Nigerian doctors begin 5-day warning strike

Nigerian doctors today began a 5-day warning strike following a 21-day ultimatum issued weeks ago to the federal government, demanding pay rise, improved welfare, infrastructure and other benefits which was promised to them.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Osahon Enabulele said this is the first phase of the strike, that the second phase would be effective after the yuletide if there are no favorable developments.

All doctors in public hospitals this morning retrieved their services.

SHOCKING: How Woman Strangles Bus Driver While Holding His Manhood To Death Over N10

The young commercial bus driver identified as Eze was believed to be in his late 20′s while the woman that killed him is 38-year-old.
Last Saturday, Eze died when his bus passenger strangled him while holding on to his manhood.
The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday after the bus driver carried the passenger to the junction of Ohovbe Road, Off Benin Agbor Road, Ikpoba Hill for N40, but the woman entered the bus on argument and refused to pay the N40 instead she paid N30. This angered the driver and when he requested for his balance she refused, this angered  the driver that he started cursing the woman calling her names.
Angered by the name calling, the female passenger then held the driver’s neck while still inside the car. People then gathered to settle the dispute and begged the woman let go of his neck. Moments later, the woman returned to meet the driver who had his seat belt on and held his neck with one hand and used her other hand to hold his manhood and started pulling it.
The man begged the woman to leave him but the woman was even more angry by this time, passers by intervened again but it seems the woman was bent on venting out her anger.
When the driver tried to come out of his car, he fell to the ground and started stretching and gasping for breath. People around rushed the driver to a nearby hospital while others whisked the woman to a nearby police station. The young man reportedly died few hours later.

‘EFCC’s financial state worrisome’

The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Mr. Razak Atunwa, on Tuesday said the claim by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that it was broke was a blow to the anti-graft war in the country.

The EFCC Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Adegboyega, had, while briefing the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Financial Crimes and Anti-Corruption in Abuja on Monday, said that lack of adequate funding of the agency was affecting its fight against corruption in the country.

Adegboyega spoke at a public hearing on the bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency.

He lamented that the EFCC was broke with only less than N2m in its account.

Atunwa, in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, said such a claim was worrisome and that it depicted serious concerns about national governance and commitment to the anti-graft war.

The Speaker said, “For me, it is unbelievable that an agency set up to fight corruption will be unable to do that because of lack of fund. It is worrying that we will have EFCC say it is broke and on the other hand the Security and Exchange Commission, which the National Assembly voted a zero budget, continue to be funded and we wonder where the SEC gets the funds to carry out its operations while EFCC that has a budget does not have money. There is something wrong there.

“It is funny and beyond belief that EFCC or any agency of the government will claim to be broke when the CBN has said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission has failed to remit about $49bn to the Federal Account. Now something has to be wrong.

“The questions are: Is this government serious about fighting corruption? Is this government serious about governance of this country? Can’t they tell Nigerians that they have used our money judiciously? Nobody seemed to bother about the alarm of the CBN Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi, that $49bn is not remitted.”

Kogi convoy: ASUU welfare officer still in hospital

The National Welfare Officer of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Ngozi Iloh, is still undergoing surgeries and according to her, going through traumatic pains, at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State.

This is contrary to reports that she was treated and discharged in Lokoja, Kogi State, shortly after the accident, which was said to have been caused by the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Mr Idris Wada, on November 12.

The widely condemned accident, which happened while members of the union were on their way to Kano for a meeting, claimed the life of the former National President of ASUU, Prof. Festus Iyayi.

Iloh, who recalled her ordeal during online chats with PUNCH Metro, said she had been traumatised for weeks following the discovery that Iyayi died in the accident.

It was learnt that she had so far undergone two major surgeries, one on her right leg and another on the left hand.

When our correspondent enquired about a deep tear in her left hand, Ilo was not specific if there was any medical report that the injury was a bullet wound.

There had been some speculations as to the cause of Iyayi’s death until a medical examination showed that there was no evidence of bullets.

In the chat,  Iloh said, “We travelled in a convoy from ASUU Benin zone. We stopped at a filling station to refuel on the way to Kano. The travelling team was from University of Benin, Delta State University, Abraka, and Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma.

“The UNIBEN bus took off and I asked the driver to slow down so the others could catch up with us. My saving grace was that I kept looking back and the rest is history.”

Iloh added that she was shocked to hear that she was discharged from the hospital in Lokoja after being treated for minor bruises.

I am still in hospital. My injuries are not minor,” she said.

Policeman stabs colleague 57 times for befriending wife

The Provost section of the Lagos State Police Command has commenced an orderly room trial for a 36-year-old police corporal, Halidu Shaibu, for the alleged murder of his colleague, Yeiwa Babangida.

