Thursday 18 July 2013

Nollywood actress loses job

It is no longer news that Nollywood actress, Nkiru Sylvanus was recently given the boot by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. The light-skinned actress, known for her emotional roles in movies, was relieved of her position as Special Assistant to the governor on Lagos Affairs at a meeting of the state executive council, which took place in Owerri on Wednesday. So far, no reason has been given for her sack.

The hammer did not, however, come down on the actress alone. Some state commissioners and other aides of the governor were also removed from office in what looked like a surprise cabinet reshuffle by Okorocha.

While serving as Special Assistant to the governor, Sylvanus's mandate was to oversee matters affecting natives of Imo state in Lagos. Shortly after she had accepted the appointment, she was kidnapped, held for some weeks and eventually released after her abductors were paid a ransom.

“I SERVED DORIS SIMON FAKE DIVORCE PAPERS” - Daniel Ademinokan

The crisis rocking the embattled marriage of star actress, Doris Simon and estranged hubby, Daniel Ademinokan is taking a more interesting dimension in the court of law. Daniel, who has since eloped with Widow's star actress,  Stella Damasus, alongside their only son, David, recently sent a certificate of  divorce to Simon.  But probing Simon and her lawyer, Barrister Bosun Osifowora found a grey area in the certificate.  It was a fake divorce certificate. In a swift reaction, Doris' lawyer filed a petition and the matter has since gone to court. His claim now contrary to his earlier position has changed. Daniel, currently in America, may have pressed a self-destruct button- he has admitted through his lawyers that he presented to Doris a fake divorce certificate.

Doris lawyer, Barrister Osifowora spoke to E24-7MAGAZINE.

What is the update on Doris and Daniel`s matter?

Not thing much happened in the court actually. They filed a reply to the petition and the lawyer served us but it has been adjourned to October 20th I believe. This is because the courts are going on vacation and will be back in September. But he admitted to serving that thing on Doris. He now claimed that he went to court, he saw a lawyer but didn't know the guy wasn`t a real lawyer. That it was the lawyer that told him not to come, that he would get him his divorce. That it was the lawyer that gave him the thing but I thought that was a foolish admission on their part. But we decided to be silent. So he had admitted to it that he did it unknowingly. I don't know how he wants to plead ignorance. That is basically what he said. So what we are looking to do now by that October is possibly plead -joint but we haven't done that. We are working on it. We will serve them very soon.

We will join Stella Damasus as a co-defendant. That is what we want to do because this is becoming more real than yesterday. This is because they lived together. Initially we thought about it but we don't want to base whatever we do on speculation.

Is that why you waited this long?

Yes. So that is it. But we will serve them and we will avail you a copy. We will join her as a co respondent.

Is Daniel with that admittance pleading for out of court settlement on the divorce paper issue?

No he is not. He is not pleading for out of court settlement. He has just admitted to serving that fake document on her (Doris). That it was a lawyer he got that did it, that the lawyer didn't know what he was doing or that the lawyer was a fake? But that is their admission anyway. He foolishly admitted it. I would not do that as a lawyer.

What about the custody of the son?

Another thing he did was to ask for the custody of their only son, (David) be given to him even though he ran away with him; he claimed he didn't run away with him. That Doris wasn't taking good care of the boy. That it was the reason he took the boy away. That obviously is a lie. That he is trying to enroll the boy in a school in America without the consent of the mother.

So we are going to discredit him based on the fact if he could take a child from the mother under pretence and also served a fake court judgment with the signature of a judge and everything, that the child cannot be trusted with him. That made him criminally liable and somebody of such a character cannot train a child. Also he left his home and  did not properly divorce but co-habiting with another woman, and he is not even the one providing for his daily living over there, then it doesn't show that he is  a credible a person....

Dangote disburses N10bn to women, youths in 774 LGs

Towards ameliorating widespread poverty in Nigeria and appropriately empowering both women and youths across the 774 local governments in Nigerian, Dangote Foundation has continued the disbursement of N10 billion grants to women and youths in the local governments across the country.

The fund disbursement is meant to enable recipients to meet immediate family and livelihood needs by providing a one-time grant to start up enterprises that will boost their economic and consumption activities and help reduce their vulnerability.

