Fresh Attacks In Plateau, As More Than 130 Corpses Litter Deserted Villages

3m360 has learnt that more than 130 corpses have been found in two deserted villages in Barkin Ladi local government area in of Plateau following fresh attacks by out-of-control killers.
The gruesome discovery came barely two days after two top politicians were killed by gunmen as they attended a burial ceremony for numerous victims of a mass slaughter.
A security source told SaharaReporters that displaced persons seeking refuge at different locations have disclosed that more than 130 corpses currently litter several villages affected by the worsening crisis. Our source added that emergency workers had yet to reach the areas most affected by the carnage owing to a lack of security.
An eyewitness source in Jos, the capital of Plateau, revealed that gunmen had sacked several villages. “These gunmen have stormed different areas, engaging in sporadic shooting and burning of houses,” he said.
The source added, “We became aware because the news reached us before we could go to pick the death bodies of our relations in other villages.”

Youth corps member abducted in Delta

Asaba— A National Youth Service Corps, NYSC member has been kidnapped in Delta State.

The state Police Command, gave his name as Uchenna Abueme. It was gathered that he was abducted, weekend along with a boy to his (corper’s) father.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Charles Muka, told Vanguard, yesterday, that “about  7:30am, three armed men kidnapped one Uchena Abueme, a male youth corps member and Chinonso Chris,  male, sales boy to the Corper’s  father while driving in a Camry car on Ekeobi Nwandu Street, Asaba.”

He added that as detectives from Police ‘A’ Division Asaba, closed-in on the gang’s hideout at Okpanam,  the gang  members abandoned their victims, who eventually escaped into the bush. The search for the corps member in the bush is continuing, but Chris (sales boy) had been found.”

22-Year-Old Woman Executed For 'Cheating On Her Husband' (PHOTOS)

These pictures, taken from an undated video, shows a man executing a 22-year-old woman with an AK47 rifle in front of a crowd of villagers in Afghanistan.

The woman, named as Najiba, was married to a member of a hardline Taliban militant group and was accused of adultery with a Taliban commander and was executed in some time in late June.
The pictures show a large crowd of bearded men gathered to watch the execution on the outskirts of Qol village in the country’s Parwan province.

A woman, named as 22-year-old Najiba is shown sitting at the edge of a ditch wearing a grey veil, in the right hand corner a man seem to be filming something out of frame

A man wearing white clothes and an orange beret appears pointing an AK47 rifle at her

The man opens fire at Najiba at point blank range as she is sitting with her back towards him
Najiba is sitting on the edge of a ditch when a man wearing an orange beret and holding a rifle walks up to her and points the AK47 to her head.
The man swiftly executes her but as she collapses he continues to shoot her dead body whilst walking towards it.
The video was handed over by a Qol villager to the Parwan provincial government, situated north of Kabul, their spokeswoman Roshna Khalid told AFP today.
There has been no indication as to whether there were any consequences for the Taliban commander she allegedly cheated on her husband with.

The man continues to fire the AK47 rifle at Najiba's dead body as she lies at the place of execution on the outskirts of a village in the Parwan province, north of Kabul

A large crowd of bearded men in traditional clothing had gathered in the Qol village to watch the execution of the 22-year-old woman
The video has been condemned by the Afghan government as un-Islamic and inhuman. 
Public executions of alleged adulterers were common when the Taliban regime was in power.
They were in control of the country from 1996 until 2001, when they were ousted by a US-led invasion for harbouring Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. 

