EFCC storms Bankole’s residence!

Former speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, may have unwittingly placed himself under house arrest by his refusal to yield to operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who stormed his residence at Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja, yesterday morning.

Operatives of the anti-corruption agency reportedly stormed the residence of the former speaker yesterday after they got wind that he planned to flee the country to London, at the wee hours of today, following the end of the legislative session the previous day.

It was learnt that fierce looking policemen and other security operatives attached to Mr. Bankole blocked his arrest and almost engaged the EFCC operatives in what was described as"bloody confrontation" but for the intervention of some superior officers.

It was learnt that senior officers who sensed trouble among the security operatives and the police alerted, the EFCC boss, Mrs. Farida Waziri and  the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Alh. Hafiz Ringim, who raced to the former Speaker's House to save the situation.

The IG, it was gathered, had a short discussion with Mr. Bankole on the need to hand himself over to the EFCC and save himself further embarrassment.  This Bankole accepted before the IG left his house in the afternoon.

According to a statement signed by the former speaker's Media Assistant on Communications, Mr. Kayode Odunaro, said Bankole would make himself available to the EFCC to answer question regarding allegations of financial misappropriation during his tenure in the House.

It stated that Bankole was ready to submit himself for interrogation and would report to the EFCC offices in Abuja by 2 pm on Monday.

The statement reads in part "contrary to widespread speculations that the outgoing Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole has been arrested or resisted EFCC arrest, the Speaker has informed official of EFCC of his intention to honour their invitation on Monday June, 2011 at 2pm.

"Following Bankole's letters to the EFCC Chairman of some procedural defects in his invitation by EFCC over 'investigation activities, the anti-corruption agency has sent its men to Bankole to renew the invitation and Bankole has given a Monday date for his appearance."

The statement insisted that Mr. Bankole was not running away from the EFCC, adding that any speculation that the former speaker had wanted to leave the county was false.

Source:
Vanguard

Edo South Battles Edo Central For Speakership in Edo State.

The struggle over who becomes the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly that will commence its new parliamentarian year on Monday, 6 June 2011 is heating up the political atmosphere in the state to the extent that the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole and traditional rulers have reportedly waded into the political fray.

In a related development a group called Esan Good Governance has issued a press release titled "A Threat to the Peaceful Co-existence and Stability in Edo State" which was jointly signed by PJD Agboinfioror and Comrade Olumhense Akhigbe, chairman and secretary respectively.

In the statement, the group urged the House Assembly to respect Chapter II, Sections 14 and 15(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that deal with equal representation of the people.

"That when the speaker is wrongly given to someone outside Edo Central Senatorial District, it means that Edo Central is no more regarded as a part of Edo State. If this is done it is unjust, un-parliamentary and unacceptable," the group said.

Despite these threats the political maradonas in the state have succeeded in allocating the speakership to Edo South and from the information available to P.M.NEWS, Honourable Uyi Igbe is the next speaker of the incoming House of Assembly while Hon. Festus Ebea, a newcomer from Edo Central will be the Deputy Speaker.

This development has not gone well with the Edo Central who felt cheated and has threatened to give Edo South a good fight until the speakership is returned to the Central District of the state. The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which is the ruling party in the state, has tried to diffuse the tension so as to allow for peaceful take-off the House on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Edo South blamed Edo Central for the change in the political equation in the state due to the poor showing of ACN in Edo Central during the last election where the PDP cleared the polls, leaving only one House of Assembly seat for the ACN.


Source:
PM News

CELEBS TO STORM RECARES RED CARPET COCKTAIL WITH AGBANI AND OLUCHI.

The crème de la crème of Nigeria's entertainment society are set to gather again. This time, the assembly will be at the Nature's Gentle Touch Institute where Recare Cosmetics is throwing a star-studded cocktail party. Recare Cosmetics International, a leading hair care company in Nigeria says it's bringing together "colorful and beautiful people in an evening of fine wine, lavish canapés with loads of music and dance. The event is set out to be a gathering of fashionistas, actors, actresses, stylists, entertainers, singers and top models at the company's Institute located in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Joining the array of celebrities would be former Miss World, Agbani Darego and international supermodel Oluchi who are official brand ambassadors for Natures Gentle Touch products. The red carpet cocktail event will be an eye-opening and revealing gathering as the celebs would be taken round on a facility tour of the institute which is the largest hair institute in sub-Saharan Africa. This opportunity would allow the celebs and select consumers to see firsthand the latest in hair technology, treatment and solution which the highly- regarded institute offers.

Nature's Gentle Touch Hair Institute was established in 2006 and offers hair styling and beauty education to individuals who are new to hairdressing and practicing stylists looking to improve their skills. The institute brings together a faculty of accomplished hair stylists and instructors from different parts of the world. The team of creative educators and hair dressing artists delivers inspiring courses that enable you integrate fashion, beauty and wellness into your life.

"The reason behind this event is that we want to bridge the gap between the entertainment industry, corporate society and the beauty and style industry and this event creates that perfect opportunity. We are eager to make the institute the hair style capital in Africa and what better way for us to achieve this than for us to start with our very colourful and vibrant entertainment industry" says Chika Ikenga, CEO of Recare Africa Limited.

The institute offers unique opportunities to corporate bodies and institutions looking for platforms to execute their CSR.

"Most of our friends are yet to experience the facility in its full glory, and we are happy to open up the entire institute to them for an evening filled with music, food and dance"

The talk- of – the- town event will attract supermodels Oluchi and Agbani Darego who are both Natures Gentle Touch brand ambassadors.

Oluchi was the first brand ambassador while Agbani Darego joined the Recare team early this year. Oluchi shot into limelight when she won the inaugural Face of Africa modeling contest organized by MNET Africa in 1998 at the age of seventeen. She was shortly awarded a three year modeling contract by Elite Model Management. Since moving to one of the fashion capitals of the world, New York, she has gone on to grace the covers of Italian Vogue, ELLE, i-D and most notably the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue from 2005-2008. She has also been the face of Gianfranco Ferre, Gap, Express, Banana Republic and others. She is currently married to Italian fashion designer Luca Orlandi and they have a three year old son.

Agbani Darego entered the history books as the first black African Miss World which she won in November 2001. Since her reign as Miss World she has gone on to feature in some of the biggest fashion shows in the world. She is currently working on her own fashion reality show. In March 2011 she was picked as a Recare ambassador. "She truly embodies the spirit of the Natures Gentle Touch philosophy" says Chika Ikenga.

The high profile event is set to feature the top names in Nigeria's entertainment society.

Source:
http://urlred.com/Z6vLD

Jonathan Worries over N7trillion Uncompleted Projects!

President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed deep worry over the large number of ongoing projects across the country as the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee who submitted their report said the 11,886 capital projects require N7.78 trillion to complete.

Jonathan noted that his concern stemmed from the financial implications of completing the projects but stated that he would peruse the report and capture the funds in subsequent budgets in order to ensure their completion.

He commended the committee's painstaking efforts in the compilation of the report and stressed the need for the country to work through plans to avoid dotting the landscape with uncompleted projects which his administration wants to avoid.

He spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja when the Committee headed by Mr. Ibrahim Bunu went to submit the report he commissioned them to put together for the country to know its outstanding project commitments and how to make budgetary appropriation to complete them.

Bunu had advised that the government should prioritise the projects it intends to handle so that it can attend to the most important and needed ones and also how to budget to complete the capital projects especially to assist towards completing projects within the vision 20-2020.

