₦airaland Forum

Urgent Appeal To Stop Lt. Colonel Henry
Lionel Galway From Selling Stolen
Benin Mask For £5 Million In London

After many Africans bombarded Sotheby's in London with protests, the auction house today asked the Nigeria Liberty Forum (NLF) to furnish it with more information about a precious and high-priced artifact stolen during the colonial era by Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Lionel Galway. The protests, organized and led by NLF, might have put a stop to further preparations for the auction of a Benin mask estimated for £5 million. The original plan is to sell the mask in London next February. The NLF’s protests have also been accompanied by legal efforts mounted by several lawyers to stop the sale. The forum, an activist group of Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, has written a letter to Sotheby's demanding it stop the sale of the stolen Benin mask.

See letter below:

Nigeria Liberty Forum
3 Birkbeck Street London E2 6JY
? Tel: + 44 203 015 0739
? Mobile: + 44 798 421 2553
nlibertyforum@gmail.com
info@nigerialibertyforum.org.uk
www.nigerialibertyforum.org.uk
23rd December 2010-12

Ms Helen Collier
Sotheby's London
34-35 New Bond Street
London W1A 2AA

Dear Ms Collier

Re Auction of 16TH Century Benin Ivory and Other Benin Artefacts.

The Nigeria Liberty Forum is a UK based Nigerian pro democracy group of sympathisers and volunteers who share a passion for grassroots political engagement and participation. We amongst many other activities Seek solutions to challenges with other UK based African groups and institutions; Protecting the rights of Nigerians in the UK and the Diaspora; Encouraging Nigerians in Diaspora to engage and participate in the Nigerian political process and Partnership work with individuals and groups in the fields of Education, Charitable causes and Community Development. We have successfully run many campaigns to further our cause. You may wish to visit our website for further details. It has come to our attention that 6 pieces of Benin artefacts are to be sold at your auction rooms on the 17th of February 2011 and accordingly we would like to register our protest that precious pieces of our Nigerian heritage are to be sold to the highest bidders. We are aware (and so should you) that these artefacts were forcefully taken from Nigeria in 1897 when the British invaded the Benin empire and request very firmly that your organisation should not assist and or collude in the appropriation of such.

It is a shame that in this time and age individuals continue to plunder and abuse the culture and heritage of a defenceless people just because they can. There is simply no legal or moral basis for the Galway family to lay claim to the Benin masks and to go on to profit from their sale is reprehensible and unconscionable. To this end we request that you withdraw the items from sale forthwith as the true ownership is far from settled. We would also like to request that you go a step further and advise your clients to return these items back to the Nigerian people where they rightfully belong. It is akin to the selling of the Egyptian mummies, and should not be allowed. We are in the process of mounting legal, diplomatic and or political challenges to the sale of these cultural artefacts and we are sure your organisation does not want to be embroiled in the resulting fallout this will surely create. The rape of Africa and plundering thereof has gone on for far too long and still continues, aided by institutions as yours. We have also created a petition to stop this sale from going on at the URL below and if necessary mount a physical protest, which as a going concern may be damaging to your reputation from the incessant news coverage that this will bring.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/benin_mask/signatures

We do not doubt your integrity and we know Sotheby will do the right thing and withdraw the said items from sale.These artefacts were acquired illegally, by theft, and they are now being put up for sale illegally. The artwork is an important cultural heritage of Benin people, in Nigeria, and it is part of their history, and should be returned forthwith. It should also be noted that the said masks have been subject of historical study by the Open University, which has produced a clip about the theft of these artefacts. Refer to United Kingdom Open University link bellow.

