Nigeria Centenary Celebration Grand Finale

Guaranteed to be a once in a lifetime experience, water jets, holograms and pyrotechnics are just a few unique components that will be incorporated into The Nigeria Centenary Concert, Multimedia Show and Fireworks display hosted by His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
With high security measures in place, an array of Presidents and World Leaders, as well as former Presidents/ Heads of State will journey to Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for the spectacular event of the century taking place on Thursday, 27th February 2014 at the Abuja National Stadium.

PHOTOS: P’Square Launches ALINGO Animated Series

Peter Okoye just released these photos on his instagram page. Says The Alingos cartoon series, which is centred around the singing brothers, will hit on our TV screens soon. Peter said they have been working on the project for five years.See press release and photos after cut...

Jonathan Appoints Ibinabo Fiberesima as Arts Council Board Member

Actors Guild of Nigeria's president, Ibinabo Fiberesima, has been appointed into the board of the National Council For Arts and Culture, NCAC, by President Jonathan. Confirming the appointment, which happened after Ibinabo led members of the Guild to pay a visit to the president and make him the grand patron of the guild, Ibinabo said she was shocked by the appointment and very grateful.

Nokia Unveils Its First-Ever Android Handsets: Nokia X, X+ & XL

Finally, Nokia has joined the Race of the Andriod Manufacturer, Believe this is a Great move from Nokia.. Nokia has evolved round almost all the Mobile OS from Java to Symbian to Meego to Windows and Finally to the World Leading and Widely used OS "Andriod"..


Nokia introduced a new family of smartphones, the Nokia X series of phones. The first three phones in the family – the Nokia X, X+ and XL – run on the new Nokia X software platform, that is based on Google's Android.

6 Students Gang-Raped Young Woman Till She Fainted

Three out of the six students of the state College of Health and Technology in Offa town allegedly raped their female colleague in the institution, according to The Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Mr. Ambrose Aisabo on Friday.

During a media briefing in Ilorin The CP said the victim was allegedly drugged by the suspects (names withheld) before they allegedly raped her.

According to the police boss, the suspects allegedly raped the female student 'mercilessly until she became unconscious.'

Fashola Okays LASU Reopening, Approves N51m for the Institution

The Govenor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has approved the immediate reopening of the Lagos State University (LASU) for normal academic activities.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr Hakeem Bello, revealed this to newsmen in Ikeja on February 21, 2014, Friday.

According to the statement, the reopening was in the interest of the students and in compliance with the recommendation of the state House of Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on the recent disturbances in the school.

Court Restricts SSS and Other Agencies From Arresting Sanusi Lamido

A Federal High Court sitting in  Lagos on Friday granted an order restraining the State Security Services and the Inspector General of Police, Mallam Mohammed Abubakar, and all the agencies of the Federal Government from arresting the suspended governor of  the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi.

Justice Ibrahim Buba granted the order in chamber after hearing Sanusi's ex parte application shortly after it was duly filed on Friday.
The order is to subsist pending the hearing of the suit. The court adjourned till February 28, before which time parties in the suit were expected to have been served.
The court order came as the suspended CBN governor accused  President Goodluck Jonathan administration of shielding corrupt government officials.

Kano Emirate Council Condemns Sanusi's Suspension

Kano Emirate Council has condemned the suspension of Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi from the position of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor.

The Emirate council in a statement  Friday signed by Walin Kano, Alhaji Mahe Bashir said "We viewed Mr. President action as a deliberate witch-hunt of the governor for doing his job by letting Nigerians to know the alleged fraud going at the petroleum industry and to divert people attention from this monumental fraud".

The statement noted that " As the President suspended the governor without a recall to the rule of law, We believed it was deliberate attempt to witch-hunt him, desperation and impunity at highest order by the Federal Government".

Nigerian singer Sound Sultan invited to dine with the Queen of England (PHOTOS)

Nigerian veteran singer, songwriter and Naija Ninja boss, Olanrewaju 'Sound Sultan' Fasasi has been invited to England to have dinner with her majesty Queen Elizabeth II with other UN youth ambassadors.

