₦airaland Forum

Have you watch it?

Can you see what fuel scarcity has caused.

Do you need entertainment? If yes? Watch Agwonma!

I just hope the moderator will take it to the front page for others to see.

Agwonma is a must watch!!!

No time is justifiable to beat up a woman. Not ideal at all to beat up your wife no matter what happen.

That is Nigeria for you. If ask them they will tell you they are doing their work.

Be mindful of the kind of friends that comes to your home.
Never take in a house maid, friends or sisters that exposes their curves.

IT was a good box office experience for some Nigerian movies in 2014, with many of them making handsome outing at the cinemas.In no specific order, below are Nollywood movies released in 2014 that topped box office charts.

It should be noted that figures are obtained from press statements from managements of various productions. The list is not limited those highlighted here. Some are omitted because the figures are not available at press time.

sexiest-Nollywood1

By Juliet Ebirim



Half of a Yellow Sun grossed N280m



The movie is a Nigerian historical
drama directed by Biyi Bandele and based on the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The film is a love story about two sisters who are caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. It stars Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and John Boyega.

The movie which was released in May, 2014 is about Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) who are glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family. Upon returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, the two women make very different choices.

Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their lives seem to loom larger than politics. The movie generated N280 million as at July 2014.



October 1 is N330m in

box office rating



October 1 is a 2014 Nigerian psychological thriller written by Tunde Babalola, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. It stars Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bankole Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta and introducing Demola Adedoyin and Deola Sagoe.

The film which is set in Colonial Nigeria, narrates the story of Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba), a police officer from Northern Nigeria, who is posted to a remote town of Akote in Western Nigeria to investigate the frequent female murder cases in the community, and have the mystery solved before the Nigerian Flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day. The movie was released on October 1st, 2014 and features Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bankole, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo,Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta, Demola Adedoyin, Deola Sagoe. It’s box office rating is N330m.



’30 Days In Atlanta’ made N85m in 8 weeks,

Within eight weeks of release in cinemas across the country, 30 Days in Atlanta, a feature film produced by comedian Ayo Makun, aka AY, is said to have attained an unusual feat, grossing N85 million. With a nationwide box-office gross of about N85 million in 8 weeks of showing at the cinemas across the country, ’30 Days in Atlanta’ has been announced as Nollywood’s highest Grossing Cinema Movie of all time. The movie is produced by Nigerian comedian, AY.

30 Days in Atlanta released in October 2014 is an adventurous love story spiced with lots of action and hilarious moments. It paints, in beautiful colours, the hugely popular (and social media trending) Akpos character which was created from the AY Show’s “Who Wants To Be A Billionaire” hilarious skits.

The movie features AY, RMD, Ramsey Nouah, Mercy Johnson, Desmond Elliot, Vivica Fox, Lynn Whitfield, Karlie Redd, Majid Michel, Juliet Ibrahim, Kese Jabari, Rachel Oniga and Ada Ameh.



Being Mrs Elliot made $5m Dollars in three days



Being Mrs Elliot is a 2014
Nigerian romantic comedy film, co-produced and directed by Omoni Oboli. It stars Majid Michel, Omoni Oboli, Ayo Makun, Sylvia Oluchy, Seun Akindele, Lepacious Bose and Uru Eke. It premiered at Nollywood Film Festival in Paris in June 2014. It received 6 nominations at the 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards and was also nominated in 9 categories at the 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards taking place in October.

The movie which premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos opened in cinemas across the country on Friday, September 5 and recorded good box office figures, topping the chart alongside other movies. The movie made over $5m in its first three days in the cinemas, making it number one in the cinemas over that weekend.





A Place In the Stars rates in $984,000 in box office



The movie, an action thriller was
inspired by the tenure of Late Professor Dora Akunyili as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC). Directed by Steve Dukas, it stars Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze, Matilda Obaseki, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Dejumo Lewis and was released in November, 2014.

Estimated to have cost slightly over N162 million ($1 million), the movie tells the story of Kim Dakim, a young lawyer who gets a client with a case that leaves him conflicted. The movie said to have taken five years to produce has box office rating estimated at $984,000.



Finding Fela rates $120,372



Finding Fela tells the story of Fela Anikulakpo Kuti’s life, his music, social and political importance.

It takes a look at the man who created Afrobeat (a fusion of Jazz, traditional West African rhythms, Funk, Highlife, and psychedelic rock) . It also reveals Fela’s fight against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s.

With his audacious music and a great deal of courage, Fela Kuti helped bring a change towards democracy in Nigeria, promoted Pan Africanist politics to the entire world and became an inspiration in the global fight for the rights of all oppressed people. It’s box office rating is estimated at $120,372.