Stolen Benin City mask to be auctioned in London for N1.25b-A 16th-century ivory pendant mask, one of the last great masterpieces of Benin City sculpture remaining in private hands, but believed to have been stolen by British colonialists  is to be offered for sale at Sotheby’s London. The mask, to be auctioned in February next year with an estimate of £5 million (N1.25 billion), is thought to have been worn by the then Oba of Benin city on ceremonial occasions. Only four other ivory masks of this age and quality are known, all of which are in museums.  Standing at 22cm high, the mask is being sold by the descendants of one Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Lionel Gallwey, deputy commissioner and vice-consul in the Oil Rivers Protectorate in 1891, who took part in the infamous Punitive Expedition of 1897 in what is now southern Nigeria.  In response to the massacre of a previous British-led invasion force, naval and protectorate troops deposed the king and captured, looted and burnt the city of Benin.

The admiralty confiscated most of the booty and auctioned it off to defray the costs of the expedition, although a sizeable group ended up in the British Museum. Among them is another of the same group of ivory masks. The technical skill of these cast bronze and ivory ritual sculptures astounded western audiences, and the dispersal of the Benin treasures paved the way for a reassessment of African art by artists and scholars. When Jacob Epstein saw this piece in an exhibition in London in 1947, he asked the family if he could exchange it for one of his sculptures. Its whereabouts remained unknown until the family contacted Sotheby’s last year. Jean Fritts, director of African and Oceanic art at Sotheby’s, said: “It has an amazing, untouched surface which collectors love. Its honey colour attests to years of rubbing with palm oil.” From the same collection, and offered alongside, are a carved altar tusk, two ivory armlets, a rare bronze armlet cast with Portuguese figures and a bronze sculpture usually described as a tusk stand. A bronze head of an Oba of around 1575-1625 was sold for a record $4.7m in 2007. The auction record for any African work of art is €5.9m.


Oba Ovonramwen’s £4.5m mask for auction in UK

By Agency Reporter   
Wednesday, 22 Dec 2010   
16th Century Benin Ivory pendant mask put at £4.5m is to be offered for sale at Sotheby’s in London, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The mask, according to the Financial Times of London, is to be auctioned in February. It said it was one of the last great masterpieces of Benin sculpture remaining in private hands and was believed to have been worn by Oba Ovonranmwen before the British punitive expedition to Benin Kingdom in 1897.
Standing at 22cm high, the mask is being sold by the descendants of Lt.-Col. Sir Henry Lionel Gallwey, whow as the deputy commissioner and vice-consul in the Oil Rivers Protectorate in 1891.
Galleway took part in the infamous expedition.
Meanwhile, the Director of African Oceanic Arts at Sotheby’s, Mr. Jean Fritts, has said the mask has an amazing, untouched surface which collectors love.
“Its honey colour attests to years of rubbing with palm oil,” he stated.
A bronze head of an Oba who ruled around 1575-1625 was sold for a record £44.7m in 2007.
There have been several calls for the return of artefacts stolen from the Benin Kingdom and kept in various art galleries around the world.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20101222324714

Former Biafran leader, Gen. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu may soon join his ancestors.

The Ikemba Nnewi, leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and husband of Bianca, Former Miss Nigeria, is on life support in a local hospital

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Former First lady Rendered Homeless in Potomac, MD.

This saga echoes a scene from a Nigerian home video, except that it is real. Imagine going from first lady, with all the largesse, to homeless, where you now have to depend on government assistance to survive in a foreign land. It is sad tale, but is the fate of Mrs. Aisha Abubakar Audu, former first lady of Kogi state.

Thursday, lawyers to Prince Abubakar Audu, who has been on a warpath with his wife, Aisha, showed up at their holiday home in Potomac, Maryland and evicted Mrs. Aisha Audu and her three young children from their home.In the words of the former first lady, "Prince Abubakar Audu owns houses in this town but could not provide a place for us to stay. Instead, he has evicted us from a home we have known for 10 years".

“We were thrown outside at a temperature of less than 30 degrees, while he waited around town to be handed the keys to his company home. He has claimed victory over his wife and children to vacate his home". “He acted shamelessly and like we are NOBODY!” “We are now homeless but have been provided temporary accommodation by the USA Human and Health Services, under the abused persons programs, where I and the kids have been attending therapy since this ordeal started".