He noted that with the prevalent N1 trillion budget for capital projects, it might take about eight years to complete them taking into consideration the  inflationary effects, pointing out that the over 200 sites they visited revealed the enormity of the jobs yet to be completed.

The Committee blamed the dire situation on poor project management, mediocrity and inadequate budgetary allocation coupled with high cost of financing. They also said that undermining of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) Act lack of direction for the situation.

"There are about 11,886 on-going federal government projects amounting to N7,775,974,402,995.63, calculated on the basis of the sums at which the contracts were originally awarded. Following the committee's in-depth assessment of many of the projects, we take no joy in confirming that there is indeed evidence of large scale, widespread institutional mediocrity, deficiency of vision and lack of direction in project management", he lamented.

Apart from streamlining projects, he made case for proper funding of projects which should be released for contractors to continue staying on site till completion of their jobs while the government should, if it lacks funds, seek for alternative sources of funding the projects.

On the way forward, the committee enjoined Jonathan to ensure that all the funds appropriated for capital projects are fully released as at when due so as to make it possible for contractors to continue to execute projects in the most effective and efficient manner.

"There is the need to streamline and down size the on-going projects to a manageable proportion through a well thought out realisation process. And then, explore alternative sources of funding including issuance of federal government bonds and Private Partnership arrangements," Bunu said.

Source:
ThisDay

New revenue formula coming!

Governors and other Nigerians who have been pushing for a new revenue allocation formula may have won a major victory.

Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) chair Elias Mbam yesterday said it will produce a new, equitable and just sharing formula early next year. 

Governors have been calling for a review of the formula which is largely skewed in favour of the Federal Government that, according to critics, has little to do, to the detriment of states and local governments.

The Federal Government takes 52 per cent from the federation account, leaving the 36 states to share 26.72 per cent. The 774 local governments get 20.60 per cent. 

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) revenue panel headed by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, has recommended a drastic reduction in the Federal Government's allocation. 

It proposes 35 per cent for the Federal Government, 42 per cent for the states and 23 per cent for the local governments.

The RMAFC also asked Akwa Ibom State to refund N10.91billion to Rivers State, following the recommendation of the committee set up to look into the Supreme Court judgment on disputed oil wells between the two states.

The RMAFC boss spoke in Abuja after receiving the report of the committee on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Attorney General of Rivers State versus Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and the Attorney General of the Federation.

Mbam described as desirable, a new revenue allocation formula for the country, saying his first action on assumption of office as RMAFC chair was to set up a committee on how to formulate a new revenue allocation for the three tiers of government.

He said the task of generating a new revenue formula involves looking into many documents, making consultations and going to the field to verify some of the indices.

Mbam said the monthly salary of a senator is N1.06 million. He said the remunerations due to federal legislators are in the public domain, having been published by the RMAFC. 

He said any senator who receives anything higher than this should be reported to the Clerk of the Senate, who is the chamber's accounting officer.

Receiving the report, the RMAFC boss said the plenary session of the commission would look into it passionately and implement it to the satisfaction of the stakeholders involved.

Committee chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Maiunguwa, who presented the report, said the committee set up on April 13, 2011 relied on documents, data and technical information provided by various agencies and institutions of governments related to the matter.

In the course of carrying out the assignment, he said the committee received data on the 86 oil wells attribution from the National Boundary Commission, in conjunction with the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation and their production data from the Department of Petroleum Resources.

He said the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation provided all the documents related to the 13 per cent derivation Fund during the period under consideration by the committee while the CBN provided information on interest rate to be applied for the purpose of the assignment.

Maiunguwa said the computation of the amount due to Rivers State covered April 2009 to April 2011, stressing that the committee found out that Akwa Ibom State would refund N10.910billion to River State.

This amount, according to him, is exclusive of the prevailing commercial interest to be charged as the committee is still awaiting the rate to be charged from the CBN.

Source:
The Nation

Hon. Patricia Etteh Was Never Guilty Of Contract Scam, As Outgoing Reps Apologise To Her!

The valedictory plenary by the House of Representatives turned into a session of restitution on Thursday, as representatives freely reminisced on their activities as lawmakers in the past four years.

The speaker, Honourable Dimeji Bankole and the former House committee chairman on Navy and Petroleum, Honourable Halims Ochuko Agoda, betrayed emotion during their valedictory speeches. Both of them paused as they fought back tears while reflecting on their past activities as legislators.

Former speaker of the House, Honourable Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, who started the sixth session of the House of Representatives, however, stole the show during the last session, as she absolved herself of blame in the financial scam which led to her exit from office in November 2007.

Etteh, who was the first senior member of the House to be recognised by the speaker, Bankole, to make a valedictory speech, delivered a speech on how federal legislators could live up to their constitutional responsibilities, contending that all lawmakers should always dispense their constitutional duties with candour, truth and sense of patriotism.

The former speaker went down memory lane to recall the scam over the contracts for renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje, and stated that she was never guilty of the allegations levelled against her.

The outgoing House committee chairman on Rules and Business, Honourable Ita Enang, assisted in putting the motion properly when he affirmed that neither record of the House nor any of its proceedings ever indicted the former speaker after investigations into the House renovation contract scam.

Bankole, in his own speech, was full of praises for the support which he said all his colleagues gave him, much as he commended the House of Representatives management for serving as a strong pillar of support for his leadership.

According to him, in the past four years, the House received a total of 482 bills and was able to pass a total of 187 bills, most of them coming from the executive arm of government and individuals.

Source:
http://urlred.com/7i5D3

Most Authoritative Report yet says mobile phones pose a health risk, the cold, hard facts on mobiles and cancer!

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned for the first time this week that mobile phones may cause cancer. The UN's health body urged phone owners to limit their use and issued 'pragmatic' measures to reduce exposure to mobiles.

In its attempt to provide the most authoritative verdict yet on the risks associated with mobiles, the WHO reviewed 21 credible scientific studies from 14 countries worldwide.

So just how dangerous is your mobile? Here, we offer a dispassionate analysis  . . .

How risky are they?

The WHO concluded mobile use is 'possibly carcinogenic to humans', a term that places mobiles in the middle of a rating scale that contains five levels of carcinogens.

This means mobiles are ranked below things that are definitely known to cause cancer — such as smoking and sun beds.

They are instead put alongside thing over which there are still questions, such as pesticide DDT and lead.

The WHO says that, while we still need more studies, we should err on the side of caution. It pointed to a study from last year that linked just 30 minutes of mobile use a day for ten years with an increased likelihood of glioma, a type of brain tumour.

What do they emit?

Mobiles emit signals in the form of radio waves. These microwaves are a form of electromagnetic radiation.

When we hold a mobile against our ear, the radiation is  in direct contact with the tissue in our head.

The fear is that this radiation can cause changes to the cells in our brains.

If the DNA in these brain cells gets damaged they may become cancerous and cause  brain tumours, in particular gliomas.

These are a rare type of tumour that typically starts in the brain or spine and can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting and seizures. They are usually incurable.

It's also feared that the radio waves can alter chemical and electrical reactions in our brains, changing, in effect, the way that the brain's cells communicate. This may cause emotional disorders.

Why worry?

Glioma might be rare normally, but if it does affect mobile users it could become a widespread problem due to the rise in phone use.

There are now more mobiles in use in Britain than there are people. And we are using them more than ever.

This is particularly true among the young. It's thought 97 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds now own a mobile phone, according to the research firm ChildWise.

This means that safer landline phones are dying out. Around 15 per cent of homes  now don't have a landline.

Is cancer the  only concern?

Detailed academic studies conducted in 2004 in Sweden by Professor Leif Salford, of Lund University, concluded cancer was not the only risk.

