Thursday 12 September 2013

400L Student Excretes 25 Wraps Cocaine At Akanu Ibiam Int’l Airport Enugu

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria (NDLEA) Thursday arrested a 400 level student at the newly upgraded Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu.

The suspect, Chizoba Anselem Nwabuwa, 32 year-old Fine and Applied Arts student at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State was apprehended during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian flight from Brazil enroute Addis-Ababa.

According to the head of the NDLEA at the Enugu Airport, Mr. Nsikak-Abasi Udoh who confirmed the arrest the suspect excreted 25 wraps of liquid that tested positive for cocaine.

“The suspect excreted twenty-five (25) wraps of liquid substance. When tested with the United Nations drug testing kit, it tested positive for cocaine weighing 1.250kg. This first arrest and seizure is exciting to us because we just commenced operations” Nsikak-Abasi stated.

Narrating his ordeal Nwabuwa stated that he had wanted to use the proceeds from the illicit trade to finance his Art Gallery.

His words: “I am a 400 level student of Fine & Applied Arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. I wanted to use the half a million naira (N500,000) they promised to pay me in developing my Art Gallery.

They assured me in Brazil that authorities will not be able to detect liquid cocaine, so I was confident. Unfortunately, things have turned-out the other way. I regret my involvement in drug trafficking”.

Meanwhile, Chairman of NDLEA Ahmadu Giade while expressing satisfaction with the arrest said that the agency would give high priority attention to all the airports in order to apprehend drug smugglers across the country.

In his words, “the Agency accords high priority attention to all the airports. We shall continue to up-scale our operations at the airports and prevent drug trafficking syndicates from using the nation’s airports”.

Giade urged members of the public to pursue legitimate businesses at all times noting that a good name is far better than ill-gotten wealth.

He further pointed out that the suspect will soon be charged to court.

Police Prevent Governor Amaechi From Entering Government House In Port Harcourt



Policemen, last night, barred Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State and his guests mainly former speakers in the country from accessing the governor’s residence through the private gate of the state Government House, Port Harcourt.
Condemning the action, the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari told us on phone that the governor and his guests were forced by the Police allegedly on the orders of the State Police Commissioner, Mr Joseph Mbu to go through the main gate of the Government House.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State complaining of the police action, yesterday.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State complaining of the police action, yesterday.

Describing the action of the state Police boss as an abuse of federalism and political authority, the commissioner said no official explanation was adduced for the action of the state Police command.
Wondering why the governor of the state should be stopped from accessing his residence through the private gate of the Government House, Semenitari said the action of the Police was strange and a violation of the tenets of popular democracy.

“This happened around 8pm this night (last night). The Police stopped the governor and his guests, former Speakers in the country from accessing the governor’s residence through his private gate. The governor had to go through the main gate. This is a clear abuse of federalism, power and rule of law”, Mrs Semenitari said.
It is not true — Police

Meantime, when contacted for comment on the allegation, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Angela Agabe said it was not true. According to her, the Police only stopped Governor Amaechi’s faction of the PDP from setting up their secretariat at 38 Forces Avenue, a building opposite the old GRA Police station.

The Forces Avenue road where the secretariat is located connects the back gate of the Government House, which serves as the private gate of the governor.

Another top security officer, who spoke to us said the Police had to act on a clear instruction that they should stop any attempt by the Amaechi’s faction to set up a factional secretariat of the PDP in the state because there is only one legitimate PDP in the country.

The source continued that the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Joseph Mbu had not been in the state for some days so there was no way he could have ordered that the governor be stopped from accessing his residence through the back gate.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Semenitari said a total of 102 former Speakers were with the governor when the incident occurred.
“102 former Speakers were with the governor when it happened”, she said

‘Racist’ Remarks: FIFA Queries Stephen Keshi


Stephen Keshi
Stephen Keshi

The world football governing body FIFA has queried Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi about his comment on Malawi’s technical adviser Tom Sainfiet. The Nigeria coach has been given a September 16 deadline to respond to the query.

The Malawi federation reported to FIFA what it called ‘racist’ remarks by Keshi aimed at the Belgian.

“We feel the racist remarks by Mr Keshi are not acceptable,” Fam’s general secretary Suzgo Nyirenda said.

“We thought it was a personal attack on our coach and we had to defend him regardless of skin. We felt we should help our coach and at the same time put a stop to the racist remarks from Mr. Keshi. We have sent evidence of what Keshi said and we hope FIFA will come up with some measures to control Mr. Keshi.”

