₦airaland Forum

A stampede has left at least 717 people dead during Saudi Arabia’s yearly religious pilgrimage. The deaths are the latest case of bad press for a country whose human rights record has been on display this week after Saudi Arabia was inexplicably named to a UN Human Rights panel while simultaneously sentencing a man arrested as a minor to death by beheading and crucifixion. Two weeks earlier, over 100 people were killed when a crane collapsed outside Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
Undergoing the pilgrimage, or ‘Hajj’ in Arabic, is one of the five central pillars required of all Muslims who are wealthy enough to perform the ritual. During Hajj, pilgrims march to Mecca from Medina – retracing the steps of the prophet Mohammad in 630 CE. Over two million people attended last year.
Saudi officials have been blamed for causing the stampede, which is the sixth in 25 years and the second most deadly in that time. The largest death toll came in 1990 when more than 1400 pilgrims died. Officials have nonetheless sought to deflect the blame.
Prince Khaled al-Faisal, the head of the central Hajj committee, levelled a thinly-veiled racist attack at black pilgrims when he pitted the stampede on “some pilgrims with African nationalities,” the Independent reported.
The stampede was caused by overcrowding that resulted in panic after authorities closed two exits on a trail that led from one air-conditioned tent to another, the New York Times reported. Pilgrims told government employee Khalid Saleh that the exits were closed so “V.I.P. cars could pass.”

Shortly after the tragic incident, authorities blocked reporters from investigating the accident site. Saudi Arabia has come under intense criticism from regional rival Iran, who lost 131 nationals in the stampede.
“The Saudi government should accept its responsibility in this bitter incident,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, said in a statement on Thursday. “We should not overlook that mismanagement and inappropriate conducts caused this disaster.”
“Hundreds of demonstrators protested in the Iranian capital, chanting ‘Death to the Saudi dynasty’,” Reuters reported.
Saudi authorities and pro-government media however remained defiant in the face of blame. They skirted responsibility by citing the belief that whoever dies while performing Hajj goes straight to heaven, the Times reported.

URICH — Swiss investigators on Friday announced that they had opened criminal proceedings against the embattled FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, on “suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation.”

The case involves a contract Mr. Blatter is said to have signed that assigned valuable World Cup television rights to the control of an indicted former FIFA official, Jack Warner, according to a news release from the office of the Swiss attorney general. The new charges accuse Mr. Blatter of violating his fiduciary duty to FIFA in his role as president by signing the contract in 2005, which it called “unfavorable to FIFA.”

The Swiss authorities also said that Mr. Blatter is suspected of making a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs — just over $2 million — to the UEFA president, Michel Platini. Swiss prosecutors interrogated Mr. Blatter after an executive committee meeting in Zurich on Friday, and said they also searched his office and seized data.

Mr. Platini, another member of the executive committee and the leading candidate to replace Mr. Blatter as FIFA president, also was asked to provide information.


The criminal case against Mr. Blatter is another significant development in a series of investigations that burst into public view in May with the arrest of 14 top soccer and marketing officials as they gathered for FIFA’s annual congress. The United States Department of Justice had issued those arrest warrants, which were carried out by the Swiss police at a luxury hotel in the early morning hours of May 27.

Mr. Blatter was not charged in the case at the time, though American and Swiss officials both said he was a target of investigators, but days later he announced his intention to relinquish the FIFA presidency he has held since 1998. He called for a special election to pick his successor; that vote is set for February.

Richard Cullen, a lawyer with McGuireWoods who is representing Mr. Blatter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The news of the charges against Mr. Blatter came hours after FIFA first delayed and then canceled his scheduled news conference, without explanation. FIFA’s governing executive committee had been meeting in Zurich for two days to discuss routine business but also some proposed ethics reforms.

Earlier Friday, FIFA confirmed the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, carving out a tight 28-day window for the tournament that ensures it will be over before Christmas. The champion will be crowned on Qatar’s national day, Dec. 18.

The dates for the World Cup — Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 — were set as part of a competition calendar approved by the executive committee.

Qatar had won the right to host in 2010 over several other countries, all of them bidding for a World Cup in its traditional June-July window. But concerns about the searing heat of the Gulf summer, evident even before the vote, led FIFA to move the tournament to the winter. FIFA had announced the date of the final six months ago, as well as the concept of a shorter 28-day event; Friday’s executive committee announcement confirmed that schedule.

The shorter tournament will still disrupt league schedules in much of the world in ways that a summer event did not. Placing a start date of Nov. 21 on the official FIFA calendar means that clubs are obligated to release players to their national teams a week earlier, on Nov. 14.

URICH — Swiss investigators on Friday announced that they had opened criminal proceedings against the embattled FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, on “suspicion of criminal mismanagement and misappropriation.”

The case involves a contract Mr. Blatter is said to have signed that assigned valuable World Cup television rights to the control of an indicted former FIFA official, Jack Warner, according to a news release from the office of the Swiss attorney general. The new charges accuse Mr. Blatter of violating his fiduciary duty to FIFA in his role as president by signing the contract in 2005, which it called “unfavorable to FIFA.”

The Swiss authorities also said that Mr. Blatter is suspected of making a “disloyal payment” of two million Swiss francs — just over $2 million — to the UEFA president, Michel Platini. Swiss prosecutors interrogated Mr. Blatter after an executive committee meeting in Zurich on Friday, and said they also searched his office and seized data.

Mr. Platini, another member of the executive committee and the leading candidate to replace Mr. Blatter as FIFA president, also was asked to provide information.


