₦airaland Forum

A North Korean firing squad last week executed a former girlfriend of leader Kim Jong-un and 11 other entertainers for allegedly violating laws banning pornography - at least according to a South Korean newspaper.

The report by Chosun Ilbo, an English-language newspaper of a Seoul media conglomerate, published on Thursday deemed the reported August 20 executions a death blow to expectations that Mr Kim would oversee a transition of his isolated and tyrannised people into a more open era.

Like many stories out of the Hermit Kingdom, the reports remain unconfirmed and are based on unnamed sources.

In this episode, among the dozen performers shot to death while their families and former band members were forced to watch was Hyon Song-wol, a singer Mr Kim reportedly courted a decade ago but was forced to abandon by his dictatorial father, Kim Jong-il.

Hyon was pictured by North Korean state television performing at a concert August 8 in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, less than two weeks before her execution, Chosun Ilbo reported, posting a picture of the singer juxtaposed against one of Kim applauding at the concert.

The 12 members of the Unhasu Orchestra and the Wangjaesan Light Music Band were accused of violating anti-pornography laws by videotaping themselves having sex and selling copies of the tape to North Korean fans and in China.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10272953/Kim-Jong-uns-ex-lover-executed-by-firing-squad.html

XFive: RIP driver and Corporal Ngozi Chijioke. Chief Vincent Obianodo abeg no forget their families hence they died defending you

I don't think he would. He is indeed a lucky man.

Persistent calls by a cross-section of Nigerians to make legislative duties, part-time, are continuing to gain ground. The former Minister of Education and World Bank Vice President for Africa, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, recently lent her weight to these calls during an address on the cost of governance in the country. Of particular concern to Ezekwesili and many of those who made similar calls in the past is the high cost of running both Houses of the National Assembly, especially the salaries and fat allowances of the members. The view has also been severally canvassed that the mediocre performance of the legislators does not justify the jumbo perks of office they receive.

The problem of the high cost of running the National Assembly and the executive arm of government has been generating ripples in the country in recent years. The salaries and allowances of legislators and other political office holders are clearly indefensible in the face of the dwindling financial fortunes of the country. This is more so as there is a dearth of funds for critical infrastructural projects. The high cost of governance in the country is not sustainable.  It flies in the face of the poverty in the country, which has been attested to by many local and international organisations.

Yet, last week, the House of Representatives rejected the suggestion to make legislative duties, part-time. While many members of the National Assembly conceded that the cost of governance and the resources expended on the legislature could be high, they, nevertheless, argued that it would be wrong to portray the legislature as a burden to the economy and the nation’s democracy.

We strongly disagree with the view that the cost of running the National Assembly is not a burden to Nigeria’s economy. Available facts do not support this claim. Indeed, with the recent revelation that a staggering N1 trillion was expended on the National Assembly over an eight-year period, the impression that has been created is that the country is not getting good value for the money expended on the institution.

For instance, since the inception of the present democratic dispensation some 14 years ago, rarely has the National Assembly met the minimum sitting requirement of 181 days in a year as provided for in section 63 of the 1999 Constitution. Instead, the lawmakers are widely believed to be enjoying maximum benefits for minimum work. Worse still, the two chambers have often been enmeshed in sundry scandals.  The situation has largely been the same in the States Houses of Assembly and the local government legislative councils, where similar tawdry affairs are reported very so often. Certainly, it is only when the legislators are seen to be fully productively engaged in matters that are important to the people that their insistence that legislative work should be full time can be appreciated and supported by the people.

Otherwise, there will be no justification to continue to have them continuing to work on full-time basis. Although the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria envisages that legislators would work full-time, the framers of the document could definitely not have foreseen the huge allowances the Federal legislators would appropriate to themselves, to the detriment of the economy and the well-being of other sectors of national life. The sad reality today is that the nation’s dwindling economic fortunes may not be able to shoulder this huge responsibility in years to come.

Beyond the financial cost of the National Assembly, the institution has also neither been accountable nor transparent, especially on the matter of the allowances of its members.  In the 11 years between 1999 and 2010, the National Assembly reportedly passed only 20 bills, and half of them were Appropriation bills. If figures from Civil Society groups are anything to go by, it costs about N240 million a year to maintain each federal legislator. This amounts to N489,630 daily for a senator and N343,945 for every Representative. This outstrips the salary of the American President, and that of the British Prime Minister. This expenditure gulps a big chunk from the national treasury, an unhealthy development that the Governor of Central Bank, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, alerted the nation to a few years ago.

We affirm that against the nation’s economic realities, this huge cost is unsustainable. The expenditure contributed to the resort of the House of Representatives, under former Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, to a bank loan of N10 billion to finance some of the perks of office of its members, in 2010. This, in itself, is a good reason for legislative duties to be on part-time basis, to reduce the cost to the country. It will be a pragmatic step; otherwise, we may just kill this democracy to satisfy the pleasures of legislators at the detriment of other needs that are begging for urgent attention and resources in the country.

If we make lawmaking a part-time affair on account of the need to reduce legislative costs, the cost of governance will be greatly reduced, and the money saved can be channeled to more pressing needs of the country. The time has come to retool the legislative arm of government and “cut our coat according to our cloth”.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/editorial/the-part-time-legislature-debate/

A 36 years old man, Paul Yempe parading himself as the correspondent of the Cable News Network (CNN) in Bayelsa State was yesterday arrested in the office of the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Energy.

His arrest was made possible by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Tari Akono.

Yempe, who was handed over to officials of the State Security Service (SSS) is undergoing interrogation about his activities in Bayelsa State.