In the phone interview aired on UK-based African television show, Keshi was quoted to have said, “I think the coach of Malawi is crazy. If he wants to talk to FIFA, he should go back to Belgium. He is not an African person, he is a white dude, he should go back to Belgium.”

The media director for the Nigeria Football Federation Mr. Ademola Olajire confirmed to The PUNCH that they had received the letter from FIFA.

He said, “It came in just before the game against Malawi in Calabar but it was important to avoid distractions. The federation is doing all that is possible to ensure that Keshi adequately addresses the issue and within the deadline given.”

We Are Winning War Against Terrorism -President Jonathan



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President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government is winning the war against terrorism in the country.
Jonathan said this during the official opening of the Church of Nigeria Standing Committee meeting and mothers’ union executive in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.

The President said, “From a society that was beset with uncertainty, we are now beginning to see a gradual return to normalcy in most parts of the North and other parts of the country with different level of certainty and predictability in our daily lives.

“I believe, and I can say with all humility and gratitude to God, that we are winning the war against terrorism. And by His grace, we will surely overcome terrorism and insecurity in our land. More than winning the war, we are also winning space for peace and stability.

“Already, as a result of our ongoing action, and methods, the security situation in the country is steadily improving. Again, the effect of the state of emergency in the North East has been wonderful and felt by all.

“No religion or culture preaches violence and mindless killing. The sorrow, blood and tears you have seen lately are not hallmarks of our country or any civilized society. We will continue to do our very best to ensure that all Nigerian will be able to live in peace and in one strong, united and indivisible nation.”

Jonathan regretted the abduction of the Bishop of the Province of Niger Delta, Rev. Ignatius Kartey, promising that the Federal Government and the security agencies would continue to do everything possible to rescue kidnapped persons and ensure that kidnappers are brought to book.

He said the development called for a re-evaluation of the country’s value system, wondering why some people obtained satisfaction from other people’s sufferings and humiliation.

He said the inputs of the church and other religious bodies were of tremendous help to strengthening family values.

Jonathan stated, “More than ever before, the government would place premium on science and technology. It is a fact that some of the biggest and the best educational system in the world today have their foundation in the church.

‘We urge you to do more, especially in the area of science and technology. The government will place premium in the area of science and technology. We are confronted with challenges today that only
sound research, invention and innovation can solve.

“We cannot keep on looking outside for solution forever. Nigeria has the potential to providing answers to its own problems and with your assistance we can surmount the challenges in our educational sector.”

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson urged the church to pray for the leaders and the nation.
The governor said that the state government had taken steps to bring about peace in the state to enable people to go about their daily activities.

Syria Crisis: Assad Vows To Hand Over Chemical Weapons Ahead Of US-Russia Talks



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 (AFP) – President Bashar al-Assad vowed to hand over Syria’s chemical weapons Thursday as Moscow and Washington were set to begin high-stakes talks on a Russian plan to avert US-led military action against his regime.

Speaking to Russian television, Assad said Syria would place its chemical weapons under foreign control in line with Moscow’s proposal.

“Syria is handing over chemical weapons under international control because of Russia,” Assad was quoted as telling Rossiya 24 state news channel.

“US threats have not affected the decision,” he said, adding that Syria planned to file documents to the United Nations to sign an agreement on chemical arms.

Assad’s move came as the US and Russia prepared to meet in Geneva for talks on the proposal for Syria to open its doors to inspectors and eliminate its chemical weapons.

Backed by a large team of experts, US Secretary of State John Kerry was to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Officials from the two countries were to pore over Moscow’s plan — an 11th-hour proposal that led US President Barack Obama to put off threatened US military action against the Syrian regime.
Washington wants to see if Assad is serious about putting his chemical weapons stockpile under international control, amid allegations the regime used sarin gas in an attack near Damascus last month.

Ahead of the talks, a senior US official said Washington was urging Syria to “declare all of their stockpile quickly.”

The official said Washington would be asking for specific action from Damascus to test the regime’s sincerity and discussing the “different modalities” of destroying Assad’s chemical weapons and production facilities.

“It’s doable, but difficult,” the official said.

Lavrov voiced optimism ahead of the talks, saying during a visit to Kazakhstan: “I am sure that there is a chance for peace in Syria… We cannot let it slip away.”

In a speech quoted by Russian news agencies, Lavrov said he was prepared to “ensure Syria’s adherence to the chemical weapon ban convention.”

The United States and its main backer of military strikes on Syria France have warned they will not allow the chemical weapons plan to become a delaying tactic in Syria’s brutal war, saying the threat of military force remains on the table.

Revealing details of the Russian proposal for the first time Thursday, daily Kommersant said Moscow had given Washington a four-step plan for the weapons handover.