The criminal case against Mr. Blatter is another significant development in a series of investigations that burst into public view in May with the arrest of 14 top soccer and marketing officials as they gathered for FIFA’s annual congress. The United States Department of Justice had issued those arrest warrants, which were carried out by the Swiss police at a luxury hotel in the early morning hours of May 27.

Mr. Blatter was not charged in the case at the time, though American and Swiss officials both said he was a target of investigators, but days later he announced his intention to relinquish the FIFA presidency he has held since 1998. He called for a special election to pick his successor; that vote is set for February.

Richard Cullen, a lawyer with McGuireWoods who is representing Mr. Blatter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The news of the charges against Mr. Blatter came hours after FIFA first delayed and then canceled his scheduled news conference, without explanation. FIFA’s governing executive committee had been meeting in Zurich for two days to discuss routine business but also some proposed ethics reforms.

Earlier Friday, FIFA confirmed the dates of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, carving out a tight 28-day window for the tournament that ensures it will be over before Christmas. The champion will be crowned on Qatar’s national day, Dec. 18.

The dates for the World Cup — Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 — were set as part of a competition calendar approved by the executive committee.

Qatar had won the right to host in 2010 over several other countries, all of them bidding for a World Cup in its traditional June-July window. But concerns about the searing heat of the Gulf summer, evident even before the vote, led FIFA to move the tournament to the winter. FIFA had announced the date of the final six months ago, as well as the concept of a shorter 28-day event; Friday’s executive committee announcement confirmed that schedule.

The shorter tournament will still disrupt league schedules in much of the world in ways that a summer event did not. Placing a start date of Nov. 21 on the official FIFA calendar means that clubs are obligated to release players to their national teams a week earlier, on Nov. 14.

This story is developing. Please check back for further updates.

House Speaker John A. Boehner announced Friday morning he will resign from Congress at the end of October.

Boehner's leadership role was under fire as some members of the speaker's Republican party argued in favor of shutting down the government over Planned Parenthood funding.

The speaker told the House Republican Conference of his decision on Friday.

Tweet.

An aide to Boehner told NBC News that the speaker was only planning to serve through the end of the year, but Rep. Eric Cantor's loss last year had changed that calculation.

"Speaker Boehner believes that the first job of any speaker is to protect this institution and, as we saw yesterday with the Holy Father, it is the one thing that unites and inspires us all," the aide said. "The Speaker believes putting members through prolonged leadership turmoil would do irreparable damage to the institution."

Source: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/25/boehner-resigning-from-congress.html

Sorry my response is coming quite late. I wish to find out you are still open with your business ideal. I never knew you responded until now. I felt you didnt show interest in my offer. You can call or add me on my whatsapp number which is available on my property thread, lets talk business.
Best Regards.

RedBenson:
Thank you Sir for your interest. I currently do not reside in Lagos/its environs nor can i make a trip down there soonest due to my engagements. I've seen phone contacts which i believe must be yours. Can we talk on phone or mail? May be i should PM you now?

Pastor i dey talk am becos i don see am kor frofphesee, abi i dey talk am becos money i don enter kor my hand. I dey wonder y i dey talk am say flood i go full am kor everi where if dele momodu i nor make am kor Ooni. Haba Megida i dey suspect am kor me.

The Ohio Supreme Court today suspended Lakewood attorney Jalal T. Sleibi from practicing law for two years, with six months stayed, because of his sexual relationships with four clients. In a 4-3 decision, the court conditioned the six-month stay on Sleibi’s participation in training about ethical boundaries and on compliance with his mental-health treatment plan.

Lawyer Becomes Involved with Four Clients
In his solo law practice, Sleibi focuses on consumer bankruptcy and criminal defense. An 18-year-old woman identified as H.W. hired Sleibi as her lawyer when she faced charges for driving under the influence and for traffic, drug, and alcohol violations.

Sleibi admitted the relationship became sexual soon after he began representing H.W. in February 2008 and lasted two to four months. He sent her up to 2,000 text messages, including many that were sexually explicit. After the relationship ended, the woman asked Sleibi to stop contacting her, but he did not and she had to change her phone number and email.

In 2010, Sleibi became sexually involved with three clients he was representing in separate bankruptcy cases. He sent sexually explicit text messages to two of them. One woman, L.F., alleged that Sleibi raped her in December 2010, though the attorney testified the relationship was consensual. Law enforcement investigated, and Sleibi was not charged.

L.F. and one of the other women filed grievances against Sleibi with the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association. After the first grievance was filed, Sleibi began counseling and signed a contract with the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program (OLAP). During the disciplinary investigation, Sleibi disclosed his sexual activity with H.W. and the fourth woman.

Professional Conduct Rules Bar Sex With Clients
Lawyers are prohibited by a professional conduct rule from soliciting or engaging in sexual activity with a client, and they are required to keep all attorney-client relationships professional. (The rule contains an exception for those already involved in a consensual sexual relationship before legal representation begins.) Another rule states that attorneys are not to commit conduct that negatively reflects on their fitness to practice law.

In today’s opinion, written by Justice William M. O’Neill, the court concluded that Sleibi’s “egregious unprofessional conduct” violated both of these rules and harmed vulnerable clients.

Some Mitigating Factors Do Not Hold Weight
The parties agreed to specific mitigating and aggravating circumstances in the case. In addition, the court noted two additional factors that could lessen Sleibi’s sanction – evidence of good character and reputation separate from the misconduct, and his diagnosis of chronic anxiety and depression, which his therapist concluded led him to act out sexually.

However, Justice O’Neill declined to give more mitigating weight to Sleibi’s admission during the disciplinary proceedings that he had sexual encounters with the two clients who had not filed grievances. The court had already acknowledged his cooperation in the disciplinary action as mitigating.

