By Paul Omoruyi

There is always the proclivity to criticize and see all the wrong things going on around us in Nigeria. This is not unique to Nigeria and Nigerians. It is the human factor. As developed and advanced as the United States socio-political systems, some Americans (at least Republicans) will tell you one million and one thing wrong with the Obama’s government and policies.

Can Anything Good Come Out Of President Jonathan? By Paul Omoruyi

There is always the proclivity to criticize and see all the wrong things going on around us in Nigeria. This is not unique to Nigeria and Nigerians. It is the human factor. As developed and advanced as the United States socio-political systems, some Americans (at least Republicans) will tell you one million and one thing wrong with the Obama’s government and policies.

Gunmen release Nigerian hostage in Bayelsa

By Samuel Oyadongha
Yenagoa—A Nigerian, identified as Austin Giwa, abducted Monday, on the Atlantic coast of Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, alongside four expatriates believed to be Korean nationals, has been released by the kidnappers.
However, the Korean captives, identified as J. S. Chae, J. H. Kim, K. H. Kim and P. W. Lee, were yet to be released and their whereabouts remain unknown despite the manhunt launched by security operatives for their kidnappers, whose Monday action, rattled the relative peace in the coastal enclave.
The state governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, yesterday, said security chiefs in the state had intensified effort to secure the quick release of the hostages.
Condemning the act of criminality, the state governor, in statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said: “We will make the state too hot for kidnappers to carry out their trade. Bayelsa State will not tolerate any form of kidnapping and we will do everything within our power to arrest the ugly trend.”
The victims were kidnapped when gunmen raided a Korean firm, Hyundai Fabrication Company, at Okpoama, Brass council of the state.
It was gathered that after blindfolding their captives and moving them to an unknown destination, the gunmen changed their minds and released their Nigerian victim.
The victim, who was blindfolded, was reportedly dumped in the mangrove swamps close to Odioma creek on the Okpoama waterway after identifying himself as a Nigerian from Brass.
“He was released at 5.30pm, about one hour, thirty minutes after their abduction. A woman, who was fishing in the river saw him where he was tied and dumped and rescued him. She took him to the police station where he made a statement,” a source said.

Source: Vanguard Newspaper

LAWLESS: Police, Civil Defence Corps Members In Free For All?

The police officers accused the officers of the civil defence corps of interfering with their duties.
Some Nigerian police officers on Tuesday afternoon engaged in a public brawl with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at Berger roundabout in Abuja.
A witness, who did not want his name published, told PREMIUM TIMES that about ten police officers picked a fight with three Civil Defence officers because they felt the latter were interfering with their duty.
“The police officers were trying to stop a vehicle and the Civil Defence people came to interfere, then the police officers who were more in number attacked them and started beating them up.
“I saw an officer using a whip on the Civil Defence guy while another pointed a gun at him,” the witness said.
Another witness said there were sporadic gunshots with both parties lashing out at each other with whips.
“There were gunshots and then I saw a police officer flogging a Civil Defence officer with a whip while he was trying to run away,” the witness, who would also not like to be named, said.
The fierce fight caused a major traffic gridlock at Berger Roundabout up to Utako Area of Abuja.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that it took the intervention of a Divisional Police Officer from Utako Police Station to resolve the fracas.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Abuja Police Command, Doris England, said she is not aware of the situation and would make inquires about it.
Efforts to reach Ms. England later, proved abortive as she did not pick or return calls made to her phone.
It has only been about six months since members of the Civil Defence Corps were allowed to carry arms.
The federal government on June 13, approved the carrying of arms by officials of the civil defence.
They move, it was said, was to assist other security personnel in the security of lives and property in the country.
Source: Premium Times

OPINION: Has EFCC Lost The Battle Against Corruption?