He found radiation could kill off brain cells, leading to senility.

Professor Salford spent more than 15 years studying the effect of mobile phones on the brain. In experiments, he exposed 1,600 rats to the levels of radiation emitted from mobiles and concluded their brain cells were damaged.

The more radiation the rats received, he said, the worse the effect.

And since children are the most vulnerable to mobile use, he said: 'We cannot exclude the possibility that, after some decades of daily use, a whole generation may suffer negative effects, perhaps as early as in middle age.'

What's happening  to your brain?

A U.S. study this year found using a mobile phone can change the activity of brain cells.

The report, in the Journal Of The American Medical Association, found that just 50 minutes of mobile radiation significantly raised the brain's level of glucose.

This change happened in the parts of the brain that received the most cell phone radiation.


The researchers, from the California Institute of Technology, say that increased glucose in the brain is associated with inflammation and may indicate that cells are being damaged in ways that could raise the risk of brain tumours.

There is other evidence of physical changes in the brain caused by mobiles.

In a study in the journal Nature Neuroscience earlier this year, neurobiologists at the California Institute of Technology showed that very weak electric fields, such as those emitted by mobiles, can affect the electrical activity in the thinking, resting, and sleeping brain.

It is not known, however, what effects these fields may ultimately have.

Are children  more vulnerable?

It's not just that a child's bone structure in the skull is less dense, and therefore less protective against electromagnetic radiation.

Some scientists believe that radiation from mobiles may interfere with children's brains because they are still forming. This may render them more vulnerable.

In 2000, the former government chief scientific adviser Sir William Stewart said children were exceptionally at risk from mobiles and that those under the age of eight should use them only in emergencies.

Two years ago, a Swedish study warned children who use mobiles are five times more likely to develop glioma brain tumours.

The Department of Health currently recommends that those under the age of 16 should be 'discouraged' from using mobile phones for 'non-essential calls'. It adds that these guidelines are currently only precautionary.

But some studies have turned up alarming results. In 2008, research done in Moscow claimed children who use mobiles are more likely to face a range of problems which include memory disruption, decline in attention spans, diminished learning ability, increased irritability, sleep problems and increased stress.

Has anyone sued?

No, but this is not for want of trying. In the U.S., there have been three high-profile cases, all of which were won by the mobile companies.

In 2000, a judge threw out a £500 million lawsuit against mobile phone manufacturer Motorola brought by a neurologist who claimed that using his phone gave him brain cancer.

Dr Christopher Newman said  the mobile phone he used from 1992 to 1998 gave him a cancerous tumour behind his right ear. The tumour was removed, but he became permanently blind and disabled.

But Baltimore judge Catherine Blake ruled that none of the evidence submitted by Dr Newman was substantial enough to warrant a trial.

How can you protect yourself?

The two best, common-sense,  preventative methods are highly effective at cutting your brain's exposure to microwave radiation, according to the WHO report.

You should use a hands-free system so that the phone isn't near your head, and send texts whenever possible rather than phoning someone.

It's also wise to use an up-to-date phone, according to Professor Bruce Armstrong, of the University of Sydney, who was one of the experts involved in the WHO report.

He says that the 3G technology used by iPhones, Blackberries and other new models  appears to emit less harmful radio waves than 2G devices.

He says: 'The 3G phones give a much lower dose to the brain than the previous generations.

'Whether the 3G levels are sufficient to cause brain tumours, we don't know at this stage, because most of the research at this stage was done on the generation before.'

Source:
http://urlred.com/d93pO

NYSC should be strengthened, not scrapped, says Jega.

MORE opposition yesterday came for those pushing for the scrapping of the mandatory one-year scheme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, said that the programme, rather than be scrapped, should be strengthened.

Jega spoke against the backdrop of calls for the abolition of the scheme following the post-election violence that erupted in April in some parts of the country and claimed the lives of 10 Corps members, who were on electoral duty.

The INEC boss spoke in Abuja during the donation of some electronic equipment to the NYSC by the European Union (EU) Observer Mission in Nigeria.

According to him, Nigeria can ill-afford to dump the scheme which he noted "represents a great national asset and reservoir of human capital".

Recalling that he was chairman of a presidential committee mandated to review and restructure the scheme in 2003, the INEC chief said the objectives of the NYSC have become more relevant than in its early years.

He urged that rather than scrap the scheme, it should be strengthened to deliver on those objectives that informed its establishment. 

Jega said: "We have heard some people debating whether to dismantle the NYSC or refocus it or re-organize it. I want to say something here that many people do not know. 

"In 2003, I chaired a presidential committee for the review and re-organization of NYSC and we made recommendations about how to improve the NYSC.

 "At that time we did a serious study and we discovered that the objectives under which the NYSC was established were much stronger in contemporary times than when it was established.

"Oh really, we can do nothing but strengthen the NYSC, rather than even beginning to think of dismantling it or re-organizing it."

The INEC chair expressed empathy with the families of youth corps members who lost their lives in the post-election violence.

His words: "As we have said before and I want to repeat it today, I think the disappointment and the displeasure over the death of the NYSC members should not distract our minds from the very positive contributions that the NYSC makes, and there is tremendous hope for the NYSC to continue the democratization and development of our country."

Source:
http://urlred.com/gDWdw

Timaya's Abuja Girl Friend Pregnant!

Singer & Rapper Timaya has just planted a seed of love inside his Abuja based sweetheart, if the information at our disposal is everything to go by, the dance hall king who is naturally questionable having impregnated his Abuja lover, is said to be showing off her romantic relationship with her after his break with Empress Njamah.

This news that originated from Abuja reveals that in a couple of weeks, Timaya could be calling family and friends for the naming of the baby . A close source to Timaya informed us penultimate week, Timaya is getting ready to start a family fully and be a dependable father and in addition he is very certain that he's discovered his lifetime partner. Keep in touch for update on his said wife.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s Wife and Kids Family Photos!

President Goodluck Jonathan's Wife and Kids Family Photos: Special Inaugural Edition

There you have it, the picture below is that of President Jonathan Goodluck's Wife and Kids, they are looking so adorable

The girl looks like daddy while the son looks like mummy, wonderful. Awesome I think what about you?



Source:
http://urlred.com/Rc2wu

Timaya Now UN Ambassador!

In apparent recognition of his propagation of peace in the restive Niger Delta, consistent hit maker, Enetimi Odom popularly known as Timaya, has been appointed a Peace Ambassador by the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), a department of the United Nations.

Timaya

According to Dr. Hak Ja Haan Moon, co-founder of IIFWP, Timaya was especially chosen for this honour because he is "one of those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others and who dedicate themselves to practices which promote the founding ideals of IIFWP."

Also, the Peace Ambassadorship comes with a special number plate for the singer.

Reacting to the honour, Timaya said, "I am happy. Honestly, I am. This goes to show that the ideals I am using the instrumentality of my music to preach are not in vain. I have said it in my music and at different fora that Nigeria can only progress when the Federal Government pays more than lip service to the agitation of the people of the Niger Delta. It is even a good thing that the President is from that region, which means that things will surely get better. I thank those who deemed it expedient to make me a Peace Ambassador and promise not to relent in this struggle."

Moon said further that the new Ambassador for Peace, like others from all over the world, is expected to contribute to the fulfilment of the hope of all people, world peace, wherein the spiritual and material dimensions of life are harmonised.

Thus, Timaya joins a short list of highly rated celebrities including D'banj, Ini Edo and Ramsey Noah, who are also UN Ambassadors.


Source:
http://urlred.com/VinG0

Nigerian High Commissioner To Kenya, Dr. C. Wigwe, batters wife!

