Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, returned to a tumultuous reception in Enugu after his extended vacation abroad.
Chime, who wore dark glasses and acknowledged cheers from the crowd that gathered at Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu, did not speak with newsmen who were anxious to have his message to the people he left behind for about five months.
Hundreds of Enugu people including state government and local government officials converged at the airport and after receiving him at the airport, they escorted him in a long convoy to the Government House.
The Governor who had arrived Abuja, Wednesday from London, touched down at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu around 3.pm yesterday amid cheers from the crowd of enthusiastic citizens who had thronged the airport since morning to welcome him.
He was welcomed on arrival by the Acting Governor, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi accompanied by his wife, Nneka, national and state House of Assembly members and other top government officials.
Spotting a cream white jacket, blue stripped shirt and a pair of black trousers, Chime acknowledged cheers from the ecstatic crowd that included many federal and state legislators, traditional rulers and top government officials before being driven to the Governor’s Lodge.
Another huge crowd of singing and dancing people was at hand at the Lodge, where Governor Chime and his wife, Clara took time to receive many guests. It was also celebration galore on the streets of Enugu as soon as news filtered in that the governor had arrived the CoalCity, with the people chanting victory songs. His return finally marked the end of his absence as the excited residents heaved sighs of relief.
England, which won last weekend's Wellington Sevens in New Zealand, lost both its opening matches to Fiji and Portugal. Kenya, which lost the Wellington final to England, lost to Canada and narrowly beat Uruguay....
Wellington Cup champions England lost both their matches - to Fiji and Portugal - on the opening day at the USA Sevens in Las Vegas.
Four teams - defending champions Samoa, Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand - have won both of their matches to lead the way, but the Cup quarters remain wide open with the final pool games still to be played on Saturday.
On another competitive day results at the Sam Boyd Stadium have left all 16 teams still capable of qualifying for the Cup quarter-finals on day two.
If three teams are level on competition points at the end of the pool stages, the team with the highest points difference will go through to the Cup quarters.
Kenya - who were edged out by England in the Cup final in Wellington - lost to Canada and only narrowly beat Uruguay.
Spain bounced back from an opening defeat to defending champions Samoa to produce a remarkable performance and beat Australia, ending their impressive run which had yielded nine wins in their last 10 matches.
Day Two Pool fixtures: Fiji v Portugal Canada v Uruguay France v Wales Samoa v Australia England v Scotland Kenya v South Africa New Zealand v Argentina Spain v United States
Click below to watch video:
Pool A (England, Scotland, Fiji, Portugal)
Fiji, who will be without both their suspended captain Setefano Cakau and Manueli Lagai for the remainder of the tournament, won both of their opening matches on day one of the USA Sevens at the Sam Boyd Stadium, narrowly holding on to a 14-12 victory against Scotland, with Russell Weir narrowly missing a last-minute penalty drop goal.
England, last week's champions, lost both of their opening matches, against Fiji 26-17 with two tries from Samisoni Viriviri and Portugal, 21-5.
Scotland beat Portugal in their first match, with Mark Robertson and Michael Fedo scoring the tries and Colin Gregor's touchline conversion proving decisive.
All three teams, however, are still in with a chance of reaching the Cup competition depending on results on day two.
Pool B (Kenya, South Africa, Canada, Uruguay)
South Africa became the second side to end day one with a 100% record, adding a 17-5 victory against Canada to an impressive 45-0 victory against the only non-core side competing in Las Vegas, Uruguay.
Canada defeated Kenya early on, which meant both of the Hertz Sevens finalists lost their opening matches. Sean Duke crossed for his 22nd try of the Series with Nanyak Dala and Jeffery Hassler scoring Canada's other tries.
Mike Friday's Kenyans bounced back from their opening defeat, riding their luck to come from 7-5 down and inflict a second defeat on Uruguay, Biko Adema benefiting from smart work by Oscar Ayodi.
Pool C (New Zealand, Argentina, France, Wales)
New Zealand also won both of their two matches on day one, conceding just five points in the process.
Belgium Tuatagaloa helped the reigning Series champions beat France 21-0 with two of their three tries before they beat Wales 40-5 with Ben Lam crossing for a hat-trick.
Reigning Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales beat Argentina in a rematch of that 2009 final in Dubai 17-7 in their first match of the USA Sevens.
Javier Rojas secured a 14-12 victory for Argentina against France, Los Pumas' first win of the day, and Les Bleus' second defeat. Both sides can still reach the Cup quarters.
Pool D (Samoa, Australia, Spain, USA)
Defending champions Samoa maintained a 100% record on day one, beating hosts USA and Spain.
They came from 12-0 behind to beat Spain 19-12, with captain Afa Aiono scoring the winning try under the posts to the delight of the crowd at the Sam Boyd Stadium, before Levi Asifa'amatala and Reupena Levasa scored the tries against USA.
Spain bounced back to defeat Australia 24-14 to bring an end to an impressive run from Michael O'Connor's side, who had won nine of their previous 10 matches.
The hosts USA lost their opening match to Australia 26-7, although they too can still make it to the Cup tomorrow if they beat Spain and points difference goes their way.