Close to a decade after the inauguration of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the war against corruption in Nigeria continues to rage with the anti-graft body clearly not having the upper hand. The bulk of the blame has been put on the Federal Government for not allowing the Commission to function without undue interference.
It is believed in some quarters that most of those who should be arrested, investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC are enjoying protection from the Federal Government and people hardly get hounded by agents of the commission unless they have fallen out of favour with the Government.
The leadership of the Commission has changed a number of times but the system with which it pursues its mandate has remained the same over the years. Many had questioned the genuineness of the intention behind the commission right from its first few years as it was largely seen as a tool by the Federal Government to witch-hunt real or perceived opponents.
Though the fear of the EFCC was the beginning of wisdom in the Obasanjo years, it became obvious that the Malam Nuhu Ribadu-led commission targeted mainly those who dared to antagonize the President.
Though back then, the EFCC was seen to be working, though not without some flaws. For instance, Rotimi Amaechi faced fire when the EFCC brought up charges of financial impropriety against him just before the 2007 elections and he was dropped as the governorship candidate of his party. It was later made public that it was because the powers that be were not favourably disposed to his ambition to rule Rivers State.
Peter Odili too aspired for the PDP’s presidential ticket in 2007. It was an open secret that former President Olusegun Obasanjo used the EFCC to frustrate that ambition.
One of the beneficiaries of Obasanjo’s effective usage of the EFCC was Engineer Segun Oni, the deposed Governor of Ekiti State. Though he came third in the shadow elections, during a meeting with the three top contenders for the PDP’s ticket, the President brought out a file which he claimed was the EFCC’s dossier on Yinka Akerele who came tops at the primaries. There and then, “OBJ” in his wisdom decided that Oni should be chosen as the party’s candidate. He was immediately told to go and flag off his campaign in Ado Ekiti.
Joshua Chibi Dariye, a Governor was arrested in London with loads of money and pronto, Dariye found his way to Nigeria after being granted bail. Not long after, Nuhu Ribadu addressed the Plateau State House of Assembly and pronto, Dariye was impeached   He challenged his impeachment and was reinstated by the Court, with the verdict being upheld by the Supreme Court.
After the expiration of his tenure in May, 2007, he was arraigned at Federal High Court, Guda on a charge of stealing over N 700 million. He was granted bail and today, Dariye is a Senator of the Federal Republic!
The situation in Ekiti was somewhat similar. No one ever believed Fayose could be impeached by the House of Assembly in which he controlled the majority. On one occasion, he opened a portion of the Government House for his guests and there the House of Assembly was holding a meeting around 1 a.m.  After the arrest of some of his friends and associates over a failed poultry project, the EFCC swooped on the Ekiti State House of Assembly and after several visits to the EFCC facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the legislators were made to understand that the commission had records of the funds they collected for “constituency projects” and how the funds were “utilised” Not long after, the legislators backed down and the “vote of absolute confidence” earlier passed on the Governor gave way. He was impeached along with his deputy and his case started in court on December 17, 2006. He was accused of looting about N 1.2 billion.
So far, Lucky Igbinedion is the only former Governor who has paid back part of his loot. While facing a 191-count charge of money laundering, Igbinedion opted for a plea bargain and he paid back N 4.3 billion in a case that was determined in 2008.
To many, the EFCC was simply playing to the gallery as it continued to drag people to court and the number of convictions obtained did not show that it was indeed winning the war against graft. The case of Bode George as well as the assets forefeiture of Tafa Balogun and Dipreieye Alamieyesegha are the major achievements the commission can boast of.
Then came the blame game, the EFCC blamed the Executive for interfering in its activities through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. Bails have allegedly been secured for people who were arrested by the Commission through the Attorney General. And at the end of the day, the country ends up being the loser, if an agency that is funded by the Government is prevented from carrying out its functions by agents of the same government.
Internal politics also affected the quick and diligent prosecution of a lot of cases. Each time a new Chairman comes on board, there is bound to be the redeployment of officers believed to be in the structure built by the chairman’s predecessors. The transfer of a lot of investigators has reportedly done a lot to affect the cases that were handled by such officers.
The Game of Deception
In May, a report of the United States Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour on Nigeria had posited that “the law provides criminal penalties for official corruption; however, the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. Massive, widespread and pervasive corruption affected all levels of government and the security forces. The constitution provides immunity from civil and criminal prosecution to the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors while in office.”
The ways of the EFCC have clearly shown that there is more to the corruption war than Nigerians are being made to believe. For instance, in the case of Wale Babalakin, the Bi-Courtney Group Chairman, he was invited by the EFCC, queried and allowed to go on some conditions. And when he was to be arraigned, he took ill overnight and has been in hospital since then.
Incidentally, Babalakin was not in trouble with the EFCC until after the revocation of the concession of the Lagos-Ibadan express road which his company got some years ago. The EFCC only opened his matter after his company, Bi-Courtney decided to go to court. And when many herad that the EFCC was after Babalakin, the first thought was that it would be in connection with the road contract; maybe he would be made to face the law for failing to meet some of the terms and thereby indirectly causing unnecessary deaths and bodily harm on the road.  Alas, it was on a different matter entirely. He was charged with helping James Ibori, the former Governor of Delta State to launder money. Ibori on whose behalf the money was laundered is already in prison in the UK. The action of the EFCC has generated a lot of unanswered questions, for instance, “where on earth was the EFCC when Ibori, his wife, his mistress and even his lawyer were facing trial? When Ibori was arraigned in Nigeria, why was Babalakin not arraigned as accomplice?”
Questions are also being asked regarding how his company got a contract from the Federal Government three years after he was involved in money laundering and he was being investigated by the EFCC. Incidentally, the EFCC did not raise any objections when the contract was awarded to him back then. The book of remembrance was opened six years after and just 48 hours after the revocation of the road contract which many opined was long overdue.
The EFCC also recently came out to say it had concluded plans to declare former Kogi State Governor, Abubakar Audu wanted after he allegedly fled his Abuja home in order to evade arrest. Findings have however revealed that Audu has not left Abuja and he has not been hiding.
Source: Street Journal

SHOCKING: Patrick Yakowa, Andrew Azazi Dead?