Possibly satisfied with his work the executor walks away from her dead body after she was killed as a punishment for alleged adultery

Rioting Student Mistakenly Shot By Adams Oshiomhole’s Security Agents Dies In Hospital

One of the student that was shot at the Institute of Technology and Management, Usen by Edo state's Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s security agents has died. 
Two student were hit by bullets from the security agents attached to the Governor's convoy, who shot into the air to disperse the rioting students that barricaded the expressway on the outskirts of Usen in order to compel the governor to visit their institution.
The young boy died yesterday (Friday) from gun shot wounds sustained at his abdominal region and has been receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. I heard he was a 400 level student. While the other injured student is currently receiving treatment.  
May his soul rest in peace, Amen

Plateau Tragedy: Gunmen Kill Senator, Plateau State Assembly Leader, Injure House Of Reps Member

3m360 Reporters has just learnt that Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop and Gyang Fulani, the majority leader of the Plateau State Assembly, were among several people murdered today during a mass funeral in the Barakin-Ladi local government area of Plateau. A member of the House of Representatives, Simon Davou Mwadkwon, was also seriously injured in the attack.
Senator Dantong Gyang Dalyop was a PDP member and chaired the Senate committee on health.
Nigerian senate spokesperson Senator Ayinnaya Abaribe confirmed the tragic event to SaharaReporters. Our sources disclosed that the murdered officials were attacked as they attended a mass funeral for more than twenty men, women and children killed in the area in a gruesome attack launched by yet unidentified gunmen yesterday.
The funeral was just concluded when heavily armed men in military uniforms descended on the mourners, shooting at the senator and other officials at point blank range.
“It was a horrible sight,” said a source who witnessed the tragedy. “People ran helter-skelter as the gunmen continued to shoot,” he added.
For the past several years, Plateau State has been mired in sectarian bloodshed between armed groups of Muslims and Christians.

50 Burnt Bodies Found In Pastor's Home In Plateau State

As tension mounts in Plateau State following two incidents of heavy militant killings this weekend, security agents say they have discovered 50 corpses in the burnt home of a pastor in Matse village of Riyom local government area.
The bodies, some of them burnt beyond recognition, were discovered in the home of a pastor of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), and family sources said they belonged to people who ran into the pastor's home for safety as Fulani gunmen surrounded and attacked the area on Saturday morning.
Some 20 persons were killed in nine villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
And today, during a mass burial for those victims, gunmen in military uniform attacked mourners, killing many people, including a Senator, a member of the House of Representatives, and Plateau State assemblyman.
The government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on the state, while soldiers have been drafted in to ensure order

Frank Ocean Opens Up About Sexuality

Rumors have been circulating that Odd Future singer Frank Ocean is gay after lyrics from his upcoming album leaked. Last night Frank put the rumors to rest by posting a letter to his blog stating that his first love was a man. The letter was originally intended to fill the liner of his album Channel Orange and written back in December 2011. He posted the letter after Tweeting:

BASEDGOD WAS RIGHT

we’re all a bunch of golden million dollar babies. my hope is that the babies born these days will inherit less of the bullshit than we did. anyhow, what i’m about to post is for anyone who cares to read. it was intended to fill the thank you’s section in my album credits, but with all the rumors going round.. i figured it’d be good to clarify..

He then posted this:

Whoever you are, wherever you are…I’m starting to think we are a lot alike. Human beings spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to. My loved ones are everything to me here. In the last year or 3, I’ve screamed at my creator. Screamed at clouds in the sky. For some explanation. Mercy maybe. For peace of mind to rain like manna somehow.

4 Summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I’d see him, and his smile. I’d hear his conversation and his silence…Until it was time to sleep. Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping. No negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life. Back then, my mind would wander to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with. I reminisced about the sentimental songs I enjoyed when I was a teenager. The ones I played when I experienced a girl too quickly. Imagine being thrown from a plane. I wasn’t in a plane though. I was in a Nissan Maxima, the same car I packed up with bags and drove to Los Angeles in. I sat there and told my friend how I felt. I wept as the words left my mouth. I grieved for them, know I could never take them back for myself. He patted my back. He said kind things. He did his best, but he wouldn’t admit the same. He had to go back inside soon, it was late and his girlfriend was waiting for him upstairs. He wouldn’t tell me the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years. I felt like I’d only imagined reciprocity for years. Now imagine being thrown from a cliff. No. I wasn’t on a cliff, I was still in my car telling myself it was gonna be fine and to take deep breaths. I took the breaths and carried on. I kept up a peculiar friendship with him because I couldn’t imagine keeping up my life without him. I struggled to master myself and my emotions. I wasn’t always successful.