As of the time of arrest, Yempe was in possession of the identification card of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation known as Radio Rivers and a fake identification card of the CNN.

Checks indicated that Yempe, who has been targeting top government officials, had swindled top members of the State Executive Council over claims that he was shooting a documentary on the activities of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.

While a Commissioner was said to have parted with huge sum of money, another top official of the government was said to have lodged Yempe in high-brow hotel and processing the approval of a large sum of money to finance the CNN documentary.

Akono, who explained how Yempe was nabbed, said his insistence that he works for CNN led to the fake CNN ID card in his bag.

“The attempt by the fake journalist to affirm his genuineness led to the discovery of a fake CNN Identification card in his bag. He came to the office of the Energy Commissioner claiming to have come for an interview as part of a documentary he is working on for the state. I asked the Commissioner to allow him in and apprehended him. I asked him for his camera but he said he is using his mobile handset as a recorder.”

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/fake-cnn-correspondent-nabbed-in-bayelsa/

Lagos was yesterday spared another high profile killing when assassins attacked the vehicle conveying Chief Vincent Obianodo, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Young Shall Grow transport company to his FESTAC residence.

Chief Obianodo escaped, but his driver and Corporal Ngozi Chijioke attached to Patrol and Guard, were not lucky. They were killed. The transport boss was shot in the hand. Two of the attackers were killed by the police.

The hoodlums were said to have attempted to kill the transporter but were repelled by his police escort .

The suspected assassins trailed him while leaving his office and got him close to his house in FESTAC Town.

The gunmen had fired directly at him, but his driver was on the alert as he sped off and the assassins started raining bullets at his vehicle.

The police escort from Patrol and Guard unit attached to him was said to have engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

The Area ‘E’ Commander, Mr. Dan Okoro, who got a distress call, mobilised his men and stormed the scene.

After the shoot-out, two suspects and Corporal Chijioke were shot dead.

A police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Sun that it was an assassination attempt.  “Why we believed so, was that the gunmen fired to kill the man.  If it was a kidnap attempt, the gunmen would not want to kill him.  The way they fired at the man showed that they wanted him dead,” he said.

The state police command’s spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, said the transporter was accosted by some gunmenaround 22 Road Festac Town.

“The hoodlums opened fire at him and his driver was shot dead.  The man was shot on his hand and a police corporal attached to him was also killed,” she said.

According to her, a patrol team that heard the gunshots raced to the scene and on sighting the patrol team, the hoodlums opened fire at the policemen.

Ngozi noted that policemen responded and the scene was turned to a battlefield.  “When the dust settled, the police shot dead two of the hoodlums and others escaped with bullet wounds.

She said the bandits’ Toyota Highlander Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) was perforated with bullets, adding that the police recovered one AK 47, one AK 49 riffles and eight magazines loaded with ammunition.

Braide said the gunmen’s motive was still unknown, noting that, “because we cannot just narrow it down to assassination, kidnapping or armed robbery until investigation is concluded.”

However, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, has appealed to hospitals and members of the public to report anyone with bullet wounds to the nearest police station.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/young-shall-grow-boss-escapes-assassination/

It isn't my fault o! Pictures cannot be uploaded. I wil keep trying shaa.

Too bad network is having issues. Dats wats delayin d pix. Sorrryyyy

It is obvious these Super Eagles players are really having a nice time. It is good because their unity is crucial if Nigeria is to stand a chance in the quest to Qualify for Brazil 2014 world cup.

Music star, KCee posted this photo on his twitter page. Can he actually finish all these food?
He had this to say; Can you beat this? #food #fiesta!

I no fit shout! Ehee! Finally the picture don gree upload.

A member of the House of Representatives representing Malumfashi/Kafur constituency of Katsina state, Hon Ibrahim Babangida Mahuta, has been attacked by a mob in his constituency

This is the third time the lawmaker has been attacked by youths from his constituency.   The first being during the last public hearings on constitution amendments.

Mahuta, who was elected on the platform of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was attacked at Masari village where he had gone to attend the wedding of the daughter of former House of Representatives speaker, Aminu Bello Masari.

The lawmaker had barely arrived at the venue of the event when some angry youths started raining invectives on him and before he could defend himself, he was beaten with his clothes torn.

It was gathered that the angry youths accused the lawmaker of abandoning his constituency and queried why he showed up for the event.

Sources said that he had not visited his constituency for a very long time, claiming that he made overtures to the constituents, an action that did not pacify the youths.

An eyewitness said: “Some youths who had attended the wedding on sighting him began to rain insults on him. They also accused him of neglecting them and giving them pittance when he was supposed to have done more.”

He said that some youths first held him by his clothes, shouting “Karya ne”, meaning “it’s a lie” before they tore his dress, while others hit him with whatever they had on their hands.

“It took the intervention of the police who rushed to the scene and fired gunshots into the air to dispel the youths. Mahuta was later taken to the police station in Malumfashi for protection there for several hours,” the source said.
http://leadership.ng/news/180813/youths-beat-katsina-legislator-over-non-performance

Former Disney child actor Lee Thompson Young was found dead in his apartment from a suspected self-inflected gun shot wound...

