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Saturday, July 28, 2012

Full List Of Salaries: Nigerian Senators Earn More Than President Barack Obama

In the United States, while the minimum wage is $1,257 (N191, 667), a US lawmaker earns $15,080 (N2.3m) per month. In the United Kingdom, a lawmaker earns $8,686(N1.3m) monthly while the gross national minimum wage is $1,883 (N283, 333) per month.
Also, Nigerian lawmakers earn higher than their counterparts in Sweden. With a monthly pay of $7,707 (N1.2m), a lawmaker in Sweden will need to work for over 12 years to equal what a Nigerian senator earn per annum.
The president of the United States takes home an anual salary of $400,000 (N64.156,0m), including a $50,000 expense allowance making the president the highest paid public servant in the US. The $400,000 includes everything and $350,000 out of it is taxable.
Selected States (salary per annum)
The prime minister of the United Kingdom……USD 226,627.00
French president………………………………….. USD 318,072.00
South African president…………………………..USD 296,112.00
German chancelor………………………………….USD 296,112.00
The Prime Minister of Belgium…………………..USD 174,804.00
President of the Republic of Korea……………..USD 136,669.00
President of Russia…………………………………USD 122,652.00
Prime Minister Portugal……………………………USD 129,730.00
Prime Minister Namibia……………………………USD 115,155.00
President of Angola………………………………..USD 60,000.00
President Argentina………………………………..USD 55,139.00
Prime Minister Ukraine…………………………….USD 61,254.00
President Zimbabwe……………………………….USD 18,000.00
President of People’s republic of China………..USD 10,633.00
President Liberia……………………………………USD 90,000.00
Prime Minister Spain ……………………………..USD 102,960.00
Prime Minister Namibia…………………………..USD 115,155.00
President Namibia…………………………………USD 164,506.00
President of Colombia …………………………..USD 120,685.00
Prime Minister of the Netherlands……………..USD 190,740.00
Prime Minister Ireland……………………………USD 264,000.00
Prime Minister Denmark…………………………USD 264,533.00
President Mexico………………………………….USD 328,839.00
President Austria………………………………….USD 422,231.00
President of the European Council…………….USD 508,916.00
NIGERIAN SENATORS
Basic Salary (BS) = N2,484,245.50
Hardship Allowanc: 50% of Basic Salary = N1,242,122.75
Constituency allowance: 200% of BS = N4,968,509.00
Furniture Allowance: 300% of BS = N7,452,736.50
Newspaper allowance: 50% = N1,242,122.70
Wardrobe allowance: 25% = N621,061.37
Recess Allowance: 10% = N248,424.55
Accommodation: 200% = N4,968,509.00
Utilities: 30% = N828,081.83
Domestic Staff: 35% = N863,184.12
Entertainment: 30% = N828,081.83
Personal Assistance: 25% = N621,061.37
Vehicle Maintenance Allowance: 75% = N1,863,184.12
Leave Allowance : 10% = N248,424.55
One off payments (Severance gratuity): 300% = N7,452,736.50
Motor Vehicle Allowance: 400% of BS = N9,936,982.00
Total per month = N29, 479, 749.00

A senator’s anual salary = over N182 million
multiply by 109 senators (don’t forget the House of rep, ministers, ambassadors, …)
In addition to the regular and legitimate salaries and allowances of over N17 million ($113,333) and N14.99 million ($99,933) which senators and reps were collecting yearly and the irregular allowance of estacodes, duty tours etc, they were also collecting over N192m ($1.28m) and N140m ($0.93m) respectively in illicit quarterly allocation which is not provided for by RMAFC.
Effectively, a Nigerian senator was taking home at least $1.40m ($1.28m quarterly allocations + $0.113m regular salaries and allowances) as against the $0.174m an American senator takes home hence a Nigeria senator earns at least 8 times as much as an American senator and more than 3 times the American president.
Whereas a Senator in the U.S earns N21, 146,000, the same as a member of the House of Representatives; a UK Member of Parliament earn £64,766 (N14, 896,180)
In other words, a Federal Legislator in Nigeria is paid more than double what a Member of British Parliament earns per annum.
Senate President David Mark alone takes N250 million quarterly or N83.33 million per month. Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu gets N150 million per quarter or N50 million a month.
Mark and Ekweremadu earns in 4 months, six times what the UK Prime Minister earns in a year. David Cameron goes home with £190,000 per anum (N43, 700,000)
In a newspaper news article entitled ‘An Assembly for looting’ written by Musikilu Mojeed with Elor Nkereuwem, the authors rightly claimed that each of the 360 members of the House of Representatives were getting N35 million in cash money in quarterly allocation while each of the 109 Senators pockets N48 million each. These allocations have however been slashed by 20% to N27 million ($180,000) and N38 million ($253,333) respectively due to the 20% reduction requested by the late president.

Olaitan’s murder:Why his friend was arrested in Benin..Group alleges frame-up


Controversy appears to be trailing the arrest by the Police in Benin yesterday  of Rev David Ugolor,Executive Director of  Afri Network For Environment And Economic Justice,ANEEJ in the course of investigations into  the assassination of Olaitan Oyerinde ,principal private secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.Ugolor’s arrest remains a puzzle to outsiders because the late Oyerinde was his bosom friend .

But just as the member of the public were wondering what may be happening, a press release by ANEEJ today gave  some insight into why the cleric was arrested just as the group alleged that Ugolor was being framed up.

Though the Police have yet to issue a statement on the matter at the time of this report,Innocent Edemhanria, programme/policy officer of ANEEJ said in a statement  today that “Between 5-6pm, the security men (who arrested Ugolor)  met with some relations of Rev. David Ugolor and his Lawyer and informed him that one of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Comrade Olayinta Oyerinde had mentioned the name “DAVID” to them hence his arrest. Ugolor was taken for identification parade in presence of his lawyers and relations. The suspect whom is accusing David Ugolor is of a northern Nigeria origin and  is completely unknown to Rev.

David Ugolor , colleagues and friends. At the moment, the police are still holding onto David as they carry out their investigations on the allegation we consider spurious”

ANEEJ in its statement added, “As a civil society  organisation,  we have discharged our duties creditably and professionally and we including being critical of government’s policies and programmes . But we suspect strongly that somebody high up somewhere is framing up our  Executive Director  Rev. David Ugolor over the murder of the personal aide to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.We  equally understood the impeccable private relationship that existed between the slain Comrade Olayintan  Oyerinde and our Executive Director. It was convivial and certainly not what any of them could plot the killing of the other.”

And so the puzzle continues.A civil society heavyweight told Newsdiaryonline.com that  however puzzling this may seem ,the police should be allowed to carry out the  investigations thoroughly.

Read the full text ANEEJ statement below:

“David Ugolor being framed up in murder of Olaitan Oyerinde

At about 2.05pm on Friday heavily armed security operatives some wearing  Federal SARS jacket, others plain clothes swooped on  our office and took away our Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor. The security operatives which numbered over ten had picked him up from somewhere in town and brought him to the office. They had ransacked his private home and office and took away some items. Staff of the office had their cell phones taken away from them and switched off for as long as the security men held them hostage which lasted for about three hours. They later returned the phones at about 4.35pm before vacating the office premises. A staff of Centre for Social Justice Mr. Kingsley Nnajiaka was at ANEEJ secretariat then and was also held hostage for the same period.

Between 5-6pm, the security men  met with some relations of Rev. David Ugolor and his Lawyer and informed him that one of the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Comrade Olayinta Oyerinde had mentioned the name “DAVID” to them hence his arrest. Ugolor was taken for identification parade in presence of his lawyers and relations. The suspect whom is accusing David Ugolor is of a northern Nigeria origin and  is completely unknown to Rev.