It features Fela Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Bill T. Jones, Okwechime Abdul, Tony Allen, Kewe Anikulapo-Kuti, Hettie Barnhill, J.K. Braimah, John Darnton, Lemi Ghariokwu, Ogugua Iwelu, Sandra Isdore, Francis Kertekian.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/best-nollywood-movies-2014/#sthash.T5lE7E44.dpuf

IT was a good box office experience for some Nigerian movies in 2014, with many of them making handsome outing at the cinemas.In no specific order, below are Nollywood movies released in 2014 that topped box office charts.

It should be noted that figures are obtained from press statements from managements of various productions. The list is not limited those highlighted here. Some are omitted because the figures are not available at press time.

sexiest-Nollywood1
http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sexiest-Nollywood.jpg
By Juliet Ebirim



Half of a Yellow Sun grossed N280m



The movie is a Nigerian historical
drama directed by Biyi Bandele and based on the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The film is a love story about two sisters who are caught up in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. It stars Chinwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and John Boyega.

The movie which was released in May, 2014 is about Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) who are glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family. Upon returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, the two women make very different choices.

Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their lives seem to loom larger than politics. The movie generated N280 million as at July 2014.



October 1 is N330m in

box office rating



October 1 is a 2014 Nigerian psychological thriller written by Tunde Babalola, produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. It stars Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bankole Kanayo .O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta and introducing Demola Adedoyin and Deola Sagoe.

The film which is set in Colonial Nigeria, narrates the story of Danladi Waziri (Sadiq Daba), a police officer from Northern Nigeria, who is posted to a remote town of Akote in Western Nigeria to investigate the frequent female murder cases in the community, and have the mystery solved before the Nigerian Flag is raised on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day. The movie was released on October 1st, 2014 and features Sadiq Daba, Kayode Olaiya, David Bailie, Kehinde Bankole, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Fabian Adeoye Lojede, Nick Rhys, Kunle Afolayan, Femi Adebayo,Bimbo Manuel, Ibrahim Chatta, Demola Adedoyin, Deola Sagoe. It’s box office rating is N330m.



’30 Days In Atlanta’ made N85m in 8 weeks,

Within eight weeks of release in cinemas across the country, 30 Days in Atlanta, a feature film produced by comedian Ayo Makun, aka AY, is said to have attained an unusual feat, grossing N85 million. With a nationwide box-office gross of about N85 million in 8 weeks of showing at the cinemas across the country, ’30 Days in Atlanta’ has been announced as Nollywood’s highest Grossing Cinema Movie of all time. The movie is produced by Nigerian comedian, AY.

30 Days in Atlanta released in October 2014 is an adventurous love story spiced with lots of action and hilarious moments. It paints, in beautiful colours, the hugely popular (and social media trending) Akpos character which was created from the AY Show’s “Who Wants To Be A Billionaire” hilarious skits.

The movie features AY, RMD, Ramsey Nouah, Mercy Johnson, Desmond Elliot, Vivica Fox, Lynn Whitfield, Karlie Redd, Majid Michel, Juliet Ibrahim, Kese Jabari, Rachel Oniga and Ada Ameh.



Being Mrs Elliot made $5m Dollars in three days



Being Mrs Elliot is a 2014
Nigerian romantic comedy film, co-produced and directed by Omoni Oboli. It stars Majid Michel, Omoni Oboli, Ayo Makun, Sylvia Oluchy, Seun Akindele, Lepacious Bose and Uru Eke. It premiered at Nollywood Film Festival in Paris in June 2014. It received 6 nominations at the 2014 Best of Nollywood Awards and was also nominated in 9 categories at the 2014 Golden Icons Academy Movie Awards taking place in October.

The movie which premiered at the Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Lagos opened in cinemas across the country on Friday, September 5 and recorded good box office figures, topping the chart alongside other movies. The movie made over $5m in its first three days in the cinemas, making it number one in the cinemas over that weekend.





A Place In the Stars rates in $984,000 in box office



The movie, an action thriller was
inspired by the tenure of Late Professor Dora Akunyili as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC). Directed by Steve Dukas, it stars Gideon Okeke, Segun Arinze, Matilda Obaseki, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Dejumo Lewis and was released in November, 2014.

Estimated to have cost slightly over N162 million ($1 million), the movie tells the story of Kim Dakim, a young lawyer who gets a client with a case that leaves him conflicted. The movie said to have taken five years to produce has box office rating estimated at $984,000.



Finding Fela rates $120,372



Finding Fela tells the story of Fela Anikulakpo Kuti’s life, his music, social and political importance.