In addition, the court was not persuaded that Sleibi was remorseful because he in part maintained that the relationships were consensual. Justice O’Neill noted that “the attorney-client relationship is inherently unequal” and “[c]onsensual sex with a client is precisely what is prohibited under the rule.” Pointing out that the record showed Sleibi agreed he harmed these clients but also tried to “discredit and embarrass” the women who filed grievances, the court concluded that Sleibi’s behavior contradicted his claims of remorsefulness.

Court Increases Suggested Sanction
The attorney disciplinary board recommended that Sleibi be suspended for two years with one year stayed on certain conditions. The court, however, decided that a longer unstayed suspension was necessary in this case.

“We are concerned that Sleibi committed this misconduct with four clients who were vulnerable,” Justice O’Neill wrote, explaining the lesser six-month stay. “Sleibi was blind to the harm he was causing his clients. He abused his roles as counselor and advocate to gratify his own sexual desires. It is egregious that these four clients were subjected to this treatment only because they needed legal representation in bankruptcy and criminal matters. We feel that the public can only benefit from this court’s demonstrated commitment to professionalism and to requiring that lawyers consistently put the needs of their clients before their own.”

During the six-month stay, Sleibi must adhere to his current OLAP contract and his mental-health treatment and complete six hours of education addressing ethical-boundary dilemmas for professionals. Sleibi must also serve probation during the stayed part of his suspension and for two additional years.

Votes
Joining the majority were Justices Paul E. Pfeifer, Terrence O’Donnell, and Sharon L. Kennedy.

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor and Justices Judith Ann Lanzinger and Judith L. French would have imposed an indefinite suspension, which was the sanction recommended by the bar association.

I concur to the submission. Pursuant the the express provisions of the SCHEDULE of the Public Holiday Act , Cap P40 LFN 2004, Its the Minister of Internal Affairs that is vested with such responsibility. I wonder on whose authority he had to make such declaration which are hitherto null and void and of no effect whatsoever, cos he lacks the locus to perform such act or duty.

frisky2good:
Is it not FG that declares federal holidays? All these people sef. If FG's declaration differs from theirs now their blind followers will begin to cause trouble.

Now i am beginning to understand why corruption isbnot gonna go away in nigeria anytime soon. Rather it will get worse. I pity our generation that worship wealth rather than moral value, discipline and intergrity. Whats this man crime nigeria? Cos he has values?

Lets prevail on the mods to move this to front page, lets discourage stealing and corruption whilr in office by prevailing on the relevant authorities to aid this intellectual gaint even if he did not ask for it. The reason is simple ,neglecting this man sends a wrong message which is steal all you can and anything stealable while in office. But this needs to stop if we wish to mke progress as a country.
Furthermore,those asking what happened to his earnings and savings should not forget that money is a follage in the wind, an ailment can claim one's earnings and savings in minutes. Especially his kind who would rather keep to himself than speak out.
Thanks

Mary Shipstone, also known as Maryam Alromisse
Mary Shipstone was 'excited' for her eighth birthday, her mother said.
An estranged father tracked down his seven-year-old daughter and shot her in the head on the doorstep of her new home, an inquest has heard.

Yasser Alromisse had spent months trying to find where his ex-wife and child were living before committing the "thoroughly despicable act of violence".

Mary Shipstone, also known as Maryam Alromisse, was gunned down as she returned from school after her first music lesson, and was clutching a new violin.

She was standing next to her mother, Lyndsey Shipstone, who was unlocking the front door of their house in Northiam in East Sussex at the time.

After the shooting, Alromisse turned the gun on himself. His body was found in the back of a car he had parked outside their "safe house".

Neighbours tried to revive Mary while waiting for the emergency services. She died of her injuries in hospital.

Mrs Shipstone and her daughter had moved out of the home they had shared with the 46-year-old amid claims he had turned abusive.

Hastings Coroner's Court heard how Alromisse had hired a private detective to try and find their new address - but the investigator withdrew his services because he was concerned the father would try and abduct his daughter.

On the day of Mary's murder on 11 September last year, Alromisse had hired a rental car and insisted to staff that it needed to be a car with tinted windows.

At the hearing, Coroner Alan Craze concluded Mary was unlawfully killed, and recorded her father's death as a suicide.

"It was not in any way spontaneous. It was pre-meditated over a long period of time," he added.

During the inquest, Mrs Shipstone described the day of the shooting, and said Mary was "very happy and excited" about her eighth birthday, which was a week away.

She told the court: "I was putting my key in the door, and I spoke to Mary, saying she'd like what I had done to her room, and that's the last thing I said to her.

"There was a terrific sound behind me like someone had burst a balloon.

"I turned around and the first thing I saw was Mary on the ground - her legs were crumpled behind her."

The mother said she soon realised her ex-partner had shot their daughter, as she could see his emotionless face in the backseat of a nearby Toyota.

Mrs Shipstone said she was unsure why Alromisse would have wanted to kill Mary, describing it as "such an extreme thing to do".

She went on: "He had the opportunity to shoot me as well, but he chose not to do it, and I was the one he supposedly hated the most.

"It's an act of revenge, really. It's got be. If he really loved her, he would never have inflicted that on her.

"He's left me bereft of a daughter."

Source: http://news.sky.com/story/1547046/girl-7-was-shot-dead-by-dad-for-revenge.

CHUX OHAI writes on the sad tale of celebrated scholar, writer and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Theo Vincent, now facing hard times

The Ilaje area of Lagos is usually associated with social misfits of all kinds. Even the adjoining area like Bariga has a notoriety that makes many people think that it takes special courage to live there.