Quoting a Russian diplomatic source, Kommersant said the plan would see Damascus join the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), declare the locations of its chemical arms, allow OPCW inspectors access and finally arrange for destruction of the arsenal.

Syria’s opposition has denounced the plan, warning it will only lead to more deaths in a conflict that has already killed more than 110,000 people since March 2011.

The commander of the Free Syrian Army, Selim Idriss, said in a video posted on YouTube that the rebels categorically rejected the Russian initiative.

And the Syrian National Coalition opposition group said the plan is a “political manoeuvre aimed at buying time” for Assad and would be a “green light” to other regimes to use chemical weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile made an unusual personal appeal to the American people to reject military action, in an opinion piece in the New York Times.

“A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism,” Putin wrote. “It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.”

Putin welcomed US willingness to consider the Moscow initiative, but warned any strikes without the approval of the United Nations Security Council, where Moscow wields a veto, would destroy the credibility of the world body.

Russia is a traditional ally of Assad, and Moscow, backed by China, has blocked any attempt to sanction his regime through the United Nations.

The talks in Geneva were expected to last two to three days and also focus on revitalising efforts to organise a peace conference aimed at ending Syria’s civil war.

As well as Lavrov, Kerry was due to meet UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to discuss UN-backed efforts to bring the Assad regime to the table with the opposition rebels.

Western officials have claimed the sudden renewal of diplomatic efforts on Syria was the result of the military threats, but have questioned whether Assad can be trusted.

Washington alleges that some 1,400 people died in the chemical attack on August 21 and was rallying support for a military response when the Russian proposal emerged.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday that a much-awaited report by UN inspectors into the attack will “probably” be published on Monday.

“It will say that there was a chemical massacre,” Fabius told French radio.

OMG!!! Photos : Olamide "Badoo" Steals The Show at Hennessy Artistry Party

On Friday September 6, 2013 the Hennessy Artistry train stopped at Likwid Lounge in Victoria Island, Lagos. Guests can not stop talking about headliner Olamide, who stunned guests with a very provocative dance session with RnB singer, Chee during his performance of the popular song, Durosoke. The gig, which was hosted by Jimmy of Beat FM, also witnessed special guest appearances from past Hennessy Artistry headliner, Banky W as well as Wizkid, General Pype, Praiz, Ikechukwu, Shaydee, Ketchup, Dotun of Cool FM and many others.

The fun continues this Saturday, September 14, 2013 in Ibadan at Club E-bevande with supporting acts, Vector, Kay Switch and Olamide…

Photo:Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo First Picture Together

Bale meets Ronaldo ahead of first Real Madrid training session

The 24-year-old is poised to make his debut against Villarreal on Saturday and met his new team-mates during his first session since his 100 million move from Tottenham

Gareth Bale was greeted by Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of his first training session since joining Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old, who surpassed the Portugal international as the world's most-expensive player following his €100 million move from Tottenham, is poised to make his debut for his new club against Villarreal on Saturday evening.

Bale began the training session by undergoing individual physical work with a coach before joining his new team-mates in their full warm-up.

The Wales international then took part in light ball work with Iker Casillas, Luka Modric. Karim Benzema, Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Morata, Nacho and Jese.

Ronaldo, along with summer signing Isco, trained apart from Bale, while Raphael Varane was alone with a fitness coach as he makes his comeback from a knee injury.

Bale came on as a second-half substitute in Wales' World Cup qualifier against Serbia on Tuesday evening, and following his side's 3-0 defeat, manager Chris Coleman believes the winger may be subjected to a restricted amount of playing time in his early stages at Madrid.

"If he starts Saturday, he will not finish the game. I would be amazed if he does," Coleman told reporters.

"We have looked at him in these 10 days and he is nowhere near ready for 90 minutes even if Spanish football is slower……

Stop Flaunting Slack and Stretch Mark B**bs -Nollywood Actress Bimbo Thomas Blasts Cossy Orjiakor

My Boobs Are Better Than Cossys Own Actress Bimbo Thomas

Confirmed boobster, Cossy Orjiakor now has a new competitor in actress Bimbo Thomas who claims her boobs are firmer and bigger than Cossys own which has lots of stretch marks and are slack. Here is what she said: I like flaunting my boobs because they are firm and I have no single stretch mark on my boobs. But some ladies like Cossy still flaunt flabby ones that have stretch marks. Dont they know that stretch marks are not meant to be displayed? Some ladies flaunt cleavage that stretch marks have finished and the boob has gotten back to where it was formed. Its not worth it. Such a cleavage cant be sexy.