Nigeria's National Emergency Management Authoritty (NEMA) says it has activated a a search party to look for a crashed chopper.
Helicopter reportedly carrying a politician has crashed in Bayelsa state. Saharareporters cannot immediately confirm the identity of the crashed chopper or the passengers on board.
 Several politicians reportedly attended the burial of the father of presidential aide Oronto Douglasin Nembe area of Bayesa today. the missing helicopter is one the several helicopters that transported dignitaries to the event.
More detail soon....
Source: Sahara Reporters
UPDATE: Patrick Yakowa, Andrew Azazi Dead
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi apparently died in a helicopter that crashed today in Bayelsa State, a reliable source has told SaharaReporters.
Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter.
Nigeria's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had earlier indicated that the agency had activated a search for a crashed helicopter.
Our sources had earlier disclosed that the crashed chopper was carrying “some major political figures.” As at the time of going to press, Saharareporters was unable to confirm the identity of any other passengers in the ill-fated chopper.
Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of the father of senior presidential aide Oronto Douglas. The funeral event took place in the Nembe area of Bayelsa State earlier today. SaharaReporters learnt that the crashed helicopter was one of several helicopters that some well-connected people to the funeral.
Source: Sahara Reporters

UNBELIEVABLE: Man Stab Boy To Death Over N50?

The police in Lagos, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have arrested an okada rider identified as Igali for stabbing a landlady’s son, Demola Talabi, to death.
The middle-aged Igali allegedly used a screw driver to stab Talabi on the neck and other parts of his body.
The victim slumped and died due to excessive bleeding.
The 42-year old Talabi  from Ogun State and married with two kids, was said to be trying to mediate in an argument between Igali and a passenger over N50.
According to Talabi’s younger brother, Ayo, the incident occurred at Osho Street, Opebi and they (members of his family) were contacted. Before he got to the scene, his brother had died due to excessive bleeding.
The body has been deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) mortuary for autopsy report.
A witness told P.M.NEWS that the late Talabi was on a visit to his mother’s house at 14, Irewole Street, Opebi, when he met the okada man and a passenger arguing over N50 fare.
He was said to be trying to settle the matter when Igali brought out a screw driver and stabbed him several times.
The suspect was arrested and detained at the Ikeja Police Station.
When P.M.NEWS visited the station, the suspect was in the cell.
The DPO was said to be in a meeting when our reporter sought to speak with him.
Police sources confirmed that the matter would soon be transferred to the SCID, Panti, Yaba.
At her mother’s residence in Irewole Street, sympathisers were consoling the bereaved mother and Talabi’s wife.
Residents expressed shock over Talabi’s death and described him as a hard working man.
Source: PM News