According to police authorities, the suspect stabbed the deceased 57 times in a room they both shared in the Tinubu area of Lagos Island.

Shaibu, an indigene of Bauchi State, told police investigators that he killed 34-year-old Babangida because the late cop was having sexual relations with his wife.

It was learnt that the suspect is attached to the E Department at the Force headquarters annex, Kam Salem House, Obalende, Lagos.

The deceased, who hails from Gombe State, was said to be attached to police Mobile Force 2, Lagos.

Shaibu, while addressing senior officers, said, “I am married with three children and I have been a policeman for about 10 years. My wife confessed to me that of my three children, only one was my biological child, while the other two belonged to Babangida.

“Initially, I did not believe this because Babangida is also married with children, so I kept the information to myself. Babangida and I shared a room in the Tinubu area and I continued to relate with him normally.”

The suspect said on October 12, 2013, after they shared a plate of noodles, he challenged Babangida over the allegation and a fight ensued between the two of them.

He said, “Babangida cooked a pot of noodles and we ate. After eating, I asked him about the allegation, but he just attacked me all of a sudden. Because he is bigger than me, I had to overpower him, so I picked up a broken bottle and stabbed him in self defence.

“After stabbing him, I went downstairs to inform my neighbours because it was not my intention to kill him.”

It was learnt that the matter was immediately reported at the Lion Building Police Station after which the case was transferred to the homicide department of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

A police source, however, said investigations revealed that the murder was premeditated.

He said, “Shuaibu is a liar. Neighbours told us that on the day of the incident, there was a naming ceremony holding downstairs and Shuaibu attended it. He then went back to his room where he killed Babangida.

“Our investigations, as well as a medical report, revealed that the suspect stabbed Babangida 57 times. The suspect also used the base of a standing fan to hit Babangida in the head several times in the head before he gave up the ghost. The suspect claimed there was a fight, but there are little scratches on his body.

“According to eyewitnesses, after killing the deceased, Babangida returned to the naming ceremony downstairs, ordered a bottle of Heineken and shouted, ‘I don kill Babangida for upstairs’.”

The police source said investigations revealed that the suspect was serving in Osun State and had been declared a deserter.

It was learnt that the police investigators were also trying to ascertain how Shuaibu worked his transfer to Lagos.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the suspect’s wife had fled since the incident occurred.

When contacted on the telephone, Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.

She said, “The policeman in question is facing an orderly room trial. At the end of the trial, he may be dismissed.”

Senator Yerima Picks A New 15 Years old Bride, Divorces 17 Year Old Egyptian Wife

Former Zamfara State governor Senator Ahmed Yerima, according to City People magazine, has allegedly divorced his now 17 years old wife Maria to marry another.
Yerima wedded Maria, who is from Egypt, amidst wide protest 3 years ago when she was just 14.
Now he has divorced her, allegedly to pave way for him to marry another young bride since Islam permits just 4 wives.
Maria already has a child for him.
City People now says Yerima in the company of four men, reportedly members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly were in Egypt a few weeks ago for the wedding fathia of his new 15 years old bride.
The Senator is alleged to have married and divorced just his fourth wives in the last few years but has never changed his first three wives.

INEC to spend N93bn on 2015 elections … says polls may not hold in Borno, others

The Independent National Electoral Commission has  said  it  may  spend at least  $7.9 on each of the 73.5 million electorate  in its register for the 2015 elections.

The amount was estimated at N93bn when converted to naira and multiplied by the numbers of registered voters.

The INEC Chairman,  Prof. Attahiru Jega,  stated this on Monday at a statekeholders forum organised by the Senate Committee on INEC,  in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Abuja and the United Kingdom Department for International Development.

He also hinted that the elections  might be conducted either in January  or   February 2015 instead of April.

Jega  said, “Our estimate is that the cost of election per voter, which is an international standard for viewing the cost of elections is coming down in Nigeria. We project that for the 2015 elections, this would come further down by almost $1 from $8.8 in 2011 to $7.9, representing almost a 10 per cent  drop.

 “This compares favourably with some other African countries. However, we are anxious about all our funding requirements being met well in advance of the 2015 general elections.”

He said that the  $8 per voter spent by  the country   in the 2011 polls  was normal.

According to Jega,  Ghana during  its last election,  spent between $10 and $12 per   voter while Kenya spent between $8 and $ 9 per voter.

He  described funding as one of the challenges facing INEC  as it prepares for the 2015 elections  that would see  73.5 million Nigerians participating.

“In preparing for the forthcoming elections, one guiding principle for the commission has been to make elections more cost-effective and to give Nigerians better value for money,” the INEC chairman stated.

He noted that apart from funding challenges, there was the problem of insecurity which could affect the conduct of  elections in some states in the North- East where insurgency was being currently experienced.

