Stella Damascus To Dump Acting For A New Call In 2014

There is a strong indication that Nollywood award-winning star and mother, Stella Damasus, may dump acting in 2014 as she has finally yielded to her true calling.

“I am starting my year with a 21- day fast and asking God for strength to see it through. I know the things that I need answers and direction from God for. Most importantly, I know that it is time to stop wasting my time and face my calling regardless of what people will say or think.
“I know that I want to build my relationship with God and advertise him to the world with all that He has given me. I also know that it is time for you all to step out in faith and live the best life you were called to live. As the world draws closer to its end, we all need to be mindful of what we absorb from this world and society.”

Prophet TB Joshua Predictions For The Nigeria Nation in 2014

Prophet T.B. Joshua was on air on Wednesday  night January 1, 2014 to deliver his much anticipated prophetic message in a broadcast beamed live on Emmanuel TV.

Prophet TB Joshua

He declared 2014 a year of ‘crossing the bridge’, prophesying it to be a year of destiny where corruption would be corrected in Nigeria as corrupt leaders would go down.
We are tempted so that we may pray the more. Afflictions are meant for our spiritual benefit. This New Year 2014 is not like any other year in the past. It is a year of crossing bridge. To cross the bridge, you need to grab onto faith. 

This is not going to be easy for the mighty. Many of the mighty will fall. Pray for them. The rich, famous and popular people – many will fall this 2014 because crossing the bridge is not going to be easy; they need God. Many of them believe it is their own making to be great in their own area of expertise. 98% of businesses and companies are owned by these people. Many people that are not known will be rise by destiny.

There will be a leadership tussle on who will lead and who will be presidential candidate in APC which will affect them as a political party. They should be vigilant. Many are with them in flesh but not with them in spirit.

Many of the key leaders in political parties will go down in 2014. If many key leaders go down with 2014, what will now happen in 2015? 

Pray for 2015 to be fulfilled. The beginner is not the owner but the finisher.

What will happen in 2014 will result in the correction of the corruption in Nigeria because many corrupt leaders will go down in 2014.

God has promised that 2014 is the year of destiny. Your destiny cannot be changed. This New Year, your destiny cannot be tampered with. I command your dream to come true, your dream to come to fulfillment, in Jesus' name.”

Jonathan signed pact for one-term only – Gov Nyako insists, reveals details of agreement

The Adamawa governor, Murtala Nyako has spoken up on the controversial one-term pledge purportedly signed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Asking the president to to be a man of ‘honor’, he said the presidents claims to the contrary are simply untrue. The governor said this to journalists in Yola, the state’s capital yesterday.

Premium Times reports:

 

According to the Adamawa State governor, there was an earlier agreement in 2003 that the north would produce the president between 2007 and 2011. He said Mr. Jonathan, who was then deputy governor of Bayelsa State, signed as number 73.Mr. Nyako said when he was approached to sign the new agreement in 2011 that the president would not re-contest in 2015; he was reluctant to do so because he (Mr. Jonathan) did not pledge to respect the 2003 agreement. He said he was subsequently prevailed upon to sign.

 

“In the first place, when that agreement was brought for me to sign, I told them that this President (Jonathan), in the agreement signed in the year 2003, he was number 73,” the governor said. “Did we not agree under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo that the term 2007 and 2011 belong to the North?

 

“He was number 73 as deputy governor of Bayelsa State, so when they came, they said I should sign, they said he had agreed that he would not contest in the year 2015."

 

“In the first place, I said I did not believe him because he didn’t give his pledge for the agreement signed in the year 2003. They said ah, ah, Baba Maimangoro. I said ok, I will sign. So I signed.After that, the Niger State governor took the paper to Jonathan and he signed. Obasanjo can confirm that he came here with Jonathan and pleaded with me to support Jonathan to contest the 2011 Presidential election.”

 

Mr. Nyako explained that it was Mr. Aliyu, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and others he did not name that brought the agreement to him to sign.

He stated that former President Olusegun Obasanjo accompanied Mr. Jonathan to prevail upon him (Nyako) to back the president who had already agreed to serve for one term. He said, “Obj (Obasanjo) will tell you, he came here and pleaded with me to support Jonathan in 2011. He came here and virtually took an oath to serve only one term.” The Adamawa governor, who said Mr. Aliyu was in the possession of the said agreement, upbraided the president for not being a man of honour, adding that such behaviour was capable of plunging the nation into another civil war.

“The Niger State governor has the agreement. We want to deal with people with honour, not people who want to drag us into civil war because of impunity, because of lawlessness, because of not fulfilling their pledges that will only take us to civil war,” he said. “Leaders must be honest with their colleagues and the greater society. I have my craw craw from the first civil war and if there is need to develop another craw-craw in another civil war I will stand by.” The governor also alleged that the declaration of a state of emergency in his domain was political because the state had the security situation under control.