Speaking at the continuation of the disbursement in Lokoja, Kogi State, President, Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote said the Foundation in response to the widespread poverty in Nigeria, in 2011, instituted a cash transfer intervention – the Dangote Micro-grants Programme- to provide cash transfers to select poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

The disbursement is expected to be completed in 24 months.


He explained that the cash transfer intervention focused on women who bear the greatest brunt of poverty.

He said: "Our Programme provides a one-off grant that enables recipients to grow or start an enterprise, invest in product assets, improve the health of their families, and/or take on new activities that reduce their vulnerability and enhance their economic standing. It has successfully assisted women and their families in Kano and Jigawa states."

According to the business mogul, the cash transfer intervention Programme is national in scope and will systematically cover all the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.

S*x scandal: Court orders ex-director to pay N.5m damages

…dissolves 19-yr-old marriage, grants husband custody of the children..

A Delta State High Court, Kwale, has dissolved a 19-year old marriage of a Lagos businessman, Mr Fiddis Ogwugwa, on the ground that his wife, Charity, engaged in amorous affairs with the former Executive Director of Law Union and Rock Insurance Company,  Mr Olusegun Ilori.

The court in its judgment also ordered Ilori and Charity, to jointly pay N500,000 damages for the trauma and trespass, they caused Mr Ogwugwa and  particularly for the irresponsible acts of  Ilori in ruining  the  matrimonial home of Mr Ogwugwa.

Olusegun Ilori was at the time of filing the divorce petition Executive Director of Law Union, while Charity was Project Manager.

The devorce petition was initially filed before a Lagos State High Court, before it was re-filed before a Delta State High Court, Kwale, when the petition was struck out by Justice Dawodu Williams of Lagos High Court.
According to Mr Ogwugwa, he was lawfully married to his wife, Charity, on November 25, 1994 according to the marriage act. The marriage produced two children, a boy and a girl.

He stated that what led to the collapse of the marriage started sometime in the year 2003, when his wife, excusing herself to receiving  phone calls at odd hours of the day therefore, the petitioner became suspicious.
He added that between December 2003 and February 2004, he petitioner found an amorous text from Segun Ilori to his wife, he then called both of them and cautioned them about the misconduct to which both denied any sexual relationship.

On April 18, 2010 he sent an email that could be shared between two lovers to his wife, she acknowledged the mail on April 19, 2010, shortly after,  she forwarded same mail to Segun Ilori and in error forwarded a copy to him.

This opened floodgate of suspicion that led to the discovery of several amorous email messages between the two lovers.
Upon being confronted by the petitioner, his wife confessed to having an adulterous and unprotected oral sex with her boss in the office on several other occasions.

Consequently, Mr Ogwugwa sought the dissolution of the marriage on the ground that the marriage had broken down and the custody of the two children produced by the marriage and N20 million as special and general damages for the trauma, tresspass and irresponsibility of Segun Ilori, the party cited in the divorce petition as the person responsible for the collapse of the marriage.

In her judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Jahegho Williams,  said: "I have carefully considered this petition. They are not contradicted or controverted and as such, assumed to be correct. This court, therefore, has no option in the absence of any other fact mitigating against the petition, has been proved as required by law. I, therefore, dissolve the said marriage of  November 25, 1994. Further, I give custody of the children to the petitioner.

"I also award the sum of N500,000 against Charity and Olasegun Ilori, jointly as special and general damages for the trauma and tresspass of them particularly for the irresponsible acts of Segun Ilori in ruining the matrimonial home of the petitioner."

B'Haram is a common enemy - Shehu of Borno

Nigerians  have been advised to see Boko Haram as a common enemy and not an attempt by Muslims to Islamise or divide the country.

Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai, gave the advice on Thursday.

Garbai, who is a member of the Inter Religious Council of Nigeria, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria  in Maiduguri.

He said, "Boko Haram is not a deliberate attempt by Muslims to attack Christians; if it is, they would not have attacked me.

"If it is a question of targeting only Christians, 13 of my district heads, two council members and many other Muslims would not have been killed.

"The Emirs of Fika and Kano are Muslims, yet they were attacked by the sect, who also killed many other Muslims leaders.''

He said some Christians worked in his office and some were traditional title holders in his palace, adding that he held regular meetings with the Christian community in the state.

He added, "It is, therefore, clear that from top to bottom, there is nobody who is not affected.

