Kidnappers Demand N500m Ransom To Free Jonathan's Uncle

Abductors of Inengite Nitabai, the 70-year old uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan, have demanded a N500m ransom. 

A security source said that the abductors threatened to kill him if the family fails to produce the money.

The source also said the family had constituted a committee to evaluate the demand, establish negotiations with the abductors and facilitate his release.

He said the kidnappers had also warned against the involvement of security operatives in the matter.

"The kidnappers contacted the family four days after and demanded a whopping sum of N500m. It is believed that the family of the victim has begun negotiations with the hoodlums," he said.

Tension and panic set in when the kidnappers failed to establish any contact with the family of their victim three days after he was abducted.

That development was said to have rattled the Presidency, which reportedly ordered a massive deployment of security in Otuoke, the hometown of the Jonathans, and the Niger Delta creeks.

The gunmen abducted Nitabai on Sunday after collecting about N400,000 from his wife.

It would be recalled that on October 14 last year, Augusta Douglas Ayam, the sister of Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Advisor to President Jonathan on Research and Strategy, was also kidnapped in the same area.

She was released after nine days, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND, claiming to have made accidental contact with the kidnappers, confirmed that the Jonathan government paid $200,000 US as ransom for her release.

The movement said the kidnappers wanted to use the incident to make a political statement, as they were disgusted at the ostentation they had witnessed during the burial of Oronto’s father in December last year. That event featured the widespread use of government equipment, including free use of military helicopters to shuttle guests and merchandise. It was on one of those trips that Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi died in a helicopter that crash.

Kidnappers Demand N500m Ransom To Free Jonathan's Uncle

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Abductors of Inengite Nitabai, the 70-year old uncle of President Goodluck Jonathan, have demanded a N500m ransom. 

A security source said that the abductors threatened to kill him if the family fails to produce the money.

The source also said the family had constituted a committee to evaluate the demand, establish negotiations with the abductors and facilitate his release.

He said the kidnappers had also warned against the involvement of security operatives in the matter.

"The kidnappers contacted the family four days after and demanded a whopping sum of N500m. It is believed that the family of the victim has begun negotiations with the hoodlums," he said.

Tension and panic set in when the kidnappers failed to establish any contact with the family of their victim three days after he was abducted.

That development was said to have rattled the Presidency, which reportedly ordered a massive deployment of security in Otuoke, the hometown of the Jonathans, and the Niger Delta creeks.

The gunmen abducted Nitabai on Sunday after collecting about N400,000 from his wife.

It would be recalled that on October 14 last year, Augusta Douglas Ayam, the sister of Mr. Oronto Douglas, the Special Advisor to President Jonathan on Research and Strategy, was also kidnapped in the same area.

She was released after nine days, and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta MEND, claiming to have made accidental contact with the kidnappers, confirmed that the Jonathan government paid $200,000 US as ransom for her release.

The movement said the kidnappers wanted to use the incident to make a political statement, as they were disgusted at the ostentation they had witnessed during the burial of Oronto’s father in December last year. That event featured the widespread use of government equipment, including free use of military helicopters to shuttle guests and merchandise. It was on one of those trips that Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi died in a helicopter that crash.

Is Nigeria’s President A Terrorist?

While Goodluck Jonathan was acting as president of Nigeria, in October 2010 shortly before the Presidential elections, there was a large bomb blast during independence celebrations in Abuja. Immediately after the attack, before an investigation was ever conducted by Nigeria’s security services, the President suddenly categorically exonerated MEND terrorists of involvement.

This was a SERIOUS and dangerous submission, within hours after a bomb attack and before any evidence could have been fully investigated. This suggested prior knowledge of the attack and prompted questions of why if it was known by the President, the people were not protected and given advanced warning. Jonathan blamed northern elements for this bombing, seeking to utilize it to his advantage for political gains. The bombing appeared to ‘favor’ him.
Nigeria was given its second shock shortly after this terror blast when MEND terrorist, Henry Okah submitted that the then Acting President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ordered the Abuja bomb blast ‘to lay blame on his political adversaries, in hope of tarnishing them and securing his victory.’ This was a powerful accusation, most especially since the relationships of Goodluck Jonathan with Niger Delta militants who were engaged in similar acts of terrorism had been clearly established. Terror which had been significantly quelled by the Yar’Adua regime, with his NSA Sarki Mukhtar, was returning to Nigeria as a political instrument.

The above were not the first linkages of the President of Nigeria with terrorism. During his rule as governor of Bayelsa, a post that fell on his lap with the arrest and prosecution of the corrupt governor he had served as deputy to, Alamesigha, Goodluck Jonathan was noted to not only be rabidly corrupt, but also to finance militant terrorists as detailed in Wikileaks US intelligence cables among other sources.

From the start to date of the Goodluck Jonathan regime, it has been marked by continuous, unabated terror and deaths. Terror has returned to the creeks, with high sea piracy, kidnapping and episodes of pipe-line vandalism and sabotage. The north east and entire north and middle belt of the nation has been riddled by intractable extremist terrorism. Terrorists have operated with impunity, battles have been bloody, unabated and chronic between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. Nigeria is practically becoming a free war zone where anyone can possess any grade of deadly weaponry. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the nation has become torn up in religious and tribal, political inspired fracas.

The question can no longer be avoided. Is the rising state of anarchy and free terrorism in Nigeria an accident or the result of the nation being under terrorist rule; by which terror will be officially endorsed and sired on the nation with government assistance?

On March 9th, 2011, the President of Nigeria announced that he knew the sponsors of terror and he has given the order for them to be apprehended. This never happened. Terrorist sponsors remain to date, protected by the President.

In April of 2012, the then NSA Andrew Owoye Azazi made a compelling submission that internal workings of the President’s political party were responsible for Boko Haram terrorism. He was fired not long after and died of a helicopter explosion under very mysterious conditions December 15th of the same year.

In a publication in the Punch of May 16th, 2012, the chairman of the ruling PDP party, Bamanga Tukur said, “Boko Haram is fighting for justice; Boko Haram is another name for justice.” The president of Nigeria fought to keep him as the chairman of the party for another 2 years, finally letting go, only to immediately re-appoint this terror suspect as the chairman of Nigeria’s railway corp.

As published in PremiumTimes of April 28, 2013, a White paper report chaired by Interior Minister Abba Moro indicted several prominent Borno politicians in the metamorphosis of Boko Haram from its ‘Ecomog’ baby. President Jonathan ‘directed’ his NSA Dasuki to act on this paper. Today, after thousands more deaths, the nation is still terrorized, innocent poor are dying and not a single sponsor of terror has been brought to book, rather they are embraced and funded in evil political desperation.

In July of 2013, to the shock of most Nigerians and in what has been described as political motivated betrayal of the nation, Hamza Al-Mustapha, charged with the murder of Kudirat Abiola among other crimes, was released from prison under the Jonathan regime. This terrorist was embraced by the president and flown around the nation as part of an executive presidential campaign team and think-tank.

Unrepentant terrorists like Mujahid Dokubo Asari and Tompolo are part of the president of Nigeria’s inner circle. Billions of naira is given to these agents to ‘secure’ the Niger Delta that is today in such a state of insecurity, even the President’s adopted father is not safe from the terror reign. Note- By not signing the amnesty agreement, these persons are still active terrorists engaged in terrorism against the state.

Linked to Boko Haram and also to a Hezbollah arms cache discovered in Kano, serial coupist NSA Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was astonishingly appointed by the President of Nigeria to head the nations defense ministry… also for cheap political assistance. Mohammed Gusau is a remnant of Nigeria’s worst regime, the Babangida-Abacha dictatorships. He is also a three-time NSA and the NSA under whose watch MEND terror and Boko Haram comfortably came into being, unchecked and unabated. Gusau has also been described as a foreign spy in Nigeria. All of these security risks were attractive to the President who begged and bowed to private conditions to get this retired soldier into his government.

This February, a sudden attack of Boko Haram at a school in Yobe, killing 59 students and concurrent attacks in Borno, as well as earlier attacks have again been found to coincide with pressing matters of government incompetency that threaten the Jonathan regime. The reports of sudden withdrawal of troops ahead of the attacks raised suspicion of government hand in the attacks. With the Reno Omokri–Wendel Simlin “Sanusi-Boko Haram Saga document,’ a possible motive was suddenly revealed.

If the Presidents circle can cook up such a treacherous plan to take advantage of recent Boko Haram carnage to tarnish the image of their current worst ‘adversary,’ is it too far to ask whether they could have gone as far as setting up/staging the attack to utilize for a diversion and to slander the person of the CBN governor? These are questions Nigerians are asking today. There are several more cases of political terrorism that are coincident with political meanderings of the current regime. Eg, the March 18th bombing of a bus-stop at Sabon Gari, Kano, which coincided with the APC merger and registration battle.

If this government is not responsible for these political attacks, the onus is on them to either apprehend those who are or to resign in the interest of life of the citizens and progress of the nation.

Finally, the case of the missing billions of dollars, which is estimated as between $56.4 billion and $127 billion over the four years of the Jonathan administration is a great global security concern. Where is this money? This money could have been utilized for social and security programs that would have made terrorism a thing of the foregone past. Rather the money is being used to finance terror. Experts say the missing billions of US dollars is being traced to terrorism, not just in Nigeria but across the world. This is a tall sum of money to go missing. This type of money typically sponsors terrorism. Terrorism today is an intercontinental network. Money from the billions ‘missing’ under the Jonathan administration gets into the hands of AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb) through their Boko Haram partners in Nigeria and from there these billions easily travel all the way to al-Qaeda’s headquarters to support terrorism across the world.

Nigeria and the entire free world is at grave risk and urgent, severe action is necessary to protect and secure life and hope. We need to act.

Is Nigeria’s President A Terrorist?

Posted by Sylvester No comments

While Goodluck Jonathan was acting as president of Nigeria, in October 2010 shortly before the Presidential elections, there was a large bomb blast during independence celebrations in Abuja. Immediately after the attack, before an investigation was ever conducted by Nigeria’s security services, the President suddenly categorically exonerated MEND terrorists of involvement.

This was a SERIOUS and dangerous submission, within hours after a bomb attack and before any evidence could have been fully investigated. This suggested prior knowledge of the attack and prompted questions of why if it was known by the President, the people were not protected and given advanced warning. Jonathan blamed northern elements for this bombing, seeking to utilize it to his advantage for political gains. The bombing appeared to ‘favor’ him.
Nigeria was given its second shock shortly after this terror blast when MEND terrorist, Henry Okah submitted that the then Acting President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan ordered the Abuja bomb blast ‘to lay blame on his political adversaries, in hope of tarnishing them and securing his victory.’ This was a powerful accusation, most especially since the relationships of Goodluck Jonathan with Niger Delta militants who were engaged in similar acts of terrorism had been clearly established. Terror which had been significantly quelled by the Yar’Adua regime, with his NSA Sarki Mukhtar, was returning to Nigeria as a political instrument.

The above were not the first linkages of the President of Nigeria with terrorism. During his rule as governor of Bayelsa, a post that fell on his lap with the arrest and prosecution of the corrupt governor he had served as deputy to, Alamesigha, Goodluck Jonathan was noted to not only be rabidly corrupt, but also to finance militant terrorists as detailed in Wikileaks US intelligence cables among other sources.

From the start to date of the Goodluck Jonathan regime, it has been marked by continuous, unabated terror and deaths. Terror has returned to the creeks, with high sea piracy, kidnapping and episodes of pipe-line vandalism and sabotage. The north east and entire north and middle belt of the nation has been riddled by intractable extremist terrorism. Terrorists have operated with impunity, battles have been bloody, unabated and chronic between Fulani herdsmen and farmers. Nigeria is practically becoming a free war zone where anyone can possess any grade of deadly weaponry. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced and the nation has become torn up in religious and tribal, political inspired fracas.

The question can no longer be avoided. Is the rising state of anarchy and free terrorism in Nigeria an accident or the result of the nation being under terrorist rule; by which terror will be officially endorsed and sired on the nation with government assistance?

On March 9th, 2011, the President of Nigeria announced that he knew the sponsors of terror and he has given the order for them to be apprehended. This never happened. Terrorist sponsors remain to date, protected by the President.

In April of 2012, the then NSA Andrew Owoye Azazi made a compelling submission that internal workings of the President’s political party were responsible for Boko Haram terrorism. He was fired not long after and died of a helicopter explosion under very mysterious conditions December 15th of the same year.

In a publication in the Punch of May 16th, 2012, the chairman of the ruling PDP party, Bamanga Tukur said, “Boko Haram is fighting for justice; Boko Haram is another name for justice.” The president of Nigeria fought to keep him as the chairman of the party for another 2 years, finally letting go, only to immediately re-appoint this terror suspect as the chairman of Nigeria’s railway corp.

As published in PremiumTimes of April 28, 2013, a White paper report chaired by Interior Minister Abba Moro indicted several prominent Borno politicians in the metamorphosis of Boko Haram from its ‘Ecomog’ baby. President Jonathan ‘directed’ his NSA Dasuki to act on this paper. Today, after thousands more deaths, the nation is still terrorized, innocent poor are dying and not a single sponsor of terror has been brought to book, rather they are embraced and funded in evil political desperation.

In July of 2013, to the shock of most Nigerians and in what has been described as political motivated betrayal of the nation, Hamza Al-Mustapha, charged with the murder of Kudirat Abiola among other crimes, was released from prison under the Jonathan regime. This terrorist was embraced by the president and flown around the nation as part of an executive presidential campaign team and think-tank.

Unrepentant terrorists like Mujahid Dokubo Asari and Tompolo are part of the president of Nigeria’s inner circle. Billions of naira is given to these agents to ‘secure’ the Niger Delta that is today in such a state of insecurity, even the President’s adopted father is not safe from the terror reign. Note- By not signing the amnesty agreement, these persons are still active terrorists engaged in terrorism against the state.

Linked to Boko Haram and also to a Hezbollah arms cache discovered in Kano, serial coupist NSA Aliyu Mohammed Gusau was astonishingly appointed by the President of Nigeria to head the nations defense ministry… also for cheap political assistance. Mohammed Gusau is a remnant of Nigeria’s worst regime, the Babangida-Abacha dictatorships. He is also a three-time NSA and the NSA under whose watch MEND terror and Boko Haram comfortably came into being, unchecked and unabated. Gusau has also been described as a foreign spy in Nigeria. All of these security risks were attractive to the President who begged and bowed to private conditions to get this retired soldier into his government.