According to him, Adamawa State was not even among the first seven states, out of a list of 12, that were having serious security challenges, stressing that Mr. Jonathan skipped several states to pick on his state for reasons he could not explain. In February 2013, the Niger State governor said that Mr. Jonathan had an agreement with the PDP governors not to spend more than one year in office.“What will be, will be in 2015. We must remind people of the promises they have made. When he (Jonathan) was going to declare, governors of PDP were brought together to ensure that we were all in the same frame of mind. Some of us, given the PDP zoning, were expecting that the northern states would produce the President for this number of years but God has done His own,” Mr. Aliyu had said.

“At that discussion, it was agreed that President Jonathan would serve one term and we all signed and when he went to Kampala, he said the same thing. But for now, President Jonathan has not declared his candidacy and we must not be speculating based on who those are benefiting from such a thing. I believe that we are all gentlemen enough and when the time comes, we will all sit down and see what the right thing to do is.” But the president denied the claim with Mr. Jonathan, during a media chat, challenging Mr. Alyu and those making similar claims to produce the signed document.

Mr. Jonathan’s political adviser, Ahmed Gulak, also said Mr. Aliyu’s claim was false. “President Jonathan did not sign such an agreement with anybody to the best of my knowledge,” he said. “The alleged agreement only exists in the figment of the imagination of somebody with presidential ambition.” Mr. Jonathan also clarified that he had not taken a decision on 2015 saying he would decide on whether or not to contest this year.

Housewife, 30, found hanging in her room in Edo

The Police in Ayogwiri in Etsako West Local Government Council of Edo are trying to unravel the cause of the death of  a 30-year-old housewife, Mrs Margaret Atogwe, found hanging  in her room.

Police are already investigating whether the woman committed suicide or was murdered.

Neighbours of the deceased said that the corpse was found dangling from the ceiling of a dark small room, believed to be the room of the deceased at No. 2 Abeh Street, Ayogwiri.

 

The Divisional Police Officer for Ayowiri, DSP Abdullahi  Gusau,  confirmed the incident, saying it had been reported to his office. “My officers were at the scene of the incident but we are still investigating on what was the exact cause of the death. “Efforts are on to bring about the true picture surrounding the controversial death”, adding  that the case would be transferred to Benin as soon as investigations were concluded.

 

The elder brother of the deceased, Mr Francis Ayonote told newsmen  that the deceased could not have hanged herself. Ayonote said that the circumstances of her sister’s death were questionable.

He said that the deceased was found nude standing by her window with a rope round her neck and tied to the protector and not dangling as being claimed.

 

Six Killed In Benin City In A Renewed Cult War

No fewer than six individuals were feared killed in parts of Benin City within the last three days in clashes between members of rival cults believed to be the Eiye and Aiye (Black Axe) confraternities.
The cult war was said to have started near Oba Market over issues of ticketing between members of a task force  alleged to have been engaged by the state government and another group in the same area believed to have been engaged by the Oredo Council.

Both groups are said to have belonged to rival cults.
One of the dead, it was gathered, had just rounded off his Master’s Degree programme from the University of Benin, while a community leader from Iyowha area, near the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), has reported that six persons were missing in the area.

In another development, suspected hoodlums attacked a reporter with The Nation newspaper in the state, Ben Ogbemudia, along Eke Street,near St Saviour, Upper Sokponba Road, Benin City.
According to Ogbemudia, on Monday evening, at about 7.30 pm, he had parked his car along the street where he had gone to see his family before the New Year’s Eve activities.

In no time, his suspected assailants, comprising three men whom he identified as Emwanta, Adult and Osaretin, roared to a stop in a Nissan  marked Edo DGE 382 AA, and attacked him, inflicting deep machete cuts on the upper arm of his left hand.
He was later rushed to a private clinic where the cut were stitched and later reported the incident at the St Saviour Police Station.
When contacted yesterday, the Edo State police public relations officer (PPRO), DSP Moses Eguavoen, said that he was expecting a brief from the district police officers in the affected areas.

Pope Francis Named Best Dressed Man Of 2013 By Esquire Magazine

Pope Francis has been named Best Dressed Man of 2013 by Esquire magazine, beating Hollywood superstars Bradley Cooper and Chris Pine with his clean-cut papal outfits.

The men's life and style magazine admitted that the decision is somewhat "unconventional" but claimed that the Holy Father's choices when it comes to "popewear" signal the start of a new era for the Catholic Church.

 

"His mode of dressing really does reflect the mind-set behind it," Mark-Evan Blackman, assistant professor of menswear design at the Fashion Institute of Technology told Esquire.