From TMZ
Lee Thompson Young, who played the main character on Disney's "The Famous Jett Jackson" has died after what officials believe is a suicide TMZ has learned. He was 29. Sources tell us Young's body was discovered with a gunshot wound that appears to be self-inflicted.
Young currently appears in the TNT show "Rizzoli & Isles" and we're told when he didn't show up to work this morning, staffers called the landlord of Young's L.A. home to check up on the actor.
We're told ... when the landlord opened the door, he discovered Young's body.
Lee's publicist confirms the actor killed himself, telling TMZ, "It is with great sadness that I announce that Lee Thompson Young tragically took his own life this morning ... Lee was more than just a brilliant young actor, he was a wonderful and gentle soul who will be truly missed."

http://212breakingnews..com/2013/08/ex-disney-actor-lee-thompson-young.html?m=1

(CNN) - A 3-year-old boy in a small Michigan town was killed over the weekend when he accidentally shot himself in the head with a gun he found on the closet floor of his home.

The shooting death will undoubtedly renew the debate about gun safety, particularly after the boy's father took to Facebook calling for it.

The incident took place Sunday at a home in Dundee, near the Ohio border.

Police said Damon Holbrook discovered the gun, which belonged to a family friend who was living in the house.

Authorities told CNN affiliate WXYZ that the family friend, Joshua Greenhill, had a concealed pistol license and he put the .40 caliber handgun in the closet. It was loaded, with a bullet in the chamber -- but was not locked.

Three other children were in the house at the time.

Greenhill, was charged with careless discharge of a firearm -- a misdemeanor which carries a sentence of up to 2 years in prison or a fine of $2,000. He didn't speak to reporters after his court appearance Monday.

"We are working on a more serious charge at this time. We have not completed our investigation," Dundee police Chief David Uhl told reporters. "You have got to get more diligent with the guns. Be a lot safer with them."

'My boy would still be here'

After the shooting, Damon's father, Brian Holbrook, posted this message on Facebook: "I have nothing wrong with guns it's with this country was built on. I will still support the Second Amendment.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/20/us/michigan-boy-accidental-shooting

6) My mind issue; it is common to see updates like this; eating on ma mind, watching film on ma mind. I won't be surprised 2 see dying on ma mind. Lol

Adufaye: Anything wey naija babe dey do she dey update am fr her stats.........eg
Eatin tinx
Cookin tinx
Chores tinx
Church tinx
Bafin tinx
Exam tinx

Na so 1 babe wey won cross badagry express road,update "crossing tinx",b4 we go know "dying tinx" na she update last last! Motor don jam her

lol! Exactly! Naija no go kill me wit laughter

After a long period of a keen observation, I have come to realise that there are some things Nigerians do that are really funny and laughable. They are as follows;
1)Uploading pictures of attractive food as if they don't eat the other ones; nowadays eh, one of the latest trend on bbm and facebook is the use of well prepared rice or other attractive food as dp. But I have never seen anyone use garri or fufu and its likes as dp.
2)Boo boo boo matter; I wonder who invented the word boo that people now refer to their girlfriends/boyfriends as boo. My boo this, my boo that! Na wa o!
3)I love my boo!; it is very common to see people update this. We all know you love your boo. Must you tell us? If you don't love your boo why are you dating him? This is very common among girls. I tire sef!
4) Many people are People of God online; Girls always fall victims of these "cyber crimes" even the weirdest of all girls go de form pastor in her updates.
5) Uploading pictures taken inside a car; Nigerians too like motor! That is why most pictures are snapped either at the car owners side or at a position the car will be seen. Na wetin sef?
Infact eh, they are numerous! These are the few I observed. I know you have observed many others. Tell us!

Usain Bolt destroyed the field as he won the men’s 200m final in Moscow. None of the other runners even got close to the Jamaican, who clocked 19.66 to add 200m gold to his 100m from last weekend.

The world record holder eased off the pace in the last 10m yet still recorded the fastest time of the year, completing the sprint double at a major championships for the fourth time in his career following on from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and he 2009 World Championships.

Bolt’s compatriot Warren Weir ran a personal best time of 19.79 seconds to claim silver, while Curtis Mitchell of the USA took bronze in 20.04.

Britain’s Adam Gemili came off the bend in third place but faded to finish fifth, a superb showing from a runner who is still just 19 years old.

Yet the young British star will no doubt be bitterly disappointed that he failed to match or better the 19.98 he ran in the semi-finals, a time that would have secured bronze.http://sunnewsonline.com/new/sports/bolt-storms-to-200m-gold-in-moscow/

From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, KadunaThe Presidency has replied the former FCT Minister, Malam Nasir El-Rufai on his recent allegation that President Jonathan knows oil thieves, describing El-Rufai as a liar.
The Presidency said it was stupid of El-Rufai to condemn the President’s call on the American and British governments to help Nigeria stop oil theft, adding that “what government had done was to check  oil thieves  at our end and if they escape cautionary measures  in the country and  if  the US and Britain don’t buy from them, they will stop.”

The Presidency also  described the new alliance of the opposition political parties  under the aegis of  All Progressives Alliance (APC) as  “mega nonsense, which cannot go anywhere”.

Reacting on behalf of President Jonathan on Liberty Radio, Kaduna Guest of the Week programme yesterday, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said, “the President did not just wake up one day and say  Britain and America should   help us. It was just one of the various internal steps that were taken. There were funds given to the Navy to acquire boats, and they are already producing results. It is just like smuggling, you make a law, you empower the Customs to impound goods at the point of entry, and also ban sale of such products in the stores.

“So, what government has done is it to stop this oil theft at our end and if they escape checks and balances that we put in place, if those people don’t buy from them, then, they will stop. So, why is El-Rufai pretending to be stupid?

“I just told you, it is right that you guys gave a platform to El-Rufai, he is a free man, he is a citizen of Nigeria, but he is not a man that is worthy of any serious comment. He just says whatever he likes.