This February, a sudden attack of Boko Haram at a school in Yobe, killing 59 students and concurrent attacks in Borno, as well as earlier attacks have again been found to coincide with pressing matters of government incompetency that threaten the Jonathan regime. The reports of sudden withdrawal of troops ahead of the attacks raised suspicion of government hand in the attacks. With the Reno Omokri–Wendel Simlin “Sanusi-Boko Haram Saga document,’ a possible motive was suddenly revealed.

If the Presidents circle can cook up such a treacherous plan to take advantage of recent Boko Haram carnage to tarnish the image of their current worst ‘adversary,’ is it too far to ask whether they could have gone as far as setting up/staging the attack to utilize for a diversion and to slander the person of the CBN governor? These are questions Nigerians are asking today. There are several more cases of political terrorism that are coincident with political meanderings of the current regime. Eg, the March 18th bombing of a bus-stop at Sabon Gari, Kano, which coincided with the APC merger and registration battle.

If this government is not responsible for these political attacks, the onus is on them to either apprehend those who are or to resign in the interest of life of the citizens and progress of the nation.

Finally, the case of the missing billions of dollars, which is estimated as between $56.4 billion and $127 billion over the four years of the Jonathan administration is a great global security concern. Where is this money? This money could have been utilized for social and security programs that would have made terrorism a thing of the foregone past. Rather the money is being used to finance terror. Experts say the missing billions of US dollars is being traced to terrorism, not just in Nigeria but across the world. This is a tall sum of money to go missing. This type of money typically sponsors terrorism. Terrorism today is an intercontinental network. Money from the billions ‘missing’ under the Jonathan administration gets into the hands of AQIM (Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb) through their Boko Haram partners in Nigeria and from there these billions easily travel all the way to al-Qaeda’s headquarters to support terrorism across the world.

Nigeria and the entire free world is at grave risk and urgent, severe action is necessary to protect and secure life and hope. We need to act.

Schools, University Empty After Deadly Girls College Attack

Terrified students in northeast Nigeria have fled boarding schools after an attack by suspected Boko Haram extremists in which 43 students were shot and hacked to death and the whole school razed.


Students refused to stay overnight in their schools and colleges in the wake of the attack on the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe state on Tuesday.

“Most students of boarding secondary schools have vacated their hostels and moved back to their homes after news of the Buni Yadi attack,” Yunusa Ahmed, who lives in the state capital Damaturu, told AFP.

Ahmed’s son is currently studying at the city’s Government Secondary School but has now moved back home along with two classmates.

“They went to school today (Wednesday) but returned after classes ended because they are too afraid to sleep in the school for fear of a Boko Haram attack,” Ahmed said.

Boko Haram, which translates roughly from Hausa as “Western education is sin”, rejects a so-called Western curriculum and has burnt hundreds of schools in its four-and-a-half year fight to create an Islamic state in the north.

Last October Yobe state authorities said Boko Haram fighters burnt down 209 schools, causing damage worth an estimated $15.6 million (11.4 million euros).

The attacks are taking their toll on education in a region that already lags behind the rest of Nigeria in social and economic development.

- ‘Callously murdered’ -

President Goodluck Jonathan, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening to mark upcoming celebrations for the centenary of Nigeria’s unification, said the students were “callously murdered”.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply concerned about the increasing frequency and brutality of attacks against educational institutions”, adding that “no objective can justify such violence”.

A student at GSS Damaturu, who gave his name only as Mubarak, said students fled their dorms in fear of further attacks.

Last June seven students and a teacher were shot dead in the school when Boko Haram opened fire on a dormitory.

“We are afraid of a repeat of the horrifying incident of last year,” Mubarak said.

Tuesday’s attack was the fourth such raid on schools in Yobe state by Boko Haram in the past year.

In September insurgents dressed in military uniform opened fire on student hostels at an agriculture college in Gujba, killing 40.

The Federal Government College, a girls’ school in Yobe state’s commercial hub Potiskum, was shut indefinitely after concerned parents took their daughters home, fearing it could be hit next, a teacher at the school said.

“The school management sought approval from higher authorities for the closure of the school because of the massive withdrawal of students by parents, despite assurances by the school management,” said the teacher, who asked not to be identified.

Students have also fled at least two other boarding schools in the town, say locals.

The fear of renewed violence was heightened by claims that the attackers of Buni Yadi were spotted in a nearby village afterwards, Kabir added.

In July last year, Boko Haram gunmen broke into a secondary school in Mamudo village outside Potiskum, opening fire and throwing explosives into dormitories, killing a teacher and 41 students as they slept.

Students of Bukar Abba Ibrahim University in Damaturu have also abandoned their halls of residence.

“The attacks on secondary schools are a clear warning to us in the university because if the attackers could murder secondary school children one can only imagine what they would do if they attack a university,” said student Bashir Sani.

Many are staying with friends in the city. Only a few with nowhere else to go still sleep at the college,

Schools, University Empty After Deadly Girls College Attack

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Terrified students in northeast Nigeria have fled boarding schools after an attack by suspected Boko Haram extremists in which 43 students were shot and hacked to death and the whole school razed.


Students refused to stay overnight in their schools and colleges in the wake of the attack on the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi, Yobe state on Tuesday.

“Most students of boarding secondary schools have vacated their hostels and moved back to their homes after news of the Buni Yadi attack,” Yunusa Ahmed, who lives in the state capital Damaturu, told AFP.

Ahmed’s son is currently studying at the city’s Government Secondary School but has now moved back home along with two classmates.

“They went to school today (Wednesday) but returned after classes ended because they are too afraid to sleep in the school for fear of a Boko Haram attack,” Ahmed said.

Boko Haram, which translates roughly from Hausa as “Western education is sin”, rejects a so-called Western curriculum and has burnt hundreds of schools in its four-and-a-half year fight to create an Islamic state in the north.

Last October Yobe state authorities said Boko Haram fighters burnt down 209 schools, causing damage worth an estimated $15.6 million (11.4 million euros).

The attacks are taking their toll on education in a region that already lags behind the rest of Nigeria in social and economic development.

- ‘Callously murdered’ -

President Goodluck Jonathan, in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening to mark upcoming celebrations for the centenary of Nigeria’s unification, said the students were “callously murdered”.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply concerned about the increasing frequency and brutality of attacks against educational institutions”, adding that “no objective can justify such violence”.

A student at GSS Damaturu, who gave his name only as Mubarak, said students fled their dorms in fear of further attacks.

Last June seven students and a teacher were shot dead in the school when Boko Haram opened fire on a dormitory.

“We are afraid of a repeat of the horrifying incident of last year,” Mubarak said.

Tuesday’s attack was the fourth such raid on schools in Yobe state by Boko Haram in the past year.

In September insurgents dressed in military uniform opened fire on student hostels at an agriculture college in Gujba, killing 40.

The Federal Government College, a girls’ school in Yobe state’s commercial hub Potiskum, was shut indefinitely after concerned parents took their daughters home, fearing it could be hit next, a teacher at the school said.

“The school management sought approval from higher authorities for the closure of the school because of the massive withdrawal of students by parents, despite assurances by the school management,” said the teacher, who asked not to be identified.

Students have also fled at least two other boarding schools in the town, say locals.

The fear of renewed violence was heightened by claims that the attackers of Buni Yadi were spotted in a nearby village afterwards, Kabir added.

In July last year, Boko Haram gunmen broke into a secondary school in Mamudo village outside Potiskum, opening fire and throwing explosives into dormitories, killing a teacher and 41 students as they slept.

Students of Bukar Abba Ibrahim University in Damaturu have also abandoned their halls of residence.

“The attacks on secondary schools are a clear warning to us in the university because if the attackers could murder secondary school children one can only imagine what they would do if they attack a university,” said student Bashir Sani.

Many are staying with friends in the city. Only a few with nowhere else to go still sleep at the college,

Yoruba Adopts Positions For National Conference, Demand Nigeria’s Reconstruction

Nigeria’s Yoruba ethnic nationality today unanimously adopted its position to be presented at the proposed National Conference and stressed the need for unity among the Yoruba speaking people.

The position, which included regional autonomy within the united Nigerian federation, was arrived at the grand Yoruba Summit for formal presentation and verification of the Yoruba Agenda held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

The ethnic nationality also demanded for a new Nigeria consisting of a central union and six regional governments, based on the current six geo-political zones, operating federal and regional constitutions respectively.

The agenda, according to the Coordinator of the summit, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), would also request for a just and equitable taxation system that would make the federating units equal and coordinating at the federal level in order to eliminate the current rentier syndrome.

The Yoruba also wanted all elections organized and conducted by regional/zonal electoral commissions in the regions, with the electoral commissions composed of equal representatives of contesting political parties.

In view of the far-reaching fundamental reforms advocated in the agenda, the Yoruba also asked for the restructuring of the federation, system of government, security and defence which would lead to an autochthonous constitution, that is, a home-grown and all-inclusive draft that would only be submitted to the Nigerian electorate and be made to vote through referendum.

They also sought for informal roles for the traditional rulers, with each regional, state and local government establishing their respective traditional rulers’ council and that the roles of the council should be basically advisory to their respective authorities.

To take care of the interests of Yoruba minorities in Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states and incorporate them to the mainstream, it was agreed that the Yoruba ethnic nationality may call for boundary adjustment, depending on the position of the experts that would work towards the final document.

Though, no list was announced as representatives of Yoruba at the National Conference, the gathering assured that only those who possess the mental capacity to marshal the positions would make the list.

Wale Osun, chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group, while endorsing the document, said it would be difficult for any Yoruba man who make the list of representatives at the conference to go against Yoruba interest, saying such person would not likely have the gut to return home.

Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Femi Okurounmu, advised state governors in the region to desist from sending separate positions from the one canvassed by the gathering to the conference.

Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Abiola Ajimobi urged the Yoruba to strongly canvass the return of the country to regionalism saying,

“We must ask that Nigeria becomes again a union of federated regions where each of us will be at liberty to restructure the current artificial state structure that we have.

The sub-set of this is that we must canvass a return of the regions of the federal union to their separate constitutions as was present in the 50’s and 60’s.”

According to the governor, there is also the need for the ethnic group to canvass that each of the regions should exercise control over their resources and only pay an agreed meager percentage to the federal government, adding that this way, the unbridled rat race for the centre and the parasitic approach to the government at the centre would be stopped.

He also advocated for a return to the regional policing system, adding that each region must be in control of its police apparatus while the armed forces that would make up the new Nigerian federation would be organized along strong regional commands.

In a 12-point resolution read by Gen. Akinrinade at the end of the summit, the ethnic nationality expressed preference for the Westminster model of Parliamentary System of government and fiscal federalism for the mobilization and management of the resources of the new union.

The Yoruba would also canvass for an appropriate budgetary provision that would be part of first line charge in the Federation Account for Lagos in view of its significance as the economic nerve centre of Nigeria as well as West African sub-region.

Part of the resolutions also was equal representation of each of the zones or regions in the composition of all judicial, legislative and executive institutions of the central government.

Yoruba Adopts Positions For National Conference, Demand Nigeria’s Reconstruction

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Nigeria’s Yoruba ethnic nationality today unanimously adopted its position to be presented at the proposed National Conference and stressed the need for unity among the Yoruba speaking people.

The position, which included regional autonomy within the united Nigerian federation, was arrived at the grand Yoruba Summit for formal presentation and verification of the Yoruba Agenda held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.

The ethnic nationality also demanded for a new Nigeria consisting of a central union and six regional governments, based on the current six geo-political zones, operating federal and regional constitutions respectively.

The agenda, according to the Coordinator of the summit, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), would also request for a just and equitable taxation system that would make the federating units equal and coordinating at the federal level in order to eliminate the current rentier syndrome.

The Yoruba also wanted all elections organized and conducted by regional/zonal electoral commissions in the regions, with the electoral commissions composed of equal representatives of contesting political parties.

In view of the far-reaching fundamental reforms advocated in the agenda, the Yoruba also asked for the restructuring of the federation, system of government, security and defence which would lead to an autochthonous constitution, that is, a home-grown and all-inclusive draft that would only be submitted to the Nigerian electorate and be made to vote through referendum.

They also sought for informal roles for the traditional rulers, with each regional, state and local government establishing their respective traditional rulers’ council and that the roles of the council should be basically advisory to their respective authorities.

To take care of the interests of Yoruba minorities in Kogi, Kwara, Edo and Delta states and incorporate them to the mainstream, it was agreed that the Yoruba ethnic nationality may call for boundary adjustment, depending on the position of the experts that would work towards the final document.

Though, no list was announced as representatives of Yoruba at the National Conference, the gathering assured that only those who possess the mental capacity to marshal the positions would make the list.

Wale Osun, chairman, Afenifere Renewal Group, while endorsing the document, said it would be difficult for any Yoruba man who make the list of representatives at the conference to go against Yoruba interest, saying such person would not likely have the gut to return home.

Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Femi Okurounmu, advised state governors in the region to desist from sending separate positions from the one canvassed by the gathering to the conference.

Also speaking at the occasion, Governor Abiola Ajimobi urged the Yoruba to strongly canvass the return of the country to regionalism saying,

“We must ask that Nigeria becomes again a union of federated regions where each of us will be at liberty to restructure the current artificial state structure that we have.

The sub-set of this is that we must canvass a return of the regions of the federal union to their separate constitutions as was present in the 50’s and 60’s.”

According to the governor, there is also the need for the ethnic group to canvass that each of the regions should exercise control over their resources and only pay an agreed meager percentage to the federal government, adding that this way, the unbridled rat race for the centre and the parasitic approach to the government at the centre would be stopped.

He also advocated for a return to the regional policing system, adding that each region must be in control of its police apparatus while the armed forces that would make up the new Nigerian federation would be organized along strong regional commands.

In a 12-point resolution read by Gen. Akinrinade at the end of the summit, the ethnic nationality expressed preference for the Westminster model of Parliamentary System of government and fiscal federalism for the mobilization and management of the resources of the new union.