The dance went on…I kept the rhythm for several summers after. It’s winter now. I’m typing this on a plane back to Los Angeles from New Orleans. I flew home for another marred Christmas. I have a window seat. It’s December 27, 2011. By now I’ve written two albums, this being the second. I wrote to keep myself busy and sane. I wanted to create worlds that were rosier than mine. I tried to channel overwhelming emotions. I’m surprised at how far all of it has taken me. Before writing this, I’d told some people my story. I’m sure these people kept me alive, kept me safe… Sincerely. These are the folks I wanna thank from the floor of my heart. Everyone of you knows who you are…Great humans, probably angels. I don’t know what happens now, and that’s alrite. I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore. There’s probably some small sh*t still, but you know what I mean. I was never alone, as much as I felt like it…As much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don’t think I ever could be.

Thanks. To my first love, I’m grateful for you. Grateful that even though it wasn’t what I had hoped for and even though it was never enough, it was. Some things never are…And we were. I won’t forget you. I won’t forget the summer…I’ll remember who I was when I met you. I’ll remember who you were and how we both changed and stayed the same. I’ve never had more respect for life and living than I have right now. Maybe it takes a near death experience to feel alive.

Thanks. To my mother, you raised me strong. I know I’m only brave because you were first…So thank you. All of you. For everything good. I feel like a free man. If I listen closely…I can hear the sky falling too.

-Frank

Rihanna Sues Former Accountants for Millions

Rihanna** has sued her former accountants in New York, blaming them for tens of millions of dollars in losses from the singer's tours.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Manhattan.

It seeks unspecified damages against New York-based Berdon LLP and two accountants. A Berdon spokeswoman says the company has no immediate comment.

The singer sued under her real name, Robyn Fenty.

She says she hired the accountants in 2005 when she was a 16-year-old from Barbados launching her career.

The lawsuit says the company was supposed to provide accounting and financial management services. Rihanna alleges the company engaged in misconduct and malfeasance, culminating in overall losses in her 2009 "Last Girl on Earth" tour despite large revenues.

Actress Holly Robinson Peete Rips 50 Cent For Insensitive Remarks About Autism

Always opinionated and never one to hold back, 50 Cent is receiving backlash for a controversial comment he made on Twitter about autism.
Earlier this week, a fan tweeted 50, "Release the album or get shot again," in reference to the Five (Murder by Numbers) official album that he was supposed to release, but instead gave away for free and announced his official Interscope LP will be arriving this November.
To that, 'Fif tweeted back, "yeah I just saw your picture fool you look autistic. i don't want no special ed kids on my time line follow some body else."
That set off a firestorm of heated reaction, including that from actress Holly Robinson Peete, whose 13-year-old Rodney Peete is autistic.
Robinson Peete responded by writing an open letter to 50 Cent and posting it on her website, HollyRod.org.
"Do you even know what autism is?" she asks the G-Unit general in one part of the letter. "And what exactly does "autistic" look like? 1 in 88 have it. That's 1 in 54 boys. Families suffer a social stigma you will never know. It is a financial and emotional drain for millions..."
Robinson Peete, 47, also asked 50 to "please delete" the tweets to which he obliged.
The longtime actress, who had a role in the movie 21 Jump Street back in March, closed the letter by posting a picture of her son, Rodney.
"So I guess this is what autistic looks like?" she further questioned 50. "He is in special ed. He loves rap music and is a HUGE fan of yours. He's a tremendous kid. He has to deal with so much trying to fit in. This isn't helping."
Robinson Peete is one of many parents who have bombarded 50's twitter account over his insensitive remarks

