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I was shocked to see too many white skin jawe,come see as dem cari eye dey luk me like say I be one ape

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United Kingdom has suspended its plan to impose 3,000 pounds visa bond on first time visitors from Nigeria.

It could not be confirmed if it has also suspended the policy in five other Commonwealth countries considered to be sources of “high risk” tourists to the UK.

The countries, where the country had, in June, proposed to implement the plan starting from November are Nigeria, India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity with our correspondent on Friday, said there had been no official communication from the home country on the visa bond which almost generated a diplomatic row between UK on one hand and the affected countries on the other hand.

He said, “We have not received any directive on the visa bond. This is an issue the two countries (Nigeria and UK) have approached through diplomacy.

“The policy cannot be implemented now because there is no official communication on it.”

 


http://www.punchng.com/news/uk-suspends-3000-pound-visa-bond/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I ill rather prefer to see her in a birthday outfit

The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has been named the most powerful man in Africa and 64th in the world by the Forbes magazine.

Dangote, who Forbes says is by far Africa’s richest man with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013, was ranked ahead of the likes of Fifa President, Sepp Blatter (69); Speaker, United States House of Representatives, John Boehner (66); and Founder, Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim (71).

The 56-year-old, Dangote, whose company is considered one of the most diversified on the list, is currently ranked 43 on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with his net worth over time said to be on the rise.

In August, the industrialist had announced plans by the Dangote Group to build a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria, a move which is expected to help the group further diversify its current business model and increase his net worth.

Away from his business interests, mention was also made of his philanthropic efforts in his profile on the Forbes website.

It reads in part, “Inspired by fellow billionaires, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, Dangote is making a name for himself on the philanthropic circuit and has given away millions to education, health and social causes in Africa.”

Apart from Dangote, Ibrahim is the only other African on the list, which contains 72 people.

Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, topped the list, displacing United States President, Barrack Obama, who dropped to the second spot for the first time in three years.

Chinese President, Xi Jinping, occupies the third spot, while the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, debuts on the list at number four.

Pope Francis, who was elected in March this year, leads 12 other new entrants.

Other notable new names on the list are Samsung Chairman, Lee Kun-Hee (41); Volkswagen’s Martin Winterkorn (49); South Korean President, Park Geun-hye (52); and Janet Yellen (72), who has been nominated by President Obama as the next leader of the US Federal Reserves.

The Executive Editor of the New York Times, Jill Abramson (68), makes a return appearance after dropping off the list in years past.

Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, aged 29, and North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, aged 30, are the youngest people on the list. Zuckerberg occupies the 24th place, while Kim is ranked 46th.

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, who occupies the eight spot, is the oldest person on the list. He is 89 years old.

The world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, is, however, not the most powerful man. The América Móvil honorary chairman occupies the 12th position.

According to Forbes, the Most Powerful People in the World list is an annual snapshot of the heads of state, financiers, philanthropists and entrepreneurs, who truly rule the world.

“It represents the collective wisdom of top Forbes editors, who consider hundreds of nominees before ranking the planet’s top 72 power-brokers – one for every 100 million people on earth – based on their scope of influence and their financial resources relative to their peers,” the magazine explained.

This year’s list features 17 heads of state, who run nations with a combined Gross Domestic Product of some $48tn.




http://www.punchng.com/news/forbes-names-dangote-africas-most-powerful-man/

A former Chief of General Staff, Vice Admiral Mike Akhigbe, is dead. He died in a New York hospital at around 1.06pm, about 7.pm Nigerian time on Monday.  Aged 68, Akhigbe, who was the second in command to the former military ruler, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, was said to have died of cancer-related ailment. Before his death on Monday, there was speculation over his state of health.

 The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, who confirmed his death, said his boss was the deceased’s course mate at the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Mark in a statement on Monday night described his death as the loss of “a brother, confidant, friend and comrade-at-arms.”

Mark, who was overwhelmed by emotions, recalled their days together  at the Nigerian Defence Academy, noting that “Mike was fearless and very diligent in our course.

“He took these attributes to all the formations where he was privileged to have been posted either in his core military postings or political offices.

“He was one of the poster boys of our Course 3 and we were all very proud of him. His death is a huge personal loss to me, the members of Course 3, the Armed Forces, Edo State and the nation.

“But we cannot question God. He alone gives life and takes it when he so desires. We are bound by his decision to take our brother and friend at this time,” he said.

Mark, who is the Chairman of Course 3 Alumni of the Nigerian Defence Academy, said, “We are however consoled that while Mike was with us, he lived his life in the service of God and mankind. May GOD grant all of us the fortitude to bear this very painful departure.”



http://www.punchng.com/news/akhigbe-dies-at-68/

Former  Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akihgbe is lying critically ill in an American hospital.
The former second in command to former military ruler, General Abdusalami Abubakar, has for several months been out of the country for medical treatment in the hospital for undisclosed ailment.
A close family source who spoke to P.M. NEWS on condition of anonymity,  dispelled rumours of his death as reported by a national newspaper  and other online media.
He, however, confirmed that Akhigbe was in critical condition at that hospital, adding that the published news of his death was an embarrassment to the entire Akhigbe family.
“Yes, he is lying critically ill in an American hospital, but he is still alive. The purported death of Mike Akhigbe as reported online and by one of the national daily newspapers is an embarrassment to the entire Akhigbe family,” the source said.
Akhigbe is from Fugar in  Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State, southern Nigeria.
He served as the military Vice President of Nigeria during the General Abdusalami Abubakar led military government from 1998 till the termination of military government in Nigeria, in 1999.
Akhigbe had also previously served as Military Governor of Nigeria’s Ondo State and Lagos State, after which he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, the highest-ranking officer of the Nigerian Navy.



http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/former-military-chief-general-mike-akhigbe-lying-critically-ill-us-hospital-pm-news-lagos

UGHELLI-THE fragile peace being enjoyed by Ughelli residents, was Sunday night threatened, following the kidnap of the proprietor of Shekina Medical Centre, Dr Richard Kofi by gunmen.
 
Meanwhile, Dr Richard Kofi in the early hours of yesterday escaped from his kidnappers den after a serious fight with one of the kidnappers who was keeping eyes on him in the hideout.
 
The gunmen numbering over six, according to sources intercepted their victim as he was driving into his hospital premises at about 7:30pm, adding that he was whisked away by the gunmen before they could realize what was happening.
 
The source, who pleaded anonymity said security operatives were immediately alerted, adding that; “the police, soldiers and men of the Ughelli vigilante group swung into action immediately.
 