The Yoruba would also canvass for an appropriate budgetary provision that would be part of first line charge in the Federation Account for Lagos in view of its significance as the economic nerve centre of Nigeria as well as West African sub-region.

Part of the resolutions also was equal representation of each of the zones or regions in the composition of all judicial, legislative and executive institutions of the central government.

Boko Haram: Gov Nyako escapes attack

OLA – Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State Friday escaped death by the whiskers when he was attacked by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect at Shuwa, Madagali local government area of the state.

Gov. Nyako

Madagali has witnessed series of terrorists attacks recently and the governor had gone to the area to commiserate with the people when unknown gunmen fired gunshots into the air as the governor was addressing the people.

Eyewitness account said that moments after the Governor had received the microphone to address the people, two gunmen in military uniform emerged from the crowd and shot thrice into the air.

According to the eyewitness, before then people have started shouting ; They are coming! They are coming!! They are coming!!! referring to the Boko Haram insurgents.
In the ensuing confusion, the governor was quickly rescued and ferried away by his security aides as some vehicles in his convoy rammed into one another.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/boko-haram-gov-nyako-escapes-attack/#sthash.isPcD1ZQ.oYc9SI09.dpuf

According to the eyewitness, before then people have started shouting ; They are coming! They are coming!! They are coming!!! referring to the Boko Haram insurgents.

In the ensuing confusion, the governor was quickly rescued and ferried away by his security aides as some vehicles in his convoy rammed into one another.

Boko Haram: Gov Nyako escapes attack

Posted by Sylvester No comments

OLA – Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State Friday escaped death by the whiskers when he was attacked by gunmen suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect at Shuwa, Madagali local government area of the state.

Gov. Nyako

Madagali has witnessed series of terrorists attacks recently and the governor had gone to the area to commiserate with the people when unknown gunmen fired gunshots into the air as the governor was addressing the people.

Eyewitness account said that moments after the Governor had received the microphone to address the people, two gunmen in military uniform emerged from the crowd and shot thrice into the air.

According to the eyewitness, before then people have started shouting ; They are coming! They are coming!! They are coming!!! referring to the Boko Haram insurgents.
In the ensuing confusion, the governor was quickly rescued and ferried away by his security aides as some vehicles in his convoy rammed into one another.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/02/boko-haram-gov-nyako-escapes-attack/#sthash.isPcD1ZQ.oYc9SI09.dpuf

According to the eyewitness, before then people have started shouting ; They are coming! They are coming!! They are coming!!! referring to the Boko Haram insurgents.

In the ensuing confusion, the governor was quickly rescued and ferried away by his security aides as some vehicles in his convoy rammed into one another.

Police Arrests Boko Haram Kingpin In Makurdi

A man suspected to be a Boko Haram kingpin on a mission to unleash terror in Benue State has been nabbed by men of the state police command in Makurdi.

 


A statement signed on Thursday by the special adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on media, Dr Cletus Akwaya, said the suspected terrorist was arrested on Tuesday.



It stated that “the Boko Haram agent (name withheld), a Fulani, who hails from Taraba State, was arrested by the police at the Kanshio area of Makurdi following a tip-off.

“The Police Command disclosed that the Boko Haram suspect was found with six blank cheques with the total value said to be in millions of naira. Also found on him were copies of maps of some parts of Benue State especially Makurdi, the state capital.

“The detailed description of the targets were contained in an exercise book which was found on the suspect. Some of the places included a high-profile hotel in the Nyiman area of Makurdi as well as some major infrastructural facilities central to the economic life of the state capital”, the statement said.

It further added that the suspect was whisked away to an undisclosed location where he is being interrogated by security operatives.

Police Arrests Boko Haram Kingpin In Makurdi

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A man suspected to be a Boko Haram kingpin on a mission to unleash terror in Benue State has been nabbed by men of the state police command in Makurdi.

 


A statement signed on Thursday by the special adviser to Governor Gabriel Suswam on media, Dr Cletus Akwaya, said the suspected terrorist was arrested on Tuesday.



It stated that “the Boko Haram agent (name withheld), a Fulani, who hails from Taraba State, was arrested by the police at the Kanshio area of Makurdi following a tip-off.

“The Police Command disclosed that the Boko Haram suspect was found with six blank cheques with the total value said to be in millions of naira. Also found on him were copies of maps of some parts of Benue State especially Makurdi, the state capital.

“The detailed description of the targets were contained in an exercise book which was found on the suspect. Some of the places included a high-profile hotel in the Nyiman area of Makurdi as well as some major infrastructural facilities central to the economic life of the state capital”, the statement said.

It further added that the suspect was whisked away to an undisclosed location where he is being interrogated by security operatives.

Re-accredited Crown polytechnic resume for 2014 academic session

Crown polytechnic, after her re-accreditation by NBTE, has set back to resume academic activities on Monday 3rd March, 2014.

It followed that the institution's accreditation was once withdrawn by her controlling body(due to numerous study centres across the Nationwide).

This accreditation has been fully restored and the institution is set to get back on her fit.

Re-accredited Crown polytechnic resume for 2014 academic session

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Crown polytechnic, after her re-accreditation by NBTE, has set back to resume academic activities on Monday 3rd March, 2014.

It followed that the institution's accreditation was once withdrawn by her controlling body(due to numerous study centres across the Nationwide).

This accreditation has been fully restored and the institution is set to get back on her fit.

Killing: LAUTECH Seeks Intensive Surveillance Of Host Community

Worried by Tuesday’s killing of its student, the authorities of Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, on Wednesday called for intensive surveillance of the host community.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, made the call on Wednesday night at a meeting held with security agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluwadare Ikechukwu Mba, a 100 level Transport Management student of the institution, was killed by unidentified assailants on Tuesday night.

The vice chancellor condemned the killing and appealed to the security agencies to intensify patrol of areas where students were resident.

He said the non residential nature of the institution was a major impediment to adequate monitoring of the students.

Gbadegesin urged the security agencies to rise up to the current challenge, adding that the institution was ready to bear the cost of protecting its students.

He stressed the institution’s readiness to hold regular meetings with security agencies with a view to evolving pro-active measures to secure lives and property.

The representatives of the security agencies at the meeting promised to fish out those behind the killing as well as intensify surveillance in the town.

The meeting was attended by Mr Chinedu Sylva, the Area Commander of Police, Ogbomoso Zone and Capt. Sakatare Dalhatu, the Ogbomoso Zonal Commander of the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst.

Others were Mr Nasir Isah, the Director of the State Security Service in Ogbomoso and Mr Bamigboye Joshua, the Divisional Crime Officer for Owode Police Station.

It would be recalled that Gbadegesin in a letter to Brig. Gen. Laz Ilo, the Commander of Operation Burst, identified some locations where students were predominant and required intensive surveillance.

Among the areas listed were Under G, Stadium, Adenike, YOACO, Kuye, Aroje, Oke-Afin, and Igbo-Agboin, all in Ogbomoso.

Meanwhile, students of the institution have staged a peaceful protest against the killing of the student. (NAN)

Killing: LAUTECH Seeks Intensive Surveillance Of Host Community

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Worried by Tuesday’s killing of its student, the authorities of Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, on Wednesday called for intensive surveillance of the host community.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, made the call on Wednesday night at a meeting held with security agencies.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluwadare Ikechukwu Mba, a 100 level Transport Management student of the institution, was killed by unidentified assailants on Tuesday night.

The vice chancellor condemned the killing and appealed to the security agencies to intensify patrol of areas where students were resident.

He said the non residential nature of the institution was a major impediment to adequate monitoring of the students.

Gbadegesin urged the security agencies to rise up to the current challenge, adding that the institution was ready to bear the cost of protecting its students.

He stressed the institution’s readiness to hold regular meetings with security agencies with a view to evolving pro-active measures to secure lives and property.

The representatives of the security agencies at the meeting promised to fish out those behind the killing as well as intensify surveillance in the town.

The meeting was attended by Mr Chinedu Sylva, the Area Commander of Police, Ogbomoso Zone and Capt. Sakatare Dalhatu, the Ogbomoso Zonal Commander of the Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst.

Others were Mr Nasir Isah, the Director of the State Security Service in Ogbomoso and Mr Bamigboye Joshua, the Divisional Crime Officer for Owode Police Station.

It would be recalled that Gbadegesin in a letter to Brig. Gen. Laz Ilo, the Commander of Operation Burst, identified some locations where students were predominant and required intensive surveillance.

Among the areas listed were Under G, Stadium, Adenike, YOACO, Kuye, Aroje, Oke-Afin, and Igbo-Agboin, all in Ogbomoso.

Meanwhile, students of the institution have staged a peaceful protest against the killing of the student. (NAN)

Jurors resume deliberations in Kerry Kennedy drugged driving trial

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A jury has found Kerry Kennedy not guilty in her drugged driving trial.

Jurors delivered their verdict Friday in Kennedy's misdemeanor trial in suburban White Plains.

The human-rights advocate is the ex-wife of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a daughter of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and a niece of President John F. Kennedy.

Her car hit a tractor-trailer in 2012. She was found slumped at the steering wheel.

Kennedy said she took the sleeping pill by mistake instead of her thyroid medication. She testified that the drug overpowered her and she doesn't remember the crash.

The prosecution said even if the pill were taken accidentally, Kennedy should have pulled over when she felt its effects.

Jurors resume deliberations in Kerry Kennedy drugged driving trial

Posted by Sylvester No comments

 

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A jury has found Kerry Kennedy not guilty in her drugged driving trial.

Jurors delivered their verdict Friday in Kennedy's misdemeanor trial in suburban White Plains.

The human-rights advocate is the ex-wife of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a daughter of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and a niece of President John F. Kennedy.

Her car hit a tractor-trailer in 2012. She was found slumped at the steering wheel.

Kennedy said she took the sleeping pill by mistake instead of her thyroid medication. She testified that the drug overpowered her and she doesn't remember the crash.

The prosecution said even if the pill were taken accidentally, Kennedy should have pulled over when she felt its effects.

Poly Student, Others Die In Auto Accident

The life of a 23-year-old student of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa, Kwara State, Oladotun Alade, has been cut short by an accident involving a truck and a Volkswagen saloon car in Okuku, Osun State.

One of the eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the accident occurred when the plank-carrying truck was overtaking the five-seater car.

“As the truck was trying to overtake the car, the planks got detached from it and fell on the car. The three passengers sitting at the back of the car died instantly,” the eyewitness said.

It was learnt that Alade, who was an ND 1 Civil Engineering student, was among the passengers sitting at the back.

Our corresondent learnt that the driver and the passenger sitting in the front survived the accident.

Alade’s relative, Adeyemi Oyeleke, said, “He was travelling to the school to submit an assignment since the polytechnic has resumed. His friends had earlier informed him that lectures had commenced. He had planned to travel next week Monday, but his mates called him that one of their lecturers demanded that an assignment he gave them be submitted.

“He was a friendly guy and always smiling. He was the only son and the second child of the family.”

Our correspondent, who also visited the Facebook page of the deceased, observed that tributes had been pouring in for the undergraduate.

One of his friends, Temitope Dada, wrote, “Still seems like a dream, Alade Matthew Oladotun. You left without a farewell message. It’s so saddening to hear the demise of a rare gem, friend and brother. I love you, but God loves you more. Sleep well.”

Tope Olayemi, who shares the same birthday with the deceased, wrote, “It was very painful when I heard you’re gone, my birthday mate. RIP.”

Another friend, Abey Oyejide, wrote, “Dotun, you were joking with me on Sunday, but you did not tell me you would leave us soon. We will always remember your impact in this world. Rest in Peace.”

A source close to the family said that the deceased had been buried on Wednesday.

When our correspondent contacted the Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Sade Odoro, she said she had not heard of the accident, but promised to call the DPO of the Okuku Division.

However, our correspondent did not get any feedback from her as of the time of going to press.

Poly Student, Others Die In Auto Accident

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The life of a 23-year-old student of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa, Kwara State, Oladotun Alade, has been cut short by an accident involving a truck and a Volkswagen saloon car in Okuku, Osun State.

One of the eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the accident occurred when the plank-carrying truck was overtaking the five-seater car.

“As the truck was trying to overtake the car, the planks got detached from it and fell on the car. The three passengers sitting at the back of the car died instantly,” the eyewitness said.

It was learnt that Alade, who was an ND 1 Civil Engineering student, was among the passengers sitting at the back.

Our corresondent learnt that the driver and the passenger sitting in the front survived the accident.

Alade’s relative, Adeyemi Oyeleke, said, “He was travelling to the school to submit an assignment since the polytechnic has resumed. His friends had earlier informed him that lectures had commenced. He had planned to travel next week Monday, but his mates called him that one of their lecturers demanded that an assignment he gave them be submitted.

“He was a friendly guy and always smiling. He was the only son and the second child of the family.”

Our correspondent, who also visited the Facebook page of the deceased, observed that tributes had been pouring in for the undergraduate.

One of his friends, Temitope Dada, wrote, “Still seems like a dream, Alade Matthew Oladotun. You left without a farewell message. It’s so saddening to hear the demise of a rare gem, friend and brother. I love you, but God loves you more. Sleep well.”

Tope Olayemi, who shares the same birthday with the deceased, wrote, “It was very painful when I heard you’re gone, my birthday mate. RIP.”

Another friend, Abey Oyejide, wrote, “Dotun, you were joking with me on Sunday, but you did not tell me you would leave us soon. We will always remember your impact in this world. Rest in Peace.”

A source close to the family said that the deceased had been buried on Wednesday.

When our correspondent contacted the Osun Police Public Relations Officer, Sade Odoro, she said she had not heard of the accident, but promised to call the DPO of the Okuku Division.

However, our correspondent did not get any feedback from her as of the time of going to press.

JAMB Closing Date for Registration: 1 week to go

This is a reminder that the JAMB closing date for the JAMB UTME 2014 is on Sunday, 9th March 2014. All candidates who are yet to register for the JAMB Exam should ensure they do so before the closing date.

Please note that the since the portal will be closing for registration on 9th March, 2014, the sale of scratch cards will be ending on 7th March, 2014, which is the last working day for that week. All registration scratch cards should therefore be purchase on or before 7th March.