It takes a look at the man who created Afrobeat (a fusion of Jazz, traditional West African rhythms, Funk, Highlife, and psychedelic rock) . It also reveals Fela’s fight against the dictatorial Nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s.

With his audacious music and a great deal of courage, Fela Kuti helped bring a change towards democracy in Nigeria, promoted Pan Africanist politics to the entire world and became an inspiration in the global fight for the rights of all oppressed people. It’s box office rating is estimated at $120,372.

It features Fela Kuti, Yeni Kuti, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Bill T. Jones, Okwechime Abdul, Tony Allen, Kewe Anikulapo-Kuti, Hettie Barnhill, J.K. Braimah, John Darnton, Lemi Ghariokwu, Ogugua Iwelu, Sandra Isdore, Francis Kertekian.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/best-nollywood-movies-2014/#sthash.NbpgbIAa.dpuf

those in the biz of importation understand the value of paypal.

Really for the young mind

THROUGH grant competition, the General Electric (GE) is at the forefront of pushing President Barrack Obama’s Power Africa Initiative, which was launched barely two years ago to address the energy needs of the continent. The U.S Government’s programme aims to assist in providing some 30,000 additional megawatts of power to at least 20 million households and businesses in Africa. A highly ambitious target, the Obama administration plans to achieve this by working with partners, one of which is the GE.

To give life to the Initiative, the GE Africa is pioneering the Off-grid Energy Challenge/Awards (a $2.4m project) in conjunction with the U.S Africa Development Foundation (USADF) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which joined the partnership this year. Innovators from Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Ethiopia and Tanzania are given a $100,000 grant to support projects that offer renewable energy solutions to communities not connected to the respective national grids.

In Nigeria, for instance, four companies have already emerged winners this year, each of them presented with a $100,000 grant.

Patricia Obozuwa, the director of communications for GE Africa, is solely responsible for managing the initiative across the continent. In an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Lagos, she gives more insight as to why GE is engaged in the project, the impact so far on benefitting communities and an outlook on what to expect from the company.

Working with USAID and the USADF, Obozuwa says, “This grant competition is providing resources to spur on solutions to the off-grid, renewable energy challenges of Africa’s rural and remote power needs. This is not a moneymaking venture for GE. It our token support for this initiative and any other initiative that helps provide power to Africans.”

She says GE Africa customers, from industrial businesses and developing communities to government agencies and emergency power situations, rely on GE to increase their ability to generate reliable, sustainable power whenever and wherever it is needed, the reason her company “feels a sense of responsibility to support this laudable initiative.”

Of course, this business objective is complementary to USAID’s development agenda, and to USADF’s focus on reaching underserved grassroots groups in Africa, and providing financial and technical support to strengthen and operate sustainable and profitable businesses. Obozuwa considers this as being a means for viable, long-term solutions to widespread power needs.

She hints that GE Africa, last year, gave out $600,000 in grants to awardees in Kenya and Nigeria and will be giving at least $1.8 million in grants to explore and expand business solutions to the power deficit in rural and underserved areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria — the core Power Africa countries.

“We are looking for African solutions – from African energy service providers that already are providing biogas or solar or other renewable services and want to expand, or from African start-ups that are testing billing, metering or transmission options to grow a profitable business and to serve customers in the bottom of the pyramid. The competition also welcomes applications from communities, who are sourcing off-the shelf solutions to power their cooperatives’ processing facilities, or extend their solar powered drip irrigation system, and more,” the GE Africa’s Director for Communications explains.

On the off-grid need of the continent, Obozuwa argues that, with 585 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa (an overwhelming percentage of which are rural) living without electricity, even a large expansion of the grid will not help them anytime soon. The GE Africa’s Off-grid Energy Challenge is, therefore, focused on financing solutions that reach the underserved populations off the grid.

According to Obozuwa, the USADF’s participation in Power Africa, through the Off-grid Energy Challenge, demonstrates that the initiative is not only serving urban populations and investing in “large scale transmission and generation” deals, but is also putting attention and resources into “rural and vulnerable” communities. “We are carrying this out through a public private partnership, to have as much impact as possible, and in recognition that when businesses and governments work together, commercially-viable, profitable solutions for the common good can be realised.”

Obozuwa says: “In 2013, in the first round of the Challenge, GE Africa partnered with USADF, the U.S. government agency that is focused on economic development at the grassroots level in Africa. In this second round, we are collaborating again with USADF, and also with USAID. We are opening this up to business solutions for energy challenges in all six of the Power Africa countries.

“We appreciate this opportunity to help catalyse the work of companies and groups who are concretely finding ways to ensure that villages 500 kilometers from capital cities have access to reliable, affordable power, and can power their offices, homes, and small businesses. So that cooperatives with processing and packaging plants can operate more efficiently, increase their revenues, and improve the incomes and livelihoods of everyone involved.”