“They were still trailing him when suddenly we heard of his escape from the clutches of his kidnappers.” Narrating his ordeal, Dr Richard Kofi said; “I was driving to the hospital at about 7:30pm when I noticed a car behind me close to Oharisi Primary School but I dint take it serious.
 
“I was approaching the hospital gate when suddenly the car that was following me behind intercepted me; behold! The four doors opened and the guys came out heavily armed. I am sure they came with two cars because other guys came out from nowhere.
 
“They quickly forced me into the back seat of my car after ordering me from the driver’s seat and zoomed off. I was blindfolded and taken into the bush. Two of the boys were asked to keep eyes on me in the bush and I told them ‘I be bad market o! I no get money o!’
 
“As luck would have it at about 7am, one of the boys left this morning leaving one behind; so I pleaded with him to allow me escape but he dint listen. At a point, I picked up courage and fought him. But as I made way to escape after hitting him hard, I dint know he was equipped with a cutlass, so he gave me a cut on my head.
 
“On sighting my blood, I picked a stick close to me and used it on him and he decided to run so I chased him to a point and find my way out of the bush. By the time I came out on the road, I saw welcome to Oviri-olomu it was only then I knew where I was.
 
“I was there when security operatives who were searching for me came and brought me to the hospital for treatment.” Confirming the incident, the Area Commander, Ughelli Area Command, Mr Awosola Awotunde said; “we have recovered the car in Warri and 10 persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnap.
 
“The police is carrying out thorough investigation into the matter. I can assure you the culprits will be brought to book. We are not leaving any stone unturned in curbing criminal activities in the area. You know, Christmas is coming and the boys are looking for money; we will show them. Ughelli and its environs is not a safe haven for hoodlums.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/abducted-medical-doctor-escapes-kidnappers-den-delta/

weekend, to unleash mayhem during the presentation of manifestoes’ by presidential aspirants of the Ijaw Youth Congress.

The IYC manifestation presentation is scheduled for Monday (today) in the state.

It was learnt that scores of armed youths infiltrated the IzonWare building, the venue of the manifesto presentation to attack youths and vandalised the glass-designed entrance into the auditorium hall.

The attack, which was allegedly orchestrated by some loyalists of the former executive of the IYC, overwhelmed the security apparatus for the election.

An eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said, “The boys came into the venue under the guise of being part of the ongoing manifesto presentation and unleashed violence on peace-loving members. They vandalised the entrance doors and injured several persons.”

One of the 17 aspirants for IYC presidency, Mr. Elvis Donkemezuo, raised the alarm over alleged plan by some cultists to cause violence and disrupt the Monday election.

According to Donkemezuo, if urgent steps were not taken to address the situation, there would be bloodbath during the elections.


http://www.punchng.com/metro/iyc-election-cultists-unleash-mayhem-in-yenagoa/

Lagos – Over 2,000 workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) on Monday embarked on protest over the delay in payment of severance benefits to about  55 per cent of the workforce.
The workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Electrical Employees (NUEE), staged the protest at the Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies and threatened to commence indefinite strike on Nov. 1.
“The reports reaching the union is that majority of banks cannot give financial backing to the schedule sent to them by the Federal Government.
“This means that government does not have money,’’ Mr Adeleke Ibrahim, the Chairman of Lagos Chapter of NUEE, who led the protest, told reporters.
The union official said that if the workers’ entitlements were not paid by the end of October, the entire workforce of PHCN in all the 36 states would embark on indefinite strike.
Ibrahim said that the union was not against privatisation of the company, “but government should pay all workers’ entitlements before the new owners will commence operation’’.
He appealed to government to ensure that all the agreements it signed with the workers were met to avert the strike.
Ibrahim said that some of the issues in contention included non-payment of retirement savings to pension fund administrators and non-remittance of dues of two per cent deducted from workers’ salaries to the unions.
Others are non-payment of benefits of retirees who disengaged in 2011 and non-regularisation of service of some casual workers.
NAN reports that the workers, who carried placards with different inscriptions, locked the gates to the two offices and prevented people from entering the premises. (NAN)

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/phcn-workers-threaten-fresh-strike-give-fg-4-day-ultimatum/

