₦airaland Forum

The BBOG group had scheduled to take its protest to the Presidential Villa, where the protesters hoped to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to re-echo their demand for the rescue of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

They later marched down to the Federal Secretariat Complex, precisely, to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, located around the Three Arms Zone, opposite the National Assembly complex.

After noticing the presence of heavily armed security personnel around...

Read it here http://independentnig.com/bbog-security-operatives-stall-ezekwezili-led-protest-to-aso-rock/

Recently, the Ebonyi State Police Command paraded Mr. Ogbonnaya Ene Odi, a serving Coordinator of Ohazara Development Centre in Ebonyi State, and 5 other suspects for allegedly abducting, torturing and indecently assaulting 14 -year- old Uzoamaka Chukwu, an orphan who is presently a JS 2 student, resident in Uburu community, Ohaozara local government area of Ebonyi state.

For refusing the amorous overtures of one Enekwachi, reportedly the younger brother of Odi, she was stripped naked, flogged, dragged on the ground and bathe with alcoholic drink. The culprits allegedly went further to video their heinous actions and gleefully put them on the internet. Odi was said to have allowed 5 camera men to do the recording. Everything was allegedly done with the active connivance of 2 policemen. After the filming, she was said to have been taken to a clinic in Ohazara for HIV test and given N100 to pay for treatment.

We sympathise with Uzoamaka for the beastly, dehumanising and traumatising act she was subjected to, especially at such a tender age of 14. We also call for justice as a deterrent to others who feel that they could get away with cruelty to their fellow human beings with impunity.

It is a pity that Odi, a politician who grovelled and begged for people’s votes either for himself or his party before the election could allegedly turn around to maltreat the same people who deserve gratitude and care for making his aspirations materialise.

The most painful aspect of the whole saga is that the policemen who represent the institution that should have granted Uzoamaka protection were found to have sucked up to Ogbonnaya’s money, sold their conscience and become compromised because of their lack of self confidence and self worth.

This development obviously brings into focus the devastating role of sycophancy in Nigerian politics. Certainly those around the co-ordinator of Ohazara Development Centre cannot say they were oblivious of the implications but would rather indulge him because of the measly crumbs that fall off his table.

They most likely consider themselves amongst the privileged few who are allowed in the company of Odi. Rather than create an environment that would assist misinformed and mal-adjusted Odi to be re-orientated, so he could alter or replace his domineering masculinity through a more acceptable and orderly socialisation, this set of policemen prefer to benefit from the tainted largesse given to them to cover his tracks.

Now that the culprits are in police custody,it is our expectation that justice will prevail so that if found guilty, appropriate penalty will be meted out to teach them and their ilk that money and power, if used positively would also yield the awe and reverence that is accorded influential people because of their position.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/uzoamaka/

Arsene Wenger has urged Arsenal fans to be patient with their club’s relative lack of transfer market activity and has reassured supporters that they are keen to recruit before the end of the month.

Title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City have moved decisively and ambitiously in the market over the close season, spending over 320 million pounds ($421.25 million).
Arsenal have made one significant signing, adding Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Borussia Moenchengladbach for 30 million pounds ($39.49 million).
Their defence was found wanting in Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League defeat by Liverpool as a backline including youngsters Rob Holding and Calum Chambers was exposed, prompting grumbles of discontent among Arsenal fans with the club again looking ill prepared for a title challenge.
“We’re not scared to spend money, but to buy in itself is not a quality, to buy good players is,” Wenger told journalists on Thursday. “This club has been built on that.
“The transfer policy we have had here has helped build the club. I know we haven’t done as much as many people but we are out there,” he added. “I have made 400 transfers in my life and I know every one has a rhythm that you are not the only one to decide on.”
Arsenal are interested by Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi, according to reports in the British media, but Wenger refused to reveal any specific transfer targets.
“I would like to reassure you that we are not afraid to spend the money we have and we are working very hard,” he continued.
“You can pay huge amounts of money for average players, there are plenty of those, but to find the ones who will strengthen your squad is more difficult.
“Buying calms the fans of course but we have to make sure we spend it the right way.”
Arsenal continue their Premier League campaign away at champions Leicester City on Saturday. (Reuters)