Kanye West To Drop Solo LP After G.O.O.D.'s Cruel Summ

G.O.O.D. Music's Cruel Summerhasn't even hit the shelves yet, but there is a good chance fans can get a double dose of Kanye West this calendar year. Def Jam VP and multiplatinum Chicago producer No I.D. confirmed to MTV News that right after G.O.O.D. Music drop their compilation, Yeezy is looking to follow up with his sixth solo album.
"He's coming right after that," No I.D. revealed to us on the red carpet for the ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Music Awards in Los Angeles on June 29.
No I.D., who produced Common's 1994 classic "Resurrection" as well as more recent hits for Jay-Z ("Run This Town") and Big Sean ("My Last"), has been a longtime friend of Kanye's, and though he isn't working on Cruel Summer, we can look for his name in the production credits of 'Ye's next solo shot.
"I'm not working on that [Cruel Summer] album, I'm working on his album," he said before cryptically telling us what's to come on the upcoming G.O.O.D. LP. "This is Kanye. You know what to expect from the family. He hasn't missed yet, so don't expect him to miss."
Hard to believe now, but there was a time when the expectations for a Kanye West album weren't very high. Originally, the brass at Roc-A-Fella Records figured that even if their star producer failed as a rapper on his 2004 debut, The College Dropout, they could just overload the release with a ton of features from the label's star artists like Jay-Z, Cam'ron and Beanie Sigel. Now, after dropping LPs like the Grammy-winning Late Registration and 2010's critical darling My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,the expectations for a Yeezy album are perhaps higher than any other artist out today.
But No I.D. is confident the rap star will once again deliver. "It's what you expect and everything you don't expect," he said.
What are your expectations for Kanye West's next solo album? Sound off in the comments!

Downpour displaces 10,000 in Borno, washes up 500 bodies from graves

MAIDUGURI—A heavy rainfall in Maiduguri, Borno State capital, from Wednesday evening till the early hours of yesterday, has displaced over 10,000 residents, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.

In Jajeri Moslem Cemetery in Maiduguri and Jere Council Area, over 500 dead bodies were washed up from their graves. A 10-year-old, who was buried two days ago, was also washed up.

The rainfall, which started at 5.00pm, Wednesday, stopped at 7.00pm; continued again by 2.00am till 6.00am,  yesterday. The down-pour was said to be the heaviest in the state since the commencement of the rainy season.

The most affected areas are: Bullumkutu, Ajillari, Jajeri, London Ciki, Polo, Bolori, Ummarari, Maduganari, Gomari Airport, Gwange and Mary wards of the metropolis. Most of the residents in these areas had to stay indoors. Others were seen evacuating their property and laying the items under the sun and on trees to dry.

Mallam Bukar Maina, a resident, said the affected people have met and unanimously endorsed a letter to Governor Shettima to come to their aid.

Maina said: “This is not the first time we have taken our complaint to the governor on the devastating effect of flooding in the area due to our proximity to River Gadambul. But all our cries fell on deaf ears. We hope this time around the governor will listen to us.”

One of the victims of the flooding in Bullumkutu, who is a senior civil servant(names withheld), said the state government, under Governor Kashim Shettima, was paying lip service to the environment sector.

A woman, who gave her name as Hajiya Asabe Umara in Bolori area, described the situation as very pathetic and destructive.

She said: “It is by the grace of Almighty Allah that I was able to deliver a baby boy in our house this morning(yesterday).
“The massive flooding prevented any vehicle from coming to take me to a nearby hospital.”

Meanwhile, Governor Shettima has said the state government has awarded contracts worth N14 billion for the construction of roads and drainage in Bullumkutu, Dala, Abuja Talaka, Bullumkutu Tsalake, among other wards of the metropolis, to check flooding.

He said there was ongoing planting of over 10 million Arabic trees/seedlings across the 27 council areas of the state.
He said there was need for Borno State government to embark on massive construction of roads and drainage networks in the flood-prone areas of the state.

He said: “It is unfortunate that apart from some of my valuable documents and property which were destroyed, some section of my only hard-earned two bedroom bungalow was brought down by the flood. I am now totally confused as I have nowhere to go to with my family of 10.”