Emerging reports from Nairobi, Kenya, indicate that Nigerian High Commissioner to Kenya's wife, Mrs. Teresa Wigwe, was badly beaten by her husband or an assailant, RepublicReport New York has learned. According to several sources, Nigerian High Dr. Chijoke Wigwe, is highly organized High Commissioner, and seasoned diplomat. Those who know Dr. Chijioke Wigwe, said he is well 'liked in Kenya and has worked hard to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and Kenya.

But a stormy reports Thursday, show a a bombshell documentation by DailyTimesNG, narrating how, the Nigerian high Commissioner in Kenya, battered his wife. RepublicReport gathered that 'pictures released by the Nairobi star shows a thoroughly beaten Mrs. Wigwe; adding that neither Dr. Wigwe nor, his wife, Mrs. Wigwe, is taking calls from concerned citizens, reporters and friends of Wigwes as at Press time.

Several sources say enormous pressure is been mounted on the presidency to recall the Dr. Chijoke Wigwe and family, to reduce the shame and embarrassment this incident, places on the image of the country that is currently struggling, in the face of internationally know corruption, which is Nigeria.

Meanwhile, impeccable reports say, under 'Wigwe's ambassadorship, an agreement has been reached between both Kenya and Nigeria governments, that include, getting visas at any entry point into Kenya.

Before this ugly report Dr. Chijoke Wigwe, beating his wife, to a pulp, he had an amazing resume.

Some commentators at Nigeria politics are already calling the Federal government of Nigeria, headquartered in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, to recall the Wigwes immediately, because besides its ugly outing, insider sources at the presidency is a distraction to upcoming inauguration of president-elect, Goodluck Jonathan, as local and international dignitaries are expected to attend.

Domini Ogbonna, a commentator at Nigeria politics, wrote, Thursday, "These pictures are horrible. I don't know if the wife started the fight, or if the husband did, but the story definitely embarrasses Nigeria. The Ambassador and his family should be promptly recalled", he concluded.

Another competent commentator on Nigeria politics, Mazi KC Prince Asagwara, remarked: "Folks: When I saw the photos of the wife of the High Commissioner so badly beaten, one thing and only one crossed my mind. It looks like adultery is involved in the brutal beating. Adultery, the only probable thing that can make an unseasoned husband/man irrational and vent his anger even in public place.

He quickly added, "Both Dr Chijioke Wigwe and wife Mrs Teresa Wigwe should be recalled to Nigeria immediately to account for their disgraceful outing in far way Kenya", he concluded.

Another concerned citizen, Funmi Balogun, added: "We just woke up to front page news in Kenya that our high commissioner battered his wife, complete with gory pictures of the wife with blood, stitches, and stories of adultery, battering and all sorts (the star newspapers).   The Kenyan Police commissioner was forced to make a statement about withdrawing his immunity so that he can be charged etc.

She added, "the disgrace is unbearable – not only do we have a wife beater as high commissioner, but one that does it publicly too and with a wife that refuses to keep quiet.  We think it's time for him to be recalled back to Nigeria to sort his domestic issues.  Ladies please do something.   His name is Dr Chijioke Wigwe and wife is Mrs. Teresa Wigwe".

Another Mr. Yakubu Usman, literally called Dr. Chijoke Wigwe, an IDIOT and a disgrace.

He remarked: "Chijioke, is an idiot and a disgrace to Ndigbo"...

Continue reading...
http://urlred.com/5PPDb

Kim Kardashian wants to top royal wedding!

Kim Kardashian wants her wedding to be bigger than the recent royal nuptials.

The reality TV star – who announced her engagement to basketball star Kris Humphries earlier today – is keen for her big day to be much more extravagant and spectacular than when Prince William married Catherine Middleton at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29.

A source told America's OK! Magazine: "Kim is planning the wedding of the century. She doesn't see why a royal wedding should get more attention that hers. She sees herself as a bigger celebrity than Kate Middleton."

The nuptials are set to be shown on TV for one of her reality TV shows and Kim thinks it will prove more popular than William and Catherine's wedding.

The source added: "Kim thinks it would probably be the biggest TV wedding of all time."

The 30-year-old beauty has reportedly spoken to designer Vera Wang about creating her wedding dress while guests will include Jennifer Lopez, Fergie, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Kelly Osbourne.

Meanwhile, Kim made sure she told former lover Reggie Bush she was engaged to Kris before he read about it in a magazine.

A source close to the NFL star – who split from Kim last year – told Hollywoodlife.com: "Reggie was told about Kris and Kim's engagement this past weekend because Kim knew everyone would be contacting him for reaction. He was apparently made aware of the People magazine cover as well.

"During their last break-up, Reggie told me Kim may have been the one who got away. He loved her to death." - Bang Showbiz


Source:
http://urlred.com/ycLGY

Princess Beatrice's Royal Wedding hat sells for $132,000 on eBay!

The flamboyant mauve hat that perched atop Princess Beatrice's head during the royal wedding sold Sunday for $132,000 on eBay.

The headpiece - which inspired comparisons to a pretzel, octopus and a toilet seat - was a Philip Treacy creation. Beatrice donated sale proceeds to the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, and the British charity Children in Crisis.

Of the many fabulously dressed royals, celebs and schoolmates at the April 29 ceremony uniting Prince Wills and now-Duchess of Cambridge Kate, the oldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson stood out because of her towering accessory.

"I've been amazed by the amount of attention the hat has attracted," the 22-year-old princess said in a statement on the auction website.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities," she added. "I hope whoever wins the auction has as much fun with the hat as I have."

Bidding started at 5,000 pounds, or about $8,200. The identity of the winner, who offered up 81,100.01 pounds, hasn't been revealed.

The splashy tea rose silk hat-technically a fascinator- even inspired its own Facebook page, "Princess Beatrice's ridiculous royal wedding hat." It currently has a following of more than 143,000 fans.


Source:
http://urlred.com/yne7l

GSM Murder Case: Taofeek Badaru,Nigerian Man Beat His Wife To Death!

With the invention of GSM phones in Nigeria about a decade ago, it was generally adjudged a welcome development. It was a far cry from, and good riddance to the hitherto epileptic and restricted telecom services provided by the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). With the GSM services, Nigerians have unrestricted access to communication irrespective of status and creed. However, much as the services brought joy to its numerous subscribers, it nevertheless, has caused untold disaffection amongst many families.

Many relationship and of course, marriages, have long packed up in the wake of this services in the country. Unfaithful partners have been detected through surreptitious conversations and or text messages. Such illicit conversations with an alleged male lover recently sent a mother of five to an early grave by an angry and jealous husband.

Mrs Titilayo Taofeek Badaru, a 30 -year-old petty trader met her man, Mr. Taofeek Badaru 31, about 12 years ago. While she was undergoing apprenticeship as a trader, her suitor was equally learning bricklaying. They courted briefly and got married shortly afterwards. The marriage which was blessed with five children was described by family members and acquaintances as a blissful union until Mrs Titilayo acquired a GSM handset. Consequently, strange telephone numbers especially, those belonging to male friends, started featuring in her phone book. Amorous text messages, illicit and late night conversations became a recurring decimal. These drew the ire of her husband who was reported to have confronted her on several occasions. But she was reported to have denied the allegations; accusing her husband of unwarranted jealousy.