He said, “Unless security situation changes in the zone, the commission would not conduct elections in there.

“It is my hope that the challenges in the North-East will be resolved before 2015. If the security is such that we cannot do election, then we may need to fall back on the law to suspend it or postpone it.”

Jega also said that INEC  would not conduct elections under a period of emergency.

He said,  “The situation under a state of emergency is that you cannot conduct a free and fair election. Ideally, you cannot conduct election under a period of emergency.”

Jega added that one of the most depressing  challenges  of elections in Nigeria was that they were akin to a  war.

He said, “Pre-election violence has led to the death of many politicians, their supporters and innocent citizens. Widespread intimidation of voters persists and organised thugs spread fear across communities in the build up to elections.

“In any case, elections in Nigeria are a winner-takes-all affair, while the loser loses everything akin to payment of reparations by an enemy defeated in a war. In fact, election security has become a lasting issue facing the management of elections in Nigeria.

“Several security threats now characterise the electoral process. These include physical attacks on INEC officials  and facilities,  attacks on security personnel on election duty, misuse of security orderlies by politicians, attacks on political opponents, cyber attacks targeting INEC’s databases, especially the  voter register   and violence during electioneering.   Other threats are  intimidation of voters, snatching and destruction of election  materials, among others.

“These threats are now exacerbated by insecurity in some parts of the country, thereby making the conduct of elections in those parts even more insecure.”

The INEC chairman  added that the attitude of the political class was also another problem giving the commission a major headache.

“We are concerned about this because even if the management of elections meets the highest standards, insofar as the contestants are unwilling to play by the rules, there will be grave problems,” he stated.

Jega said that apart from the key challenges, there were what he described as residual problems  like the delay in the amendment to the 1999   Constitution and Electoral Act; the completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling units and the prosecution of election offenders.

The INEC   chief, who  said that 200    electoral offenders  had been prosecuted,   added that the establishment of a  body to handle electoral offences   was imperative.

He said, “This remains a major sticking point in the work of the commission. We have repeatedly noted that the commission lacks the capacity to prosecute the huge number of offenders.

“We hope that our proposal for the establishment of an independent body to deal with electoral offences which is also in the report of the Election Reform Committee will materialise.”

The Chairman Senate Committee on INEC, Andy Ubah,  said the committee was interested in suggestions on how “we can address the issue of Nigerians abroad who desire to contribute to the democratic development and participate in elections.”

He also suggested the idea of introducing e-voting and making adequate provisions for persons living with any form of disability to vote.

Members of different political parties and civil society organisations attended the stakeholders’ meeting.

ASUU finally calls off strike

The news filtered in yesterday but it wasn't confirmed. It's now been confirmed. After more than five months, the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has officially called off its strike action starting from today December17th. They announced their decision at a press conference today

The strike was called off after a meeting in Minna, Niger State yesterday, days after ASUU signed a new agreement with the Federal Government. They have ordered lecturers to resume immediately. Congratulations, students!

Inspiring story! ''I Didnt Abort Despite The Shame And Side Talks...Look At Us Today!''

Ogunola Olubunmi deinde, kindly help publish this story to inspire your readers.


Honestly, I don't know who this is for but someone needs this. I'll make this as short as I can.

I'm a regular blog visitor. My name is Inem and I'd like to encourage someone today, here's my story.

During my industrial attachment (my yr 4), I found out I was 4 months pregnant. It was hell for me because my parents (are) renowned people in church. I made up my mind not to abort and told my then boyfriend.

He insisted I aborted but thank God I was 'stubborn'.  I prayed, summoned up courage, went and told my parents….. Damn!!

They were disappointed. Mom cried, never seen her look so disappointed. 

To cut thE long story short, my expected delivery date (EDD) was March 2012 but school was to resume Dec. 2011. Remember early 2012 ASUUstrike? it was in my favor, God just made it for me. 

8 days 2 my EDD, I delivered a beautiful bouncing baby girl. 

She's brought joy and uncountable blessings my way.  

News of my pregnancy did spread like wildfire, people said a lot of hurting stuff. The guy responsible for my pregnancy never called for once. He blocked me from all social networks we were on and warned me not to call him. 

I passed through serious emotional stress. I cried, I prayed, I was down, felt so bad.

I even thought of suspending education (it was that bad)...Finally, I prayed for the grace to carry on when I got back to school.  

One thing I never did - I didn't regret keeping that pregnancy!!! 

Well, I completed my education. I didn't give up.. I'm now a graduate of electrical/electronics engineering.. (No extra year). Currently serving in Ondo state. 

You see, if you find yourself in a situation that is not death, there is always a way out. 

