Thursday, February 28, 2013
Nigerian model Adaora Akubilo features in 2013 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue
PHOTOS Celebrities model Yomi Casual's 2013 design collection
PHOTOs from Halima Abubakar's Mistresses Movie Premiere
Pope Benedict Speaks Of Church's Stormy Waters In Final Papal Audience
Today is the final day of his eight year Papacy which took a dramatic turn when he announced two weeks ago that he would step down by the end of the month. He will meet with 115 cardinals this morning for a final time. The focus of the meeting will be on the election of a new pope.
Most of the cardinals from around the world will meet with Pope Benedict XVI, before he flies out with helicopter to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome.
Pope Benedict XVI will stay at Castel Gandolfo for about two weeks, while his apartment inside Vatican City is set up. The apartment is believed to be in a monastery.
With chants of "Benedetto!" erupting from the crowd, the mood was far more buoyant than during the Pope's final Sunday blessing. Pope Benedict had said he decided to retire after realising that, at 85, he simply didn't have the "strength of mind or body" to carry on.
Pope Benedict who becomes the Bishop of Rome Emeritus from today thanked the people for respecting his decision to resign on grounds of failing strength and ailing health, but more important, reminding them that "it was time for a younger man to lead the Catholic Church into the future.
"To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself," Benedict said to thundering applause.
Reports said Pope Benedict clearly enjoyed the crowds, as he took a long victory lap around the square in an open-sided car and stopping to kiss and bless half a dozen children handed to him by his secretary.
The outgoing Pope said he "never felt alone on the job but It was a great burden that God placed on his shoulders as a Pope."
According to him when he was elected Pope on April 19, 2005, he questioned if God truly wanted it. "'It's a great burden that you've placed on my shoulders,'"
He thanked his cardinals and colleagues for their guidance and for "understanding and respecting this important decision.".
He recalled the joy and the light of his papacy and said that he saw a church that was alive.
He will lay aside the red "shoes of the fisherman" that have been part of his papal attire and wear brown loafers given to him by shoemakers during a trip to Leon, Mexico last year. He will wear a "simple white cassock", Lombardi said.
His lead seal and his ring of office, known as the "ring of the fisherman", will be destroyed according to Church rules, just as if he had died.
Olympics Skater Busted for Sleeping With Fourteen Year Old Fan
Wright and the unnamed victim corresponded with each other, with the skater persuading her to get frisky via a webcam. He also filmed himself performing a s-x act and sent it to the teen.
The two had a face to face encounter during a fan meet-and-greet. They slipped out of public view, and performed s-x acts on each other. During a second encounter in October of last year, Wright requested that the girl wear clothes that could be removed easily, before sneaking away to have intercourse in a parking lot.
"You are known as an accomplished roller-skater and have your profile on the Internet," recorder Paul Mann said at Wright's sentencing. "You have, through your skating, the opportunity to become a role model for young people. There must be young people who have followed you who feel let down by the offences you have committed."
An attorney for the girl said that she was a willing participant in the situation. "Before the text friendship developed, however inappropriately, there was genuine feeling on both sides," noted Jonathan Straw. "This is not a case where she was pressured.Unfortunately, the very rapid, almost explosive use of social networking among young people can give rise to this sort of difficulties."
Wright admitted to two counts of s-xual activity with a child, and was sentenced to five years behind bars. He's also barred from using the Internet to correspond with anyone under the age of 16, and must register as a s-x offender.
He previously served over four years for r@ping a girl when he was 18.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Denrele's Gibberish in Honour of an Iconic Goldie by Odih Daniel
Derenle's tribute to his best friend and pop singer,the late Goldie Harvey had most of us in tears.However,just as expected,some critics ripped his tribute apart and called it gibberish..
Read this article by Odih Daniel below and agree or blast disagree...
Read this article by Odih Daniel below and agree or blast disagree...
It was a bundle of gibberish and senselessnes of Derenle, writing a whole lot of incomplete proposition, perhaps to image his stupefaction and incredulity of the news of the death of his 'best' friend, Goldie. Till the time of interment, Derenle claimed he never believed Goldie was dead.
Knowing fully that Goldie died in Derenle's hands, I suppose Derenle should have been able to brace himself with the reality of the news and event, and should not have made a drama and or a show of a serious, melancholic situation. As an artiste, Derenle should not turn every occasion to a stage show. His tribute is a stark trash of incongruous, ridiculous piece of writing from a person who is supposed to take the occasion seriously mournfully. Goldie's family as I read recently, should truly take a legal case against Derenle.
He should explain, in concrete terms, why Goldie had to die and in his lone hand, without a member of Goldie's family being present. Derenle's untelligible tribute is a piece of news on almost all the online media. Some of the media quizzically posted Derenle's tribute just because they want to express their shock, albeit mildly, ridiculously at Derenle's manner of handling events and situation such as funeral.
I have no evidence to prove Goldie and Derenle were lovebirds, and I have no room either to accommodate any question whatsoever from anybody to prove Derenle's complicity in the life of seeming controversy Goldie lived while she used to be alive, but I believe Mr Edun carries some of the blames attributed to Goldie (if any) by her goddamn critics. Derenle's presence and friendliness did not help the lady. Otherwise, why should she die of hypertension when she was not really poor or was not really found to have passed through frustration. From Derenle's writing, when the lady asked these questions:
"Am I good enough?" "Am I pretty enough?" "Will they like me?"