David Ugolor , colleagues and friends. At the moment, the police are still holding onto David as they carry out their investigations on the allegation we consider spurious.

As a civil society  organisation,  we have discharged our duties creditably and professionally and we including being critical of government’s policies and programmes . But we suspect strongly that somebody high up somewhere is framing up our  Executive Director  Rev. David Ugolor over the murder of the personal aide to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

We  equally understood the impeccable private relationship that existed between the slain Comrade Olayintan  Oyerinde and our Executive Director. It was convivial and certainly not what any of them could plot the killing of the other.

As founder of ANEEJ and its Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor entrenched a non-violent approach to development in our policy document and  naturally and practically abhors violence in any form and shape. It is also important to inform the Nigerian public that Rev. David Ugolor is a life saver, not taker as his natural penchant for poverty eradication, enlarging  the voice of the voiceless,  assisting the poor and needy is unparallel  in his almost twenty-five years of  effective and result-oriented activism.

While, we wouldn’t want to obstruct police investigations on the murder of our friend, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde as a law abiding corporate citizen, we insist that Rev. David Ugolor is innocent of any accusation being leveled against him.

We call for his immediate release so he can rejoin his family.

Drake's Management Sued For Unpaid Royalties



Before Lil Wayne made headlines signing Drake to Young Money, it was talent scout James "Jas" Prince Jr. who first saw the potential in the Toronto MC. And now the young Houston executive wants what he claims is his just due.
The New York Daily News reported that Jas Prince, son of Rap-a-Lot CEO J. Prince, has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court against Drake's management team for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. In total, there are 10 claims against Drizzy's manager Cortez Bryant, Gerald "Gee" Roberson, Derrick Lawrence and the firm Aspire Music Group LLC.
It's well-known that it was Prince who first introduced Drake to the team over at Young Money after hearing his music on MySpace. "One day while leavin the [mall], I just threw [Drake's] CD in and let it play," Prince told music-industry veteran Al Lindstrom in an April interview.
"[Lil Wayne] was like, 'Wait ... who is this?' and I was like, 'Drake ... the guy I been tellin' you about.' Wayne told me to book him on the next flight to Houston."
From there, Drizzy released his 2009 breakout mixtape, So Far Gone, then became a household name with platinum albums Thank Me Later and his latest, Take Care, but Prince says he hasn't been paid what is owed to him. In the lawsuit, Prince alleges that Bryant verbally agreed to pay a portion of the profits earned from Drake's deal with Young Money, a deal that Bryant facilitated.
Prince's attorney, James McMillan, said his client hasn't received any money in over a year. In his papers, Prince claims that Drake is also being cheated by his management team and says that the Young Money standout is "on the brink" of suing Aspire and Bryant himself.

Mobb Deep's Havoc Confirms He Sent 'Gay' Prodigy Tweets



It's about to be hell on earth all over again, now that the quiet storm that was brewing between Mobb Deep's Havoc and Prodigy seems to be threatening the group's reign on hip-hop. On Friday (July 27), in an interview with AllHipHop.com, Hav took full ownership of tweets alleging that Pee was a homosexual, months after claiming his account was hacked.
"The tweets is crazy," he told AllHipHop.com Friday, before confirming that he sent all of the original messages on April 9. "And I was speaking of a standpoint of being mad, but still being truthful of how I felt — but it was just the wrong thing to do at that time."
Things began to sour between the groupmates in April when Havoc took to Twitter and made serious allegations about Prodigy's sexuality, even strangely congratulating Pee and Rihanna on their engagement, which, of course, never happened. "Congrats to P @prodigymobbdeep and @rihanna for getting married soon!! @rihanna please confirm," Havoc wrote, setting off a barrage of early-morning tweets.
"Prodigy abitch and I'm gonna show it, follow!! Ground breaking new," Hav wrote soon after.
Each tweet got progressively more inflammatory. Havoc then charged that his childhood friend, with whom he has recorded seven full-length albums, was involved in a homosexual relationship during his three-year jail bid. "I got n---as in the jail system to back up that prodigy was f---ing homes in jail," he wrote. "Now i will silence... and let the jails take care of the rest."
Hav went on to write about a fist -fight that he and Prodigy had, writing that he "had to smack P."
A few days later, Havoc released a statement claiming that his phone was stolen and denying that he had sent any of the tweets, nor that he had any beef with his partner-in-rhyme.
During a May interview on MTV News' "RapFix Live," Pee also debunked the break-up rumors. "If [Havoc] had a problem, he would've told me that, he wouldn't put it on Twitter," he said, adding that the duo would soon be releasing a new album.
Well, on Friday, Havoc was singing a different tune. "Right now, Mobb Deep is on hiatus, indefinitely ... until things get hashed out," he told the site.
Can Mobb Deep survive this latest beef? Sound-off in the comments!

Krayzie Bone Arrested For DUI



Bone Thugs-n-Harmony rapper Krayzie Bone, was arrested this morning in L.A. for driving drunk.
Law enforcement state the 39-year-old was pulled over around 12:30 AM on a routine traffic stop, when officers suspected Krayzie was too tipsey to drive. The rapper is said to have failed the field sobriety tests. The breathalyzer tested over .10, which is well above the legal limit in California, .08.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Batman' Movie Massacre -- Theater Steps Up for Victims' Funeral Expenses



The theater where James Holmes opened fire last week, killing 12 people, is offering to pick up funeral expenses for the victims' families ... 3m360 has learned.Several funerals were held Friday in Aurora, Colorado -- one of them for Rebecca Wingo ... a 32-year-old mother of 2. Sources close to Rebecca's mother tell 3m360, Cinemark -- corporate owners of the Century 16 Theater -- called the chapel where Rebecca's service was held ... and offered to foot the bill for her funeral.In fact, the owner of the chapel says Cinemark told him it was willing to provide financial backing to all victims' families -- by paying any funeral expenses not covered by the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund.We're told Rebecca's mother turned down the offer.It's unclear how many funeral homes and chapels in Aurora got the same call. Cinemark hasn't returned our call for comment yet.

JTF Kills Four, Arrests 50 Over Killings of Two Indians, Others - As Gunmen

Nigeria:Maiduguri — The Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno State said it has killed two suspects and arrested 26 others who were responsible for the killing of two Indians at a Gum Arabic Factory in Maiduguri on Wednesday. JTF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa said in a statement in Maiduguri yesterday that the suspects were responsible for the slaughtering of Shanker Saha, 35, and Bokul Chander Mondal also 35 as well as serial killings in Maiduguri and environs in the last few days.

Another Indian, Biesh Yadav, 43, is recuperating at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) following cuts in his neck during the attack.

According to the JTF spokesman, "following intelligence report available to the Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order, special operation was conducted on Thursday 26 and early hours of Friday 27 July, 2012.

"The operation led to the arrest of 26 terrorists and the killings of two suspected members of Boko Haram terrorists at Biafra Bula-bulin, Kasuwan Shanu and GRA in Maiduguri metropolis. Some of the suspects killed and arrested were responsible for the killings of the two Indians, a cleric and several other killings in Maiduguri in the past.

He said during the raid, some weapons were recovered from the suspects. They include 2 AK 47 rifles, 3 AK 47 Magazine, 200 rounds of 7.62 mm special ammunition, a primed Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which was detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit of the JTF.

Others, according to him include, cutlasses, daggers and charms, blood stained cloth used during the killing of a cleric in Kasuwan Shanu, Maiduguri.

"The items and suspects are in custody of the JTF for necessary action," he said.

In a related development, a detachment of mobile and regular policemen have raided the Bolori Market in Maiduguri on Thursday and arrested dozens of people, including traders, labourers and artisans.