"Churches, mosques, parents and children were affected; so it is not a question of the group targeting only a particular group of Nigerians."

Garbai said Nigerians had fought in the past to keep the country united and that they should do everything possible to ensure that anything that could violate the country's constitution was not allowed.

He also urged  Nigerians to try and settle their differences through dialogue and not emphasise those things that would divide them.

Garbai said the Inter Religious Council of Nigeria, which is made up of equal number of muslims and Christians, was set up by the government to advise it on how to move the country forward.

"We discuss issues that will promote peace, including the Boko Haram crisis, and advise the government to take necessary action to prevent the crisis from spreading to other parts of the country," he said.

REVEALED: How Popular Nollywood Actor Sexually Assaults Actresses (Read Victims' Stories)

Seun Egbegbe, Ebony films boss calls himself an artiste and ANTP member but what he's been allegedly doing with female actresses, belittles him, only God can be of help.

The other time, people had to wade into his case with Moji Olaiya, the lady he reportedly dated and bashed at any provocation anywhere and everywhere.

Gist reaching us has it that, he does not render any form of help or assistance to his female colleagues for free. Sometimes ago, Tolani Osihrin was said to have approached him for a favour, had she known what was in the offering, she would have thought about it or sought a second opinion. Seun, was said to have held Tolani Oshirin captive in his house for three days, she came out to tell the world that she didn't agree to his term so she was left off the hook. (After three days?)

This dude is said to be fond of harassing girls with the aid of his boys to whom he dishes out instructions to forcefully take any such girl into his car, house or slaughter slab, yet nobody has been able to do anything about it till now.

If not for God, who saved Tope Osoba recently, she is about the only one that could be said to be lucky others are not so favoured.

Bukky Wright had to step into the case of Bimbo Thomas who would have lost her life in his hands due to the alleged severity of the beating to a pulp she received from him.

For how long would this continue? As a philanthropist, does he have to date or throw advances to these ladies who ask him for monetary favours? Anyone who now tries to play smart with him will not just see his wrath but will be embarrassed anywhere she is sighted.

Imagine that! It is about time that "The girls too should desist from fraternizing with him, and anyone who collects anything from him should endeavor to fulfil her own part of the deal," a source said. Though, Bimbo Thomas was said to have reported him to the police sometimes ago but for Pasuma who advised him not to show up at the police station, probably, he would be rotting in jail now.

OMG!!! Did She Actually Said This-Abacha’s Daughter Blasts Prof. Wole Soyinka

The daughter of the late former head of state General Sani Abacha, Gumsu Sanni Abacha today blasted African nobel laurete Proffessor Wole Soyinka on popular social media outlet twitter.

Gumsu Sanni Abacha claims "Wole Soyinka is a "Mad Empty Professor that lives on bad mouthing his Motherland and continent for Dollar and euro!"

Incase You Dnt know,Fatima Gumsu Sanni Abacha is one of the daughters of the late General Sanni Abacha.

Senate Approves Marriage for Underage Children

The Senate of Federal republic of Nigeria has approved the marriage of under-aged children irrespective of their age in the country. This new law will proscribe the 18 year-old rule for any Nigerian child to qualify to engaged into a conscious agreement of marriage.

The Senates claimed that a woman is deemed to be full of age once she is married irrespective of her age.

The Proponents or supporters of the under-age marriage rule includes Senator Yerima Ahmad Sani, Zamfara West, who claimed that the provision which stipulates a certain age for women before getting married, was at variance with Islamic law.After a moment of controversy, Senate President David Mark asked his colleagues to vote afresh on the provision, a situation that eventually went in favour of Sani, who, thereafter, thanked the Senate president and his colleagues for supporting his cause.

It is worthy of note that Senator Yerima Ahmad Sani had two years ago married a 13-year-old Egyptian in violation of the constitutional provision.

Pregnant former Olympian suddenly collapses and dies in restaurant

Heavily pregnant former Olympian, 26 year old Meskerem Legesse, suddenly collapsed and died while having lunch with her two year old son in a restaurant in Connecticut on Monday July 15th.

The Ethiopia runner, who was three weeks from her due date (pictured above minutes before collapsing) was given CPR at the restaurant before an ambulance rushed her to a hospital where she was declared dead. Fortunately the doctors were able to save her baby.

