FAAN Improves Revenue From Private Jet Owners

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) may be smiling to bank from revenue made from private jet owners who pay about $10, 000 monthly for parking of their aircraft at the FAAN’s terminals across the country. A rough estimate puts the current number of private jets to about 200 with many of them under foreign registry.

Industry sources say the airport authority collects about $320 for over-night stay of the jets at the airport and about $10, 000 monthly on parking fees on a jet from those who do not have private terminals. However, the fee charged for landing depends on the aircraft weight and on the time it lands at an airport.

According to statistics obtained from FAAN’s website, the rate varies for Day landing $0.00909/kg ; Night landing $0.01364/kg. Parking for the first three hours does not attract any fee.

For the Gulfstream G450 aircraft, with landing weight of 29,935kg, the airport authority will charge the owner about $273 or its naira equivalent for day landing while it will take $408 for night landing.Some Nigerians who have been associated with owning private jets include Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor Sam Adeyem, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Mike Adenuga, and Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim. Others are Sir. Joseph Arumemi-Johnson of Arik Air, Chairman of ThisDay Newspaper NdukaObiagbena, Dr. Babatunde Fagbemi of Maevis Nigeria Ltd, and award winning singers, P Square .

Some of the companies with private jets include Zenith Bank, Oceanic Bank, Dangote Group, NNPC, among others. Some state governments like that of Akwa Ibom, Rivers among others are believed to have acquired private jets.

Though efforts to get what FAAN makes from private jet owners did not yield result, industry sources say private jet owners especially those whose aircraft are under foreign registry are complain over what they consider to be high landing charges on their aircraft.

AlhajiKashimShittima, chairman and chief executive officer of Skyjet Aviation in an interview at the NCAA corporate headquarters complained that they pay heavily on landing charges but did not disclose exactly how much his company pays for such services.

Private jet ownership has witnessed a boost in Nigeria in recent times. The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) had at a Seminar held in Lagos recently disclosed that Nigerians have in the last three years invested about N1.3 trillion to acquire private jets. NIEV is authorized by law to place value on any property.

Also, Mr. Sam Adurogboye, Spokesman for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had told the our correspondent that private jet ownership is on the increase even as most private jet owners prefer to register their aircraft abroad because they pay less insurance premiums abroad, while the aircraft had second hand values and they could easily get buyers if they decide to sell the aircraft.

Pictures: See The 625 Pound Mother Who Ate Herself To Death

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Lanoise, born in Haiti, started gaining weight aged 16, following the birth of her first daughter, Witelane.

“I used to be skinny, but after I had my first baby I got so big,” the woman says.

As her weight skyrocketed to more than 600 lbs, she spent her days sitting in bed wrapped in sheets as she couldn’t find clothes to fit.

She first came to the media’s attention in 2010 when she was forced to stay in Haiti for three months after the earthquake, because she was too heavy for commercial airlines.

She was virtually housebound for almost two decades with her daughters washing, feeding and caring for her.

She died in March, after being given less than a year to live by doctor’s who had been waiting to give her potentially life-saving stomach surgery.

I worked for Chris Okotie for 14 years without pay, man tells court

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

A former Church worker said Mr. Okotie made him work for 14 years without pay. On February 5, 2013, the flamboyant head of the Household of God Church International, Chris Okotie, is expected to appear

before an Ikeja Magistrate Court. In his trademark smooth, and colourful language, Mr. Okotie will tell Magistrate T.A. Akanni how and why his church did not pay a former church worker and keyboardist for 14 years salaries totalling N39 million.
Dafiaghor Okiotor, a former keyboardist at the church before he fell out with Mr. Okotie in 2009, said that the money covers the 14 years he worked for the church without emolument. The church, however, insisted that he was “working for God.”
Coming to Lagos
A 21-year-old Mr. Okiotor arrived in Lagos in 1993 to pursue a music career with his friends – a dream he said made him abandon his study at the Delta State University.
“We wanted to become superstars overnight,” said Mr. Okiotor, 40, leaning forward from his seat in his lawyer’s office.
“I came to Lagos to do music,” he added.
On arrival, he joined Winners Christian Centre, Surulere, where he doubled as a keyboardist as well as choir master.
For his efforts, he said that the church gave him a one room apartment as well as a N4,000 monthly salary.
However, his sights were still set on a musical career and, on his way to Tabansi Records at Alausa, he bumped into a charismatic Mr. Okotie at Oregun.
And a 14 year affair ensued; a relationship that would later become tempestuous, landing Mr. Okiotor a short stint in prison, and eventually ending up in a court room.
The Okotie connection
In mid 1995, Mr. Okiotor said that he met the head of Household of God Church after he learnt that there was an opening for a keyboardist.
The perks that accompanied that opening included a N10,000 monthly salary and, after an undisclosed probation period, a three-bedroom apartment, according to Mr. Okiotor.
“He (Okotie) said that he wants to see my faithfulness before giving me the three-bedroom apartment,” Mr. Okiotor said.
“But first, a room apartment, and when that expires and they think that I’m good enough…
“I was so excited; from a N4,000 to a N10,000 monthly salary,” Mr. Okiotor added.
The keyboardist said that barely two months into his new job, the salaries stopped coming.
“About 5 to 6 months after I’ve not been getting anything, I met him (Okotie) and he told me that ‘Didn’t I tell you that we have to see your faithfulness? It was because we thought you were good that was why we rented you an apartment.’
“That sounded like a subtle threat, so I left the matter,” said Mr. Okiotor.
“Then again, it is easy to believe if a pastor says ‘I’ll give you N50 million’ because he can wake up anyday and give you.
“And again, other members of the church will tell me, if I want to grumble, that ‘Do I know how much he is worth? How much is my salary?’”
At the expiration of the one room apartment rented by the church, Mr. Okiotor said that he was unable to renew it and was subsequently evicted by the house owner.
“I told pastor about it, he was not even in the mood to listen to me. He said he was travelling and when he gets back, he was going to sort it out. He never did.
“I didn’t quite feel it was good for somebody that was quite popular in church coming to sleep in church. So I slept on the streets for two months,” Mr. Okiotor said.
With the help of a friend, Mr. Okiotor said he got another apartment, where he stayed for about a decade before he was thrown out again.
That was when Mr. Okotie told him that the time was ripe for the three bedroom apartment he’d earlier promised him; but with some conditions, according to Mr. Okiotor.
“He told me that I cannot have a studio in the house, because in my small place I used to have a studio where I do my personal recordings.
“Again, that I have to stay there with his younger brother, Julius, who is way junior to me,” Mr. Okiotor said.
Afterwards, a disagreement with Julius over who would take possession of the new apartment’s master bedroom led the pastor’s brother to reveal an information that “startled” Mr. Okiotor.
“He (Julius) told me that the house was rented in his name. House that this man said he’s getting for me, he paid with his younger brother’s name. So I don’t even have a house,” he added.
Mr. Okiotor said that his continued stay in the church, despite the ‘failed promises’ was due to repeated re-assurances from co-church workers.
“There was no written agreement. I know him (Okotie) as a man of God and I have worked with churches all my life. Nothing is written,” Mr. Okiotor said.
“One of the reasons I still stayed…it’s like when people tell you you are closer to your blessings.
“Having put in so many years, why would you leave when you are close, every day that passes, you are closer. I was like, if I’d been patient for this long, just keep being patient,” the former church worker said.
In 2009, when he travelled to Abuja to seek for financial assistance from his elder brother who returned from the U.S.; Mr. Okiotor said that his planned two-day stay stretched to one week.
He missed the church’s midweek service.
“On Friday, he (Mr. Okotie) called me and said that he had made up his mind that he doesn’t need my services anymore.
“He told me ‘You can go and do whatever you are doing. Household is grateful to you for everything that you had done.’ He dropped the call,” Mr. Okiotor said.
The Showdown
After a two-year stint in Abuja, where he worked as Personal Assistant to Abel, his elder brother, Mr. Okiotor said that he returned to Lagos to claim his “entitlements.”
“When I returned in January (2012), I called Pastor (Okotie) and told him we have an outstanding. That since he fired me, he’d have to pay me off, or even pay what he owed.
“He dropped the phone on me. He wouldn’t pick my calls anymore. If I call him with another number, once he realises it’s me, he will cut off the phone,” Mr. Okiotor said.
“I sent him an email, he didn’t reply. I inboxed him on facebook. The next time I tried to inbox him again, I found out he had blocked me.
“I wrote a letter and couriered it to him. I told him that since he doesn’t want us to sit down and compute what I’m entitled to; that I think he is owing me N39.1 million,” the former church worker said.
To arrive at that figure, Mr. Okiotor said that he used a N20,000 per service agreement (the church holds two services every week) they had in 2003 to cover the entire period he worked for the church.
He also asked for an additional N10 million for the songs he claimed he co-produced with the musician-turned pastor, particularly ‘Yonder Place’ a song Mr. Okotie used extensively during presidential campaigns as well as in his televangelism.
In one of the emails Mr. Okiotor wrote to Mr. Okotie, he informed him of his intention to come to the church on July 10 to “occupy Household” over his unpaid entitlements.
To stall the ‘occupy Household,’ on July 9, Mr. Okotie wrote a petition to the police Area Commander in Ikeja, complaining against the “despicable and criminal acts of blackmail, threats, intimidation and forgery by one Mr. Okiotor to extort N39 million” from him.
In the petition, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Okotie told the police that Mr. Okiotor had, through several phone calls, threatened to embarrass him and defame his character.
“Therefore, I am notifying you of the criminal actions of Mr. Dafiaghor and request your office to investigate, restrain and prosecute him for his unlawful and criminal attempt…,” Mr. Okotie further said.
A second letter attached to Mr. Okotie’s petition called on the police to be “at alert.”
“Mr. Dafiaghor was a member of our church, he used to be one of the people playing keyboard in church during service…,” read the letter signed by Niyi Ajayi, Special Adviser on Security.
“The most interesting thing is that he has promised total violence and high level of lawlessness in the church premises on Tuesday 10th July 2012.”
On that Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Okotiotor arrived at the Household of God Church International, Oregun, and stood outside the church’s premises.
Boldly written on his white shirt were the words: ‘Rev. Chris Okotie. Pay me or kill me.’
“I didn’t want to embarrass him on a service day. He always comes on Tuesday for counselling,” Mr. Okiotor said.
“The gate was locked. I stood in front of the gate. One of the security men asked me to come inside.
“Immediately I got inside, all the security men and some police officers attacked me, bundled me into a vehicle at the back of the church and drove off.”
After he was released by the police officers, Mr. Okiotor resumed his ‘occupation’ of the church, this time, at the next Sunday service.
“I stayed on the road. The police and the security were civil because there were church people around,” Mr. Okiotor said.
“They took me to the station and later released me. I went back to the church, at about 6 p.m., they (police) now came in their real colours, because there was no one in the church, beat me and took me to SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad).”
Police records of the various statements written by the church’s security guards and seen by PREMIUM TIMES indicated that Mr. Okiotor was disturbing the Sunday’s service with his shouts.
“He came and started shouting in front of the church and the police took control of the case,” said Olufemi Mudashiru, a paid employee at the church.
Mr. Ajayi said that the “very loud noise” caused the church members to panic.
“The ones coming (to church) started running away and the pastor could not continue with the officiating,” he added.
The church’s response
In his second letter to the police, Mr. Ajayi insisted that the keyboardist was a volunteer at the church.
“We all know him (Mr. Okiotor) as a volunteer, just as many of us are, and volunteers in the church are not paid salary,” Mr. Ajayi, a security consultant, said.
In a response to a PREMIUM TIMES enquiry, the Household of God Church said that Mr. Okiotor had embarked on a “smear campaign” and should be ignored.
“Daphe’s (Mr. Okiotor) case is already in court. I can therefore not comment on it as extensively as I ought to because it would be subjudice to do so,” said Ladi Ayodeji, Head, Media and Communications, Household of God Church.
“However, I’d like to make it clear that his claims are false and mischievous. Our church does not engage paid employees in the worship department, the most we do is to give financial support or honorarium, at the pastor’s discretion,” Mr. Ayodeji added.
Mr. Ayodeji also described Mr. Okiotor’s claim of co-producing the song ‘Yonder Place’ as “spurious and laughable.”
“Those who know Rev. Okotie’s music pedigree will dismiss the claim as ludicrous and an attempt at self aggrandizement. He (Mr. Okiotor) is neither qualified nor talented enough to aspire to such musical elevation,” Mr. Ayodeji said.