Though no official communication from the police on why the market was raided, Saminu Aliyu, a senior official of the traders lamented that "many" members had been arrested during the raid.

"The whole market was cordoned off around 4pm. Heavily armed policemen took strategic positions which made it impossible for all of us in the market to move an inch. Nobody told us why the market was raided, but I want to use this opportunity to plead with relevant authorities to release our members," Aliyu said.

Meanwhile, a soldier died and some others were injured yesterday when gunmen, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, threw an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at a moving patrol vehicle of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at Shehuri ward.

The attack took place not far from the Shehu of Borno's palace in Maiduguri metropolis.

Weekly Trust reports that there was a heavy sound of explosion, followed by sporadic gunshots shortly before the Friday prayers yesterday.

The incident prevented many worshippers, mostly those living around Shehuri and neighbouring settlements from observing the weekly obligatory prayers.

Witnesses said at about the same time, angry youths vandalized another JTF vehicle at Maisaje Juma'at mosque along the Post Office area when some soldiers allegedly insisted that worshippers must vacate a tarred road to enable them (soldiers) pass.

Earlier in the morning, a bomb had exploded at Bulunkutu, a densely populated area in Maiduguri, though security sources said the explosive was discovered and demobilized before it killed people.

"It was yet another hectic Friday for us," Mohammed Ustaz, a resident of Maiduguri said. "May Almighty Allah consider the pains we are going through and bring succour to us, for the sake of the holy month of Ramadan," he said.

"Many innocent passersby have been injured, some are in critical conditions," Sulaiman Babagana, another witness at Shehuri said.

Confirming the three incidences, JTF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa said, "a JTF patrol vehicle was attacked at about 1300 hrs today in Shehuri general area by suspected Boko Haram terrorists and the attack was resisted. The incident led to the killing of two Boko Haram terrorists, two JTF personnel were wounded (but) are stable and are responding to treatment at UMTH.

"Twenty five suspects had been so far arrested in connection with the episode. Similarly, an improvised explosive device was detected by our troops and detonated by the bomb disposal unit of the task force. The incident occurred at Bulunkutu area, Maiduguri metropolis today at about 1130 hrs. Thus, the shootings and explosions were the result of the mentioned occurrences.

In a related development, he said, lack of effective communication and respect to constituted authority between JTF personnel on a rescue mission rushing to evacuate wounded and dead colleagues to hospital led to some misunderstanding with worshippers seated on the main road ready for Friday congregational prayers at Maisaje Friday Mosque. He, however, said the timely intervention of JTF spokesman doused the tension

China claimed the first Olympic gold of the London 2012 Games


China claimed the first Olympic gold of the London 2012 Games Saturday, with a victory for 23-year-old Siling Yi in the women's 10-meter air rifle shooting.

Meanwhile, rival American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte are set to go head-to-head in a battle that will be a highlight of the first official day of the Games.

And Albanian weightlifter Hysen Pulaku became the first athlete to be sanctioned for failing an anti-doping test at the London Games.

Pulaku, 20, tested positive on Monday for the steroid stanozolol, the International Olympic Committee said, and has been excluded from the competition.

Queen Elizabeth II, who officially declared the Games open on Friday night, made an appearance at the Aquatics Center Saturday to watch the action.

Phelps and Lochte are competing in the men's 400-meter individual medley -- a race that combines four different swimming strokes -- after both made it through the heats to the final, Phelps only by a whisker.

Phelps' slightly below-par performance in the heats means the 400-meter individual medley champion is unlikely to be situated in the preferred middle lanes for the final Saturday evening.

The 27-year-old Phelps, who already has 14 gold medals from previous Games, is looking to add to his pot of Olympic gold.

Lochte, thought of as the biggest threat to Phelps, is hoping to live up to the hype and steal his thunder.

The highly anticipated match-up has had many choosing sides.

First world records fall at London 2012



The first world records of the London 2012 Olympics have been set by a blind South Korean archer -- hours before Friday's much-anticipated opening ceremony was due to begin.

Im Dong Hyun is legally classified as blind and cannot see out of his right eye, but it did not stop the two-time gold medalist bettering his own leading 72-arrow score in the qualification competition at Lord's cricket ground in the British capital.

London 2012: Results and Schedule

The 26-year-old, who struggles to read a newspaper, scored 699, which put him top of the standings ahead of compatriots Kim Bubmin and Oh Jin Hyek.

The efforts of the trio also delivered a second world record, as South Korea registered a landmark combined total of 2,087 for the team event -- a discipline the Asian nation has won gold in at the last two Games.

The event at the home of English cricket was held behind closed doors, but it did not stop fans queuing in an attempt to gain entry to the stadium.

"Tickets have not been advertised or sold by (Olympic organizers) LOCOG for the archery ranking event," read a statement from the venue. We have always made it clear that the preliminary rounds are not open for spectators.

"There are a number of unofficial websites claiming to sell tickets, we therefore advise people to be extremely cautious and vigilant when attempting to buy tickets and only purchase from an official source."

A non-ticketed event that people can attend is the cycling road race, which is a 250-kilometer trek from Box Hill in the English county of Surrey to the Buckingham Palace in the heart of London.

Spectators will be able to line certain areas of the route free of charge to cheer on British hopefuls such as Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and sprint star Mark Cavendish in Saturday's men's race, while the women compete on Sunday.

London welcomes world for Olympics opening ceremony

London Olympics by the numbers

Protests on opening day of Olympics

Diesel Tanker Explodes At MTN Premises In Abuja



Residents of Maitama District in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital city, were thrown into panic today when a truck delivering diesel at the MTN premises caught fire and exploded in the high brow neighborhood.
The area was condoned off by security agents, but police spokesman Frank Mba told SaharaReporters that there were no fatalities or injuries in the incident

Friday, July 27, 2012

Mystery fire disfigures woman 11 days before wedding



If Charity Okoroukwu, a 27-year-old woman, who graduated in Business Administration from the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu, had known that danger was lurking around the corner 11 days to her wedding, she would not have attempted to refuel a kerosene lantern on December 17, 2011.

On that fateful day, she was refuelling the lantern when it caught fire, exploded and left her with third degree burns. But till date, a yet unsolved riddle still bothers her about the incident. The fire, which disrupted her life, did not affect the keg containing the kerosene. At the time, the native of Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State was awaiting mobilisation for the mandatory national youths service scheme. Now, she needs more than N2 million for a plastic surgery.

Charity, fondly addressed as ‘Chacha’ by her friends at the IMT, told Daily Sun: “When I was in the IMT where I graduated on December 6, 2011, I was popularly known as Chacha. Few days later, I left Enugu for our village in Anambra State to prepare for my wedding that was to hold on December 28. On December 17, which was exactly 11 days to my wedding ceremony, I wanted to put kerosene in one of our lanterns and it exploded. So, the fire burnt my body without mercy.

“People that were around poured water on me and I was rushed to a nearby hospital. I was later transferred to another private hospital in Awka. I spent more than two months there before I was discharged. My bill at the hospital was well above N500, 000. In spite of the treatment and the money involved, I was not okay as at the time I was discharged,” she said. Charity, who noted that she was five months pregnant when the fire burnt her, stated that the wedding was held in the hospital. Her husband, according to her, insisted that the wedding must be held to shame the devil. She continued: “After that, my husband, who has been residing in Lagos, asked me to come. When I got to Lagos, we went to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ebutte Meta. At the FMC, I registered for ante natal. Shortly thereafter, we were referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

“I was admitted when I got to LUTH and I was subjected to series of tests. In the hospital, I had my baby through caesarean section because of my condition. We named the boy Victor Chidera. Victor means victory and Chidera means what God has written. I gave him the name because of my condition and the circumstances, surrounding his birth.”Charity appealed to kind-hearted Nigerians, philanthropists and corporate organisations to assist her so she could undergo a corrective surgery in Israel.