SEE MORE @ http://independentnig.com/375228-2/

The League Management Company (LMC) has fined Ikorodu United N3.5 million and banished the team to MKO Stadium, Abeokuta for their next three league fixtures.
This followed Ikorodu United’s failure to restrict unauthorized persons from restricted areas during their NPFL week 30 game against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan.
The club also got charged for disturbances caused by its supporters during and after the game was discontinued.
As a result, Ikorodu Utd were fined ?750,000 for failing to restrict unauthorized persons from restricted areas during the 3SC game. The Oga Boys were also fined ?750,000 for failing to provide adequate crowd control during and after thegame.
The LMC also said that Ikorodu Utd were in breach of NPFL framework and rules for failing to provide adequate crowd control during Shooting Stars game.
The Lagos based club further breached NPFL rules with its supporters throwing objects onto the pitch leading to the discontinuing of the match.
For objects thrown onto the pitch by its supporters and causing the discontinuance of the said NPFL game, Ikorodu Utd got a ?2 million fine.
As part of the sanctions, Ikorodu Utd will play its next three NPFL home games at the M.K.O. Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta starting with weekend’s week 32 fixture against Niger Tornadoes on August 21.
The Ikorodu Utd versus 3SC game was disrupted in the 89th minute with scores at 1-1 and the LMC has ruled that the result shall count as a completed fixture.
Ikorodu Utd has no later than 5pm on Friday, August 19 to appeal or accept the sanctions imposed on them.
However, failure by the club to comply with this requirement within the time limit will be a breach of the NPFL Framework & Rules the statement concluded.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/lmc-fines-ikorodu-utd-3-5m-banished-to-abeokuta/

Former Chief Judge of Delta State, James Omo-Agege is dead.
The deceased, who was the state Chief Judge between October 3rd 1993 and 4th November 1998 died yesterday evening after a brief illness at the age of 83-years.

Omo-Agege, is the father to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, senator representing Delta Central at the National Assembly.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/375502-2/

North Korea on Wednesday labelled South Korean President Park Geun-Hye a “psychopath” after she made a speech slamming Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and defending the deployment of a US anti-missile system.

In her televised address on Monday, Park had stressed that deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system was an act of “self-defence” in response to the North’s expanding nuclear weapons programme.

A spokesman for the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country said Park’s argument was “preposterous” and unfounded.

“This is just a lame excuse and she should know that no one will be taken in by such sophism of a puppet that can do nothing without an approval of her US master,” the spokesman said.

“This is no more than nonsense talked by a psychopath,” he added in a statement carried by the North’s official KCNA news agency.

North Korea has threatened to take “physical action” against the THAAD deployment, saying any South Korean ports and airfields hosting US military hardware would become a target.

Beijing is also opposed to the move, seeing it as a US bid to flex its military muscle in the region and undermine China’s own missile capabilities.

US Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, addressed those concerns during talks on Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart, General Li Zuocheng in Beijing.

THAAD is “not a threat in any way to China,” Milley told Li according to a US Army statement.

Deploying the system “is a defensive measure to protect South Koreans and Americans from the North Korean ballistic missile threat,” he added.

Milley was due to hold talks with top South Korean military officials in Seoul on Wednesday.

The THAAD issue has also been a target of domestic criticism, particularly from those living in the rural South Korean county of Seongju where the first battery will be installed.

Several hundred protestors turned out in Seongju for a visit Wednesday by Defence Minister Han Min-Koo, who sought to ease concerns that the system’s powerful radar will pose health and environmental hazards and make the district a military target...

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/374893-2/

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee by one year.

The decision was reached after police sealed off the venue of the National Convention of the party scheduled to hold today in Port Harcourt.

Rad more here http://independentnig.com/pdp-cancels-convention-extends-tenure-of-caretaker-committee/#

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Odesanya, has said today that he did not seal the convention venue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but rather he was only providing security.

The police commissioner explained that he was only complying with a court order, and he was in no position to interpret court verdicts.