Never give up. Now, though single, I look at my baby with great joy. She's just a year-plus but a very smart girl. She amazes me. please don't let life's situation weigh you down. Hold your head up high and damn side talks.. Make up your mind to pull through it and you will. Others did, I did, so can you!!!! 

 Have a great day

Divorce Drama! Saidi Balogun speaks again, exposes Fathia's past + he has only two kids with her not three

Movie Producer, Saheed Balogun has reacted to his ex-wife’s recent claim that Balogun filed a court case against her due to her refusal to drop his (Balogun) surname.
In a press statement debunking his ex-wife’s claim, Saheed said they were in court because they also got married in court, stating that it was only legal to have the court marriage dissolved.
Saheed in the statement disclosed that he is not the father of all their supposed three kids as Fathia Balogun had a kid from another man before they got married.


Read statement below:
“Yesterday I was accused of lying to the press on a recent rumor that has been circulating. I separated from my ex-wife Fathia Balogun in 2006, over 7 years ago.
Since we were legally married in court, we had to legally divorce in court to finalize the issue.

The public is welcome to go to the Lagos High Court to verify these records.
This has absolutely nothing to do with any name! I am not  asking or forcing Fathia to stop using the name Balogun, as it is one of the most common Yoruba names.
Furthermore, to set the record straight, Fathia and I had TWO children together NOT THREE. Fathia’s first child is from a different husband that she later divorced before we were married. I never lied to anyone.
Journalists presented me with a rumor that had no basis in fact, so I simply stated that i do not want my private life made public. it is my privacy and concerns nobody.
I decided to stay quiet as the two parties involved in this issue are over 40 years old, and I think we are old enough to handle this issue MATURELY instead of turning our private matters into a public gossip debate.
I hope this issue is now clarified for the public, as I SAIDI BALOGUN am divulging the true facts myself instead of using a MISINFORMED publicist to do so for me.
There are so many positive aspects of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, we would rather focus on negative meaningless noise instead of these positive components.

 Please give me the respect of keeping my personal life private and out of the public eye. I am focusing on my work. Thank you!”

OJB Jezreel dances & celebrates life at Ovation Magazine's Carol night (photos)

The Ovation Magazine's 2013 Red Carol held last night in Accra, here are pictures of OJB Jezreel dancing the night away with wife Mamma J by his side.

 Also see photos of other attendees.

  

Pastor Kumuyi warns members to disregard woman who said David Oyedepo, RCCG members, others will go to hell

 

culled from Dailypost

General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi, has warned his members to disregard the claims by one Sierra Leonean, Linda Ngaujah who said  she died, ascended to heaven and came back with messages.

Linda in a CD claimed she died and was privileged to see Heaven and Hell.
According to her, many members of Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG would not make heaven on the last day. She further claimed that the founder of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Movement, Pastor Lazarus Mouka was using magical means to perform miracles.

Linda also said Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winner Chapel, better known as Living Faith and his members were not even recognised in Heaven.
She also added that the old Deeper Life form of dressing was the divinely acceptable one in heaven, saying that women who use rubber and wool to plait their hair were allowed to enter heaven.

Linda in another CD claimed that the late wife of the Deeper Life G.S, Biodun Kumuyi was seen in heaven.
Similarly, another lady, an evangelist of the Church of God Mission, Benin City, Margaret Amure has warned women to stop wearing jewellery, lipstick, or any make-up or trousers which she said were immodest.
However, Kumuyi during a sermon preached and transmitted among Deeper Life members on Monday, warned his teeming congregation to disregard the messages, which he described as signs of the end.
Reading from the Book of Matthew 24, Kumuyi told his members during the weekly Bible study that on the last day, many prophets shall arise, hence the need to disregard many prophecies that are cropping up from different acclaimed God messengers.

watch the video here.

 

Pastor E.A Adeboye addresses terminal illness rumours and Sis Linda fake prophecy

“Some people have been impersonating me on Facebook and other social media asking people to donate monies for unidentified orphanages or some sick persons who require urgent medical treatment abroad. Please do not believe them and do not give them money. Somebody even went to the ridiculous extent of saying that I needed money to go to India for the treatment of an undisclosed ailment. Please do not answer them. As you can see I am not sick. I am hail and hearty. They are liars,”  RCCG's General Overseer, Pastor EA Adeboye says.Continuing, he said some others are equally impersonating his wife, pointing out that such persons are not representing him or his wife. According to him, some other fellows are busy sending e-mails to people inviting them to fake programmes purportedly organised by the General Overseer.

“If anybody invites you to any programme anywhere in my name, please confirm from me. There is also one that said I had a dream where I saw many of my people weeping because they could not make it to heaven. It is all lie! I did not have any dream and I know that you will all make it to heaven in Jesus name,” he stated.