The singer instagrammed a cam shot of an official invitation from the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, inviting him for the dinner.

"I was called to the London to dine with the Queen," Sultan who is a UN youth ambassador for peace wrote on Instagram.

According to the invitation letter, Mr. Fasasi and presumably other UN youth ambassadors are invited to feast with the Queen to celebrate Nigeria and Her Centennial Anniversary to promote good governance. See official invite after cut...

Boy Stabs his Dad to Death Over Video Games

A 14 year old Chinese boy has been arrested after stabbing his own father to death at a cyber cafe after the father confronted him over playing video games instead of going to school and doing his homework. 

Daily Mail reports that the boy's father had gone to fetch the boy from the internet cafe, but when the boy refused to return home the pair argued and the boy allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his father. His mother, Hua Mai, blamed violent games for her husband's death, and said that the teenager had become 'addicted' to gaming. Continue...

PHOTOS: MBGN Anna Banner Is Back in a Stunning Photo Shoot

Young and beautiful Anna Banner Ebiere, the winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) 2013 pageant, displayed her talent for modelling again.

She caught the eyes and attention of the Internet audience by releasing a fresh set of photos on February 17, 2014, Monday.

See the photos below:

Death toll hits 60 in Boko Haram attack

 

The death toll in Boko Haram’s Wednesday attack on Bama has increased to 60. It is also still counting. There was also massive destruction of public buildings.

Residents said gunmen stormed the town at about 4am on Wednesday, armed with heavy weapons and tossed explosives into various buildings, forcing residents to flee into the surrounding bush.

“We are collating the figures and the death toll has risen to 60 from the Bama attack,” said Borno State Police Commissioner Lawal Tanko.

“The toll is likely to rise,” he said. “The attackers caused enormous destruction. They burnt down some of the major landmarks in the town including the local government secretariat,” and the palace of the area’s top cleric, Tanko added.

Fashola Bans Mini Skirts, Approves Dress Code For Public Servants

 

Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration has banned indecent dressing among female public servants. All forms of dresses that expose the body, contours and other sensitive female body parts have been outlawed.

The decision was taken as a result of worsening cases of indecent dressing among female public servants at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.

Photos from Rihanna's 26th Birthday Party

Rihanna turned 26 today February 20th and had an intimate private birthday celebration with friends in Aspen, Colorado. She posted some photos on her instagram page. Check on them after the cut...

Photos: Nigerian gay activists protest at Nigerian embassy, London

PRO gay activists under the umbrella body of LGBTI (Members of the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transsexuals and Inter-sex) in the Diaspora held a peaceful rally yesterday February 20th outside the Nigerian High Commission, London, to protest the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act signed into law by President Jonathan.

The coordinator of the protest Davis Mac-Iyalla said he knows a few Nigerian leaders who are gays and lesbians "I know at least seven in both the Senate and House of Reps. They are in the minority and it will be wrong of me to mention their names, but they are there"

Some of the homosexual men even kissed in front of the embassy during the protest. Lol. See more photos after the cut.

Wizkid Becomes First Nigerian Celebrity to hit One Million Followers on Twitter

Wizkid has blazed the trail once again by becoming the first Nigerian artiste to have the highest number of followers on microblogging site Twitter. 

He reached the feat on February 19, 2014. The act now holds the record of the most popular Nigerian artiste on twitter with approximately 1,000,245 followers ahead of artistes such as D’banj who has 816 thousand followers, Don Jazzy who has 719 thousand, 2face Idibia who has 686 thousand followers and Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji who can boast of 543 thousand followers as the time of this report.

EXCLUSIVE: Rotate - Yohanna (@Yohanna_sings)

Yohanna (@Yohanna_sings) is an upcoming artiste who is not a stranger to the music scene. He hails from Gombe state Nigeria, and Represents 'Bush House Music'. His debut song 'Finest' was an instant success and exposed this young man with an extraordinary range of vocals. This was quickly followed with a couple of singles like 'Dance' and 'Baiwa'. He keeps releasing good materials which always gives you a reason to keep listening to him more.