“It is a pity that you have chosen me to respond to Malam El-Rufai’s statements. El-Rufai is a name that is disgraceful in my mouth, but I will try to respond. El-Rufai is a liar, who went to the extent of writing a book that is full of lies, similes, things that are untrue, half truth, he will now quote three pages of discussions with people when he did not record them, and these are things that happened six to seven years ago, so, when I say he is a liar, I mean it,” Okupe stressed.

On the emergence of the new opposition party, the Presidential Spokesman said All Progressive Congress (APC) was not a mega party, but a ‘mega nonsense’, which would collapse very soon.

Okupe said, “Members of APC are united and have been brought together not because they want to help Nigeria in any form. They have come together because they just want power for personal aggrandizement.” http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/el-rufai-a-liar-presidency/

Retired soldier, Kayode Sotunde, 49, had plans for better living when he undertook a journey from Gboko to Kano on April 11, this year, but he did not make it to Kano alive. The commercial bus conveying the ex-soldier crashed on the way, claiming him and 17 others.

But the saying, ‘old soldier never dies’ appears to have played out with Sotunde as he woke up three days after in the mortuary, where his body and others were deposited for their families to claim for burial.

According to Sotunde,  his corpse was taken out of the mortuary and was being prepared for burial when he suddenly woke up.

Sotunde narrated his experience to Sunday Sun in Abeokuta, Ogun State: ‘’I am a living witness to the fact that God exists. You may not believe me, just like I may not have believed it if it did not happen to me.  I died in an accident along with 17 others, but resurrected three days after in the mortuary.”

Excerpts of the interview:

 

Journey from Gboko to mortuary

On that fateful day, that was April 11, 2013, I was travelling from Gboko to Kano to see my younger brother, Jide Sotunde,  a soldier serving in Kano. We had agreed on the journey which we had thought would afford us to discuss important issues, including the possibilities of getting another job that would not be too far from where I had my wife.

I retired from the Nigerian Army, (Supply and Transport), Apapa Lagos where I served for 30 years, during which I also participated in many peace keeping force assignments outside Nigeria.

After retirement, I got a job as a security guard at the Dangote Cement, Gboko, Benue State from where I also resigned because of the distance of my workplace and where my family was based in Osogbo.

The ill-fated vehicle was an 18-seater passenger bus, which I boarded in Gboko en-route Kano. We were barely two hours into the journey when a passenger asked us to pray. Since it was a normal thing for a passenger to offer to pray on such a long journey, I did not heed his call.  I was just playing with my mobile phone set.

Aside from that, I didn’t believe in the prayer since I didn’t know anything about Jesus Christ. I was a freethinker who neither went to church nor worshipped any idol. We were making progress on the journey when suddenly there was a bang. That was all I could recollect about the journey until I woke up three days after in the mortuary of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kano where I was told that I died in an accident and my corpse along with other 17 passengers were deposited there.

Even though the hospital authorities told me that I was in their morgue for three days as a dead man, I actually spent more days there before I could regain my senses.

 

I was to be buried in Kano

I was told that before I returned from the land of the dead, my family had instructed my younger brother who I was visiting in Kano before the accident to bury me in Kano since they could not afford the N150,000, which was said to have been requested by transporters to take my corpse from Kano to Abeokuta.  My elder sister, Moradeke Sotunde played a prominent role in this regard.

I was also told that it was at the point that my corpse was being prepared for interment that suddenly I returned to the land of the living after my corpse was taken out of the mortuary for prayers by Islamic clerics who were said to have sprinkled water on my corpse preparatory to my burial. I was also told that my hair was also shaved as demanded by the clerics.

I was told that my corpse was taken out of the mortuary after they had dug my grave and organised some clerics to offer the funeral prayers.

They wanted to bury me  in Kano because my family members couldn’t afford N150,000 demanded for carrying my corpse to Abeokuta for burial.  The initial plan was to move my corpse back home to Abeokuta, where a grave had been dug but for the transportation cost.

 

Life in the land of the dead

My brother, truly, there is life after death. I can also tell you that there is a living God. You may not believe me, but I am a living witness to this. I may not be able to describe Heaven or Hell, but there is another life after this one that we are living.

This place I am talking about is full of snow. I may not have been to America, but I have heard about snow. Where we were was full of snow, with plenty of something that I can describe as alum stones; whitish in colour with something I can describe as granite in this physical world.  In spite of the terrible cold, there was no day that we felt cold and it was never harmful to us.

All of us were there without knowing whether we are male or female. We couldn’t see our eyes, mouth and nose. We had no leg; we had no arm, but we floated in the air without our bodies touching the ground. We were flying around what I will describe as another planet.

On the third day of my arrival on the strange planet, they gave me a message that we were expecting one big prophet.

After the message was delivered,  they nominated ushers  among us to welcome the prophet.  And seconds later, people started trooping in, jubilating as if a goal was just scored in a football match.

On that planet, there were many stars which were not stable in one place, like we have in the sky in this world. I noticed that on a daily basis, people kept on increasing, even though we don’t know from where they came.

I was in this mood until they (I don’t know them) told me that I should go back home to work for the Lord. According to them, there were many people in the world who are not only in bondage, but are also afflicted with human pains. They also instructed that I should work for the Lord and heel people. I was even arguing, putting up some resistance that I could not do it. This was the condition I found myself until I opened my eyes and saw Jide, my younger  brother in this part of the world again.

 

In God’s vineyard

Since the Lord has directed me to work for Him, I will surely do so because ‘to be forewarned, is to be forearmed.’ It was because of this that I went to do my thanksgiving service at the Mountain of Fire and Miracle, in Lagos with the General Overseer, Pastor Olukoya.