What was his response to these emotional questions of great concern? Rather, Derenle chose to mock her when he said:
'It was this burden that made you great…And that made you stumble in the end'.
Don't these words of Derenle sound ridiculous? He is of the belief that Goldie was not good enough, what did he then do to rehab the lady?
'Goldie if you can hear me now, you weren't just good enough'
From every available facts to me, and from my own point of view, Derenle did not represent a true friend of Goldie.
Mark Davies Signs New Bolton Deal
Manager Dougie Freedman said he wants to build his side around the 25-year-old, who has made 130 appearances for the club since being bought from Wolves in 2009.
Davies was a target for Swansea last summer after impressing despite Wanderers' relegation from the Premier League but now he has committed his future to the in-form Championship club
"I wanted to get it done," Freedman told BBC Radio Manchester. "I came into the club [in October] and they were talking to him. It was dragging on a little bit and I wanted to put an end to it.
"I want him to be at the club and I think the fans do. I want to build the team around him, so I just tied up the loose ends."
Bolton have taken 11 points from their last five games to revive hopes of a play-off finish but Tuesday's 1-0 win over Peterborough was marred when Davies was taken off with a knee injury.
Wanderers are awaiting the results of scans while Davies was replaced by Stuart Holden, who made his first league appearance since 2011.
FG Inaugurates Board of Four Universities
The four universities which boards were inaugurated in Abuja last weekend include the University of Lagos, UNILAG; Federal University of Agriculture, Umuduike; University of Benin, Benin and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayat Ahmed Rufa'i at the inauguration of the governing councils charged members of the board to dissociate themselves from any means of enrichment but rather put in their best to see that they leave their footprints in the sands of time.
"Governing council members should take note that their appointments are not a means for self aggrandizement and self enrichment but a call to service to humanity. Council should not be lured to run the award of 'Honourary degrees or 'Fellows" as chieftaincy title affairs. The sanctity and integrity of the institutions should be foremost in deciding on who should be conferred with these awards.
"I charge you therefore to work very hard so that during your tenure, the transformation agenda of this administration under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, will not only be given attention but would be tangible in these institutions."
Those appointed for the University of Lagos are Prof. Jerry Gana, Chairman; Dr. Monday Ohoni, member; Igwe Chris Onyekwuluje, member; Dr. Garba Usman Tetenji, SAN, member; and Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard Newspapers as member.
Chairing the board of UNIBEN is Senator Effiong Dickson Bob with Jamila Fakik; J.K.A Gazama, SAN; Chief Samuel Edohoeket and Arch. Shettima Mohammed Sale as members.
Members of the council for the University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State include Prof. Anya O. Anya, chairman, while Chief Chris Iroegbe; Rasheed Kola Ojikutu, Ph.D; and Mr Akinboro Muyiwa are members.
Chairman of the board of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba, chairman, while the other members are Moses Otazi; Omoyele Daniel; Hon. Tijjani Goni Guzamala and Sunday Ibrahim Ameh, SAN.
Prof. Ahmed Rufa'i said government is aware of the challenges facing the nation's tertiary institutions and therefore urged the new governing board to brace up and bring their wealth of experience to bear in the new assignments.
"The sector is at present beset with some challenges which have incapacitated the sector from achieving its set goals within the record time. These challenges include inadequate human resource and physical infrastructure; unstable academic calendar, general insecurity, examination malpractice, inadequate space for teeming population seeking admission into tertiary institutions, decline in academic standards, poor management of funds and human resources as well as many others which have impacted negatively on the development of tertiary education in Nigeria.
"I admit that these challenges did not come overnight, but an outcome of a long time of neglect and poor management. Consequently, the present government is tackling these challenges head-long, In fact, the government has continued to increase the budgetary provision for the education sector."
Speaking on behalf of the new councils, Unilag chairman, Prof. Jerry Gana thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity given to them to serve, stating that the new council will do their best in the discharge of their duties.
"We shall do our very best by the grace of God to give effective leadership with integrity, fairness, justice and honour to the various universities."
He reiterated, "as men and women of caliber, we shall do our very best to be fair, to be just and to be honourable in our various universities. And we shall be guided by the laws and statutes of the universities."
Prof Gana also commended President Jonathan for retaining the name of the University of Lagos.
UNILAG Students Damage Davido’s Car After Concert
The HKN artiste, was in the institution to perform at the First Bank-sponsored Youth Excel Programme. After he held his audience captive with a great performance, the students refused to let him leave, trailing him to his car.
Davido, who just released controversy ridden single, 'Gobe', however took it in good faith.
He tweeted: "Damn they broke my car window at Unilag!! Still luv ma fans tho!! Bless yall!! Amazing show!"
Barcelona 1-3 Real Madrid (Agg 2-4): Relentless Ronaldo Destroys Barcelona
With a 1-1 home draw to overcome from the first leg, Jose Mourinho looked on in jubilation as his team executed their gameplan to perfection, frustrating the Catalans at the back, and through an inspirational Cristiano Ronaldo, giving a counterattacking clinic up front.