Hmmm @ this stage , I am sure Cossy will not take this lying low. I see a breast competition coming soon. *winks*

OMG!!!28 yr old woman uses fake baby bump to smuggle 2 kilos of cocaine

According reports by AFP, a Toronto woman who used a fake baby bump to try to smuggle two kilograms of cocaine was arrested yesterday September 11th at Bogota airport by Colombian police.

28-year-old Tabitha Leah Ritchie, identified as a social worker, was stopped while trying to board an Air Canada flight in Bogota, Colombia after an inspector noticed that her belly was unusually cold and hard. Airport security discovered a false belly made of latex taped to her body and they found 2 kilograms of cocaine. Record shows that Ms Richie arrived in Colombia on Aug. 6.

Monalisa Chinda & Benjamin Joseph's beautiful wedding day photos

Of course it's for a movie. The couple posed in wedding attires on set of their new movie called Torn. Monalisa is a beautiful bride. Another photo when you continue...


Police Arraign Two Club “Girls” In Court For Disturbing Public Peace



wpid-police-logo.jpeg (NAN) – The police on Wednesday arraigned two clubs “girls’’ in a Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba, for disturbing public peace and constituting themselves into a nuisance.
They are Treasure Edobor, 25, of Aso and Charity Jemo, 23, of Mararaba in Nasarawa State.
The prosecutor, Insp. Friday Idache, told the court that the matter was first reported on Sept. 10, at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba by Edobor (second accused).
He said that Edobor alleged that at about 10 p.m., while she was at the City Rock Hotel, Mararaba, Jemo assaulted her without provocation.
“During police investigation, we found out that both of them engaged in a free for all,’’ the prosecutor told the court.
He said that the offence contravened provisions of Section 113 of the Penal Code.
If convicted, the accused persons can spend a year in prison or be given an option to pay a fine.
The accused persons, who were not represented by counsel, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The presiding officer, Albert Maga, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 each and a surety each in like sum.
Maga ordered that the sureties must possess landed property and be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
He adjourned the case to Sept. 26, for hearing.

Police Arrest 4 Cows In Lagos



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 (PM News) – Officials of the Lagos State Government in conjunction with the police taskforce have arrested four cows and 37 butchers for operating at an illegal slaughter slab at Otto Awori area of Badagry, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, with the taskforce, stormed the area on Tuesday and arrested the cows and suspects.
Four vans of butchered meat were also carted away to the Taskforce office at Alausa where the suspects would be arraigned in court. The four cows were taken to Agege Abattoir.
Chairman of the illegal butchers, Adewunmi Olaseun, said they normally slaughter about 20 cows on daily basis, adding that they also pay N18,000 levy to officials of the Lagos State Government and N5,000 to the Otto Awori Local Council Development Area, LCDA, on weekly basis.
He said the association did not know that they were operating at an illegal slaughter slab.
Olaseun said the meat being sold by the butchers was not contaminated, stressing that “the fact is that we also consume the meat at times. So, there is nothing wrong with the meat. We consume it. Our wives also consume it, so it is safe for consumption. We have the receipts of the payment made to the government in our office.”
When asked why they attacked government officials with charms, he said: “The charms on us were to protect us against armed robbers. We deal with money and we can’t allow robbers to kill us just like that. So, it is meant for protection against robbers.”
Another butcher, Ogundele Opeloyeru, said they had been operating in the area for the past 15 years, while corroborating his colleague’s statement that they pay weekly levy to the state government and Otto Awori LCDA.
“We are not aware that we operate illegal slaughter slab,” he said.
Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Co-operatives, Mr Nuraini Funso denied that government officials collect money from the illegal butchers.
“There are certified veterinary doctors in the entire registered and approved abattoirs in the state and there is a lot of danger in patronising illegal slaughter slabs. The state government is doing enough to eradicate illegal slaughter slabs and abattoirs in the state .
“Residents had been equally warned to desist from patronising unregistered and unapproved abattoir. The state is very must concerned about the health of individuals in the state. We can’t afford to allow Lagosians to consume meat that are not screened. They are not just ready to change. We have about eight slaughter slabs and over 200 refrigerated meat vans. They are just concerned about their pockets,” he explained.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Dr. Yakub Bashorun said government has declared zero tolerance for unwholesome meat distribution in the state, lamenting that those who operate illegal slaughter slabs do so without obtaining license from the government.
“They don’t have veterinary doctors to ascertain the health status of the animals before slaughtering them. They have been creating nuisance and we have to dislodge them. Ignorance is no excuse. They know they are operating illegal abattoir,” he stated.
Bashorun appealed to Lagosians not to patronize illegal slaughter slabs to purchase meat as such meat was not healthy for consumption.
He said those arrested would be arraigned in court and that they would be made to face the music to serve as deterrent to others.