As a result, many members of the elite and other privileged people prefer to look elsewhere to establish their homes.

But currently, this is where foremost literary scholar and a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Theo Vincent, lives. It is one of the sore points that our correspondent’s long search for the great teacher has revealed.

As a quick reminder, many people who studied Literature in secondary school and beyond must remember A Selection of African Poems, which introduced students to early generations of African poets. The book was edited by Vincent and K. E. Senanu, a Ghanaian scholar. After decades of his devotion to scholarship, however, things are definitely no longer at ease with him.

Life in isolation

After the winding search, our correspondent finally traced Vincent to a dilapidated two-storey residential building in Ilaje quarters in Bariga. The veteran scholar lives on the ground floor. The moment the journalist knocked on the door of his apartment, a voice barked and demanded to know his mission and identity. It was clearly Vincent’s voice.

After a while, the retired professor of English reluctantly opened the door and admitted him into a sparsely furnished sitting-room that looked a bit unkempt. Several months of living in isolation had, no doubt, left its mark on Vincent. Apart from spotting a thick grey beard, he looked quite emaciated in a black shirt and a pair of soiled cream-coloured trousers that looked like they needed to be washed urgently. The scholar was putting on a pair of dark glasses, apparently to cover his sightless eyes.


The house

He managed to grope his way to sit in an arm chair in the centre of the room.

“I don’t usually grant interviews to journalists. Many of them have tried to talk to me in the last few years, but I refused to speak with them. We can talk about literature, since you said that you studied English in the university, and nothing more,” he said to our correspondent, before slipping into a lecture on poetry.

Midway into the monologue, Vincent’s wife, who was preparing to go out, complained of being short-changed by some officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Then, responding to a question bordering on their residence and the neighbourhood, she said, “No, we don’t like this place at all. But we have no other choice than to stay here until we can afford to move to a better place.”

Therefore, the woman’s response implies that an end to the constant movement by her family from one location to another is not in sight yet.

Visually-challenged

Unknown to many of his former students at the University of Lagos, as well as writers resident at home and in the Diaspora who have benefitted from his tradition of academic and intellectual excellence, Prof. Theo Vincent has lost the use of his eyes.

Not many people know how it came about or what circumstances were responsible for his visual disability. But a few, who knew about the gradual deterioration of his condition, are bitter that nothing was done to help him at the outset. One of them is a Senior lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies of the university, Dr. Chris Anyokwu.

Lamenting Prof. Vincent’s condition, Anyokwu says in an interview with our correspondence, “The fact that a former vice-chancellor of a Federal University should end up the way Prof. Theo Vincent has done — a visually-challenged and dirt-poor recluse, shorn of friends, relatives and subsisting on charity in utter obscurity — begs questions and confounds the imagination.

“Whatever the cause or causes of his ordeal and his tragic situation, every conscientious Nigerian must do his or her best to rehabilitate and integrate him into polite society to which he naturally belongs.

“The search for the whys and wherefores of his present condition is unnecessary. There is an urgent need to save Vincent, who is an icon of sorts, and to redeem the sullied image of the Nigerian Ivory Tower.”


A part of the building

Not positively disposed to public sympathy

Even in his condition, Vincent appears to be very scared of drawing the attention of other members of the wider academic community, either in Nigeria or the Diaspora, as well as the public to his predicament.

“I don’t want to be made a subject of sympathy from other people. So let us talk about literature or something else. I know that I have a disability, but talking about it won’t help. The important thing is to cope with the situation and to keep praying,” he says to our correspondent who has just broached the subject to him.

Afterward, the man rambles about John Milton’s famous sonnet about his blindness. He speaks slowly, almost as if in a soliloquy, as he tries to relate the poet’s submission to his fate. For him, the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on works by other poets — some of them Nigerian — that deal with the human condition and complex situations. A poem written by the late Prof. Ossie Enekwe, titled ‘Facing Kilimanjaro’, particularly appeals to him.

In vain, our correspondent makes an effort to lure Vincent into talking about his disability and the circumstances that led to it. Several attempts to subtly steer the conversation in this direction failed, effectively barred by brick walls erected by the professor to keep himself away from the public eye.

Celebrated as a scholar and administrator

Prof Theo Vincent retired from the University of Lagos in 2004, having taught in the Department of English for about 37 years. Some of his colleagues remember him as a quiet and focused academic who always made sound and unequalled intellectual contributions to the smooth running of the department.

He was appointed as the vice-chancellor of UniPort in 1997, at a time the institution was struggling to overcome a severe leadership crisis and other challenges that threatened its existence. He was at the helms of the affairs of the university till 2000 and distinguished himself as a scholar and administrator whose penchant for excellence and abhorrence for indiscipline helped to restore sanity to the institution.

A few years after he left UniPort, Vincent, who is also a poet, played a key role in the founding of Nigeria’s most prestigious literary award, the Nigeria Prize for Literature — sponsored by the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas Company — alongside the likes of Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo, Prof. Charles Nnolim, Prof. Dan Izevbaye, Prof. Femi Osofisan and Prof. Olu Obafemi.

As the chairman of the Literature Committee of the prize, Vincent’s decisions were crucial to the sustenance of a tradition of excellence that has greatly enhanced its value these past years.

Once, the celebrated scholar and writer had had to defend the integrity of the prize by declaring that many of the books of poetry received in a particular year’s contest lacked adequate craftsmanship and enlightened handling of the English language. As a result of the shortcoming, he had explained, the judges found it difficult to select up to 13 entries and they were forced to settle for nine.