"They have also provided school for the kids. The neighbors provided immediate help to cushions our plight before we were taken to a shelter as we were not allowed to take anything from the house”.“Audu has a second house used as a guest house when he is in USA, It is located at 3928 Highwood Ct, there is another apartment which is not currently on rent (managed by his son, Bashir Audu, a student) at Unit N6F 1155 23rd street and unit N6M 1155 23rd street and Unit-PH3 1111 23rd street, all in NW Washington DC under the sham names of Goldwindow, Mercury Belside & Sunshine llc which he solely owns and operate”.

“He could give instructions to allow any member of his family use especially as he had locked us out in Abuja too leaving us with nowhere to go even if we were to return to Nigeria”. “He also has refused even through his divorce attorney to accept temporary relief for the kids, claiming he is not agreeing to divorce me and has not been properly served”.“Meanwhile all my personal belongings including that of the children has been confisticated by him in our home in the villa in Abuja, Jos, Kaduna, Lokoja, Alloma, Ogbonicha and London. We cannot get into any of these houses without his instruction to caretakers, police and guards and that was the only reason we came to the USA home believing that he will come to his senses eventually if I just hanged on a bit, but now it is obviously clear that my life has been in danger all along and it has all been a setup”.



“Before moving to our home in the USA which we had always used as a family for over 10 years without any approval from his sham company, eminent personalities like the Ohinohi of Ibira land, HRH Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, former Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Adimiral Ibrahim Ogohi, former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Kwankwaso, former Governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Atahiru Banfarawa including family members, all got involved to talk to him to act responsibly and follow the Islamic rites instead of the ritual oath on his father's grave, based on allegation by his 35 year old daughter, Meimuna of my plot to poison her father (Audu)”.
“They solicited that he should make amends to the developing situation and where a divorce is the ultimate; he should do it properly instead of locking us out of the house without adequate provision”. “But he was adamant and will not listen or even agree to pay the children’s school fees towards the next school session so that that the kids could continue with their school at the America International School, Abuja”.

guys the sperm stays alive for days even after a human being is dead. you can quickly research that. And if you know anybody that works at a mortuary they will always tell you that stimulating a dead persons private organs SOMETIMES INVIGORATES an active sexual reaction.

The Rolling Stones said it best, “You, you make a dead man cum.” A 38 year old female mortuary worker is being held on $250,000 bond after becoming pregnant by one of her clients-a dead man. The alleged crime took place at the Mourning Glory Mortuary just outside of Lexington, Missouri. Police have charged Felicity Marmaduke with desecration of the dead and necrophilia.

According to a statement made to police by Marmaduke, the alleged victim experienced a post mortem erection while being bathed. Being alone, Marmaduke straddled the dead man and proceeded have sex with him. Much to her surprise, the alleged victim came to orgasm after several minutes. A few weeks later, Marmaduke had a positive pregnancy test while receiving a routine medical exam. Upon telling her doctor the circumstances leading to the conception, the police were notified. Marmaduke was arrested without incident at her dilapidated trailer home a few blocks from the mortuary.

In a bizarre twist, Marmaduke plans to sue the dead man’s estate for child support.

http://www.deadseriousnews.com/?p=524

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Who lives in a house like this?

A golden palace.

A house of gold.

Far away from the slums and suffering in Zimbabwe.

Far away from poverty that afflicts the majority of the masses?

Far away from the pain and frustration on the streets?

Who lives in a house like this?



Who lives in a house like this?

A Saudi Prince?

Louis XIV?

An American billionaire?

Imagine who would have such taste and live in such opulence?



Who lives in a house like this?

The President of Zimbabwe - Robert Mugabe.

No less.



Who lives in a house like this?

A palace fit for Napoleon?

A castle fit for the best of Kings.

A mansion fit for the most powerful of Kings.





Who lives in a house like this?

A golden house?

A house of gold?

While his people starve and die from lack of good clinics and medical help?

While millions of his people are unemployed and hungry?