The cause of death was unclear but her friend told reporters that the professional runner had suffered heart problems in the past and that's why she retired early from sports. So sad! RIP, Meskerem!

Devil Made Me Rape 9yr Old Girl, 39yr Old Man Tells Police

A 39-year-old carpenter, Emmanuel Ojelade, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly defiling a nine-year-old primary school pupil in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.

The suspect, the child's neighbour at Ijeun-Titun area of Abeokuta, confessed to the crime during interrogation and attributed his action to devil's work.The suspect was said to have lured the girl into his room under the pretext of needing to send her on an errand to buy food items.

As soon as the innocent girl entered the bedroom, the suspect shut the door behind his target and pounced on her.The screams of the girl from the room attracted the neighbours who ran to the doorstep and forced the door open to rescue her. They took her to a hospital when they discovered that she was bleeding.

The father of the rape victim, Kehinde Adebayo, thereafter reported the case to the Kemta Police Station in the town leading to the suspect's arrest.The suspect, a father of two children, in his statement during interrogation admitted to the crime.He said he could not 'penetrate' the girl; hence he spilled his sperm on her. He said he fingered the girl's private part which led to her bleeding; and pleaded for mercy.

The distraught victim narrated the incident."I was washing clothes downstairs when he (rape suspect) called me to come and help him buy food outside the neighbourhood. But just as I entered the room, he closed the door and forced me to have sex. I shouted which attracted our neighbours who came to my rescue," she said in Yoruba language.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident and said the suspect is in custody as further investigation continues.He added that, the victim had been taken to a hospital for medical examination. [Premium Times]

Tiwa Savage Signs Endorsement Deal With MTN

Singer, Tiwa Savage has joined the league of MTN Ambassadors.

Tiwa shared the above photo on her Instagram page with the caption:

"MTN ambassador, I don port o. God you are so good to me #mtn #onceuponatime #powermoves #blessed"

This is following the release of her debut album, "Once Upon A Time" and with a Pepsi deal already in the bag, Tiwa Savage is certainly cashing in the big bucks.

Congratulations to Tiwa!

Rivers Crisis: Police Declare House Majority Leader, Chidi Llyod Wanted Over Alleged Conspiracy And Attempted Murder

The Police in Rivers on Wednesday declared the Leader of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, wanted in connection with the July 9 crisis in the assembly.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the command (PPRO), Mrs. Angela Agabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that Lloyd, the lawmaker representing Emohua constituency in the assembly, was wanted over alleged conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding, and willful damage.

She said that the lawmaker was last seen in the assembly on July 9, and that he failed to respond to police invitation, which she explained, elapsed on July 15.

"The Rivers State Police Command has declared wanted, one honourable Chidi Lloyd, a native of Emohua, in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State.

"About 37 years of age, he is the Majority Leader of the Rivers House of Assembly. He was involved in a case of conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding, and willful damage on the 9th of July 2013."The crime is being investigated by a special team from the Inspector-General of Police in collaboration with the state Criminal Investigation Division, Rivers command.

"He was last seen at the Rivers State House of Assembly on the 9th of July 2013. All efforts to trace his whereabouts have so far proved abortive.

"Agabe urged the people of the state to give the police useful information that could lead to the arrest of Lloyd and assist the command to fight crime in the state.

She said the command was determined to check crime and protect lives and property of the people in the state.

Manchester United Reject Chelsea’s Offer For Rooney

Manchester United have rejected Chelsea's opening bid for disgruntled England striker Wayne Rooney.

United immediately rejected the bid on Tuesday night and insist Rooney is not for sale, despite the player's desire to quit Old Trafford following the total breakdown of his relationship with the club.

The Stamford Bridge club will have to up their initial offer to land the disgruntled England striker and have denied Juan Mata or David Luiz formed part of their initial offerRooney is understood to have expressed a desire to join Chelsea and the Londoners are expected to return with an improved offer.

Initial reports suggested the west London club were willing to offer David Luiz and Juan Mata in part exchange, but the Europa League holders have strenuously denied either player formed part of their bid.