This time around the singer and entertainer is returning with this great tune produced by Ace Beatz, mixed and mastered by King D. Follow him on twitter @Yohanna_sings and for more from him follow @Osilama24 & @AyoolasBlog

Download Rotate

Sanusi reacts to his suspension, says he will challenge it in court

In an interview with CNBC Africa this morning, Sansui Lamido Sanusi, who currently in Niger Republic attending an official ECOWAS event, says he will challenge his suspension.

Sanusi tells CNBC Africa

BRIT Award winners 2014

British Male Solo Artist: David Bowie British Female Solo Artist: Ellie Goulding
British Group: Arctic Monkeys
British Breakthrough Act: Bastille Critics' Choice (already awarded): Sam Smith British Single: Rudimental featuring Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night
British Album Of The Year: Arctic Monkeys - AM
British Video Of The Year: One Direction - Best Song Ever International Male Solo Artist: Bruno Mars International Female Solo Artist: Lorde International Group: Daft Punk Global Success Award: One Direction

President Jonathan suspends CBN governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

President Jonathan has suspended Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and has appointed an acting Governor, Dr Sarah Alade, the most senior Deputy Governor of the CBN. This was made known in a State House Press Statement released this morning. Find it below...

Brandy parties with Kelly Rowland, others at Dare Art Alade's concert

Singer Brandy, who is in town to perform at ClassicFM Valentine concert which will take place today at Eko Hotel, was spotted partying with Darey Art Alade, Kelly Rowland and others at the second edition of Love Like A Movie which held at the Eko Hotel & Suites on Saturday, February 15, 2014. See more photos after the cut...

Iyanya, D'banj, Waje Bag World Music Awards Nominations

Several Nigerian artistes including Waje, P-Sqaure, D'banj, Iyanya, Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Dare Art Alade, Praiz, 2face Idibia and others bagged nominations in various categories in the 2014 World Music Awards. The World Music Awards rewards the best-selling music artistes from every continent. It is decided by votes. Iyanya leads the Nigerian nominees with 6 awards.
Waje was nominated in four categories including Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. The 'I wish' songbird is enjoying some international attention off of her debut album. She was also nominated as African artist of the year in the Black Canadian awards a few days ago beside South African star Lira and Kardinal Offishall.  See WMA Africa's nomination list after the cut...

20 yr. Old Boy Arrested For Having Sex With Goat In Jigawa

20 year old boy has been arrested by Jigawa state police command for allegedly having sexual intercourse with goat at baranda forest in Dutse local government. Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the chief magistrate court sitting in Dutse remanded the boy – Malam kamisu baranda to 2weeks in prison.

Magistrate auwalu sani balago said the accused person did not confess that he committed the act but the court remanded the suspect in prison to allowed police to make further inquiries.

In talking with the suspect, malam kamisu, he admitted that the goat belonged to him – and that he had asked the goat to have sexual intercourse with him but he was arrested by the village head of the area and handed

Rapper Skales, Kicked Off The E.M.E Ship

Skales who was signed onto Banky W's EME record label in 2010 has parted ways with them. His contract with EME recently expired but the record label refused to renew it with him. According to a source, the label has spent so much on Skales, but are yet to see great returns. Though Skales is still with M.et.tal management, who manages some of the artistes under EME, he has got nothing to do with them legally. It will be recalled that, Skales and Wizkid were signed at the same time to EME.

Facebook To Buy WhatsApp for $16 Billion

Facebook said on Wednesday that it agreed to buy WhatsApp for about $16 billion to expand into the fast-growing mobile messaging market.

Facebook is paying $4 billion in cash and $12 billion in stock for WhatsApp, a service that has 450 million monthly users and is adding more than 1 million new users a day.

"WhatsApp is on a path to connect 1 billion people. The services that reach that milestone are all incredibly valuable," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement announcing the deal.