The Portuguese opened the scoring from the penalty spot 12 minutes in, becoming the first player to score in six successive Clasicos away from home, and finished off a surging break shortly before the hour mark to put Madrid in the driving seat.
Raphael Varane put the finishing touches on an unbelievable night for the visitors when he headed home a corner, with Jordi Alba's late goal coming as little consolation for the hosts, as los Blancos now await either Sevilla or Atletico Madrid in the showpiece event on May 18. Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi returned to start in midfield for the hosts, with Carles Puyol partnering Gerard Pique in defense. For Madrid, Varane, the standout performer from the first leg, started alongside Sergio Ramos at center back.
Barca started positively, and with only two minutes on the clock, was nearly ahead. Pedro did brilliantly to turn Fabio Coentrao inside out and square for Lionel Messi, who narrowly missed the target from a tight angle.
But instead, it would be Madrid which would take the lead. Ronaldo was simply too quick for Pique, and was tripped up inside the area, leaving the referee with no choice but to award a penalty, from which the Portuguese forward slotted coolly into the bottom corner.
The Catalans exhibited their customary dominance of the ball, but Mourinho's men were ready with discipline and numbers at the back, and a pacey threat on the counter whenever they won the ball.
Referee Alberto Undiano, already the villain of the piece in the eyes of the Camp Nou faithful for the decision against Pique, was showered with further venom from the stands after correctly denying penalty appeals for Fabregas and Pedro.
And the home fans were left frustrated again moments before halftime, when Messi drilled a free kick agonizingly into the side netting, with half of the stadium already celebrating a goal.
The Blaugrana went close again minutes after the restart when Diego Lopez parried an effort by Busquets, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking the rebound off the toes of Fabregas from point-blank range.
But much like the start of the first half, the chance was spurned, and again, Madrid would punish its profligacy on the counterattack, this time putting the tie virtually out of reach.
Sami Khedira's sublime first-time pass after winning the ball released Angel Di Maria against Puyol. The Barca captain was left on his backside by the skill of the winger, whose initial shot was parried by Jose Pinto, only for Ronaldo to bury the rebound.
And with 22 minutes left, Madrid was in dreamland again, when Varane rose highest to head home Mesut Ozil's corner in almost identical fashion to his goal in the first leg.
Flares were set off in the stands as a few home fans lost patience with events on the ptich, but their mood improved ever so slightly just before injury time when Alba ghosted in behind the fullback to slot Andres Iniesta's clipped pass beyond Lopez.
But the damage was long done by the irrepressible visitors, who will now contest the final in three months. The Clasico drama is not quite done, however, as both sides will lock horns at Santiago Bernabeu in la Liga on Saturday.
Chris Brown: “Rihanna Attack Was My Biggest Mistake”
Chris has now spoken out about his relationship with Riri, telling The Mirror that the violence was the 'biggest mistake' of his life.
He furthermore dished: "Sometimes you row, you fight, with the one you love and things get said, stuff spiral"
"That night was the deepest regret of my life, the biggest mistake. But she loves me – what can I say? I'm forgiven… but, yes, I worked hard for it."
"People attack me and criticise me, it happens all the time. But they don't know me, and they don't know us. It doesn't bother me anymore."
"Other people can judge us but they don't know anything."
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Nasarawa State University Shut Down After 4 Students Are Killed During Protests
The students were reportedly protesting over the scarcity of water and power on the campus for several days. The students of the institution were said to have blocked the Abuja/Keffi road during the protest.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the Nasarawa State Police Command, Michael Ada confirmed the killing of the students and told Punch that seven others received gunshot injuries. About 17 other students were arrested by security agents, including the institution's President of the Students Union.
During the protests, policemen and soldiers were dispatched to the area to restore normalcy. However, both the Police and Soliders are denying their involvement in the killing of the students.
Ada told Punch that the Police were not involved in the shootings and that they only cleared the highway blocked by the protesting students. He said that any question relating to the incident should be directed to the Army.
Similarly denying their involvement, the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, denied the claim that soldiers did the shooting. He told Punch that soldiers were on patrol duty during the demonstration at Keffi but did not have any altercation with the students whatsoever.
"What these people are writing is not correct, Soldiers were not deployed and couldn't have carried out the shooting. Our men were on patrol duty at Keffi. The students, who were protesting, had blocked the road but soldiers did not have any altercation with them. There were the police and other security agencies, who were on the ground to handle the situation. There is also this information we have that the police even recovered some arms from the students who were protesting."
The institution has now been shut down till further notice.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Nigeria Abuzz Over Who Paid for Beyoncé Concert, Poverty Alleviation Fund?
Did the Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, divert $1 million from an anti-poverty program to finance a trip to Lagos by American pop stars Beyoncé Knowles and her husband Jay-Z?
A document recently released by SaharaReporters, a group of well-regarded and some famous Nigerian journalists, some of them dissidents forced to flee the country, seems to indicate that he did.
And the report has sparked an angry debate among Nigerians.
The charge is that in 2006 as governor of the oil-producing Bayelsa state, Mr. Jonathan robbed the very poor in his state to help pay the very rich Americans, to burnish Nigeria's image abroad.