Results:
Samoa 12 - 7 United States Australia 14 - 24 Spain Argentina 14 - 12 France New Zealand 40 - 5 Wales South Africa 17 - 5 Canada Kenya 12 - 7 Uruguay Scotland 12 - 14 Fiji England 5 - 21 Portugal Australia 26 - 7 United States Samoa 19 - 12 Spain Argentina 7 - 17 Wales New Zealand 21 - 0 France South Africa 45 - 0 Uruguay Kenya 12 - 19 Canada Scotland 12 - 10 Portugal England 17 - 26 Fiji
When the railway first begun its operation some years ago, I was in Kwara state and noticed the train attracted so much attention due to the kind of publicity given to it by the then governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki. The governor at the time ensures there is so much awareness about the functioning of the railway, which attracted so many citizens including my humble self.
After hearing so much of the train’s activities, yours truly decided to catch the train from Ilorin to Lagos to assess its operations. When I did, the trip took us between 12 to 13 hours to reach Lagos from Ilorin. Though, the experience was not that disappointing, except for the delay and the state of the railway coaches, which were not in good shapes.
From experience, every newly introduced system needs time to develop, but in all, I gave the railway a 25% pass mark at that time which I believe can be improved upon with time and commitment from the government and management of the railway cooperation.
Fast track to 2012, The Minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku during his good governance tour made a lot of fascinating remarks about the railway, boasting about its improved state, efficiency and confortability which gave the majority of Nigerians the impression that the railway is another paradise of achievement in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. But in order to evaluate the government rightly in its transformation, I decided to take another trip via the train to have a first-hand information on what has improved since my last trip to verify the authenticity of the claims of the honourable minister.
I decided to travel via the train, although I have my worries because In recent times, I have read so many false claims by the government and based on this some misinformation without any corresponding reality when investigated, I ensured the trip was not for any business purpose, but just fun.
The boy's torso was found near Tower Bridge in 2001
A murdered African boy whose torso
was found in the River Thames in 2001 and whose identity has remained a mystery
has been named by a key witness.
Former Glasgow resident Joyce Osagiede, who now lives in Nigeria, told BBC
News the boy's name was Patrick Erhabor.
She claims she looked after him when she lived in Germany before he was
trafficked into the UK.
Detectives - who named the boy "Adam" - believe he was murdered as part of a
ritual sacrifice.
Adam's torso was found on 21 September 2001 near Tower Bridge in central
London.
His arms, legs and head had been expertly cut off.
No-one has been charged with the murder.
Forensic tests showed he was from the Benin City area of Nigeria.
'Rituals' video:
A tip-off led to Joyce Osagiede who, in 2002, was living in Glasgow.
Officers thought she was involved in some way, but due to a lack of evidence
and doubts about her mental state she was deported to Nigeria.
Joyce Osagiede (pictured above) says that, in Germany, she handed the boy over to a man who took him to the UK
But last year Ms Osagiede contacted BBC News and said she was now prepared to
reveal everything she knew about the case.
A BBC team travelled to her home in Benin City in southern Nigeria, together
with Nick Chalmers, a former detective who worked on the Adam investigation.
Ms Osagiede told the BBC she looked after the boy in the weeks before he was
trafficked to London and then murdered.
For the first time she revealed what she claimed was his real name.
She said he was called Patrick Erhabor - and that his mother's surname was
Oghogho - and she claimed the child was brought to her when she lived in
Germany.
In the past, she has told officers she then handed the boy over to a man she
called "Bawa" who took him to the UK.
Now, for the first time, she has identified "Bawa" as Kingsley Ojo - a bogus
asylum seeker who first came to London in 1997.
Kingsley Ojo (pictured above) has always insisted he had nothing to do with the killing
"Bawa is called Kingsley," she says.
There is no evidence Kingsley Ojo was involved in the murder or that he knew
what would happen to the boy.
Ms Osagiede says he took Adam from her and took him to the UK.
Ojo, who used three different identities, was arrested in London in 2002 by
officers investigating the Adam case.
In his flat they found in a plastic bag, a mixture of bone, sand and flecks
of gold very similar to a concoction found in the dead boy's stomach.
There was also a video marked "rituals" which showed a B-movie in which an
actor cuts off the head of a man.
Ojo said the video and mixture belonged to other people in the house and
detectives could not establish a link between him and the Adam case.
In 2004, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for people
smuggling. While in prison he contacted officers and offered to help with the
inquiry.
But investigators concluded he was wasting police time and he was deported to
Nigeria.
Ms Osagiede previously wrongly said the boy in this picture was the dead child
Retired detective Nick Chalmers, who worked on the inquiry for seven years,
said Ojo was "someone I've been interested in for a long while - I've always
suspected his involvement and now, for the very first time, we have a witness
who is saying categorically Kingsley was involved".
Kingsley Ojo refused requests from BBC News for an interview, but he has
always insisted he had nothing to do with the killing.
Mr Chalmers said the development with the name given by Ms Osagiede was
"really interesting".
But he also recognises she has been unreliable in the past and has
psychiatric problems. She is currently taking medication.
In 2011 she identified a photograph discovered by the police - and shown to
her by a journalist - as the dead boy and said his name was "Ikpomwosa".
Ms Osagiede now says that was all a misunderstanding and reveals the picture
is "Danny, my friend Tina's son, he lives in Germany".
She says it was taken during a party in her old flat in Hamburg.
We travelled to Hamburg to find out if she was telling the truth about the
photo and tracked down Danny.
Angus Crawford travelled to Germany and tracked down the boy in
the photograph.
He immediately recognised the photo but was surprised to hear it had been
used by newspapers and TV news around the world.
"You said that I was already on TV and I didn't know it," he said.