Farida Waziri To Obasanjo: Respect Your Age Or I’ll Expose You



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Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri
A  former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, on Wednesday described as “blatant falsehood,” the claim by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that she was recommended for the EFCC job by convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori.
Expressing surprise that a man who has been twice a Nigerian  leader would “descend so low to peddle falsehood,” Waziri warned Obasanjo to respect his age or else she would  “open up on him.”“I will like to warn that those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones and as such Obasanjo should not allow me open up on him. Respectable elder statesmen act and speak with decorum”, she said in a statement personally signed by her.
Ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said  the claim by the former President that he was persona non grata in the United States,  was not true.Obasanjo had in an interview he granted Zero Tolerance, a magazine published by the EFCC, also said that the war against corruption in the country slowed down  during Waziri’s tenure because she was not qualified for the job.
He had said,  “Go and look at her track record. Go and look at the condition or the qualification; go and look at the type of interaction that anybody holding that job will have with a similar organisation elsewhere; did Waziri have that type? What connection did she have with FBI? What relationship did she have with Metropolitan Police in London? It’s not a picnic.”But Waziri, in the statement which showed her level of anger, said she  doubted  if Obasanjo  could  boast her level of education.
The  EFCC former chairman  then went ahead to reel out her educational qualification and her relationship with international security agencies while  serving in the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years.
She said, “Again for the record, I served in the NPF for 35 years and got to the pinnacle of my career before my appointment as   the EFCC chairman. If Obasanjo’s real age has not blurred his memory, I will like to remind him that I was a Commissioner of Police, Admin Force CID, CP, General Investigations, CP, Anti-fraud, CP , X squad, CP, and  Police Special Fraud Unit where I secured the first conviction in a case of Advance Fee Fraud in Nigerian history.“These are all prime investigative organs of the Nigeria Police where I related with other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI across the world. I must place on record that at the SFU, I did not only relate with the  FBI, Interpol and the Metpolice, among others , we carried out joint operations at different times on a number of cases. I have also led the Nigerian delegation to the Interpol headquarters in France.“To further expose the height of mischief in the allegations, the past and present chairmen of the EFCC have both worked under me; yet someone can open his mouth to say I am not qualified to head the same agency. This is in addition to my educational qualifications such as a first degree in Law, a Master’s degree in Law and another Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. I doubt if Obasanjo himself can boast  this level of educational qualifications.“I will also like to remind Obasanjo that no chairman of the EFCC has till date beaten my records in terms of investigation of high profile cases, prosecution, conviction and recovery.”
She  told  Obasanjo that the Act establishing the EFCC stipulates  that the chairman shall ‘be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police or equivalent; and possess not less than 15 years cognate experience’.
Waziri said while she holds the office of a Head of State in the highest esteem, it was necessary to put on the record for the umpteenth time, that the claim that Ibori recommended her for the EFCC job  “ is a totally unfounded, blatant lie.”
The ex-anti graft Czar added, “The truth is that I never met Ibori in my life until after months in office as chairman of the EFCC when I used to see him in the Presidential Villa.It is on record today that I initiated the investigation that drove Ibori into the waiting hands of  the Interpol and  the Metpolice.“As such, it is illogical and nonsensical for anyone to continue to insinuate that Ibori had a hand in my appointment. I remember this was one of the lies Obasanjo’s sit-tight pawns cooked to stop my appointment as  the EFCC chairman in 2008.”
According to her, the late President Umaru  Yar’Adua did not have to alter the   Act “when he was appointing me unlike what Obasanjo did.”She told the  former President that ability to be used to victimise political enemies in the rabid pursuit of his  third term agenda “has never been part of the qualifications for appointment as chairman of  the anti-graft agency.”
Also, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar  said  there was  no way he  could be arrested if he travelled  to the US.He added that   Obasanjo’s repeated ‘jokes’ about  his “ not being able to go to the US  have become a cliché, tiresome and not true.”
In a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mallam Garba Shehu, the former vice-president said his visa to the US had recently been renewed.“The former President is wrong. It is widely known that  Abubakar  didn’t enter government broke. He declared his assets at the commencement of his Vice Presidency and did so at the end of his tenure.” the statement added.
It stated  that in 2006, Obasanjo sent his National Security Adviser to stop Abubakar  from travelling to the US on the grounds that he risked arrest on arrival.
The ex-VP, according to the statement,  spurned that advice, left Nigeria  and  landed  at the Andrews Air Force Base, the official airport of the US government.It added   that shortly  after   Yar’Adua was inaugurated as President, Abubakar travelled and  spent three months in the US.