“Please, help me because I don’t like my present condition. Now, I cannot stay wherever is hot. I must stay indoors in the afternoon because of the sun. Please, help me. I pray that neither you nor your children will have this kind of experience. The explosion has spoilt my beauty.” Charity’s mother, Mrs. Grace Nnamezie, described the incident as an attack masterminded by evil forces. “How could the fire burn my daughter and didn’t touch the keg, containing the kerosene?” she wondered.

A private medical practitioner, Olakunle Adigun, said the surgery could be done at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He said, however, that it would be in three stages: face, arms and abdomen. The first stage, he said, would gulp about N400, 000, while the second stage would cost about N650, 000.

“The cost for the third stage has not been given but the first two stages will cost above N1 million apart from other miscellaneous expenses. If all other expenses and the third stage are factored into the surgery, the total cost will be more than N2 million,” he stated. Adigun expressed hope that Charity would be better off after the surgery.

While Charity can be contacted on the mobile numbers 08032229181 and 08033037223, a bank account number 0005774736 has been opened in her name, Charity Nnamezie, at the Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos branch of the GT Bank

Prince Jackson, Son Of Michael Jackson, Threatens To Tell The Truth



As if the Jackson family drama couldn't get any more twisted, Michael Jackson's oldest son, Prince, is now threatening to tell the truth if the lies don't stop. The 15-year-old tweeted early Thursday morning about the return of his grandmother Katherine, about the mistreatment from his aunts and uncles (including Janet, Austin and Rebbie) and about a warning issued from his late father, who he said "had repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways."
Prince's exigency comes at the behest of his two siblings, sister Paris, 14, and brother Blanket, 10. Prince had previously remained quiet about the bizarre series of events this week, which have seen his 82-year-old grandmother reported missing, found the next day at a resort in Arizona on doctor's orders, and then losing her guardianship over her three grandchildren.
Early Thursday morning, Prince tweeted, "grandma's here! #thankyougod." He then continued with shocking claims against his family members, saying that Katherine Jackson had been "lied to" and that he and his two siblings had been denied contact with their grandmother.
"For this whole time, they denied us contact to our grandmother. If you continue with your lies I will continue with the truth," Prince tweeted. "As long as I can remember my dad had repeatedly warned me of certain people and their ways. Although I am happy my grandma was returned, after speaking with her I realized how misguided and how badly she was lied to. I'm really angry and hurt."
He then appeared to threaten his family members with a screenshot of a group text he had sent to his aunts and uncles. The screenshot would almost be brilliant satire if it weren't coming from a verified account, and also a child (for instance, Janet Jackson is stored as "Janet Jackson" in his phone, Rebbie Jackson is "Auntie Rebbie," etc.).

"The following image is of a group chat I had started to several family members," Prince wrote. "This group text message I had started was replied to but they didn't know that I could see the responses. For this whole time, they denied us contact to our grandmother. If you continue with your lies I will continue with the truth."
Katherine temporarily lost custody of her son Michael Jackson's three children on July 25; a Los Angeles Superior Court judge installed Michael's nephew T. J. Jackson as the temporary guardian over the three children. In a statement she read on ABC's "Nightline," a disoriented Katherine said she was "devastated" to have lost her guardianship.

World’s eyes on London ahead of opening ceremony



LONDON (AFP) – London began the final countdown Friday to the opening ceremony that will officially kick off its Olympic Games, with some 120 world leaders arriving in the British capital for the spectacle.

Organisers expect more than a billion people worldwide to watch the event on television, while tens of thousands will see the show live at the Olympic Stadium in east London.

The Olympic torch was making its way down the River Thames onboard the Gloriana, the royal barge of Queen Elizabeth II, on the last day of its 10-week journey around Britain.

In Westminster, Big Ben chimed for three minutes from 8:12 am (0712 GMT) to ring in the Games, 12 hours ahead of pre-ceremony entertainment scheduled to start at the symbolic time of 20:12 pm.

The huge bell at the British parliament was joined by hundreds of bell-ringers across the country in a cacophony of ringing to mark the beginning of the extravaganza.

Footballer David Beckham is expected to be among the final torchbearers carrying the Olympic torch as it finally arrives at the stadium for the opening ceremony.

The former England captain, who played a key part in London’s original bid for the Games seven years ago, said the thought of the spectacle gave him “goosebumps”.

“I have been lucky enough to have been involved in some amazing sporting moments in my career, but nothing can compare with what is about to take place in London,” he wrote in The Sun newspaper.

“I know every part of the Games is going to be spectacular and tonight is the night it all kicks off, with the whole world watching Great Britain and the opening ceremony.

“It will be one of those moments people will always remember watching.”

Sneak previews of the £27 million ($42 million, 35 million euros) opening ceremony — filmed at Wednesday’s final rehearsal — suggest it will be a grand but quirky production, reflecting the philosophy of director Danny Boyle.

The Slumdog Millionaire Oscar-winner has promised to create a “picture of us as a nation” and revealed that the eccentric show will feature live sheep and dancing surgeons from the National Health Service.

Audience members at rehearsals for the ceremony have been full of praise for the show, but they have stayed tight-lipped about details.

The weather is expected to be dry for the ceremony after showers during the day in London.

Thousands of VIPs including some 120 national leaders are in town for the ceremony, with guests including Angelina Jolie, US First Lady Michelle Obama and the king of Swaziland.

The Games will see Britain launch its biggest-ever peacetime security operation, and British Prime Minister David Cameron stressed Thursday that safety would be his top priority.

“I think we’ve made as many preparations as we can. I think we have very good contingency plans in place,” he told a press conference at the Olympic Park.

A force of more than 40,000 military and civilian personnel, backed by a huge intelligence operation, has turned the British capital into a fortress to protect venues, athletes and millions of visitors.

But security has been under the spotlight after the government was forced to deploy an extra 4,700 troops to guard the Games because of a recruitment shortfall at private contractor G4S.

NDLEA Arrests Female Drug Smugglers "Their Bras, Hair Wig Are Hideout For Drugs"


NDLEA officers nab three young women attempting to smuggle drugs overseas.

They were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for attempting to smuggle 4.5 kilogrammes of narcotics, carefully hidden in their brassieres and hair wigs.

All three suspects were apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Two of the suspects, who were to board an Egypt airline flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, through Cairo were caught with 3.6 kilogrammes of methamphetamines neatly hidden in customized underwears and hair wigs.

Another female suspect, who claimed to be three months pregnant, was found to have ingested 900 grammes of substance that tested positive for cocaine.

The NDLEA Commander at the Abuja Airport, Mr. Hamisu Lawan gave the names of the suspects as Miss Anene Blessing Iruoma, 26, Miss Obiakor Maryann Okwudili, 34 and Miss Mbechi Obiageli Susan, 38 years old.

The NDLEA boss commended FAAN for alerting the NDLEA of possible drug concealment following a body frisk on one of the suspects.

According to Hamisu: "Anene Blessing Iruoma and Miss Obiakor Maryann Okwudili concealed 1.7kilogrammes and 1.90kilogrammes of methamphetamine in underwears and hair wigs while Mbechi Obiageli Susan ingested 900 grammes of substance that tested positive for cocaine.

THE STAGE, "unrivaled talents and skills".