You have 1 more week to make up your mind. Share this information with your friends and family to get them aware.

JAMB Closing Date for Registration: 1 week to go

Posted by Sylvester No comments

This is a reminder that the JAMB closing date for the JAMB UTME 2014 is on Sunday, 9th March 2014. All candidates who are yet to register for the JAMB Exam should ensure they do so before the closing date.

Please note that the since the portal will be closing for registration on 9th March, 2014, the sale of scratch cards will be ending on 7th March, 2014, which is the last working day for that week. All registration scratch cards should therefore be purchase on or before 7th March.

You have 1 more week to make up your mind. Share this information with your friends and family to get them aware.

BREAKING NEWS: MTN, Airtel, Glo To Pay N678 MILLION In Fines For Poor-Quality Services

Nigerian Communications Commission has imposed N647.5 million (about $4 million) in penalties on Nigerian telecommunications companies MTN, Globacom and Airtel. According to the NCC, they breached key performance indicators and provided poor-quality services to customers.

 
Furthermore, the NCC has banned the aforementioned mobile operators from selling SIM cards in March, which, in the country with almost 170 million people, could be damaging for the companies’ business.

In their statement, the NCC said Globacom, owned by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga, was fined 277.5 million naira. South Africa’s MTN and Airtel, owned by India’s Bharti Airtel, were each fined 185 million naira.

The NCC will charge each company 2.5 million naira for every day the fine is not paid after March 7, the statement added.

BREAKING NEWS: MTN, Airtel, Glo To Pay N678 MILLION In Fines For Poor-Quality Services

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Nigerian Communications Commission has imposed N647.5 million (about $4 million) in penalties on Nigerian telecommunications companies MTN, Globacom and Airtel. According to the NCC, they breached key performance indicators and provided poor-quality services to customers.

 
Furthermore, the NCC has banned the aforementioned mobile operators from selling SIM cards in March, which, in the country with almost 170 million people, could be damaging for the companies’ business.

In their statement, the NCC said Globacom, owned by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga, was fined 277.5 million naira. South Africa’s MTN and Airtel, owned by India’s Bharti Airtel, were each fined 185 million naira.

The NCC will charge each company 2.5 million naira for every day the fine is not paid after March 7, the statement added.

PHOTOS: Dead Man Wakes Up As Funeral Home Prepares To Embalm Him

A man who woke up in a body bag at a funeral home after being pronounced legally dead in what the coroner described a ‘miracle’, USA.

 

Back to life: Walter Williams from Lexington, Mississippi, after being pronounced dead and waking up at a funeral home inside a body bag

Walter Williams from Lexington, Mississippi, was zipped up in a body bag while funeral home workers prepared to embalm him, but instead they soon found him kicking to get out.

The coroner suspected that Williams’ pacemaker had likely stopped for a brief period and then started up again.

The body bag that contained Williams for the duration of his ‘death’ which lasted a few hours. He shortly woke up in a shocked state

The coroner said that he had checked Williams’ pulse at 9pm that night, pronouncing him dead shortly after.

Williams’ nephew Eddie Hester said: “I stood there and watched them put him in a body bag and zip it up.

That was at 10:30pm, and at 2:30am, my cousin called me and said “Not yet” and I said “what do you mean not yet?” ‘He said, “Daddy still here”.’

Williams was resting on the small trolley, inside the bag, and was found struggling to find his way out of the bag

Paramedics took Williams to hospital where he stabilised, and was said to be ‘happy to be alive’ by family members.

Hester said: “I don’t know how long he’s going to be here, but I know he’s back right now and that’s all that matters.”

Byron Porter, of Porter and Sons Funeral Home, said it was the first time he had seen anything like it.

The funeral home where Williams was being prepared for embalming by funeral workers

He said: “He was not dead. Long story short.”

Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said: “I asked the coroner what happened, and the only thing he could say is that it’s a miracle.”

Williams had been a long time farmer and had worked for the local school board. He was described by his family as a ‘fighter’.

Source: Dailymail

PHOTOS: Dead Man Wakes Up As Funeral Home Prepares To Embalm Him

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A man who woke up in a body bag at a funeral home after being pronounced legally dead in what the coroner described a ‘miracle’, USA.

 

Back to life: Walter Williams from Lexington, Mississippi, after being pronounced dead and waking up at a funeral home inside a body bag

Walter Williams from Lexington, Mississippi, was zipped up in a body bag while funeral home workers prepared to embalm him, but instead they soon found him kicking to get out.

The coroner suspected that Williams’ pacemaker had likely stopped for a brief period and then started up again.

The body bag that contained Williams for the duration of his ‘death’ which lasted a few hours. He shortly woke up in a shocked state

The coroner said that he had checked Williams’ pulse at 9pm that night, pronouncing him dead shortly after.

Williams’ nephew Eddie Hester said: “I stood there and watched them put him in a body bag and zip it up.

That was at 10:30pm, and at 2:30am, my cousin called me and said “Not yet” and I said “what do you mean not yet?” ‘He said, “Daddy still here”.’

Williams was resting on the small trolley, inside the bag, and was found struggling to find his way out of the bag

Paramedics took Williams to hospital where he stabilised, and was said to be ‘happy to be alive’ by family members.

Hester said: “I don’t know how long he’s going to be here, but I know he’s back right now and that’s all that matters.”

Byron Porter, of Porter and Sons Funeral Home, said it was the first time he had seen anything like it.

The funeral home where Williams was being prepared for embalming by funeral workers

He said: “He was not dead. Long story short.”

Holmes County Sheriff Willie March said: “I asked the coroner what happened, and the only thing he could say is that it’s a miracle.”

Williams had been a long time farmer and had worked for the local school board. He was described by his family as a ‘fighter’.

Source: Dailymail

Homeless Man Uses His Last Few Coins to Buy Lottery Ticket, Wins $2.79 Million Jackpot

Now this is what you call a dream-come-true. No, scratch that. It’s more like the ‘wildest’ dream-come-true. When László Andraschek used his last few coins to purchase a lottery ticket, I’m sure he had no real hope of winning the jackpot – a whopping 600 million forint (US $2.70 million) – but it actually happened. The 55-year-old Hungarian went from being a homeless tramp to a millionaire, overnight. 

For seven long years, Andraschek lived in a homeless shelter in the city of Győr. “It all happened to me, I remember it, but I don’t miss it,” he said about his experience of being homeless. He was also a recovering alcoholic at the time. “I had drunk myself out of the family by the age of 31. I was the last child at home and spent all my wages on drink. I worked on-and-off as an agricultural repairman. I lived the typical life of an alcoholic and I thought it was all right.”

It came to a point where Andraschek’s siblings were fed up of him and asked their mother to kick him out. This was in 1989; at age 31, Andraschek had become completely destitute. He tried to hang himself, but the rope snapped and he ended up losing a foot. “Even losing a foot didn’t make me mend my ways because I would blame everyone around me, anyone but myself.” In 1991, he registered himself as homeless.

Andraschek’s life was in a miserable shape when he received his wake-up call in 1995. He was so drunk that he couldn’t go home on Mother’s Day – a tradition he had never missed. By the end of that month, he signed up to get treated for alcoholism. He slowly began to put his life back together. In 1999, he met Aniko – his future bride – through a social worker. It took Andraschek another 10 years to get sober and the couple could barely make ends meet.

The night Andraschek bought the ticket, he was on his way to an alcoholics’ help center in Budapest. “I had only picked six numbers and the female shop assistant reminded me that I needed to pick a seventh,” he told the media. “I told her to make it 24 – it doesn’t matter anyway.” But it did matter, and how! That one number he picked out at random turned out to be a life-altering choice.

When he found out about the jackpot, Andraschek could barely contain himself. “As I cycled home, I thought: ‘It’s over. I don’t have to think about where to borrow more money to pay the debts. My life was a constant struggle of plugging holes, and I could only ever do that by creating new ones,” he said. At first he wanted to keep the news secret from his family, so he hid the winning ticket in his book of daily meditations – the last place anyone would look.

But it couldn’t remain hidden for long, because Andraschek’s excitement was too obvious. “When László came home and was dancing around the room, my first thought was maybe he had started drinking again,” said Aniko. When I watched him call the lottery company and heard them saying congratulations, I realized that he hadn’t lost his marbles after all. I was thinking, ‘I know what 600 means and I know what one million means. But I don’t know what 600 million means.’”

It’s actually been a year since the father-of-three won the lottery. Up until now, he chose to keep his story secret from the media. But it all came out in the open when he made a sizeable donation to a homeless shelter, late last year. He now owns six different properties and is planning a trip to Italy with his wife. Andraschek insists that he won’t let the money change him, at least not too much. “I have become rich but I have not become a different person,” he said.

And he really means it – ever since he won the jackpot, Andraschek has controlled his urge to spend it all and is instead creating awareness about the plight of Hungary’s 30,000 homeless people. His main fight is against last year’s ruling to grant local councils the right to ban the homeless from public spaces. “As long as there is no safety net for these people, it is pointless to fine them for being on the streets; it is not something you choose.”

“We were always being told to get out. It felt that we were always in the way and always on the move,” he added. “Around 200 of my peers have died since I was first homeless in Győr. Some of them froze to death; others were hit by cars while drunk.”

It’s heartening to see that despite all the struggles they’ve been through, the Andrascheks aren’t splurging all their money on luxury goods. They’re actually giving back to the community, and that’s amazing. They’re even planning to set up a foundation to help people who have lost their human dignity. “We don’t think of the win as something we’ve earned, we think of it as a divine miracle. We received this help at the very last minute. The world is opening up to us and it is beautiful. Of course, we also see the bad things, but life is beautiful.”

Homeless Man Uses His Last Few Coins to Buy Lottery Ticket, Wins $2.79 Million Jackpot

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Now this is what you call a dream-come-true. No, scratch that. It’s more like the ‘wildest’ dream-come-true. When László Andraschek used his last few coins to purchase a lottery ticket, I’m sure he had no real hope of winning the jackpot – a whopping 600 million forint (US $2.70 million) – but it actually happened. The 55-year-old Hungarian went from being a homeless tramp to a millionaire, overnight. 

For seven long years, Andraschek lived in a homeless shelter in the city of Győr. “It all happened to me, I remember it, but I don’t miss it,” he said about his experience of being homeless. He was also a recovering alcoholic at the time. “I had drunk myself out of the family by the age of 31. I was the last child at home and spent all my wages on drink. I worked on-and-off as an agricultural repairman. I lived the typical life of an alcoholic and I thought it was all right.”

It came to a point where Andraschek’s siblings were fed up of him and asked their mother to kick him out. This was in 1989; at age 31, Andraschek had become completely destitute. He tried to hang himself, but the rope snapped and he ended up losing a foot. “Even losing a foot didn’t make me mend my ways because I would blame everyone around me, anyone but myself.” In 1991, he registered himself as homeless.

Andraschek’s life was in a miserable shape when he received his wake-up call in 1995. He was so drunk that he couldn’t go home on Mother’s Day – a tradition he had never missed. By the end of that month, he signed up to get treated for alcoholism. He slowly began to put his life back together. In 1999, he met Aniko – his future bride – through a social worker. It took Andraschek another 10 years to get sober and the couple could barely make ends meet.

The night Andraschek bought the ticket, he was on his way to an alcoholics’ help center in Budapest. “I had only picked six numbers and the female shop assistant reminded me that I needed to pick a seventh,” he told the media. “I told her to make it 24 – it doesn’t matter anyway.” But it did matter, and how! That one number he picked out at random turned out to be a life-altering choice.

When he found out about the jackpot, Andraschek could barely contain himself. “As I cycled home, I thought: ‘It’s over. I don’t have to think about where to borrow more money to pay the debts. My life was a constant struggle of plugging holes, and I could only ever do that by creating new ones,” he said. At first he wanted to keep the news secret from his family, so he hid the winning ticket in his book of daily meditations – the last place anyone would look.

But it couldn’t remain hidden for long, because Andraschek’s excitement was too obvious. “When László came home and was dancing around the room, my first thought was maybe he had started drinking again,” said Aniko. When I watched him call the lottery company and heard them saying congratulations, I realized that he hadn’t lost his marbles after all. I was thinking, ‘I know what 600 means and I know what one million means. But I don’t know what 600 million means.’”

It’s actually been a year since the father-of-three won the lottery. Up until now, he chose to keep his story secret from the media. But it all came out in the open when he made a sizeable donation to a homeless shelter, late last year. He now owns six different properties and is planning a trip to Italy with his wife. Andraschek insists that he won’t let the money change him, at least not too much. “I have become rich but I have not become a different person,” he said.

And he really means it – ever since he won the jackpot, Andraschek has controlled his urge to spend it all and is instead creating awareness about the plight of Hungary’s 30,000 homeless people. His main fight is against last year’s ruling to grant local councils the right to ban the homeless from public spaces. “As long as there is no safety net for these people, it is pointless to fine them for being on the streets; it is not something you choose.”

“We were always being told to get out. It felt that we were always in the way and always on the move,” he added. “Around 200 of my peers have died since I was first homeless in Győr. Some of them froze to death; others were hit by cars while drunk.”

It’s heartening to see that despite all the struggles they’ve been through, the Andrascheks aren’t splurging all their money on luxury goods. They’re actually giving back to the community, and that’s amazing. They’re even planning to set up a foundation to help people who have lost their human dignity. “We don’t think of the win as something we’ve earned, we think of it as a divine miracle. We received this help at the very last minute. The world is opening up to us and it is beautiful. Of course, we also see the bad things, but life is beautiful.”

Boko Haram Sponsor Discovered In The Presidency

During the 2012 inter-denominational service which held at the National Ecumenical Centre to mark the 2012 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Goodluck Jonathan made the following statement as regards members of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist sect invading his government:

“Some of them are in the executive arm of government, some of them are in the parliamentary/legislative arm of government while some of them are even in the judiciary.

“Some are also in the armed forces, the police and other security agencies.

“Some continue to dip their hands and eat with you and you won’t even know the person who will point a gun at you or plant a bomb behind your house.”