Speaking to The Guardian exclusively on the matter, Obozuwa gives credit to the GE Africa’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, saying, “we have decided to relook at our approach and really address the challenges that Africa faces today. We have a lot of health programmes and we have spent over $68 million across Africa in the past six to seven years providing health care equipment and facilities. When you look at Africa today, there are very serious infrastructure needs because the continent represents a significant amount of the world’s population.

“GE, as a company, can help meet those needs because through our areas of business and through our proven track record and ability to innovate and really provide technology needed in infrastructure development.”

According to her, there is noticeable infrastructure gap in Africa; hence, the need for various interventions by GE on global scale but with special emphasis on the continent.

“So, we are moving into a real area of building skills across Africa…and that’s one of the things you are going to see coming in GE Corporate Social Responsibility now. We launched this programme called GE Kujenga, meaning building in Swahili; and it is a project across Africa. We call it Kujenga because we see ourselves as partners in building Africa’s sustainable future. We are empowering people with valuable skills; we are equipping communities with new tools of technology, especially in rural areas or hospitals, and we helping elevate solution to Africa’s problem.”

In this regard, Obozuwa says the GE Africa’s off-grid energy challenge fits into the company’s overall CSR strategy in the most practical terms.

A good move in the right direction

FOUNDING Pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly and former vice presidential candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Tunde Bakare, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to activate the constitutional provisions for the suspension of the 2015 elections.

In his message titled: “The Gathering Storm and Avoidable Shipwreck: How To Avoid Catastrophic Euroclydon” delivered in his church at Ogba, Lagos Sunday, Pastor Bakare quoted Section 135 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that if the federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in sub-section (2) of this section from time to time; but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.

According to him: “The argument against this would be the notion that the country is not at war. If indeed the country is not at war, how can one explain the invasion and annexation of Nigerian territory by insurgents launching attacks from our borders and neighbouring countries?”

The cleric said Nigerians should not forget that on May 14, 2013, while declaring a state of emergency in three states, President Goodluck Jonathan said of the activities of terrorists: “These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten its territorial integrity. As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this.”

Bakare, who noted that records indicate that since that declaration the situation has only worsened, explained that the proposal for suspension of elections is not with a view to giving President Jonathan an avenue for undue tenure elongation “but for the purpose of building a coalition that will bring lasting solutions to our problems.”

He hinged his position on the fact that whichever way the outcome of the coming election between the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner and the incumbent president, Dr. Jonathan from the South-South goes, “it is certain the country will erupt in crisis.”

“If the election favours Jonathan, the North will raise the issue of incumbent sentiment to foment trouble and if otherwise, the Niger Delta region would also react”, he said.

Bakare, however, canvassed for the creation of transitional government and insisted that the President must not act with the intention to seek re-election but “rather, he should, within the period, commit himself to building a non-partisan coalition comprised of major stakeholders and competent statesmen from each geo-political zone.”

According to him: “This coalition, headed by the President, will constitute a combined force that will tackle terrorism and address what I have earlier referred to as the fundamentals, within a time-frame of two years or less.”

In addressing the fundamentals, Bakare calls for immediate implementation of the report, or part thereof, of the 2014 National Conference, especially as it relates to:

• Restructuring with a view to achieving true federalism under zonal commissions as well as fiscal federalism;

• Ensuring as proposed by the report of the National Conference that adequate allocation is given to a Solid Minerals Development Fund in addition to other recommendations geared towards economic diversification;

• Achieving national reconciliation and integration by adopting, constitutionalising and propagating the national charter for reconciliation and integration;

• Conducting accurate census;

• Establishing a truly independent electoral body;

• Creating a true people’s constitution that will reflect the aforementioned features; and

• Conducting free, fair and credible elections in the consensually accepted constitutional arrangement.

THERE is an indication that the Office of the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Mr. Christof Heyns will take “appropriate action including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan over the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”

The UN’s move followed a petition submitted to Heyns by Lagos based Rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in December 2014 in which the group asked five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to urgently request the Federal Government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54 Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.”The UN planned intervention was disclosed Sunday in a statement by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni.

According to Mumuni, “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions both on the telephone and via email. Johel Dominique has confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country.

“We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers to file the petition.”

“SERAP welcomes the decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter. Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do that,” Mumuni stated.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in a petition dated December 23, 2014 and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated that, “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows. Imposition of mass death sentences is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party. This covenant limits the circumstances in which a state can impose the death sentence.”