Read more here http://independentnig.com/i-didnt-seal-pdp-convention-venue-rivers-cp/

Suspended President Dilma Rousseff made a last-ditch effort Tuesday to avoid impeachment, telling Brazilian lawmakers she would let voters decide if they want an early presidential election if she is restored to power.

Rousseff had been publicly mulling the idea of a plebiscite for weeks as the Senate moves closer to an impeachment vote on charges her administration violated fiscal rules to hide a gaping budget deficit. The vote is scheduled for Aug. 25, four days after the end of the Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro.
She made the proposal official in a long letter “to the federal senate and Brazilian people” in which she mixed expressions of regret for failing to listen to her compatriots with stern admonishments for critics she accused of plotting to carry out a “coup.”
“The full restoration of democracy requires that the population be the one to decide what is the best way to expand governability and perfect the Brazilian political and electoral system,” she said in the letter, which she also read in a message. “It’s the only way out of the crisis.”
Rousseff’s current term ends in 2018. If she is permanently removed by the Senate, interim President Michel Temer would serve out the term.
Under her proposal, Rousseff once back in power would call a nationwide plebiscite asking Brazilians whether they supported an early election and a sweeping political and economic reform.
The idea has some popular appeal. A poll taken last month by Datafolha said 62 percent of Brazilians favored a new election as a way out of the country’s debilitating political crisis. But the same poll found almost as many Brazilians did not want Rousseff back in power.
Holding an early election would require a constitutional amendment that would not likely be supported by Rousseff’s opponents in congress, who voted overwhelmingly to suspend her pending the Senate trial. Many in her Workers’ Party loyal to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have also balked at the idea.
“This is nothing more than a desperate, last-minute political maneuver,” said Elival da Silva Ramos, a law professor at the University of Sao Paulo. “Nobody is taking it seriously.”
Rousseff was suspended in May on charges of fiddling with the federal budget to hide a gaping deficit. Although lawmakers have rolled back some of their accusations, she remains widely despised for rampant corruption inside the Workers’ Party and for Latin America’s largest economy falling into its deepest recession since the 1930s.
However...

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/374917-2/

The Egalitarian Mission, Africa, a civil society organization, has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and anti-graft agencies alleging that the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has misappropriated state resources and laundered money to the tune of N11 billion.

Presenting the petition dated August 16, 2016, and signed by Mr. Olatunde Ojeomo on behalf of the group, which was submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on Tuesday in Abuja, the Egalitarian Mission told journalists that, in seven months in charge of Kogi State, Bello has committed wanton looting of through bogus contracts to various companies, without following due process.

Mr. Kayode Ajulo, convener of the group, said copies of the document have also been sent to the President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Alhaji Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to the President, alerting them of how funds meant for the wellbeing of the government and people of Kogi State were being systematically embezzled and laundered.

Ajulo, an Abuja-based lawyer, said, “The move became necessary given that the Buhari-led administration has said it has zero tolerance for corruption and we have seen that what is going on in kogi is a sheer wanton looting and embezzlement.

“For those who know me well, I’m not from Kogi but we have interest in issues of good governance anywhere in the country. The governor of Kogi State cannot deny having anything to do with the President. But that’s not the case. What’s important now is to ensure that the President knows what is going on and takes action in line with the zero tolerance stance of his administration.”

Ajulo, who expressed optimism in the resolve and ability of Buhari to give due consideration to the petition, added that the issue as it concerns Kogi State would serve as a litmus test for this government’s stance on corruption.

“I will not join anybody to accuse the President of shielding those close to him from corruption trial, but in order to prove those accusers wrong, he must use this Kogi issue as a test case to demonstrate to the world that he really means what he says when it comes to fighting corruption,” he said.

Explaining further why Kogi is being singled out by his NGO for investigation, he said the systemic looting of the state by a man who is supposed to be the youngest governor and a pride of Nigerian youth calls for a special attention because both the local and international communities are keenly watching to see how the President will confront this.

Apart from the allegation of bogus contracts and money laundering amounting to over N3 billion, the petition further alleged that the Bello administration has siphoned another N3 billion through the Government House administration account under the cover of overheads, between March 10 and April 5, 2016.