FACTS: Why BlackBerry 10 Is Better

Combining the powerful Neutrino OS from QNX, beautiful UI from TAT and industry-leading WebKit browser from Torch Mobile, BlackBerry has created the most advanced mobile platform in the market – BlackBerry 10. In addition, incorporating an advanced contact management system from Gist and licensing the SwiftKey keyboard has allowed BlackBerry to take its traditional strengths to the next level. After using the Dev Alpha B (running BB 10) for the past 3 months, I have discovered 10 ways in which BB10 has surpassed the outdated and stagnant iOS 6.
1) Dynamic Lock Screen
BB 10 has a beautiful lock screen that is also informative. Users can take a look at the lock screen to see if they have any new emails, BBM messages or messages from social networks (e.g. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
At a time when few people wear a watch and instead rely on their smartphone to provide the time, the dynamic lock screen is particularly useful. A user can wake the device (and show the lock screen) with an upward gesture from the bottom bezel. After looking at the time and notifications, if there aren’t notifications that requires attention, they can simply move their finger back down to the bottom bezel to turn off the screen (and save battery).
With the design experts from TAT putting in their magical touch, waking the smartphone is slick and enjoyable. The lock-screen fades beautifully as more of the home-screen is revealed. The fading effect adjusts to wherever your finger is on the screen, and allows you to move your finger from side to side as you also move up. This is in contrast to Apple’s comparatively boring lock-screen, which requires a fixed, one-directional movement to unlock the smartphone.
Putting the device to sleep for the night is also intuitive and slick. You simply move your finger down from the top bezel to pull down a black screen (like shades for a window). As soon as the device is put to sleep, an alarm clock appears for you to set the alarm for the next morning.
2) BlackBerry Hub – A Powerful Communications Center
Continuing with BlackBerry’s strength in messaging, the Hub allows users to receive and send emails, text messages and messages from Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn). In addition, users can post status updates to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn without leaving the Hub. Continuing with BlackBerry’s specialty in saving users’ time, this removes the need to open a Facebook app, a Twitter app and a LinkedIn app when a user wants to update their social networks.
In addition, the Hub also contains several of your upcoming calendar appointments. When you are in the Hub, you can simply drag down to reveal the next calendar events. Thus, it saves you time by removing the need to open the Calendar app in order to view your upcoming events.
3) Peek and Flow
The Hub is not an ordinary application – it is always running in the background. Thus, no matter which app an user is using, they are always one gesture away from the Hub (and their messages).
To Peek at your notifications, you simply swipe up from the bottom bezel (no matter which app you are currently in). Once you see your notifications, you can swipe back down to continue with what you were doing (if the notifications are not important) or you can swipe to the right to enter the Hub, to view the message in detail (or reply).
4) Advanced Touch Gestures
BlackBerry 10 gets rid of the outdated physical home button on the iPhone 5, and allows uses to use touch gestures to control the OS. For example, when in an app, the user can swipe to the right to reveal the context menu. In addition, the user can swipe down from the top bezel to reveal the action menu (e.g. to select the Help button). To activate the keyboard, one simply swipes up from the bottom bezel with two fingers. The touch gestures are intuitive and powerful. Getting rid of physical and capacitive buttons also frees out space for a bigger screen or smaller phone. This UI is simply the future of smartphones.
5) Industry-Leading Browser
With a HTML5 Test score of 484, BlackBerry 10 has the fastest browser in the industry (unless you also count the Tizen 2). In contrast, iOS 6 only has a score of only 386. In addition, the BB 10 browser is faster than any desktop browser. For example, its HTML5 Test score of 484 is higher than Chrome Canary’s 453. The QNX Neutrino OS and RIM’s acquisition of Torch Mobile are the reasons behind the industry-leading browser on BB 10.
Having the #1 browser in the industry also increases the number of apps available on BB 10. This is because the browser can use HTML5 web apps on the internet. Thus, the number of apps on BB 10 is significantly higher than the number in the app store (BlackBerry World). Through its ability to use web HTML5 apps, the number of apps on BB10 is increased to a nearly infinite number.
6) Active Frames
BB10 (unlike iOS 6) supports real multi-tasking. Thus, an user can have 8 open apps at the same time. When minimized, these running apps form a Active Frame, which provides tidbits of useful information. For example, from the Active Frame of the Calendar app, you can see the name and time of your next calendar appointment. Without opening BBM, you can see a contact’s updated profile picture, and their latest status updates.
Thus, with BB10, the user can obtain relevant and valuable information without even opening apps.
7) TimeShift Camera
I have heard “wows” from colleagues and friends every time I demonstrate the TimeShift feature on the BB10 camera. The camera has a facial recognition ability, and allows you to move forward and backward in time to avoid blinking eyes or change facial expressions. The most incredible use case is when there are multiple people in the picture. You can put person A at +2 seconds, person B at 0.5 second and person C at -1 second. Thus, you have created the perfect moment that did not actually exist.
8) More Development Languages and Tools
BlackBerry 10 offers 3 ways for developers to develop native apps – C++/Cascades, Webworks (HTML5) and Adobe Air. In addition, developers can port their Android apps to BB 10 using RIM’s Android porting tools. Of course, developers can also use cross-platform tools such as Unity/Union, Marmalade, PhoneGap and Sencha.
This is in contrast to iOS 6, in which there is only one method available to developers – iOS SDK. The lack of a HTML5 SDK means that the many web developers that exist cannot put their skills to use.
BB10′s ability to run Android apps is a significant advantage over iOS. In fact, from talking to BlackBerry employees in the past, BB10 could run iOS apps too (if iOS was open-sourced). This also applies to any other OS (e.g. Windows). Thus, by buying a BB10 device, you are virtually also getting an Android device for free.
9) Support of Open Standards – DLNA, NFC and HDMI
DLNA has many uses, but it is not supported by the iPhone 5 (or any other iOS device).
BlackBerry adopts open-standards including DLNA, NFC and HDMI, which is convenient and results in cost-savings for consumers. This is in contrast to iOS, which supports none of these three standards.
With the launch of the Bold 9900 in August 2011, BlackBerry was the first major smartphone maker to support NFC. In Canada and the U.S., customers can already use their BlackBerry to make payments via NFC at thousands of locations that display the Contactless symbol. The L-series has a NFC chip, and there are already several NFC sample apps for the Dev Alpha available for developers to use to create NFC apps.
BlackBerry 10, like the PlayBook, has a HDMI output. This makes it easy for the user to display pictures or videos on a large-screen TV. In contrast, a lighting-to-HDMI adaptor is required for the iPhone or iPad, which costs an extra US$39/CAD$45.
Unlike Apple, BlackBerry is part of the http://www.dlna.org/. This allows you to wirelessly display pictures, play videos and music from your BB10 smartphone on a TV (or any other electronic device with DLNA support). In order to use a similar feature on the iPhone 5, you would need to buy the Apple TV for $99.
10) BBM – Beyond Instant Messaging
BBM currently has 60 million active users around the world. With the launch of BBM 7 this month, free voice calls over Wi-Fi is now available. BBM Video Chat on BB10 has been confirmed by Thorstein Heins. In addition, a collaboration feature, in which users using BBM Video can share documents and files instantly, has been leaked in pictures and videos. This is particularly useful for meetings.
Furthermore, RIM executives have recently said that BBM Money is “coming soon”, with the interpretation being late 2012 or early 2013. This feature allows BBM users to transfer money, which is convenient for friends who owe each other money, or in-person transactions (made through Kijiji for example).
BBM 6 already had far more functionality than Apple’s iMessage. With the addition of voice calls, video, collaboration tools and BBM Money, BBM is set to widen the lead further.
Source: The Gadget Masters