The five special rapporteurs are: Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Mads Andenas, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

According to SERAP, the courts-martial held in secret were “a mockery of justice” and ignored issues raised by the condemned men that “suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies” in the handling of the security budget and arms purchases.

The petition copied to Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also stated that, “Under international law, cases involving capital punishment such as the present one require the full and scrupulous respect of the guarantees of highest standards of fairness, due process and justice.”

“All human rights depend for their enjoyment the right to life, which is the most fundamental of all rights. The right to life symbolises everything that the United Nations (UN) works and stands for, be it in the area of peace and security, development or human rights. To reject the act of irreversibly taking someone’s life is to embrace belief in human progress and dignity,” SERAP also argued.

According to the organisation, “the imposition of mass death sentences is unjust and incompatible with fundamental human rights. The UN General Assembly to which Nigeria becomes has called for a worldwide moratorium on execution. In fact, the Special Rapporteurs have stated that the right to life is a fundamental right, not a toy to be played with.”

The organisation stated further that, “the UN has also acknowledged the discriminatory and arbitrary nature of judicial processes and the danger of the death penalty being used as a tool of repression. It has documented evidence to show that the death penalty is no deterrent,’’ stressing that “depriving a human person of his or her life is incompatible with the trend in the 21st century.”

On Wednesday, December 17, 2014, the Nigerian Army’s 7 Division General Court Martial convicted 54 soldiers for conspiracy to commit mutiny and sentenced them to death by firing squad. The facts of the case indicate that the soldiers, from the 111 Special Forces, were charged for disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer, Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel, to take part in an operation to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from Boko Haram terrorists on August 4.

The UN human rights experts are part of what it is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State has accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of spending
N142million to commission some projects executed by his administration by the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), and Sen. Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the party.

State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, made allegation at Igboubazuwa, headquarters of Ovia South West Local Government Area, during a rally organized to welcome defectors from the APC to the PDP,

The rally was attended by PDP leaders including Senator Roland Owie, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Solomon Edebiri.

He displayed two Edo State Government vouchers with number EXT/GOV/GHSP/2441/14 and EXT/GOV/GHSP/2477/14, which, he said, were used to sign out the sum of N76 and N66 million respectively for the commissioning of projects on November 28 and 29, 2014.

APC-toon
He said, “Governor Oshiomhole sat in his office and signed two vouchers to commission projects on 28th and 29th November. In those vouchers, it was written, ‘voucher to commission projects in Edo State by two eminent Nigerians, Retired General Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’. In those vouchers, the sum of N76 and N66 million were signed away simply to cut tapes for projects that had earlier been commissioned.

“How can a government sign away N142 million just for Buhari and Tinubu to come to cut tape? Never before in the history of this state had we witnessed this level of misappropriation of public fund.

However, Special Adviser to Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Media Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, described Orbih’s allegation as spurious, saying, “Do we run Edo State Government in PDP secretariat? Anybody can cook up memos but I am not aware that our memos are missing”. The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Louis Odion, in another reaction, described the vouchers paraded by the PDP Chairman as forged.

Odion, in a statement, yesterday, said: “With Comrade Adams Oshiomhole commissioning world-class projects all over Edo State in the last two months, we knew PDP would be gnashing their deformed teeth in envy. But we least expected malice would push them into forging vouchers to back up a shameless lie in their evil desperation to tarnish Oshiomhole’s golden records.

“But Edo people are not deceived. They know their governor is a very prudent man. That is why even today, whereas PDP-led Federal Government is owing workers arrears of salaries despite cornering whopping 52 percent of federation account, Edo is not owing workers.

“The joke is on Edo PDP. With less than six weeks to the general elections, it is laughable that PDP, rather than show remorse by first apologising to Edo people for under-developing the state for 10 years, has resorted to peddling fake vouchers for a transaction that exists only in their crooked imagination. It is very cheap indeed.”

Commenting on the 2015 presidential election, Orbih said that it was the responsibility of all sons and daughters of the South-South, irrespective of their political affiliation, to rally round President Goodluck Jonathan so that he would bring more development to the zone and the country at large.

Some of the APC members who defected to the PDP at the rally included a former APC coordinator in the council, Comrade Ricediahard Igorigo, Chief Richard Digho and an Ijaw youths leader, Samson Yanbor, who said he left the APC after one of the losers in the party’s House of Representatives primary in Ovia Federal Constituency was made winner.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/edo-opposition-party-govt-clash-oshiomhole-regime-spent-n142m-host-buhari-tinubu-others-pdp/#sthash.hmxCSvDq.dpuf

WITH refined, trendy design backed by the most advanced functions to support social networking, Samsung Electronics West Africa at the weekend in Lagos unveiled the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 series respectively.