We located Ms Osagiede's old flat on the other side of the city where she
looked after the boy she calls Patrick.
There we met a man who saw the child.
"The boy was running around, he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and he was
jumping all over this couch that they had and drawing on it," he said.
The BBC shared what it had learned with the Metropolitan Police.
A spokesman for the Met said "the investigation remains on-going and any new
information provided to the team will be thoroughly investigated".
Anyone with any information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555
111.
Tiwa and Tee Billz seal the engagement with a passionate kiss
5th of February was supposed to be singer and song-writer, Tiwa Savage’s 33rd birthday, but it also turned out to be her engagement day as Tiwa was proposed to by her longtime manager and business partner, Tunji Balogun, AKA Tee Billz.
At an exclusive birthday bash at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Tee Billz presented an engagement ring to Tiwa, thus confirming months of speculation and denial of romantic relationship between the two.
R&B singer, Praiz, serenaded the couple
immediately after the proposal, in the presence of other superstars like Don Jazzy, Banky W, Dr. SID among others. Click Below To Watch Video:
It was Don Jazzy who first let out the information as he sent a tweet with photograph of the lovebirds: “Awwww, it’s official. Mavin First Lady @TiwaSavage and @teebillz323 are finally engaged. I’m excited I witnessed the proposal. Congrats,” Don Jazzy tweeted.
EME Boss, Banky W, was a bit poetic: “He liked it so much he put a ring on it.”
Early yesterday, the social media had been abuzz immediately Tee Billz reportedly updated his Blackberry Messenger status to read: ‘Happy Birthday Mrs Billz’. This was further amplified by Tiwa with munched photographs of two cakes on her Instagram page. One of the cakes came from her Mavin label mates and surprisingly, the other with inscription ‘Happy Birthday Mrs Billz’.
Tiwa flaunts her engagement ring with Don Jazzy
Despite their denials of romance, many had maintained that the two are more than business partners. Apart from escorting the singer to numerous shows and private parties, Tee has been caught on camera in many uncompromising position with the Kelele crooner.
On a number of occasions, the two were seen clubbing together at her label’ boss, Don Jazzy’s Club PoP in Victoria Island, Lagos.
In fact, a few weeks ago, they both traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for a brief holiday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned nine of the twenty suspected internet fraudsters arrested and handed over to the Commission by the Joint Task Force of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin. They were arraigned before Justice A. M Liman of the Federal High Court 1, Benin on separate charges bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit: obtaining money under false pretence. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
One of the charge reads in part; “that you Osaugwu Uchenna Kingsley (alias Sam Henric), Robinson Lucky (alias Justin Parker), Larry Edomwonyi (alias Mark Erixson), Amovie Mike (alias Jeffery Ares), Itua Samuel Robinson (alias Park Wetty, King Harry ), Iyen Oghodaro Destiny, Adesa Lucky Rute ( alias Peter Anderson, Eric Stern etc), Egbeifo John Endurance and Egbeniyi Oluwafemi ( alias Raymond Morrison, Mavis Mar) at No. 56 Siluko Road , Benin City within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire with one Dennis Osagie and others now at large to commit felony to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Justice Liman granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N1million each and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a civil servant and the other must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of court. He ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and adjourned to 4th, 13th and 19th of March respectively.
The fraudsters were arrested on January 18, 2013 when men of the Joint Task Force, 4 Brigade, Benin in a surprise raid, stormed their cyber office tucked in an old building located on Siluko Road, Benin City. They were subsequently handed over to the Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
At the point of arrest, the fraudsters had in their possession forty five (45) laptops of different make, twenty eight (28) telephone sets, eight (8) internet mobile modems and one Nissan car with registration number USL 375 AG.
Wilson Uwujaren Ag. Head, Media & Publicity 5th February, 2013 -This is an EFCC press release
‘You’re coming here and pleading poverty while we’re paying taxes’: Shocking rant of woman against foreign students in hospital waiting room caught on mobile.
The two-minute clip, filmed on Saturday night at Ipswich Hospital in Suffolk, saw the woman shout abuse at students Gina Thompson, 23, of Nigeria, and her 21-year-old Spanish friend.
The woman asked them ‘where do you come from’ before saying: ‘You’re coming over here and you’re pleading poverty. We are paying taxes you a***holes and we are going down in this crisis.’
The incident took place at 7:30pm in the hospital’s accident and emergency department waiting room, where Miss Thompson had gone with her friend who had sprained her ankle playing sport.
Miss Thompson, of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is a film and media student at University Campus Suffolk and has been in the UK for two years, while her friend from Seville, Spain, arrived last September.
The woman shouted in front of about 20 shocked patients and friends or relatives: ‘What has happened to this f*****g country’, before directly abusing Miss Thompson who was sitting down.
She asked her ‘Where do you come from?’, to which Miss Thompson replied: ‘What does it matter where I’m from?’
The woman said: ‘We are paying taxes you a***holes and we are going down in this crisis’, before Miss Thompson replied: ‘Don’t call me an a***hole’.
But the woman said: ‘I will, because you’re coming over here and you’re pleading poverty. I am not well.’
But Miss Thompson responded: ‘You won’t call me an a***hole. I will not accept that. Don’t call me an a***hole. Don’t come to my face and insult me. You won’t do that. Calling me an a***hole? Are you alright?’
The woman said back: ‘Don’t accept it, you fat a***’, before a voice off camera said the police had been called.