UNCOVERED: Governor Liyel Imoke Suffering From Chronic Kidney Disease?

Liyel Imoke

Last week, there were rumors that Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State had passed away. However, SaharaReporters was able to determine that Mr. Imoke is in the US where he is receiving regular dialyses for a renal disease.
One source disclosed that Mr. Imoke is staying with relatives in the state of Maryland, near Washington, DC.
“Liyel [Imoke]’s kidneys are in bad condition and he’s undergoing regular dialyses,” said one of our sources.
Another source said the governor maybe undergoing surgery for kidney transplant since he has remained unreachable in the last 48 hours.
Governor Imoke has been out of Nigeria for several weeks after he disclosed that he needed to take time off to address a health condition. However, Mr. Imoke did not reveal that his health problem has to do with his kidneys and that he was proceeding to the US to receive monitoring and treatment.
One of our sources said that the ailing governor “has no immediate plans to return to Calabar,” the capital of Cross River State.
Mr. Imoke shot into national prominence when he headed a technical committee on the power sector during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. Obasanjo had tasked the committee with ensuring that Nigerians began to enjoy regular, uninterrupted electricity supply. However, the Imoke committee and the Obasanjo administration squandered close to $16 billion without achieving any improvement in power supply.
Despite widespread criticism that dogged Mr. Imoke, President Obasanjo and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) nominated him as the party’s governorship candidate for Cross River State.
Source: Sahara Reporters

YAKOWA'S DEATH: Sambo Capture Kaduna Politics?

New Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and VP Namadi Sambo

With the death of Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa last Saturday and the swearing-in Namadi Sambo’s political child, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero as the state’s new governor, the Vice President has finally captured in Kaduna State politics what he has been unable to do at the polls.
Prior to the death of Yakowa on Saturday, the Vice President had been engaged in a tense power struggle with him, as well as with another former governor and now Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, along with some other political forces led by Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi.  In the past two years, he and candidates backed by him have been repeatedly defeated at the ballot box in various elections.
Fate seems to have played the latest hand in his favour in Kaduna’s tense politics.  A credible source within the Peoples Democratic Party told SaharaReporters today that Sambo is now the new ‘emperor’ of Kaduna power play, and has since his arrival in the State yesterday been holding a series of meetings to consolidate his new fortunes.
The meetings hinge on who is to be chosen as next deputy governor, and he wants to make sure he selects a person that will work in his favour.
The source said, “You know it was Makarfi that midwifed his entry into mainstream Kaduna politics, though with a long business association with Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and other top Northern elite. That never birthed any breakthrough in the polity. But it has been crises shortly after he becomes governor and later Vice President. They parted ways with Makarfi.
“Makarfi too has a wide cloud and Yakowa’s main advantage was the fact that his Southern Kaduna axis was 100 percent PDP without resistance. And there is the Hunkuyi’s camp too. The three forces were dragging back and forth and now, Yakowa is gone, Sambo has finally gotten an edge with Yero being his boy. Sambo has governor, DG of NEMA, Sani Sidi, Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafiya and even the PDP chairman in the state.”
The source added that Sambo’s ambition of grabbing Kaduna power base has finally been realized, but that it remains to be seen whether he can consolidate it.
Source: Sahara Reporters

TOO BAD: 4 Chinese, 2 Nigerian Kidnapped?

Gunmen  suspected to be militants on Monday abducted four Chinese nationals  and two Nigerians working for Hyundai Heavy Industries  on the outskirts of Okpoama Island, Brass Local government area of Bayelsa.
Bayeslsa  State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Fidelis Odunna  confirmed the incident
Community sources contacted  on the phone said  that among those kidnapped was the Operations Manager of the firm, who was only identified as Mr. J.H. Kin.
It was gathered that the armed militants  had invaded the assembly  site  on the South Korean firm in their speed boats at about 3.30pm, blindfolded their victims and took them off in their waiting speed boat to an unknown destination.
An eyewitness stated that the operation  took the oil workers unawares as many of the staff who witnessed the incident were said to have scampered for safety.
It was also gathered that operatives of the Joint Military Taskforce (JTF) and Police have been deployed to the nook and crannies of the creeks to track down the kidnappers and secure the release of the expatriates.
No group has  so far claimed responsibility for the action.
Hyundai Heavy Industries  is a leading service company to  the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Company (BLNG).
Source: Sahara Reporters

STRANGE: Student Cut Off And Swallow Manhood?