For young consumers seeking practicality and functionality, the new devices are ideal.
Both devices, according to Samsung, are designed to empower younger consumers to quickly and easily capture meaningful moments, connect to social media and share their daily experiences. “The Galaxy A5 and A3 offer a beautifully crafted full metal unibody, slim design, superior hardware and the best possible social media experience.

These devices make our advanced Galaxy experience even more accessible to young and trend conscious consumers,” Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas, Director of Hand Held Products for Samsung Electronics West Africa, said. According to Revmatas, the devices will be available in the market in the New Year and the first set of consumers to purchase the devices will be given a Selfie Stick, a monopod specifically designed to be held at arm’s length for that perfect shot.

“With the improved Adjustable Audio function of both devices, our consumers can enjoy top quality sound at any time and place without disturbance. This is a testament to our leadership and innovation in the smartphone market and commitment to developing best-in-class products to meet the ever-changing needs of our consumers,” Revmatas added.

Speaking on the launch of the devices at his movie premiere, Banky W said: “The Galaxy A series is an innovative smartphone for today’s upwardly mobile youth. The phones are all about connectivity, sharing exciting moments with friends and family and being socially relevant.”

Featuring refined full metal body designs, the products are Samsung’s slimmest smartphones to date.
The devices are available in Pearl White, Midnight Black, Platinum Silver and Champagne Gold, to accommodate the personal style and preference of diverse users.

The two devices come with 2 Hybrid SIM slots that allow users to decide between the option of using 2 SIMS or alternating the second slot for memory expansion with a micro SD card.

Other exciting features of the Galaxy A5 and A3 include a superior mobile and social experience for young consumers who want to express their unique style while constantly staying connected. With an advanced 5MP front-facing camera, taking vivid selfies is now easier than ever before. Innovative photo-taking features such as Wide Selfie, Palm Selfie, Animated GIF, Beauty Face Features, and Rear-cam Selfie let users capture attractive selfies in high resolution by automatically detecting and focusing on a person’s face.

Both devices are equipped with an extraordinary Super AMOLED display and Adaptive Display technology to deliver clearer images with deep contrast and better viewing angles for more vivid, colorful content in virtually any environment, even under bright sunlight.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/samsung-targets-young-consumers-galaxy-series-devices/#sthash.3AfOJyrn.dpuf

WITH more people across the globe becoming more comfortable with online transactions ,the Regional Director Africa and Israel, PayPal, Efi Dahan in this interview with Emeka Aginam highlights how Paypal is helping people to gain access to economic opportunity and greater control over their money.
He said that with PayPal account , people can shop at sites around the world in just a few easy clicks, while ensuring security of customer’s financial information. Excerpts:

ENTRY into the Nigerian market

Entering any new market requires investment as well as careful planning and preparation. We take our responsibility to manage people’s money very seriously. Enabling services for paying on overseas websites allows us to monitor and assess how PayPal is received in Nigeria and to help improve our service. Our aim is to build demand among local consumers and introduce our global network of merchants to the new market opportunities.

Benefits of using PayPal
At PayPal, we put people in the centre of everything we do. Our aim is to help people around the globe gain greater access to economic opportunity and greater control over their money. With a PayPal account you can shop at sites around the world in just a few easy clicks, knowing your financial information is never shared with the seller.

More secure: When you make a payment with PayPal we do not share your financial details with the seller. This gives you more control and provides an extra layer of security for your purchases. We also protect eligible purchases with PayPal Buyer Protection. If an eligible item doesn’t show up, or turns out to be different than described, we’ll help sort things out with the seller.

Millions of customers around the world use PayPal because it is safe, fast and simple. When checking out with your PayPal account, you do not need to type in all your card details and shipping information for each transaction- everything is already stored in your PayPal account and kept secure. All you need is your PayPal account’s email address and password and you will get through the checkout in no time.

With a PayPal account you can shop around the world in just a few easy clicks, knowing your financial informationisnever shared with the seller.

Implementation of peer-to-peer in Nigeria
Nigeria is a very interesting market and over time we may expand our presence, but for now we are satisfied to help the first Nigerians register for a PayPal account and make payments on overseas websites.

How secure is PayPal in relation to other online payment methods?
As a leader in global payments, we commit significant resources to combat crime online and work collaboratively with law enforcement agencies around the world, making the Internet a safer place for everyone.We have spent the last decade building a risk management infrastructure and fraud management expertise.To keep your information secure, PayPal uses the highest level of encryption commercially available, state-of-the-art fraud-prevention systems, and expert staff to monitor transactions twenty-four hours.