Welcome to Ilaje. Photos: Chux Ohai

Further evidence of Vincent’s achievements and his reputation as a distinguished scholar and intellectual lies in the comments of one of his former students, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo, in the Festschrift — a special collection of essays — put together by the Department of English and Literary Studies in his honour to celebrate his retirement from the university after a meritorious service.

Ezeigbo wrote, “For years, he extended the boundaries of literary criticism in the country by discussing literature in the media, especially on television. His face became indelible, like ink, in the minds of literary enthusiasts and students of literature.

“Professor Vincent is a great teacher as well as an essayist, a critic, commentator and astute administrator. An eclectic intellectual, he is an undisputed authority in poetry, drama, literary theory and criticism and in African-American literatures”.

With the publication of the festschrift, Ezeigbo added, Vincent’s colleagues had decided to honour a man who had an “enduring tradition of selfless service”.

Hit by hard times

Considering his background, it is inconceivable that a man who, to quote Prof. Ezeigbo, has lived a life of endless service to society, would suddenly find himself on the wrong side of the socio-economic ladder. Sad as it is, this is exactly the truth about Vincent’s present situation.

Sources at the University of Lagos told our correspondent, on condition of anonymity, how the scholar had been hit by a series of misfortunes before and after his retirement from the institution.

One of them recalls, “He was with us for a while after he retired, teaching as a consultant. Then we noticed that his sight was gradually failing. Sometimes he would stand outside the faculty building as if in deep thought. To anyone watching him closely, it would become clear that he was having a problem walking home unaided.”

After some time, the source adds, everybody noticed that Vincent had lost his sight. Unfortunately, nobody had the presence of mind to intervene or offer to help him out of his predicament, which seemed to be compounded after he was asked by the university authority to pack out of his apartment at the staff quarters.

According to another source, who also craved anonymity, the scholar was virtually homeless after he was forced out of the flat that had served as his residence for almost 40 years.

“He was more or less ejected from the flat. Nobody knew where he moved to for a while, until we heard that an unnamed Christian organisation or church somewhere around Akoka had intervened and relocated him to a new apartment in the neighbourhood,” the source says.

Living on charity

The unnamed benefactor of the Vincents that had come to their aid at what seems like one of the darkest periods in the life of that family eventually turned out to be the Chapel of Christ Our Light. The church itself is situated on the Akoka campus of the University of Lagos.

Our correspondent gathered that the church basically took charge of the welfare of Prof. Vincent and his family when nobody else bothered to do it. One of the first things that the chapel did was to provide a new accommodation for the man and his family.

Although it is not known if the chapel is also responsible for the feeding of the family, it was learnt that the wife of the scholar is one of the workers in the church. The Chaplain of the chapel, Reverend Azuka Ogbolumani, refused to comment on the subject when our correspondent visited him for an interview in his office.

“Prof. Vincent has made me to promise that we won’t speak with the media about his condition. All I know is that the man is well. Yes, he has lost the use of his eyes. But he is not abandoned, as some people have speculated. His wife lives with him and she takes care of him,” he says.

Asked when he last saw the former Uniport VC, the chaplain replies, “I have not seen him for some time. But I see his wife every week because she worships in this church.”

Forced to live like a recluse

Prof. Vincent, it was also gathered, is virtually confined to his residence, no thanks to his visual impairment. He now lives like a recluse, shut out of the larger society and hardly leaves his home. Even if they want to reach him desperately, his friends or former colleagues cannot do so because none of them knows where he lives at present. Only a few trusted members of the Chapel of Christ Our Light can access his residence, but they are not willing to divulge information on how to reach him.

It is generally believed that the man has intentionally woven a cocoon around himself and does not desire to mix with the public. A few weeks ago, he moved from his former residence, which remains largely unknown to most people, to the Ilaje quarters. Our correspondent gathered that when the chapel got wind of the move, it made an effort to relocate him from the area, since it is associated with endless violence among rival street gangs.

“The church was ready to spend about N2m to secure another accommodation for him and his family, but he politely declined it,” a source said.

Vincent’s action further fuelled suspicions held among his former colleagues and students at the university that he is desperately holding on to a secret. Also, it ignited the rumour that he is anxious to remain incommunicado and out of the reach of perceived enemies.

Coping with visual disability

Although Prof. Vincent has lost the ability to see with his eyes, his handicap has not affected his passion for literature, especially poetry, nor stopped him from engaging in literary activity. In fact, he has concluded plans to publish his memoirs soon.

He says the book, which is still a work-in-progress, is based on his tenure as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

“Even in my condition, I have finished writing the book. What remains is to clean it up. Unfortunately, I cannot do that now because of my disability,” he says.

The eminent scholar wishes that he could still read lines of poetry like he used to do before losing his sight. Nowadays, he asks Fabian, the teenager that lives with him, to read to him. The verses are still the same and he enjoys listening to them.

“But it is not the same thing as reading by myself. I wish that I had not lost my sight,” he says, with a heavy sigh.

Unanswered questions

Just as Anyokwu has insinuated, Prof. Theo Vincent’s situation begs some questions. For example, some people have been asking what happened to the man’s earnings, while in service and his retirement benefits and why he would not live to talk about his condition. Others wonder how a man, who has occupied key positions before retiring and acted as a consultant to a multinational company like the NLNG, could possibly spend the rest of his life in need.

The questions have, for want of answers, continued to fuel more suspicions and the theory that there could be more than meets the eye.

http://www.punchng.com/news/theo-vincent-from-ivory-tower-to-lagos-slums/

Cc: Mods please move this to front page lets call the attention of relevant athourities to it.Good intellect must not be allowed to waste. Lets save our best brains for national development. Thanks

Well from your postulation, you have agreed that osho is a thief . He is just a smart thief.

wisov:
D guy and OP nor get sense, I sure say nah yoruba boy wey dey lag. EDO wey be dey decay!