THE STAGE, "unrivaled talents and skills".
Music, Comedy, Dance, Visual art, Poetry, Fashion.
Sunday July 29th, Time: 5pm, Venue: Koga Lounge, 2 Bolaji Street Oregun, Ikeja.
Let?s take you on a new cruise of relaxation and entertainment.
For seats reservation call 07037711345. Be our guest.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

LOUD ON SOUND ( Concert/Fashion Show)


Bankhead Entertainment And Storm Records Presents

LOUD ON SOUND ( Concert/Fashion Show)

Performances By :-LOS  Davido, Shank, Iyanya, Adey, Sasha P, Burna Boy, Ozzy-B, Rilwan, Muna, Vector, Dammy Krane, Flowssick, Dotstar, ChuddyK, Hakeem D Dream, Dpzle, Yung6ix, Ajebutter, DRB

Venue:- Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island.

Date :- 27th Of July 2012
Time :- 6PM
Win ticket to this concert by commenting on this post......Courtesy of Bankhead Entertainment

Nas Explains How He Went From 'Life's A Bitch' To 'Life Is Good'



Listening to Nas' Life Is Good is like dropping a golden subway token into a mechanical turnstile, one that grants you instant entry into a New York City of days long gone.
A product of the gritty Queensbridge Houses, Nas navigates his borough in dizzyingly poetic detail, shouting out 'hood-famous hustlers and incense-burning Five-Percenters over a bed of rich horns and pounding knocks. "Colosseum downstairs, gold-teeth mouth," the baby-faced 39-year-old spits on "A Queens Story," giving a nod to the mall on Jamaica Avenue and 165th Street where a basement throbbed with jewelers and hair-extension purveyors.
If that sounds like golden-era nostalgia, then fair enough, but as God's Son told us when we sat down with him in L.A. for MTV's Hip-Hop Music Preview, "I got jazz in my soul." On Life Is Good, Nasty Nas tapped those blues for a reverie on his rise but also an honest dissection of his failed marriage and his shortcomings as a father, extending the narrative to his instant-classic album cover (sigh every time we see that green wedding dress). Still, the MC scored a #1 album this week, 20 years after recording his game-changing Illmatic debut.
We'd say life is good, and Nasir explains why, in his own words.
The Title: Life Is Good "A couple of years ago, I just started to really appreciate the opportunities that I've had, the places that I've traveled and the people I met and just the life that God gave me. So I felt like 'life is good' was a positive message that we should just say to each other during such challenging times. Just have to remember the important things, you know?"
The Album Cover "I feel like album covers used to be just as important as the music. And to me, I'm still that kind of dude, like, I still feel like if you can come up with something cool for your album cover that makes the whole package more beautiful. The album cover, of course, you see what's going on there: just love of life and appreciation of where I've come from and where I've been.
"On my first album, I said "life's a bitch," now I'm saying 'life is good.' That just shows you my journey has been peaks and valleys, ups and downs, obstacles, fun, all kinds of things that brought me to this place."
The Recording Process "This record was just me appreciating the people who listen to me for all these years and just understanding that it could've went a different route. I could be someone who don't love the music no more. For this record, my appreciation for the music is there."
The Cinematic Influence "The scene in 'Godfather II' was at the end when Michael Corleone was sitting on his property after all the executive decisions he had to make. He's sitting on his property just thinking.
The Tracks "Bye Baby": "That was a song that had to be done. It gets into my relationship that I had [with ex-wife Kelis] and why did things go wrong. You know, certain people just hit that point where they need to take a break or they need to move on separate ways. So 'Bye Bye' is a record that has that story line, from beginning to end. With life, you take [it] there's wins, there's losses, there's bad, there's joy, pain, all the emotions ... life is still good, no matter what, you have to keep your head up."
The Five-Word Description "Hip-hop, jazz, it's personal, love, it's a great sound put together by No I.D. and Salaam Remi and myself; it's all good.
"A lot of producers that I like, they sample a lot of jazz. They are inspired by jazz, so a lot of their music comes out that way. So a lot of the stuff I rapped on sounds like jazz. I was talking to Sting one time and he had heard Illmatic — someone played it for him — and he said, 'It's a jazz album!' I love that he said that because I got jazz in my soul."

Kristen Stewart’s scandal gets Gaga’s sympathy, but fan’s ire



Kristen Stewart can count Lady Gaga among the celebs coming to her defense in the wake of a cheating scandal involving the “Twilight” star and a film director.

Gaga tweeted some words of sympathy for Stewart and her co-star/boyfriend Robert Pattinson on Wednesday, not long after Stewart publicly apologized to Pattinson for her fling with filmmaker Rupert Sanders. Sanders, who helmed Stewart’s “Snow White and the Huntsman,” is married with two kids.


“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected,” Stewart said in a statement to People magazine. “This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.”

The coverage of Stewart’s apology was so pervasive that even Lady Gaga offered her opinion: “Geez this kirstew rob stuff is brutal. Makes me sad the way press acts,” she wrote. “Hope they’re ok.”

So far, Pattinson is the only one involved who has not spoken publicly on the mess. Sanders released his own apology Wednesday after details about his tryst with Stewart hit the Web.

“I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family,” Sanders said in a statement to CNN. “My beautiful wife and heavenly children are all I have in this world, I love them with all my heart. I am praying that we can get through this together.”

Those apologies might not have been enough for at least one “Twilight” fan, however. A woman by the name of Emma Clark gave a tearful rant regarding 22-year-old Stewart’s mea culpa on YouTube, demanding an explanation for her indiscretion (specifically the part about her hurting R. Patz).

In a post titled, “HOW COULD YOU DO THIS KRISTEN,” Clark railed, “I don’t understand how she could do this! Why, why would you cheat on Robert Pattinson? … With Rupert… I’m so not OK with this.”

She also directed her venom at Sanders.

“CongratuF*****Glations Rupert Sanders. You just pissed off a million people cause you just couldn’t keep it in your pants,” she tweeted after uploading her angry missive.

To quote the reported tweet of Sanders’ model wife Liberty Ross before she deactivated her account, “Wow.”

Oil Subsidy Fraud Suspects Funneled Nearly $1billion To Jonathan Election Campaign



Ada Ugo-Ngadi-MD of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited yesterday
By SaharaReporters, New York
Some of the high profile suspects arraigned on Wednesday for stealing $6.8 billion oil subsidy funds have sent a strong warning to President Goodluck Jonathan to desist from prosecuting them or face a full disclosure of how they funneled close to $1 billion towards his 2011 presidential campaign through the oil resources minister Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Minister for the Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe.
 
SaharaReporters sources say that operators of Ontario Oil and Gas Limited, whose Managing Director, Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi, was docked along with 20 others, have compiled information that was sent to President Jonathan that includes:
 
• How they specifically handed over $300 million through the Minister for Petroleum Resources, Allison-Madueke, towards the election of President Jonathan in 2011; and 
• That they bought a mansion for Mr. Orubebe in Abuja worth N600 million.
 
Saharareporters learned that the accused Ontario Oil chieftains were shocked by the public humiliation brought upon them by the EFCC. The most powerful member of the Ontario clan, Walter Wagbatsoma, reportedly left Nigeria for Paris shortly before the commencement of prosecution by the EFCC. 
 
Meanwhile, EFCC officials have confirmed to SaharaReporters that Mr. Wagbatsoma has not written any statement or appeared before the agency even though he was listed as one of those to be arraigned by the EFCC. He is believed to have the key to unlocking the involvement of Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke in the oil subsidy fraud. 
 
Specifically, Wagbatsoma is reportedly in possession of a private jet bought last year that he is holding in trust for Mrs Allison-Madueke. A source in Abuja also said that Mr. Orubebe is on the board of Ontario Oil, although he may not be publicly listed. Wagbatsoma is listed as the owner of several companies used to siphon off funds from the oil industry, they include: Ontario oil & gas Ltd., Ontario trading Ltd, Ontario storage terminals Ltd., ontario vessels Ltd., Ontario Drilling and Engineering services.
 