The Lord has started performing miracles in other people’s lives through me. I don’t want to sound boastful, but God has started using me. I do pray for people now and they usually return to tell me that their problems have been solved. It is the Lord’s doing.

I have already prayed for a woman who has married been for 14 years without a child that God will give her the fruit of the womb. The person who lives in Ikorodu spoke to me through the telephone and I believe Lord will answer her prayers and request. I have accepted to work in God’s vineyard till I return to Him.

 

Day I returned to Abeokuta

I caused a stir in this area when I returned alive to Abeokuta because people including my family members, except my brother who was with me when I rose from the dead, did not know I had risen from the dead.

On arrival in Abeokuta, we played pranks on my people as they did not know that I was returning to home alive that day.

When we got nearer home, the person that accompanied me decided to call Kemi, my mother’s last born that we were already in Abeokuta.  When my sister saw me, she fainted and was later revived.  She was shivering when she woke up.

We later told her to return home to tell others that I had risen from the dead. On my way, I saw people mourning me, wearing black attire.

I trekked a distance of about 800 metres to my father’s house.  There, a grave had also been dug beside my late father’s before the family decided to bury my corpse in Kano. I waved as people were expressing shock and disbelief at seeing me alive. When I attempted to move closer to a woman in her shop, she ran away, thinking I was a ghost and pleading that she had no hands in my death. My sister, Moradeke who lives in Lagos was also wearing a black attire, mourning along with others until I returned home.

I returned to Abeokuta on the very day I was to be buried. I even met many of the mourners, wearing black (including my sisters) who had gathered in my father’s house here, (Sabo Abeokuta).

There was also a particular woman who threw away the beans meal she was eating and ran away from her shop when she sighted me.

I kept on saying that I was not dead, but she found it difficult to believe me.

 

Health challenges

Although I have returned from the land of the dead, I have not fully regained my health as I am talking to you. I have both chest and body pains. In fact, medically speaking, I am not alright.  I usually run strange temperature.  That was why I visited the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba for medical treatment.  I vomit blood each time I cough. I can’t engage in any hard labour.

Besides, a lot of strange things have started happening to me.  Sometimes, I feel as if I am still in the mortuary.  I will be seeing a lot of heads. My sight is not normal, it sometimes fails me. I have also started giving messages to people about things that they don’t know about their family.

I started revealing to them what had happened in the past to their astonishment. This has made many people to run away from me with some describing me as a demon. To be sure that I am not a ghost, I tried to relate with my friends as well as eat with them. Despite this a few of my friends still avoid to shake hands with me, thinking that I am a ghost.

 

I am homeless

You ask where I live? To answer straight, I am homeless, because I am currently squatting with my younger sister, causing her and her family inconveniences.  Even though she is not complaining, I know that I am inconveniencing  her.

I have been given quit notice in Osogbo after my landlord heard of the incident. According to him, he could not live with Akudaaya (ghost). I stayed at No 1, Rasco Hall, Oke Fia, Osun State, Osogbo, It was the ejection that informed my living with my sister here (Abeokuta).

I need serious financial assistance from well-meaning Nigerians to take care of my health and sustenance.  Survival is difficult for me.  That is why I appeal to Nigerians to come to my aid. I want to stop being a burden to my sister and her nuclear family. I want individuals as well as corporate bodies and churches to help me financially. God will surely replenish their purses in abundance in Jesus name.

I had a broken home some years back and I remarried two years ago, but when the incident happened, the woman abandoned me and ran away from Osogbo.

I want to appeal to Nigerians and other people that there is God. I want them to believe that there is life after death; so we should do good to our fellow beings. Heaven and Hell are real.  Where we want to go is an option for us to decide. I want people to know that it is just a matter of seconds between life and death. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/what-i-saw-in-the-land-of-the-dead-man-who-woke-up-after-three-days-in-mortuary/