However, her alleged secret affairs got to a head last week Sunday, April 3, 2011, after her husband returned from a social outing, pretended to be drunk and staggered out to get some food items for the kids. Unknown to Titi who is also called Saida, her man was only feigning drunk and had actually sat behind their window when her handset rang to determine who the caller was. And true to his suspicion, his wife was conversing and fixing appointment with a male friend, ostensibly her surrogate husband. Apparently unable to control his emotions, Mr. Badaru stormed their one bedroom apartment and demanded to know who his wife had been conversing with. He was perhaps, too angry to listen to her wife's defence as he dealt her several blows; sending her gasping for air. She was said to have struggled and forced her way to a neighbour's room where she collapsed and died moments after. In the mean time, satisfied with the beating, Mr. Badaru retired to a nearby drinking joint to have some beer only to be called later that his wife was dying. Before he rushed to the room, his lifetime lover was already stone dead! What on earth is wrong with this guy?

Source:
http://naijan.com/gsm-murder-case-taofeek-badaru-nigerian-man-beat-his-wife-to-death/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+naijan+%28Naijan.com%29

ASUU threatens strike!

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday in Kaduna accused the Federal Government and the National Assembly of reneging on the agreement it entered with the union two years ago.

The group said the inability of the government to fulfil its side of the agreement would spell doom for the nation's universities and added that Nigerians should hold the government responsible for whatever happened.

Already, the university lecturers had directed all executives of the union in the various universities to call for congress in respect of the proposed strike. They added that the peace on campuses for the past two years would be truncated if the current National Assembly failed to enact relevant laws required for the smooth running of the university system in the country in line with the 2009 ASUU/Federal Government agreement.

Addressing journalists at the end of the its National Executive Council meeting at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, the ASUU President, Ukachukwu Awuzie noted that members had waited in vain for over two years for the government to fulfill its own part of the agreement without success.

Mr Anwuzie said the major cause of crisis in the nation's universities had always been the failure of government to implement valid agreements that it entered into with the union.

"Government has failed, refused and neglected to enact laws that will give effect to certain major areas of the agreement that need legislation for their implementation and enforcement," he said. "Of particular concern is the 70-years retirement age for lecturers in the professorial cadre. The expectation was that this item in the agreement would be passed into law within a few months of the agreement. After close to two years of waiting in vain and seeing the consequences in the form of continued brain drain in the university system, ASUU members have become restive across the country."

'Don't blame us'

While directing all branches of the union to immediately call their various congresses within the next three days to take necessary resolutions that their members had been calling for in the last months, Mr Awuzie maintained that even though the current National Assembly was winding up, they could still pass the bill on retirement age within one day.

"We learnt that the House of Representatives has passed the bill into law. But the Senate has not considered the bill. But we are aware that bills have been passed within a day in this country. What is required is very simple. Just for them to amend the law on retirement for academic staff in the Professorial cadre. But they have refused to take a look at the bill because they are not interested in solving the problem in the sector," he said.

The ASUU President condemned the recent government decision to establish new federal universities across the country, saying that the excuse given by the federal government was not tenable.

He noted that government's establishment of the new universities would not solve the problem of access to university education. He pointed out that ASUU was deeply committed to the expansion of university education in the country but that the process must be properly thought through and not just "political gimmick".

Source:
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5701460-146/story.csp

What next for governors who could not deliver their states?

AFTER the 2011 general polls, the 36 state governors of the country can be grouped into five broad categories. They are governors who did not contest governorship elections; governors who sought second term and lost; those who are serving their second terms but could not deliver their states to their respective parties; second term governors who delivered their states to their parties; and of course first time governors who got re-elected.

Governors that did not face elections

Given the irregularities that characterised the 2003 and 2007 elections, 10 governorship elections, at different dates, were nullified and fresh elections were conducted, which led to the affected governors being sworn into office on dates other than May 29, 2007.

In this boat are Governors Peter Obi (Anambra), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa).

The rest are Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Ibrahim Idris (Kogi). Among this group only Obi and Ibrahim Idris are second term governors.

Governors that fought polls

The absence of the 'automatic 10' meant that governorship elections were fought in only 26 states. Out of the 26 governors, 17 sought re-election and succeeded.

They include Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna).

Other successful governors are Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Aliyu Babangida Mu'Azu (Niger), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba) and Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe).

Successful outgoing governors

For the remaining nine states, five governors were out-going while four were first-timers.

Among the second-timers, Governors Bukola Saraki (Kwara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and All- Modu Sheriff (Borno) successfully ensured that candidates of their parties won the guber polls in their states. However, while Sheriff ensured that Kashim Shettima won the guber election, he failed to win his election and lost the bid to return to the National Assembly as a senator. Conversely, Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje got elected as senators-elect

The losing governors

In all, six governors – Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara), Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Christopher Alao-Akala (Oyo) and Ikedi Ohakim (Imo) lost their states. Daniel and Shekarau are second time governors. Shekarau ran for the presidency on the banner of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and lost in his home state to President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

What next for losing governors

Before the elections, the affected governors were so sure of their chances such that some of them are yet to come terms with their poor performance at the polls. They are obviously not prepared for what may pan out as a bleak political future.

Alao-Akala

Although Oyo State is one where no governor has ever been re-elected, Governor Alao-Akala was upbeat about his chances. And this was in spite of a threatening opposition from the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which fielded Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi and the Accord Party that had his immediate predecessor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, as flagbearer.

The governor had no inkling of his imminent loss such that he assured Oyo State civil servants of N18,000 minimum wage on March 29, 2011. Now that he has lost, the promise is raising dusts in Oyo with Ajimobi, his successor-in waiting, asking him not to start paying the minimum wage to avoid creating problems for the incoming administration.

Having lost out, the retired police officer has a number of options before him: retire into private business or lobby for federal appointment and use the opportunity to rejuvenate Oyo PDP in readiness for another shot at Agodi Government House in 2015.  That is if he fails to overturn Ajimobi's victory. Akala, who had earlier congratulated ACN's Abiola Ajimobi, is said to be preparing to fight the outcome of the guber polls in Oyo at the law courts.

Ibrahim Shekarau

The two-time governor of Kano State may be considered one of the biggest flops of the 2011 polls. Not only did he lose the presidential election on all fronts, he could not deliver Kano State in any of the elections.

Although his ANPP won three states, seven Senate and 20 House of Representatives seats, Shekarau's dismal performance at the polls leaves a question mark on his future political path. The retired teacher may have to return to the drawing board to re-strategise for 2015. Then, Dr. Musa Rabiu Kwakwanso, whom he succeeded and who will be succeeding him will be finishing his second term as governor of Kano. It will afford him and his ANPP faithful a chance to attempt a return to the Kano Government House because as of now, the ANPP does not seem set to play effectively at the national level.

Ikedi Ohakim

But for his alleged arrogant posture and brush with the Catholic Church after his security aides manhandled a Reverend Father, Ohakim had everything going for him to retain his governorship seat. He had reconciled aggrieved elders especially those of the PDP in the state. Hailing from the Okigwe zone, he had the zoning factor in his favour and had recorded modest achievements.

However, immediately a large chunk of Imo citizenry perceived him as arrogant, which was worsened by the Reverend Father harassment sage, his political fortunes took a nose dive. The Catholic Church accounts for about 55 per cent of Imo State voters. Try as he could, the handwriting of his imminent loss was palpable. And lost he did to Chief Rochas Okorocha of the All Progressives Grand Allaince, APGA.

A smart politician, Ohakim has congratulated his conqueror and offered himself to serve Imo State in any capacity in future. Sources said Ohakim would not mind serving as a minister under President Goodluck Jonathan and has commenced moves to realise the goal.

If the ministerial lobby failed, he may have to wait for another four years to stage a comeback bid for the Owerri Government House.