The woman was then apprehended by a group of nurses, paramedics and security guards, saying: ‘There’s a revolution going on here.’
Miss Thompson told MailOnline after the incident: ‘I was so embarrassed and I couldn’t do anything because I was stuck in the situation, so we just had to laugh about it. All the attention was on us.
‘She said I’ve come here to claim poverty. That’s not true. I’m an international student and I pay £13,000 a year in tuition fees. My friend is a student here from Spain.’
‘It made me feel low of myself. I had to go back home and question why it was wrong I was here. My friend was surprised. She was scared, she was terrified.
‘She kind of felt unsafe afterwards. She is Spanish and her English is not perfect, but she could sort of understand what the woman was saying. When she got back home, she said: “Are we in trouble?”
This woman was a very normal looking woman who you wouldn’t think would abuse you. How many people are the same like that? I’m scared.’
A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman told MailOnline: ‘We have arrested and charged somebody. She has been charged with assault on a police officer, two counts of racially aggravated assault and two charges of assault. So, five charges altogether.
‘She is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on the 20th February. She was arrested at the A&E department on Saturday evening and she was brought in. She was charged on Sunday night.’
A forty-year-old man, Moshood Ismail(40), on Sunday collapsed and died at a viewing centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while watching the match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Elephants of Cote.
Ismail, a father of two and an engineer with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, caused a commotion inside the viewing centre when he suddenly collapsed in the early minutes of the game.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that Ismail became agitated and later collapsed when an Ivorien defender deflected a goal-bound shot from Victor Moses.
Ismail’s neighbor, Taiwo Adebayo, who was also at the viewing centre when the incident occurred, said, “He (Ismail) fell on the ground and immediately started foaming in the mouth before he later died.”
It was learnt that he was immediately rushed to Success Medical Clinic where no doctor was available to attend to him.
Adebayo said that Ismail was, however, given some first aid treatment before he was taken to another hospital.
He added that Ismail died on the way to the hospital he was referred to.
He said, “We were together when the match started. When Moses fired a shot and it was deflected by an opposing player, he (Ismail) fell and started foaming in the mouth.
“We immediately rushed him to a clinic. When we got to Success Medical Clinic, the doctor was not available and the nurses gave him first aid treatment.
“He was referred to another hospital (First Alpha). But on our way, the vehicle gear got damaged and we took a taxi.
“When we got to the hospital, the doctor confirmed him dead.
But the Medical Director, Success Medical Clinic, Sulaiman
Kolawole, said that Ismail was brought into his clinic dead, adding that efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.
Kolawole said the death was due to excessive intake of carbon dioxide which resulted in “anoxia”.
He said, “The man was brought in dead. It is supposed to be a heart attack, because he looked weak, like someone who had been sick for a very long time.
“He looked like someone who was managing his life and was now in the midst of a crowd with shortage of oxygen in that area. We call it anoxia, which is excessive intake of carbon dioxide persistently for a long period of time. But it was late before he was brought here.”
Ismail’s widow, Tawakalitu Temilola, told our correspondent at their Abeokuta home that her husband’s sudden death was still like a dream.
Sobbing profusely, Tawakalitu said that hours before the match started, her husband in company with some of his friends left the house. There was no hint that he would die.
She said Ismail, who survived an accident about two months ago, left behind octogenarian parents.
She said, “He was involved in an accident about two months ago. The accident was fatal but he survived. So, this incident is like a dream but we give thanks to Almighty Allah.”
There was pandemonium in Ondo town on Saturday evening following the death of a police officer attached to the Yaba Divisional Police Division, Inspector Adelakun Lawal, who was allegedly shot dead by one of his colleagues.
It was learnt that the suspect, Mr. Kazeem Shehu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, serving at Ajagba Division in the Irele Local Government of the state, had been arrested.
He was said to be a close friend of the victim and they were drinking together at a relaxation spot before the incident occurred.
According to an eyewitness account, the duo went to the relaxation spot at Ejankole street in Okerowo area of Ondo town at about 5pm.
He said, “They were actually enjoying themselves when a hot argument ensued between them. The argument resulted in Lawal’s death.”
It was learnt that efforts made by other people to broker peace between the two policemen at the height of their hot argument were not successful.
The assailant was said to have brought out a pistol from his pocket and shot the late Inspector at a close range while the deceased fell down in a pool of blood.
It was further leant that the ASP made spirited effort to flee from the scene, but was apprehended by some of the patrons of the spot.
It was gathered that the victim was rushed to the Ondo state Specialist Hospital in Ondo town, while the assailant also sustained injuries while trying to escape.
The victim who had been confirmed dead at the specialist hospital was also until his death, a police prosecutor at an Ondo Chief Magistrate’s court.
The Yaba Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Adegoke Alani, a Chief Superintendent of Police was not available for comment as he was said to have gone out for surveillance.
The officer in charge of Ondo Area Command, Mr. Hamzat Ameyi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was also not available as he was said to have travelled out of town.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Ogodo said “The unfortunate incident happened at about 1700hrs on Saturday when one Johnson Gbamila ‘m’ reported the case at the Enu-Owa Police Station.
“Johnson explained that a police officer at Igbotako, ASP Kazeem Usman, shot dead Inspector Adelakun Lawal, a prosecutor attached to Yaba Division, Ondo at Ejankole beer parlour, Oke-Osun, Ondo.