I was born in ekpoma attended sch up to university in Edo so i know what i am saying. Remove all Fed govt project, remove the local govt allocation he sized, remove all the UBE and SUBEB projects and what do you have left? Answer me.

Mind, I am not saying Lucky is a saint, thus the thread is " tale of to thieves. One is acting the saint and that is my problem.

how much did Lucky get in 8years and how did he spend on the masses? How much value did the masses get for their money? How is Adams getting now, how much is he spending and what value are you getting for the money? All the monies refunded by the Federal Government and IGR what did he do with it? Remove all Federal government and /or its agency plus international partners sponsored projects out of Edo state, separate all and see what is left. Maybe that will open your eyes to see the realities in ground.
Thanks

Cc lalastila should please move this to front page

Real evidence need not be proved. Its crystal clear. The latter thief is worse than d formal.

This story is an attempt to draw comparison and highlights between certain entities. For as much as we can remember and will remember the variable known as truth, has not been told of them. Hence, my story which started 16years ago...

(1999-2007)
The first thief came into power with a realistic plan and motive. He loved the people, saw the needs of the people and then he got to work. First, he recognized the need for a buoyant economy (no wonder his major campaign strength bordered on industrialization of the state), so he marshaled employment by making sure that government parastatals were up and running and also are remitting to the state's purse. Also he gave free rein to private owned ones, attracted foreign investors, who in turn took working hands out of the streets for a meaningful life. He built industries all over the state, fulfilling his campaign promises. Industries like Cassavita Factory, Uromi; Fruit Juice Factory, Ehor; Chemical and Fertilizer Plant, Auchi; Solid Minerals Processing factory, Ikpeshi; were all built. Hence, our economy was vibrant and active, lucre exchanged hands in rapid succession and we hardly recognized poverty and hardship. Thus brought the slogan: "You chop, I chop"!!!

Again, he, to a very reasonable level fortified our system and process of education from primary to tertiary levels. He reopened College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi; revamped the dead Institute of Continuous Education(I.C.E), renovated Edo College; set up College of Education, Igueben; College of Education, Afuze, College of Education, Abudu; Edo State Institute of Technology & Management, Usen. He renamed Edo State university to Ambrose Alli University after a former governor Prof. Ambrose Alli, with buildings constructed including twin hostels for male and female. State and national competitions were rampant, willing teachers and very active students and pupils were all over the place. In housing, he established Iyekogba housing estate; Iguosa housing estate, Iguosa; Post service estate, Eyaen. and many more!!
Sports which is now a thing of the past, served as a major preoccupation for youths. In 2002, Edo State hosted and won the National Sport Festival, it was beehive of sporting activities, Ogbe Stadium was renovated and renamed "Sam Ogbemudia" stadium in honour of a former Bendel State governor. I remember the glory days of Bendel Insurance, Ethiope publishing, Bendel Brewery(makers of crystal beer and malt), Edo Line, Edo Courier, Okhoro Dam, Water Board and so much more!

His fault and flaws were, he didn't tarred roads and also did not renovate more secondary and primary schools. God-fatherism was the song of the day, which many people didn't want to hear and voted against. Otherwise, he didn't owe workers, he generated revenue for the state without heavy or over taxing and he did not owe a dime! Instead, he left 4Billion Naira in the state's treasury for his successor. 8years ended, he left office. A total of 196 Billion Naira was gotten as revenue and federal allocation during these 8 years period. A higher caucus branded him a thief, he was tried and crucified and we applauded... Amid all of these achievements!!!

(2008-2015/2016)
Barely two years later, the second thief came into power. Energized with the prosecution of the first thief, he gave the people high hope and promises. Some of which he readily broke even before he got into office. Others he cannot or may not even remember if we were to ask him now. He came into power with a mastered, doctored and a well calculated plan. He did quite well as regards Ring road in the heart of Benin city, in-cooperated with water fountain, but he ventured into projects that were federal government responsibility which he was later paid for. He made us believe that he did them (with the state's funds).

One hundred and thirty(130) Billion Naira was remitted to Edo state in December 2014, by the federal government for projects that the state did on its behalf. The projects were Airport road, Double lane road through Oluku, Ugbowo, Uselu, to Dawson, Sapele road, Akpakpava road, and New Benin road. Employment is barely felt and hardly noticed, foreign investors left, some private and almost all government parastatals shut down. As a result, our economy crumbled, and as we speak, almost dead, the only Parastatal functioning with full capacity is the Board of Internal Revenue, a tool he uses for milking the masses.

He did well to renovate schools at some levels but he also made us believe that these were state projects, whereas, the funds of the project was 65% federal, 20% state and 15% local government. Which means, he claimed the federal government's glory. Then, he started antagonizing teachers without listening to their challenges, and trying to sort them out. Private schools became foes to him, a war was staged between them. Renovated classrooms lacked desks and chairs and even teachers and we can hardly talk of free education. And the only state owned University was is nothing to write home about , the 1 billion naira the allegedly ear mark for the completion of the Admin block vanished into thin air, School fees increased at will, no new facilities/ buildings except those being built by UBE. The heavy hammer of tax landed on us, excessively high and unregulated tax, of which we see nothing. Nothing is done with tax payers money, absolutely nothing.