In Lagos today, the prosecution suffered another setback as the court adjourned following the failure of Wagbatsoma to appear  at the trial. The proceedings were equally stalled yesterday by the absence of the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
 
Sources knowledgeable about the intrigues surrounding the trial have already predicted that due to the current threat to expose President Jonathan and some of his most powerful ministers, the case will fizzle out over time.

Uche Jombo's Wedding Pictures in WOW Magazine

Uche Jombo got married to Kenny Rodriguez in a low key destination wedding (Puerto Rico) on May 16, 2012. WOW magazine, run by Julie Odia who was on the bridal train, exclusive rights to the wedding pictures and has just published the pictures. Enjoy the few shots here...
Don't forget to get your current edition of WOW magazine for the real deal...

Wedding Ceremony Photos: Rafael
Cover Shoot: Angel Nieves
Courtesy: WOW Magazine






EXCLUSIVE: Katherine Jackson -- Could Lose Millions in Perks



The plot to turn Katherine Jackson against the Michael Jackson Estate has backfired in the most ironic of ways ... because the money grab could end up costing Katherine millions in perks.When Katherine was appointed guardian of Paris, Prince and Blanket, the Executors gave an allowance of $60,000 per month for the care of the children ... that's $720,000 a year.  Less than a year later the judge increased the 60k to 70k, and that would make the yearly take $840,000.The judge is now in position to strip Katherine of guardianship altogether.  If that happens, the executors will almost certainly petition the court to funnel the money in TJ's direction, since he would be caring for the children.Katherine never had control of the money for the kids, but she enjoys a lot of the perks the kids get, and that goes away if she loses guardianship.  She would still, of course, retain the allowance he personally receives from the Estate.Short story ... Randy, Jermaine, Janet and Rebbie set out to turn Katherine against the estate so she could get more money during her lifetime -- money she could dole out to them -- but the plot may have actually screwed Katherine.When she realizes what hit her, mama's gonna be pissed.

Photo: Woman Finds Live Python In Her Toilet



A 74-year-old Pensioner from Schwanstetten in southern Germany  could believe her eyes when she lifted  her toilet sit and found a live Python in her Toilet, immediately she called the police, who tried to flush the serpent from its hiding place.
“However, the reptile was in no mood to show itself to the officers so the fire brigade was called in. They opened a manhole in the garden and were able to remove it from the plumbing,” a police statement said.
A snake expert was then calledto access the situation, and Sse identified the serpent as a two-year-old royal python, normally not dangerous to humans, and offered to take it home until the owner steps forward.

PDP Chairman In Trouble Over Son’s Involvement In Subsidy Fraud



The new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bamanga Tukur, may soon become the former chairman of the party following the embarrassing involvement of his son, Mahmud in the oil subsidy scandal.
Indications to effect emerged in Abuja today when the members of the National Working Committee of the party met at the party secretariat in the city.
A source told SaharaReporters that members of the NWC were of the view that the President may soon ask Tukur to vacate his position on account of his son’s involvement in the oil subsidy mess.  He is listed among the first suspects to be arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
We also learned that Tukur’s aides have already been asked by members of the NWC to steer clear of both the party’s National Secretariat and its Presidential Campaign office, popularly called “Legacy House”.
One of the key decisions of today’s NWC meeting, which lasted for five and half hours, was that Alhaji Tukur be shielded from the press tomorrow when the party plans to speak on the move by the House of Representatives to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.
Worried that Tukur may be roughed-up by the journalists at the event with questions about corruption and his son, the NWC decided that his deputy, Dr. Sam Jaja, should handle the sensitive assignment.
Earlier, the NWC asked Tukur’s former aide, Alhaji Habu Fari, to resign his position following a media war in which he had engaged with the party’s National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.  The NWC blamed Fari, accusing him of rudeness.
Perhaps as another sign of Tukur’s fading popularity within the top levels of the PDP, the NWC also told that he would be the one to pay Fari and the other aides from his personal purse since he recruited them himself.
Besides, all of those aides had earlier been told to report at Tukur’s own campaign office, located in the Central Area of Abuja. Many of them, we were informed, resigned their appointment in anger.
Earlier today, Jonathan’s government showed it was rattled by the threat of the House of Representatives to impeach him for poor implementation of the 2011 budget.  Following the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, took the place of Information Minister Labaran Maku to plead with the Representatives that the government was doing its best.
“I think the point is that Mr. President is determined to implement this budget as fully as possible and therefore we will be moving towards the figure of as full implementation as we can by the end of the year because the budget was made for the whole year,” she told State House correspondents.

20 houses burnt over youth’s death in Rivers



PORT HARCOURT -  NO fewer than 20 houses, were, yesterday, set ablaze in Omudioga community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, when irate youths reportedly went berserk over the death of a youth, who was simply identified as Benjamin.

Details at press time were hazy but community sources said the rampaging youths speculated that the death of the late Benjamin might have been caused by some members of the community.

Effort to stop the rampaging youths from venting their anger on the property of innocent community folks was futile.

However, attempt to get the reaction of the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, was futile, as his mobile lines rang out.

Meantime, community sources said security men had been deployed to quell the riotous situation. Some victims of the attack, said they had to flee their houses when it became clear that the rampaging youths were out of control.

Chairman of the council, Mr Allen Nma, confirmed the incident, adding that the development had been brought under control.

“Several houses were burnt and property worth millions naira destroyed.  The Police had taken over the place to prevent any further attacks, but the youths, responsible for these evil acts must face the wrath of the law,” he said.

P-Square's mum will be laid to rest on August 2nd



The body of the mother of multiple award-winning singers, P-Square, Mrs. Josephine Okoye, 62, which is currently in a Lagos private mortuary, will be laid to rest in her husband’s house at Ifite-Dunu, Akwa Village, Anambra State on Thursday, 2 August, 2012.

Shortly before the burial, there will be a lying-in-state at her Umunachi, Umudioka Village, Anambra State and a church service at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, before the proper burial at Ifite-Dunu, which will also be the reception venue and is expected to be attended by colleagues of P-Square in the entertainment industry and some state governors amid tight security.

Late Mrs Okoye is survived by her husband, Mr. Moses Okoye and eight children namely Christopher, Henry, Jude, Lilian, Tony, Peter, Paul and Mary.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

A$AP Rocky Pleads Not Guilty Following Fight With Photographers




A$AP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from his alleged assault on two photographers in New York City, last week.

The Harlem native is accused of second degree robbery—likely for trying to snatch one the photographer's cameras. His associate, Bigga Bar$ was also involved in the scuffle, and pleaded not guilty as well.
The incident went down when Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, was got into in a rift with another person. The two unsuspecting characters whom he blessed with the fade, were bystanders looking to snap some amateur shots of the rapper. What they were met with was a vicious (and probably embarrassing) two-piece, which resulted in Rocky's arrest.

Null of releasing a debut album, Rocky is no stranger to letting his anger get the best of him. He and the A$AP Mob are being sued for reportedly inciting a brawl at the Fader Fort last year, and who can forget his colorful words for the Kickdrums.

Both Rocky and Bar$ are due in court Wednesday July 25

Rick Ross' Tour Bus Burglarized In Detroit




Rick Ross' tour bus was left in burglarized and destroyed Saturday as Rozay made a stop in Detroit. According to 3m360, Ross' camp filed a police report early Saturday morning, claiming the bandits made off with thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, clothes, and other personal property.