Plateau workers set for strike on Monday

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Organised labour in Plateau State says its planned strike is to hold on Monday after the expiration of a 10-day ultimatum to the state government to implement the N18,000 minimum wage. The Chairman of

the Nigeria Labour Congress in Plateau State, Jubril Bancir, gave the strike notice on Saturday in Jos at a news conference after a meeting with the Special Task Force maintaining peace in the state failed to reach an agreement.
Bancir said there was no going back on the threat by labour to shut down all government and private businesses on Monday, due to the state government’s failure to implement the N18,000 minimum wage to local government employees.
He said the government had yet to make any move to stop the industrial action.
Bancir said that labour was not aware of the purported court injunction, ordering it not to go on the planned strike.
According to him, no such order has been received either by the national or state secretariats of the NLC as at the time of the conference.
He, however, said that talks with the STF, aimed at resolving the impasse, failed because the state chapter of the NLC could not call off a strike, ordered by its national secretariat.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the STF had in a statement described the issue as capable of jeopardising the relative peace in Plateau State.
The statement signed by Capt. Salisu Mustapha was issued after talks to persuade the state chapter of the NLC to call off the impending strike failed.
In the statement, the STF said that it had come to its notice that the NLC had summoned all workers, private establishments, traders and all service providers to withdraw their services by midnight on December 10.
The STF said the continued insistence of labour on the strike was in disobedience to the interim injunction by the National Industrial Court, restraining all workers or labour unions in the state from declaring or embarking on any strike.
“However, the STF is aware of the ill motive of some supporters and sympathisers who intend to come all the way from neighbouring states to take advantage of a supposed peaceful action to cause chaos,” the statement said.
The STF called on residents of Plateau to desist from acts that could set back the peace process, calling on labour leaders to abide by the court injunction in order to avoid any breach of security
Workers in Plateau State have been on strike since the past eight months. (NAN)

Abdulsalami on North Violence: Every Nigerian is a Security Officer, North Needs 20 Yrs To Recover

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar yesterday said security challenges have done a grievous damage to the North such that it will take as many as 20 years to revive the region.

Speaking at a conference on the ‘North and Strategies for Sustainable Development’ in Kaduna, Abdulsalami said the solution lies in the hands of the government and the people of the region.

“It will take 20 years to revive the North. A lot of damage has been done. If you go round the region you will appreciate the extent of damage done to the region,” he said, apparently referring to the 3-year-old insurgency that left thousands dead.

The former head of state, who spoke when he chaired a session on Security, Politics and Economy of the North, urged Northerners to join the Federal Government in tackling insecurity.

“We have to work together for us to overcome the challenges. All of us should join hands with the government,” he said.

“We should not leave it in the hands of the government alone. Every Nigerian is a security officer, let us try to join hands and report what we see that have security threat so that government can take action. Be the government’s watchdog and also be the watchdog of your community.”

Abdulsalami lamented the disunity among Northerners, saying there was urgent need for the people of the region to bury their differences and work together for the development of the region.

“I thank Arewa House for bringing various groups together in this conference so that we can chart a new course. If we are able to harness this, we will know the problems and we will know the solution. It is only when we are working together that we can address our challenged,” he said.

The conference, which began on Wednesday and ended yesterday, was organized by the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation (Arewa House) of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Also speaking, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said northerners must rise together in order to address the challenges facing the region.

He advocated for societal re-orientation among the people.

Tambuwal said failure of past governments also contributed to problems facing the region and the country at large.

“We must have the resolution that we want to have change. We must rise to the occasion and this is not about workshop, it is about taking the right steps at the right time. We must re-orientate ourselves and our children towards what is right,” he said.

“We need to redirect our searchlight into the civil service because Sardauna and his team succeeded because they had a very prudent civil service. Can we say we have a patriotic civil service now?”

Alali Hart Robbed By Her Security Man

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Four robbery suspects have reportedly told the police how they robbed Alali Hart, a woman who runs a boutique, of N431,000 cash and other properties worth N5.3 million at Oniru Road, Oniru Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The four suspects, Amos Osang, 21, Nduka Okafor, 23, Ndi Johnson, 22 and Clement Odey who was a security guard like the first suspect, allegedly committed the offence on 5 November, 2012.

The first suspect, according to the police at the Bar Beach Division, Victoria Island, Lagos, was arrested along with his accomplices by an anti-robbery team on stop and search mission, led by Inspector Kabiru Lawal on 5 November 2012 at Eko Hotel roundabout, Victoria Island. They were nabbed at about 9:30 p.m inside a Lagos private taxi.

Items recovered from them include, N431,000, five GSM phones, Samsung laptops, assorted jewelry, wrist watches, necklaces, gold bangles, rings and a torch light, all valued at N5,340,000.

During interrogation at the station, all the suspects allegedly confessed that they were the robbers who raided Oniru Estate, Victoria Island on the day.

In his confessional statement to the police, ring leader and mastermind of the robbery attack, Amos Osang, a former security guard to their victim said “it is true that I recruited my colleagues to help in robbing my former boss to enable me raise sufficient money to start a new life after I was sacked.

“When my former employer posted me to the woman’s house to work, she was very nice and kind to me and other securitymen. But when I was sacked for stealing, the devil entered into me and led me to rob her. I discussed my feelings with my friend, Nduka Okafor, who was recently freed from prison and appealed to him to assist me to rob her. He agreed to participate in the robbery, with a promise to give me money if we succeeded.’’

He said on the day of the incident, the gang invaded the place with knives and dangerous weapons and the security man on duty, Clement Odey, who was aware of the whole plan opened the gate for them.

‘‘We carried out the robbery, but in trying to make good our escape, we ran into the police who arrested us. I regret hurting my former boss because she was very nice to me when I worked with her. I pray that God may forgive me,” he was quoted as telling the police.

After investigation by Sergeant Nurudeen Lawal, all the suspects were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of armed robbery.

The plea of the accused persons was, however, not taken as the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the matter. The presiding Magistrate, W. B. Balogun ordered that they be remanded at Ikoyi Prison pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP. He adjourned the matter till 7 January, 2013 for hearing.