"Chelsea Football Club can confirm that it made a written offer to Manchester United for the transfer of Wayne Rooney. Terms of the offer are confidential, for avoidance of doubt and contrary to what is apparently being briefed to the press in Sydney."The proposed purchase price does not include the transfer or loan of any players from Chelsea to Manchester United," a club statement read.

Rooney is understood to be "angry and confused" following comments by United boss David Moyes suggesting the 27-year-old will be an understudy to Robin van Persie this season.

The England striker's future has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he was left out of United's Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid in March.Rooney has two years left on his deal at United but Ed Woodward, the vice-president of the Premier League champions, has claimed the club will not offer him a new contract, while they are prepared to let him run down his current deal.

Let’s Leave Patience Jonathan Alone

Abimbola Adelakun: Let's Leave Patience Jonathan Alone


The pull-my-lips-I-spit tussle between the First Lady, Patience Jonathan, and Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, took a somewhat amusing turn when some Nigerians called for a debate between both parties. The call is a far-fetched joke, most likely intended to ridicule "the Dame". However, before we turn the whole affair to an Awada Kerikeri performance, it is instructive that we go away with a few lessons from this experience.

In the past couple of weeks, there have been all kinds of commentaries calling out Mrs. Jonathan on her seemingly "unruly and unbecoming behaviour". The editorials — and the responses they generated — range from the insightful, to the amusing, to the appalling. Some were sexist and paternalistic, the subtext urging the President to put on his trousers and be the man in his own household. Put in a different way, if a man cannot control his wife, then how can he claim to be in charge of the nation?

A number of these commentaries have been insightful –and repetitive — but I will enjoin all commentators, editorialists, op-ed writers, etc. to leave the Dame alone. There is just too much energy expended on her and she is not even the biggest problem facing Nigeria. One thing we should all note is this: If the Dame is going to change for the better, she would have done so, many years ago.

She and her husband have been in the corridors of power since the present democratic dispensation started in 1999 and, if by now, she has not learnt, as people accuse her, to exercise the restraint her place as the President's wife demands of her, chances are that she will never do. And there is very little anybody can do about that. She is the only one who can help herself in that respect. Most people, by now, have seen the image of the First Lady rushing out of the presidential jet ahead of her husband in one of the President's numerous foreign travels, breaching protocol in the process. The image is iconic in many ways; it portrays her as the Madam-at-the-top, someone whose comportment even the President and his handlers are quite helpless about.

I will compare her with the United States First Lady, Michelle Obama, just to show how the office one occupies can radically transform one's manners. When her husband was first elected, Mrs. Obama endured bludgeoning in the hands of the US media. They dragged out her ancestors' slave history; some made snide remarks about her Chicago ghetto upbringing; they relentlessly attacked her over perceived anti-patriotic comments. She was not spared the stereotypic portrayal of the Black American woman as masochistic and full of pathological anger. However, in a year, a lot about her perception changed. She would eventually become a "lady" and a fashion icon. Obama owes part of his re-electability to her image.

When a First Lady invests a lot of effort into her self-improvement, it says a lot. It means she respects her husband enough to reincarnate herself because she knows that whatever she does, or however she carries herself, will come back to affect him. It also means she respects the citizens who see her as the person who sleeps closest to the president. It says she cares about the people who see her as an extension of her husband. She knows she is a reflection of his personal choices and in one way or the other, he will be judged based on her character.

No, the First Lady is not a "mere domestic appendage" of her constitutionally-sanctioned office holding husband. She is her husband, and her husband is her. From Maryam Babangida to Mrs. Jonathan, our First Ladies have been an image of their husbands' administrations. Many of them match their husbands, corruption for corruption, tyranny for tyranny. Even at state levels, the story is not different. We have seen a Muslim First Lady who attended a church service and when given the microphone, began to rain curses on her husband's political enemies. How more can you say about that?

One of the hobbyhorses of commentators is to point out that the "office" of the First Lady does not exist, constitutionally. Big deal! The state picks its bill, the occupiers fly in presidential jets, go on campaign trails, are quite visible and in the case of Mrs. Jonathan, Nigeria paid the expensive surgical bills she racked up in Europe. So, what is left for us to acknowledge an office exists? Or, if the use of the term "office" constitutes a legal impediment, then, let's refer to its place as status or position. The bottom line is that the "office" exists, and the occupier does more than stay at home to knit the president's socks.