On recent stories by some persons who claimed they died and got to heaven but were sent back to warn brethren who are perceived to be wallowing in sin, Adeboye said such people should be ignored because God does not operate the way they are portraying Him.

“There is woman (A certain Sis Linda) who said she died and went to heaven where Jesus sent her back to warn people of the world against sin. If you do not know already, when the rich man died and saw Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham, he requested that Father Abraham should send an angel to his relations on earth to warn them to repent and escape hell. He was told that there are enough prophets to accomplish such missions,” Adeboye stressed.

The cleric explained that anyone who claims to have died and returned to preach the gospel; “please do not listen to them. Put your trust in the true Word of God. Some years ago, one man claimed to have died and came back and he started preaching that any Christian who acquired a car would go to hell.“This man produced a CD which he was selling to the people and he made a lot of money from selling the cassettes and CDs. Not long after, he bought a Land Cruiser and when people asked him why was opting for hell, he replied that he did not buy a car. He bought a Land Cruiser. Be careful, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free,” the RCCG General Overseer said.

“Murdered police witness was our uncrowned monarch”

Thirty six-year-old Segun Ogbere had on Tuesday gone to the Yaba Magistrate Court, where he was a key police witness in a murder case against a former Baale of Ilaje area of Bariga, Kayode Ayetiwa, but he would not come back home alive.

Ogbere, who was the alleged leader of the Shaggy Boys – one of the gangs in control of Bariga – was trailed from the court by suspected members of the Downtown Boys, a violent gang in the area, and stabbed to death around University Road, Akoka, Lagos.

A police source told Saturday PUNCH that Ogbere fled the court premises when he caught a glimpse of a member of the rival gang but he was cornered around 3pm by the members of the gang who trailed him in a red Volkswagen Golf car.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Saturday PUNCH that Ogbere was to be crowned as Baale following the removal of Ayetiwa, who is being prosecuted for murder.

The resident said, “Ogbere’s father was the Baale before he was poisoned. Ogbere, who led the Shaggy Boys, had been accepted as the community head. It remained for him to be crowned.

“The people around here prefer the Shaggy Boys because they are less violent and could help counter the Downtown Boys who terrorise this place a lot through rape, robbery and killings.”

The residents of this part of Bariga are living in constant fear as gang violence has become common place.

The uneasy quiet that has enveloped Bariga since Ogbere’s killing seems to portend more dire consequences, which residents said would likely manifest in reprisals.

The fear in the community also manifested in the suspicion with which the residents received inquiries from this correspondent about the family house of Ogbere. Many of them were not willing to discuss anything relating to the victim.

A resident explained that two days before Ogbere’s murder, two suspected gang members were killed by rival gang members in the area.

Such killings have become well known in Bariga and the neighbouring Shomolu where as many as four different gangs rule, fight and terrorise residents.

There are the Downtown Boys, who have now changed their names to Pharaohs; Shaggy Boys, the Eiye Confraternity and the Feeling/Stealing Boys also known as the EFCC Boys.

Ogbere, who was a cement block and kerosene dealer, was said to be a cousin of the former Baale, whom he was in court to witness against.

Ayetiwa was arrested on Wednesday and is currently being held by the state Criminal Investigation Department to answer questions on the murder of Ogbere.

“The former Baale’s mother is a blood sister to Segun Ogbere’s father. Allegation of culpability in the death of Ogbere’s father was made against Ayetiwa after he was poisoned,” a resident, who knew the family well, said.

A police source said one of the suspects and a known leader of the Downtown Boys, is suspected to have led the hit against Ogbere.

He was allegedly held on charges of multiple murders but was controversially released a few months ago, a development that threw his neighbourhood in panic because many of them had stormed the police station after his arrest to insist he had to be locked away.

According to another resident, who spoke only on condition that he would not be named, said in 2011, Ogbere was arrested after Ayetiwa reported at the police station that he had attempted to kill him.

He was said to have been released later when it turned out there was no evidence of such attempt.

“Ogbere, whom we call Shaggy came back after he was released and the former Baale instigated his boys to ensure he did not gain entry back into Ilaje,” the resident said.

When the Facebook account one of the alleged suspectswas checked, a photo of the victim in a pool of his blood was posted on his wall with the caption: “Nobody wey God no fit cash (sic). The notorious army robber in Bariga don die (sic) today for where he go rob (sic) in Abule Ijesha, Segun Ogbere aka Shaggy.”

A police source said the suspect and other members of his gang had gone underground.

“When Ogbere ran away from the court after seeing members of the rival gang, a tipper driver friend of his, who gave him a ride, said he knew the suspects in the murder.