Danfo driver removed my pregnancy

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

A petty trader, Mrs, Oluwakemi Akinwunmi told Agege Grade A Customary Court to dissolve her 16 year-old marriage with her husband, Mr. Babatunde. Oluwakemi, who dragged her husband before the court over constant beating, stealing, and lack of care for her and the children, claimed her husband removed her pregnancy with punches.

The 38 year-old woman, said her husband was fond of beating her at slightest provocation. She cited a day the husband beat her and she lost her four months old pregnancy. The mother of two, also informed the court that her parents warned her against marrying Babatunde, a danfo driver, but she did not listen. Now, she regrets her action.

Oluwakemi, accused her husband of being an unrepentant smoker and drinker, saying beer drinking always spurred him to beat her.

The applicant also said that the respondent stole some money from her purse, and when she confronted him about it, he wanted to strangle her. She urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant her custody of the children, because she wouldn’t want the children to go the way of their father.

Oluwakemi pleaded that the court should compel her husband to pay her N15,000 monthly allowance while he should also be responsible for the payment of the children’s school fees. Babatunde did not appear in court. The court president, Mr Emmanuel shokunle adjourned the case to 5 December.

Culled: Vanguard

Army Raids Bomb Factory, Arrests 12 In Niger

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Following the confession of a suspected bomber of a church at the military institution in Jaji, Kaduna State, the Nigerian Army have arrested 12 persons during an operation in a bomb factory at Maje area of Suleja, Niger State on Thursday.

LEADERSHIP WEEKEND gathered that during the operation, the team, led by a captain, recovered over 40 units of improvised explosive devices.

It was gathered that among those arrested is a radio repairer who just came back from Saudi Arabia and subsequently served as the group’s ring leader.

Other members of the gang also claimed that they were employees of a foreign construction company, which they said was working on the Minna-Suleja road.

In accordance with the laws of Niger State, the chairman of Suleja Local Government Area has been advised to demolish the house where the bomb factory was located.

When contacted, the Niger State police public relations officer, Edwin Edorbo, said he could not speak on the development at is it purely a military operation.

Man Brings Home 5 Prostitutes For One-Night-Stand, Forces Wife To Sleep Elsewhere

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

woman revealed in court
that she is living in fear of
contracting the deadly HIV virus
from her husband who recently
hired five sex-workers in one night.
Julia Zivere told the court that her
husband Charles Sithole has
developed a habit of sleeping with
prostitutes and shocked her when he
hired five ‘sexual public relations
officers’ in a single night. The
woman barred it all at the Harare
civil court where she was seeking a
protection order against Charles.
She alleged that Charles had sex with
all the five prostitutes on the same
bed.
“I no longer have anything to do
with this man. I don’t see him as my
husband anymore because he has
the audacity of bringing in
prostitutes at our matrimonial
home. Sometimes I am forced to ask
for a place to sleep at our
neighbour’s house because he
brings in prostitutes to our bedroom
and sleep with them,” revealed the
woman.
Julia also said she wanted Charles
barred from assaulting her using
dangerous weapon.
Responding to the claims, Charles
denied the allegations and claimed
that he would never do such a thing
because he is a Christian. He also
denied having sex with 5 prostitutes.
“I got married to Julia in 2005. We
faced our challenges but ever since I
started going to Seventh Day
Adventist church I have never hired
a prostitute. I am now a changed
person,” said Charles who at least
acknowledged his dirty past.
The ‘Sabbath Day Keeper’ also told
the court that Julia was the one who
was cheating on him.
“She is the one who is having an
adulterous affair with a guy called
Daniel Nzou. Ever since she had been
having an affair with Daniel, she had
been refusing to give me my
conjugal rights and sometimes I end
up forcing myself on her,” said
Charles.
Magistrate Mirriam Banda, who
presided over the case, granted the
protection order which bars Charles
from disturbing Julia’s peace by any
means.

Kano Hisbah Marriage: I Want To Marry Gov Kwankwaso – Sharada

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Hajiya Rabi Shehu Sharada is an elder in the Kano State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP]. In a chat with our correspondent, SALISU IBRAHIM, the woman political chieftain explained why she wants to marry the state’s chief executive, Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, whom she said requires an important emotional attachment that will help him turn around the state. Rabi also argued that if the governor accepts the gauntlet, she will serve as a source for his emotional stability and Kano citizens would reap from the union in terms of development and focus. Perhaps Rabi’s challenge to Kwankwaso was what started like a joke in the local political parlance on Kano radio stations through “foot soldiers,” but is now developing to a huge challenge for the governor.

Rabi, in a radio programme recently said she has so much to offer to the state governor if he decides to accept the challenge and the union would go a long way to make Kano a better place. “I have tremendous respect for the governor. I have been his supporter and admirer in the past, but I’m worried about how key elements in our great party have been sidelined.

But the fact that we are now in different political camps, cannot stop me from aligning with his administration. We want PDP to succeed, and we want him to succeed. His success is the success of our party, but we are concerned that in spite of the tremendous role we have played in bringing back the PDP administration into reckoning after its defeat in 2003, the fortune of the party is dwindling. That is why we cannot wish for the failure of the state governor or the party” Rabi told our correspondent.

When I look at the challenges facing the state, and the manner in which the state government include and exclude PDP members in the running of the administration, I told myself that the best way to address these issues is to go closer to the governor.

So I took the challenge as advanced by some people to re-marry and pay less attention to politics in good faith. “You know I’m a mother and I come from a humble background. I’m convinced I can make a difference in the life of the governor. I can touch his life emotionally and help him in having better focus for the state and our people would reap tremendous benefit,” the PDP chieftain told WEEKEND LEADERSHIP.

“On my mind I have a lot that will make Kano a great place to live, and I think assisting people through the state governor by giving him advise in that capacity will improve the living condition of our people. So, those who want me to get married and pay less attention to politics have realised a value in me, which is why I took the challenge seriously and decided to throw the challenge back to the state governor, because the unity between us would impact positively on our state and that is my ultimate goal. Since then I have requested for a registration form from the Hisbah Board and if the governor accepts the offer, I would get ready for the big challenge”, Hajiya Rabi said.

“Contracting marriage is a matter that is always destined by Allah, if Allah said Kwankwaso and I would get married so be it, and I think if that happens, the unity would help Kano people tremendously.”

Of immediate concern to Hajiya Rabi is the polarisation of PDP in the state, which she said continues to pose a great challenge. Right now, the party is divided into three groups and the best way to describe the situation is to look at it as a tripod; the Garkuwa, Kwankwasiyya and Tabo groups. Regrettably, the party should not have been polarised along loyalty level that is why I want to go close to the governor and help him in bringing the three different groupings together and guarantee the success of the party in the future.

“Our expectation was that when PDP emerged as the new ruling party in the state, the administration would have been all inclusive without reference to the various groupings that formed the tripod, The growing poor relationships between the governor and the civil servants, and with the Ulama, the wealthy people and of course, the party members among the various other groups.

In fact, by the time Governor Kwankwaso agrees to look into my request and add me among his wives, there would be so much tremendous changes in the state. I’ve been in politics with him, I understand his psychology and through years of my experience in politics I can advise and re-direct his focus on how to make Kano a better place.

Hajiya Rabi said she had resolved to get close to the governor through marriage because of its intimate attachment since that would be the best option before her to impact positively on the governor and as a matter of priority suggest ways of improving governance in the state.

“I can be for him if he accepts to register along with me at the Hisbah Board. If God destined that this marriage is to take place, I have no quarrel with it, since Kwankwaso has the right to marry more than one wife and I’m sure Kano people would be better for it and our party would rise and rise again,” Hajiya Rabi said.

Photo: Burmese Woman Breastfeeds Tiger Cubs Because…

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Two tiger cubs, one male, one female were taken from her mother when she killed the third one in her litter. They are now been breast fed by a wet nurse, Hla Htay, at the Yangon Zoological Gardens in Burma and by breastfed, we mean literally, straight from her mammary glands.
Ms Htay, 40, the partner of an employee at the zoo, told local newspapers this week she felt sorry for the animals and offered her services, at least until the cubs grew teeth.
The two are now being raised on bottled milk as well as Hla Htay’s milk four times a day.

Drogba Gives £800,000 Worth Of Diamond Rings To Former Chelsea Team Mates

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The Blues legend handed out the jewellery to commemorate their Champions League triumph in May.

But Fernando Torres and sacked boss Roberto Di Matteo were no-shows for the Chelsea Harbour Hotel event hosted by Drogba yesterday. The Ivorian set up the special dinner to raise spirits after they became the first Champions League winners to be knocked out in the group stages the following season.

The gold rings were specially designed with diamonds and sapphires.

Every player’s name and squad number was also inscribed, along with the date they defeated Bayern Munich and the score.

Skipper John Terry, who was suspended for the final, attended along with Paulo Ferreira, Daniel Sturridge, Ryan Bertrand, David Luiz, Ashley Cole and Branislav Ivanovic.

Drogba said: “I am very proud of what the club achieved that night and wanted to give something to the team so we can all look back and remember that moment.”

Terry responded: “You’re my hero and everyone at Chelsea loves you.”

Shanghai Shenhua’s Drogba is training with Chelsea ahead of Ivory Coast’s African Nations Cup campaign.

Torres may have stayed away as it was his son’s second birthday yesterday. Juan Mata and Petr Cech also did not attend.