There is no indication that Beyoncé and Jay Z, who thrilled crowds in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, knew that their visit could have been paid for, in part, by funds designated to ending abject poverty.
But when she performed this rendition of Nigeria's national anthem, photos of Bayelsa state appeared on the screens behind her. You can see her thrill the audience above and here, singing live as it were.
This charge comes on the heels of reality star Kim Kardashian flying into Lagos for a Valentine's Day event she "co-hosted" for a reported $500,000.
Her entire contribution was a brief appearance and a two-word greeting to the well-heeled crowd: "Hey Naija," slang for "Hey, Nigeria. She took off immediately after. Folks are wondering where the money to fund her appearance came from.
While many Nigerians are outraged, Mr. Jonathan's administration has remained mum on the issue. But Nigerian press accounts revealed this month that in recent years, the administration paid up to $60,000 to contract a American public relations and lobbying powerhouse.
As president, Mr. Jonathan has worked hard to try to burnish Nigeria's image abroad, even as millions of Nigerians remain mired in poverty in his home state and the country at large.
Sahara Reporters points out that "according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, 47 percent of Bayelsans live in poverty. The World Bank says that per capita gross domestic product in the Niger Delta is significantly below the country's average. According to the state's own 2005 development strategy, 80 percent of rural communities have no access to safe drinking water."
Mr. Jonathan's efforts — even his successful ones — are not always impressive. The January interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour from Davos was not widely seen as one of his finer moments.
Several Dead in Sectarian Clashes in Eastern Nigeria
At least five people have been killed in eastern Nigeria after a disagreement over a football field led to clashes between Christians and Muslims.
Officials in Wukari, a town in Taraba state, say the violence began Saturday when two football teams argued over the right to use a play area. One player was killed and the fighting quickly spread into surrounding areas, leaving homes, mosques and churches burned to the ground.
Authorities sent in security forces to restore order and imposed a 24-hour curfew on Wukari.
Wukari lies in Nigeria's middle-belt region that divides the mostly Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south. The area often suffers through interreligious clashes.
In other violence, six people were killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants Saturday in northeastern Yobe state.
Officials in Wukari, a town in Taraba state, say the violence began Saturday when two football teams argued over the right to use a play area. One player was killed and the fighting quickly spread into surrounding areas, leaving homes, mosques and churches burned to the ground.
Authorities sent in security forces to restore order and imposed a 24-hour curfew on Wukari.
Wukari lies in Nigeria's middle-belt region that divides the mostly Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south. The area often suffers through interreligious clashes.
In other violence, six people were killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants Saturday in northeastern Yobe state.
Oscars 2013: Full List of Winners
Best Picture: Argo
Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, Django Unchained
Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, Les Miserables
Best Director: Ang Lee, Life of Pi
Foreign Language Film: Amour, Austria
Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio, Argo
Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Django Unchained
Animated Feature Film: Brave
Production Design: Lincoln
Cinematography: Life of Pi
Sound Mixing: Les Miserables
Sound Editing: Life of Pi, Skyfall (tie)
Original Score: Life of Pi, Mychael Danna
Original Song: Skyfall from Skyfall, Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
Costume: Anna Karenina
Documentary Feature: Searching for Sugar Man
Documentary (short subject): Inocente
Film Editing: Argo
Makeup and Hairstyling: Les Miserables
Animated Short Film: Paperman
Live Action Short Film: Curfew
Visual Effects: Life of Pi
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Akon’s Konvict Music Officially Signs WizKid
Now i can confirm to you that Wizkid has rejoined Konvict Music. Wizkid was the only reason Akon had a venture business with EME and now that he is no more there, Akon has decided to pick up from where the deal with EME ended. Although the details of the contract is still unknown.
Although Akon's Konvict financed the recording of Wizkid and Chris Brown, Wizkid, Young Jeezy and Game on the same track are the notable ones. Wizkid has also recorded track with Tinie Tempah amongst others. All financed by Konvict Music. Details of the contract might not be known for now but im sure Akon doesn't mind Wizkid having his own record label which was one of the reason's he left EME.
Wizkid drops his mixtape in April and his 2nd album under EME has been fully recorded and that makes him a free man. While his international album is slated for 2014.
The deal with Konvict Music was resigned with his new management Disturbing London when he was in London.
Culled From:- NGTrends
Pres. Jonathan Hosts Brazilian President in Abuja
President Gooduck Jonathan will receive President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil Saturday in Abuja and hold talks with her on the further expansion of trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Brazil.
A statement from the Presidential Villa Friday, said President Rousseff's official visit to Nigerian is in furtherance of efforts to boost economic and developmental cooperation between Nigeria and Brazil which were initiated during President Jonathan's visit to Rio de Janeiro last year.
The Presidency said "At talks with the Brazilian President during the visit in June, 2012, President Jonathan had called for increased Brazilian support to Nigeria for the development of mechanized agriculture, power generation and other sectors in which Brazilians are globally acknowledged experts."
The statement added that "President Rousseff had while accepting President Jonathan's invitation to visit Nigeria, assured him that Brazil, currently the world's sixth largest economy, would be glad to deploy the skills and expertise which its people have acquired in many fields, including engineering, construction, technology, public infrastructure, hydro-power generation and large-scale mechanized agriculture, to support economic growth and development in Nigeria."