The trial opened yesterday in Port Harcourt of the 12 suspected killers of four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) at Aluu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Ugonna Obuzor (18, Theatre Arts), Lloyd Toku Mike (20, Civil Engineering), Chiadika Biringa (20, Theatre Arts ) and Tekena Elkanah (21, Education), were murdered by a mob at Omuokiri, Aluu near UNIPORT on October 5, last year. They were alleged to have stolen telephone handsets.
The prosecution, led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Rufus N. Godwins, opened the case when he swore in the first prosecution Witness (PW1), Raphael Ezeji, a senior police officer, who led the investigation into the killings.
Two sets of people –one set charged with murder and the other with negligence – are standing trial.
Charged with murder are: Lawal Segun, ex-Sgt. Lucky Orji, Ikechukwu Louis Amadi (aka Kapoon), David Chinasa Ogbada, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe, Abang Cyril and John Ayuwu. They are the first set of those on trial.
The traditional ruler of Aluu, Alhaj. Hassan Welewa; Okoghiroh Endurance, Ozioma Abajuo and Chigozie Evans Samuel are charged with negligence.
Ezeji, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who is the second in-command in the Homicide Department of the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), told Mr. Justice Latam Nyordee of a State High Court part of his findings on the death of the four youths.
DSP Ezeji said: “I am a staff (employee) of Rivers State Police command, attached to the SCID, Port Harcourt.
“I have worked as a Police officer for more than 25 years, and as a registered detective officer for over 15 years.
“As a criminal dictation officer, my job entails investigation of murder (homicide) cases and other responsibilities assigned to me. On October 5, 2013; my department received a report of the gruesome murder of four undergraduate students of UNIPORT at Aluu.
“The report we received was that these four boys were stripped naked, paraded with jubilation and about to be set ablaze (lynched) at Omuokiri Aluu. As a result of this (report), the police division Isiokpo dispatched a combined team to rescue the victims, but because of the distance between the scene of crime and Isiopkpo, they had hung condemned tyres on their necks, while some others were with dog, hounding them.”
“The crowd they met on the scene when they arrived were shouting ‘kill them, kill them. Before the police could rescue them, they had already poured petrol on them and lit fire,” he told the court.
Ezeji said photographs of the remains of the deceased and the streets on which they were paraded naked were taken during the investigation.
He added that extracts from the video clips of the killing, posted on the internet, formed part of the exhibits attached to the case file submitted to the prosecution. The internet clips were concealed in a CD plate.
Efforts by the prosecution to tender copies of the photographs and thier negative copies as exhibits were objected to by 10 of the 12 defendants.
The court fixed the ruling on the admissibility of the exhibits for later date.
Midway into the hearing, the court allowed time to hear applications for bail of each of the accused persons.
All the 12 accused persons in their independent applications urged the court to admit them to bail. They told Mr. Justice Nyordee that bail is their constitutional right irrespective of the gravity of the offence they were alleged to have committed.
They noted that they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
The fifth accused person, 16-year-old Abiodun Yusuf, urged the court to grant him bail, considering his age.
His counsel, G.B.Sanusi, told the court that Yusuf, being a minor, was not supposed to be tried together with other accused persons in the open court.
In their applications, counsel for the second set of defendants, including the Aluu monarch, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, urged the court to grant them bail, saying their offences carry lighter punishment of two years, if convicted.
They argued that they had already spent close to one year in detention.
They were charged with negligent, to wit felony to prevent murder, crime and misdemeanour.
The prosecution objected to the bail applications and urged the court to dismiss their applications for lack of merit.
Mr. Godwins averred that bail was at the discretion of the court but insisted that due to the serious nature of the offence the accused are charged with, it would be unusual for any court to consider granting them bail, without convincing reasons.
On the first set of accused persons (first to eighth) who were charged with murder, the prosecution said: “It is unusual to contemplate to admit a person charged with murder to bail. This is because murder is a very serious offence. For them to be granted bail, they must show cogent reasons to be granted bail. And it must be on the grounds of health.
“In this one, none of them has given any serious reason to be admitted to bail,” he insisted.
He noted that although the offences the second set of accused (ninth to tenth), were charged with are not capital in nature, “however, even in the simplest of offence, bails are not just granted; the decision is strictly at the discretion of the court.”
“The ninth accused person (Alhj. Welewa), is the paramount ruler of Aluu, the scene of crime. He has much influence in his community and most of our witnesses come from there; if he is granted bail, he will use his influence to negatively affect the cause of justice in this matter.
“Moreover, some of the accused persons in this case are still at large, and they live there; so granting him bail will seriously affect the prosecution of this case,” Godwins submitted.
Eighteen suspects were originally held in connection with the killing. The DPP advice last February exonerated seven.
The prosecution added John Ayuwu (aka Johny Barbar) to bring the number of those on trial to 12.
They were arraigned before the court last month with each of the accused pleading not guilty to the charges of murder and felony to prevent crime, preferred against them. The court adjourned till yesterday for bail application.
It was somewhat rowdy yesterday, following the sudden change in the original agreement at the last sitting.
The court at the last session adjourned for motion for bail, but at the resumed sitting yesterday, the prosecution mounted a projector screen to express its readiness to open the case..
He insisted that the PW1 was in court and that the court could begin hearing the matter and midway, motion for bail taken. After some arguments, the court agreed with the prosecution against the wish of the defence.
The case was adjourned till October 17 for ruling. The courts in Rivers are to begin their yearly vacation on Monday. http://thenationonlineng.net/new/trial-of-traditional-ruler-11-others-over-killing-of-uniport-4-opens/

A Chinese zoo has been accused of fraud after a dog was disguised as a lion in a bid to fool visitors.
Officials at the zoo, which is in the People’s Park of Luohe in Henan, would routinely substitute wild animals with more domesticated species, according to the Beijing Youth Daily.
The ruse was only discovered when the Tibetan bull mastiff, which was introduced to onlookers as an “African lion”, began barking. Liu Wen, one of the zoo’s customers, explains that she was made aware of the fraud when her son mentioned that the “lion” inside the cage in front of them was barking instead of roaring.
The zoo, which also displayed rats in the snakes’ enclosure and foxes in the leopard pens, was criticised by Mrs Liu for “absolutely cheating us.”
The head of the People Park’s animal department, Liu Suya, defended the zoo’s decision to house the dog in the lion’s cage. He explained that the dog, which was owned by a zoo employee, had occupied the enclosure while the zoo’s resident lion had been transported to a breeding facility as it was a “friend” of the animal.
Yu Hua, who runs the People’s Park, added that the zoo is still being run by private contractors. Although the Chinese government stopped giving contracts to private companies to operate zoos and wildlife and parks, the contract taken out by Luohe Zoo has not yet expired. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/im-a-lion-hear-me-bark-chinese-zoo-accused-of-fraud-after-substituting-wild-animals-with-less-fearsome-creatures-8764089.html

When will this Arab spring cum turmoil come to an end? First it was Tunisia, then Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, Libya, Syria(ongoing) and back to Egypt again!!! In our various capacity as concerned Africans, we must speak out against the emergence of despotic and inhuman leaders that hide under the auspices of massive political reform to perpetuate crime and reduce human value to zero level. AFRICA MUST SURVIVE!!!!!

SIX mobile policemen attached to the Ondo State Police Command have been arrested for shooting a tanker driver, simply identified as Mr. Friday, dead and setting his truck ablaze.