“The tipper driver abandoned his vehicle and ran away after they ambushed him and dragged Ogbere out of the vehicle. We are picking them up one by one.”

The community development association in Ilaje has written a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, detailing its members’ grouse against the gang wars that had subjected them to constant fear and culminating in the killing of Ogbere.

One of the names of the suspected members of the Downtown Boys, now known as Pharaohs, Waliu Skoolboi, which came up when Saturday PUNCH spoke with a number of residents, wrote on his Facebook wall: “To become King Pharaoh, you have to zero your mind. King Pharaoh says so.”

The gang is known for brutality.

Spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said she needed more time to find out where investigation into Ogbere’s killing stands at the moment.

Residents of adjoining communities, Abule Oja and Abule Ijesha have called on the police to help dislodge gangs that have taken over their communities. According to them, in Abule Oja, Kayode Market, Musoro and Oguntuase are the areas used as base by the gang members.

Reuben Abati responds to Speaker Tambuwal

Yesterday the speaker of House of Representatives Tambuwal said that President Jonathan's body language is encouraging corruption in Nigeria. The speaker said the president is encouraging corrupt practices by 'failing to act on corruption cases revealed by the National Assembly.'

“Take the subsidy probe, the pension, the SEC probe and recently the bullet proof car cases. After the House of Representatives did a diligent job by probing and exposing the cases, you now see something else when it comes to prosecution." Tabumwal said while responding to questions at an anti-corruption seminar organized by NBA, in Abuja.

President spokesperson, Reuben Abati has replied Tanbuwal. See his tweets below...

See more tweets after the cut...

Nelson Mandela’s Lying-In-State In Pretoria (SEE PHOTOS)

The body of late anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela this morning arrived at the South African government Union Building, Pretoria, where it will lie in state for three days.
The public, invited heads of states and international guests will be able to view his body from today till Friday. He will be buried in his home village of Qunu in Eastern Cape province on Sunday Dec. 15th. More pics  below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aviation sector was 'in shambles' - Oduah says.

The Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, said on Tuesday that the aviation sector was in a state of decay when she assumed office in July 2011.

Oduah said this in Abuja when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation to explain the circumstances surrounding the Associated Airlines crash on 3 October.
The aviation minister has failed to honour three previous invitations to appear before the committee.
She said prior to her assumption of office, the aviation sector was in shambles as all airports were laden with obsolete and unserviceable safety and security facilities.
"I met decayed infrastructures... at all airport terminals.
"There were several abandoned control towers all over the nation. We had 154 abandoned control projects all over and several runways without runway lighting.
"There were massive leakages of agencies' revenues due to manipulation of manual revenue collection process.
"The industry was in retrogression, lagging behind other parts of the world.
"Economically, it was a liability to government and thus a very poor image for the country," she said.
The minister blamed the Associated Airline crash on its technical crew.
She also showed a video clip of the conversations between the two pilots showing that both engines of the aircraft were faulty and should not have taken off.
"As a minister of aviation, the fact that we got a preliminary report in our laboratory without waiting for the final report showed that we have put in place preventive measures."
The Senate Deputy leader Senator Abdul Ningi, who represented the Senate President David Mark, rejected the explanation by the minister.
Ningi directed Oduah to re-submit a detailed presentation on the incident because her explanations failed to address the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Ningi observed that the minister did not provide details about the processes that led to the take-off of the aircraft on the fateful day, especially why everyone failed to alert the regulatory agencies.
"What we expect you Honourable minister to come and tell us here is whether your investigation had revealed those who approved the aircraft for the flight operation.
"We also expect you to tell us when the aircraft was last serviced and who supervised the maintenance and certified it okay.
"Your explanation was just limited to the immediate cause of the crash; we want you to come back and give us those critical information," Ningi said.
The committee adjourned the meeting to 11 December

Obama releases $60m military aid for CAR

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday authorized the release of $60 million in military aid for the strife-torn Central African Republic, a White House statement said.

The White House said the aid would be funnelled to France, the African Union and other countries contributing forces to an international coalition in the Central African Republic, where sectarian bloodletting has left hundreds dead.
The aid announcement comes one day after Obama appealed for calm in the country, calling for the arrests of those behind the violence.
He said the country had previously seen harmony, living "together in peace - as diverse and vibrant communities, Christian and Muslim."
"But the awful violence of recent days threatens the country you love," he said, urging people to "choose a different path."
Muslim and Christian leaders "are calling for calm and peace. I call on the transitional government to join these voices and to arrest those who are committing crimes," Obama said.
France has deployed 1600 soldiers to the unstable majority-Christian country, which was plunged into chaos when the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in a March coup.

Sanusi uncovers $50bn oil fraud scheme

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has reportedly uncovered a fraud scheme by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) worth almost $50 billion.