IN the military or para-military parlance, espirit d’corps is used to reflect the harmony or spirit of togetherness amongst officers working towards achieving a common goal and it is in most cases observed and respected. But that was not the case for Mr. Effa Okim, a detective and staffer of the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja office.
Okim is battling to save his life as he is nearly blind after being thoroughly beaten by policemen under alleged instructions from an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in charge of operations in Ebonyi State Police Command, Stephen Esimaje.
Already, the EFCC detective has written to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission and the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Public Petitions, while the family has also written to the AIG Zone 6, Calabar, alleging assault, battery, molestation, abuse of office and attempted murder orchestrated attack and official misconduct.
Okim nearly died on 28 February, 2013, when he went on an official assignment at Enugu. After the assignment, he decided to travel to nearby Abakaliki Ebonyi state capital to see a relation.
It was gathered that whenever Okim travelled to Abakiliki, he always lodged at one Adig Suites and, on that fateful day, he led contact one of his friends, Austine, who placed a call for hotel reservation at the Suites.
Because he was said not to have finished his assignment in Enugu early enough, he got to the hotel in Abakiliki in the evening in company of Austine.
While Austine was helping to sort out the accommodation, Okim decided to go to the swimming pool as the weather was hot. Then, about 10 fierce looking men in mufti with a uniformed police officer approached him at the swimming pool and ordered him out
The petition to the Chairman, Police Service Commission, dated March 1, 2013, sent through Okim’s lawyer, U.C. Igba, stated: Our client informed us that in obedience, he felt that the presence of the uniformed police officer would provide a protection for him lest the persons were to be assailants. To the utter chagrin of our client, when he climbed up to the pool side, the said persons alongside the uniformed police officer descended on him and gave him the beating of his life.”
Okim alleged that as he was still trying to come to terms with the onslaught, “the said assailants dragged him like a common criminal to a person who introduced himself as the Assistant Commissioner (Operations), State Command Headquarters, Abakiliki.”
The victim further alleged that the attempt he made to introduce himself to the ACP that he was an EFCC staffer attracted a resounding slap on his face and that, if not the presence of Austine, his friend, he would have been a dead person.
It was also reported that the timely intervention of good Samaritans who smuggled him out of the vicinity to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki for immediate medical treatment saved him. He claimed that the attack almost made him blind eyes have been blinded and covered with blood.
The petition said, “Our client lost vision and consciousness owing to the attack but got revived at the said hospital. We are taken aback at the level of terror and unprovoked attack unleashed on the person of our client without a just cause. The surprise is most alarming as it came from a high ranking officer of the Nigeria Police of the Ebonyi State Command. One would ponder to ask if the police is an instrument of terrorism.”
Meanwhile, the Okim family has also petitioned the AIG Zone 6, Calabar over the alleged attack. In a petition signed by Mr. Raymond Obaji, the family is calling on the AIG to expedite investigation into the assault on their son, under the alleged instructions of ACP Esimaje.
The petition wondered how a citizen assault could be brutalized by the police who are supposed to protect lives without cause and called for justice to be done.
In a related development, the victim has applied to the Federal High Court, Abakiliki for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
The application made by Okim’s counsel, Patrick Ekuri Esq, accused ACP Esimaje with the other policemen, nine of whom were in mufti of attacking and battering him in a swimming pool at Adig Suites, Abakiliki.
In an affidavit he deposed to, he said he had resisted the order from the men in mufti ordering him out of the pool because of the “menacing manner” they approached him fearing they were kidnappers, adding that he obliged them when the uniformed policeman joined them to ask him to climb out of the pool.
“Honestly, I feared that I may be kidnapped,” he stated and that he demanded an explanation for the obtrusive order to leave the pool for which the policemen descended on him beating him to a pulp, first with blows and kicks to the face and legs, and continued the beating as he fell to the floor with the butt of the gun, boots and other weapons on the forehead, eyes and chest.
He further said that while the beating was going on, the assailants were shouting, “Oga say we should deal with you, we will kill you today.’
The petition went on: “In a state of near coma, he was helplessly dragged to a man sitting in the midst of girls drinking, who introduced himself as “AC Ops” Ebonyi Police Command and that the men who had brutally manhandled him were the “AC Ops boys.”
He said the AC demanded to know his identity and was informed that he was a staffer of the EFCC. “This appeared to annoy the ACP all the more, he personally slapped and beat me, screaming, ‘You are stupid and lucky that they didn’t kill you” after which the beating resumed until they left me half dead.
Okim claimed that he was smuggled by sympathetic guests at the hotel after the police had prevented an initial attempt to take him to hospital for treatment and that at the teaching hospital, he was treated for multiple injuries and impaired vision and that he reported the mater to Ebonyi State Police Commissioner.
Since the alleged brutality, Okim has been taken to many hospitals on admission including the Abuja Clinic and the Imperial College Health Care, Western Eye Clinic, Western Eye Hospital 171 Marylebone Road, London Northwest. ISQH I, to see if he could regain his vision.
The beatings had affected him physically such that he cannot use a laptop, phone or watch television or any bright screen or object.
It was gathered that the AIG of Police Zone 6 under which the Ebonyi Command operates, Mr. Samuel Johnson, told a reporter on inquiry that the matter was being investigated and that he hoped Okim would have confidence in his ability and that of the Inspector-General of Police to handle the matter.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/power-show-top-police-officer-ordered-attack-nearly-killed-efcc-official/

There was a minor accident on Friday at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, involving a Turkish Airline aircraft and a Max Air plane. The Turkish Airline plane wings collided with that of Max Air plane which had brought in Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the Turkish Airplane had landed safely but was taxiing to stop at the airport’s apron when its wing collided with that of Max Air.

The collision resulted in minor damages to both airplanes and sources said they had been  taken away for repairs.

An online newspaper said the Spokesman, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, confirmed the incident. He however said damages to the aircraft belonging to both airlines were minor and that both planes had been taken away for repairs.

A similar incident occurred last year in Jos, Plateau State, when an Arik plane wings brushed an Airforce jet parked at the apron when the plane was taxiing to stop. There was also no casualty in the incident but only damages to both planes.

http://www.punchng.com/news/two-planes-collide-at-lagos-airport/

The Delta State Government failed on Friday in its bid to claim the $15 million allegedly offered as bribe by former governor James Ibori to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja ordered that the money, estimated at N4.6b, be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in a judgment held that the earlier denial by Ibori that he owned the money, and the failure of Delta State to prove that the fund was removed from its treasury, qualified the money as an “unclaimed property.”
The judge further held that in view of the circumstances surrounding the case, where people were reluctant to openly claim its ownership, the money qualified to be forfeited to the Federal Government “as fund derived from unlawful act,” as stipulated under the Money Laundering and EFCC Acts 2004.
The judge wondered why no one claimed the money between April 25 and 26, 2007 when EFCC said the money was offered its officials by Ibori and July 27, 2012 when the FG advertised in a national daily that the fund was to be forfeited.
Justice Kolawole, who dubbed the case – “the unclaimed $15m scandal,” – queried why the Delta State government waited until a July 27 advertorial published by the FG, before it decided to claim ownership of the money.
The EFCC had in April 2007 accused Ibori of offering its then Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu and some others officials $15 million bribe in a bid to stop his prosecution.


http://thenationonlineng.net/new/delta-losses-bid-retrieve-iboris-15m/

Where's YUZEDO(the banana iceland goat thief)oya come and clear the air oo,let's hear d real truth from u....mikel don snatch ur woman ni?

The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress  has threatened to call a nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government failed to stop the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

The NLC in a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Kaduna, on Wednesday, said that it was unfortunate that the government had not taken the expected steps to stop the ongoing strike that had crippled academic activities in public universities.

The President of the NLC, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar and the Acting General Secretary of the Congress, Mr. Chris Uyot, accused the Federal Government of sponsoring protests against ASUU instead of resolving the lingering crisis.

They warned that the NLC would not hesitate to call out Nigerian workers to protest across the country if the present situation was not changed by the Federal Government.

Omar and Uyot also stated that the NLC had taken a decision to intervene in the crisis rocking the university system in order to save Nigerian students from needless pains.

“NEC-In-Session expresses its deep concern for the near total collapse of the education sector. It is a sad commentary that government has allowed the strike by ASUU  to drag on for so long with incalculable consequences.

“Rather than resolve these issues, government is busy sponsoring protest groups against ASUU.

“NEC cautions that if government persists with this line of action, it will mobilize its members to stage counter protests across the country. It has the will and the capacity and it advises that government should not test that will.”

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor, The Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, Prof. Adebayo Adeyemi, has described the lingering ASUU strike as a national problem, and not a blessing to the private universities.

Adeyemi while briefing the press on Wednesday on its 5th forthcoming convocation, said both the Federal Government and ASUU should meet and reach an implementable agreement, so that the strike could be called off.

http://www.punchng.com/news/nlc-threatens-strike-over-asuufg-crisis/

Some members of the late Ikemba Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu’s family have accused the wife of the deceased, Bianca, of greed by laying claim to some property which she felt belonged to her late husband.