A new Memorandum of Understanding between both countries will be signed after talks between the two leaders and their delegations in Abuja Today.
PHOTOS Of Iyanya And Vector Working As Sales Attendants In Abuja
Iyanya and Vector worked as sales attendants for 30minutes at the Exclusive Stores, Abuja today. They are currently in Abuja for Iyanya's concert which will hold tommorrow at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.....
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Oshiomhole Bans Edo Farmers From Paying Dubious Royalty To Igbinedion
It was gathered that the land was leased to Chief Igbinedion who later sublet to individual farmers for a certain amount of money.
Chief Igbinedion, father of the former Governor of the state, Lucky Igbinedion, is widely known for his flamboyance.
Locals say he actually regards himself as an authority in the ancient state.
In 2008, his son was convicted of corruption after a 191 count charge initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was later freed after the charges were astonishingly narrowed down to one after a plea bargain he entered into with the anti-graft commission.
Out of the billions he looted, Justice Abdul Tafarati of the Federal High Court in Enugu asked him to refund a paltry N3.5 million as a fine.
But speaking in his office when the Yoruba farmers paid him a courtesy visit, Governor Oshiomhole directed the farmers to stop the payment, saying the land has been recovered and reverted to the state government.
He said they risk eviction, if they continue to pay an individual such tax.
According to him, "As far as I know, there are only two custodians of land in Edo State. First, is that all land is vested in the state government; the second is the Oba of Benin by virtue of the fact of being the Oba of Benin and the history behind that institution as regards traditional ownership of land.
"As far as I know, government policy across the country is that Nigerians cannot be tenant farmers particularly on government-owned lands, because the land in question is government-owned that was reserved for an individual for the purpose of farming by himself, not to sublet to actual farmers who then pay royalties to him. The only person who can collect royalties in Edo State is the Oba of Benin."
"What you are expected is to pay your personal income tax. Whether you are a Hausa man, an Igbo man, an Itsekiri man, an Ijaw and you live in the land area called Edo, you are not a second class citizen. Where you live you have the right to farm. And the money you make from you farming is your money; the only think that the law requires of you is to pay your personal income tax.
"So if you make as much as N10 million in income, we will assess your income tax on the basis of your earning but you cannot pay tax to individuals, no matter how highly placed. I as the governor cannot ask you to pay tax to me if I give you land to farm. That land is government land, and when I exercise my privileges as a governor, it doesn't make me a governor, it doesn't make me a landlord.
"Under no circumstance should you pay taxes to an individual and I warn that if you do, then we will evict you from that land. All those lands you are talking about have been recovered by the government of Edo State. That land is reserved, you are entitled to farm on it within the agreed rules and if any dues are to be paid, they will be paid directly to the treasury of Edo State Government."
Spokesman of the Yoruba community in Okada, Opajobi Semiu, earlier informed the Governor that the five camps of the Yoruba community in Okada pay N40 million per annum to an individual who claims to be the owner of the government land.
24 Year-Old Wife Allegedly Stabbed to Death by Mother-In-Law
In the past week, there have been several reported cases of violence among couples, both married and unmarried. But this one has a different twist.
A 24 year-old mother of two was was allegedly stabbed to death by her mother in-law on Wednesday evening at Angwar Baba area of New Nyanya, Nassarawa State. Daily Trust reports that the deceased, Esther Opara was stabbed by her mother-in-law after arguments over photographs.
The deceased's aunt, Faith Okpudo, told Daily Trust that she was informed that the mother-in-law took some of her personal photographs and that she demanded to have them back, to which she refused. She added that her late niece was said to have asked her husband to tell his mother to hand over her personal photographs to her, but the husband was alleged to have sided with his mother, insisting that the mother should have the photographs.
"We were told that she started quarrelling with her husband for not supporting her. She cried and entered the room, packing her things but her mother in-law allegedly came from behind and stabbed her on the stomach twice.
When she removed the knife from her stomach, her intestines came out with the knife. The mother-in-law was said to have run out of the house and the husband ran after her but returned to the wife when her cry was too much."
She was confirmed dead when she was rushed to the hospital.
The deceased's husband, Chinedu Opara said his mother had never been nice to his late wife since they got married, adding that they had been married for four years. He said his mother had been with them since he married his late wife and they had not been enjoying peace. He also added that his wife reported to him that his mother had taken all her pictures but he told her to ignore her.
"When I told my wife to ignore her, she entered the room but the next thing I heard was a cry. I entered the room immediately I heard that noise and I saw my mother with a knife and blood stains. I looked at the floor and saw my wife's intestine outside her stomach,'' he told Daily Trust.
He said his mother ran away after the incident, adding that he initially pursued her but returned back because of the condition of his wife and the cries of the children.
The Investigation Police Officer in charge of the case at New Nyanya police division told Daily Trust that the police are still investigating the cause of the death and that the woman is presently at large.
What a sad story. May her soul Rest In Peace.
Photo Credit: www.madamenoire.com
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan at it Again
Styler J and Le Var's Xquizit Poetry and Cipher
The concept of the show was to get Ahmadu Bello University to appreciate fine poetry and a lil' bit of ciphers. The show, when it finally started, had poetry recitation and ciphers by the likes of Kheengz, Joshua and Ramoney (Our hosts), Aisha Yahya (SIFE ABU), Big Head Phones, Bobex, Inua Fari, Caleb and some other Creative Writers Club members, Six Zeroz, A-Fox, Beloved, etc.