Reuters reports that the governor wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan in September to inform him of $49.8 billion in crude oil sales earned between January 2012 and July 2013 which was still outstanding.
According to the letter, the NNPC had earned $65.3 billion but only remitted 24 percent of the total amount.
"I am constrained to formally write your Excellency, documenting serious concerns of the CBN on the continued failure of the NNPC to repatriate significant proportions of the proceeds of crude oil shipments it made in gross violation of the law," the letter, which has been seen by Reuters, said.
The NNPC has denied the governor's claims.
AllAfrica reports that the NNPC spokesman Omar Farouk Ibrahim said "the allegation is borne out of misunderstanding of the workings of the oil and gas industry and the modality for remitting crude oil sales revenue into the Federation Account".

Actress re-counts her sad story of how she went to jail over what she knew nothing about

A certain yoruba actress, Yetunde Akilapa,  who was sent to jail for wrong accusation of theft, has been discharged and acquitted in court for lack of evidence. 

She tells her story to First Weekly below.

There is a rumour that you were set up by your friends, how true is this?

Yes, it’s true. Some of my friends set me up.

Why did they do that to you?

Let me narrate everything to you from the beginning. I am into business, I sell weave-ons. I learnt hairdressing before joining acting, it was just that I had no time for the business because of my acting career. I used to have a salon at Bariga area of Lagos State, but I left the place for a friend, Titi, who is a cousin to my boyfriend, Wale. The only thing I didn’t give her was the weave-ons in the shop. I told her to sell them, and that she should give the money to my younger sister, who lives near the shop. However, she refused to deliver the money she made from the sales to my sister. I later went there to pick up all my things in the shop and requested for my money. To my surprise, she claimed that there was no money with her because a lot of people owed her.

An argument ensued between her and my sister, which resulted into a fight during which she stabbed my sister. I reported the matter to the police, who arrested and detained her. Her cousin, who was my boyfriend, and others were against me over the action and pleaded with me to withdraw the case from the police, which I later did.

So, how did the set up happen?

There was a woman I met at Next Salon at Akoka, Lagos, who liked what I sell. I told her I could do home delivery. We exchanged numbers and she gave me her address. She stays at Fola Agoro, which is near my place at Bariga all in Lagos. Most times when she calls me to deliver some weave-ons for her at home, I would either at locations or busy with something else. I later tried to call her on the phone, but it was not going through.

One day, I decided to visit her at home. On getting to the place she gave as her residence, the place was quiet as I didn’t see anyone outside. It is a block of six flats at Fola Agoro. I knocked a door and someone came out to attend to me. But when I asked to see the woman, who told me she is called Mama Ayo, the lady that attended to me claimed there was nobody like that in the place. The woman thereafter called other tenants and accused me of being an informant because she said they had robbed the house in December 2012, and this incident happened in March.

Before I could say Jack Robinson, they started shouting at me. I told them I was an actress, but nobody listened to me. They ransacked me and found a bunch of keys on me, which has about 15-20 keys. They claimed they were master keys I used for robbery. Even when an actress friend of mine, Queen Oluwa, called my phone when I was there, they claimed she was trying to know how successful my surveillance was.

They later took me to the police station and I was detained. My boyfriend and his cousin later got to know about my ordeal They later testified at the police station that I was an actress and a bail was to be arranged for me to get out of the station. They were always outside, whenever they came and I thought they were discussing how I would get out of the station.

On a particular day, when of my accusers came to the police station as directed by the police, he was surprised that I slept over at the station. He told my sister that he had informed the police that I should be released since it was confirmed that I was an actress and not a thief. He later signed a document with the police that I should be released. I was happy that the matter had been resolved, but unknown to me, this was the beginning of a big problem. 

The police later came to tell me that my house would be searched in the afternoon. I asked them to tell me the reason for that, but they did not tell me anything. During this time, Wale and Titi were in the DPO’s office, and I thought that they were negotiating my release. The police that searched my house reported back to the DPO and presented the receipts to him.

At the DPO’s office, a guy interrogated me and introduced himself as a PM. I thought he was a Production Manager, but unknown to me, he was a journalist from PM News. It was later I got to know about this. He was the one that reported in the media that I was sent to Kirikiri Prison for robbery.

After leaving the DPO’s office, I was told that I would be charged to court. Three days after, I was charged to court.

My friends were behaving as if they were behind me. Even when my sister helped in securing a lawyer for me, my friends said he was a not a good one and offered to get me a good lawyer. I didn’t agree to that, maybe I would have rot in jail if I had not rejected their offer.

.

But how did you come about the 100 bunch of keys?