- Punch, Monday, 9th January, 2012

What you have just read is a quote of President Jonathan’s remark at that solemn event to honour the memory of our fallen heroes.

The president till date has not arrested any member of this terrorist sect he eats and dines with because they are too close for him to prosecute. In fact, it will be an indictment of his government.

Recently, the hidden secret as to the identity of one of the Boko Haram members in President Jonathan’s camp was exposed when his Special Assistant on Social Media, one Reno Omokri, forgot to cover up his digital signature in one of his many cover-up stories to mask the activity of his sect.

    NewsRescue-Is Nigeria’s President A Terrorist?

In a bid to cover up a massive scandal in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation where $20 billion was alleged to have been missing by the erstwhile governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Mr. Reno Omokri informed his Boko Haram sect to increase the “tempo” of their strikes so that he can conveniently link the whistle blower to the deadly sect.

Alas, the diligence of some social media activists uncovered the sinister plot.

In the alias conjured by Reno Omokri to cover up his sect’s activities, he wrote a malacious article with a pseudonym Wendell Simlin, titled Increased Tempo of Boko Haram/Terrorist Activity in the Wake of the Sanusi Saga, which is produced below verbatim:

In the wake of the saga involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the tempo of terrorist activities carried out by the Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

Taken together with some historical facts, there is a strong case that this increase in tempo and other activities are not coincidental.

The following Timelines may throw some light on the likely linkages;

February 20th 2014: President Goodluck Jonathan suspends Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank
of Nigeria.

February 20th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Bama town killing at least 47, wounding many and destroying houses.

February 23rd 2014: Boko Haram attacks Konduga Local Government, destroying houses, and allegedly killing scores of
rural dwellers.

February 24th 2014: Borno State Governor’s convoy allegedly attacked by gunmen.

February 25th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Federal Government College, Buni Yada, in Yobe State, killing at least 29 students as they slept.

History

It is a historical fact that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was implicated in the Gideon Akaluka beheading affair of 1995 and was subsequently arrested in Kano and detained by the Abacha administration in Sokoto, Sokoto State.

Sanusi was released after the intervention of (amongst others) Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab.

Alhaji Mutallab used his influence to place Sanusi comfortably in the banking sector beginning with the United Bank for Africa
from where he moved to First Bank where he (Mutallab) was chairman.

Malam Sanusi rose within the ranks, aided by his relationship with Mutallab, until he was nominated by President Yar’adua and confirmed by the senate as the Governor of the CBN in 2009.

It is pertinent to note two incidences that cannot be coincidences. The son of Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab (Farouk Abdul Mutallab) eventually entered into infamy when he was arrested and tried for attempting to detonate an under wear bomb on a Northwest Airlines flight into America. Farouk Abdul Mutallab became radicalized after he had gone to study Sharia and Islamic studies in Yemen in 2009.

This was exactly the same trajectory earlier taken by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who schooled at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan in the mid 1990s while Osama Bin Laden was also a resident of the city.

While Reno Omokri was writing this fictitious story, his sect truly intensified the “tempo” of their terror.

Below are pictures showing Omokri’s digital signature on word document shared to several publishing houses.

It could also be recalled that when the former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah was facing a terrible public outcry over the purchase of armoured cars at over-bloated prices, there were “increased tempo” of the sect’s activities.

Investigation reveals that the services of Reno Omokri’s sect may have been employed to distract Nigerians from the scandals.

Also, shortly after Justice Ayo Salami was removed on August 16 2011, there was public outcry and massive protest over his removal. If we are to go by the trend we have seen in recent times, Reno Omokri’s sect was likely contacted to carry out the UN building bombing on August 26, 2011 just 10 days after Justice Salami’s removal so as to distract Nigerians.

I can connect several “increased tempo” in the strikes of Reno Omokri’s sect to periods of public anger against his principal’s regime.

We call on President Jonathan to not only sack Reno Omokri, but also subject him to thorough investigation.

The National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, the military and other sister agencies must conduct a thorough investigation of Reno Omokri’s connection to the deadly Boko Haram sect.

Anything short of this is a disservice to the 10,000 Nigerians who have been killed so far during the sect’s activities.

Anything short of this is a disservice to the memory of our gallant officers in the JTF, Military, DSS, Police and Civil Defense, who continue to sacrifice their lives that we may live in peace and freedom.

Boko Haram Sponsor Discovered In The Presidency

Posted by Sylvester No comments

During the 2012 inter-denominational service which held at the National Ecumenical Centre to mark the 2012 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, President Goodluck Jonathan made the following statement as regards members of the deadly Boko Haram terrorist sect invading his government:

“Some of them are in the executive arm of government, some of them are in the parliamentary/legislative arm of government while some of them are even in the judiciary.

“Some are also in the armed forces, the police and other security agencies.

“Some continue to dip their hands and eat with you and you won’t even know the person who will point a gun at you or plant a bomb behind your house.”

- Punch, Monday, 9th January, 2012

What you have just read is a quote of President Jonathan’s remark at that solemn event to honour the memory of our fallen heroes.

The president till date has not arrested any member of this terrorist sect he eats and dines with because they are too close for him to prosecute. In fact, it will be an indictment of his government.

Recently, the hidden secret as to the identity of one of the Boko Haram members in President Jonathan’s camp was exposed when his Special Assistant on Social Media, one Reno Omokri, forgot to cover up his digital signature in one of his many cover-up stories to mask the activity of his sect.

    NewsRescue-Is Nigeria’s President A Terrorist?

In a bid to cover up a massive scandal in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation where $20 billion was alleged to have been missing by the erstwhile governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Mr. Reno Omokri informed his Boko Haram sect to increase the “tempo” of their strikes so that he can conveniently link the whistle blower to the deadly sect.

Alas, the diligence of some social media activists uncovered the sinister plot.

In the alias conjured by Reno Omokri to cover up his sect’s activities, he wrote a malacious article with a pseudonym Wendell Simlin, titled Increased Tempo of Boko Haram/Terrorist Activity in the Wake of the Sanusi Saga, which is produced below verbatim:

In the wake of the saga involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, there has been an increase in the tempo of terrorist activities carried out by the Islamic Terrorist sect, Boko Haram.

Taken together with some historical facts, there is a strong case that this increase in tempo and other activities are not coincidental.

The following Timelines may throw some light on the likely linkages;

February 20th 2014: President Goodluck Jonathan suspends Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank
of Nigeria.

February 20th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Bama town killing at least 47, wounding many and destroying houses.

February 23rd 2014: Boko Haram attacks Konduga Local Government, destroying houses, and allegedly killing scores of
rural dwellers.

February 24th 2014: Borno State Governor’s convoy allegedly attacked by gunmen.

February 25th 2014: Boko Haram attacks Federal Government College, Buni Yada, in Yobe State, killing at least 29 students as they slept.

History

It is a historical fact that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was implicated in the Gideon Akaluka beheading affair of 1995 and was subsequently arrested in Kano and detained by the Abacha administration in Sokoto, Sokoto State.

Sanusi was released after the intervention of (amongst others) Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab.

Alhaji Mutallab used his influence to place Sanusi comfortably in the banking sector beginning with the United Bank for Africa
from where he moved to First Bank where he (Mutallab) was chairman.

Malam Sanusi rose within the ranks, aided by his relationship with Mutallab, until he was nominated by President Yar’adua and confirmed by the senate as the Governor of the CBN in 2009.

It is pertinent to note two incidences that cannot be coincidences. The son of Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab (Farouk Abdul Mutallab) eventually entered into infamy when he was arrested and tried for attempting to detonate an under wear bomb on a Northwest Airlines flight into America. Farouk Abdul Mutallab became radicalized after he had gone to study Sharia and Islamic studies in Yemen in 2009.

This was exactly the same trajectory earlier taken by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi who schooled at the International University of Africa in Khartoum, Sudan in the mid 1990s while Osama Bin Laden was also a resident of the city.

While Reno Omokri was writing this fictitious story, his sect truly intensified the “tempo” of their terror.

Below are pictures showing Omokri’s digital signature on word document shared to several publishing houses.

It could also be recalled that when the former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah was facing a terrible public outcry over the purchase of armoured cars at over-bloated prices, there were “increased tempo” of the sect’s activities.

Investigation reveals that the services of Reno Omokri’s sect may have been employed to distract Nigerians from the scandals.

Also, shortly after Justice Ayo Salami was removed on August 16 2011, there was public outcry and massive protest over his removal. If we are to go by the trend we have seen in recent times, Reno Omokri’s sect was likely contacted to carry out the UN building bombing on August 26, 2011 just 10 days after Justice Salami’s removal so as to distract Nigerians.

I can connect several “increased tempo” in the strikes of Reno Omokri’s sect to periods of public anger against his principal’s regime.

We call on President Jonathan to not only sack Reno Omokri, but also subject him to thorough investigation.

The National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, the military and other sister agencies must conduct a thorough investigation of Reno Omokri’s connection to the deadly Boko Haram sect.

Anything short of this is a disservice to the 10,000 Nigerians who have been killed so far during the sect’s activities.

Anything short of this is a disservice to the memory of our gallant officers in the JTF, Military, DSS, Police and Civil Defense, who continue to sacrifice their lives that we may live in peace and freedom.

 SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom refusing to marry her on their planned wedding day after it emerged that she had been impregnated by another man

In a hugely embarrassing scene last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Cynthia Mark's fiancée showed up to tell guests that he was cancelling the wedding. Cynthia, an orphan, who had been adopted by the senate president, was left distraught and Helen Mark, her foster mother who had arranged an elaborate ceremony, was left totally embarrassed.

Due to start at 9am, the wedding was delayed for about two hours and when guests began wondering what was going on, drama broke loose. Cynthia, who worked for Mrs Mark before becoming her adopted daughter was apparently pregnant and her groom insisted he had not slept with her before, so was calling off the marriage.

As guests started getting impatient, the groom came out, took the microphone and announced to the surprise of all guests present that he is no longer interested in the marriage. It later turned out that the RCCG, that was supposed to marry them had conducted a pregnancy test for the lady 24 hours before the day and the result turned out positive.

With the groom insisting that he was not responsible for the pregnancy, Cynthia insisted she was not pregnant and went to do her own test in a different hospital. After her test, the result came out as negative, the RCCG called their doctor to do a second test but that again came our positive.

After all of the RCCG's tests came out positive, the groom insisted that he could not marry a woman who is pregnant for another man and a liar. Mrs Mark’s wife and her people begged him to forgive her and marry his bride-to-be but he stood his ground.

One source said he was particularly unhappy about the fact that while they were dating she did not allow him to sleep with her. According to the groom, Cynthia was trying to paint herself as a good girl but another man was enjoying what he was denied.

On the wedding day, she cried and pleaded but to no avail. When the wedding was called off, some guests decided to make the best of a bad situation, tucking into the delicacies that were provided.

Posted by Sylvester No comments

 SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom refusing to marry her on their planned wedding day after it emerged that she had been impregnated by another man

In a hugely embarrassing scene last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Cynthia Mark's fiancée showed up to tell guests that he was cancelling the wedding. Cynthia, an orphan, who had been adopted by the senate president, was left distraught and Helen Mark, her foster mother who had arranged an elaborate ceremony, was left totally embarrassed.

Due to start at 9am, the wedding was delayed for about two hours and when guests began wondering what was going on, drama broke loose. Cynthia, who worked for Mrs Mark before becoming her adopted daughter was apparently pregnant and her groom insisted he had not slept with her before, so was calling off the marriage.

As guests started getting impatient, the groom came out, took the microphone and announced to the surprise of all guests present that he is no longer interested in the marriage. It later turned out that the RCCG, that was supposed to marry them had conducted a pregnancy test for the lady 24 hours before the day and the result turned out positive.

With the groom insisting that he was not responsible for the pregnancy, Cynthia insisted she was not pregnant and went to do her own test in a different hospital. After her test, the result came out as negative, the RCCG called their doctor to do a second test but that again came our positive.

After all of the RCCG's tests came out positive, the groom insisted that he could not marry a woman who is pregnant for another man and a liar. Mrs Mark’s wife and her people begged him to forgive her and marry his bride-to-be but he stood his ground.

One source said he was particularly unhappy about the fact that while they were dating she did not allow him to sleep with her. According to the groom, Cynthia was trying to paint herself as a good girl but another man was enjoying what he was denied.

On the wedding day, she cried and pleaded but to no avail. When the wedding was called off, some guests decided to make the best of a bad situation, tucking into the delicacies that were provided.

EFCC Press Release: EFCC Arraigns Bayelsa Govt. Officials For N14.7m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on February 28, 2014 arraigned the duo of Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles before Justice Kate Abiri of the Bayelsa State High Court, Yenegoa, on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. 

The accused persons, Apiri Tonye, a former Head of Capital Expenditure in the Bayelsa State Accountant-General’s office and Paul Charles, former Accountant, Bayelsa State Directorate for Project Monitoring and Implementation allegedly diverted and stole about N14.7m meant for the monitoring and supervision of ongoing projects in the state.

One of the charge reads; “that you Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles on or about the 3rd day of June 2011 at Yenagoa within the Yenagoa Judicial division did steal the sum of N9,000,000.00(Nine Million Naira) by means of a UBA Plc cheque number 37130876 dated 3rd June, 2011 and paid into Fidelity Bank Plc account number 4020748118 in the name of Tonye R. Apiri property of Bayelsa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 317(5)(9) of the Criminal Code Law Vol. I C14 Laws of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, 2006”.

They accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, A.I Arogha asked the court for a date to commence trial but the defense counsel, M.A Akindolu and T.O.P Afagha (for the first and second accused persons) presented a formal application for bail and prayed that the accused persons be admitted to bail.
Justice Abiri granted the accused bail in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000,000.00) and one surety each in like sum. The surety must be a level 14 Officer with Bayelsa State Civil Service.

The case was adjourned to the March 28, 2014 for hearing.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
28th February, 2014

EFCC Press Release: EFCC Arraigns Bayelsa Govt. Officials For N14.7m Fraud

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on February 28, 2014 arraigned the duo of Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles before Justice Kate Abiri of the Bayelsa State High Court, Yenegoa, on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing. 