D’Prince, Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID shutdown Industry Nite

The Mavins – D’Prince, Wande Coal, Tiwa Savage, Dr SID
Lagos stood still on July 4, 2012, as MAVIN Records showcased their acts – Tiwa Savage, D’Prince, Dr SID and Wande Coal at the weekly Industry Nite event.

The Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, Lagos, was specially opened for Don Jazzy and his crew, who treated a mammoth crowd to a series 0f performances. From their reactions, fans were obviously thrilled, roaring louder  each time Don Jazzy got on stage.

Wande Coal got everyone on their feet, performing back to back hits from his repertoire, as did Dr SID and D’Prince, but Tiwa Savage  stole the show with an electrifying live performance delivered like a true diva.

The gig, hosted by BEAT FM Sports newscaster Jimmie, was attended by a number of Nigerian celebrities including 9ice, Modenine, Weird MC, Tee-A, 2shotz, Praiz, Sexy Steel, Storm Records‘ Naeto C, Tola Odunsi and Ms Jaie, Durella, Samklef, KCEE, DJ Caise, Harrysong, DJ Sose, DJ Xclusive, and many more.

Indsutry players including BEAT FM’s Deji Awokoya, Olisa Adibua and Toolz, Toke Makinwa, COOL FM’s N6, Dotun and Kaylah, Yvonne ‘Vixen’ Ekwere, Kemistry, X3M Music boss Steve Babaeko and others were also present.

Other performers who rocked the stage include Tunde Ednut, BiggSplash, Oluwasegun and Benny P.

Police Arraigns Abuja Pastor For Allegedly Molesting Female Members

A pastor of a new generation church in Abuja was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court, Karu for allegedly molesting young female members.
Pastor Basil Princewill, the General Overseer of the Mountain Movers Fire Ministries International, Nyanya, Abuja was arraigned by the Commissioner of Police, FCT command alongside Ms Paulyn Ode, the church coordinator on charges of conspiracy, criminal impersonation, criminal intimidation, and criminal force and assault.

The pastor was accused of having carnal knowledge of two 14 year-old female members of the church under pretense of offering them prayers in July, 2011 and later aborted the pregnancy of one this year at the Fountain Health Clinic, Nyanya, Abuja after telling doctors he is her father.
According to the charge which was transferred from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) where parents of the victims lodged initial complaints, the pastor also parades himself as a lawyer.
When the charges were read to the accused persons, they denied the allegations.
Consequently, defence counsel Uchenna Anayo applied for bail of the accused persons which was opposed by Police counsel Oyewusi Abiola.
Magistrate Ahmed Shuaibu ruled in favour of the defence and granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N2 million and two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, the judge said, must be civil servants of no less than Grade Level 15 and must have a property in Abuja valued at not less than N5 million.
He consequently adjourned the case to July 25 for hearing.

Bloodbath: 3 Persons Killed In Ogun Community Over A Prostitute

Bragging rights over a commercial sex worker has led to the death of, at least, one person and the destruction of property worth millions of naira. 
Spoils of the fight
Ibese town in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State was on Wednesday enmeshed in crisis following a bloody clash caused by two men, allegedly fighting over a commercial sex worker, in the town.

The ensuing violence in Ibese, which hosts a Dangote Cement Factory, recorded the death of about three persons with many more injured. About twenty-five trucks and five motorcycles were also set ablaze.

Similarly, a number of shops were set on fire with goods consumed in the raging inferno.

The genesis of the mayhem has been traced to a tussle between two men over a commercial sex worker, which metamorphosed into the use of guns and cutlasses.

In the course of the face-off, a man was allegedly shot dead; which resulted in a retaliatory attack from the deceased’s supporters.

As at the time of filing this report, some traders who escaped being killed, were seen evacuating remnants of their destroyed goods.

One of the traders who gave her name as Olufunke told Premium Times that the fight started at about 5.30am and lasted for over eight hours.

“There were gun shots everywhere, shops and vehicles were set ablaze and some people got killed in the process. I miraculously escaped with my children,” she said.

In an apparent move to avoid a spill-over, of the violence, to the Dangote Cement Factory, an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed in the front gate of the company.