This was the handiwork of the journalist that broke the story. When I even asked Titi about the media report, she rained abuses on the PM News guy that he was a stupid person. Titi told me that she knew the guy was a journalist and that she was giving me signal at the DPO office not to respond to his questions, but that I didn’t notice.

Even my bosses (Ogogo and Yinka Quadri) were annoyed with me that I didn’t inform them about the whole matter. I told them I never thought it would turn out to be what it became. They stood solidly behind me despite everything.

Let me tell you something, Titi dated the DPO because of my matter. I later got to know the whole truth of the matter later. I would have rot in jail but God helped me out. She was jealous of how I get money to do some things.

Do you still relate with Titi?

Never, such a person should not be mingled with at all because she is a dangerous element.

‘I Came To Lagos To Buy Babies’ – 52 Year Old Child Trafficker Nabbed

Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos, western Nigeria have intensified efforts to recover all the stolen babies allegedly bought by an Onitsha-based human trafficker who was arrested in Lagos last Monday for purchasing a stolen two-year old baby.

This followed the confessional statement made by the trafficker, Mrs. Grace Onye, 52. Onye told the police that she specialises in the illegal business of buying babies in Lagos for sale to those who required them.

In her confession, she admitted that it was not her first time of coming to Lagos to buy babies, adding that she had been coming to Lagos to buy babies in the past three years. She told the police that she sold all the babies to those in need, especially barren women.

She was arrested along with her customer, 45-year old Mrs. Ngozi Ikeh who is barren and needed a child.

They were arrested at Ikotun in the morning while going back to Ontisha with a stolen baby sold to them for N300,000 by their contact man who is now at large.

The suspects confessed that they had a contact man simply identified as Samuel who usually lodged them at Francis Inn Hotel located at Abiola Adeyemi Street, Igando Road, Ikotun whenever they are in Lagos to buy babies. Grace confessed further that it was in that hotel that Samuel brought the baby and collected N300,000.

Joy Olowolade, the two-year old stolen baby was allegedly kidnapped at 6, Oladunjoye Street, off Igando Road, Ikotun Lagos.

Samuel abducted the baby at the stated address in a dramatic form around 4 p.m. on Monday when he threw a banger in the compound where Joy was playing with other kids.

The sound of the banger caused confusion in the compound and the children ran away in different directions. When the dust settled, Joy was nowhere to be found.

Her elder sister, Eniola Olowolade, after a frantic search for her, alerted her parents, Ayodele and Funke Olowolade, of her disappearance.

Funke explained that one of her neighbours confirmed that she saw the man who snatched the baby during the confusion that greeted the explosion of the banger.

Olowolade and neighbours later arranged themselves in groups to look for the missing baby. They searched for Joy in every house and street in the neighbourhoods but could not find her.

Narrating her experience, Funke stated: “It all happened like a dream, Joy told me she was hungry  and I was preparing her food when she went out to play with her friends in the compound. Within the twinkling of an eye Eniola rushed in to tell us that somebody threw a banger in the compound and everybody ran away. She said she didn’t see Joy when the commotion died down.

“We searched all the nooks and crannies till midnight. She was nowhere to be found,” Funke said.

At about 4 a.m. the following day, the Olowolades and their neighours moved round the streets again looking for Joy. They saw a woman walking briskly and carrying a baby on her back with her friend. Somebody shouted the name of the missing baby and Joy answered ‘ma.’

Immediately the baby answered, the trafficker and her friend ran. They tried to drop the baby but they were caught by the rescuers. They were beaten and later handed over to the police at Ikotun division who transferred them to the SCID for further investigation.

How I Raped 12 Year-Old To Death – 34 Year Old Man Shocking Confesses

Police in Imo State recently arrested the killer of 12-year-old Ifunanya Favour Iberi who was declared wanted two months ago. The 34-year-old man was identified as Samuel Chukwunyere. Ifunanya was last seen by members of her family on Sunday, October 13, 2013, when she could not return to their house after her day’s routine activities .
In this interview with Crime Alert, the suspect confessed that he actually lured the innocent victim to his house and raped her to death.

“I forced her. I tried to use her through her private part but my own thing could not enter. I now turned her and she started shouting. I now held her well, well. I don’t want anybody to hear her voice. I now started using her through her anus. In the process of using her through the anus, she now shouted and I now held her back again, using her. In the process of using her, she now gave up.
I now asked myself how will I manage to hide the corpse of this girl. I now rock my brain and rock my brain and the shovel that I have there cannot dig the ground. This ground sef na stone ground. I cannot dig it alone. I now searched around my place here and I saw that pit there (pointing to the location of the pit) and I now say let me come and put her inside that pit, so that the place will be enough to hide it. Nobody will know. I now rolled her with some cloths. After12 to one o’clockin the midnight, I now brought her to this place and now throw her inside the pit