South Africa’s Nelson Mandela in hospital ‘for tests’

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela has been admitted to hospital in the capital Pretoria to undergo tests, officials say.

Nelson Mandela retired from public life in 2004

The office of President Jacob Zuma said 94-year-old Mr Mandela was doing well and there was “no cause for alarm”.

Mr Mandela spent more than two decades in jail under the white minority apartheid regime.

He served as South Africa’s first black president between 1994 and 1999, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Mr Mandela has rarely appeared in public since 2004, when he retired from public life.
In January 2011 he was treated for a serious chest infection, and a year later underwent a diagnostic procedure for an abdominal problem.

Officials said on Saturday that he would need medical attention “from time to time” because of his age.

There is no information yet on what prompted his admission, says the BBC’s Andrew Harding in Johannesburg.

Mr Zuma said in a statement: “We wish Madiba [Mandela] all the best.

“The medical team is assured of our support as they look after and ensure the comfort of our beloved founding president of a free and democratic South Africa.”

The statement gave no further details of Mr Mandela’s health.

Mr Mandela spends almost all his time in Qunu, a rural village close to where he was born.

He is known to be frail and his memory is fading, but visitors have repeatedly said he is in good spirits, says our correspondent.

Tokunbo Oke: Producers,colleagues beg me for sex

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Tokunbo Oke is one of the fast-growing actresses in the Yoruba movie industry. In this interview with TUNDE AYANDA, she states why she shuttles between the United States and Nigeria, her challenges in the industry and her purpose in acting, among other issues.

When did you decide to be an actress?
It had always been my dream to be on television and the dream became a reality in 2008. I was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where I joined the Waheed Ijaduade Theatre Group; I started from there and since then, I’ve not looked back.

What was the attraction?
The attraction came from watching too many Yoruba movies; I love what they do and wanted to be part of it.

Why do you prefer the Yoruba movies to the English-speaking movies?
I prefer Yoruba; I think their acting is real, even their lifestyles. I’m also a Yoruba woman, though I can act English movies too, if I see a good script.

Can you remember the first movie you acted in?
Aditu, produced by Olaiya. I did five scenes which I was not prepared for. I was at the location to tell my boss that I was going back to the United States of America and that was when the producer sighted me and asked me to take the role of a princess in the production. I didn’t know what to do but the director told me to believe in myself and taught me how to react under the camera. It later became a fun and I enjoyed it. Later, I worked with some big names in the industry.

What was the first payment you got from acting?
I was paid N3,000.

How do you cope living in America and acting in Nigeria?
I must confess to you that it is difficult and expensive, because I have to travel back and forth, but God keeps me going. My kids are schooling in America, so I have to find time to be with them, and when they are on holidays, I come to Nigeria.

Have you shot any movie in the United States?
My first movie production entitled Atona had three scenes shot in the United States.

How has your stay in the United States affected your career?
It has its advantages and disadvantages. In America, I am privy to a lot of things; you know they have the biggest movie industry in the world, so I learn a lot there. It was also in America that I learnt how to produce. The other thing is that I miss out on many movie productions in Nigeria, but still I don’t regret it because a lot is going on there; they are professionals and the practice of demanding for sex before getting a role doesn’t happen there. In Nigeria, they escape with a lot of scandals that can never happen there.

What are you working on presently?
I’m working on my new movie, Ameerah, which would be released soon.

What’s the storyline in Ameerah?
It’s about training a child in the right way; it’s about discipline. Ameerah is a lesson to both parents and guardians and a must-watch for them.

Where is the setting?
Abeokuta. We chose to shoot Ameerah in Abeokuta to interpret the daily life and upbringing in an urban settlement.

You earlier mentioned that the Nigerian movie industry is plagued with demand for sex, did you experience this or you are just trying to narrate someone’s experience?
It has happened to me and it’s still happening.

How?
The producers will ask you to sleep with them to get roles; it’s real.

But other actresses claim they don’t experience it
That’s good for them, but for me, I experience it. I just don’t want to mention names, even your colleagues too ask to sleep with you. It’s so embarrassing.

So, how do you ward off the advances?
It’s self determination; if you have a focus, you can’t be toyed with. I’m used to it and I see it as a phase that will soon pass, but honestly, it’s so embarrassing. I know it happens to other actresses too, but they choose to be silent. You know the reason I chose to talk? If others have been talking, it would have reduced, because if you make a scapegoat of one, others will adjust. It’s so bad! You will see producers and colleagues begging me for sex and they call themselves married men. I think we should learn to put the fear of God in everything we do. In the past, I would rather keep quiet, but I’m sure my silence won’t help the industry.

Don’t you think this revelation can have an adverse effect on your career?
I have a good job that sustains me and my kids, and right now, I produce some of my own movies. I must also tell you that there are upright and decent men in the industry. So I have no fears.

Who are your favourites in the movie industry?
I don’t have favourites yet, I just watch them and learn one or two things.

As an actress, what determines the roles you take?
The script; not really the money. I fall for any good script. I’m inspired by a lot of things, my environment, positive people and hard work.

Can you act nude?
I cannot, for all the money in the world, do that. I have children and what example will I be setting for them if I act nude.

Can you tell us about your family?
I am a single mum, I have two children.

So, you are not married to their father?
I’m not, though we are friends. He is also here in America and we still hang out together during thanksgiving and other celebrations.

What turns you off?
Dishonesty; I hate liars and fake people.

What describes you?
I’m not perfect; I’m simple, honest, friendly and hardworking.

What determines what you wear?
I’m not really a fashion person and here I dress according to the weather. Right now, I wear a lot of hoodies, sweaters and boots because of the cold, my dress sense is simple and modest.

Can you tell us a little of your background?
I was born in Abeokuta, I grew up there. I finished from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, before I relocated to America.

What’s your purpose for acting?
It’s a dream I want to fulfil and hopefully, I know one day I will play a major role and be part of the people that will effect a change in the industry.

What’s your assessment of the industry?
It’s growing everyday, our works are appreciated all over the world, but I know some things are still meant to be corrected.

Women should be given the opportunity to dialogue with Boko Haram

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

A former lawmaker, who represented southern senatorial district of Adamawa State at the National Assembly, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, has said women should be given the opportunity to dialogue with the Boko Haram sect as part of efforts to tackle the security problems facing the country.

She said the power of women should not be underestimated when it comes to bringing about peace in any situation, going by the magnitude of wisdom God has endowed them with, Leadership reports.

Bent spoke at a dinner and award night organised by the Global Association of Female Attorneys (GAFA) in Abuja on Thursday night, stated that all over the world, she added that the power of women to mediate are now being explored for good.

She said, the United States of America has in three succession appointed women, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton as secretary of states in acknowledgement of women’s power of diplomacy and capacity to mediate in crisis.

‘’Let the government of President Goodluck Jonathan permit women to mediate and dialogue with the Boko Haram sect.

We are their mothers and they would surely listen to us and express their grievances to enable us chart the course for peace.’’

But Bent said that the 35 per cent slot given to women in the political appointments was not enough.

She further stated that more slots should be given to women to enable for them to carry out their God given roles which invariably would bring about unprecedented development in the nation.

Olamide:Marijuana is part of inspiration

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Eni Duro crooner popularly called Olamide has joined the bandwagons of artistes who support Marijuana as part of tools to derive inspiration for singing from.In an interview recently, he admitted that though he only smokes ‘Igbo’ in his dream, however it’s part of the things one can get inspiration from.

“In my dreams I take marijuana but in the real sense, I don’t.

However, Igbo is part of it too,” he said

Four LeadCity students die in car accident in Ibadan

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Sources says four students of LeadCity University died instantly early this morning in an auto crash around high-court area of ring road ibadan. They left Infinities and were heading to Koko Dome night club for a party hosted by some LeadCity students. They were drunk obviously.

Corps Member In Court For Alleged Malicious Damage, Prostitution

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

29-year-old Lilian Ogboona, a youth corps member serving in Lagos State was on Friday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ court in Lagos on charges of soliciting, prostitution and malicious damage to property.

Ogboona, a Batch B corps member who resides at No. 58, Oniru Estate, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of soliciting for prostitution and malicious damage of property.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Raji Akeem who told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences on Dec. 5, at her residence said that when the police responded to a disturbance call in the neighbourhood it was discovered that the defendant and her roommates were engaged in a fight.

According to him, the defendant had gotten into an argument with other roommates and thereafter a fight broke out resulting in the damage of an iPad tablet valued N170,000.

Other items allegedly damaged were a split air conditioner worth N55,000 and window blinds valued at N6,000, all properties of Mrs Yvonne Nnami.

Akeem submitted that the offences committed contravened sections 141 (1) (b) and 348 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

Lilian Ogboona, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum by the Magistrate, Mr Jacob Adegun.

The case was adjourned to December 13 for mention.

Raw Talent Not Enough To Succeed In Music – Djinee

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Music has become so lucrative in Nigeria, so much that everyone who could get hold of a mic wants to sing. This is one of the reasons why we have some bad music ruining the airwaves today. Thank God we still have artistes who do music not only for the money, but are also passionate about it; they are the ones who still make us want to stay close to our radio when the tunes come on.

Djinee

Co-owner of Kreazivity music, Osayamwen Nosa Donald, popularly known as Djinee is endowed with a unique and captivating voice. He’s one of the good ones who still work very hard at making good music.