Youth development is long forgotten, sports died a natural death. Casual wokers became a norm, an act which he advocated against when he was the national labour leader. Pensioners are been owned pension and gratuity. Touts or "Agberos" became the voice of the government. Ironically, 15,000 casual workers were sent home without feelings or remorse because it was planned all along. The state is presently at a standstill with a high debt profile and very little to show for it. This is the seventh year of the eight years promise of paradise. He came in 2008 after accusing the former party of god-fatherism and the need to put a stop to it. Little did we know, the political virus took another dimension, he became the God-father, imposing less worthy candidates on the people which marred the local government and state house of assembly election. A democratic dispensation became an autocratic one, it was a daylight deceit and abuse of office.

Two buildings of 3-storey in Central Hospital complex is taking 7 years without completion, when it took the first thief less than 1 year to build Stella Obasanjo(S.O.) medical facility. Some of the medical equipments bought for the S.O. medical facility by the first thief lie fallow, and uninstalled by this present administration while central hospital remains a mirage with low-staff! I applaud his giant strides here; however, if the Gully erosion control is not state sponsored, the water storm project is borrowed funds, the red-roof school rehabilitation are also 65% federal government counterpart funds, what exactly can we say Edo State Government(EDSG) has done with over 2.5 Billion Naira, monthly IGR, initial 14.7 Billion Naira World Bank loan, & monthly allocation since 2008 beyond some road renovations & construction sir? The total revenue received by this present government including IGR, Loans and federal allocation stand at Seven Hundred and twelve (712) Billion Naira.
Come 2016, he will leave, with the dead cliche; let the good work continue. Its time we start seeing Chief Lucky Igbinedion as a true son of the Edo Nation, and A HERO!

Credit :Bakore John; Marvis, Uyi and Wilson

You dont have a problem @OP. TRUE, She now sees you as a competition and if care is not taking, you ill become a competition that must be eliminated at all cost.
But here is the solution to all your problem, discuss all your ideals with her, out her in the spot light, and let her take all the credit (glory) for a job well done. Explain every bit of what you do (innovations) and how you intend to do it or did it to her just to the extent that she will be able to defend the job done. Remember, if you give out all your secret, you become a worthless piece of thrash.
If you simply remind the shadow behind the brain and let her take all the credit, you will enjoy your job if the following ways:

1). You will gain her trust and loyalty by helping her keep her job while you keep yours (quid pro quo) and everybody is happy.

2). She recommends you for a higher and better pay while you are happy doing what you do and you still win.

3). You will have job security cos she gets a new face in the company, i.e she becomes the beautiful face of your department while you are the make up tools. Without you , no her. So she will do everything to protect your interest because you become indispensible. So your job is guaranteed.

4). If she has other part time job that you can do on weekend or late night (during your spare time) to make extra cash, she will recommend you and you guys make extra cash so you will save more.

But in all, you must learn to get her to trust you and believe you will never become too proud to let out her secret cos if you do, you become a target again. So you pipe low let her take credit while you take the blame if there is any. It is called loyalty. If SHE GET ANOTHER JOB, YOU BECOME THE BOSS OR SHE CAN SIMPLY RECOMMEND YOU TO A BETTER PLACE WHERE YOU GO STILL CHOP TOMORO. Trust me it works and i am currently a benefactor of the above mentioned cos most time, i earn my entire one month salary in week simply doing the above and defending my boss and taking the blame cos i know she wont allow management sack me cos she is got my back.
Thnks and good luck.

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It seems you have a personal verdita . Know for one i dont support criminals, but at the same time i dont support an innocent man be paraded as a criminal whereas the real ones are walking the street and wrecking more evil. Go read the account of the lekki robber and the ikorodu robber and compare notes, it simply does not add up. I might be wrong but both stories smells faulty investigation and if you are a professional criminologist, you will come to the same conclusion. I have had several trials and trust me the police can hardly prove those eveidence and if they have the real criminals, its always easy they put you as the defence attorney on your toes and it makes criminal defence job more interesting but instead they do stupid jobs and the case gets thrown out. Like i said it profits me but you get tired of it at a point. Iamagine police arresting a man for wandering and he spends months in ikoyi prison whereas those that plie their trade around toyota /ladipo area are knon to the police yet they do nothing. Thats what i am saying man. catch the real criminals not dont fake it. As for evidence, trust the nigeria police they will always have evidence against a man buying ordinary groundnut on the street. talking from experience during trails boss.

vickylala239:
Innocent about Wat.

Do u read Wat is posted at all.

They Whr arrested wit evidence.

That d lawyers Whr Nt allowed access Dnt Mean Dey r innocent.

Weda that particular crime or anoda robbery case.u r a criminal.

Go and claim 500m Na u tink ur in America.all this charge n bail lawyers that will Neva win any case.the only tin Dey knw is appearance fee n transport.

They will Neva win a case.them go hustle around court premises for clients.

Go claim 500m Na wen u Neva Evn gt bicycle, Bt one old black suit.

U tink is by opening a thread.

hmmmmmm! I once opened a thread on nairaland wherein i did investigation and raised an alarm that those alleged Ikorodu robbers were innocent of that particular crime but no body listened. Shabi ona don see now? As a specialist in criminal defence, i should be claiming 500 million in damages.
nAIJA Police and their wrong job mentality that always get most of the cases struck out cos of their poor investigation. Dou he dey profit me sha

mini flats in cement and ayobo still available

...the critics of the applicant are worse off in my opinion cos we dont ever read. If you care to read the last paragraph of the applicant's letter, the writer says' with my O'level Certificate and experience '. He never held him self out as a graduate. So why not criticize the op who is holding the applicant out as a graduate, thereby tarnishing the good image of Nigeria graduates. And the funniest thing is that we are aiding him by not reading thru and thru the post and the letter.
We need to change.
Thanks
I rise.