A Nigerian student enrolled in one of the numerous tertiary institutions in Ghana has cut and swallowed his penis. The incident occurred last Friday. Although no one is sure what prompted the 25-year-old student (name withheld) to chop-off and practically ingest his manhood, Daily Sun gathered that he is currently on admission at one of Ghana’s teaching hospitals.

SHAME: Students Attend Classes Under Tree In Abuja?

Share ‘classroom’ with welder
You think we’re in the 21st century? Well, for pupils and teachers of a primary school in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, it is back to the Stone Age. Unlike their counterparts housed in serene teaching environments in other parts of the nation’s capital, pupils and teachers of Wuye LA Primary School, Abuja, located just two kilometres from Utako District and six kilometres from the administrative block of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), have been completely abandoned by the authorities.
Since the government demolished the temporary structure put up by the school’s Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), the pupils and their teachers have moved their ‘classroom’ under a dangerous locust beans tree located in the compound of the Federal Government Boys’ College, Wuye.
When the Commissioner of the FCT Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Obunike Ohaegbu, led a team of journalists and staffers of the commission to the sight, what the team met on ground was horrible. Beyond the pathetic situation of receiving classes under a tree, the ‘school’ also shares the little space with a welder. The artisan’s work tools seemed to pose more danger to the pupils and their teachers than the tree itself. Electrical appliances used by the technician were seen scattered around with the sound of the power generator, located in the same place, disrupting the classes.
Speaking to Daily Sun, the headmaster of the school, Mr. Muhammed Kolo, revealed that education inspectors had visited the school under the tree, lamenting that no one expressed any concern. He added that the teachers had no teaching boards to use. He added that officials of Development Control, who destroyed the building with bulldozers, had since converted them to another use, thereby compounding the woes of the teachers and pupils.
Some teachers, who didn’t want their names mentioned, said no serious academic activity had taken place since they were displaced. They noted that they were initially displaced by the Development Control Department before the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, ordered that they should be thrown out of the uncompleted building they were temporally using. According to Kolo: “We were using the Federal Government Boys’ College’s structure.
Without even informing us, they just dismantled everything. They even damaged some of our furniture. When we resumed and realised that we have been moved out, I immediately reported the case to the PTA chairman, who took it up. I have written to the board to come to our aid. We are yet to hear from them.”
He spoke further: “Whenever it rains, we have to send the pupils home. The same thing happens when the sun becomes unbearable. So, we usually teach the pupils between 8a.m and 12noon. We just arrange them under the tree and teach them.” The chairman of the school’s PTA, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Hassan, who is at the heart of the struggle to ensure that the appropriate authorities respond to their yearnings, recalled that previous efforts to get the attention of the relevant FCTA agencies had not been successful.
His words: “Some years back, the community put up a temporary structure for the school in an open place. When the road contract was awarded to a foreign firm, they came and marked the place for demolition. The Development Control Department of the FCTA came and demolished the structure. “That was how we moved over to the uncompleted structure of the Federal Government Boys’ College, Wuye. The Minister of State for Education came and ordered that we should vacate the premises within one week. We pleaded with him since he was actually the education minister and in a way, this problem falls under him. But he refused to listen, insisting that the responsibility didn’t fall under his jurisdiction.
After the notice, we ran to the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) who ordinarily runs the school system. All the letters of appeal we have written to them have been thrown out and they have refused to listen to us. “We have also made efforts to reach out to the chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), but his aides have refused to allow us see him. It was after making all these efforts that we finally ran to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) to come to our rescue. We are begging PCC to mount pressure on the appropriate authorities to do the right thing.
We need them to relocate the school to its permanent site and save the pupils and teachers of the hazards of staying under the tree.” The FCT Commissioner of PCC, Obunike Ohaegbu who was bewildered at the absurd learning environment, said he planned the on-the-spot visit to the school after receiving a petition from the school’s PTA chairman and reading the report of the commission’s investigator, who had initially visited the place earlier to assess the situation. According to him, the abandoned school happens to be the only public primary school at Wuye District. “I am shocked to see pupils from Primary 1 to 6 staying under the same tree and receiving classes.
They are sharing the same tree with a welder, as this is a welder’s workshop,” he lamented. The angry commissioner said he couldn’t understand how the pupils and teachers cope whenever it rains. He added that he was told that UBEB still supplies them materials under such a condition. While absorbing the Minister of State for Education of any blame, he surprise that the Development Control Department of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council demolished the school’s structures without an alternative arrangement made for the pupils.
The PCC Commissioner, after the inspection of the school, led his team to the office of the FCT Universal Basis Education Board (UBEB) Chairman, Alhaji Umar Barau Ningi. The chairman commended the commissioner for his efforts in following up the case. “If all public officers are as active as you are, Nigeria will change,” he said. He owned up that the board had been informed of the school’s challenges during a briefing but said they had problems of funding, which he said had now been released by the authorities of the FCTA.
He said the FCT minister had released the administration’s 50 per cent requirement to them, noting that officials of the board were presently defending their action plan at the UBEB headquarters. The chairman further added that the FCT minister had given them a place to site a new school for the LEA Primary School, Wuye, adding that a permanent school would be built soon.
“Before the rain starts, the children will surely be sheltered,” he promised. Investigations by Daily Sun revealed, however, that contrary to the promise by the UBEB chairman, there are no signs of any school being erected at the moment, even as the rainy season might commence in less than four months.
Source: Sun News