The accused persons, Apiri Tonye, a former Head of Capital Expenditure in the Bayelsa State Accountant-General’s office and Paul Charles, former Accountant, Bayelsa State Directorate for Project Monitoring and Implementation allegedly diverted and stole about N14.7m meant for the monitoring and supervision of ongoing projects in the state.

One of the charge reads; “that you Apiri Richard Tonye and Paul Charles on or about the 3rd day of June 2011 at Yenagoa within the Yenagoa Judicial division did steal the sum of N9,000,000.00(Nine Million Naira) by means of a UBA Plc cheque number 37130876 dated 3rd June, 2011 and paid into Fidelity Bank Plc account number 4020748118 in the name of Tonye R. Apiri property of Bayelsa State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 317(5)(9) of the Criminal Code Law Vol. I C14 Laws of Bayelsa State of Nigeria, 2006”.

They accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, A.I Arogha asked the court for a date to commence trial but the defense counsel, M.A Akindolu and T.O.P Afagha (for the first and second accused persons) presented a formal application for bail and prayed that the accused persons be admitted to bail.
Justice Abiri granted the accused bail in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000,000.00) and one surety each in like sum. The surety must be a level 14 Officer with Bayelsa State Civil Service.

The case was adjourned to the March 28, 2014 for hearing.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
28th February, 2014

SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom

 SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom refusing to marry her on their planned wedding day after it emerged that she had been impregnated by another man

In a hugely embarrassing scene last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Cynthia Mark's fiancée showed up to tell guests that he was cancelling the wedding. Cynthia, an orphan, who had been adopted by the senate president, was left distraught and Helen Mark, her foster mother who had arranged an elaborate ceremony, was left totally embarrassed.

Due to start at 9am, the wedding was delayed for about two hours and when guests began wondering what was going on, drama broke loose. Cynthia, who worked for Mrs Mark before becoming her adopted daughter was apparently pregnant and her groom insisted he had not slept with her before, so was calling off the marriage.

As guests started getting impatient, the groom came out, took the microphone and announced to the surprise of all guests present that he is no longer interested in the marriage. It later turned out that the RCCG, that was supposed to marry them had conducted a pregnancy test for the lady 24 hours before the day and the result turned out positive.

With the groom insisting that he was not responsible for the pregnancy, Cynthia insisted she was not pregnant and went to do her own test in a different hospital. After her test, the result came out as negative, the RCCG called their doctor to do a second test but that again came our positive.

After all of the RCCG's tests came out positive, the groom insisted that he could not marry a woman who is pregnant for another man and a liar. Mrs Mark’s wife and her people begged him to forgive her and marry his bride-to-be but he stood his ground.

One source said he was particularly unhappy about the fact that while they were dating she did not allow him to sleep with her. According to the groom, Cynthia was trying to paint herself as a good girl but another man was enjoying what he was denied.

On the wedding day, she cried and pleaded but to no avail. When the wedding was called off, some guests decided to make the best of a bad situation, tucking into the delicacies that were provided.

SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom

Posted by Sylvester No comments

 SENATE president David Mark adopted daughter recently faced the ignominy of her bridegroom refusing to marry her on their planned wedding day after it emerged that she had been impregnated by another man

In a hugely embarrassing scene last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Cynthia Mark's fiancée showed up to tell guests that he was cancelling the wedding. Cynthia, an orphan, who had been adopted by the senate president, was left distraught and Helen Mark, her foster mother who had arranged an elaborate ceremony, was left totally embarrassed.

Due to start at 9am, the wedding was delayed for about two hours and when guests began wondering what was going on, drama broke loose. Cynthia, who worked for Mrs Mark before becoming her adopted daughter was apparently pregnant and her groom insisted he had not slept with her before, so was calling off the marriage.

As guests started getting impatient, the groom came out, took the microphone and announced to the surprise of all guests present that he is no longer interested in the marriage. It later turned out that the RCCG, that was supposed to marry them had conducted a pregnancy test for the lady 24 hours before the day and the result turned out positive.

With the groom insisting that he was not responsible for the pregnancy, Cynthia insisted she was not pregnant and went to do her own test in a different hospital. After her test, the result came out as negative, the RCCG called their doctor to do a second test but that again came our positive.

After all of the RCCG's tests came out positive, the groom insisted that he could not marry a woman who is pregnant for another man and a liar. Mrs Mark’s wife and her people begged him to forgive her and marry his bride-to-be but he stood his ground.

One source said he was particularly unhappy about the fact that while they were dating she did not allow him to sleep with her. According to the groom, Cynthia was trying to paint herself as a good girl but another man was enjoying what he was denied.

On the wedding day, she cried and pleaded but to no avail. When the wedding was called off, some guests decided to make the best of a bad situation, tucking into the delicacies that were provided.

Horror: Student Reveals What Boko Haram Did To Them

Did you know that Nigerians are now living as refugees in Niger Republic? That is the reality of the matter, sad as it is.

  As you read this, tens of thousands of Nigerians have gone to Niger to escape from the latest wave of attacks and bombings by the deadly sect, Boko Haram, that continue to operate with impunity.

According to olufamous, one of the students who was shot by the terrorists but managed to survive, said:

“I was shot on my left leg, while I was sleeping. When I woke up, I could not walk and was later taken to the girls hostel where the insurgents gathered us with the female students. They selected some of the female students and went away with them, while they left some of us groaning in pain from gun shot”.

The words of 14ysr old Ibrahim Musa Lampo, a JSS 2 student of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi in Yobe State who was one of the lucky survivors of the Boko Haram massacre on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of over 40 students. The insurgents also burnt the hostels, classrooms and more during the attack.

Ibrahim who recounted his experience while groaning in pains was receiving treatment for gunshot injuries at the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu.

His mother, Hajiya Lampo, who was sitting beside him on the hospital bed lamented government’s inability to protect the lives of the innocent students. She appealed to the Federal Government to “provide security for all unity schools in Nigeria, particularly in the north eastern region of the country by constructing a fence that will shield the students from intruders.”

Meanwhile, condemnations continue to trail the massacre of the innocent students.

Horror: Student Reveals What Boko Haram Did To Them

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Did you know that Nigerians are now living as refugees in Niger Republic? That is the reality of the matter, sad as it is.

  As you read this, tens of thousands of Nigerians have gone to Niger to escape from the latest wave of attacks and bombings by the deadly sect, Boko Haram, that continue to operate with impunity.

According to olufamous, one of the students who was shot by the terrorists but managed to survive, said:

“I was shot on my left leg, while I was sleeping. When I woke up, I could not walk and was later taken to the girls hostel where the insurgents gathered us with the female students. They selected some of the female students and went away with them, while they left some of us groaning in pain from gun shot”.

The words of 14ysr old Ibrahim Musa Lampo, a JSS 2 student of Federal Government College, Bunu Yadi in Yobe State who was one of the lucky survivors of the Boko Haram massacre on Tuesday, which claimed the lives of over 40 students. The insurgents also burnt the hostels, classrooms and more during the attack.

Ibrahim who recounted his experience while groaning in pains was receiving treatment for gunshot injuries at the General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu.

His mother, Hajiya Lampo, who was sitting beside him on the hospital bed lamented government’s inability to protect the lives of the innocent students. She appealed to the Federal Government to “provide security for all unity schools in Nigeria, particularly in the north eastern region of the country by constructing a fence that will shield the students from intruders.”

Meanwhile, condemnations continue to trail the massacre of the innocent students.

Jonathan’s National Confab A Sham – Northern Elders

The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Thursday, resolved not to be part of the forthcoming National Conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that it had been programmed to project the president’s re-election bid.

The elders, who met in Abuja to review the state of the nation, also decried the seeming inability of the Federal Government to tackle the escalating level of terrorism in the North, which they noted, had caused a lot of havoc and dislocation in the region.

Speaking with journalists, NEF Deputy Leader, Dr. Paul Unongo, made it clear that although the North was part of the agitation for a Sovereign National Conference, it became wary of a hidden agenda when the government suddenly opted to organize one with a premeditated agenda that could cause more confusion rather than provide solutions to the nation’s challenges.

Unongo pointed out that the impending conference would not be able to solve any problem for Nigeria because most of the delegates were selected by the president instead of allowing Nigerians to elect their delegates to the conference as proposed by the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Committee on National Dialogue.

Unongo pointed out: “What they are going to do is not a national conference but a Jonathan conference because almost all the delegates were selected by him and his friends instead of an open election that was adopted for the previous exercises even during the military era.

“This is not fair. The manner of selecting only the friends and associates of the President for the conference does not represent the generality of Nigerians and we cannot be part of such a sham”, the former minister said.

While commiserating with the government over the killings in the North, Unongo called on the present administration to take whatever steps necessary to flush the terrorists, whom he said did not represent any religion in the country, as claimed by some ignorant persons.

Jonathan’s National Confab A Sham – Northern Elders

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Thursday, resolved not to be part of the forthcoming National Conference proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that it had been programmed to project the president’s re-election bid.

The elders, who met in Abuja to review the state of the nation, also decried the seeming inability of the Federal Government to tackle the escalating level of terrorism in the North, which they noted, had caused a lot of havoc and dislocation in the region.

Speaking with journalists, NEF Deputy Leader, Dr. Paul Unongo, made it clear that although the North was part of the agitation for a Sovereign National Conference, it became wary of a hidden agenda when the government suddenly opted to organize one with a premeditated agenda that could cause more confusion rather than provide solutions to the nation’s challenges.

Unongo pointed out that the impending conference would not be able to solve any problem for Nigeria because most of the delegates were selected by the president instead of allowing Nigerians to elect their delegates to the conference as proposed by the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led Presidential Committee on National Dialogue.

Unongo pointed out: “What they are going to do is not a national conference but a Jonathan conference because almost all the delegates were selected by him and his friends instead of an open election that was adopted for the previous exercises even during the military era.

“This is not fair. The manner of selecting only the friends and associates of the President for the conference does not represent the generality of Nigerians and we cannot be part of such a sham”, the former minister said.

While commiserating with the government over the killings in the North, Unongo called on the present administration to take whatever steps necessary to flush the terrorists, whom he said did not represent any religion in the country, as claimed by some ignorant persons.

UN marks Rwandan genocide anniversary

The United Nations opened a series of events observing the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide by lighting a flame of remembrance on Thursday.

It will recount the horrors of ethnic cleansing that killed more than 800,000 people.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that at the event, genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza, author of Left to Tell, recalled her experience of the 100 days of massacres.

It was mostly when Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by ethnic Hutu extremists across the Eastern Africa nation.

While her entire family was slain, Ilibagiza, a Tutsi, survived by hiding in a Hutu friend’s small bathroom with several other women for three months.

“They literally stopped by the door, inches away from us,’’ Ilibagiza said, recalling the numerous times the house was searched.

“It is by the grace of God that 300 to 400 people searched a four-bedroom house, and nobody saw the bathroom where we were hiding.’’

Ilibagiza said the story of Rwanda since has become one of reconciliation and urged Rwandans to leave the anger and sadness behind.

“Truly, as people, we are capable to do well, we are capable to love, we are capable to forgive one another, and we are capable of peace.

“It is my prayer that the world has learnt the lessons of Rwandans,’’ Ilibagiza said.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said that Rwandans’ ability to unite and reconcile after such tragedy has been an inspiration.

He stressed that the world has fallen short of implementing the lessons learnt from the Rwandan genocide.

“Our collective failure to prevent atrocities in Syria over the past three years is a shameful indictment of the international community,’’ Ban said.

The secretary general reminded of the ongoing atrocities in the Central African Republic and violence against minorities, such as the Roma, around the world.

UN marks Rwandan genocide anniversary

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The United Nations opened a series of events observing the 20th anniversary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide by lighting a flame of remembrance on Thursday.

It will recount the horrors of ethnic cleansing that killed more than 800,000 people.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that at the event, genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza, author of Left to Tell, recalled her experience of the 100 days of massacres.

It was mostly when Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by ethnic Hutu extremists across the Eastern Africa nation.

While her entire family was slain, Ilibagiza, a Tutsi, survived by hiding in a Hutu friend’s small bathroom with several other women for three months.

“They literally stopped by the door, inches away from us,’’ Ilibagiza said, recalling the numerous times the house was searched.

“It is by the grace of God that 300 to 400 people searched a four-bedroom house, and nobody saw the bathroom where we were hiding.’’

Ilibagiza said the story of Rwanda since has become one of reconciliation and urged Rwandans to leave the anger and sadness behind.

“Truly, as people, we are capable to do well, we are capable to love, we are capable to forgive one another, and we are capable of peace.

“It is my prayer that the world has learnt the lessons of Rwandans,’’ Ilibagiza said.

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, said that Rwandans’ ability to unite and reconcile after such tragedy has been an inspiration.

He stressed that the world has fallen short of implementing the lessons learnt from the Rwandan genocide.

“Our collective failure to prevent atrocities in Syria over the past three years is a shameful indictment of the international community,’’ Ban said.

The secretary general reminded of the ongoing atrocities in the Central African Republic and violence against minorities, such as the Roma, around the world.

NLC seeks new approach to fight insurgency

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, has called for a new approach to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the north. 

Omar said this in Calabar on Friday while reacting to the recent killing of some students of the Federal Government College in Yobe by suspected Boko Haram members.

The NLC president was in Calabar for the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers and a meeting of the NLC.

‘’We call on government to have a rethink over what they do.

“There is nothing wrong in Nigerian government coming up with special task force with a special squad to ensure that we get to the root of the matter and it is unbundled and be brought to an end,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Omar as saying at the forum.

He condemned the killing of innocent students by the insurgents, describing the action as “callous and unreasonable.”

“To go to the level of very innocent students who don’t even know what is happening, just massacre them, set their buildings on fire and so on.

“ I think this is a very serious issue and it is unacceptable to Nigerian workers, ‘’ he said.

He urged the government to set up a special intelligence unit for combating terrorism.

“I think we need to train people specially in the area of intelligence and in the area of combating this kind of terrorism.

“Let them be seriously trained and let them be sent to all nooks and crannies of the nation where they can be able to tap information, so that we can stop this callous killing of innocent citizens, ‘’ Omar said.

NLC seeks new approach to fight insurgency

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwaheed Omar, has called for a new approach to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in parts of the north. 