The so called Nigeria Graduates/critics of the applicant are worse off in my opinion cos we dont ever read. If you care to read the last paragraph of the applicant's letter, the writer says' with my O'level Certificate' He never held him self out as a graduate. So why not criticize the op who is holding the applicant out as a graduate, there tarnishing the good image of Nigeria graduates. And the funnest thing is that we are aiding him by not reading thru and thru the post and the letter.
We need to change.
Thanks
I rise.

himkers:
He came looking for job in the firm where I work. I laughed after reading his letter and I wonder what kind of graduates our institutions are churning out.

So, finally you get a call. You buy a new formal outfit; you carry your documents with the right attitude. But wait! Did it ever occur to you what to AVOID and what NOT to do in an interview?

Interviews without a doubt can be a nerve wrecking experience. Sometimes even the smallest of actions or a taboo word can limit the possibilities of you being ‘the chosen one’ for the position you applied for.

After all, you must not risk attempting a poor performance interview in this tough and vulnerable job market. Let’s focus on some damage causing actions, behavior and attitude that you must avoid in an interview –

1. Excuses are tacky
You know you didn’t make it on time, and you support your argument with a number of excuses, unreasonable statements or cliched lines. You need to highly avoid these tacky excuses because it will make your position weak and lousy to even continue the session further.

2. Don’t arrive too early
It is the opposite of reaching late. Reaching 30 minutes before the scheduled time is the reflection of your anxiety streak. You certainly don’t want to be the desperate one amongst other job seekers on the list. Hold on to your anxiety there, and try to show up 5 to 10 minutes before the expected time.

3. Appearing clueless about the company
It has happened with many of us. You go unprepared in front of the panel and regret not being competent enough to make your point of view clear about the company’s mission and vision. Strictly digest this fact in your system – be well rehearsed about the company before hand to avoid the embarrassment.

4. Think before what you wear
You don’t want to make a show out there – so dress up under the guidelines of appropriate dress code. Be aware of wardrobe malfunction or inappropriate dress up. Always remember, appearance makes the first impression. You definitely don’t want to be remembered as an eccentric candidate after you leave the interview room.

5. Weary eyes & low pitch
Be aware of your verbal and non-verbal body language signals that you portray – knowingly or unknowingly. You must watch out your gestures along with bad posture that you may end up finding yourself in an awkward situation.

6. Stop badmouthing
Believe it or not but anything negative coming out of your mouth will make you look like an outlaw. Stay positive; nobody expects you to speak negative about your past opportunities. Just be honest yet appreciative about what you’ve learnt from your past.

7. Just don’t lie
In order to explain your skills, achievements and competencies you need to take support of examples and facts to make your candidature look confident and strong. This goes without saying that honesty is the best policy to achieve anything in life. Falsifying your statements with a wrong picture will get you in trouble on ethical terms. Just don’t do it!

8. ‘Umm.., Hmm.. & I don’t know’ are some forbidden words
One always fails to understand the formal pitch in an interview. How will you convince the other person if you don’t communicate with absolute clarity? Ambiguity in communicating yourself is NOT the right way to sell your profile. Hence, avoid all the words which can make you look nothing but a confused soul.

9. Don’t rush yourself, be a good listener
First sign of a competent person is to be a great listener. You need to listen first to make your point worthy enough. Consider it just an interview not a monologue. Enter the room with openness and curiosity. Take the communication with ease and most importantly, always listen first.

10. Don’t over exaggerate
We all know there’s a thin line between bragging and simply putting across the information. Self-aggrandizing banter would question your trustworthiness as a candidate. Let your resume speak for you, in case the matter is less exemplary, let it out with a less exaggerated tone.

11. What did you say my salary is?
Asking salary in the most initial stage shows the desperation. Avoid this question as much as possible, no matter how desperate you may be for the position. Let the organization initiate the salary talk. Waiting for the salary talk can be worth it to make you stand with full dignity.

12. Don’t wait, plan a follow up
There isn’t any rule book stating that only the hiring company is supposed to get back once the interview is done. Try to reconnect with the hiring team yourself post interview. In fact, it leaves a good impression on the other side if the follow up initiation is done

It is a fact that communication and thoughtful preparation is the prerequisite of a successful interview. Your people’s skills and etiquette’s can make a huge difference. So, before you gather a knack to crack your next interview, remember these tips and avoid them at every possible step of your interview journey.

"...fickle fate is a vicious goddess who brings no permanent good to anyone one. On the contrary she brings ruin to almost every man upon whom she showers unearned gold. She maketh wanton spenders, who soon dissipate all that they doest receive and are thus left beset by overwhelming appetites and desires they have not the ability to gratify...

An excutive mini flat so spacious it could pass for a 2bedroom flat located in a mini estate to let at Olufeso, very close ASCON service station.
*Gated house with ample parking space.
* Ample parking space.
* Extra large kitchen and bathroom.
* Two large lobbies.
Was built for personal use but now letting.
For inspection call: 08050718913(whatsapp); 08161781172.

total package is 190k for a year

Super clean 2 bedroom flat,mini flat and self contain with constant light, constant flowing water,PVC ceiling , all tiled right from the stair case, spacious kitchen and bathroom, excutive bedroom with wardrope to let.
Location: Ipaja ( 1 min trek to the early morning bus park)
Rent: 190k (total parkage for 1 year) foir the mini flat
260k for 2bedroom and 150k for the mini flat ( all total package)
Inspection: weekends only.
Call: 08161781172 ; 08050718913(whatsapp only)