Cabinet Shakeup: Ministers Shed Tears As Jonathan Sacks Nine



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The sacked ministers
President Goodluck Jonathan, in his first major cabinet shake-up since his inauguration on May 29, 2011, sacked nine ministers on Wednesday.
The  sacking , announced by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, shocked the Federal Executive Council members, most of whom had arrived the Council Chambers in the Presidential Villa  in high spirits  exchanging banter.
Before they left, deafening silence enveloped the Council  Chambers as the President reeled out the names of the affected ministers. Some of the  sacked and retained ministers betrayed their emotions as they shed tears.
The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, announced the cabinet shake-up after the weekly FEC  meeting  in Abuja.
The sacked ministers are  Prof.  Ruqayyatu Rufai (Education);   Okon Ewa-Bassey (Science and Techology);  Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs);   Hadiza Mailafia (Environment);  Shamsudeen Usman, (National Planning); and  Ama  Pepple (Housing, Lands and Urban Development).The Minister of State for Defence, Olusola Obada, and her counterparts in the  Agriculture Ministry,  Alhaji Bukar Tijani and  Power,  Zainab Kuchi,   were also affected.
A top Presidency source had said that Jonathan was advised  by the aides to constitute what they described as “election cabinet.”Such a cabinet, according to a source, will comprise mostly people that would  be proud to defend Jonathan  whenever he  was being criticised.
But Maku explained that the dropping of the ministers had no political undertone.Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting, Maku, said the cabinet shake-up was with immediate effect.He said the President, through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, had named the  retained FEC members  that would oversee the affected ministries pending the appointment of substantive ministers to head them.
The  Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to be overseen by  the  minisiter of State, Prof. Viola Owuliri; the Education   by the Minister of State, Nyesome Wike;  and the Minister of   Solid Minerals, Musa Sada, Housing, Lands and Urban Development.The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, is to supervise the Science and Technology Ministry;  the Minister of State   for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Ministry of Planning; Maku, Defence; and  Minister of Niger  Delta Affairs, Mr. Goodsday Orubebe,   Environment Ministry.When Maku announced that he would oversee the Defence Ministry, State House correspondents shouted but he pleaded with them to allow him to  continue his briefing.He then added  that the Ministers of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina and Power, Chinedu Nebo would take care of the duties of the sacked ministers of state in their respective ministries.Maku said the President expressed satisfaction with the performance of the affected ministers while in office.He stated that Jonathan assured them that he would  call on them whenever their services were needed for the development of the country.
The Information minister said, “These ministers have been affected in the cabinet reshuffle and the President in Council expressed his satisfaction and happiness over their commitment  to government since they were appointed.”
“He (the President) also thanked them for their services to their fatherland and said he would continue to engage them in one way or the other in the implementation of the transformation agenda and of course in the various challenges that government faces around the country and in terms of efforts to transform our country.”
The minister said that the President would soon send a list of new ministers to the National Assembly to replace those who had been dropped.Maku who described the cabinet shake-up as a normal process,added that it was   meant to inject fresh blood into the government.
Maku said, “There is no government in the world where the leaders do not reshuffle their cabinets, there is none. And cabinet reshuffle is part of a systematic public administration and I believe what the President has done is simply to address the issues of re-tooling his government to achieve service delivery.“It is at the discretion of the President at all times to reshuffle his cabinet. It is his own prerogative under the constitution and this has nothing to do absolutely with any other factor other than having come two years into his administration in the last lap, what I see the President doing is to refocus his government, to inject in fresh blood to achieve greater service delivery to the people of Nigeria. That is the only reason for it, any other thing  has nothing to do with the decision of the President.“The President is trying to in reject fresh blood into the system while retaining again the loyalty of all those who have worked.”
A source at the meeting said the President  caught the ministers unawares.
He quoted Jonathan as saying, “Some of you will not be with us at the next Federal Executive Council meeting. It is not because you didn’t do well, but that is the ingredients of democracy. You will hear the details from the SGF.”He then read out the affected names and then hurriedly left the Council chambers.
One of the  retained  ministers,Edem Duke of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation was seen dabbing his eyes intermittently with his handkerchief. The former Minister of Environment, Mailafia, also did the same before she was driven out of the Villa. 
Before Maku’s briefing, Duke’s action made journalists think that he was one of the nine that were fired.