Gbenga Daniel

A year into Governor Gbenga Daniel's second term, it became clear that the 2011 political contest would be tough nut to crack in Ogun State. The terminal differences between him and majority of members of the state legislature, who were bent on impeaching him and failure to resolve same after a series of peace meetings indicated that the PDP would approach the elections with a disunited front.

PDP did not only approach the election with a divided front, some disaffected members defected to another party – Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), picked up tickets and contested with the backing of Daniel. The outcome: PDP and PPN lost to ACN. Perhaps, the result would have been different if PDP was not factionalised.

With his poor runs at the polls, Daniel is faced with an uncertain political future. He initially wanted to go to the Senate like a host of out-going governors do but jettisoned the idea at the last-minute amid a web of high-wire intrigues.

As the campaign co-ordinator of President Jonathan in the South-West, Daniel, ordinarily should have no qualms picking a ministerial portfolio or other appointment in President Jonathan's new cabinet. But his roads are not paved. He has a formidable foe in former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a major decider of South-West beneficiaries, to face. Daniel's backing of PPN candidates against PDP flagbearers may also count against him.

However, Daniel, who was an accomplished engineer and successful businessman before joining politics, may have to return to his businesses in the interim before relaunching himself into the political arena, if the move to go to the centre failed.

Akwe Doma

Doma of Nasarawa State is another governor that may face political hibernation. He lost his seat to CPC's Al-Makura. His poor relations with critical stakeholders in Nasarawa PDP was said to have informed his narrow loss to the CPC. It is to be seen how far he would fare in Nasarawa without the backing of his estranged backers.

Aliyu Shinkafi

Shinkafi made history in 2007 when he became the only deputy governor that succeeded his boss among his class. He got elected for his first term on the plank of the ANPP. Midway into his first  term he became estranged with his predecessor, Senator Ahmed Sani and decamped to the PDP, thereby making Zamfara State, an otherwise ANPP stronghold to become a PDP state.

Sani and other ANPP stalwarts mobilised and taught him a political lesson at the April 26 governorship election, which he ran on the banner of the PDP. Initially, he conceded victory to his son-in-law and  ANPP flagbearer, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari.

However, when the certainty of life outside Government House dawned on him, Shinkafi a few days later made a U-turn.  Last Sunday, the Zamfara State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha together with the governor told reporters in Gusau that the PDP would challenge Yari's victory at the tribunal. The party chairman said the PDP would also challenge the victory of some national state assembly elections won by ANPP in the state.

Obviously, Shinkafi's political future, in the interim,  rests on how far he would go at the tribunal.

Source:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/05/what-next-for-governors-who-could-not-deliver-their-states/

Mass Exodus Hit Latter Rain Church Over Pastor Bakare's Failed Political Ambition.

Pastor Bakare and General Buhari.


According to City People Magazine, there is a great unrest in pastor Tunde Bakare's Latter Rain Church as many members have deserted the church saying they can no longer follow the doctrine of a man who joined forces with a man (General Buhari) perceived by many, even Northerners, as an Islamic fundamentalist, who told his northern follows never to vote for anyone who was not a Muslim.
Pastor Bakare in the perspective of some of his congregation may have flouted the biblical injunction which says 'Do not be unequally yoked to an unbeliever'.
Also according to one member of his church, he clearly went against a declaration he made in 2006 in a popular Nigerian Daily where he declared this
"Let me tell you the truth by the spirit of God, neither Obasanjo, Atiku, IBB, Buhari, are part of the new. They are part of the old that is decaying. That old is passing away. The new is emerging and these ones are not part of the new."So it irked some of his members that he could eat his words and join forces with the 'old'. They say despite his ability to hear God's voice, he still took the plunge and latched unto a man that had been divinely rejected by God, making it daunting that the pastor got a revelation from God and then blatantly acted against it.
Do they have a point?
Culled from City People Magazine

The happiness gene that determines how happy we are!

How happy we are may depend as much on our genes as how well our lives are going, researchers have found.

They say that they have found a gene that releases 'happy' chemicals into the brain.

The 5-HTT gene also helps nerve cells recycle serotonin, another chemical in the brain which is linked to mood and depression.

Scientists from the London School of Economics analysed the genes of 2,500 people and found the happiest were the ones who inherited two 'long' versions of the 5-HTT gene.

The least happy were those who inherited the two 'short' versions of the gene.

Continue Reading.....
http://urlred.com/iRQZC

NIGERIAN COUPLE JAILED IN U.K FOR SHAM MARRIAGE!

A Nigerian and his lesbian partner were jailed yesterday in the United Kingdom over a sham marriage. Nigerian, Abraham Akinola, 32, and his bride-to-be Roqsilmar Marti, 28, a lesbian from the Netherlands, were due to get married at St John's Church in Tilbury, Essex, on August 25 last year but were instead slapped in handcuffs when police and Borders Agency officials hiding in the vestry jumped out to arrest them.

The London Daily Mail reports that the sting operation was launched after a tip-off by the priest, Father Tim Colding who became suspicious when the groom gave two different addresses on wedding paperwork. And it wasn't the first time Father Colding had rumbled suspicious couples about to wed. He said fraudsters were targeting his church in Thurrock because of its growing ethnic diversity and good train links with London and as a result he has reported more than 60 cases to the police.

He caught out one couple because when he asked the bride to repeat the vows, he began reading out train station names and she repeated them back. Father Codling said: 'I was asking the bride to repeat the vows and I just knew something wasn't right.

"So I started calling out the names of stations on the c2c line – Pitsea, Benfleet and Leigh-on-Sea, and the bride started saying them back to me.

"She clearly couldn't understand anything I was saying – I don't think she even knew why she was in the church." At Basildon Crown Court in Essex yesterday, Akinola and Marti both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to take part in a sham marriage and were handed 18-month sentences.

A Ugandan national, Abdallah Magezi, 36, from Plumstead, south east London, was jailed last month for three years after being found guilty of being the fixer for the sham marriage. Judge John Lodge, sentencing the bogus bride and groom, said: 'You were not involved in this to the same degree or level as Magezi, who got three years in prison, but both of you were involved over a period of time and in some detail in arranging a sham marriage.

"Akinola, you wanted to gain from it by staying in this country and Marti, in your case it was for financial gain." Police officers and borders agency staff were hiding in the vestry on the morning of the wedding and as Marti, from Rotterdam, walked up the aisle, dressed in a dark suit and white blouse, she and the groom were arrested.

The court heard Akinola from Tilbury, Essex, who also uses the name, Gafar Makanjuola, had suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of his family during his childhood and had fled Nigeria for a new life in the UK. By marrying a European citizen he would have gained the right to live, work and claim benefits in Britain. Marti had been involved in a lesbian relationship for the past eight years and her worried partner had flown to the UK and reported her missing on the day of the fake wedding.

She is thought to have been promised £2,000 for her role in the sham marriage which she was planning to use to pay for her sick father's medical bills. The couple applied for their marriage bans on June 6 last year and were planning to marry on August 25 but the eagle-eyed priest noticed a problem with the paperwork and tipped off the police and Borders Agency staff.

Officers leapt out and slapped them in handcuffs moments before they were due to exchange their vows. Magezi, a father-of-one, arrived at the church in a minibus and waited outside the church. He fled when police approached him, jumped a fence and ran onto a railway line.

He claimed he was just a friend of the couple but did not go into the church because he was a Muslim. He claimed to be looking after Marti's ID card as a favour because he had deep pockets. He was found guilty of conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK Immigration law at the end of a four-day trial at Basildon Crown Court and was jailed for three years.