In a 19-paragraph statement of defence filed before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, the Ojukwu Transport Limited and seven family members said they would subject Bianca to the strictest proof in the suit which she filed on behalf of her two underage sons.

The two sons – Afamefuna and Nwachukwu – are the claimants on record in the suit.

Accusing Bianca of being greedy, they stated that for over 12 years prior to the death of Odimegwu-Ojukwu, he had  moved to Enugu State and had since then not lived in any of the company’s property as alleged by the claimants.

Their statement of defence read, “The property belongs to the first defendant (the company). The fact is that the claimants’ mother, being greedy, felt she could hold onto the first defendant’s properties.

“For over 12 years prior to his death, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu moved to Enugu and since then had not lived at the first defendant’s property as alleged by the claimants.”


http://www.punchng.com/news/relatives-accuse-bianca-of-greed-over-ojukwus-property/

Embattled Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, was on Wednesday conspicuously absent at the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Oduah is currently in the eye of the storm over the purchase of two bulletproof cars for her by the Nigerians Civil Aviation Authority. The vehicles are valued at a whopping $1.6m (about N225m).

Many stakeholders had been calling for her sack or resignation while the Presidency had so far kept mum on the matter.

State House correspondents who had resolved to take up the matter with the minister before or after the FEC meeting were disappointed as she failed to show up at the time the meeting started a few minutes after 10am.


http://www.punchng.com/news/embattled-aviation-minister-absent-at-fec-meeting/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a retired naval captain, Okorie Ogbonnaya, for allegedly defrauding Oceanic Bank Plc (now Ecobank Plc) of over N540m.
The commission also arrested Ogbonnaya’s lawyer, Emmanuel Mbajuwon, for conspiring with his client to perpetrate the fraud.
EFCC Head of Operations, Iliyasu Kwarbai, told PUNCH Metro that 51-year-old Ogbonnaya committed the alleged  fraud under the pretext of importing bags of rice from Thailand for Cooperative Federation of Imo State.
He said Ogbonnaya took a loan of N196m from the bank and also caused the bank to lose $2.4m after the bank had issued him a letter of credit to a foreign bank.
He said, “Sometime in 2011, Ogbonnaya, who is the owner of Akaeze Ventures Enterprise, approached Cooperative Federation of Imo State saying he could supply them with rice below the market value.

“Ogbonnaya was able to obtain a bank guaranty from Imo State Government to Oceanic Bank and subsequently got a letter of credit from the bank worth $6.5m.
“The rice manufacturers, based on the documents received from Oceanic Bank, supplied Ogbonnaya with the rice and also gave him $90,000 to be used for logistics and other miscellaneous affairs which would be refunded to the manufacturers after the rice had been sold.”
The EFCC alleged that the retired naval officer squandered the $90,000 which should have been used for clearing the goods.
Kwarbai alleged that the suspect, in desperation, urged members of the cooperative to pay N20m in advance for the rice and also approached the bank for a loan of N196m to finance his business.
He said, “Ogbonnaya approached his lawyer, Mbajuwon, to stand surety for him and he took a loan of N196m from the bank. The shipment was supposed to be the collateral but Ogbonnaya was able to clear the goods and sideline the bank.
“Mbajuwon was also able to get a court order restraining the bank from having access to the rice and soon after, Ogbonnaya disappeared, making it difficult for the bank to trace him even after the bank was able to overturn the dubious court order.”
The EFCC alleged that the suspects were able to sell all the rice without giving the bank any of the money.
It was also alleged that the suspects opened a joint account with First Bank of Nigeria Plc, where they deposited the money and later transferred to a foreign bank.
Kwarbai added, “Ogbonnaya sald only a portion of the rice to the cooperative and then moved others to some other companies at the market value. Yet, after getting all this money, he did not pay Oceanic Bank a dime.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that when the bank was able to locate the suspect, only bags of rice worth N1m, were left.
The EFCC told our correspondent that Ogbonnaya did not even pay for the rice that had been bought, causing the foreign bank to obtain another $2.24m from Oceanic Bank.
Kwarbai said, “Since Oceanic bank was the one that issued a letter of credit for Ogbonnaya, and he did not pay for the rice, Oceanic Bank was compelled to pay the money thereby incurring a double loss.”
The suspects, it was learnt, would be charged to court on Wednesday (today) for fraud.


http://www.punchng.com/metro/ex-naval-officer-lawyer-arrested-for-n540m-bank-fraud/

UYO — The Paramount Ruler of Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Ubong Assam, was yesterday, abducted by no fewer than 30 gunmen, who stormed his palace at 2a.m.
The kidnappers took the royal father to Unyeghe village, Mbo Local Government Area in a car, transferred him to a waiting speedboat and left for the high seas.
The kidnap, it was learnt, might be in connection with N2.6 billion compensation paid by ExxonMobil to the four host local government communities, which the youths had rejected.
Although the security personnel attached to the royal father attempted to rescue him, the kidnappers’ superior fire power won the day.
The Paramount Ruler, who was sleeping when the gunmen struck was, according to a source, not maltreated by the abductors.
The source said the abductors were demanding N150 million ransom to release the victim, as their share of the compensation money, which they claimed they joined in agitating for.
A family source said: “Some of the gun shots sounded like bomb blasts. The operation was like an invasion.”
The Esit Eket Divisional Police Officer could not be reached, but a senior police officer that identified himself as Ogar, said they had received distress calls around 2a.m., but that before Police arrived, the kidnappers had gone.
Youths of Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno local government areas of the state, last week came out to say they had demanded for N26.5 billion from the oil giant due to the oil spill last year September, but that the company paid N2.6 billion.
They had alleged that some of the royal fathers in the area connived with the oil company to shot-change them.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/30-gunmen-storm-palace-kidnap-monarch/