Nigerian Jailed In US For $11m Fraud



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A  Nigerian, Emmanuel Ehkator, has been sentenced by a District Court Judge, Middle District of Pennsylvania in the United States to three years in prison for $11m fraud.
Ehkator, who was also investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for criminal conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, was ordered by the court to pay $11,092,028 “in restitution” to his victims.Ehkator’s property in Canada and the “contents of several bank accounts” in Nigeria were also declared forfeited by Justice Yvette Kane.
A statement by the EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said the commission had in August 2010, arrested 42–year-old Ehkator in Nigeria. He was subsequently extradited to the US a year after following his plea of guilt.
The statement said the prosecutor, Assistant US Attorney, Christy H. Fawcett, told the court that Ehkator was part of an “attorney collection scam” in which he would contact US and Canadian law firms by email.It said Ehkator would claim to be individuals or businesses outside North America owed money by entities in the US and asked for legal representation to collect money.
The prosecutor had said, “Often, the prospective clients said the money owed came from a real estate transaction, tort claim, or divorce settlement. Once the law firm agreed to represent the out-of-country client, the law firm would be contacted by the US entity purportedly owing money with an offer to pay the client by cheque.“The debtor company would advise the law firm to deposit the cheque in the law firm’s trust account, retain the law firm’s fee, and wire the remaining funds to accounts in Asia.”
It was learnt that after funds from the law firm’s trust account had been wired to the Asian bank, it would then be discovered that the cheque that had been mailed to the law firm was a counterfeit.
The counterfeit cheques, which appeared to be drawn on legitimate accounts from well-established financial institutions, often included a telephone number for the financial institution.
In an attempt to determine the validity of the cheque, lawyers would call the number only to reach another conspirator who would falsely verify the cheque.Ehkator’s co-defendant, Yvette Mathurin, was said to have been charged for conspiracy and was awaiting extradition from Canada. Another co-conspirator, Kingsley Osagie, was arrested as he arrived in the Atlanta, Georgia area from Nigeria and was said to be currently awaiting trial in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the Toronto Police Services and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were said to be involved in the investigations into the wire fraud.
Ehkator’s involvement in the scheme was said to have made him responsible for losses of “more than $7m and up to $20m.

Police Dismiss Women Officers Caught On Tape Demanding N100 Bribe



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One of the policewomen
Two traffic police women, Corporals Elizabeth Itolor and Jennifer Azingbe,  who were videotaped receiving  N100 bribe  from a bus driver in Lagos, have been dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force.Itolor and Azingbe, attached to the Makinde Police Division, were said to have received their dismissal letters on Wednesday.
The Police Provost Unit of the Lagos State Command concluded an orderly room trial of the policewomen last week.Both women were said to have spent nine years in the police as they were recruited in 2004.
A source, who requested anonymity, told Punch Metro that Itolor and Azingbe got their letters at their duty post.
He said, “They reported for work this morning and they were given dismissal letters. They have been crying ever since and appealing to everyone they know to help them salvage the situation.”
The corporals’ dismissal is contained in a  circular which stated that the policewomen were dismissed over “despicable acts and corrupt practices contrary to Paragraph E(iii) and C(iii) respectively of Schedule 1 of the Police Act and Regulations 370 of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.”
A video footage on Youtube posted by one Afro Finlandia  a few weeks ago, showed  one of the policewomen negotiating a  N100 bribe with  a commercial bus driver at the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway.The video, which had over 40,000 views, and generated public outrage on social media, led to the arrest of the women.
In the video, the driver was seen trying to negotiate his way out of a bribe. But despite the driver’s pleas, the policewoman refused to let the bus move from the spot after taking on more passengers.
Angry, the driver was heard saying, “Don’t abuse me because of N100. How much is N100? Me I don pass N100.” The policewoman, who was sitting in the bus to prevent the driver from taking off, retorted, “E no concern me. Pay me my own money.”The driver then instructed his conductor to hand over N100 to the policewoman. The policewoman subsequently alighted from the bus and was later seen in the video walking away with her colleague.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, said she would call back.