Djinee who recently released a pre-album said he was motivated by his fans that had been yearning to hear new songs from him.

“I had my fans in mind when I made the decision,” Djinee told Youthful Vibes. “They’ve been yearning for my sound for so long, so why starve them with only a hit single when I can give them 5 songs at once. Ultimately, the album will come out sometime next year and there’ll be songs that will keep them dancing and others that will inspire them, hopefully. I am working towards making it a thorough job.”

Djinee believes seeing many youths turning into music than crime shows there’s hope for the country in music.

He however advised that young people should “Pray. Have a passion for what you want to be in life. Read, it adds depth. Know more about whatever your calling is. Raw talent isn’t enough, be happy doing it.”

President Jonathan weeps during brother’s burial rites

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The Nigerian President, President Goodluck Jonathan was filled with emotions at his younger brother’s burial rites that he broke into tears. Meni Innocent Jonathan, who died on 20 November at the National

Hospital, Abuja was taken to Otuoke on Friday, 7th December.

The service of songs was held at Dame Patience Jonathan Square, Otuoke.

The Senate President, David Mark, other notable government officials and representatives of Nollywood where present.

However, Vice-president Namadi Sambo, was absent, so as to prepare for the wedding of his two daughters in Kaduna on Saturday.

Furthermore, Meni Jonanthan will be buried today (Saturday) at his hometown in Otuoke, in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, after a commendation service at the St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Otuoke at 10 am.

Lagos to Kano mass transit train service commence operations

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

It was reported on Friday that The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Mr Adeseyi Sijuwade, in Lagos disclosed, the Lagos to Kano mass transit train service would begin operations

on December 20.

He made this announcement at the first management retreat of the corporation which was held at Lekki, Lagos.

Furthermore, he revealed that, the rehabilitation of the tracks from Lagos to Kano, including bridges and culverts has been completed.

Sijuwade assured commuters that the Train service from Lagos to Kano or Kano to Lagos will be safe and cheap during the yuletide.

“This formal launch would be announced soon to ensure the resumption of full inter-state mass transit services along the rail tracks on weekdays,” he said.

Sijuwade promised tight security would be put in place comprising of the police and Man-O-War before the commencement of the service.

The Managing Director also said the rehabilitation of eastern railway lines terminating at Maiduguri was in progress, adding that trains would convey on the corridor in 2013.

He stated that the retreat was aimed at bringing out the potential of the NRC.

One of the aims and objectives of the transit train service are for strategic management of assets and facilities of the corporation in line with the organisation’s vision and mission.

Picture: Another Mother Beats Her Son To Death

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

A British jury on Wednesday found a mother who beat her seven-year-old son to death for failing to learn the Quran by heart guilty of murdering him and burning his body to hide the evidence.

33-year-old Sara Ege, a mathematics graduate from India, treated her son Yaseen Ali like a “dog”, beating him with a stick when he failed to memorise religious texts, Cardiff Crown Court in Wales heard.

Yaseen died in July 2010. It was initially thought that he had been killed in a fire at the family home in Pontcanna, Cardiff, but tests later revealed that he was dead before the blaze began.

Ege denied killing her son, but blamed her husband instead. Yousef Ege, 38, was later cleared of failing to prevent the death of his son.

Sara Ege confessed to the murder, but later retracted the confession saying she had been forced into it by a threat of violence from her husband and his family.

Ege was found guilty of murder and of perverting the course of justice, and will be sentenced next year.

In her confession, which was recorded by police and shown to the jury, Ege detailed how her son had collapsed on the day of his death still murmuring extracts from the Koran, the holy book of Islam.

She described undressing Yaseen when he collapsed and soiled himself, then dragging him to the kitchen to feed him milk.

The child was left lying naked on the kitchen floor still reciting extracts from the Koran as she poured him the drink.

He took only a few sips before his mother dragged and pushed him to his bedroom and told him to get dressed.

When he proved incapable she dressed him herself and left him on a rug by his bed, claiming she believed he had fallen asleep.

Ten minutes later she returned to find Yaseen shaking and shivering on the floor and gulping a final breath before dying.

Ege decided to burn his body and went to fetch barbecue gel from the kitchen. She told police she decided to destroy his corpse because “I was too nervous”.

She claimed she could not stop herself beating her son and repeatedly pledged to God that she would not do it again, but her good intentions only lasted a few days.

The court heard how, after she was charged with murder, Ege had what appears to have been a breakdown and was sent to a psychiatric unit for several months. At various times she claimed to have been motivated by voices from the devil.

Wednesday’s verdict came at the end of the second trial in the case. A jury at the same court earlier this year was discharged for failing to reach a verdict.

Minister Blames Previous Administrations For Deplorable Situation Of Roads

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, has blamed previous governments for the current deplorable state of many roads in the country.

Onolememen expressed the disgust at the Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies (AES) Excellence Club 3rd Annual CEO’s Dinner/Awards Night in Lagos on Friday.

The minister said the poor state of the roads was inimical to the nation’s development.

According to him, the development in America is due to the county’s success in the management of its roads.

He stressed the need for greater investments in the construction and maintenance of good road network to enhance the nation’s economy.

“Attitudinal change in management and financing of roads in Nigeria is needed to enhance development in our country,” Onolememen said.

The minister said that investments in road infrastructure were needed to achieve the transformation agenda of the government for Nigeria to be among the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.

He said Nigeria’s road infrastructure had to grow from the current 194,000 Km to about 300,000.

Onolememen, who received the Minister of the Year Award for his outstanding commitment to economic transformation of the nation, said the ministry was initiating policies to develop the country’s road infrastructure.

He commended members of the AES Excellence Club, who according to him, have made positive impact in the nation’s socio-economic growth.

NAN reports that Kano State governor, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, also received the club’s “Governor of the Year Award”. The Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was inducted into the club, was awarded a Fellowship for her outstanding contributions to the development of women and children in the state.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award went to Mr Olorogun Emerhor, Group Vice Chairman of Standard Alliance Insurance Group.

Also elder statesmen, Dr Maitama Sule and Dr Christopher Kolade, received the “Life-Time Achievement Awards. (NAN)

Boyfriend Snatching: Tonto Tells Yvonne Nelson to Move to Her Promise Land

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Controversial Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh is obviously not bothered by the fact that her fellow actress is heart-broken courtesy of her exploits with the later’s boyfriend, Iyanya.

Below is how she reacted to the issue….

Bisi Ibidapo Names Her Baby After Dino Melaye

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

You claimed you got pregnant for a man, another woman’s husband. The married man said you’re not telling the truth. He said you’re a specialist in blackmailing, that he’s not your first victim and may not be the last.

In African tradition, before the invention of DNA, the belief was that a woman always knows the rightful father of her child. And so despite denials, despite controversy, ace actress, Bisi Ibidapo Obe, has insisted that the father of her child is Dino Melaye, the former Nigeria’s House of Representatives member from Kogi state.

According to TheSun online, Bisi unveiled the identity of her baby’s father when she formally made his name public. In a christening ceremony at her Magodo residence, in Lagos, Friday, which had family members and close friends in attendance, Bisi’s baby was named Precious Oluwajomiloju Abikeade Melaye.

The ceremony, which was done by clerics from Celestial Church of Christ, also featured a lavish reception party immediately at a nearby hall. Decked in all white iro and buba attire, Bisi was all smiles, as she cuddled her baby.

The paternity of the child has been the subject of dispute between the actress and Melaye.stial Church Of Christ on Friday 7th December, 2012.

GIST: Cold War Btw Goldie and J Martins, As J Martins Shows That Age Is Nothing But A Number

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

There’s serious bad blood right now between two music stars: Goldie and J Martins. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to make it short. Goldie invited J Martins to South Africa in November to appear in the video of a song they did together called Give It To Me. J Martins asked for business class. Goldie said she couldn’t afford it. J Martins agreed to come reluctantly. Then he told Goldie to pick him up at the airport. Goldie sent someone instead. J Martin refused to follow the man Goldie sent to the airport to pick him up, saying he didn’t want to be kidnapped (which makes sense).
J Martins then checked himself into a $700 hotel, refusing to check into the hotel Goldie booked for him. Goldie and other members of her crew then went to J Martins’ hotel to see him but he refused to see them. He said he was tired, and was not feeling well, so couldn’t see anyone. Then the morning of the shoot, J Martins refused to come to set. He asked Goldie and her crew to pay for his hotel accommodation. $700 x 5 nights = $3, 500. Goldie said she couldn’t afford it. After much begging and talks, J Martins agreed to two nights refund which was $1400.
After that was settled, J Martins didn’t show up on set till 3pm that afternoon. When he got on set, he refused to enter the video until they gave him the $1400. Then he complained about the costumes…he refused to do this, refused to do that…he was rude, he was talking on the phone…etc…etc.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, the white guys shooting the video got tired of all the drama and packed their stuff and left without completing the video. J Martins shot some scenes but not all Goldie is said to be pretty angry at J Martins because she lost a lot of money

NEWS: Agege Bread Takes London By Surprise

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The entrepreneurial savvy of the average Nigerian is not to be taken for a joke or trifled with. When our correspondent came across an Agege Bread shop in London, he was stuck in disbelief.

Undoubtedly Agege Bread has infiltrated the cosmopolitan city of London.