A heavily armed killer squad allegedly operating at the behest of Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary education, Patrick Muoboghare, unleashed terror early hours of Sunday on the Uwheru community in Ughelli North local government area.
Several members of the community told SaharaReporters that the armed thugs had killed one George Imiti in an earlier attack on October 2.
In last Sunday’s attack, the thugs reportedly destroyed at least 12 houses, several cars and other property valued at millions of naira. Our sources said the armed thugs targeted community members perceived to be supporters of Clement Osieta, the town’s former President General and a political foe of Mr. Muoboghare. Mr. Osieta, who has taken refuge in Abuja, said the killer squad was sent to assassinate him, but went on a rampage when they could not locate their main target.
SaharaReporters learnt that many residents and indigenes had deserted the once peaceful Urhobo community following the bloody attacks. 
Until last week, Mr. Osieta was the senior special assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on community relations. Several sources said he and Mr. Muoboghare had been locked in a political battle over the leadership of Uwheru clan. A community leader accused the commissioner of using official apparatus, including soldiers, to intimidate and harass Mr. Osieta and his associates.
SaharaReporters had reported that youths belonging to the PDP had beaten and stabbed Mr. Muoboghare on September 7, 2013 as he tried to doctor the Uwheru ward executive list of the PDP at the party secretariat at Ughelli. 
Speaking from police headquarters, Abuja where he took refuge, Mr. Osieta alleged that there had been several attempts to assassinate him. He accused the commissioner of perpetrating a series of illegal acts in the community. 
“The killer squad of Professor Patrick Muoboghare has gone to acquire guns and bullets [in order] to attack all my political associates at night,” he said, adding that the squad had a list of persons they would take as hostages. In addition, he said the squad had instructions to burn his house and that of the PDP chairman in the community. “As we talk [the local PDP chairman’s] car has already been destroyed. Professor Muoboghare has used his killer squad to destroy over 12 houses and property worth over N40 million. He told his hoodlums to do whatever they like because he owns the Delta State government.”
Both Mr. Osieta and other sources in the community stated Mr. Muoboghare’s armed thugs were led by one Macpherson Igbedi. “Once they arrived in Uwheru, they shot sporadically. They destroyed houses and vehicles and also looted shops.”
Mr. Osieta claimed that Mr. George Imiti died from severe injuries he had sustained at the hands of Mr. Muoboghare’s armed thugs.
Among those whose properties were destroyed in the weekend attack is Mr. Pioneer Ogagamuero, the PDP chairman in Uwheru. A source said his house and Toyota Corolla car were burnt.
A community leader said he and others knew some of those who carried out Sunday’s attacks. They included Igho Aragba, Jeo Erekata, Gabriel Umukoro, Godspower Ojomi, Monday Owhosiri, Oghenekaro Umukoro, Gabriel Okoribo, Benjamin Owhoreko,  James Omovwe, Daniel Muoboghare, Edward Eyamu, Emijevwe Ikpepu, and Mitayire Aragba. He said four other men wearing police bulletproof were part of the attackers.
The source alleged that the meetings to plan the widespread destruction took place at the Warri residence of Uwheru caretaker chairman, Colonel Douglas Ushure (rtd) who was also accused of promised to support Mr. Muoboghare with arms and ammunition.
Reacting to a text message, Mr. Muoboghare neither debunked nor admitted the allegations. “I am sure you are aware of my situation right now. I am still recovering from what you know happened to me. The young man [Mr. Osieta] is wanted by the police. Has he shown up?”


http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/delta-commissioner’s-killer-squad-unleashes-terror-kills-one-destroys-cars-houses

After Rihanna posed for photos at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque last weekend, its staff asked the singer to leave, according to The Associated Press. Overseers at the mosque later explained
that Rihanna had been in an area that was typically off-limits to visitors and that her fashion-style shoot didn't support the "status and sanctity of the mosque.
" Images of the photo shoot, which Rihanna posted to her Instagram account, depict the pop star in a black outfit with her hair covered striking poses and lying down around the grounds of the mosque.
The singer was accused of violating the mosque rules by "behaving in any way that is inconsistent with the sanctity of this religious place"
Information has it that, she was told to put more clothes on by a farmer in 2011 when she turned up topless on his land to film a music video.
And is seems Rihanna's care free attitude and decision to do what she wants when she wants has landed her in a bit of trouble again.
This time she was fully clothed, yeah shock horror, but sparked outrage when she posted pictures of herself on Instagram posing at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in UAE.
The controversial singer was dressed head-to-toe in black and complied with the mosque's guidelines by covering her hair.
But not content with the lack of pizazz, she sexed up her look with crimson lippy, painted nails and a pout that would make a bloke's heart skip a beat.
Her actions have been slammed as being "disrespectful" for a place of worship and it's reported to have violated rules on the "status and sanctity of the mosque."
One person wrote on Twitter: "I love Rihanna but then posing so seductively in front of the mosque is so disrespectful."
Another added: "Rihanna pics at Sheikh Zayed mosque are disrespectful to the place of worship."
While someone writing under the alias of @BinttAlthee tweeted: "Rihanna modelling in the Sheikh Zayed mosque is just plain wrong. Who let her in?"
A statement issued by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre to The National said: "The Centre strives to ensure that visitors enter the mosque in a decent fashion, and refrain from behaving in any way that is inconsistent with the sanctity of this religious place.
"Here, the Centre refers to a recent incident, involving a singer who came for a private visit to the mosque, at a gate that is not reserved for visitors, without prior coordination with the Centre's management and without identifying herself.
"She was directed by visitor services to proceed to the visitors' main gate and take the guided tour, according to procedure.
"She left without entering the mosque, after being asked to do so, due to the fact that she had taken some pictures that do not conform with the conditions and regulations put in place by the Centre's management to regulate visits in a way that takes the status and sanctity of the mosque into consideration."


http://www.ipaidabribenaija.com/mobile/news.php?id=65946

A former Ambassador of United States to Nigeria, Mr. Walter Carrington, has said no fewer than three million Nigerians live and work in US and Canada.

He stated that Nigerians abroad excelled in their sectors of the US society.

According to him, Nigerians are the most accomplished immigrant group in the US, said the former envoy, while speaking on Monday at the 29th convocation lecture of the University of Ilorin.

The lecture was titled, ‘On the dawn of Nigeria’s second century: challenges to a new generation’.

He, however, stated that he found out that Nigerians in the Diaspora do not want to come back home for fear of corruption and growing insecurity.

The envoy noted that the country was blessed with great human and material resources.