The show was able to gather quite a bit of a crowd inclusive of quite a number of Kongo peepz. Unfortunately, the concept of fine poetry did not catch on quite a lot of peeps, which made the high points of the show the Ciphers and Rap Battle parts. If one were to stand outside and judge by the noise one expects to hear from events like this, you'll probably go away thinking there was a poor turnout.
The low point of the show, apart from the delayed start, was the fact that some poets kept forgetting their lines; then for the Ciphers, sometimes the beat was actually louder than the lyrics, leaving us blank on what they were actually saying.
All in all, twas a great show with a good turnout. The concept was on point even though it was wasted on a lot of peepz. Sorry to say, this just tells a lot of level of intelligence and lack of culture and sophistication of our students. At the end I remarked that Zaria people are not ready for this concept, & a guest replied that, "Zaria people are never ready for anything. Even if they do this show a million and on times, Zaria people won't still open up to it."
Jeremy Weate: When Kim Kardashian came to Lagos and “419ed the 419ers”
I was just over a thousand miles away from the action in Freetown, watching my Twitter timeline cascade with commentary as the evening unfolded. Tweets purred with pleasure at the acrobatics segment, and at the godly qualities of Waje's voice. There was a sense that in production values and packaging, Lagos had outblinged itself.
And then Ms Kardashian appeared, said, "hey Naija" and vamoosed. The rumour was that she'd been paid 500,000 Benjamins for the honour of mixing with the petro-class. She arrived on Saturday evening (on Air France), and left within twenty-four hours (someone Instagrammed her back at MMIA). Prole class tickets were apparently N100,000 ($640), although quite a few got in gratis on the guest list.
The Lagos elite blows money at puffery, while most of Nigeria suffers. It's the same as it ever was. I recall Carlos Moore railing against the Gowon era on his trip to Nigeria a couple of years ago – how Lagosians were partying while bodies were lying unburied in the street. Gowon was famous at the time for saying that the problem in Nigeria was not money, but how to spend it.
Reflecting a little on the unfolding disappointment in Lagos, I couldn't help but think that the narrow slice of KK the audience were granted reflects a cargo cult/import economy/colo-mentality, that dresses its shame in dandified arrogance. Last year, Hugh Masekela played the Motor Boat club. I was lucky to be there (I think I paid 15,000 naira for the privilege). People chatted noisily throughout. The great jazzman could hardly hide his disgust.
There's something Dubai-esque about the children of the Islands. Pampered lives told in British public school brogues. Bubbles of air-conditioned comfort, which we might think of these days as "Lekki blindness". Fela is long since dead, but his words rework themselves in the present with ease.
As the disgruntled tweets flowed out on my timeline, I thought of Special K, comfy in her jimjams, the plane rising gradually above the Atlantic, safe from all Lagos harm, smiling to herself that she'd actually 419'd the 419ers. And I went to bed with one final thought: oil turns all who touch it completely insane.
This article was first published on Africasacountry.com
Obama asks Supreme Court to Overturn Gay Marriage Ban
The request was contained in a legal brief filed Friday with the US court, whose nine justices will next month review whether or not to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which bans marriage between homosexuals.
The document marks the first time a president has endorsed same-sex marriage rights before the Supreme Court.
According to the filing, the Defense of Marriage Act "violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection" before the law stipulated by the US Constitution.
DOMA "denies to tens of thousands of same-sex couples who are legally married under state law an array of important federal benefits that are available to legally married opposite-sex couples," read the brief signed by US Solicitor General Donald Verrilli.
The case before the Supreme Court involves Edith Windsor, a lesbian who married in Canada in 2007 but whose spouse and partner of 40 years died. She was required to pay more than $360,000 in federal estate taxes because she was not considered married under DOMA.
The White House position, however, came under fire from Republicans in the House of Representatives.
In a brief filed Friday, they insisted they have a legal right to defend the law in the Supreme Court in the absence of a defense from the executive branch.
Last month, 10 US senators urged the court to uphold the act and not to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
All of these senators had voted for the Defense of Marriage Act and in a friend-of-the-court brief, they said it was inconsistent for the Justice Department to have assured Congress the law was constitutional while it was being crafted in the mid-1990s only to raise questions now.
"The time to speak was in 1996, when Congress gave careful consideration to the need for DOMA," they argued.
The Obama administration's decision to challenge the law comes as little surprise. Obama has signaled on various occasions recently that he is that he is in favor of gay marriage.
During his second inaugural address last month, the president drew parallels between the struggle for gay rights and the Civil Rights movement of past decades.
"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well," Obama said.
He also drew a parallel between several watershed struggles in US history: the landmark Seneca Falls convention in 1848; the 1960s civil rights battles; and the Stonewall riots of June 1969, which are widely seen as having launched the gay rights movement.
Obama's also chose gay poet Richard Blanco to read a specially composed poem at his second inauguration.
Already during his first term in 2011, Obama abolished the Pentagon's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy requiring military recruits to hide their homosexuality, or risk being expelled from the service.