No members of Rick Ross' entourage was in the bus when the burglary took place, as they were staying in a nearby hotel. As of now there are no suspects. Ross' fifth studio album, God Forgives, I Don't will be hitting stores next Tuesday, July 31st under Def Jam Records

$15 Million Dollars Unclaimed Property Up for Grabs for whoever is Interested


The cash was said to have been deposited into the strong room No 1 of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on April 26, 2007, by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the instructions of the former boss of the commission Nuhu Ribadu.
The money was said to have been given to the EFCC as bribe by former Delta State Governor James Ibori through an agent. However, Ibori has since denied giving the cash to either the EFCC or any of its officers.
Thus, the Federal Government, via an ex-parte originating summons it filed in court on Tuesday has requested the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to order the immediate forfeiture of the $15 million allegedly given to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the jailed former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, as bribe.
According to the FG’s, they are requesting “an interim order forfeiting the sum of $15,000, 000 (Fifteen million dollars) being an unclaimed property in possession of the Central Bank of Nigeria, to the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for the final forfeiture order of the said property… an order of this honourable court directing the publication in any national newspaper of the interim order under relief one above, for anyone who is interested in the property, to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days, why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Therefore, the judge hearing the case, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, maintained that if by September 17, 2012, no one showed up to lay claim to the money, the $15 million bribe would be forfeited to the Federal Government.
Below is an excerpt of an affidavit by Bello Yahaya who was one of the investigators assigned by the EFCC to investigate the criminal case against Ibori EFCC official present at the hearing, about the genesis of the money:
“while the investigation was going on, on 25th April, 2007, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the then Executive Chairman of the EFCC called the investigation team headed by Mr Ibrahim Lamorde the then Director of Operations, to pick up cash in the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) given to him and the Commission through an undisclosed agent of the said James Ibori.
“That upon picking up the said USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars) we deposited same on 26th April, 2007 with the Central Bank of Nigeria which was duly acknowledged and signed for by one M.M El-Yallud, a staff working in strong room 1 of the CBN.
“That from the said 26th April, 2007, the money remained in the custody of the CBN till date. The issue of giving bribe was raised by me in my affidavit sworn to on 9th January 2008 in opposition to James Ibori’s bail application when he was eventually charged to court for Money Laundering Offences.
“James Ibori denied through his reply to counter affidavit dated 10th January, 2008, of giving the sum of USD 15, 000, 000. 00 (Fifteen Million Dollars), to EFCC or its officials. That ever since April, 2007, no one has claimed ownership of the said sum and it has since remained unclaimed money in the strong room of the CBN.
“That the said sum if left untouched and unspent in the state it was kept in the strong room since April, 2007, may eventually be destroyed, defaced, mutilated and become useless.

Man has penis stolen by masked intruders...Bizarre




Thieves stole a man's penis while he slept, according to police.
Fei Lin, 41, of the Niqiao village near Wenling City, in east China’s Zhejiang province, told police He was sleeping in his house  when at about 4am a group of men broke in, put a bag over his head and cut of his penis.
"They put something over my head and pulled down my trousers and then they ran off," Lin said. "I was so shocked I didn't feel a thing - then I saw I was bleeding and my penis was gone."
Fei Lin, is a worker in a small village and has been accused of affairs with local women. Although he denied his infidelities.
Police believe the attackers were jealous lovers of several local women whom Lin was having affairs with. Lin denied taking part in any infidelity.
Emergency services and police searched for the severed organ, however failed to locate it and belive it was stolen by the attackers.

BET bans Rick Ross’ ‘Hold me back’ video


Fans who are anticipating Rick Ross’ new video (for the single ‘Hold me back’) shouldn’t bother looking for it on BET when it drops as the network has banned the soon-to-be released video.
Reports say BET has watched the full clip and are  ’adamant on keeping the raw and intense footage’ of Ross’ latest visual production off their network.
Video director TAJ_TKP who is responsible for the footage took to his personal Twitter account to express his disappointment.
So BET rejected Ross’ ‘Hold Me Back’ video. It’s incredibly sad, because the video is incredibly special & real. You’re killing US BET. Smh. Everybody ask BET why it’s ok for them to play ‘Boyz N The Hood’, ‘Menace To Society’, and ‘South Central’, but not Ross’ video. What does BET stand for? You should have two answers for that question’, TAJ_TKP said.
The director later tweeted at BET President Stephen Hill in a bid for the exec to reverse the decision;  ’Please tell BET to play Rick Ross’ ‘Hold Me Back’ Video. It’s a work of art and it’s as REAL as it gets. Support it’s honesty‘.
Guess Ross was wrong by saying no one could ‘hold him back’, yea?
Watch the trailer to ‘Hold me back’ below…

Cossy Orjiakor flaunts her latest on twitter





Controversial actress/singer/businesswoman Cossy Orjiakor who loves showing pictures of herself in various stages of undress (particularly her bust) recently tweeted a picture of the tramp stamp she got – an eagle strategically positioned over the strings of her skimpy bikini bottoms.
I can’t wait to hear people’s comments about this…becos i still don't understand this Tatoo madness in naija...even 1 seems to think tatoos are the in thing....
Please wassup with Tatoos really!!!!

Ritualists kill seven year old boy in Nasarawa


The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of the State Security Service (SSS) has paraded two men who allegedly killed a seven year old boy in Nasarawa state for ritual purpose.

Assistant Director, Operations of the Service, Mister Ibrahim Halilu said the two men, John Yakubu and Ishaya Dakulung were arrested on Sunday afternoon in the Asokoro district of the FCT with the fresh human head while they were looking for a buyer.

Mister Halilu who said the suspects will soon be charged to court, warned parents to closely monitor the movement of their children during the holiday period in order to forestall the activities of evil minded persons.

One of the suspect, John Yakubu who spoke in Hausa said the victim who is an only child of his parents was lured to a river side in New Karshi, Nasarawa state, before severing his head from his body while his partner, Ishaya Dakulung claimed that he was only helping his friend to get a buyer with a promise of being paid  N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand naira)

Sherman Hemsley, Star of 'The Jeffersons,' Dead At 74



Sad news for fans of groundbreaking TV show "The Jeffersons," star Sherman Hemsley died on Tuesday (July 24). The television icon was at his home in El Paso, Texas, where he is believed to have died of natural causes, according to TMZ.
The 74-year-old actor began his career on Broadway in the early '70s, where he was spotted by legendary TV producer/ sitcom godfather Norman Lear, who asked him to audition for a role on his wildly popular show. The series, "All in the Family," would make Hemsley a household name. Although it took him two years to accept Lear's invitation, Hemsley became an instant favorite upon joining the cast in 1973, thanks in large part to the magnetic chemistry and hilarious banter between Hemsley and his TV wife, Isabel Sanford.
George (Hemsley) and Louise "Weezy" Jefferson (Sanford) were given their own show in 1975, spinning off their characters into "The Jeffersons," which aired on CBS for 11 seasons and 253 episodes. The onscreen couple were working-class Harlem, New York, natives who moved up the economic and social ladder after George opened and expanded a chain of dry cleaners. The show went on to garner countless award nominations and is considered a landmark program in television history. It is still the longest-aired sitcom with a predominately African-American cast. According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications, it was also the first TV show to feature a married interracial couple.
After the end of "The Jeffersons," Hemsley continued to act on multiple television shows and in films, including the hit '80s sitcom "Amen," on which he played a church deacon. But George Jefferson will be Hemsley's enduring legacy, a role he often reprised alongside Sanford. The fictional couple appeared in the series finale of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," an Old Navy campaign and took home a TV Land award for "Most Cantankerous Couple." Sanford passed away in 2004.
Send your condolences and share your TV memories of Sherman Hemsley in the comments section

Utah Man’s Self-Written Obituary Goes Viral


A self-written obituary is gaining national attention after a dying man signed off with a humorous confession. Val Patterson died of throat cancer earlier this month, but not before revealing secrets that even some of his family members didn’t know.

Trace Gallagher said this obituary went viral so fast that when the funeral home posted it on their website that it crashed because they were getting 100,000 hits per minute.