He said Nigeria had an unmatched pool of human resources, adding that no country in Africa had such a richness of human capital.


http://www.punchng.com/news/over-three-million-nigerians-in-us-canada-carrington/

The newly-appointed Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Justice Ibrahim Bukar, today in Abuja withdrew the case files of former Nigerian governors undergoing trial for corruption.
Justice Bukar requested all judges in the FCT to return the case files of several of the governors, some of whom are reportedly being considered for ministerial appointments by President Goodluck Jonathan.
A source at the FCT High Court said the new chief judge did not state why the case files were being withdrawn, but it is being suspected that he plans to do away with the cases.  Some of the cases were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since 2007.
Since coming to power in 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan has boosted and encouraged corruption in several ways, including through declaring he would not publicly declare his assets; refusing to push actively for action against corrupt officials, especially within his government; and pardoning a corrupt former governor, DSP Alaimeiyeseigha.
Several officials at the EFCC have also confided in SaharaReporters that Mr. Jonathan has directly interfered in their work and stopped several high profile investigations on corruption by asking the EFCC chairman to not investigate some of the most corrupt public officials in his administration.
A source at the EFCC noted that the case of former Governor Jolly Nyame had reached an advanced stage, with nine witnesses already called, lamenting that the case file is among those withdrawn today.
In recent months, President Jonathan has repeatedly declared corruption in Nigeria to be “exaggerated.”
Only last week, it emerged that his Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, compelled a struggling agency in the Ministry to purchase two overpriced luxury motor vehicles for her use at an incredible cost of N225million.  The public uproar that has followed the story has been ignored by Mr. Jonathan.



http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/chief-judge-abuja-withdraws-case-files-former-governors-undergoing-corruption-trial

Alternative is to salute dat person

The 2013 BBA love game is finally over between the Nigeria female representative Beverly Osu and South African, Angelo. The duo had a rift and misunderstanding while Angelo was in Nigeria recently
and both party has since then moved on accepting they can't be togethe.
Beverly Osu is said to be depressed after the development.
Angelo has since moved on with his ex, who he once denied. Words emanating from South Africa suggest the couple are now back in love and they've been spotted at different hang out spot in South Africa.

 http://www.ipaidabribenaija.com/mobile/news.php?id=65900

Most men, who are willing to get married, just want a happy and easy-going woman who has good values. Want a marriage proposal fast? Then embrace these tips

1. You are not bossy

When a man first meets you, and thinks your character trait is OK, he starts to feel he should propose and walk down the aisle with you. However, once he starts to feel like he is in grammar school being told what to do by his teacher, he will take a walk.

2. Don’t play games with his heart

Never ever think that being a game player will help you get a man. Though he might be intrigued by a hard-to-get lady in the beginning, as soon as he decides that he is interested in her, all he wants is an honest straight-shooter.

3. Don’t want to change him

 Some women claim to love a man ‘just the way he is’ but little by little, they want to change everything about him. First, it’s his wardrobe, then, it’s his taste in music. Never attempt to change his friends and his hobbies either.

4. You don’t get jealous

 A jealous woman is on edge always because she is very distrusting. Just because you have been hurt in the past, don’t be on guard for anything that looks or feels wrong. When a man first meets such a woman, he wants to reassure her that he is nothing like that guy in her past. However, once she accuses him one too many times, he will have no choice but to leave her because he can’t go through his life being prosecuted for somebody else’s crimes. So, learn to trust.

5. You are not clingy

As a woman, you must have something going on in your own life so that you are not always clinging to him. Don’t be too difficult for a man to date, let alone marry. At first, he is flattered that you are so in love with him and wants to be around him always; but very quickly, he feels overwhelmed and suffocated by you.

6. You don’t see him as a father

Not all men like to be viewed as a father figure. Initially, he might like how you look to him for approval and the answer to all of your questions, but soon, he realises that he wants to be intimate with a real woman, not someone who is stuck in her teen years trying to get daddy to notice her.

7. Not tied to your mother’s apron strings

 A man is comfortable with you when he realises you don’t call on your mother always to make a decision on your affair with him. He gets scared the more when you cannot do without getting her opinion on everything.

8. You don’t talk about others always

Most guys are turned off when you always love to gossip and talk about other people. Not only that, when you love to hear things about other people as well. Initially, this could entertain him but eventually, he begins to wonder what you are saying when he is not around.

9. You are yourself

You don’t have to be everyone else! A  lady, who is constantly talking about what other people do and what they have, places a lot of undue pressure on her man.  Be yourself, live your size per time and shun pretences.

10. You appreciate his mother/siblings

Never make negative comments on mothers-in-law whenever you are around him. Let him know his mother is as special to you just as she is to him.  His siblings? Show love to even the nastiest of them all.

By IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI & HENRY UMORU, Abuja
It was a sad day in the camp of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, yesterday, as a Federal High Court in Abuja declared its activities illegal, just as it ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to only recognize the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur led national officers of the party.
Reacting to the development, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje led group also vowed to pursue its case to a logical conclusion even to the Supreme Court, just as it said it will continue to use the party’s flag, symbol and colours as bonafide members of PDP.