Judge John Lodge told him: 'People have to play by the rules. Those who seek to circumvent the rules as you did, face lengthy custodial sentences." Detective Sergeant Andy Harvey of Essex Police said after the arrests in August: "Sham weddings are big business with the organisers charging £10,000 or more to arrange ceremonies and to pay 'brides' and 'witnesses'.

"The UK Border Agency and Essex Police are working closely to crack down on the criminals involved in these activities." Father Codling said the number of weddings he carries out had tripled following a government clampdown on bogus weddings at registrar offices. He said: "I think the vast majority of weddings we have at the church appear to be sham marriages. But the way the legislation works means if someone has been given a wedding licence I have to marry them.

"We can only stop weddings if we have reasonable grounds to suspect they aren't genuine.'" He said once a 'bride' stripped down to her underwear, pulled a wedding dress out of a black bin back and put it on in the church, even though it was too big for her.

Father Codling said he had refused to carry out weddings he believed were bogus and had his home broken into and his wife threatened as a result. He said since the raid in August there had been a noticeable drop in applications to get married at his church.

Source:
411daily

Osama Bin Laden's Final Message To His Children: telling them not to join Al Qaeda.

A Kuwaiti newspaper has published slain Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's last message to his wives and children.

The four-page document is a will, dated December 14, 2001, months after the 9/11 attacks that made him the most wanted man in the world.

In it, Bin Laden apologizes to his children for his absence in their lives, "You, my children, I apologize for giving you so little of my time because I responded to the need for Jihad," he writes.

He also instructs his children not to follow in his footsteps - specifically telling them not to join Al Qaeda. He cites precedents from Islamic texts as a justification for forbidding his children to engage in 'holy war'. The UK's Daily Telegraph reports that Omar bin al-Khattab, the successor of the Prophet Mohammad as Islam's leader, also left written instructions to his son, Abdullah, not to wage holy war.

The document is largely devoted to justifying Bin Laden's efforts to destroy America and Israel. There is no mention of passing on his possessions or assets, despite the fact that Bin Laden was at one point believed to have a personal fortune worth tens of millions of dollars.

The terrorist leader's will had a message for his wives, "don't consider marrying again, and devote yourselves to your children and guide them to the right path."

He signed the document "Your brother Abu Abdullah Osama Muhammad Bin Laden."


Source:
http://urlred.com/PjwiN

University calls for review of youth corps scheme.

The authorities of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State have called for a review of the National Youth Service Corps. The institution noted that the killing of corps members while in the service of their fatherland has called to question the philosophy, intent and propriety of the scheme.

The university's statement came on the heels of the killing of Adeniji Kehinde Jehleel, a graduate of the institution who was one of the victims of the post election violence that broke out after the presidential election.

In a statement issued by its Principal Assistant Registrar, Sola Imoru, the institution said: "Countries across the world protect, educate, provide for and consciously build their successor generation. We cannot continue to kill our own and expect to grow and compete in the 21st Century world." Similarly, two members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Akindele Adeniyi and Ifedayo Akinsoyinu have called for the scrapping of the NYSC scheme. The duo in separate interviews explained that the scheme was no longer serving the purpose it was established for.

The lawmakers who were re-elected in the just-concluded House of Assembly election in Ondo State, said it would do the nation a lot of good if the scheme could be scrapped because many corps members are dying as a result of violent clashes in the northern part of the country.

Mr Akinsoyinu who is the majority leader of the Assembly said, "I think the NYSC scheme is no longer relevant in this country. The programme was created after the civil war to integrate the various ethnic groups in the country. But now that the civil war is over, we don't need any more integration."

Corps members grievances

A former National President of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS), Temidayo Temola, urged the federal government to ensure that corps members are not posted to states that are prone to violence. Mr Temola said only indigenes of states identified as troubled spots should be posted to their states.

"It is sad that some corps members are being rejected by some companies. The Federal Government must mandate these companies not to reject the corps members again because once they are rejected, they begin to move round the town searching for where to be absorbed "Some are not lucky, once they are rejected, they won't find a place to work. They only look for a letter headed paper of a company to claim that they were working just to collect their monthly allowance," Mr Remola noted.

A serving corps member, Nifemi Jolaiya, on her part wants the Federal government to increase the allowance being paid to corps members.

Ms Nifemi, a batch "B" 2010 corps member serving in Bauchi State, said: "It is not funny at all; most private and some public schools pay ridiculous salaries to corps members. They treat them as if they are not humans. Some corps members earn ridiculous amount like N3,000 per month."

Source:
http://urlred.com/1oCv3

Mercy Johnson’s Secret Romance With Governor Adams Oshiomole?

This is story is from the High Society, Nigerian Best Selling Magazine.  Naijan.com hasn't confirmed it yet

There is always an element of truth to every rumor. Let's agree at the moment with what the editors are saying.

Until we bring you the latest update on this story.

Source:
http://urlred.com/Od1Uy

Adams Oshiomhole suspends AAU Vice-Chancellor!

The crisis that engulfed the Edo State-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, in the last two months has culminated in the sack of the institution's vice-chancellor (VC), Sam Uniamikogbo, by the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday.

The crisis began in the wake of violent protests by the students following a hike in tuition fees. In response, the school authorities suspended principal officers of the student union. This resulted in litigation as the students dragged the school authorities to court challenging the suspension order. The case was, however, withdrawn for an out-of-court settlement.

A press statement from the office of the governor, issued and signed by the special adviser to the governor on media, Tony Iyare, said that Mr Uniamikogbo's removal, which takes immediate effect, was to make way for the repositioning and reorganisation of the university, as an acting VC has been appointed.

The statement reads in part: "In exercise of his powers under the Act establishing the AAU, the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has decided to remove the present Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Professor Sam Uniamikogbo with immediate effect.

"The governor has also resolved that in order to reposition the university on a sound administrative and financial footing, the management of AAU needs a complete reorganisation and overhaul."

Beyond student crisis

However, NEXT investigation revealed that the reason for the suspension of the vice- chancellor went beyond the student crisis. He allegedly incurred the wrath of the governor for his lack of knowledge of the financial position of the school.

For instance, when he was invited to the floor of the Edo State House of Assembly during the crisis and asked to give an audit report on the institution, Mr Uniamikogbo, an economist, could not tell the honourable members how much the university received from school fees, which meant that he had no record of how many students were in the school.

"The governor has also directed that the former VC hand over to the Dean, Faculty of Law, Professor (Mrs) Cordelia Agbebaku who will act pending the appointment of a substantive VC," the statement said.

Source:
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5697053-146/story.csp

How Osama Bin Laden Was Killed!

Helicopters descended out of darkness on the most important counterterrorism mission in U.S. history. It was an operation so secret, only a select few U.S. officials knew what was about to happen.

The location was a fortified compound in the affluent Pakistani suburbs of Islamabad. The target was Osama bin Laden.

Intelligence officials discovered the compound in August while monitoring an al-Qaida courier. The CIA had been hunting that courier for years, ever since detainees told interrogators that the courier was so trusted by bin Laden that he might very well be living with the al-Qaida leader.

Nestled in an affluent neighborhood, the compound was surrounded by walls as high as 18 feet, topped with barbed wire. Two security gates guarded the only way in. A third-floor terrace was shielded by a seven-foot privacy wall. No phone lines or Internet cables ran to the property. The residents burned their garbage rather than put it out for collection. Intelligence officials believed the million-dollar compound was built five years ago to protect a major terrorist figure. The question was, who?

The CIA asked itself again and again who might be living behind those walls. Each time, they concluded it was almost certainly bin Laden.