The obituary starts out with Patterson talking about his passion for science and the love he has for his wife of 33 years, but then it takes a surprising turn, with him admitting that he was a thief:

“As it turns out, I AM the guy who stole the safe from View Drive Inn back in June, 1971. I could’ve left that unsaid, but I wanted to get it off my chest,” he wrote. “…The day I went to pay off my college student loan at the U of U, the girl working there put my receipt into the wrong stack, and two weeks later a PhD diploma came in the mail. I didn’t even graduate … In fact, I never did even learn what the letters ‘PhD’ even stood for.”

Patterson went on to say that he had a great life and that he traveled where he wanted and ate what he wanted. His two regrets: smoking, which led to his throat cancer, and that he could not spend his older years with the woman of his dreams.

His one bit of advice, “If you want to live forever, don’t quit breathing like I did.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Student sues IG N100m

IBADAN—A student of  Osun State College of Education,  Mr. Adebayo Olaide, has filed a N100 million suit against Inspector-General of Police, a policeman, Mr. Mukailu Gujuba, with number 768142 and three others for loss of his eyes and violation of his rights.

In the suit filed at an Oyo State High Court, the applicant wants the court to determine whether  the alleged  conduct of the third respondent, Gujuba, who used  a stick and the butt of his rifle to hit his eyes was lawful or not.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged crime was committed at Alagbayun Village in the  Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Area of the state.

Justice Mashud Abass, has fixed October 17 for hearing.

Counsel to the applicant, Mr. Peter Idowu, in the suit marked M/554/11, stated that the money demanded was the general, exemplary and aggravated damages for the violation of his client’s fundamental human rights which resulted in loss of the left eye of the applicant and also  a severe damage to his right eye.

He expatiated that the alleged offence was committed when his client was on his motorcycle. He said his client  met the accused  at a check point at Alagbayun with sergeant Charles Omonia, sgt Hammed Balogun Ajolasi Bunmi, Abdulmalik Hassan, Morakinyo Joseph , Julius Apin, Abtrous Daniel, Ayeni Sunday,  Akogun Bright and Akaogba Saso.

He submitted that after his client had been checked by some of the policemen and asked to go,  the third respondent,  Gujuba allegedly swung a long stick across the road hitting him in his left eye.

After alleged initial acceptance by the third respondent to be responsible, he denied. But in his counter affidavit filed by his counsel,  O.A. Kupolati, Gujuba  declared that it was an accident adding that he was hanging his rifle on his shoulder  and while  trying to cross road and avoid a collision with the applicant, his riffle accidentally hit the applicant in eye.

Gujuba said to show it was not an intentional action, he  visited the applicant at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and his house. He explained further that it was true he promised to pay the sum of N200, 000 to the claimant to mitigate the pains and has paid N193,000 to him.

EFCC Names First 20 Suspects To Be Arraigned Over $6.8 Billion Fuel Subsidy Fraud



The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has concluded arrangements to prosecute the first batch 20 suspects implicated in the oil subsidy fraud. The suspects, comprising six oil companies and 11 individuals, will be docked in Lagos courts.
The companies involved are: Nasaman Oil Services; Eternal Oil and Gas Plc; Ontario Oil & Gas Plc; Nadabo Energy Limited; Pacific Silver Line Limited, Axenergy Limited and Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited.
 
The 11 individuals involved in the scam are: Mamman Nasir Ali; Christian Taylor; Mahmud Tukur; Ochonogor Alex; Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo-Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele; Abubakar Ali Peters; Jude Agube Abalaka,  Abdulahi Alao and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo.
Ezekiel Olaleye Ejidele is director of the accounting firm, Akintola Williams Deloitte while Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer is a staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulating Agency, PPPRA.
 
Nasaman Oil Services; Mamman Nasir and Christian Taylor are to face charges bordering on obtaining N4, 460, 130, 797. 94 (Four Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Seven Naira, Ninety Four Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria under false pretence. The sum is alleged to have been fraudulently obtained as subsidy payments from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 30.5million litres of Premium Motor Spirit from SEATAC Petroleum Limited of British Virgin Islands.
In the same vein, the anti-graft agency will equally prosecute Abdulahi Alao and Axenergy Limited for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2, 640, 141, 707.75 (Two Billion, Six Hundred and Forty Million; One Hundred and Forty One Thousand; Seven Hundred and Seven Naira, Seventy Five Kobo) being payments received from the Petroleum Support Fund for the purported importation of 33.3 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
 
Others include Mahmud Tukur,  Ochonogor Alex; Abdulahi Alao and Eternal Oil And Gas Plc who will be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 899, 238, 946. 02 (One Billion, Eight Hundred and Ninety Nine Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Six Naira, Two Kobo) from the Petroleum support Fund for a purported importation of 80.3million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Also, Nadabo Energy Limited, Abubakar Ali Peters, Jude Agube Abalaka and Pacific Silver Line Limited are to be prosecuted for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1, 464, 961, 978.24 (One Billion, Four Hundred and Sixty Four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy Eight Naira, Twenty- Four Kobo ), being payments fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 19.4million litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Walter Wagbatsoma; Adaoha Ugo -Ngadi; Fakuade Babafemi Ebenezer; Ezekiel   Olaleye Ejidele and Ontario Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited will be arraigned for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N1, 959, 377, 542, .63 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Seven Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty Two Naira, Sixty Three Kobo) from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 39.2 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
Lastly, Fago Petroleum and Gas Limited and Oluwaseun Ogunbanbo are to be docked for fraudulently obtaining the sum of N979,653,110.20 ( Nine Hundred and Seventy Nine Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira, Twenty Eight Kobo), from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported importation of 33, 627, 84 litres of Premium Motor Spirit.
The 20 suspects are among the over 140 individuals and organisations involved in the on- going investigations into the subsidy payments by the EFCC. More suspects will be arraigned periodically as the investigation progresses.
This investigation is massive and extensive; and the Commission wishes to reassure Nigerians that every effort will be made to bring all those who defrauded the country in the guise of subsidy for imported fuel to book

Nollywood Actress, Susan Ekwe Takes After Halima Abubakar

Years ago, when the Halima Abubakar threw caution to the wind and displayed her mammals’ gland to the public all in the name of acting, just a few of the stakeholders appreciated that effort. Today, Halima has tried all effort to erase that act from history but it has stuck like a plaque.

One of the up and coming actresses, Susan Ekwe who seems to be gradually culling a point from her ‘mentor’ Halima Abubakar recently displayed her boobs in a photo shoot too.

I think it’s about time we needed to tell these actresses that their display of boobs and boos will soon be out of fashion and that without substance, shadow is nothing.

A lot of them come into the business just to be known so as to raise their professional fee in the other business If the authority in charge of this sector of the economy could look into this and curb the excesses of these actresses, sanity, I am sure will return back to the industry.




EXCLUSIVE: Janet Jackson and Jermaine Jackson -- Brother & Sister Face-Off [PHOTO]


TMZ has obtained a photo of Janet Jackson and Jermaine Jackson in a heated exchange at the Jackson family home-- shortly after Sheriff's deputies responded to an alleged battery there on Monday afternoon.In the pic, Janet and her brother Jermaine are in front of the Calabasas compound ... clearly engaged in a heavy conversation.We're told the photo was taken within the same hour LA County Sheriff's deputies went to Katherine Jackson's home ... after someone inside accused someone else of a physical assault.We do not know if Jermaine and Janet were involved in that dispute.As we previously reported, Janet and Jermaine have a lot to discuss -- the letter they and 3 other siblings signed, demanding the Executors of Michael Jackson's Estate step down ... and Katherine Jackson's puzzling trip to Arizona.