“Johnson reportedly quoted the suspect to have threatened to kill the victim and that he immediately followed the threat by action when he drew out his pistol and shot the deceased to death.”
The PPRO said the corpse of the deceased had been removed from the scene and deposited at the General Hospital mortuary Ondo
He also said that the culprit had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Akure for “discreet” investigation.
And the outfits were just as crowd-pleasing as the performance. Queen Bey appeared on stage first in a leather skirt and jacket, both of which she ripped off to reveal a super-sexy corset with a lace trim and over-knee socks.
She was then joined on stage by Kelly and Michelle, who also both wore skimpy leather outfits by New York designer Rubin Singer, as they belted out hits like Independent Women and B's Single Ladies (we'd know that move anywhere).
The energetic entertainment extravaganza at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans included insane lighting effects, flames licking the edge of the stage, and a fireworks display. In fact, it was so all-singing, all-dancing that the power in the stadium went out just after the set.
What can we say? You smashed it, ladies. Well done!!
ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Police Command, Sunday, said it had arrested three suspected ritualists and uncovered another ritualists’ underground den in Idode-Imomo, Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who stated this said the command had begun an investigation into the matter.
Entrance of the ritualists underground den.
According to him, the suspects, Kehinde Rufai,Debo Awonaya and one David, are cooling their feet in police custody.
Vanguard gathered that the place was located between Ijebu-Ode and Atan, closed to the border area of Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states.
An eye witness told Vanguard, however, that some youths discovered the ritualists underground den located in a forest after a 70-year-old man identified as Kehinde Rabiu was declared missing.
According to the source, residents of the area were shocked when they saw the underground den which has stairs underneath.
The suspected ritualists were reported to have built a house beside the underground in the forest and planted indian hemp around the place.
Speaking on the incident, Chairman of Community Development Association in the area, Kola Ologbode, described the three suspects as criminals.
He said the trio had been known for criminal activities, adding that, he had overheard them saying they were looking for aged man for a business.
Also speaking, the village head, Durojaye Olugbode, begged the government for assistance to get rid of kidnappers in the area.
President Goodluck Jonathan, Saturday, requested for stay of execution on Nigerians on death row in Indonesia.
Receiving the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Abuja, who is on a 2-day state visit to the country, President Jonathan called for more bilateral relations between both counties with a pledge for an early convening of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation meeting between the two countries.
In tweets, Saturday, by Presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, both Presidents welcomed the signing of MoU between Nigeria and Indonesia to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics, and drugs just as they agreed to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries.
Vanguard had earlier reported that no fewer than 18 Nigerians are presently languishing in various prisons in Indonesia with the fear that some of them may be among 10 slated for execution soon.
The 18 Nigerians were condemned to death by the Indonesian courts in 2008 for their alleged various criminal offences including drug peddling and other related offences.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia inspecting a guard mounted in his honour during arrival formalities as he commenced a two-day official visit to Nigeria at the fore-courts of the Presidential Villa,Saturday in Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.
So far, the Indonesian government had condemned a total of 21 Nigerians to death, sentenced four to life imprisonment and eight others to various jail terms ranging from 11 to 18 years.
Out of the 21 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye and Hassan Anthony Nwaolisa were executed on June 28, 2008, while another, Augustine Ogbonna died under mysterious circumstances in prison custody in September, 2008.
Abati’s tweets:
''Pres. Jonathan requested for stay of execution of Nigerians on death row in Indonesia while both explore agreement on exchange of prisoners
“Both Presidents welcomed the signing of MoU btw Nigeria and Indonesia to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in narcotics, and drugs.”
“Both Presidents pledged to work together towards attaining a more balanced and mutually beneficial relatnship btw Nigeria and Indonesia.”
The Senate on Thursday in Abuja, mandated its Committees on Police Affairs and Security and Intelligence to investigate the sudden appearance of strange corpses floating in the Ezu River of Anambra. It took this decision following a debate on the motion sponsored by Senator Andy Uba (PDP-Anambra), concerning the issue.
Uba in his lead debate disclosed that on January 19, some villagers of Amansea Community of Anambra found 30 dead bodies, mostly males, floating on the Ezu River. He added that between January 23 and January 24, four more dead bodies were discovered on the River.
The lawmaker expressed concern that up till date, no explanation had been given as to the possible origin of the corpses. He also expressed worry that the Ezu River, which was the only source of water for domestic and other uses for the people of five communities of the state, had been contaminated.
According to him, the autopsy ordered by the Anambra and Enugu governments had yielded no result. He, however, observed that the incident could be an extra-judicial killing capable of giving the nation a bad image.
Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta) in his contribution blamed the poor security situation in the country for the sudden development. He said it was very disturbing that more than 30 bodies mostly, men had been found on a river and no security agency could explain what had happened.
``If our security system is working well, we would have been able to know exactly what this is all about. For the bodies to have started decomposing, it means they must have stayed in water for at least seven days.''
The Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi), also described the situation as a tragedy of monumental proportion.
“If this happens in another country, that country would be at a standstill, but here in Nigeria people seem so unconcerned. Are we saying we are too many in this country and then decide to systematically kill some people to reduce our number?'' Ningi asked.
Senate President David Mark said that it was a thing of great worry for 30 dead bodies to be found in one community and yet there was no report of a missing person.