In the same vein, over 100 policemen have been drafted to the troubled area.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the crisis was caused by a woman following a fight between two men

Exclusive Pictures from The Stage Show @ Koga Lounge Ikeja Lagos Nigeria

Exclusive Pictures from THE STAGE Show, June edition at Koga entertainment. It holds every last sunday of the month. THE STAGE is a platform for talent and skills, its open to music, dance, fashion, poetry, comedy, visual art and so on. Its absolutly free to participate.

N300,000 church offering turns into paper in Jos

Wonders, they say, shall never end. The leadership and members of St. Marry’s Parish in Hwolshe, Jos, Plateau State were shocked recently when the N300,000 that was realised as collection suddenly turned into bundle of papers.

Olufamous.com gathered that the strange incident happened at the banking hall of Zenith Bank main branch in Jos, where the Church Secretary, Miss Ifeoma Eze had gone to deposite the collection.

“The money was intact when I left home for the bank but on getting to the counter, I opened the polythene bag only to discover that it has turned to bundles of papers. I was so confused and scared; I started screaming and was oblivious of the attention I was attracting as bewildered customers tried to console me,” she said.

Miss Ifeoma said she was particularly confused because she was wondering how to relay the story to the Parish Priest who entrusted the money to her. “It is a story I find difficulty in telling anyone because not many people can believe it,” she added.

Confirming that she actually took the “real” money with her, Miss Ifeoma said she even changed the smaller denominations into bigger ones to ease the deposit processes in the bank.

Although some members of the church thinks there was a foul play somewhere, but Rev. Father Emmanuel Ray-Ikpe, the Parish Priest, described the incident as “unfortunate, surprising and mysterious”.

“I have never heard of such a thing before but it has happened to us; to our Church. There is nothing we can do about it. My secretary came back from the bank crying. Only God knows what exactly happened… We have left everything in the hands of God our creator,” the Reverend Father said.

Men beaten to death while trying to hijack plane

TWO men who allegedly tried to hijack a plane in China were beaten to death by passengers and crew.
The Global Times newspaper reported that two of the suspects died in hospital from injuries they suffered during the ensuing fight with passengers and crew on board.
The men were part of a six-strong gang involved in the foiled hijack of a Tianjin Airlines flight bound for the regional capital of Urumqi last Friday.
Just minutes after the flight took off from Hetian, southwest Xinjiang, the men, all aged between 20 and 36, stood up and announced their plans to terrified passengers.



The gang reportedly broke a pair of aluminium crutches and used them to attack passengers while attempting to break into the cockpit, Hou Hanmin, a regional government spokeswoman said.
They were tackled by police and passengers who tied them up with belts before the plane, carrying 101 people, returned to the airport safely just 22 minutes later.
Hanmin added that police were still testing materials they had been carrying, thought to be explosives.
The men were reported to be Uighurs, the local Muslim ethnic minority. There have been clashes between authorities and Uighurs resentful of government controls over their religion and culture.
Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the German-based World Uyghur Congress which campaigns for Uighurs’ rights, said that it wasn’t a hijacking attempt, rather an in-flight brawl over a seat dispute.
“We warn China not to use this incident as another excuse for crackdown,” he said in an emailed statement.
Two more suspects are reportedly being treated in hospital after mutilating themselves.

Fresh facts emerge on Farouk/Otedola bribery scandal

*Telephone conversation between duo released
LAGOS – Fresh facts emerged yesterday to corroborate Sunday Vanguard’s story of the alleged telephone conversation between Mr. Lawan Farouk, House of Representatives Committee Chairman on the management of subsidy funds, and Femi Otedola, Executive Chairman, Zenon Oil and Gas, in the unfolding $3 million bribery scandal.

Channels Television yesterday obtained the recorded audio conversation which transpired between both men as reported in the Sunday Vanguard edition of June 17, 2012.

Sunday Vanguard’s report had exclusively disclosed that Hon. Farouk, whether acting on premonition or instinct, decided against going to the airport to collect the alleged of $2.5m – having allegedly collected $500,000, earlier.