Why millions of customers around the world use PayPal
Founded in 1998, we continue to be at the forefront of the digital payments revolution, giving people direct control over their money. PayPal is the faster, more secure way to pay. What helped to continue developing and growing the company is staying close to our original purpose – giving people simpler ways to send money without sharing financial information with the seller, and with the flexibility to pay using their credit or debit cards.

PayPal active user accounts globally and in Nigeria
We are very happy to see that PayPal has been widely welcomed by Nigerians since the launch of the service in the country.PayPal has more than 157 million active accounts worldwide and is available in 203 countries and markets.

PayPal’s total payment volume processed
In 2013, PayPal facilitated one in every six dollars spent online. PayPal’s net Total Payment Volume, the total value of transactions in Q3 2014 was $56.6 billion, up 29% year over year. Also, in Q3 of 2014 our customers made 895 million transactions, nearly 10 million transactions per day.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/help-customers-gain-access-economic-opportunities-paypal/#sthash.1paoRNRt.dpuf

travisbraganza:
I am forex fund manager. I can trade your forex account and reap profits on profit sharing basis. I have attached my trading statement down. I have increased my account to more than 1000%. And you know in forex, you can make money when currecny price is going up or going down. For more details, you can contact me on travis_braganza@yahoo.com

Why not open your own thread for advert.

israel007:
So u r looking for sympathy. Y on earth would u pay money to an individual u don't knw?

They should hv collected all the monies from u.


So what do u want us to say or do? Are we magicians?


Mtcheww abeg move.

I just want you to share the info. So that alot will be aware of there latest methods. I only just put them to a test and then they failed. I have done alot of transactions in same way, and was successful but not on OLX.

Tell one another about scammers on OLX

whizbrain:
That's how one Mr Barry and John Omeru scammed my friend and I of #25000 and #3000 respectively. Don't buy laptops or phones from OLX....Keep them out of business.

Thank you for sharing your experience, i know it must have happen to others who are refusing to talk about it. We just need to keep sharing the information to keep them out of biz. Even when there are alot of legitimate biz on the internet but they have choosen to swindle people, they will never end well in life. Amen

SuperMartins:
Naxo I see 1 Mac laptop on olx,d guy asked me to pay half den wen I get d laptop,I pay d rest..smtin ine blived but I jzt didnt wana B a mugu to a fellow Nigerian..although,every gadget I av used has been from d internet..I 1ce did a deal of 31k without thinkn,my 1st deal but smhw,d guy didn't scam me..I think u shuld be careful how u throw money out jxt cause u av fallen in love with an item online

Thanks for comment, i have been shopping on ebay, alibaba and jumia and more so that two of my friend told me they bought some items, i just thought all is ok. But keep sharing the info to keep them out of biz.

There are a lot of 419 boys on olx. Until this site has buyers protection like ebay, aliexpress, jumia etc they will continue to swindle innocent buyers.
I was a victim of their scam, when i saw a laptop that interest me from one mr peter. I call him we negotiated, because i was far from his location we both agreed on pay on delivery. But he ask that i should pay the cost of delivery which he said is #5000. Could you believe that after payment he still ask i increase it to #8500 which i refused. Later he now directed i speek with the MD, and when i did, he directed that since i am not the only person he is going to delivered to, and more so that they might be getting to my location late and carrying money at that hour is very risky and so, i should pay the whole money so that when they get to my location they will just deliver the laptop and start to go back. On a second thought, i decided to opt out without further payment. And when i ask them for refund of my #5000 they stop picking my calls.
I don't know how many they have defrauded on OLX. Please if you are reading this, don't just stop at reading, share the information so that we can together put them out of business. Thanks

The OLX advert on Television will make people feel is very genuine.
Share the information

There are a lot of 419 boys on olx. Until this site has buyers protection like ebay, aliexpress, jumia etc they will continue to swindle innocent buyers.
I was a victim of their scam, when i saw a laptop that interest me from one mr peter. I call him we negotiated, because i was far from his location we both agreed on pay on delivery. But he ask that i should pay the cost of delivery which he said is #5000. Could you believe that after payment he still ask i increase it to #8500 which i refused. Later he now directed i speek with the MD, and when i did, he directed that since i am not the only person he is going to delivered to, and more so that they might be getting to my location late and carrying money at that hour is very risky and so, i should pay the whole money so that when they get to my location they will just deliver the laptop and start to go back. On a second thought, i decided to opt out without further payment. And when i ask them for refund of my #5000 they stop picking my calls.
I don't know how many they have defrauded on OLX. Please if you are reading this, don't just stop at reading, share the information so that we can together put them out of business. Thanks

The Wise learn from the mistakes of others and get wiser. Nice plan anyway. She must have learnt her lessons. I pray that her decision should be her final bus stop.