``If the police is inefficient, how about the families or the communities? The problem is that where did these bodies come from?’’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested twenty suspected internet fraudsters. The arrest, which was carried out in a joint operation with officers of the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin, followed intelligence report on their activities. They were nabbed in a surprise raid on their Cyber office tucked in an old building located on Siluko Road, Benin City.
At the point of arrest, the fraudsters had in their possession forty five (45) laptops of different make, twenty eight (28) telephone sets, eight (8) internet mobile modems and one Nissan car with registration number USL 375 AG.
The suspected fraudsters who are mostly in their twenties includes: Idehen Obabueki, Adesa Lucky, Usuagu Uche, Eloghosa Olikiabor, Larry Edomwonyi, Amowie Maike, Francis Ezegbede, Itua Samuel and Endurance John Egbeifo. Others are Amego Ovenseri, Iyen Ighodaro, Philip Agbodori, Lucky Robinson, Nnadi Obinna, Osabuohien Osahon, Chinenu Eze, Peter Sunday, Solomon Ogu, Niyi Femi and Osagie Aghedo.
The suspects have made useful statements. Most of them confessed to be engaged in online dating of foreigners particularly widows. They also confessed to using different pseudo names and faces to deceive their prospective victims. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
A Tube journey is the norm for millions of London commuters but the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have only just taken their first joint trip on the Underground.
Charles and Camilla celebrated the 150th anniversary of the capital's transport network by touring a small part of it and visiting some stations on Wednesday.
The Prince and Duchess travelled by Tube riding for a few minutes just one stop from Farringdon to King's Cross on a Metropolitan line train.
The royal couple were given specially designed oyster cards celebrating the Tube's anniversary
Charles last travelled on the Tube network in April 1979 when he opened the first stage of the Jubilee line, while Camilla is thought to have used the London Underground (LU) in the past.
They both qualify for a Freedom Pass for the over-60s, but their oyster cards had £10 credit for the journey, which costs £2.10. The cards are expected to be retained by the Royal Collection.
Although the train was empty, members of the public boarded at Farringdon along with the royals but a group of policemen standing further down the carriage meant commuters could not reach the heir to the throne and his wife.
Camilla sat opposite Metropolitan line manager Angela Back and speaking about the immaculate train said: "Very nice, very smart."
The short journey was to mark 150 years of London Underground
"Just one stop?" Charles asked Tube bosses when he and the Duchess arrived at King's Cross station after their three-minute trip from Farringdon.
Prior to boarding, Howard Collins, the Tube's chief operating officer, asked Charles if he would like to drive the train - as he did a year ago during the Bombardier factory visit.
"I will do as I'm told," Charles jokingly replied.
Spotting the media waiting on the same platform, he asked: "Are you all coming on the train?"
They seem to be having fun anyway!
Abuja - The State Security (SSS) Tuesday, paraded six men who were involved in the kidnap of Nkiru Sylvanus, Nollywood actress and special assistant on public affairs to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state.
Nkiru, who was kidnapped along with Kenneth Okoli in Owerri on December 16 2012 while on an official engagement, was released five days after a ransom of N8 million was reportedly paid.
AUSTIN, Texas, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Texas is set to execute Kimberly McCarthy by lethal injection on Tuesday, the first woman to be put to death in the United States in more than two years.
The execution is scheduled to be carried out at the state prison in Huntsville, Texas after 6 p.m. local time.
Women are rarely executed in the United States. Only 12 female inmates were put to death since capital punishment was reinstated by the Supreme Court in 1976, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
The last woman executed was Teresa Lewis in Virginia on Sept. 23, 2010, the information center said.
"Although women commit about 10 percent of murders, capital cases also require some aggravating factor like rape, robbery, or physical abuse," said Richard Dieter, executive director of the information center, adding that women usually have not committed a long list of prior felonies.
"It's unclear whether jurors or prosecutors may be more lenient in potential prosecutions of women, since there are relatively few," said Dieter.
McCarthy, 51, was convicted of entering the Lancaster, Texas home of her 71-year-old neighbor, Dorothy Booth, on July 21, 1997, under the pretense of borrowing some sugar. She then stabbed Booth five times, according to the Texas attorney general's summary of the case.
She also cut off Booth's left ring finger in order to take her diamond ring, which she later pawned.
McCarthy also was believed to be responsible for the murders of two other elderly women, one using a meat tenderizer as a weapon and another using a claw hammer, according to the Attorney General's summary.
McCarthy was found guilty in 1998 by a Dallas County jury of murdering Booth and sentenced to death. Her conviction was overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2001 because no attorney was present when she was questioned after the crime even though she had requested a lawyer, court documents show. She was tried a second time in 2002, was again found guilty by a Dallas County jury, and again sentenced to death.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2004 agreed with the second conviction.
McCarthy would be the second person executed in the United States so far this year. Forty-three inmates were put to death in 2012. (Reporting by Corrie MacLaggan; Writing by Greg McCune) huffingtonpost
Five men were on Monday paraded by the Lagos State Police Command for printing local and foreign currencies.
Two of the suspects, Femi Jacob and Ramon Adeoye, were arrested at Ogunlana Street, Alagbado with eight printing machines and a large quantity of printed fake notes in Naira, Dollars, Pounds, Euros and Cedis totalling N8m.
Isaka Usman and Akeem Ayobado were also arrested at Ikorodu with 14 printing machines, one cutting machine and N100m fake notes. The fifth suspect, Onyeka Ibe, was allegedly an Anambra-based buyer, who usually comes to Lagos to buy fake currencies.