The First Lady's controversy is however, instructive. In future, when we go to the polls, we should elect people along with their spouses. I do not buy the argument that First Ladies are meant to be separate from their husbands' offices. When we privilege such distinctions, we end up with needless controversies such as the one the Dame has generated. In saner countries, Jonathan would never have been elected president with the kind of alleged sleaze baggage slung around his wife's neck. Nobody would have touched him with a telephone pole.

But, if we let the First Lady's case be a lesson, it could be the beginning of greater things to come. Candidates aspiring for elective offices will carry their wives along; the wives too will work on themselves more. Some will attend finishing schools; some will hire a PR team to build their image; some will learn the art of public speaking and some will lose weight to look healthy.

In the meantime, let us let Mrs. Jonathan be. Nigeria currently has bigger problems than her, frankly. Boko Haram massacred 46 children in gruesome circumstances and has vowed to slaughter more. All the government said, and has always done, is to "condemn in strongest terms", nothing more! Most of our statesmen who vowed to rescue Nigeria from the pit of corruption have not demonstrated that those killings are worth their attention. The President himself is so helpless that the best he could do is to banish Boko Haram to hell! The unemployment rate in Nigeria rises daily and millions of children are out of school. Those are urgent issues we should expend energies on. The Dame will come and go like others before her. But Nigeria's many existential challenges stare us in the face, all year, month and year long!

Let's free her jo.

Man Rapes 9yr Old Girl To Death In Anambra

A man identified as Chijioke Nwakor who left Aniocha local government area, Anambra State in search of green pasture, is cureently cooling his heels in police cell at Cross River State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police headquarters Diamond Hill, Calabar, after he was arrested for allegedly raping a nine-year-old girl, Alice Eneji, a primary 2 pupil of Saint Patrick's School, Okuku to death.

The 20-year-old suspect told the Officer-in-charge (OC) of the Homicide unit at the state CID, Mr. Joseph Inuyashe that he recently relocated to Okuku-Yala local government, Cross River state to stay with his indigent parents and had abstained from women and his first attempt at having an affair ended in tragedy.

Narrating the incident, he said "I used to see the girl everyday in Okuku-Yala where I stay with my parents. I don't know what pushed me last Monday to approach the girl for sex."The man said he was returning home that fateful day when he sighted Alice playing with three boys at the Saint Patrick's Primary School football field and he felt obliged to stop and advise her against playing with boys who may defile her adding that the advise took an amorous dimension as rain started drizzling and they had to take shelter in one of the school's buildings. 

"I discussed with her and she accepted. So, I took her to one of the abandoned buildings that has been overtaken by weeds where I told her to remove her pants and she complied. After Alice removed her pants, I told her to bend down because the place is too dirty. The uncompleted building is now used as a toilet, because most people living around there don't have toilets," he said.

Chijioke said the deceased started crying and complaining of pain during the sexual encounter but I assumed she was only pretending, "like most girls usually pretend even when they are not feeling any pain," and a few minutes later, she slumped and became unconscious after which he started calling for help.

According to Chijioke who spoke amidst sobs, the late Alice was rushed to hospital while he went round the community sourcing for money to foot the hospital bills and it was while he was still at it that he received a phone call that she had died.

The World Celebrates Mandela At 95

People allover the world are celebrating the 95th birthday of South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, whom many warmly refer to as 'Madiba'.

Even as the revered statesman remains critically ill in a hospital, back home  in his country, South Africans are preparing to donate goods and volunteer their services for 67-minutes, all for a good cause as part of the Mandela Day initiative, which honours the legacy of the country's first black president and marks his birthday.

Sixty-seven represents the number of years Mandela served his country through public service, politics and while incarcerated.The initiative recognises the 67 years Mandela spent working for South Africa. Many South Africans have said they were excited about the opportunity to plough back to their communities.

On Monday, South African President Jacob Zuma put out a statement reminding "all South Africans to begin planning for Madiba's birthday", using the former president's clan name."We must all be able to do something good for humanity on this day, in tribute to our former president," he said.

Mandela, who is regarded  the founding father of South Africa's multi-racial democracy, was admitted to a Pretoria hospital on June 8 for a recurring lung infection.