Agege Bread is a loaf of bread made popular by the bakers from the same Lagos suburb that make the bread. Millions of Lagosians are familiar with the delicacy and have it as a regular part of their balanced diet.

Now some savvy entrepreneur has taken the concept to London, England and is making a small fortune baking and delivering Nigerian styled loaves to lovers of baked products in the Queen’s own country.

One noticeable difference about the difference in the London made Agege bread is the packaging is more professional and appealing than the locally made version. However that is simply a testament to the enabling environment that a country like Great Britain affords its citizens and migrants.

According to the website of the company, “The idea of providing home away from home in England for an average Nigerian in diaspora, to enjoy quality and home taste Nigerian conventional food at the lowest possible price, was our aim that gave birth to London Agege bread.

In 2005 from the East end of London, the dream was born and has since spread across the UK and Europe. From a dream, it has grown to become a household name all over London, Northern Ireland and Europe, a corporate brand and a quality standard in the bakery/confectionery industry in England offering quality, comfort and home taste satisfaction in diaspora for Nigerians and Europeans also other Africans individuals, groups, churches, mosques and other corporate organisations.”

At its South East London, Deptford Street address, diners can not only buy bread, they can choose from a plethora of other soulful dishes that immediately transport the diner mentally to a Bukka in Nigeria.

NEWS: Ghana Orders MTN To Stop Sim Card Sales ‘Cos of Poor Service, But Nigeria… :]Y

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Mobile telecom giant MTN, has put on hold the sale of new sim cards and halted new subscriber add-ons following a directive from the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Per the directive, MTN is to immediately stop selling and adding new SIM cards and subscribers to its network until further notice.

According to the NCA, despite numerous engagements with MTN on issues of its quality of service experienced by consumers on its mobile services, the network performance on MTN continues to deteriorate.

Last month, MTN on several occasions had to apologize to its subscribers after numerous network disruptions.

MTN in a statement to Citi Business News has indicated though it is still engaging the NCA on the matter, it will cooperate with the authority to implement the directive.

The telecom operator assured its customers that every effort was being made to urgently address the recent network challenges in service delivery.

MTN is the largest telecom service provider in the country with over 11 million subscribers in the country.

Below is the full statement from MTN
MTN COMMITS TO RESOLVE RECENT NETWORK CHALLENGES

MTN wishes to assure its valued customers that every effort is being made to urgently address the recent network challenges in service delivery.

MTN is engaging with the National Communications Authority in this regard and will be cooperating with them to implement the recent directive.

We wish to take this opportunity to thank our customers for their continued loyalty whilst assuring them of our commitment to providing them reliable services.

But Nigeria’s leaders cant do same cos they are ravenous wolves!

Source -NX

Notorious B.I.G. post mortem released

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Authorities have released a long-sealed report showing The Notorious B.I.G. was shot four times in a 1997 drive-by shooting in Los Angeles that remains unsolved.

The report said one of the bullets delivered a fatal wound to the rapper, whose real name was Christopher Wallace.

The 23-page document details the trajectory of each of the shots that hit him. One bullet killed the hip-hop star when it tore through his left lung, heart and colon.

No drugs or alcohol were found in his system.

The killing has been the subject of police and FBI investigations and remains one of Los Angeles’ highest-profile unsolved homicides.

Wallace, who was also known as Biggie Smalls, was 24 years old when he was killed after leaving a music industry event.

His murder is thought to have been part of a feud between rival record labels.

Chief Coroner Investigator Craig Harvey said a security hold that had been placed on the report was lifted last week.

A phone message left for an attorney who represents Wallace’s family and widow, Faith Evans, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

Federal agents conducted a bi-coastal search for Wallace’s killer, but federal prosecutors determined in 2005 that there was not enough evidence to pursue a case.

Agents looked into whether any Los Angeles police officers had been involved in the shooting, which came months after another rap superstar, Tupac Shakur, was shot dead in Las Vegas.

In March 2011, the FBI electronically released files on its investigation, which were heavily redacted but shed new light on the efforts that investigators took to try to find those responsible for the rapper’s death.

Agents conducted surveillance and interviews in Los Angeles, San Diego and New York, the files showed.

The deaths of Wallace and Shakur have been the subject of rampant speculation about the motives.

The one-time friends became rivals and instigators in an East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry during the mid-1990s.

Wallace’s family filed a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles, and a 2005 trial ended with a mistrial after attorneys for Wallace’s family discovered the city had withheld a trove of LAPD documents.

The family dismissed the lawsuit in 2010. Their attorney said that was done in order for the FBI and other agencies to pursue new leads in the case.

The civil case could be refiled, although that has not yet occurred.

Culled: Yahoo!

Nigerian Accent Ranked 5th Sexiest In The World By CNN – See Full List

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

12. Argentine

The bad news: she finds your bad breath and dirty elbows repulsive. The good news: it sounded totally hot when she told you.

Famous tongues: Fernando Lamas, Gabriela Sabatini

A historical refuge for Spaniards, Italians and Germans, the hyper-libidinous South Ameripean melting pot of Argentina has cultivated a proud, pouty tone. With its own pronunciation of Spanish letters (“ll” sounds like “shh”) and its own words (“you” is “vos”), this is a dialect that’s hard to get. (Or at least plays that way.)

Sounds like: A tightly tuned guitar of G-strings strummed by a lamb shank

11. Thai

He not only floats like a butterfly, he speaks like one, too.

Famous tongues: Tony Jaa, Tata Young

With five tones comprising their native speech, the traffickers of this often fragile accent turn any language into a song of seduction. Thai is largely monosyllabic, so multi-beat foreign words get extra emphases right up until the last letter, which is often left off, leaving the listener wanting more. (Or at least asking “Huh?” lustfully.)

Sounds like: R-rated karaoke

10. Trinidadian

If their accents don’t seduce you, their mon bosoms will.

Famous tongues: Nikki Minaj, Billy Ocean

For fetishists of oddball sexuality, the Caribbean island of Trinidad offers an undulating, melodic gumbo of pan-African, French, Spanish, Creole and Hindi dialects that, when adapted for English, is sex on a pogo stick.

Sounds like: A rubber life raft bobbing on a sea of steel drums

9. Brazilian Portuguese

She screams, she scores!

Famous tongues: Alice Braga, Anderson Silva

Perhaps owing to its freedom from French influence, the Brazilian Portuguese accent has a more colorful, puerile flair than its coarser European counterpart. The resulting yowl of drawn-out vowels reveals a flirty freedom of spirit that sounds like a permanent vacation.

Sounds like: The near, then far, then near again hum of a low-wattage vacuum cleaner that runs on dance sweat

8. U.S. Southern

Y’all, we love it when y’all call us y’all. Especially when y’all are wearing orange chaps.

Famous tongues: Matthew McConaughy, Britney Spears

There’s nothing sexy about being in a hurry, and you could clock the growth rate of grass with the honeyed drawl — less Tea Party, more “True Blood” — of a Southern beau or belle.

Sounds like: Molasses taking a smoking break

7. Oxford British

“Down to your last pair of socks then, what?”

Famous tongues: Hugh Laurie, Sienna Miller

Authoritative. Upright. Erudite. Scholarly. Few accents promise the upward nobility of the Queen’s English. It’s a take on the language that sets hearts devoted to James Bond and Hermione Granger aflutter. And, should the speaker fail to slake your most wanton desires, eh, at least you’ll learn something.

Sounds like: A crisply ironed shirt playing a harp

6. Irish

Just lay off the leprechaun jokes and you’ll be fine.

Famous tongues: Colin Farrell, Andrea Corr

Valued slightly more in men than in women, the Irish brogue is a lilting, lyrical articulation that’s charming, if not exotic. Fluid and uplifting, it can swing from vulnerable to threatening over the course of a sentence, restoring your faith in the world again … right before it stabs you with a broken bottle top.

Sounds like: A marauding pixie

5. Nigerian

Some Nigerians are actually worth giving your bank account information to.

Famous tongues: King Sunny Adé, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde

Dignified, with just a hint of willful naiveté, the deep, rich “oh’s” and “eh’s” of Naija bend the English language without breaking it, arousing tremors in places other languages can’t reach. Kinda makes the occasional phone scam worth the swindle.

Sounds like: The THX intro with teeth

4. Czech

Smoky eyes? Czech. Intrguing history? Czech. Meat-flavored accent? Czech.

Famous tongues: Petra Nemcova, Jaromír Jágr

Like Russian, without the nettlesome history of brutal, iron-fisted despotism, Czech is a smoky, full-bodied vocal style that goes well with most meats. Murky and mysterious, the Bohemian tone is equal parts carnal desire and carnival roustabout.

Sounds like: Count Dracula, secret agent

3. Spanish

“¿Número tres? ¿Qué clase de idiota eres?” Ah, no one rejects us so hotly.

Famous tongues: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz

Sensual and beckoning, but with the passion to unleash hell kept just barely restrained, Castilian is like a dialectic Hoover Dam. But then there’s the lisp. Tender, vulnerable and cute as a baby’s hangnail — no one owns the “th” sound formed by tongue and teeth like those who speak the language of Cervantes.

2. French

Even when they pout it sounds good.

Famous tongues: Sophie Marceau, Jean Reno

The demotion of this perennial prizewinner of global brogues to second place may illustrate the declining sexuality of Old World petulance. Still, the come-hither condescension and fiery disinterest of the French tongue remains paradoxically Intimate.