Vanguard reports the six policemen stopped Friday's truck at about 2. a.m close to the Ore toll gate last Wednesday and after questioning the driver, allowed him to continue his journey.
Friday was coming from Lagos to Warri.
Only for them  to shoot at him in company of his manager, Mr. Henshell Gbugbadia who escaped 
death by the whiskers by running into the bush.

The policemen, thinking the manager Mr Henshell was also dead in the bush, reversed Friday's trailer to now head towards Lagos direction, then they set it ablaze to blot out any evidence.

Fortunately, the surviving manager Henshell later called his Managing Director Mr. Muminogho Orogboh to brief him on the development.
The matter was reported at the Ore toll gate police station from where the patrol team on duty that night were summoned and disarmed, having denied knowledge of the incident.

But after orderly trial, the six policemen allegedly confessed to  the crime, saying they had to burn the dead driver and the truckhead to erase any trace of the incident because they did not know that the manager survived.
They are currently being detained at the state police headquarters, Akure. http://212breakingnews..com/2013/08/policemen-kill-tanker-driver-set-his.html?m=1

There are over 10,000 (ten thousand) women in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, who were turned into widows by the actions of Boko Haram sect, according to a non-governmental organisation catering for the need of widows, the Rock of Ages Empowerment Foundation (RAEF).
The organization’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ignatius Ezeigbo, stated this in Abuja, during an empowerment programme for widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ezeigbo called on the Federal Government to enact a law that would guard against harmful traditional practices being administered on widows, especially by families of their spouses to prove their innocence on the death of their husbands.
He narrated, “Recently, I received a call from Maiduguri to say that the number of widows which stood at 1,000, is now over 10,000 because of Boko Haram. This explains why the government should prioritise the security of its citizens.
“My prayer is for our government to rise up and enact a law to protect these women.
“If they were left with the things their husbands had before they died, the condition of some of them would not be as bad. But some of them, even before they finished the burial of their husbands, would not be able to lay hold on any of their properties. And this is where it is important for women to be educated.
“If the government doesn’t enact a law to protect widows, their suffering will continue to increase.”
The CEO cited the example of a woman from Gombe State who had to lease out her family house after the death of her husband. http://212breakingnews..co.uk/2013/08/boko-haram-made-10000-women-widows-in.html?m=1

Whoever tells you that drinking is a sin, is only wallowing in ignorance and inproper knowledge of the law. Alcohol intake is not a sin. The sin is taking more than your head can carry.

The organizers of Face of Peace of Africa beauty pageant have raised the bar as arrangements for the hosting of the second edition kicks-off. This year, the winner will go home with a whopping $15, 000  (N2.5milion) as opposed to $10, 000 last year.

It was also revealed that the first runner up will also walk away with $5,000, a 42 inches Plasma TV, a movie contract, a year’s beauty routine and a trip to Ghana while the second runner up will also get a 27 inches Plasma TV, a movie contract, a year beauty routine and a trip to Obudu Ranch.

Meanwhile, the organizers revealed that registration forms for the 2013 edition are already on sale. Intending contestants should pay the sum of N5000 to any branch of Access Bank Nationwide: “Girls all over the world irrespective of shape, size, colour, beauty, stature or height are free to apply because Face of Peace Africa is about the heart of the person who is ready to take up the challenges of promoting peace initiatives across Africa and the world. Our focus is not just on beauty,” revealed Ify Duruji, CEO of the pageant.

Commenting, current reigning Queen, Zimuzo Benson Iloani confessed that she has so much enjoyed her reign she would find it difficult handing over to her successor.

“It’s a mixed feeling for me because I wish my tenure wouldn’t end. I have had teenagers walk up to me and say they want to be like me. I have also gotten away with a lot of things simply because I am Queen. But I‘m happy that I’m going to have a successor who will embark on various peace initiatives following in my footsteps,” she said.

The event is endorsed by the Nigeria Police Force and Friends of The Global Fund Africa. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/entertainer/n2-5m-up-for-grabs-as-face-of-peace-africa-calls-for-entries/

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan knows Nigeria’s crude oil thieves. He added that the President  was aware that they were using the money to prepare for war against Nigeria.

El-Rufai  had said  one of the misfortunes of the Jonathan Presidency was the infusion of religion and ethnicity into Nigerian politics, thereby encouraging division in the country.

He condemned Jonathan’s call for US government’s intervention to stop crude oil theft, adding that  “Jonathan knows those who are stealing  crude oil, he knows what they are doing with the money, they are preparing for war and Nigeria will defeat them.”

According to him, “This country has gone through one civil war and I don’t know if any country has survived two civil wars. Those who  are stealing crude oil and buying arms and stockpiling them should know that it’s not the number of arms that determines who wins a war. So they should think deeply and learn from history. One who doesn’t learn from history will be a victim of history.”

Speaking as the guest of the week on Liberty FM Radio, yesterday, Malam El-Rufai who is also the Deputy National Secretary of All Progressive Congress, (APC) faulted the “Jonathan administration’s slant, adding “it is unfortunate for someone coming from a minority ethnic group. His best bet is to deemphasize that, and try to make the whole of Nigeria his constituency”.

“Unfortunately, Jonathan’s political handlers thought that if they introduce religion they will be able to divide the north, and get the Christian part of the North to vote for Jonathan. And if they introduce ethnicity, does it  mean they will get the whole of the South?. That’s their winning strategy, and now they are surprised, that after dividing the country they are finding it difficult to get the cooperation of everyone.”