WICKED: Man Sell Human Head For N6000?

A man simply identified as Iku Monday by residents of Sabo area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, is still being quizzed by the police for allegedly beheading dead woman (names withheld) after exhuming her corpse from a grave in her husband’s building site. Checks by Sunday Sun revealed that on August 18 this year, Mr. Abiodun, husband of Monday’s victim, contracted Monday to clear a plot of land belonging to him on the outskirts of Sabo for a fee.

RECRUITMENT: No More Third Class Degree And SSCE Holders - Police

Inspector General Of Police: M.D Abubakar
In a bid to sanitize the Nigeria Police as well as carry-out far reaching reforms in repositioning the force to achieve its mandate of effectively securing lives and property, the Police Service Commission has said holders of Secondary School Certificate would no longer be accepted into the Nigeria Police Force as constables.
It said the minimum entry requirement now was Ordinary National Diploma.
In the same vein, Third Class degree holders would no longer be accepted as Cadet Inspectors, in line with the reform in the force.
PSC Commissioner and Chairman, Public Affairs Committee of the commission, Ms. Comfort Obi, who stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, explained that the commission had reviewed the recruitment process into the police.
According to her, the PSC has over the years formulated policies aimed at the efficiency and discipline of the police force, adding that background checks are now carried out on applicants to separate bad eggs and discourage shady characters from joining the police.
To achieve some of this lofty objectives, Obi stated that polygraph tests were also carried out on applicants to determine drug users, alcoholics and liars that could tarnish the image of the force.
She said, “The mechanism put in place by the commission is in line with police regulations to ensure that bad eggs don’t find their way into the force. We are focusing on the recruitment process and have raised the minimum entry requirements.
“SSCE holders can no longer join the police as constables; even a third class degree holder cannot join the Cadet Inspector cadre. The minimum qualification for a constable is OND and it must include six credit passes in SSCE including Credit pass in English and Mathematics.”
The PSC Commissioner in charge of Strategy, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, explained that written examinations had been introduced for applicants, adding that promotions in the force were based on merit rather than Federal Character.

INTERESTING: World’s First Gay Bible Now Out?

A book claiming to be the world’s first ‘gay bible’ has been published to coincide with the debate on same-sex marriage.
Titled the ‘Queen James Bible’, its editors claim that it is a re-working of the King James Bible translated in a way that ‘prevents homophobic misinterpretation of God’s Word’.
‘Homosexuality was first overtly mentioned in the Bible in 1946 in the Revised Standard Version. There is no mention of or reference to homosexuality in any Bible prior to this – only interpretations have been made’, the book’s official website said.

KING V QUEEN: BIBLES COMPARED

Genesis 19:5 (King James)
‘And they called unto Lot, and  said unto him, Where are the  men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us,  that we may know them.’
Genesis 19:5 (Queen James)
‘And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may r*pe and humiliate them’
Timothy 1:10 (King James)
‘For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine’
Timothy 1:10 (Queen James)
‘For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine’
Jude 1:7 (King James)’
‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire’
Jude 1:7 (Queen James)
‘Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after nonhuman flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire’