Juliet Ibrahim is recognised as one of the sexiest and prettiest actresses in Nollywood and Ghollywood. She has a radiance that captures your attention and a beauty that shines from inside out.

Juliet-IbrahimShe was recently seen on location of a movie produced by Chioma Okoye starring Harry B, Ebele Okaro, Frederick Leonard, Daniel Lloyd, Nkiru Umeh and some other people. In this exclusive interview with Potpourri the Ghanaian beauty talks about her career, music and more…

This movie you’re working on now, what is it about?

It is a movie about the lives of two sisters and how later on, one of them gets to find out that she’s a stepchild. She’s envious of her sister and goes through all kinds of things to try and get rid of her or make sure her sister is punished.

What role did you play in the movie?

I played the stepsister, the bad one.

How is it like working with the cast and crew?

It’s great; everybody is having fun on set. It’s my first time working with every one of them actually so it’s been fun so far, we click like we’ve been friends for long.

Are you doing any other movies soon?

My next project is my personal produced movie ‘Shattered Romance’ starring Bryan Okwara, Gbenro Ajibade, James Gardiner from Ghana and myself. That one is going to be in cinemas before the year ends; sometime in November.

How often do you come to Nigeria?

Very often, Ghana is 45 minutes away from Nigeria so I’m just like a phone call away. If any producer wants to use me, all they have to do is just call me and I fly in; so I’m always here.

What’s the difference between working on a Ghanaian set and a Nigerian set?

I don’t think there’s a difference but if I’m back home for my movies, I can get a lot of favours because I know a lot of people back home in Ghana. But here, I’ve not really shot a movie personally, so I can’t really say what is working for other people. Out here, it’s the same thing for me when I’m working in Ghana.

Have you ever had a crush on any actor you’ve worked with?

Not yet. I wouldn’t mind working with Chris Brown, that’s the only one I know I have a crush on.

What was your relationship like with I.K Ogbonna?

He’s just a colleague.

How do you feel being one of the prettiest actresses is Africa?

Who said so? I’m not the prettiest; there was some kind of nomination like that ‘Most Beautiful Woman in West Africa’. I woke up one morning and I saw that thing and I was happy about it, I was like “ah, so I’m the hottest and prettiest West African woman” It felt great that somebody could actually just sit down and among so many other women in Nollywood and Ghana movie industry, chose me as the prettiest.

It’s not easy because I’m a mom as well. Keeping in shape has been hard. It must go beyond the looks and my figure, I guess my soul, my humanitarian works and things I do made me beautiful in their eyes.

Which is your most successful movie so far?

Maybe the movie pre-intimacy

Which actor do you have chemistry working with on set?

A lot of them; it depends on the person actually and the roles we’re playing. I have very good chemistry working with Majid Michel, also with Frederick who I just met on this set, we’ve been good together. Daniel Lloyd, Bryan Okwara and Mofe Duncan are also on the list as well; there are lots of them. I’ve actually had very good chemistry working with Ramsey Nouah also and a couple of others.

What attracts you to a man?

For me, it’s always personality; how he treats me, how he talks to me, and how he behaves around people. You can always tell how a man is going to treat you by how he behaves towards other people.

How would you describe yourself off camera?

I am just a down-to-earth girl, the simplest person you could ever meet. I’m like the clown on this set, when they’re frowning I go there to make them laugh.

You’ve left your husband now, are you still planning to marry again?

Definitely, someday probably, but right now I’m just focusing on my work and upbringing of my son.

Which do you love more, music or acting?

Music was my first love, that’s what I grew up doing in a choir in school. I used to sing and perform at talent shows but somewhere along the line, I went for an audition and happened to stumble on acting. Acting opened up the way for me to be able to do my music, that’s how I see it but it doesn’t mean I love one more than the other. Acting is sweet, music is also very sweet because you get to express yourself through music. I also write my own songs and stuff. I love them both



How many songs have you done so far?

Right now, I have three singles out and two videos. The latest one out now with a video is Traffic Jam and the second is It’s Over Now’ featuring General Pype. The very first single that I released is called Celebrate featuring Jupiter, a Ghanaian dance hall artist



Did you really kiss Nikki Samonas in your ‘Final Rain’ movie?

It was a peck; Nikki is like my sister, we grew up together. It was just a peck



What more should people expect from you?

They should watch out for my personal movie productions, the next movie coming out Shattered Romance. I have another video and I’m also dropping a song called ‘Sholala’. My movie Shattered Romance is going to be premiered in cinemas very soon
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/bitter-divorce-marrying-still-plan-juliet-ibrahim/#sthash.nQHkhub0.dpuf