Chimamanda Adichie: 'Why Can’t He Just Be Like Everyone Else?'

I will call him Sochukwuma. A thin, smiling boy who liked to play with us girls at the university primary school in Nsukka. We were young. We knew he was different, we said, 'he's not like the other boys.' But his was a benign and unquestioned difference; it was simply what it was. We did not have a name for him. We did not know the word 'gay.' He was Sochukwuma and he was friendly and he played oga so well that his side always won.
In secondary school, some boys in his class tried to throw Sochukwuma off a second floor balcony. They were strapping teenagers who had learned to notice, and fear, difference. They had a name for him. Homo. They mocked him because his hips swayed when he walked and his hands fluttered when he spoke. He brushed away their taunts, silently, sometimes grinning an uncomfortable grin. He must have wished that he could be what they wanted him to be. I imagine now how helplessly lonely he must have felt. The boys often asked, "Why can't he just be like everyone else?"

Ailing Patience Jonathan secretly flown abroad - Sahara Reporters

Saw this report on SR yesterday but decided to wait and see if the presidential spokesmen we have online will dispute it but they didn't so it means there's some truth to it. According to Sahara Reporters, First Lady Patience Jonathan has been flown abroad again for treatment. The report below

Two reliable sources in Abuja have told SaharaReporters that First Lady Patience Jonathan was flown out to a German hospital for treatment.

One source stated that President Jonathan's wife was secretly moved out of Abuja almost a week ago. Earlier last year, SaharaReporters broke the story of Mrs. Jonathan's secret hospitalization in Germany for a series of serious health problems.

Red Carpet photos from BAFTAs 2014 + Full list of winners

The 2014 British Academy Film Awards, BAFTAs, held last night Sunday February 16th at London's Royal Opera House and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt hit the red carpet in matching tailored suits. See more red carpet photos plus full list of winners after the cut...

PDP Chairman In Enugu, 15 Thugs Disrupt APC Registration

The Sullivan Chime administration in Enugu has continued to clampdown on opposition political parties in Enugu. Recently, governor Chime connived with the Enugu state electoral commission to disqualify all the opposition candidates in the local government area elections in the state (thus making PDP candidates from councilors to chairmen unopposed in the 17 Local government council.

The clamp down on opposition parties took another dimension in Enugu on Saturday as armed men suspected to be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs hijacked and burnt the All Progressives Congress, APC, membership register.

Drake calls Macklemore out for sending text to Kendrick Lamar after Grammy win

After Macklemore won Best Rap Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards, he texted Kendrick Lamar to offer his condolences telling the rapper that he should have won instead of him. Well, Drake isn't impressed. In the new issue of Rolling Stone, Drake makes it very clear he thought the message was unnecessary.

He tells Rolling Stone

Governor Adams Oshiomole splashes N14million on seven widow

Governor Adams Oshiomole of Edo state today donated N14million (N2million each) to seven police officer's widows who died in the line of duty. Addressing the women, the women said he was moved by their plight as well as the great service their husbands gave to the state. He also announced that N500,000 would be given to each of the children of the seven police officers.

The Governor said he hoped this act would help spur other police officers who are still in active force to be more dedicated to their duties so that posterity would remember them for good.

Sanusi Insists $20b Is Missing, Okonjo-Iweala Unable To Prove How $10.8b Was Spent

Central Bank of Nigeria's Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

 

 

Day Two of the investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance into the alleged missing $20 billion oil money has concluded in Abuja, with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, insisting the money is missing according to a live blogging of the hearing by Premium Times of Nigeria.
Speaking to the committee, he said that despite the explanation tendered by Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, there is an outstanding $20 billion between what NNPC oil shipments and what it paid to government.
Mr. Sanusi insists the outstanding $6 billion given by NNPC to the NPDC should have gone to the federal government, but that it disappeared into private hands from there, and offered to bring in lawyers to defend that claim on the basis of three advisory opinions the CBN has already received.