Omar said this in Calabar on Friday while reacting to the recent killing of some students of the Federal Government College in Yobe by suspected Boko Haram members.

The NLC president was in Calabar for the 4th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers and a meeting of the NLC.

‘’We call on government to have a rethink over what they do.

“There is nothing wrong in Nigerian government coming up with special task force with a special squad to ensure that we get to the root of the matter and it is unbundled and be brought to an end,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Omar as saying at the forum.

He condemned the killing of innocent students by the insurgents, describing the action as “callous and unreasonable.”

“To go to the level of very innocent students who don’t even know what is happening, just massacre them, set their buildings on fire and so on.

“ I think this is a very serious issue and it is unacceptable to Nigerian workers, ‘’ he said.

He urged the government to set up a special intelligence unit for combating terrorism.

“I think we need to train people specially in the area of intelligence and in the area of combating this kind of terrorism.

“Let them be seriously trained and let them be sent to all nooks and crannies of the nation where they can be able to tap information, so that we can stop this callous killing of innocent citizens, ‘’ Omar said.

US rights report focuses on Syria

A global human rights report released by the United States has singled out Syria’s civil war as a tragedy that “stands apart in its scope and human cost.”

The US said a chemical weapons attack in Syria that it says killed 1,429 was “one of many horrors” in the war.

The BBC reports that the annual state department review also noted the increased crackdown elsewhere on protesters and civil society groups.

The report cited official persecution of dissidents in Ukraine, Venezuela, Turkey and China in 2013.

The review known as the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices includes indictments of countries in every corner of the world.

But it saved its harshest condemnation for the government of Syria, where well over 100,000 people have been killed and millions more forced to flee since March 2011.

It cited the August 21, 2013 chemical weapons attack on Ghouta, an agricultural belt around Damascus, as one of “many horrors in a civil war filled with countless crimes against humanity, from the torture and murder of prisoners to the targeting of civilians with barrel bombs and Scud missiles.”

In remarks after the release of the report on Thursday, Secretary of State, John Kerry, also condemned the government of Ukraine for the recent violence against protesters.

“In Ukraine, as we all just saw in real time in the last days, tens of thousands took to the streets… to demonstrate again the power of people to be able to demand a more democratic and accountable governance, and to stand up even against those who would sniper from roofs and take their lives in the effort to have their voices heard,” Mr. Kerry told reporters.

Mr. Kerry described Ukraine as one example of a nation in which public backlash against corruption and overbearing governments has been further inflamed by official violence.

Ukraine’s ex-President, Viktor Yanukovych, has fled the capital after months of unrest.

The report criticises Mr. Yanukovych’s government for parliamentary elections that did not meet international standards for fairness or transparency, security forces beating protesters during a peaceful November 30 demonstration, and a general crackdown on the country’s news media.

US rights report focuses on Syria

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A global human rights report released by the United States has singled out Syria’s civil war as a tragedy that “stands apart in its scope and human cost.”

The US said a chemical weapons attack in Syria that it says killed 1,429 was “one of many horrors” in the war.

The BBC reports that the annual state department review also noted the increased crackdown elsewhere on protesters and civil society groups.

The report cited official persecution of dissidents in Ukraine, Venezuela, Turkey and China in 2013.

The review known as the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices includes indictments of countries in every corner of the world.

But it saved its harshest condemnation for the government of Syria, where well over 100,000 people have been killed and millions more forced to flee since March 2011.

It cited the August 21, 2013 chemical weapons attack on Ghouta, an agricultural belt around Damascus, as one of “many horrors in a civil war filled with countless crimes against humanity, from the torture and murder of prisoners to the targeting of civilians with barrel bombs and Scud missiles.”

In remarks after the release of the report on Thursday, Secretary of State, John Kerry, also condemned the government of Ukraine for the recent violence against protesters.

“In Ukraine, as we all just saw in real time in the last days, tens of thousands took to the streets… to demonstrate again the power of people to be able to demand a more democratic and accountable governance, and to stand up even against those who would sniper from roofs and take their lives in the effort to have their voices heard,” Mr. Kerry told reporters.

Mr. Kerry described Ukraine as one example of a nation in which public backlash against corruption and overbearing governments has been further inflamed by official violence.

Ukraine’s ex-President, Viktor Yanukovych, has fled the capital after months of unrest.

The report criticises Mr. Yanukovych’s government for parliamentary elections that did not meet international standards for fairness or transparency, security forces beating protesters during a peaceful November 30 demonstration, and a general crackdown on the country’s news media.

Home » Featured » Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary MAP OF NIGERIA Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary

Nigeria came under World leaders’ focus yesterday during the activities marking the country’s centenary celebration.

 Next year’s election which they expect to be credible and the state of insecurity in the Northeast attracted the most attention.

The United Kingdom, the European Commission, France and Germany advised Nigerians on the way forward.

French President Francois Hollande promised to support Nigeria in its battle against Boko Haram, adding that France would always be ready to help combat extremism in defence of democracy.

He said: “Your struggle is also our struggle,” Hollande told delegates at a security conference in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s unification centenary celebrations.

“We will always stand ready not only to provide our political support but our help every time you need it because the struggle against terrorism is also the struggle for democracy.”

“Africa has a great future. It’s the continent of tomorrow,” he said but warned that such promise could be “impeded by insecurity”.

He vowed to double French overseas development aid to the continent within the next five years.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who received a standing ovation for his remarks on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, pleaded with Nigerians to reconcile their differences peacefully in order keep the country as a strong and unified power house of black Africa.

He said: “There is no country in the world that is comprised of one region, one religion and one ethnic group. The beauty of Nigeria and any country for that matter, lies in her cultural, religious, regional and diversity. Our diversity should be a source of strength, unity and pride and not division, weakness and violence.

“If religion is anything to go by, we as Muslims and Christians should understand that in the ultimate kingdom of Allah, that is heaven, only the Almighty Allah would decide who enters heaven.

“The people of the Gambia and black Africa in general look up to all Nigerians to maintain and strengthen the unity, peace and prosperity of Nigeria as Africa’s most populous Nation and Black Africa’s power house. Nigerians should understand that a divided Nigeria can only mean catastrophe for the entire black race. Please preserve the unity and peace of Nigeria and remember that Nigeria is bigger than any regional, ethnic or cultural considerations or interest”.

Representative of Germany, Amb. Egon Kochanke, urged the Jonathhan administration to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

President of the European Union Commission, Jose Barrosso, noted that the EU was a product of war, conflict and disunity as he declared that the Union stands with Nigeria as it battles terrorism.

He noted that bad governance and corruption are among the factors fuelling conflict in any society.

Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, who represented Prime Minister David Cameron at the conference said: “By virtue of her scale and energy, Nigeria could lead the way. Next February’s elections will be a vital milestone – Nigeria’s fifth consecutive Presidential election under civilian rule.”

“Mr President, you have committed yourself to ensuring that the elections are free and fair. I am confident Nigerians will accept nothing less. And in doing so, you and your government could be a role model for many other African governments.”

He added: “I am always struck by Nigeria’s youth and vitality. I believe strongly that your country, and the countries represented here today, should be viewed through the lens of promise and ambition. I want to take this opportunity to focus on the great future ahead of Nigeria and its African counterparts face.”

“It is a future that is closely linked to the achievement of prosperity, stability and democracy. And I believe that, as is the case in Europe, it is the choices African leaders make in these three areas that will determine Africa’s future.

“Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, said on Independence Day in 1960 that Nigeria’s relations with the UK were “always as friends.” That is as true now as 54 years ago.

“Our relationship is rooted in our joint history; in the large and important Nigerian community in the UK; the deep and expanding trade relationship; and our countless educational, sporting and cultural connections.

“So it is exciting to recognize, as we stand at the dawn of a new century for Nigeria, that the future brings with it extraordinary possibilities for your country, and for many African nations.

“In 1914, the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates and Lagos, brought together peoples, territory and resources that had never before considered themselves as having mutual interests. That brought challenges- and perhaps still does.

“But Nigeria’s diversity has brought the Country strength, resilience and a multitude of talent. It has growing international influence as a peacekeeper, as a leader in the African Union and on the UN Security Council. The Country has become the driving economic and political force of its region.

“In Nigeria, we remain the largest investor, we are making strides to meet our ambition to double bilateral trade from £8billion this week.

Home » Featured » Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary MAP OF NIGERIA Nigeria under World leaders’ attention at centenary

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Nigeria came under World leaders’ focus yesterday during the activities marking the country’s centenary celebration.

 Next year’s election which they expect to be credible and the state of insecurity in the Northeast attracted the most attention.

The United Kingdom, the European Commission, France and Germany advised Nigerians on the way forward.

French President Francois Hollande promised to support Nigeria in its battle against Boko Haram, adding that France would always be ready to help combat extremism in defence of democracy.

He said: “Your struggle is also our struggle,” Hollande told delegates at a security conference in Abuja ahead of Nigeria’s unification centenary celebrations.

“We will always stand ready not only to provide our political support but our help every time you need it because the struggle against terrorism is also the struggle for democracy.”

“Africa has a great future. It’s the continent of tomorrow,” he said but warned that such promise could be “impeded by insecurity”.

He vowed to double French overseas development aid to the continent within the next five years.

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who received a standing ovation for his remarks on the state of insecurity in Nigeria, pleaded with Nigerians to reconcile their differences peacefully in order keep the country as a strong and unified power house of black Africa.

He said: “There is no country in the world that is comprised of one region, one religion and one ethnic group. The beauty of Nigeria and any country for that matter, lies in her cultural, religious, regional and diversity. Our diversity should be a source of strength, unity and pride and not division, weakness and violence.

“If religion is anything to go by, we as Muslims and Christians should understand that in the ultimate kingdom of Allah, that is heaven, only the Almighty Allah would decide who enters heaven.

“The people of the Gambia and black Africa in general look up to all Nigerians to maintain and strengthen the unity, peace and prosperity of Nigeria as Africa’s most populous Nation and Black Africa’s power house. Nigerians should understand that a divided Nigeria can only mean catastrophe for the entire black race. Please preserve the unity and peace of Nigeria and remember that Nigeria is bigger than any regional, ethnic or cultural considerations or interest”.

Representative of Germany, Amb. Egon Kochanke, urged the Jonathhan administration to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

President of the European Union Commission, Jose Barrosso, noted that the EU was a product of war, conflict and disunity as he declared that the Union stands with Nigeria as it battles terrorism.

He noted that bad governance and corruption are among the factors fuelling conflict in any society.

Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, who represented Prime Minister David Cameron at the conference said: “By virtue of her scale and energy, Nigeria could lead the way. Next February’s elections will be a vital milestone – Nigeria’s fifth consecutive Presidential election under civilian rule.”

“Mr President, you have committed yourself to ensuring that the elections are free and fair. I am confident Nigerians will accept nothing less. And in doing so, you and your government could be a role model for many other African governments.”

He added: “I am always struck by Nigeria’s youth and vitality. I believe strongly that your country, and the countries represented here today, should be viewed through the lens of promise and ambition. I want to take this opportunity to focus on the great future ahead of Nigeria and its African counterparts face.”

“It is a future that is closely linked to the achievement of prosperity, stability and democracy. And I believe that, as is the case in Europe, it is the choices African leaders make in these three areas that will determine Africa’s future.

“Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, said on Independence Day in 1960 that Nigeria’s relations with the UK were “always as friends.” That is as true now as 54 years ago.

“Our relationship is rooted in our joint history; in the large and important Nigerian community in the UK; the deep and expanding trade relationship; and our countless educational, sporting and cultural connections.

“So it is exciting to recognize, as we stand at the dawn of a new century for Nigeria, that the future brings with it extraordinary possibilities for your country, and for many African nations.

“In 1914, the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates and Lagos, brought together peoples, territory and resources that had never before considered themselves as having mutual interests. That brought challenges- and perhaps still does.

“But Nigeria’s diversity has brought the Country strength, resilience and a multitude of talent. It has growing international influence as a peacekeeper, as a leader in the African Union and on the UN Security Council. The Country has become the driving economic and political force of its region.

“In Nigeria, we remain the largest investor, we are making strides to meet our ambition to double bilateral trade from £8billion this week.

Akwa Ibom retires over 3,000 civil servants

The Akwa Ibom Government said on Thursday that 3,839 workers were retired from its service between 2007 and 2013. 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishment, Mr. Israel Udofia, said this at a meeting of the College of Permanent Secretaries in Uyo.

Udofia said that the retirees included 2,510 male and 1,329 female.

According to him, 2013 has the highest number of retirees running to 766.

The permanent secretary, however, said the department had built a web portal to enable civil servants and the public to have access to information they required about the department.

He said that the results of the civil service examinations, circulars and other service information were currently being posted on the website.

He said that a human resource database, involving the computerisation of the personal records of all employees in the state, was on-going at the department.

He added that the database will ease the problems associated with the processing of retirement documents.

Udofia reiterated the commitment of the department to realise its statutory obligations on mandatory service examinations and convening of public service negotiating council meetings.

The state Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien, commended the department for taking a proactive step to computerise its service.

Udoessien said that the action was in line with global best practice where e-governance was gradually replacing analogue processes.

Akwa Ibom retires over 3,000 civil servants

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Akwa Ibom Government said on Thursday that 3,839 workers were retired from its service between 2007 and 2013. 

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishment, Mr. Israel Udofia, said this at a meeting of the College of Permanent Secretaries in Uyo.

Udofia said that the retirees included 2,510 male and 1,329 female.

According to him, 2013 has the highest number of retirees running to 766.

The permanent secretary, however, said the department had built a web portal to enable civil servants and the public to have access to information they required about the department.

He said that the results of the civil service examinations, circulars and other service information were currently being posted on the website.

He said that a human resource database, involving the computerisation of the personal records of all employees in the state, was on-going at the department.

He added that the database will ease the problems associated with the processing of retirement documents.

Udofia reiterated the commitment of the department to realise its statutory obligations on mandatory service examinations and convening of public service negotiating council meetings.

The state Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien, commended the department for taking a proactive step to computerise its service.

Udoessien said that the action was in line with global best practice where e-governance was gradually replacing analogue processes.