In a judgment delivered yesterday, Justice Elvis Chukwu, specifically ordered Baraje, Dr. Jaja Sam Jaja, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to forthwith, desist from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP.
Basking in the euphoria of the judgement, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur immediately warned the Abubakar Kawu Baraje- led nPDP which has in its fold former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, aggrieved  Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Abdulfatah  Ahmed of Kwara; Aliyu Babangida of Niger; Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state; Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa and Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State, among others to stop making utterances, issuing press statements, holding meetings or be treated as impostors and criminals.
According to the national leadership of PDP, with the receipt of the Judgment of the Federal High Court which upheld the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee as the authentic one, the Tukur- led PDP remains the only recognised PDP.
The PDP however warned that with this development, the Abubakar Kawu Baraje- led New PDP must not rear its head again or be crushed.
In a statement signed yesterday by PDP national Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said,   “For the avoidance of doubt, the ruling of the court in this regard is absolutely clear, direct and unambiguous. The PDP has only one duly elected National Executive Committee under the National Chairmanship of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
”We wish therefore to state with all emphasis that any group of persons parading themselves as leaders of this organ of our party are impostors and must be treated as criminals by all and sundry.
”Henceforth, the leadership of the PDP will no longer tolerate or condone any meeting, utterances, press statements and/or activities whatsoever under the name, flag and colour of the PDP by any unauthorized person or group(s) under any guise.
”As a law abiding party, the PDP remained calm in the face of the unwarranted attacks of the last few months. Our leaders chose the path of caution and decorum but our reconciliatory moves and offer of olive branch were treated with the highest disdain and viewed as signs of weakness.
”The National Working Committee has therefore directed that the name, colour, flag and the provisions of constitution of our party must be held sacrosanct by our members. The PDP has adequate internal mechanism for resolution of disagreements and members are advised to express their grievances through such.
In its own statement, the Baraje-led nPDP National Publicity Secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, said: “Let us reiterate that we will see this issue to a logical conclusion, including going to the Supreme Court, if necessary, to ensure that a non-member of our party does not continue to lord it over us as our National Chairman. Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his loyalists should, therefore, not celebrate yet as any such celebration would be short-lived as we are more than ever determined to show him the way out of the exalted position he is illegally occupying.
”We meanwhile insist that we have every right to continue using the PDP flag, symbol and colours, as we are bonafide members of the party and thus entitled to use them”.
The group also called for a holistic investigation into alleged plot to kidnap Governor Chibuike Amaechi of RiversState, warning that with the experience of Senator Chris Ngige as governor of AnambraState then, the matter as reported in the media must not be swept under th carpet.
It would be recalled that prior to the judgement, the defendants, hitherto declared themselves as executive officers of a splinter group of the party popularly referred to as the ‘nPDP’.
Whereas Baraje and Jaja acted as the Chairman and Deputy National Chairman of the ‘rebel’ group, Oyinlola, served as their National Secretary. The group equally opened a parallel national secretariat of the nPDP in Abuja.
Dissatisfied with the action, Tukur, alongside all the national officers that emerged from the controversial special convention of the party held on August 31, filed a suit where it listed all the key players in the nPDP as defendants.
Equally joined as a defendant in the suit was the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Deciding on the matter yesterday, Justice Chukwu, restrained the defendants from operating or opening a parallel National, State, Local Government Area and Ward Secretariat of the party in any part of the country, adding that they should henceforth, refrain from interfering with the duties and functions of all the PDP national officers that emerged via the special congress of the party held at the Eagle Square in Abuja on August 31.
To further cripple activities of the splinter group, Justice Chukwu, who relied on the provisions of sections 222 and 223 of the 1999 constitution, section 80 of the Electoral Act and section 49 of the PDP Constitution, held that the defendants, having failed to participate or  be elected at the said PDP special convention, lacked the legal right  to represent the party in any capacity.
While dismissing  preliminary objections filed against the suit by the defendants, the court, maintained that in line with provisions of the sections, the nPDP, “cannot  claim  the status of a valid political party in Nigeria”, noting that for any group to function as a political party, “it must have the addresses of its national officers documented and registered with the INEC.”
Consequently, the court barred INEC from, “recognizing or dealing with the defendants, their privies, staff, representatives or  lawyers, as national officers of the PDP, under whatever name or acronym”.
The court  had earlier held that in view of section 251 of the 1999 constitution, it has the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
According to the Judge, “The cause of action of the plaintiff as endorsed in the Writ of Summons, determines the jurisdiction of  the court to entertain a particular  suit. From  all intent and purpose, there is a cause of action before the court that needs a redress.
“The form of commencement of an action does not make it irrelevant, what is important is the justice of the case.
“It is equally trite  that cases are won by concrete evidence and not by written addresses of counsel. Cases are never decided by addresses but by credible evidence.   I hold that the material facts or material averments in address of the plaintiffs were not controverted by the defendants.
“Evidence before me has shown that there was a special congress of the PDP held and monitored by the INEC on August 31. It is obvious that the plaintiffs have proved that they are entitled to the reliefs sought in their Originating Summons.
“I am not in doubt that matters bothering on internal affairs of a political party are non justiceable. However, does the instant case fall within the purview of domestic affair of a party? My answer is in the negative. It can never qualify as an internal affair of a political party as individual rights have been infringed upon.
“In line with section 251(1) of the constitution, this court has jurisdiction to entertain this suit. I have no doubt in my mind that the preliminary objections ought to fail and I so hold.”
More so, the court which said it was satisfied that the suit was competent, further waved aside the argument of the defendants that individual members of the Tukur-led executives of the party, not being “juristic  personalities” under the law, ought not to have sued in their personal capacities, but the offices they purportedly won.
The court held that the plaintiffs could sue in their individual names and collectively, even as it dismissed contention of the defendants that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process in view of a similar suit they said was filed on the same subject matter before a High Court in Lagos state.
The court noted that whereas the case in Lagos, relates to a congress that was purportedly held by members of  the nPDP at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre Abuja on August 30 through which the Baraje -led group allegedly emerged as national officers of the party, the instant case, bothered on the congress held on August 31 which produced the Tukur -led officers of the party.
The court said there was a reasonable cause of action against INEC in the case before it considering that the  election that brought the Tukur-led executives into power was duly monitored by the electoral body.
Basically, the defendants had argued that the suit was incurably incompetent as it was commenced via an Originating Summons instead of Writ of Summons.
It was their contention that in view of the controversial nature of the case, the court ought to have entered pleadings of all the parties and listen to oral testimony of witnesses, to enable it to ascertain the validity of the election that produced the Tukur -led group of the party.
The defendants maintained that the plaintiffs failed to produce the register of voters that participated in the said election, the result sheet, or documents to show that the plaintiffs stood and won the election, adding that, “the court being a court of record should not rely on speculation. The plaintiffs cannot claim victory in vacuum.”
The defendants told the court that after key stakeholders of the party uncovered a subterranean plot to skew the congress in favour of anointed candidates under Tukur’s umbrella, they promptly organized a special congress where they said Baraje and others were unanimously elected to pilot the affairs of the party.
They further  told the court that a resolution was passed on August 30, removing Tukur as the National Chairman of the PDP.
However, Justice Chukwu stressed that the said resolution was not tendered as evidence before the court, saying “the court cannot act with a mere speculation.”
Meanwhile, the defendants, yesterday, vowed to appeal the ruling, insisting that the said congress that brought the Tukur led faction of the party was invalid.
Counsel to the defendants, Chief Ahmed Raji, SAN, who spoke to Vanguard shortly after the judgment yesterday, said his client would study the verdict properly with a view to deciding on their next line of action.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/tukur-led-pdp-cages-barajes-group/#sthash.ThEEJo5P.dpuf

EDO State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has signed into law the “Kidnapping Prohibition Law 2009” as recently amended by the Edo State House of Assembly.
The law prescribes death penalty for anyone who is involved in any form of kidnapping in the state.
Oshiomhole while appending his signature to the Bill yesterday in Benin said, “That as reluctant as one would want to be in matters of life and death, I am convinced that the overriding public interest now dictates that we invoke the maximum penalty available in our law to all those involved in the act of kidnapping. Anyone sentenced and convicted; I will sign the death warrant”