Goodluck Jonathan Sacks Aviation Minister, Oduah, Three Others

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday has finally sacked the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah.

Others affected were Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs); Godsday Orubebe (Niger Delta); and Yerima Ngama (State, Finance).

Oduah’s approval for the purchase of two bullet-proof cars for N255m caused public outrage in the country with many Nigerians calling for her removal and prosecution.

PDP reclaims majority in House of Reps, as 5 APC lawmakers defect to PDP

Five All Progressives Congress, (APC) legislators Tuesday, defected to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The five lawmakers are from Kano, Zamfara and Sokoto States.

The lawmakers that defected are Reps Lawal Shehu Bichi ,Kano, Abdulsalam Adamu ,Kano, Sani Umar ,Zamfara, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau ,Zamfara, and Umar Bature ,Sokoto.

But reports that Bature was one of the 37 PDP lawmakers who defected to the APC on December 18 last year, but he decided to rejoin the PDP along with the other four lawmakers.

However, a PDP lawmaker from Kaduna State Rep Isa Mohammed Ashiru moved to the APC.

2 Corps Members In Ibadan Get Arraigned For Engaging In Homosexual Acts With A Student!

Two National Youth Service Corps members, O’tega Daniel, 27, and Sulaimon Abari, 26, serving in Ibadan were on Monday, arraigned in an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting at Iyaganku for engaging in homosexual acts with a student.
Abari, a graduate of the Lagos State University, Ojo, and O’tega were serving at St. Louis Secondary School 2, Molete, Ibadan.

How Abuja NGO arrest innocent women and label them prostitutes

Grace Adogo, daughter of Nigeria’s Senate president, the Director of SAP-CLN

Here's an interesting report I found on Premium Times, detailing how an Abuja-based NGO in collaboration with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board are trying to rid the city of prostitutes, but are allegedly arresting innocent women. Find the investigative report below...

Photos from Tiwa Savage's birthday party

Tiwa Savage celebrated her 34th birthday on Thursday February 6th at Pravada lounge in Victoria Island. Wizkid, Sound Sultan, Waje, Dr Sid, Iyanya, Davido were all there. See more pics after the cut

APC Extends Membership Registration Till February 12

All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday in Lagos said it had extended the period for its ongoing nationwide membership registration till Feb. 12.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the membership registration which began on Wednesday was scheduled to end on Monday.

In a statement signed by the Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the extension was to accommodate many Nigerians who had turned out to register but could not do so.

DStv Swindles Two of its Promo Winners

MultiChoice is enmeshed in controversy following the inability of the handlers of its DStv brand to fulfil the promise made to customers that won the star prize to attend the 2014 Grammy Awards in the United States.
Emmanuel Igoche, a customer of DStv, a leading pay television in the stable of MultiChoice, was like a bride on October 11, 2013, when he was celebrated for winning the star prize of MultiChoice Nigeria 20th anniversary promo. But for what later happened, the victory would have afforded him and his wife the golden opportunity of witnessing the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, USA.
On October 7, the name of the Abuja- based customer and another subscriber, Baban Mallam Mohammed Kamilu had been announced on the programme Monday Night Football, on Super Sport 3 Nigeria, as winners of an all-expense paid return trip for the event. The award was held on January 26, 2014.
Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe, had said at the event that the company was about

GT Bank Acquires 70% of FINA Bank

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB) says it has concluded the acquisition of 70 per cent stake in Fina Bank Group, after securing the required regulatory approvals in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda as well as in Nigeria.

GTB had acquired he stake through a combination of capital injection and as the acquisition of shares from its current shareholders for a total cash consideration of 8.6 billion Kenyan Shillings what is naira equivalent?

Speaking on the acquisition, GTB's Group managing director Segun Agbaje said, "This acquisition makes strategic sense for our combined customers and shareholders. Fina Bank has over the years built an enviable banking institution in East Africa, our combined strengths will help us build an attractive portfolio of leading products, services and marketing capabilities.