In New York, superstars Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban and others will perform a special concert in Mandela's honor at Radio City Music Hall. Proceeds from the concert will benefit 46664, Mandela's global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign. The number 46664 represents Mandela's inmate number during his imprisonment on Robben Island.Events to honor Mandela are scheduled in Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Boston, and a number of other cities throughout the United States.

Meanwhile, the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa in Nigeria is organizing the internationally recognized Mandela Day in Abuja. The annual event aims to garner support of all people of the world to honour Dr Mandela by dedicating 67 minutes of their time in voluntary charity work to promote his legacy.

In a press statement made available by the High Commission in Abuja, it said that such events and goodwill gestures create opportunities for people to people interaction in the host country and improve on the understandings on nations' stature and what it stands for.

The statement also said that the  Mission  would  host a series of events to celebrate Dr Mandela's birthday, including visits to local schools and/or orphanages, a public lecture at, followed by a diplomatic cocktail reception at the Silverbird in Abuja  today. 

Amongst other things, the event would be used to reach out to the communities in and around Abuja through donation of food parcels, stationery, medicines, and school uniforms.

Such initiatives will also be utilized to educate the students and people of Nigeria on Mr Mandela's life and long standing legacies while also affording the Mission and its partners  the opportunity to indoctrinate the spirit of ubuntu, the statement said.

20yr Old School Dropout Stabs School Prefect To Death

A 20-year-old man Godwin Odu, has been arrested by the police in Calabar for allegedly stabbing Boniface Odinaka, a student of  Army Day Secondary School, 3 Amphibious Brigade, Eburutu Barracks,Calabar to death.

Odinaka, who was the Labour Prefect of the school, was attacked for confiscating the sandals of another student, Francis Etim.He was said to have engaged the services of Odu who was his friend and an alleged cultist.

Odu who is from Akwa Ibom State, is currently detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Diamond Hill, Calabar.On why he killed Odinaka, he said his friend, Francis Etim, asked him to assist him recover a pair of sandals which Odinaka seized over alleged improper dressing.

Asked if he knew the name of the Labour Prefect, Odu said they  laid  ambush with Etim for Odinaka at the school gate waiting for closing hour when students were returning home.

In a statement at the Homicide Unit of the state CID, Odu confirmed that he attacked Odinaka from the rear and as the SSS II boy struggled to free himself, it resulted to a fight which caused his death.

Fielding questions from the Officer-in-Charge of Homicide, Mr. Joseph Inuyashe, DSP, Odu said: "The boy Odinaka is the cause of every thing that has brought me here. My friend, Francis Etim, came from school and told me that one senior student seized his sandals."Minutes after Odinaka was killed, Etim fled the area, but he was later arrested.

Odu who was identified as a dropout, said he attended Government Technical School, Ikot Ansa, Calabar and abandoned his studies as "some bad boys were after me."He pleaded that he was still a minor, claiming he was 14 years old, but when asked the year he was born, his years in primary and secondary school, he later said he was 20 years old.

Mr. Inuyashe, DSP, said the state Government frowned at cultism and other nefarious acts, saying Udo will be promptly charged to court, since he has admitted killing the boy.

Husband Cuts Off Wife’s Genitals, Others For Ritual

A man, Okorie Ogbafor, has reportedly murdered his wife, Ifeoma Okorie, 26, and removed her genitals and hair at Onicha-Isu, in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, for ritual purposes.

Briefing newsmen at the command's headquarters in Abakaliki, yesterday, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP, Sylvester Igbo, said the corpse of the deceased was found in a bush behind the couple's family house adding that it had already started decomposing when a team of policemen from the state command found it.

Igbo, who disclosed that the suspect took off to Lagos State after committing the crime, noted that relatives of the suspect who reported the incident at a nearby Police station assisted in arresting him in Lagos.

He said: "On July 12, 2013, a case of murder was reported at Onicha-Isu, in Onicha Local Government Area where it was alleged that one Ifeoma Okorie, 26, wife to Okorie Ogbafor was murdered and the corpse dropped in a bush behind their family house.

"When the police team went to the place, on a closer examination of the corpse, it was discovered that the head of the woman was nearly severed from her body and it was also discovered that her private part was chopped off and parts of the hair shaved while the corpse was already decomposing."It was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy."It was after three days that her body was discovered.

However, in the effort to know the actual perpetrator of the act, some people were arrested and it was then that we discovered that one Okorie Ogbafor was the person behind the killing of his wife.