“But criminals have a choice to abstain from criminality, abstain from kidnapping, abstain from killing so that they in turn can live and enjoy the good things of life”, just as he insisted that those who argued that the problem of kidnapping came from unemployment should not simplify a very complex issue as kidnappers do not have state of origin and they were migrants and do not respect neither state, national or international boundaries.
He assured Edo people that everything was being done to ensure that security agencies put in place a comprehensive network that would ensure effective policing of the various security flash points across the state.
“I am convinced that all of us in the three arms of government, that is, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judiciary do have a responsibility to make laws and enforce those laws in a way that will send clear signals to those involved in various acts of criminality be they kidnappers, murderers, rapists and whoever they are that the security agencies are now much more determined than ever before to ensure that this state becomes too hot for criminals to operate”
“I am aware from reports of those who have been arrested over the period that the overwhelming majority of these criminals are migrant criminals who came from neighboring states and sometimes from far away states to perpetrate various crimes in EdoState and escaped back to their states across the country”
“I want to assure the good people of Edo state that the government is concerned with the state of kidnapping. We share the pains, agony and trauma which the victims of kidnap and other violent crimes are subjected to or experienced”, adding that everything was being done to keep the criminals in check.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/oshiomhole-signs-death-penalty-law-kidnapping/

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Friday barricaded the Asaba axis of the Niger Bridge for more than two hours.
The action, which was jointly carried out by some university students and their polytechnic counterparts, was in protest against the protracted strike by ASUU.
The aggrieved students blocked the bridge at about 1 p.m., which resulted to a traffic gridlock that stretched from the bridge to Okwe junction about five kilometres to Asaba Town.
They also lamented the recent decisions of polytechnic lecturers under the auspices of ASUP to also embark on a similar strike, saying it would further cripple the education sector and send a wrong signal to the international community.
NANS National Public Relations Officer, Victor Ola-Ogun, said that the students were tired of the strike and appealed to ASUU to call it off.
He said that the students had embarked on the peaceful protest and taken it to Kano and “now they are in Zone B, that is Delta and the Anambra area of the country.’’
He said that if the lecturers refuse to call off the strike, the association would further move the protest to Zone C and D, comprising the middle Belt areas and South West of the country.
“We do not want a situation where our ladies will become prostitutes and the men armed robbers.
“We are always there to fight for the lecturers’ welfare and now that the Federal Government has decided to meet some of their demands, they should consider for our sake and go back to work,’’ Mr. Ola-Ogun said.
The students, many of whom were drawn from different parts of the country are expected to leave Delta to their various destinations on Saturday.
The ASUU strike has been on since July 1.


http://mobile.saharareporters.com/news-page/ASUU-strike-nans-barricades-niger-bridge-hours

The Ogun State Police Com-mand said, yesterday, that it has arrested a 50-year-old fake Colonel Hassan Ayinde for claiming to be ADC to President President Goodluck Jonathan.
The suspect, who claimed to have come from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State was reportedly nabbed while using the name of the President to beg for money to purchase ram for the Eid-el Kabir in Agbado, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement made available in Abeokuta.
Adejobi said “the suspect was arrested in the palace of Alagbado of Agbado, His Royal Highness, Oba Adedayo Shyllon on Monday, October 14, at about 1400hrs.” when he claimed to be a Colonel and the Aide De Camp(ADC) to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and was soliciting for help to buy ram for sallah.
“The traditional ruler became suspicious of him when he claimed to be the ADC to the president and begging for money to purchase ram for sallah; and the traditional ruler immediately informed the police and he was arrested.
“On interrogation, Mr Hassan confessed to be a dismissed Air Force officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but impersonates Colonel to make ends meet. He said he attended the military school in 1979 and posted to Zuru Kebbi State as last corporal; and that he attended the Nigeria Defence Academy in 1980 and passed out in 1985.
“The fake colonel said he worked with the presidency in 1997 before he was dismissed in the year 1999 as a Wing Commander.
“The suspect, who claims to be residing at the National Defence College, is cooling his feet in our custody and will be charged to court at the end of our investigation.
“The Command therefore appeals to the general public to beware of such fraudsters who may want to dupe them of their earnings and always contact the police whenever they are in doubt.



http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/police-arrest-fake-colonel-claiming-jonathans-adc/

A businessman, Charles Ugwu, has been killed in the Ajegunle area of Lagos, over his refusal to settle some street urchins, popularly known as area boys.

The incident was said to have occurred at Uzor Street, Ajegunle, on September 24 2013. A tyre dealer, Ugwu was said to have been accosted by two area boys, identified as Saturday and Chimezie, while offloading goods from a vehicle to his shop.

The deceased’s wife, Stella, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, told PUNCH Metro that her husband had resisted the thugs’ efforts to extort money from him resulting in the assault on her husband.

She said, “Around 9pm on that day, two young men, known as Saturday and Chimezie, accosted us saying they would not allow us to continue working until we settle them.

“We asked them why we should pay them because the goods had nothing to do with the hoodlums. Saturday was “annoyed; he walked away only to return with stones, which he threw at us. When my husband cautioned him to stop causing trouble, Saturday picked up a “stick and struck Ugwu on the neck.”

Ugwu was said to have fallen to the ground while all efforts to revive him failed.

PUNCH Metro learnt that immediately after Ugwu was killed, the Divisional Police Officer of Ajegunle Police Station, Mr. Abayomi Agbana, was contacted. Agbana was said to have dispatched policemen to the area and the two suspects were arrested.

The bereaved wife lamented the hardship that had been brought on the family due to her husband’s death.

She said, “Who will train my children for me? Ugwu  was a good father and husband; he was much too young to die. We loved each other so much. How can my three children be fatherless at these ages? Our first is just 15 years old. The second is 12 years and the last child is nine. These hoodlums have wiped out the joy of my life.”

In his statement at the police station, Saturday claimed that he actually demanded money from the businessman but had nothing to do with his death.

He said while demanding money from Ugwu, Stella told her husband not to part with any money.

Saturday claimed that at that instant, Stella held his singlet. He alleged that Chimezie and the deceased were trying to appeal to Stella to let go of the suspect when the businessman suddenly collapsed.

He insisted that neither him nor his accomplice had fought Ugwu.

Chimezie was also said to have alleged, in his statement, that he was trying to appeal to Stella when her husband suddenly collapsed. He claimed that no form of violence had been used on the deceased.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Lagos, for further investigation.

The victim’s younger brother, Francis, said the family was ready to bury the corpse but police had yet to release the body.

He said, “The police have insisted that the autopsy report must be done before the body would be released.”

Detectives at the SCID have however blamed the ongoing doctors’ strike for the delay.

A detective, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Tuesday, said, “Many bereaved families have been complaining since the doctors strike started. This is because they want to bury their loved ones but cannot take away their corpses because autopsy reports have not been done. The situation is worrisome and embarrassing in some cases.”

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Ngozi Braide, said she would call back when contacted for information on the case. She had yet to do so as of 8pm.


http://www.punchng.com/metro/businessman-murdered-for-refusing-to-settle-area-boys/