Furthermore, the petitioners accused the state governor of misappropriating and looting the N20 billion bailout from the federal government and N10 billion Infrastructure Fund; the rights group urged the anti-graft agencies to commence investigation of the allegations as well as probe various bank accounts operated by the state government with Zenith, Access and Skye banks.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/group-accuses-governor-bello-of-n11bn-fraud/

Liverpool have rejected an initial £23million offer from Crystal Palace for striker Christian Benteke as they hold out for a fee similar to the one they paid last summer.
Press Association Sport understands that Palace, whose own transfer kitty has been swelled by Yannick Bolasie’s move to Everton on Monday, lodged a bid that, with add-ons, was thought could rise to £30million.
Benteke is seen as surplus to requirements among the six strikers at Anfield just one year on from his £32.5million switch from Aston Villa, yet the Reds want to recoup as much of that money as possible and have turned down Palace’s offer.
There is still hope a deal could be struck for the 28-year-old between the two Premier League clubs and it is believed Palace will be undeterred by seeing their first attempt turned down.
The add-ons, believed to be team-incentivised, which were part of the package are thought to be one of the stumbling blocks for the Reds, who will know that West Brom are also keeping tabs on the Belgium international’s status.
Both Benteke and Mario Balotelli could leave Liverpool prior to the window closing next month, though boss Jurgen Klopp last week warned their suitors their desire to offload them would not see them sold on the cheap.
“Having six strikers is a little bit too uncomfortable but it’s still possible,” Klopp said.
“If anybody thinks that because we have more than one striker, we make presents to other clubs, that’s the biggest misunderstanding in world football. We will not do that 100 per cent.”
Benteke left Aston Villa for Liverpool last year having averaged nearly a goal every other game in the midlands and while he was used sparingly by Klopp when he replaced Brendan Rodgers in October, he still scored 10 times. (PRESS ASSOCIATION)

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/liverpool-reject-crystal-palaces-initial-23million-bid-for-christian-benteke/

Former FIFA President, Joao Havelange has died at the age of 100 years. The Brazilian was predecessor to Sepp Blatter at the world football’s governing body, serving from 1974 to 1998. He was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill health.

Born to a wealthy Belgian immigrant family in Rio de Janeiro in 1916, Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange graduated with a law degree, but sport was his true love.

With six competitions held under his tenure, he led the World Cup’s expansion from 16 to 32 teams as FIFA president. Increasing the size of the World Cup to 32 teams gave countries from Asia, Oceania and Africa the chance to shine on the world stage, Cameroon becoming the first African country to reach the quarter-finals in 1990.

His career was mired in controversy over bribery allegations. He resigned as FIFA’s honorary president in April 2013 following an investigation into bribery allegations and was admitted to hospital the following year with a lung infection.

The year he qualified as a lawyer which was before his election to the IOC, Joao Havelange represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympics.

As well as swimming at the 1936 Olympics, Havelange was part of the Brazilian water polo team at the 1952 Helsinki Games and was chef de mission for the Brazilian delegation at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

And it was as a sports administrator, particularly in football, that Havelange made his mark.

He embarked on a career which began as president of the Metropolitan Swimming Federation in Brazil. He also became a member of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and joined the International Cycling Union in 1958.

After becoming vice-president of the Brazilian Sports Confederation, he served as president from 1958 to 1973.

In 1974, he became the most powerful man in world football by succeeding Britain’s Sir Stanley Rous to be elected FIFA president, marshalling support among those unhappy at the perceived European domination of the world governing body.

When Havelange was elected president, FIFA’s Zurich headquarters housed just 12 staff members. But that figure increased almost tenfold over the next two decades as FIFA’s organisational responsibilities and commercial interests grew.

It was Joao Havelange who launched a wave of new tournaments, notably the world championships at Under-17 and Under-20 level in the late 1980s and the Fifa Confederations Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup at the start of the 1990s.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/former-fifa-president-joao-havelange-dies-at-100/

China launched the world’s first quantum satellite on Tuesday, state media reported, in an effort to harness the power of particle physics to build an “un-hackable” system of encrypted communications.