The state Command’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko, said, “This syndicate has been in operation for over five years. Their customers are spread across several African countries like the Republic of Benin, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“The Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Superintendent of Police Abba Kyari, got a tip-off about the operations of the syndicate some weeks ago and mounted surveillance at Jacob’s Alagbado residence. It was Jacob’s confessional statement after his arrest that led to the arrest of Ayodabo who is the leader of the syndicate.
“This case will eventually be handed over to operatives of Interpol because of the negative implications the fake currencies outflow might have had on the economies of the West African countries.”
The CP said the cutting machine was owned by Ayodabo and procured from the Republic of Benin
One of the suspects, Ibe said, “I often come down to Oluwole Street in Lagos Island. That is where Ayodabo has his shop. I would spend N5,000 to get currency worth N100,000. I usually buy currency worth between N500,000 and N700,000.”
The fake notes which were on display during the parade looked real enough to have kept the syndicate in business for five years with customers spread across the continent.
Adeoye told PUNCH METRO that he was arrested at Iyana Ipaja, adding, “I am just an errand boy, my duty was to deliver fake currencies to buyers. I was on my way to deliver fake notes worth N700,000 to one Ibrahim when I was arrested.”
An elderly woman, Mrs. Florence Omotehinwa, has been accused of bundling her 40-year-old daughter, Mrs. Toyin Ndiomu, in a psychiatric hospital for attending “an unconventional” church.
According to Punch, the victim, who attends Jordan Ministries, Opebi, Lagos, was abducted on January 12, 2013, at 25 Joel Ogunnaike Street, while she was celebrating her 40th birthday.
A legal consultant with Project Alert on Violence Against Women, Mr. Benjamin Odeh, told our correspondent that the victim was a mother of two and had been separated from her husband because of domestic violence.
Odeh said on the day the victim was abducted, her mother stormed her party with naval operatives and policemen.
He said, “On that day, Mrs. Omotehinwa and Ndiomu’s estranged husband came with two women, naval personnel and two armed policemen. They seized the victim, pushed her into a vehicle and sped off.”
He said the victim was taken to Farri Psychiatric Hospital, where she was being kept incommunicado.
When Punch Metro visited the hospital located on Gbaja Street, Surulere, the matron denied our correspondent access to Ndiomu, saying that she had been given strict orders by her mother not to allow visitors to have access to her.
The matron, who did not identify herself, said, “This is not a conventional hospital, it is a hospital for patients with mental illnesses and as such we cannot allow just anybody to see her.
“Her mother said no one should be allowed to see her and we are standing by that instruction. We don’t know anything about abduction; our own responsibility is to treat patients.”
The commander who identified himself as Sheikh Muhammed Abdulazeez spoke to journalists Monday in Maiduguri, where the Islamist sect known as Boko Haram got its start.
Abdulazeez described himself as a second-in-command to sect leader Abubakar Shekau and said there would be a ceasefire as the Borno government had promised to release some sect members.
Abdulazeez reportedly met with Governor Kashim Shettima today.
While a government official later welcomed the announcement, it came as soldiers and police still hold Boko Haram members and violence continued unabated in the region.
A local resident of Gajiganna, a nearby village, said he saw eight bodies — some decapitated — after an attack, that bore the violent trademark of Boko Haram.
Boko Haram had offered unilateral ceasefire in the past, which it never kept, choosing instead to launch brutal attacks on the Nigerian state.
Smiles ... but Katie Price says her third wedding was almost ruined
FURIOUS Katie Price has told how her wedding was almost ruined by a series of disasters at her hotel — including a butler who asked: “Are you a porn star?”
Katie Price A.K.A. Jordan, 34, hit out after returning from Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa with third hubby, builder Kieran Hayler, 25.
She said her wedding snaps showed a beach — “but if you looked the other way there were ugly skyscrapers”.
The sunbeds were plastic, their wedding tent “looked like it came out of B&Q” and the atmosphere was “more 18-30” than royal.
'Sandals was more like a sweaty flip-flop' ... Katie Price has hit out at resort after disastrous big day
Model Katie said: “Sandals, my a*** — it was more like a smelly old flip-flop.”
Sandals said it was “disappointed Ms Price was not happy with her stay” and that the butler denied making any derogatory remarks.
It added: “As a gesture of goodwill we are willing to offer her a refund on condition she does not choose our resorts for any future weddings or stays.”
SANDALS RESORTS' FULL STATEMENT
Sandals Resorts are surprised by the allegations made by Ms Price. Without an international profile, the resort team were oblivious of Ms Price’s fame and welcomed her with the award-winning service given to all its guests.
Once at the resort Ms Price did identify herself to her dedicated Wedding Manager and explained her profile in the UK.
The team were thoroughly understanding and accommodating of Ms Price’s request for privacy, offering use of the resort’s private offshore island, Sandals Cay, for her wedding ceremony and the duration of her stay.
However, Ms Price declined this offer, and against the Sandals team’s advice opted instead to hold the ceremony on the public beach where she was photographed by paparazzi.
As with all Butler Suite guests, Ms Price was assigned a dedicated butler who are all trained by the “Guild of Professional English Butlers”.
Part of this service includes serving gourmet meals from a choice of ten on property restaurants in suite at no additional cost. The resort also offers private candle lit dining in a variety of discreet locations for all its guests.
Her dedicated butler, who is used to dealing with VIP’s denies making any derogatory remarks.