“Politics is not about religion, neither is it about ethnicity. Politics is about delivering services to the people and when you are good everyone will benefit. Our religion is private to us, our ethnicity is an accident of birth.”. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/jonathan-knows-oil-thieves-el-rufai/

The Super Eagles of Nigeria retained their 35th spot in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking released on Thursday 8 August 2013.

The Africa champions who prior to June’s rating were occupying the 31st spot in the world dropped to 35th position and have remained unmoved in the latest July Rankings with 700 points.

Eagles drop in Africa

The Eagles have also lost their fourth spot in the Africa ranking to Algeria while Cote d' Ivoire, Ghana and Mali maintain their first, second and third spots respectively.

Overall, Spain, Germany and Colombia retain their top three spots while Argentina also stay fourth with the Orange boys of Netherlands coming in at fifth position. http://www.futaa.com/football/article/fifa-ranking-nigeria-remain-static

Police in Aba, Abia State have arraigned a 40-year-old gay prophet, Ndubuisi Benjamin for having unlawful carnal knowledge of  a boy. His arrest was at the instance of the victim’s family, who accused him of the act with their son, Ndukwe (surname withheld).

Ndukwe, who is said to be currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the commercial city, due to the injuries sustained while the accused allegedly engaged him in the illicit sexual escapade, was believed to have been hypnotized by the self-styled prophet of a  church in Aba.

Police spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the cleric allegedly confessed to the police that he was gay and that the victim was one of his church workers.

Ogbonna said Ndubuisi told the police that he had slept with the victim for 17 times.  In a suit, MAN/115C/2013, the Police prosecutor, Corporal Galadima Rubies, told the court how Benjamin allegedly had carnal knowledge of one Ndukwe against the order of nature through the anus and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 214(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 80 Vol.3 Laws of Abia State 2005.

Responding to the charge, Benjamin told the court that he was a businessman and not a pastor as was alleged by the police. He said until he (the accused) was brought before the magistrate, the police were yet to tell him his offence(s) that warranted his arrest and therefore, pleaded not guilty.

After listening to the accused’s plea, the trial Magistrate, K.I Udo of the Aba North Local Government, Chief Magistrate Court One, granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with a surety in the like sum.

Magistrate Udo said the surety must be a person with a verifiable means of livelihood and resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two of his or her recent passport photographs.

The case was adjourned till September 9, 2013 for further hearing.http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/police-arraign-gay-prophet/

Hours to the end of Ramadan (Eid-el-Fitri) at least 10 people died yesterday while 24 others were injured in multiple accidents along major roads leading to Gusau, Zamfara State capital. Also two people were killed in another crash in Ogun State. The first accident occurred along Bungudu-Maru Road in Zamfara as a result of head-on collision involving Golf and Toyota cars where seven people died instantly, others sustained serious injuries.

The second crash occurred along Damba, a few kilometres to the state capital where nine passengers of a vehicle were injured while a housewife, Malama Rabi from Biyabiki village in Tsafe Local Government Area died on the spot.

A source said that 19 passangers who were travelling in a bus along Maru town were involved in an accident. Two people lost their lives with several others sustaining serious injuries. All the victims of the multiple accidents were on their way to meet up with the sallah celebration in their various towns and villages.

The bodies have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, while those injured were at various nearest hospitals. Spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Zamfara State command,  Garba Lawal, confirmed the death of  10 people.

The FRSC spokesman attributed the  accidents to over-speeding and dangerous overtaking by drivers.

Meanwhile, two people were killed while 12 others, including a pregnant woman, were injured during a fatal auto crash when two vehicles collided at Iperin area of Ijebu-Ode/Ibadan Road on Tuesday.

The vehicles, a Toyota Serena bus marked SMK 760 AP and a Mercedes Benz lorry with registration number XV 353 MUS. The bus which took off from Ijebu-Ode was heading towards Ibadan before its front tyre bust, causing the driver to lose control.

He had a head-on collision with the on-coming Mercedes Benz lorry

The driver and the passenger in front of the bus died immediately while passers- by rescued 16 other passengers in the two vehicles. They were taken to both Ijebu-Ode General Hospital and Roona Private Hospital in the town.

One of the survivors, Rebecca John, said four members of her family were travelling to Ibadan to attend the convention of the Gospel Faith Mission International (GOFAMINT) when the accident occurred. Though weak, she said the victims were members of GOFAMINT in the Waterside area of the state.

The Chief Medical Director, Ijebu-Ode General Hospital, Dr. Wellington Ogunsanya, confirmed the accident. http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/sallah-tragedy-12-killed-in-auto-crashes/

The coordinator of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Anioma/Ndokwa East region of Delta State, Emeka Okafor, has been arrested by officials of the state police command.
Okafor, 52, was arrested along with three other members of MASSOB at a location in Omini-Ugboma community, near the Bridge Head in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, ASP Lucky Uyabeme, who confirmed the arrest late on Wednesday evening, said the police acted on a tip-off to effect the arrest of the MASSOB who he claimed were chanting war songs.
According to Uyabeme, six Biafran flags were recovered from the suspects, adding that Okafor was their leader.
Uyabeme said: “Four members of MASSOB were apprehended at Omini-Ugboma near the Bridgehead chanting war songs. The police are currently investigating the suspects to ascertain the motives behind their congregating at the location where they were arrested.”
The image maker debunked the rumours in some quarters that seven members had died in the hands of security operatives, explaining that the rumours gained grounds due to the “fact that family members of the suspects have not been notified.”http://sunnewsonline.com/new/national/massob-leader-three-others-arrested-in-delta-for-chanting-war-song/