Sounds like: A 30-year-old teenager

1. Italian

Even when bathing in a fountain, a romance language is a romance language.

Famous tongues: Monica Bellucci, Alessandro Del Piero

Raw, unfiltered and as grabby to ears as its president is to rears, the Italian accent is a vowelgasm that reflects the spectrum of Italic experience: the fire of its bellicose beginnings … the romance of the Renaissance … the dysfunction of anything resembling a government since Caesar. Insatiable, predatory and possessive, this is sex as a second language.

Sounds like: A Ferrari saxophone

Source: CNN Travel

2Face Says, “I married Annie secretly because I didn’t want to hurt my other baby mamas”

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

“Annie is my first and true love. I had known her before I met the other women in my life. As a Christian, I had to marry one woman and it just had to be Annie. We had a secret wedding after we had reached an agreement and amicable understanding about the mothers of my children. It was a tough decision to make, one of the toughest in my life.
“I secretly married her because I have so much respect for my other babies’ mothers; I cannot afford to hurt their feelings with a sudden society wedding with Annie, not now. I chose her above the others because she has been through it all with me.” – 2face Idibia said to Punch

Picture: Would A Reasonable Lady Ever Dress Like This?

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Indecent dressing simply means deliberate exposure of one’s body to the public. This practice is contrary to the acceptable norms and values of the society.

Moral decadence on the other is a reduction in the level of morality in the society. Do you observe that most (ladies) had gone haywire all in the name of the dressing?

The other day I screamed when I saw a girl whose parent barely fed well, dressed with half of her breast and buttocks outside.
The trouser she wore is such that half of her buttock was out, with beads and terrible make ups and I heard her mum telling her “to have a nice day.”

Some girls have been embarrassed and even abused because of their outrageous outfit.
Indecent dressing is the major cause of the various assault and sexual harassment recorded in the society, over time. As a result of civilization, Nigeria ladies dress half naked to occasions all in the name of fashion’ and this is contrary to the prestige placed on African women. For instance Nigeria ladies derive pleasure in wearing cloth such as mini skirt, bumper short, armless e.t.c.

As a lady you must be cautious of the kind of clothes you put on. Do you know your dress create impression about you either positively or negatively in the heart of people?

Your dress could show if you are responsible or irresponsible, serious minded or unserious. Dressing in a manner that parents, society and religion frown at is not civilization. The way you dress show whether you are respected or not.

Most ladies now walk on the street half naked, with tattered clothes all in the name of fashion. Also, some innocent guys have been arrested along with armed robbers just because of the way they dressed.

I see no reason why a child from a good home should relax or keep dreadlocks, piercing his ears all in the name of fashion. There is a saying that “you are addressed because of the way you dressed.”

Nowadays, different styles of dressing are in vogue – low west, hot bosom, sagging etc. All these have the society’s moral value to its lowest ebb.

In a nation that is endowed with varieties of culture and traditions, it is annoying seeing this culture and traditions going into extinction. Nigerians find it difficult to dress in their local attire as it is regarded as “old and archaic.”

Indecent dressing is an habit embraced by all ages in the society. It has been inculcated by both the young and the old.

It is common among celebrities, particularly among artistes. This set of people, while on stage will want to look unique and in the process turned themselves into lunatic.

They wear tattered jean with holes, tight fitting shirt, some even go to the extent of wearing ordinary pant while on stage. All this is the cause of juvenile delinquency. Most of the under age children engage in early sex as a result of what they watch on Television as well as what they saw among their older siblings.

Sadly, most ladies have been sexually abused because of their mode of dressing.

32-year-old Woman Hangs self in Lagos Neighbourhood

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Huge crowd that gathered at 11, Hakeem Alli Street, Ayobo,Lagos State on Saturday, May 16,2011 which coincided with the presidential election was rather unusual.
The building was not a polling unit and the mass of people were not voters but shell-shocked sympathizers. It was a scene of a bizarre incident, hence, residents abandoned the voting centres to catch a glimpse of the dangling remains of Sarafat Adewunmi Azees who committed suicide by hanging inside her one-bedroom apartment
At the entrance of her apartment was a pair of slippers belonging to the deceased while at the corner of her room was her cosmetic kits and her voter card. The 32 year-old, Iseyin,Oyo State born beautician according to investigation was said to have returned from work on Thursday, April 14 without an inkling that she was going to abbreviate her life.
On Friday, 15,2011 her hordes of customers were said to have
stormed her residence as usual to have their faces beautified.

They later became confused agitated after knocking on her door without any response. It was in that situation that an unidentified neighbour at about 8pm that day went to the back of the building and peeped through the window of her room before discovering her dangling body.
The Divisional Police Officer of Ayobo Police Station Julius Isijola, a Chief Supritendent of Police(CSP) who led his men to the scene of the incident promised to launch a full scale investigation into the incident, assuring that police will ensure a proper investigation.
A neighbour who asked not be mentioned narrated how it all happened. She said:The deceased was an unassuming person and she always kept to herself. She returned from work last Thursday and she greeted everyone as usual before going into her room. The next day, her customers started coming to have their finger nails fixed while some wanted to buy some items from her but they became worried upon knocking on her door without any response
When after many hours of waiting she did not come out of her room, someone suggested that we check her room through the window and that was how we discovered her dangling body tied to the ceiling fan.
It was such a gory sight, hence, we raised the alarm to alert neigbours and residents
Investigation revealed that the deceased popularly called Iya Shakirat moved into the house after her home at the Ayobo Residential was among many others demolished by the Lagos State government.The development subsequently led to separation with her husband and she was said to have squatted with friends for sometime before she subsequently moved into the building where she hung herself.
The distraught owner of the building Mr. Adedigba Adekunle, described the deceased as a very quiet person and an industrious woman.
Hear him:She was a very quiet person and she was not a troublesome tenant. She moved into this house about a year ago claiming that her house was among the buildings demolished by the Lagos State government at the Ayobo Residential Scheme. She was into so many things; she was a beautician, cosmetologist and she renders laundry services to residents
I have never seen her husband before; they probably parted after their house was demolished. I cannot exactly tell if her unfortunate action was due to financial hardship or not because her rent was due next month. She has an eight year old daughter called Shakirat who lives with her estranged husband
But more importantly I think she had carefully executed her own death judging by the way she arranged her room. For example, a voter card bearing her photograph and biodata was place on the floor while she also wrote the telephone numbers of some family members on a piece of paper
He explained further that futile efforts were made to contact some of her family members including her husband.
Hear him: There were some telephone numbers she wrote on a piece of paper and when we called some of them they declined response. Even when we called her husband too he asked us to leave him alone.We`are awaiting police report and we have called the Lagos State Ambulance service to come remove her corpse after necessary propitiation is offered because this is an abominable incident.
In his words, the chairman of the Ogoluwade Community Development Association, Pastor Johnson Samayi said:Its just unfortunate that the woman took her life. We don’t really know what the motive behind her action is all about. But from the point of religion, I know that certain evil forces must have led her to embrace suicide. As a pastor, I have listened to testimonies by people about some evil voices asking them to jump into the sea.
I want to encourage residents to be prayerful and to always share their problems with men of God who can intercede on their behalf with prayers and counsel them with word of God
The incident prompted a resident who simply identified himself as John to add a spiritual angle to the development on the strength of series of similar incident in the community in recent time.
He said: We really need prayer in this community because a lot of this kind of incident has happened in this area in the last few weeks. Only a few weeks ago, a man said to be mentally challenged jumped into a well while another woman only a few days ago died during child birth

Picture: See The Married Pastor In Sex Scandal: Infects Girls In His Church With HIV

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

These days you hear some dirty acts associated with someone called a Pastor and you wonder if the fellow actually understands the responsibilities of that title.

Pastor Craig Lamar Davis of Full Gospel Baptist Church has been arrested for alleged reckless conduct after investigators discovered he was sleeping with several ladies in the church, leading to him infecting them with HIV, a deadly sexually transmitted disease.
At least two ladies have come forward to press charges. According to reports, Atlanta based Pastor Davis admitted to investigators that he’s HIV positive and that he willingly have unprotected sex with the said women.

One woman, Ronita McAfee, says she met Pastor Davis on Facebook and it wasn’t long before the two started meeting to have sex.

Black Media Scoop states:
A few months after the affair kicked off, Ronita says Pastor Davis called and told her that one of his ex-girlfriends called and said she tested positive for HIV. He told Ronita to call her doctor and that if she is positive it is not a death sentence. He also suggested some over the counter drugs she could take so that she would not get infected.

Ronita claims that after learning that the vacant house Pastor Davis had been staying in had been foreclosed and he continued to refuse to get tested, it became obvious to her he was positive and she filed a police report and took out a warrant for his arrest.

Ronita made history as the first person to file these kind of charges against anyone in Clayton County. Subsequently, she asked if she could also file against him in Fulton County because she discovered another woman had fallen victim to Pastor Davis’ cunning ways. In fact, the woman, who wants to remain anonymous, was in a leadership position at the same church where Pastor Davis was once a member.

She was a leader in Bishop Steven Hall ministry and Pastor Davis was his head armor barrier. This woman said she contracted HIV from Pastor Davis after being celibate for 15 years. When the victim shared her situation with her pastor, Bishop Steven Hall, he decided to remove her from her leadership position and asked Davis to leave his church.