In 2012, he became the first sitting US president to speak out in favor of gay marriage.
This past week, the Pentagon officially extended some military benefits to same-sex partners, but said services like medical coverage would not be offered to gay troops' spouses because of DOMA.
"One of the legal limitations to providing all benefits at this time is the Defense of Marriage Act, which is still the law of the land," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.
About 17,000 same-sex couples in the armed forces were affected by the decision, including 5,600 active duty service members.
The effect of the DOMA law is to ban gay marriage at the federal level. After victories in several local referendums however, it is now legal in nine out of 50 US states and in Washington DC.
Construction Workers Kidnap: 5 British Military Planes Arrive In Nigeria
Five British jet bombers yesterday arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Media exclusively sighted the bombers which were parked at the international wing of the airport.
The foreign workers, who included five Lebanese, a Briton and an Italian, were abducted last Saturday by unknown gunmen in Bauchi.
Media further gathered that the bombers might be on their way to prepare ground for the eventual rescue of the foreigners.
The jet bombers were said to have arrived in the early hours of yesterday while their colours comprised three ash and two army green. The army green jets were marked "Royal Army".
Media further observed some foreign soldiers putting on brown camouflage uniforms were entering one of the army green jets in preparation for departure.
It was further gathered that some of the jets had started leaving the airport for certain locations to assist in the rescue of the kidnapped foreigners.
The four grey-coloured jets departed the Abuja airport at about 5.55pm, leaving only the army-green jet at the airport as at press time.
The entry of the jets, the military source said, was to prevent the recent failed rescue operation in Sokoto where the terrorists killed the foreigners before they could be rescued by the security agencies, including foreign officers.
When contacted over the unusual sighting of the jets, the British high commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Rob Fitzpatrick, told Media, "This is routine military-to-military engagement."
Britain's Foreign Office had said two men were held by terrorists associated with Boko Haram, a radical Islamist sect in Nigeria blamed for more than 300 killings this year alone.
A senior British government official said the kidnappers appeared to be from an al-Qaida-linked cell within Boko Haram, but not within the group's main faction.
- Naija Pundit.
10 things we loved about Darey’s ‘Love Like a Movie’ (aside Kim Kardashian)
1)The red carpet kicked off right on time at about 5pm when celebrities began to trickle in. A sharp contrast from the regular event scene where endless delays and blatant tardiness have been accepted as the norm rather than the exception.
2) Darey's stunning entrance from a set prop that just popped open to let him out has set the standard for superstar entrances. Good luck to anyone trying to top that.
3)The performance where Darey was backed by a quartet of the finest vocalists to grace the pop scene in recent times. We are talking Banky W, Timi Dakolo, Praiz and Tolu (he of MTN Project Fame season 3). For a while there we thought we were in vocal heaven.
4) Where do we begin? The costumes, lights, dancers, choreographers, stage craft. Divine
5) Darey's duet with Waje. Theirs was a match made in heaven. Some may have liked 'A whole new world' better than 'Endless love' but none can deny the magic of two fine singers doing what they were absolutely born to do. Indeed we were transported to a whole new world.
6) The guy who did his thing with sand, creating vivid images using sand and dust. Talk about art pop.
7) The circus dancers. Two words: Show stopping.
8) It was Darey's show throughout. Yes there were guest appearances from some of the biggest stars working today but the arrangement was such that Darey remained the star of his own movie. As it should be.
9) 'Love Like a Movie' brought out some of Nollywood's notoriously reticent leading men; Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme and Emeka Ike were all spotted having the time of their lives. Event groupies confirm that these gents are not as party hopping as their female counterparts so it was quite the pleasure having them around.
10) Darey has made a career attempting any genre of music he takes a fancy to and while the results don't always work for us, LLAM's set list was a welcome variety. There was pop, highlife, soul, jazz standards and every other genre in between. Name it and Darey's tried it. This time to superb results.
And an extra one:
Kim Kardashian. Yes say what you may but the young man succeeded in drawing the globe-trotting reality tv star to Nigeria. Reports of her exorbitant appearance fee and her relative under-appearance notwithstanding, from a publicity stand point, one could argue that she worked her magic and drew in the crowds.
Source: YNaija
Copyright Infringement: Paul Play Drags MTN, Ultima to Court
The music star was faraway in the United States of America last year when the song was used without proper licensing.
Speaking on the matter, Paul Play confirmed that his management was hiring the legal services of Festus Keyamo chambers to serve both organisations the suit. "Yes, it is very true that I am suing MTN and Ultima Limited for the unlawful use of my song. I have contacted my lawyers and they are on it" he said.
According to reports, the Rn B crooner is demanding a huge sum of N500 million as compensation from both organisation.
Meanwhile, in a reaction posted online, Ultima Limited (Ultima) which has produced the reality show for the last five years, claimed that it has annually made the statutory payments due and required for the use of musical works for both local and international artistes used on the Project Fame show.
"In the first two years, Ultima paid the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society Ltd/Gte (PMRS) – which was the government approved collecting agency at the time, for all musical works that Ultima used; and from the third year when PMRS became Copyrights Society of Nigeria (COSON), Ultima paid COSON for all the songs used in those years.