While poverty, disease and hunger afflicts his people?

The President of Zimbabwe - Robert Mugabe.

Abuja - Following an emergency joint session of both legislative houses, a new law has been passed that basically makes it a criminal offence to diss the first lady.

The new law, called the Patience law, comes into effect immediately. Official notification of the law has been sent to TV stations, newspapers and on-line news sites and web-blogs.

The law is in response to what some in government have descried as disrespectful lampooning of the person of the current first-lady by unpatriotic elements.

Speaking to journalists at the Federal house of assembly, a spokesperson for the lawmakers said: "Some people just have no respect for their elders. They keep attacking this poor woman in an attempt to stain the character of her husband, our dear president. But all that will end now. With this new law we have passed today, anyone who dares to insult the first-lady will face a five year jail term."

Coincidently, five years imprisonment is also the punishment in Nigeria for homosexuality.

When asked by reporters to give examples of the offensive things that have been said about the first-lady, thus necessitating the new law, the lawmaker declined to answer stating instead that: "Even repeating them, is a crime."

He was asked if this new law will apply to all subsequent first-ladies. His response: "Not everybody has problems with English."

Fayose has to be arrested and imprisoned. Fayose has no right to call OBJ names especially in public. Obasanjo carries the sovereignty of Nigeria as ex president and does not deserve such assault. FAYOSE YOU ARE A BIG SHAME

Amaechi u are the man

DETERMINED to ensure quality education, Governor Chibuike Amaechi has directed the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt to withdraw all degree certificates awarded within the past seven years to some of its graduands who failed some courses but had them waived to enable them graduate.

The governor explained that the move was part of the state’s policy to revive the education sector and ensure that all forms of fraud or examination malpractice in the state are punished.

The power struggle for the 2011 Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] structure appear to have reached its peak yesterday [Tuesday] at the Owerri Airport in Imo State. It saw the former one-time self acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics attack the national deputy chairman of PDP in the person of Olisa Metu.

According to eyewitness reports, Chief Chris Ubah upon sighting Olisa Metu at the Owerri Airport pounched on him and began punching him at the head and in the belly. As he punched him, the police men watched on. It took the action of nearby politicians in the likes of Jim Nwobodo to stop the beating. Olisa Metu was in the company of the former governor of Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo and his wife when Chris Uba launched his attack.

Confirming the attack was Olisa Metu who spoke to a correspondent of ukpakareports.com stating that men from Chris Uba had been warning him that Chris Uba is angry with him and is hunting for him to possibly injure him. While talking to our correspondent he pleaded that the media should stay out of the story because Chris Uba remains his friend.

It was also gathered through a source in the political circles in Anambra that Chris Uba had been engaged in a tussle for the PDP Executive structure in Anambra - and Olisa Metu had been said to pose an obstacle to his acquiring the structure. And to this, he wanted the elimination of Olisa Metu, if possible.

Meanwhile, Olisa Metu and Chris Uba were said to have submitted statements to the police at the Owerri Airport. Chris Uba was cautioned by the Airport police and let go.

Both gentlemen boarded the same flight to Abuja.

Chris Uba was contacted but he refused to respond. The National PDP Chairman, Nwodo, was contacted but he did not respond.

Stay tuned.

A school of thought says" old firewood no dey die".  BElieve or not all the girls i have slept with and broken up with are still being bleeped by me.  No matter how we have quareelled and cursed and sworn not to have anythng to do with eachother; anytime i think of any of them and wanna have sex i just call them up, we make up on the phone and we book another appouitment for sex. And GBAM we "score" and ita ll starts all over again. quarrel, curse, swear and ,

Etisalat is no doubt the cheapest. Even to other netwrk they are still very cheap. Especialy when u have the advantage of making home zone calls

If you need a guy just drop your age, location and the kind of guy u need. Feel free to drop your number if you want the guys to call immediately.

proverbs 6:6 "go to the ant you sluggard consider her ways and be wise"