Atlanta Police arrested Pastor Davis in the parking lot of a Wendy’s fast food restaurant after church service on July 22. He was denied bond at the first hearing but later he was granted a $30,000 bail and his wife Jan posted the $3,200 to bail him out.

Investigators are still reviewing the case and believe Pastor Davis may have several more victims.

Wendy Williams Insults Beyonce’s Educational Level And Ability To Speak

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Two days ago on her show, Wendy made a comment about Beyonce that some of the singer’s fans aren’t happy about. Wendy said Beyonce sounds like she has a fifth grade education…

Wendy was talking about Beyonce’s new documentary on HBO when she remarked,
“I am a Beyonce fan. I’m gonna be watching this documentary cause fortunately one of the TVs in our kitchen has closed captioning so I’ll be able to understand what she says. You know Beyonce can’t talk. Beyonce sounds like she has a fifth grade education. She can’t talk. Honestly. We really do have the closed captioning for times like that.”

Pictures: Desperate Old British Women Flock To Gambia For Young Men

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The Gambia — a country known as the Smiling Coast of Africa — fits the bill for just what middle-aged British women are seeking….chatting and sipping cocktails on a sunshine holiday.

Gambian gamble … Polly Francis and 32-year-old Lamin Sarr

The smiling, obliging and charming Africans give them the kind of attention that some of them may not have enjoyed for years – And that, put simply, is love.

Many of these unlucky-in-love women want to return home from their two-week break with a tan, a smile — and a new lover in tow who can give them the affection they have craved for years.

The young men, some of them teenagers, target the white women…they see them as their ticket to a new life in a country with endless opportunities. In a country where half the population live below the poverty line and the average wage is £30 a week, a European girlfriend seems to make perfect sense.

But a happy ending is not guaranteed.

Solomon was one of the first wave of Gambians to marry a Brit — holidaymaker Catherine, who he met in 1992 when he worked as her tour rep.

He said:

Quote
She was nine years older than me. She had not been loved. She had grown up in a care home and run away. Life with a caring Gambian who romanced her was probably amazing. We got married so I could go to the UK but I felt trapped there — it was boring, just me and her.

“When we had our son Peace, who is now 17, she didn’t like my Gambian lifestyle any more. She got annoyed with me smoking wacky baccy, hanging out in the pub and chilling out.

“I went to the council and got my own flat and she had hers. We split up”.

Party town … young tourists mix with Gambian locals in Kololi

Polly and I are real’ … Lamin Sarr embraces Polly Francis, who he calls his ‘wife’

After 30 years in London, Polly Francis moved to The Gambia when she met hotel receptionist Lamin Sarr eight years ago. The retired nurse, who is in her 50s, used inheritance money to build them a home.

She said:

Quote
“I know I’m old enough to be his mum and that people must think I just came here looking for a toyboy but I didn’t. I fell in love.

“He is a gentleman — quiet and strong, my best friend.”

Polly — who has just had a hip replacement — can’t afford the £800 UK visa for Lamin and they are not married because she is not yet divorced from her husband.
She said: “Our home here has no running water but I wouldn’t swap it for London. I don’t miss the rushing around. I do miss my family, though.”

She has a daughter and two sons — aged 40 and 30 — and said: “My elder son found my relationship hard to accept but my younger son has visited us. He and Lamin get on well”.

And Lamin, 33, said: “I love Polly. I call her ‘the wife’. The men who marry for the wrong reasons are trying their luck”. “I don’t blame them. But Polly and I are real. She makes me happy — she is wonderful.”

Pastor, One Other Arrested With 181 Bags Of Indian Hemp In Osun

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Osun has arrested a pastor and a 27 year-old man with 181 bags of cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp.

The sector commander of the Agency, Anthonia Edeh, made this known on Friday while addressing newsmen in Osogbo.

According to Edeh, the 45-year-old pastor, and one other person were arrested at Ikire in Irewole Local Government Area of the state on Dec. 5, with the illicit weed weighing 1,838.4 kilogramme.

“Men of the command swooped into action based on the information received from patriotic Nigerians and arrested the two suspects in a three rooms apartment, where the bags of Indian hemp were stocked,” she said.

She added that two of the bags were full with cannabis seeds, which the suspects wanted to keep for the next planting season.

The commander also revealed that three others suspects, including a woman escaped arrest.

She said, “Efforts are on to nab the fleeing culprits, though the pastor is claiming innocence of the crime saying that he was only a co-tenant of the other suspect.

“The agency has no constitutional power to exonerate him, only the court has the power and the two men will be arraigned soon,” she said.

Edeh further said that men of the command recovered 68.8 kilogramme of Indian hemp, stocked inside a Volkswagen Vento car marked AW 652 AKR, on Dec. 2, along Ilobu Road in Osogbo.

She said that the owner of the car, who was on the road side waiting for suspected buyer took to his heels when sighted men of the command.

The commander admonished the general public to be conscious of their environment and report the activities of drug peddlers or traffickers to the security operatives.

She reiterated the commitment of the agency to put an end to the cultivation, trafficking and peddling of Indian hemp across the state, and urged the people to cooperate with the agency in the drug war crusade.

She also cautioned commercial drivers to beware of the loads they carry “now that we are at the peak of harvesting period”.

(NAN)

Prophet TB Joshua’s Church Sells Registration Forms For US$100 To Go Receive Your Healing

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Police moved in on Monday to disperse hundreds of people gathered at Belvedere Teacher’s College after they responded to a TV advert to come and receive “spiritual healing” from Nigerian preacher, TB Joshua.

The desperate crowd, mainly women, were under the impression TB Joshua would be at the college in person. College authorities called in the police to restore order as the restive crowd confronted organisers of the event.

The crowd were advised to reconvene at the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds on Monday evening but they were disappointed to discover TB Joshua was not in Zimbabwe.

One woman who travelled from Gokwe said she had an illness which she hoped TB Joshua could cure.

“I just came here hoping to get deliverance from the man of God, only to be told that we should register for an appointment,” she said after making the 340km bus trip to the capital.

Her husband, who travelled with her, said: “We were surprised to hear that we are required register. The message which we heard and saw on Emmanuel TV was that TB Joshua was coming to heal us, not the issue of registration.”

A member of TB Joshua’s church in Zimbabwe, identified as Chibwe, told the crowd: “The advert on TV was saying that people should come for registration so that they are ready to travel to Nigeria. So please don’t be confused because there is no chaos in Christ.”

The crowd were asked to buy “registration forms” for US$100 each and deposit a further US$2,000 for the trip to Nigeria for an audience with TB Joshua at his Synagogue Church of All Saints which is headquartered in Lagos.

Several Zimbabwean politicians have travelled to Nigeria over the last year for an audience with TB Joshua, believed by supporters to have healing powers and an ability to see into the future.

Among those who have sought TB Joshua are MDC-T leader and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi and Zanu PF officials Oppah Muchinguri and Chris Mushowe.

Pastor Arraigned For Molesting 13 Yr Old Girl

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

Ado-Ekiti – The police in Ekiti on Friday arraigned Solomon Olasehinde, 25, before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate’s court for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl.

The prosecutor, Mr. Akinwale Oriyomi, alleged that the accused had unlawful carnal knowledge of his victim on Nov.17, 2012 at about 5:30pm at C62 Oke-Ibukun Street, Otun-Ekiti.

The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 16 Laws of Ekiti and Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code Cap 16 Laws of Ekiti State of Nigeria, 2012.’

He appealed to the court for an adjournment to enable him duplicate the case file and send same to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

The accused pleaded not guilty and his counsel, Mr. Ebenezer Adedeji, urged the court to grant bail to his client in liberal terms and assured the court that a reliable surety would be provided.

The Magistrate, Ms. Adejoke Anoma, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 and two sureties; one of whom should reside within the jurisdiction of the court and the other should be an elder in the Church where the accused was a pastor.

She adjourned the case till Jan. 9, 2013 for the DPP’s advice. (NAN)

N2.1 Bn Worth Of Newly Printed N1,000 Notes Missing At Nigerian Minting Company

December 8, 2012 by Moses Ogunsanya

It is being reported that a whooping N2.1 billion of newly printed N1,000 notes has mysteriously gone missing from the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).

According to Leadership, members of the board of NSPMC met yesterday at a meeting chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, over the scandal rocking the establishment. At the meeting, they decided to expand the investigation and audit the production of other currency denominations to ascertain the quantity of money that has actually gone missing over the years.

Leadership further reported that the Chief Executive of the Mint Company Ehi Okomoyon, was asked to proceed on indefinite leave and an acting managing director, Ahmed Bamali, was appointed to head the Mint company. The suspension of Okoyomon as managing director is to last until all investigations have been concluded.

Also, the head of security at the NSPMC, Emmanuel Bala, has also been asked to go on compulsory leave by the board of directors of the company.

At the meeting, the board faulted the suspended MD for failing to disclose to it that such amounts of money had gone missing. The audit team had however, established that the theft of printed bank notes could be traced to security lapses and security personnel who take custody of newly printed bank notes, and when there were shortages, they were never reprimanded.

It won’t be out of place to say that Nigerians are simply tired of hearing such news of theft and corruption by people who are supposed to be custodians of the nation’s resources. We only hope that tangible results are gotten from the audit and suspension of the principal officers. N2.1 billion cannot just disappear into thin air.

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