The publication, printed and bound in the U.S. is timed to coincide with the current debate over same-s*x marriage.
The sales pitch on the website says: ‘You can’t choose your sexuality, but you can choose Jesus. Now you can choose a Bible, too’.
The book is on sale online but does not advertise its origins, with no specific publisher, editor or translator listed by name on it’s offical website. ‘God’ is listed as the author and ‘Jesus Christ’ a contributor.
Douglas J. Moo, Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College and a professional Bible translator, told The Christian Post that the Queen James editors’ assessment of past translations is not entirely accurate.
‘Few, if any English translations use the actual words ‘homosexuality’ or ‘homosexual.’ But the history of English translation shows that versions have consistently used other language to refer to what we would call homosexual relationships’, said Mr Moo.
‘For instance, the King James Version of Romans 1:27 refers to ‘men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly.
‘It would be very difficult to deny that this language, and the language found in many other places in both the OT and the NT, refers to homosexuality.’
A Vicar in New Zealand, meanwhile, has caused outrage by putting up a poster outside his church in Auckland, New Zealand, that claims Jesus was gay.
‘It’s Christmas. Time for Jesus to come out’, the sign proclaims, with an image of baby Jesus as a toddler in a manger, surrounded by a rainbow halo.
Reverend Glynn Cardy of St Matthew in the City church, said that, as homosexuality was not a word until the 1800s, any mention of it in the Bible or other documents would have mistranslations.
He points out that there is no indication about Jesus’s sexuality: ‘The fact is we don’t know what his s*xual orientation was.’
His attempts at challenging the status quo were defended by fellow Reverend Clay Nelson who said the billboard tried to humanise Jesus by getting people to think about the challenges he would have had growing up.
He added: ‘Some scholars have tried to make the case that he might have been gay.
‘But it is all conjecture. Maybe gay, maybe not. Does it matter?
‘There is almost nothing in the record of his teachings about sexuality while there is plenty about the perils of being rich. Certainly he always supported the marginalised in society.’

Source: Punch

PHOTOS: All Passengers Die In Delta State Mass Transit Bus Crash, Sapele (UPDATED)

Information available indicates that a Delta state Mass Transit bus has crashed while conveying passengers from Uduaghan park in Sapele to Warri. The information says all passengers on board got perished in the crash.

Contrary to the initial information that it was a bus belonging to Delta Line that crashed, the accident actually involved a Delta state Mass Transit bus, as a source speaking on behalf of Delta Line denied that the bus belong to Delta Line. The source confirmed that a state transit bus crashed around Ore, after Sapele in a sharp corner few meters from a filling station, killing all passengers on board.
He said, "When I came to the office this morning, I heard the news of the accident [...] It’s one of the new Mass transit buses that Uduaghan just introduced in the state. I heard all passengers died in the accident."
A Delta Line bus driver, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said he ran into the scene of the accident when he was driving into Sapele on Monday morning. According to him, the driver was on a high speed, and, this coupled with the morning dew, he ran out of control around a sharp corner just a few metres away from a filling station in O’re.

Meanwhile, the Delta state police Public Relations Officer could not confirm the news as he simply said he was not aware of the accident.
The Police imagemaker said, "I’m not aware of the accident. No one has informed me about this yet."
It will be recalled that the Delta state government has recently purchased and introduced Mass Transit buses in the state just to ease the cost of transportation in Delta state.

Source: Daily Post

UNCOVERED: Jonathan To Purchase Another Hawker 4000 Jet?

Hawker 4000 jet

Interior of Hawker 4000 jet

 

In addition to the two new luxury helicopters ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan from the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland at a cost of $40 million, as SaharaReporters reported earlier today, we have learned that the government made a deposit of another $9 million for a Hawker 4000 jet.
In 2012 budget an additional $12 million was budgeted to complete the purchase of the jet.
But that money is now tied up in court, as our investigation has revealed that the manufacturer, Hawker Beechraft, entered into bankruptcy proceedings in the US District Court of Southern New York last May.
Curiously, the purchase notice was initiated by one Group Captain Ma Yakubu, who gave away the $9 million using the address of “Nigerian Presidential Wing, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Presidential Air Fleet Abuja, Nigeria.”  His phone number and email addresses were listed as follows:  +234 8052088048 and Maminuyana@Yahoo.Com.
Our sources say this is highly unusual, as the purchase order would normally have emanated not from an airport, but from within the presidency, the Ministry of Aviation or the Nigerian Air Force.
Yesterday’s crash of a Nigeria navy executive Agusta 109E helicopter, which killed Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, former NSA Andrew Owoye Azazi and four others, while doing private errands for presidential aide Oronto Douglas, demonstrates how public property is routinely converted to private benefit especially in a corrupt administration.
The presidency currently has at its disposal about 11 jets, many of them running errands on a daily basis for privileged officials and their relatives.  When those are not enough, they call for similar equipment that belong to the armed forces, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, and similar offices.
“Yesterday, the naval helicopter was abused throughout the day, like a free taxi cab, until it simply fell out of the sky,” an analyst told SaharaReporters.
The two helicopters on order by Mr. Jonathan will cost Nigeria $40 million, but it is unclear how many similar equipment may be on order around the world, or have already been bought or delivered, because government officials often account to nobody.  The tracking of most contracts is non-existent after they have been awarded.
SaharaReporters has written to Group Captain Yakubu in an effort to obtain further information about the aborted purchase of the Hawker 4000 jet.
The US District court has approved Hawker Beechcraft’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy as a slimmer corporation, also last week the court authorized the company to sell off its entire inventory of Hawker 4000 jets at $20 million each.
Source: Sahara Reporters