President Barack Obama described the operation in broad strokes Sunday night. Details were provided in interviews with counterterrorism and intelligence authorities, senior administration officials and other U.S. officials. All spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operation.

By mid-February, intelligence from multiple sources was clear enough that Obama wanted to "pursue an aggressive course of action," a senior administration official said. Over the next two and a half months, Obama led five meetings of the National Security Council focused solely on whether bin Laden was in that compound and, if so, how to get him, the official said.

Normally, the U.S. shares its counterterrorism intelligence widely with trusted allies in Britain, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. And the U.S. normally does not carry out ground operations inside Pakistan without collaboration with Pakistani intelligence. But this mission was too important and too secretive.

On April 29, Obama approved an operation to kill bin Laden. It was a mission that required surgical accuracy, even more precision than could be delivered by the government's sophisticated Predator drones. To execute it, Obama tapped a small contingent of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six and put them under the command of CIA Director Leon Panetta, whose analysts monitored the compound from afar.

Panetta was directly in charge of the team, a U.S. official said, and his conference room was transformed into a command center.

Details of exactly how the raid unfolded remain murky. But the al-Qaida courier, his brother and one of bin Laden's sons were killed. No Americans were injured. Senior administration officials will only say that bin Laden "resisted." And then the man behind the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil died from an American bullet to his head.

It was mid-afternoon in Virginia when Panetta and his team received word that bin Laden was dead. Cheers and applause broke out across the conference room.—

Associated Press writers Kimberly Dozier, Adam Goldman and Julie Pace in Washington contributed to this report; Kathy Gannon contributed from Islamabad.

http://www.aolnews.com/story/inside-the-raid-that-killed-bin-laden/1783702/

Osama Bin Laden Dead, Obama Announces!

Osama Bin Laden is dead, President Obama announced Sunday night, in a televised address to the nation. His death was the result of a U.S. operation launched today in Abbottabad, Pakistan, against a compound where bin Laden was believed to be hiding, according to U.S. intelligence. After a firefight, a small team of American forces killed bin Laden and took possession of his body, the president said.

"Tonight I can report to the American people and the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden," Obama said during brief remarks at the White House.
"Justice has been done," he said, in comments that marked a formal end of the manhunt for the most visible and emotionally-charged symbol of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The president said U.S. intelligence operatives received a tip in August on bin Laden's whereabouts, which ultimately led to Sunday's attack. Obama said he determined last week that the U.S. had enough reliable information to take action; by Sunday morning, he had authorized "a small team of Americans" to conduct an operation targeting bin Laden.

"After a fire fight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body," the president said. "No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties."

Obama said the 9/11 attacks that bin Laden and his lieutenants orchestrated nearly 10 years ago remain "the worst attack on the American people in our history" and said the images of the crumbling Twin Towers "are seared into our national memory."

The president emphasized that Americans "did not choose this fight" against al Qaeda, but rather, "it came to our shores." He praised U.S. military and intelligence professionals for working "tirelessly to achieve this outcome." To the families of 9/11 victims, he noted that the U.S. has "never forgotten your loss."

"Tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11," Obama said. "I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people."

Both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had targeted bin Laden during their presidencies, and both had failed to either capture him or kill him. The failure to snare bin Laden weighed most heavily, perhaps, on the Bush Administration, which occupied the White House during the 9/11 attacks, and the al Qaeda leader's killing falls exactly eight years to the day when Bush famously declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.

Bush said in a statement that Obama called him Sunday night to inform him of "the momentous achievement" of bin Laden's death.

"I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude," Bush said. "The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

Clinton, who was president when the first World Trade Center bombing occurred in 1993, issued a statement calling bin Laden's murder "a profoundly important moment not just for the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in al-Qaida's other attacks but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children."

In a conference call with reporters just after President Obama spoke, senior administration officials provided a detailed sketch of how the intelligence on bin Laden's whereabouts was gathered.

Intelligence officials had been conducting lengthy reconnaissance work prior to receiving their key tip in August. According to senior administration officials, suspected terrorists in custody since 9/11 -- including the attack's mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- identified a courier who had a close relationship with bin Laden.

"This man was one of the few al Qaeda couriers trusted by bin Laden," one senior administration official said. "They indicated he might be living with and protecting bin Laden. But for years we were unable to identify his true name or his location. Four years ago we uncovered his identity… About two years ago, after months of persistent effort, we identified areas of Pakistan where the courier and his brother operated. Still, we were unable to pinpoint exactly where they lived due to extensive operational security on their part. The fact that they were being so careful reinforced our belief that we were on the right track."

When the intelligence community finally pinpointed the courier's location, they were "shocked by what we saw," said this official.

The neighborhood in Abbottabad was "relatively affluent with lots of retired military," this official continued, and was insulated from urban areas or places susceptible to natural disaster and terrorist attacks. The home was "roughly eight times larger than the other homes in the area," and it was surrounded by 12-to-18-foot-high walls, topped with barbed wire. It had two security gates and a value of roughly $1 million, although it lacked telephone and Internet connections.

An even more telling clue for intelligence operatives: The occupants of the house were burning their trash rather than putting it out for collection.

One senior administration official suggested bin Laden had been staying at the compound for at least six months without moving. Bin Laden was known to have regularly shifted locations to evade capture, so it's unusual that he chose to stay in on spot for such an extended period.

More recently, the Obama administration had reduced the number of drone strikes in the area -- while ramping up surveillance -- in an effort to give the al Qaeda leader a heightened sense of safety in his home.

Prior to the operation, Obama convened nine meetings with his national security team to review intelligence. According to a White House aide, "Principals met formally an additional five times themselves and their deputies met seven times."

The president made the decision to undertake the operation at 8:20 a.m. on April 29th in the White House's Diplomatic Room before he left to survey tornado damage in Alabama. Tom Donilon, his National Security Advisor, prepared the formal orders and convened the principals at 3 p.m. that same day to complete the planning.

Final preparations were made on Sunday. At 2 p.m., the president met with top advisers for an hour and half, at which point he returned to the Situation Room for an additional briefing. Twenty minutes after that, he learned that bin Laden had been "tentatively identified." By 7 p.m. he was told it was highly probable that bin Laden was at the compound. By 8:30 p.m., he received an additional briefing. He signed off on the attack after that.

No other intelligence operatives in other countries were told of the attack before it occurred -- including Pakistani operatives -- according to administration officials. Vice President Joseph Biden informed congressional leadership of the attack shortly before it took place, aides on the Hill told the Huffington Post.

Details about the fight itself are still difficult to come by. According to local reports in Pakistan, a helicopter involved in the attack had a mechanical problem and crashed.

U.S. forces intentionally destroyed the remainder of the wreckage to reduce signs of their presence in the area , according to NBC and other media reports. Two helicopters remained to provide cover for Joint Special Operations Command forces; in addition, there was a predator drone.

The fight lasted only 40 minutes and was described by a senior administration official as a "surgical raid" conducted by a Navy Seals unit. Bin Laden's adult son was killed, as were two of his couriers and a woman being used as a human shield. Bin Laden himself "did resist the assault force," a senior administration official said. Reports on Sunday night said the terrorist leader was ultimately shot in the head.

Officials warned that in the aftermath of the attack, Americans should be on alert for a reprisal from al Qaeda. However, one official added, there were "no specific threats" as of Sunday night. ABC News reported that authorities plan to bury bin Laden's body at sea in order to leave no definitive location for his final resting place. It will be done, an official added, "in accordance with Islamic practice and tradition."

"Americans understand the costs of war," Obama said toward the end of his remarks. "Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies.

Source:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/01/osama-bin-laden-dead-killed_n_856091.html