For the past five seasons of Project Fame therefore, Ultima has annually made the statutory payments due and required for the use of musical works for both local and international artistes used on the Project Fame show. Ultima duly paid COSON for use of such music and as such if Paul Play has any issue with payment of royalties for the use of his musical works, it should be worked out with COSON and not Ultima nor MTN," Ultima management stated.
Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z Announce 'Legends of Summer' Tour
Amber Rose Posts Picture Of Baby Sebastian Being Cuddled By Wiz Khalifa
Meanwhile Wiz revealed that his partner's first request after getting over the fuss around her giving birth was for some whiskey.
He posted online: 'My wife said she just wants a Jacc & coke, a cheesesteak, and a cigarette. That's why I'm marrying that woman!'......Below is Rihanna's congratulatory tweet to Amber.
Ghanaian Footballer John Paintsil Arrested for Allegedly Stabbing Wife in The Eye
According to Goal.com, Paintsil was confronted by his wife following rumours he slept with some prostitutes during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa.
The allegation was first made by football enthusiast and social commentator Appiah Kofi popularly known as Appiah Stadium during a radio interview. Appiah alleged that the veteran defender was responsible for bringing women to the Black Stars camp to have sexual intercourse with them and this culminated in the team's poor output at the tournament.
Paintsil, however, denied the allegation and threatened to drag Appiah Stadium to court to clear his name.
Goal.com further reports that his wife, Richlove, questioned Paintsil on several occasions since the issue broke. However, he lost his temper on Friday and attacked his wife stabbing her in the eye. The former West Ham defender is also reported to have attacked a neighbour who attempted to rescue his wife, according to police.
"The wife scaled a wall to a neighbour's house for protection and immediately, John Paintsil also pursued her, came to the neighbour's house, gave him some slaps and threatened to shoot him. That scared the gentleman who rushed to the police to lodge a complaint," a witness told BBC Sport.
The wife is said to be unconscious after sustaining serious injuries to her eye and is currently at a hospital receiving treatment.
Paintsil, 31, is a member of the Ghana team that finished fourth at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Jonathan Must Sign The Budget on 27 Feb Or... - House of Rep.
**Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, is the "major stumbling block" to the signing of the budget.
The deadlock between President Jonathan and some members of the National assembly remains abated, as the President refused to sign the 2013 budget till the House remove the N63 billion the added to the original draft.
The House on their own are sticking their gun, insisting that they will not remove the amount, which they claimed is for projects in their local communities.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, said in Abuja on Thursday that the House would not make concessions on the budget.
Hon Olamilekan added that "February 27 is the deadline. We cannot continue to wait while the year is going and Nigerians are suffering.
"We said February 27 because that date will take care of every excuses of delay here and there.
"The President sent a budget of N4.9tn to the National Assembly and we passed a budget of N4.9tn with just a difference of N63billion.
"Let them come and tell Nigerians what their problem is. They should itemise them because there is no sub-head in the budget that has no explanations.
"There is nothing that we are going to drop from the budget; we won't meet any of their conditions."
Jonathan had sent a budget estimate of N4.924tn but the lawmakers returned N4.987tn for his signature.
Olamilekan, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria, said the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was the "major stumbling block" to the signing of the budget.
He accused the minister of insisting that her ideas, and not the "collective interests of the Nigerian people expressed through their representatives," should guide decisions of the Federal Government.
The lawmaker added, "Our only crime was that the government should fund projects that are already ongoing rather than abandoning them for new ones.
"Nigerians will be informed accordingly as developments unfold. As a legislature, we are not afraid to do what is constitutionally required.
"I am sure that the National Assembly will act appropriately."
50% Of Students In Kaduna Hold Classes Under Trees – Official
According to the officer who did not want his name in print, an assessment carried out by a non governmental organisation shows that 32.0 per cent of primary schools pupils in Kaduna State have their classes in the open air.
"While 7.5 per cent of junior secondary schools students hold their classes in the open air, 3.4 per cent of senior secondary schools students hold classes in the open air," he told LEADERSHIP.
The assessment report made available to LEADERSHIP revealed that 38 per cent of the primary schools in the Kaduna State are in need of major repairs.
According to the report, "64.9 per cent of the primary schools in the state have insufficient desk and chairs, 51.8 per cent do not have blackboards, 79.8 percent have no health facilities, and only 1.2 percent have pipe borne water. Only 12.5 percent of these primary schools have boreholes. 10.9 per cent of them depend on wells. As much as 84.5 percent of the primary schools have no toilet facilities. The pupil's toilet ratio is 510 to 1."
The assessment further revealed that 22 per cent of junior secondary schools are in need of major repairs, and that "of all these, 58.1 per cent do not have sufficient seats, 27.7 per cent had no good chalkboard, 7.5 percent hold their classes in the open air, and 20.1 percent have health facilities. The student-toilet ratio is 119 to 1."
On the senior secondary schools, the report stated that "While 24 per cent of classrooms in senior secondary schools are in need of major repairs, 56.6 per cent have insufficient seats, 32.4 per cent have no good chalkboards, and 3.4 per cent hold classes in the open air and 8.4 per cent have no health facilities, 36 per cent of the senior secondary schools have no toilet facilities; with a student-toilet ratio being 83 to 1."
Source: Leadership
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