Army General says Nigerians should be allowed to carry arms to defeat Boko Haram

The General spoke on Thursday in Sokoto
If Nigeria is to ‘holistically’ win the war against terrorism, its citizens must be allowed to defend themselves, by carrying arms, an army commander has said. 

The Commander, 1 Brigade, of the Nigerian Army, Tasi’u Ibrahim, said Nigerians should be allowed the right to defend themselves if the country was to win the war against terrorism.

Mr. Ibrahim, a Brigadier General, made the call in Sokoto while addressing the Brigade’s 2014 Officers Training Day.

He stressed that this was one of the measures that should be adopted “if Nigeria is to holistically win the ongoing war on terror.”

According to him, this is being practiced in developed nations of the world.

Mr. Ibrahim listed other measures needed to defeat Boko Haram to include strict monitoring and severe restriction on the importation of certain goods being used to aid and abet such crimes.

He stated that such goods included motorcycles.

“It has been proved that a good number of the insurgents use them (motorcycles) for their attacks,” he said.

“A good number of those selling petty things by the roadside in most of the nation’s cities are simply easy preys in the hands of these insurgents.’’

He also expressed concern with town planners in the country, “who allow the erection of illegal shops scattered all over the nation’s major cities.”

He called for urgent review of national planning system, settlement patterns and borders to check terrorism in the country.

The commander also reacted to the Senate’s directive that the Chief of Army Staff should move to Borno to help quell the Boko Haram insurgency there.

He said the Chief of Army Staff does not necessarily have to relocate to the insurgency-prone states.

“The Chief of Army Staff is everywhere already, hence his representatives across the nation,” he said.

He advised that national resources should be deployed in earnest towards addressing the ugly situation since “the army is just but a fraction of the national powers.’’

(NAN)

Army General says Nigerians should be allowed to carry arms to defeat Boko Haram

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The General spoke on Thursday in Sokoto
If Nigeria is to ‘holistically’ win the war against terrorism, its citizens must be allowed to defend themselves, by carrying arms, an army commander has said. 

The Commander, 1 Brigade, of the Nigerian Army, Tasi’u Ibrahim, said Nigerians should be allowed the right to defend themselves if the country was to win the war against terrorism.

Mr. Ibrahim, a Brigadier General, made the call in Sokoto while addressing the Brigade’s 2014 Officers Training Day.

He stressed that this was one of the measures that should be adopted “if Nigeria is to holistically win the ongoing war on terror.”

According to him, this is being practiced in developed nations of the world.

Mr. Ibrahim listed other measures needed to defeat Boko Haram to include strict monitoring and severe restriction on the importation of certain goods being used to aid and abet such crimes.

He stated that such goods included motorcycles.

“It has been proved that a good number of the insurgents use them (motorcycles) for their attacks,” he said.

“A good number of those selling petty things by the roadside in most of the nation’s cities are simply easy preys in the hands of these insurgents.’’

He also expressed concern with town planners in the country, “who allow the erection of illegal shops scattered all over the nation’s major cities.”

He called for urgent review of national planning system, settlement patterns and borders to check terrorism in the country.

The commander also reacted to the Senate’s directive that the Chief of Army Staff should move to Borno to help quell the Boko Haram insurgency there.

He said the Chief of Army Staff does not necessarily have to relocate to the insurgency-prone states.

“The Chief of Army Staff is everywhere already, hence his representatives across the nation,” he said.

He advised that national resources should be deployed in earnest towards addressing the ugly situation since “the army is just but a fraction of the national powers.’’

(NAN)

CVS Pharmacy customer kicks knife-wielding robber in face

A man with a butcher knife might have gotten away with robbing a CVS Pharmacy and Gulf gas station in Saint Paul, Minn., if it weren't for a man who fought back.

 Instead of standing by during robbery try, a customer jumps on the counter at a CVS in Minnesota, and kicks the thief in the face. 



A fearless pharmacy customer climbed on the counter and kicked a knife-wielding crook in the face — causing the culprit to drop his cell phone.

This pint-sized piece of evidence led authorities to Simon Hanson, of Forest Lake, Minn., in connection with the alleged attempted robbery at the CVS and another bungled burglary at Gulf Corner Gas, both in Saint Paul Monday night, according to local media.

Hanson, 28, was charged Wednesday with one count of first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, reported local station KARE.

CVS Pharmacy customer kicks knife-wielding robber in face

Posted by Sylvester No comments

A man with a butcher knife might have gotten away with robbing a CVS Pharmacy and Gulf gas station in Saint Paul, Minn., if it weren't for a man who fought back.

 Instead of standing by during robbery try, a customer jumps on the counter at a CVS in Minnesota, and kicks the thief in the face. 



A fearless pharmacy customer climbed on the counter and kicked a knife-wielding crook in the face — causing the culprit to drop his cell phone.

This pint-sized piece of evidence led authorities to Simon Hanson, of Forest Lake, Minn., in connection with the alleged attempted robbery at the CVS and another bungled burglary at Gulf Corner Gas, both in Saint Paul Monday night, according to local media.

Hanson, 28, was charged Wednesday with one count of first-degree attempted aggravated robbery, reported local station KARE.

South Texas family claims to have killed the mythical Chupacabra

The Ohrt family in Victoria, Texas, gunned down an unidentified beast in their backyard over the weekend. The mangy beast looks like a Coyote with big teeth and long legs. Although the Chupacabra's existence has yet to be confirmed, that hasn’t stopped rumors of possible sightings.

Lucy and Doug Ohrt (right) of Victoria, Texas, claim that they killed a Chupacabra on their property over the weekend.

A south Texas family claims that they killed the mythical Chupacabra in their backyard.
Doug and Lucy Ohrt of Victoria proudly displayed the slain beast that their grandson gunned down on their property last weekend.

South Texas family claims to have killed the mythical Chupacabra

Posted by Sylvester No comments

The Ohrt family in Victoria, Texas, gunned down an unidentified beast in their backyard over the weekend. The mangy beast looks like a Coyote with big teeth and long legs. Although the Chupacabra's existence has yet to be confirmed, that hasn’t stopped rumors of possible sightings.

Lucy and Doug Ohrt (right) of Victoria, Texas, claim that they killed a Chupacabra on their property over the weekend.

A south Texas family claims that they killed the mythical Chupacabra in their backyard.
Doug and Lucy Ohrt of Victoria proudly displayed the slain beast that their grandson gunned down on their property last weekend.

Abuja Police Beat And Teargas Peaceful Protest Against #YobeMassacre

Policemen in Abuja today used tear gas to disperse youth protesting the killing of school children in Yobe state.

 About 50 youth gathered at the Unity Fountain Park in the central area of Abuja on Thursday morning to express their outrage over the recent killing of students by ‘Boko Haram’ in the north-east.
The youth were carrying placards and singing solidarity songs in what was as yet a peaceful demonstration when the police descended on them.
The police confronted the youths, while beating some of the protesters, they used tear gas and riot dispersal techniques to chase them out of Unity Fountain, adjacent the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Godswill Okoronkwo one of the protesters told Daily Trust that the protesters came together through social media sites like facebook, twitter and Black Berry Chat.
He said they were all outraged with the gruesome killing of innocent school children in Yobe state and decided to come together and demonstrate.
Mr. Okoronkwo who is a young IT professional appeared confused that the Police will stop the peaceful protest.
He explained that, “all we wanted to do is show the relevant authorities that we are fed up with the senseless killings in the northeastern part of the country.”
Another protester Ike Amadi said the idea behind the protest is to show concern and solidarity with the families of the victims of the killings and kidnappings in the terrorism prone areas of the north east.
Another protester in defiance to the presence of police men stationed around the Unity Fountain displayed a placard with the message, “Bloody bread and butter of politics reason for continued insurgency.”

Abuja Police Beat And Teargas Peaceful Protest Against #YobeMassacre

Posted by Sylvester No comments

Policemen in Abuja today used tear gas to disperse youth protesting the killing of school children in Yobe state.

 About 50 youth gathered at the Unity Fountain Park in the central area of Abuja on Thursday morning to express their outrage over the recent killing of students by ‘Boko Haram’ in the north-east.
The youth were carrying placards and singing solidarity songs in what was as yet a peaceful demonstration when the police descended on them.
The police confronted the youths, while beating some of the protesters, they used tear gas and riot dispersal techniques to chase them out of Unity Fountain, adjacent the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
Godswill Okoronkwo one of the protesters told Daily Trust that the protesters came together through social media sites like facebook, twitter and Black Berry Chat.
He said they were all outraged with the gruesome killing of innocent school children in Yobe state and decided to come together and demonstrate.
Mr. Okoronkwo who is a young IT professional appeared confused that the Police will stop the peaceful protest.
He explained that, “all we wanted to do is show the relevant authorities that we are fed up with the senseless killings in the northeastern part of the country.”
Another protester Ike Amadi said the idea behind the protest is to show concern and solidarity with the families of the victims of the killings and kidnappings in the terrorism prone areas of the north east.
Another protester in defiance to the presence of police men stationed around the Unity Fountain displayed a placard with the message, “Bloody bread and butter of politics reason for continued insurgency.”

Nigeria: Protests In Lagos Over Stolen Billions Oil Revenue [Pics]

As Nigerians look for their stolen billions of dollars, oil revenue, protests are increasing globally. There are ongoing meetings and protests in Lagos by Enough Is Enough and Spaces4change. There have also been protests in New York and Berlin. 

A protest in Abuja yesterday against the government inaction in the face of terrorism in the north was cracked down on violently by the police (Mbu from Rivers is in Abuja now) who beat protesters and fired tear gas. This shows government apprehension.

Abuja Protest yesterday, broken up violently by police

Dr. Brimahs and ENDS protest of Feb 22 at Nigerian embassy, NY

Nigeria: Protests In Lagos Over Stolen Billions Oil Revenue [Pics]

Posted by Sylvester No comments

As Nigerians look for their stolen billions of dollars, oil revenue, protests are increasing globally. There are ongoing meetings and protests in Lagos by Enough Is Enough and Spaces4change. There have also been protests in New York and Berlin. 

A protest in Abuja yesterday against the government inaction in the face of terrorism in the north was cracked down on violently by the police (Mbu from Rivers is in Abuja now) who beat protesters and fired tear gas. This shows government apprehension.

Abuja Protest yesterday, broken up violently by police

Dr. Brimahs and ENDS protest of Feb 22 at Nigerian embassy, NY

Couple Brutalized By Dickson’s Sister-in-Law Recuperating At A Yenagoa Hospital

Dailynews9ja has learnt that a couple, Ambrose and Bina Oregbeme, who were on Tuesday mercilessly beaten by Governor Seriake Dickson’s sister-in-law, Tare Konyefa, and her aides are currently recuperating at a private hospital in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Governor Seriake Dickson

 Several witnesses told our correspondent that Ms. Bina Oregbeme, a legal practitioner employed by the Legal Aid Council, was brutalized along with her husband, Ambrose Oregbeme, for asserting their right of way.

The witnesses disclosed that the couple incurred the wrath of Ms. Konyefa, notorious in Yenagoa for her violent conduct and impunity as a reckless driver, when they challenged her in traffic. The couple’s objection earned them the beating of their lives as Ms. Konyefa’s aides and a policeman attached to her descended on them and started assaulting them. Done with beating the couple, the aides of the governor’s in-law sped off, leaving their victims in a pool of blood.

Sympathizers who watched the assault put a distress call to a security patrol team. The security personnel took the couple to the Yenagoa police headquarters where they made their report.

Speaking from her hospital bed on Friday, Ms. Oregbeme said she was still traumatized by the assault, vowing to file a lawsuit to seek redress. She added that she had reported the incident at the ‘A’ Division of the Nigerian police in Yenagoa. In addition, she said she had filed a report with the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“We are recovering from the bruises and scars, but have yet to come to terms with what happened. For me, it was a horrible, terrible and traumatic experience. It is something I did not expect. I am still living in trauma and pains because I couldn’t imagine this could happen in a democracy,” said Ms. Oregbeme. She added: “I am a lawyer and a law-abiding citizen. If this could happen to me, I wonder what hope ordinary Nigerians have. I have reported to the relevant authorities and I have no doubt that justice will be served.”

Contacted, the Bayelsa State police commissioner, Hilary Opara, denied knowledge of the assault. He told our correspondent that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.

Couple Brutalized By Dickson’s Sister-in-Law Recuperating At A Yenagoa Hospital

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Dailynews9ja has learnt that a couple, Ambrose and Bina Oregbeme, who were on Tuesday mercilessly beaten by Governor Seriake Dickson’s sister-in-law, Tare Konyefa, and her aides are currently recuperating at a private hospital in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Governor Seriake Dickson

 Several witnesses told our correspondent that Ms. Bina Oregbeme, a legal practitioner employed by the Legal Aid Council, was brutalized along with her husband, Ambrose Oregbeme, for asserting their right of way.

The witnesses disclosed that the couple incurred the wrath of Ms. Konyefa, notorious in Yenagoa for her violent conduct and impunity as a reckless driver, when they challenged her in traffic. The couple’s objection earned them the beating of their lives as Ms. Konyefa’s aides and a policeman attached to her descended on them and started assaulting them. Done with beating the couple, the aides of the governor’s in-law sped off, leaving their victims in a pool of blood.

Sympathizers who watched the assault put a distress call to a security patrol team. The security personnel took the couple to the Yenagoa police headquarters where they made their report.

Speaking from her hospital bed on Friday, Ms. Oregbeme said she was still traumatized by the assault, vowing to file a lawsuit to seek redress. She added that she had reported the incident at the ‘A’ Division of the Nigerian police in Yenagoa. In addition, she said she had filed a report with the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“We are recovering from the bruises and scars, but have yet to come to terms with what happened. For me, it was a horrible, terrible and traumatic experience. It is something I did not expect. I am still living in trauma and pains because I couldn’t imagine this could happen in a democracy,” said Ms. Oregbeme. She added: “I am a lawyer and a law-abiding citizen. If this could happen to me, I wonder what hope ordinary Nigerians have. I have reported to the relevant authorities and I have no doubt that justice will be served.”

Contacted, the Bayelsa State police commissioner, Hilary Opara, denied knowledge of the assault. He told our correspondent that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.