"After killing the wife, he ran to Lagos. All this while, he was not seen within the vicinity and as information reached his kinsmen who were living in Lagos they reported the incident at the nearest police station to where the suspect resided."

According to the Police spokesman, a team of detectives in charge of the case were on their way to Lagos to bring back the suspect to Ebonyi State as the case would soon be charged to court after investigation.

Why We Would Not End Strike Now -ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, vowed to continue with its indefinite nationwide strike for as long as it took the Federal Government to implement the 2009 agreement reached with the union.

This came as Education Rights Campaign, ERC, staged a peaceful protest at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, calling for total support for the striking lecturers in a bid to salvage the nation's university education.

Coordinator, Ibadan zone, ASUU, Dr. Adesola Nassir, at a briefing in UNILAG, claimed government was not sincere in meeting ASUU's demands.

He said: "Government has chosen to go the old odious track of trading words, blackmailing and outright peddling of lies in this matter."The government through the National University Commission, NUC, through the Executive Secretary Prof. Julius Okojie, has once again shown its disdain for seriousness by pretending that it does not know that ASUU is on strike, publishing certain figures on academic staff salaries and funds released to universities and also conducting a sham programme accreditation at the University of Abuja."

Meanwhile, ERC staged a peaceful protest at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, in support of the striking lecturers in a bid to salvage the nation's university education.

Addressing the protesters, ERC Lagos State coordinator, Mr. Lateef Adam, claimed that about one third of the nation's revenue was spent on the  salaries and allowances of political office holders, to the detriment of the nation's education.He urged Nigerians, students, progressives and media to help save the system from total collapse.

My Marriage Is Still Intact, Says Funke Akindele

Star actress Funke Akindele, yesterday broke her silence on her failed marriage rumour. My marriage is intact, she said in an SMS message to The Nation.

The message reads: "I read in the newspaper yesterday that I am divorced. What proof do you have? And I am taking this to court because my marriage is intact. You guys are rumour mongers. Funke Akindele Oloyede."

The Nation, along with other news media (NaijaObserver inclusive) had on Tuesday reported that the actress may have been separated from her husband, Alhaji Kehinde Oloyede, son of former Iyaloja of Oshodi market.

Oloyede on Monday announced a "separation" via his facebook page. He said: "It is with heavy heart that I am announcing the separation of me and my wife, Mrs Olufunke Akindele. We have both agreed to go our separate ways because of irreconcilable differences. We are still best of friends and we would forever remain good friends."

The statement, which the actress' husband has since deleted from his facebook wall, generated concerns among the star's fans, who made the issue a major topic on social media platforms.Attempts to reach the actress on Monday failed. Her elder sister, who doubles as her spokesperson, Mrs Ayo-Ola Muhammed, failed to make an official statement she promised when contacted because, according to reports, the actress asked that no statement be made on the issue.

Mrs Muhammed debunked an online report claiming that she confirmed the separation to a notable blogger in Nigeria.Reports say her husband may have removed the "notice of separation," including a more defiance follow-up post from his facebook wall, due to pressure from friends and family members.

The actress is said to have been crying inconsolably since the incident, fearing criticisms by her fans and her clients' reactions.Funke, a film producer and ambassador of several brands, including telecommunications giant, Globacom, got married to Oloyede 14 months ago in a grand ceremony held in Lagos.

Funke's decision to marry the real estate business man, was severely criticised by her fans who wondered why she should get involved in polygamy. She rebuffed critics on one occasion, saying: "I can tell you authoritatively that my husband is not married to anyone else. Yes, he has beautiful children, who are not mine and we have a cordial relationship, which dates back to even before we got married."

On another occasion, she told her critics: "Will you be happier if I had married someone who didn't have children, seems so perfect, put on my make-up and fake smile on the red carpet and start weeping when I get home? About my in-laws, they are very wonderful and supportive and my parents and siblings as well. "

Funke and husband are known to be living separately since they got married. Oloyede is said to visit Funke occasionally. Story of Oloyede's last child by another woman came about the same time that the rumour of Funke's pregnancy went viral on social media. The actress was later said to have a miscarriage.

Meanwhile, apart from deleting the statement from his facebook wall, Oloyede is yet to refute the announcement in any way.