The launch took place at 1:40 am in the southwestern Gobi Desert, the official Xinhua news service said, and comes as the US, Japan and others also seek to develop applications for the burgeoning technology.

Beijing has poured enormous resources into the race, one of several cutting edge projects the world’s second largest economy has pursued as part of its massive national investment in advanced scientific research, on everything from asteroid mining to gene manipulation.

The satellite — nicknamed Micius after a 5th century BC Chinese philosopher and scientist — will be used in experiments intended to prove the viability of quantum technology to communicate over long distances.

It will also further investigations into some of the more unusual properties of sub-atomic particles, including “quantum entanglement”, Xinhua said.

The term describes what Albert Einstein described as the “spooky” phenomenon of particles exerting influence on each other at a distance, including the ability for paired particles to mirror each other at faster-than-light speeds.

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/china-launches-world-first-quantum-satellite/

Nigerian military will continue to run into crisis with their employed sleeper agents meant to track or checkmate the activities and operations of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), so claimed the militants.

They have challenged the Nigerian military to come to the creeks if it is serious about arresting NDA members, noting that they don’t dwell in the city.

Brig.Gen Agbinibo Mudoch, spokesperson, NDA, in a statement posted on their website claimed that Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye that were arrested and paraded by the Nigerian Navy in Delta State are few of the sleeper agents working for Nigerian military in conjunction with one Ayiri Emani and Michael Johnny.

“The suspects (Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye) were paid N5 million to give Nigerian military intelligence on the activities of NDA. On failing to deliver the suspects were arrested and tagged NDA members. What a shame? Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye are not members of NDA; we don’t know or have any connection with them”, the spokesman said.

He said the Navy Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Warri (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) is trying to impress his boss in Abuja by arresting sleeper agents recruited by his predecessor.

According to him, the reason behind military harassment of towns and villages in the Niger Delta is because NDA has not confronted the Nigerian military in battle.

“We are not scared in confronting you. The creeks of the Niger Delta belong to us, so defeating the Nigerian military is not hard for us. We have made it clear in many occasions that our business is to cripple the Nigerian economy not to kill military (personnel). The Nigerian military should know that our (NDA) avoiding them is not a sign of weakness.

“Any criminal arrested is now an NDA member. Since we (NDA) started the struggle none of our operatives has been arrested. All those in detention in the name of NDA are not part of NDA the world should know this.

“Nigerian military has not seen embarrassment. NDA will keep embarrassing you because the only thing you are good at doing in the Niger Delta region is arrest and killing of innocent citizens of the Niger Delta in the name of looking for NDA and illegal bunkerers. If the Nigerian military is serious about arresting NDA let them come to the creeks of the Niger Delta, that is where we dwell not in the city. “If I (Brig.Gen Moduch Agbinibo) was the Commanding Officer, NNS Delta (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) and commander of the so-called Operation Delta Safe (Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie), I would have been in the creeks instead of sitting at the comfort of my air-conditioned office.

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/15/avengers-challenge-army-to-come-to-the-creeks/

Ahmed Bolori, who was declared wanted by the Nigerian Army alongside Ahmed Salkida and Aisha Wakil for alleged ties to Boko Haram, reported turned himself in on Sunday evening but was asked to go back home without questioning.

Bolori returned to the Army barracks, in Maiduguri, on Monday, according to reprots in the media and status updates on his Facebook page.

At about 10am, Monday, Bolori posted a picture of himself signing visitors’ book at a security post with the caption: “I have signed the visitors’ register since and I am still waiting to be taken in. Although the Army guard doesn’t have airtime to contact his heads.” and “Finally, I am driving into the Army Operation Headquarters now.”

About 20 minutes later, he posted another picture, saying, “The Army is now treating me friendly and peacefully, as a nice colonel by the name Ahmed (a military police), just took me to his office to drink tea. May God help us!”

Like Bolori, the two other wanted persons have said they were available for questioning, with Salkida, who is said to be in the United Arab Emirates, offering to return to Nigeria immediately, if the Army would pay for his air fare...