Abuja young ladies now turn drivers, Power-bikers, ushers and bouncers (photos)

culled from dailystar
The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is considered one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
This statement has always been justified through the various innovations the city continues to witness even with the influx of different people into the capital city.
Most girls in the FCT are either engaged in Sugar daddy business, executive prostitution or ‘One Chance’.
This, our reporter said was one of the reasons the FCT administration now uses the Military to harass young girls at clubs and on the streets of the capital city. Those who dress transparently or half-naked are often used as scapegoats.
However, the trend is changing as some journalists recently ran into some group of young girls who now call themselves protocol 101. These young girls have decided to change the trend, and to use their beauty to add colour to the city that is now considered one of the biggest in the world.
The young ladies who were seen in numbers and beautifully dressed were at various events, adding colour, class, grandeur and ‘swag’ to those events.
 Recently at various weddings and major events in Abuja, they were been used as pickups and for personal show-off.
They chauffeur VIPs to events, keep them entertained and run various services for such VIPs; who knows what happens in the dark?  It is an all female logistic/service group of young, beautiful ladies, consisting of Drivers, power-bikers, Bouncers, Protocols and Ushers.
This is what one of them said,” So much Millions is spent on the stylish looks of couples during weddings as well as the “interior” decorations of Event Venues, leaving out an equally important component of a successful event, the “exterior”. Your movement in and out of an event should be as celebrated as the other components. We are set to bridge the gap. We are bridge builders. We celebrate the “Exterior/Logistics” of every event. Your “memorable day” is not complete without us.”
We were told that one Nicky Nwadinobi is in charge.

Late Goldie’s husband, Andrew Harvey, finds love again with Phillipine woman (PHOTOS)

It’s only seven months since late singer Goldie Harvey passed away, but it appears that her husband, Andrew Harvey has found love again.
Andrew is currently dating a Malaysian
woman named Beth Buenaventura - she hails from Quezon City in the Philippines and not from Malaysia as initially reported.
Andrew met Beth online two months after Goldie Harvey’s burial.
During his birthday ceremony that took place at the Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur on the 3rd of August, Andrew Harvey and his new girlfriend Beth were honoured by friends and family members. The lovers were spotted kissing with passion at his birthday, a move that wowed the birthday guests.

Oh, insiders claim Beth is pregnant for Andrew.
The couple got engaged in July few weeks before his birthday.
See photos below:
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late goldie harvey husband andrew
Late Goldie Harvey and husband
goldie harvey husband kissing new girlfriend
andrew harvey kissing new girlfriend.








Mr Harvey moved to Malaysia a few years ago when the company he works for transferred him from Nigeria to Malaysia.

Why President Goodluck Jonathan sacked Education Minister Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i

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Oops! President Goodluck Jonathan took us by surprise when he announced the immediate reshuffling of the Executive Council of the Federation (FEC) this afternoon.
The reshuffling  affected six ministers and three ministers of State.
The affected Ministers include those for Environment (Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafa); National Planning, (Shamsudden Usma); Education (Ruqayyatu Rufa’i);  Science and Technology (Ita Okon Bassey Ewa); Housing and Urban Development (Ama Pepple) and Foreign Affairs (Olugbenga Ashiru).
Also affected are the Ministers of State for Agriculture, Bukar Tijani Borno; Defence (Olusola Obada) and Power (Zainab Kuchi).

Although details are vague on reasons for this development, there is no doubt that this occurrence is related to the on going Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike which has left so many faces frowning in the country..
I only hope that the so-called reshuffling helps in some way to resolve the compulsory holiday the federal university students were forced to take.

MTN Project Fame’s Adetoun involved In fatal auto crash (photos)

 
 
The second runner-up at the 2012 edition of the MTN Project Fame West Africa show, Adetoun Adekoya, miraculously escaped a fatal motor accident while travelling in her Toyota Corolla (which she won at the MTN competition) this afternoon.
According to reports, Adetoun was on her way to a church programme in Ilesha, Osun State when she ramped into a parked trailer.
See photos below:
The car after the accident
THE CAR
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#ASUUStrike President Of National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) Impeached


Incompetent: President Of National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) Impeached

As a result of his poor handling of the ongoing ASUU strike, the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has impeached its current president Yinka Gbadebo and has replaced him with Jubril Ahmad, the vice-president.
In a statement obtained by Sahara Reporters, NANS Senate President Emaluyi Sunday Michael said Gbadebo was impeached at a meeting of stakeholders on September 7 under Section 49(1) of the constitution.  That provision states: “The president can be impeached on the grounds of incompetence or as therefore by his attitude or action which can be classified/regarded as misconduct”.

It accused Gbadebo of inability to serve the primary purpose of NANS to protect the general interest of all Nigerian students both at home and in Diaspora, “before the institutions, government, parastatals, stakeholders and even other countries policies.”
The statement cited the current impasse between the federal government and university teachers which has seen Nigerian students sitting at home for 65 days, saying Gbadebo was found wanting in the challenge of bringing both parties together.
“Rather he is aligning with a particular party and indulging in “Ghana-must-Go protest,” the statement said, adding that the “dilapidated and maggoty condition of Nigerian universities is of no concern to Ayefele.”