Sandals Resorts is disappointed that Ms Price was not happy with her stay and as a gesture of goodwill are willing to offer her a refund on condition that she does not chose our resorts for any future weddings or stays.
Sandals has been welcoming guests through its doors for over three decades and prides itself on excellent service, award winning product and has one of the highest returning guest rates in the industry.
Sandals has been awarded some of the industry’s top accolades and awards including the ‘World’s Leading All-Inclusive’ at the World Travel Awards and ‘Top All Inclusive Brand for Honeymooners’ by Brides Magazines.
Firefighters work to douse a fire at the Kiss Club in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state
A fire in a Brazilian nightclub has killed at least 245 people with fears that the death toll could rise further, initial reports suggest.
The deadly blaze, at the Kiss nightclub in the city of Santa Maria, in the south of Brazil, began when a band set fire to a flag which ignited sound proofing foam on the ceiling, reports the Guardian.
Around 200 people have been injured.
Click Below To WatchVideo:
Fire chief Guido de Melo told the Brazilian website, G1: "Fire services are looking for other victims. We can't give an exact number [of those killed]. People started panicking and ended up treading on each other,"
He added: "We have just taken the fire under control. Now we are removing the bodies."
Rescue services had to smash through walls to reach those trapped inside.
Reports suggest many choked to death or were trampled in the rush to escape the nightclub which only had one exit.
One survivor, Aline Santos Silva, 29, told Globonews TV: "It was really fast. There was a lot of smoke, really dark smoke.
"We were only able to get out quickly because we were in a VIP area close to the door."
There may have been as many as 2000 people in the nightclub at the time of the fire.
Since Ice Prince announced he was featuring Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson in the "Aboki" remix, fans have been watching out to know when the song will be released, with many fans wondering if Mercy can sing.
Do you want to know if Mercy can sing well? Click below to listen to the song:
Civilisation certainly remains in quirky progress in Nigeria. This reality is again dramatised recently with the shocking discovery of about 30 male corpses floating on Ezu River in the border between Enugu and Anambra states of south-eastern Nigeria. The Nigeria Police, with its customary pretensions of efficiency, has moved in and quickly scaled down the figure of the gory find to "only 18".
The fact that there is no information on the identity of the corpses - and on how they came to be dumped in the river - adds to the dismaying situation. That it is occurring at this time of the current security challenges facing the country should galvanise the authorities to move quickly to solve the riddle, because it has increased the general apprehension over the rising cases of ritual killings and kidnapping, particularly in the eastern part of the country.
As it were, the puzzling discovery of these decomposing corpses by fishermen in the part of the river at Amansea, in Awka North local government area of Anambra State last week and the apparently unscientific manner adopted in an effort to unravel the mystery qualify for a script from Nollywood.
It is a compelling, tragic human story that needs a decisive forensic investigative reaction. Responsible agencies of government must clear cobwebs and explain to concerned Nigerians what really transpired. A distraught Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State put off a planned foreign trip and, in something of a knee-jerk reaction, has offered a princely N5million to any person who could conjure clues to help remove the development from the realms of mystery.
Obi described the dumping of the corpses as unacceptable, and vowed to ensure that "no stone would be left unturned" in effort to unravel the mystery.
The killing and dumping of the dead bodies in question in Ezu River is a despicable act that shrinks our humanity. It must not be allowed to go unresolved, like so many other "mysteries" in our recent national life.
This crime, if indeed they were victims of murder, poses serious challenge not only to the people and governments of the two states but to the Nigeria police and other security agencies to determine how the victims met their deaths. Was it by drowning, through gunshots or strangulation, or poisoning? Or, perhaps, they may be victims of ritual killing, a rampant practice in these parts, or of communal clash, given that the area falls within the Aguleri-Umuleri region, flashpoint for age-long bitter conflict.
Reported preliminary investigations have not established that the dead bodies belonged to alien beings on a misadventure to earth. Who killed 18 male Nigerians (if they were Nigerians) and disposed of them in Ezu River which provides water to populations of contiguous communities in that locale?
As the age of recourse to native doctors for solutions are far gone, under appropriate forensic inquiry, dead bodies tell tales about how they were killed. We wonder whey these bodies have not told the police just how they met their gory end and when. What are the challenges hobbling the police from speedy execution of basic investigation of the case?
A comparable incident happened in 2001 when a headless body was found in London’s River Thames - the Boy Adam case - when the British police went into over-drive and solved the damning mystery. Deploying the most advanced investigative science available, the Boy Adam, incidentally a young Nigerian boy involved in ritual killing, was unravelled by the police.
The effort to backtrack and unearth the story behind the grisly headless and legless torso floating in the Thames is certainly far more arduous than solving the Evu River case where at least 18 bodies are involved.
Just as the recent unscheduled visit by President Goodluck Jonathan to a police college in Lagos is provoking a welcome storm and focus on the condition of police training institutions in the country, the Ezu River’s floating corpses should provoke an appropriate reappraisal of the capacity, motivation, equipment and funding of the Nigeria Police to deliver on its critical mandate to secure society.
Peter Okoye of P-Square today announced the birth of his second child with his girlfriend Titilola Omotayo, who is also the mother of his first child, Cameron.
He tweeted:
“Thank u Lord… Am the new Daddy in town… And she’s so beautiful and adorable”
“Welcome to the world Aliona…. God is great.”
“Mother and child are perfectly fine…. Thank u Jesus”