The Sunday Vanguard report of June 17, reads:
“Now, whether Farouk had a premonition that he was likely to be set up or that he just didn’t want to be spotted at the airport in the company of Otedola, he simply refused to meet Otedola at the airport afterwards.

”Instead, according to records of the telephone conversation that was bugged, Farouk instead suggested that he would send a third party to collect the money.”

According to the recordings, he gave the telephone numbers of the nominee.

He, according to the recorded conversation between him and Otedola, actually spelt the name of the nominee to Otedola.

”But all these were activities in futility.
”The high command of the SSS would not have a third party collect the balance of $2.5m.

”A senior security source told Sunday Vanguard that the reason why the airport operation was aborted was that since it was Farouk that was being expected to show up and he was now planning to send another party, there was no need to continue.

” Had he shown up and collected the money, he would have been arrested immediately, a source confirmed.”


Lawan Farouk and Femi Otedola
In the recording, the voice said to be Otedola’s asks how the outstanding bribe money should be delivered as Lawan is unavailable.

The audio conversation started with the MD/CEO, Zenon Oil and Gas, Femi Otedola saying he did not want to take the money to his house. “I don’t want to take it to my house; it is a lot of money” he said.

Then the lawmaker replied that he was on his way out and by the time he returned, he would have to head to the chambers of the House of Representatives.

Otedola then asked, if he should reschedule his planned trip to China, but Farouk said no and offered to bring in a third person to collect the bribe.

The lawmaker gave the phone numbers 08036513355, naming the person as TJ.

Acknowledging the transaction, Farouk responded affirmatively to Otedola’s remark that if he received the initial payment, then there would be a balance of $2.5 million, saying “that’s right” while he said, he would be calling the third person to ensure the collection of the initial payment.

The conversation verbatim

Otedola: How are you sir? I don’t want to bring it to my house

Lawan: Oh, you would take it to your house

Otedola: No, I don’t want to bring it to my house; it is a lot of money

Lawan: err… so where? Because I’m rushing to the… they are at the airport now?

Otedola: ? Yes they are in the airport in the aircraft

Lawan: Well, I can’t come over now and before they can come over now unless I send somebody to but
I can’t because…by the time they come I should be…I have a lot of things to do myself

Otedola: Is there anybody you think I can give it to or maybe I should just postpone my trip to China till tomorrow?

Lawan: No, no it’s ok…I’ll arrange it with someone…let me give you his number 080

Otedola: hold on hold on

Lawan: 08036513355

Otedola: (Repeats number after him)What’s the name?

Lawan: TJ

Otedola: Sorry?

Lawan: aaarrh… TJ

Otedola: Ateezay?

Lawan: TJ!

Otedola: Teezay?

Lawan: No, Tj

Otedola: OK. So I will give him the balance; that is erm… 2.5 million dollars, yea?

Lawan: that’s right. Hold on. I’m calling him to be sure his phone is on…..

Lawan Farouk reacts

Meanwhile, Mr Farouk Lawan has reacted to the audio conversation which was broadcast on Channels Television saying Mr Otedola manipulated the audio and challenged the business mogul to produce the complete audio video unedited and undoctored.

In a statement issued on behalf of the lawmaker by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, he said,

“we have listened to and watched the audio with our client, Mr Farouk Lawan. On his instructions, we hereby  state that the audio is infertile, vague, puerile and inadmissible in evidence by any Court Of Law or Tribunal.

“Professionally, Channels did make the vital point that the audio was “purported to be their voices”. One simple question here: where is the visual of the audio? Recall that Mr Otedola had told the whole world that he used SSS to carry out a so called “Sting Operation”, which showed Farouk Lawan not only pocketing the sum of  N500,000 US Dollars, but also putting some under his cap, in Mr Otedola’s Lagos home. On Farouk’s instructions, we had debunked this allegation and challenged Mr Otedola, or the Police and SSS to produce this complete audio video, unedited and undoctored.