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/15/bolori-activist-wanted-for-boko-haram-ties-visits-army-barracks-for-interrogation/

The sour story of an encounter with one of such young men, Bolarinde also a graduate of the prestigious Ife varsity, will remain indelible forever with Temitope.

The official of the Abia State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Akuma-Akpu Christianah may be in for a battle with a human rights body, Women Inspiration Development Centre, (WIDC), Ile-Ife as she would have to answer to why she has ordered for the withholding of the discharge certificate of a female corp member, Ms. Adedare Adebola Temitope after she reportedly suffered violently in the hands of a fellow male corp member, Bolarinde... http://independentnig.com/2016/07/23/certificate-of-female-corp-member-seized-after-colleague-used-hammer-to-remove-her-teeth/

In different raids across Lagos, the state Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 31 armed robbery suspects, 39 cultists, nine kidnappers and eight rapists, as well as 33 policemen for extortion.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who made this disclosure in a parade at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, also said they recovered weapons and ammunition.

He said the police operatives also recovered 28 cars, 20 firearms, 30 rounds of ammunition, several phones and laptops, as well as gold jewelries.

He said, “Among the suspects arrested were three kidnappers, who were picked up in connection with the abduction of the Oba of Iba, Goriola Oseni.

“The suspects were arrested because they took the information of the Oba to the main kidnappers and they also collected out of the ransom paid.

“Frantic efforts are still being made by the command along the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team to round up others. Those arrested would soon be arraigned in court.

“Also, in another operation, four armed robbers were gunned down in a gun duel with the police. For other suspects arrested, we are preparing to charge them all to court.

“The command also arrested 39 suspects for their involvement in street fighting, gang terrorism and cultism. They are those causing chaos in the state.

“We also recovered 28 cars from the different suspects, as well as 20 different firearms and 30 rounds of live ammunition.”On the rapists arrested Owoseni said, “We arrested six rapists first. Their modus operandi is to use Instagram, a social media platform, to launch adverts to lure people looking for houses.

“One of their victims, a young lady was lured to a hotel and she was raped. They also captured her on tape to further blackmail her. Few ladies have fallen victim of this syndicate.

Read more and See pictures @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/11/374121/

Donald Trump says it would be “fine” to try Americans suspected of terrorism at the Guantanamo Bay detention center if possible.
The Miami Herald asks Trump whether he’d approve new detentions at the prison if he’s elected president. The Republican says he wants to ensure the U.S. has a “safe place” to keep a “radical Islamic terrorist.”
Trump says President Barack Obama is releasing “terrible people” from the prison. After extensive security reviews, Obama has transferred dozens of detainees to other countries as he works to close the prison at the U.S. base in Cuba.
Trump criticizes Obama and others who want to try terrorism suspects in traditional courts. Asked specifically about U.S. citizens, Trump says if they could face trial in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, “that’ll be fine.”

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/12/374316/

A video appeared online showing an actor narrowly escaping death when fire was set on him. The video also showed the director Stanley Ohikhuare popularly known as Stanlee, continuing the shoot even as the actor burnt.

It also showed a man trying to use fire extinguisher on the burning man but this also failed as the extinguisher did not work. The message under the video said that Ani was able to get the fire off his body and was quickly rushed to the hospital, with his colleagues running around to raise money for him. A picture also emerged of Ani looking badly burnt on a hospital bed.

The video instantly evoked an outrage as people who were disgusted by the sight of the burning man wanted an explanation. Independent Saturday tried to call the director, Stanley Ohikhuare but his phone was switched off and .... http://independentnig.com/2016/08/10/burning-man-scene-a-stunt-that-went-too-far/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday lamented that he currently presides over a country that has been stripped poor owing to mismanagement.

He told his guest, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, that the year 2016 has been a difficult year both for his government and Nigerians in general.

Buhari, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at State House, said were it not for the systematic way his administration has been managing the economic crunch, the situation could have spiraled out of control.

Read more here: http://independentnig.com/2016/08/12/nigerias-poor-state-quite-obvious-says-buhari/