“Mr Otedola had the opportunity of doing this through Channels TV. But he did not. Rather, he brought highly doctored, manipulated and incomprehensible voices purported to be his and Lawan’s. He will certainly require forensic evidence to prove this to be true in this highly technologised world of manipulative evidence that can easily turn a man into a woman. Certainly, the audio was a sorry anti-climax to what Nigerians had been expecting.

“Even at that, let us take the audio “evidence” itself for whatever, it is worth. The conversation started somewhere in the middle, not from the beginning and ended abruptly. Our client hereby still challenges Mr Otedola to air the entire audio visual and also the complete video for Nigerians to see the setting and  environment in which the alleged bribe took place, who said what, to whom and for what.

“Secondly, our client believes that the entire footage is devilish, satanic, luciferous, mischievous and completely taken out of context. Even then the audio shows that it is Mr Otedola offering to pay the balance of the alleged bribe of N2.5 million US Dollars, not Mr Farouk Lawan.

“Even from what was said, there was no mention of the purpose of the alleged balance of N2.5 million US Dollars, or any mention of Mr Otedola’s indicted companies, Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum, Whose desired removal from the Committee’s indicted companies list allegedly formed the fulcrum of the bribe itself. If it was actually a “sting operation”, why is it Mr Otedola and not the SSS officially releasing it on Channels TV?  The audio has raised more questions and doubts than answers. Mr Farouk Lawan says it is a doctored anti-climax”

Police uncover ‘baby factory’ in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT – POLICE in Rivers State have smashed a syndicate, that specialised in selling new babies. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Ben Ugwuegbulam, who confirmed the development to 3m360, said the Police arrested a husband and his wife involved in the illicit trade.

He said the two specialised in kidnapping girls and arranging for them to get pregnant, while they would hide the pregnant girls in their custody until they delivered.

Ugwuegbulam said the suspects confessed that as soon as the girls deliver, they would sell the babies. He said: “Rivers State Police Command had arrested one Chigozie John and his wife, Akwarama  and rescued three pregnant women held as captives in the suspects place or residence somewhere in Akpajo.

“On interrogation, the husband and wife confessed to the offence of trafficking in new babies and further admitted that the three pregnant women found in their house were procured to deliver babies that would be sold as soon as they were delivered of their babies.”

He added that investigation was on to unravel details of the operation of the suspects.

3rd Mainland Bridge: FG, Lagos to parley on new repair date

LAGOS – Federal Government, yesterday, said a new date for the commencement of repair of the Third Mainland Bridge would be announced soon.

It would be recalled that the repair on the bridge which was scheduled to commence on on Sunday, was postponed due to  logistic reasons by the government a day before.

Federal Comptroller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Ejike Mgbemena, at a briefing, said: “You will be informed when the project will commence between today (yesterday) and Tuesday (today). We will hold a briefing on Friday where the Minister of Works will brief you on the details.”

“The minister will be coming to Lagos on Thursday to meet with Lagos State governor on the project before a world press conference on Friday.”

He noted that this will douse the tension that the Federal Government was suspending repairs of the 22-year-old bridge indefinitely.

He, however, blamed the anxiety created over the project on the ineptitude of the contractor.  “What we were considering was first week of July not a specific day in July.”

The controller stated that the Federal Government will collaborate with the Lagos State Government to ensure a hitch-free repair.

Also speaking on the project, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba, assured residents that the government would be working closely with the Federal Government to ensure that motorists experience minimal discomfort.

Ibirogba said the state government had effectively managed such issue of partial road closure through the joint efforts of the various state traffic control agencies before now, urging the residents not to panic whenever the government begins the repair.

He said: “There is no need to fear, it’s all about management, the government has done this before, and when we did it, we all remained calm, there were some little traffic, but we are better off now than where we were then.

“What the government did was to divert traffic to Funsho Williams Avenue (formerly Western Avenue),  Ikorodu Road and also through Murtala Muhammed Way, through Carter Bridge, Lagos Island and out.