"I remember when John Paul II was buried in those opulent bright red shoes. When the current pope was elected and chose not to wear the red shoes I thought that was very reflective of his approach to being a person functioning in a role."

His decision to ditch the red shoes, fur coats and expensive jewellery worn by Pope Benedict impressed a panel of fashion experts who praised his simple ways and humble nature. The magazine highlighted that his unadorned and simplistic regalia has made him approachable unlike previous pontiffs.

"Pope Francis understands that menswear is meant to express the character of the man wearing the clothes," said Mary Lisa Gavenas, author of The Fairchild Encyclopedia of Meanswear."No rapper-style popewear for him," she added. But this is not the first time the Pontiff has graced the cover of a magazine.

Pope Francis was recently named 'Person of the Year' by TIME and The Advocate magazine, which promotes gay rights, for capturing the attention of a global audience and starting a new conversation on capitalism, homosexuality and family values.

Ann Pellegrini, Associate Professor of Performance Studies & Religious Studies at New York University added: "The humility of his garments offers a way to visibly display his theological and material concerns for the poor. This Holy Roman emperor really does have new clothes."

US Spy Drone Crashes Near Ibadan, Nigeria

A mysterious spacecraft, which residents of Awotan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State called a “drone”, was reported to have crashed into a building at Omiremi Quarters in the community, leaving a crater on the roof of the building, just as aviation sources confirmed the object as a United States’ drone on an espionage mission in Nigeria.

 

Considering the registration number, TX 5803, inscribed on a black battery under the craft, a source said the space craft must have taken off from  NASA base in Texas in the US, stating that the battery attached to the spacecraft powered it and enabled it to move around so that it could do the bidding of those who sent it.

 

Though many aviation sources told Sunday Tribune that the object could be a device used in espionage, another source, however, believed that the craft was a “nondescript aviation device”.

It will be recalled that the United States of America has, in recent times, come under attack by other countries for spying on their activities which may have confirmed the discovery of the spacecraft in Ibadan.

 

The craft, which was said to have dropped down from the orbit, flew into a toilet in the house of Ashipa of Awotan, Chief Tajudeen  Adetoro, a few minutes after his grandson, Afeez  Adewale and daughter-in-law, Adikat, left the toilet where they had gone to answer the call of nature.

According to Chief Adetoro, the mysterious aircraft forced itself into the toilet through the roof making deafening sound, saying it could have killed Afeez and his mother, if it had met them in the toilet.

 

The spacecraft, with a product number QR X30, has four stands and a rounded compartment housing its engine. It has a dry cell battery, USB drive, a censor and cables, while each of its stands has a two-way roving fan mounted on them.

 

The residents of the sleepy community told Sunday Tribune that the object was not a toy due to the fearful noise it made and the way it flew about, adding that it could be an explosive. “When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antennae of our neighbour...making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke,” Chief Adetoro narrated.

 

He said they ran for safety on hearing the loud bang made on the roof of their house only to discover that the object had entered the toilet hitting its wall in an attempt to exit. Information obtained about the object from the internet revealed that it shares similarities with a device called Walkera QR X350 GPS which is sold for roughly $500. Though the product description on it is not intelligible, Sunday Tribune learnt that it could be a remote-controlled transmitter that gives no signal when in the air, but which is used for gathering information.

How flying object crashed into building in Ibadan Mother, son escaped death

It is almost unbeliavebale, but it is real. A drone-like object fell from the sky on the roof of a house in Ibadan last Sunday shattering the roof of the house. MARUF BELLO writes that luck saved a mother and her son from being killed by the object.

FOR Afeez Adewale, a 16-year-old boy, sheer luck saved him and Adikat, his mother, from being sent to their early graves a few minutes after they left the toilet in their house, last Sunday, at Omiremi Quarters, Awotan, Ibadan.

Afeez had gone to the toilet to answer the call of nature not long after his mother had come out of the same toilet only to hear a loud bang on the roof of their house, specifically the toilet.

The object was said to have forcefully fallen on the roof of the toilet breaking through and shattering its asbestos. According to the Asipa of Awotan and landlord of the house, Chief Tajudeen Adetoro, it wasn’t long after Afeez and his mother left the rest room when they suddenly heard a frightening sound on the roof of the toilet. Chief Adetoro, who is Afeez’s grandfather, said it was God that saved the mother and son, saying the source of the drone-like object was unknown.

 

“We were in panic; we were almost dead when we heard the sound suddenly and all of us scampered for safety. It was after a few minutes that we thought that hiding in the house was not the solution but to find a way to get the object out of our house due to the horrible and disturbing noise it was making that my son and I fearfully moved to the scene to know what it was. “When we got there, we stood a little away looking at it from a short distance. It was then we saw it clearly and it was seriously struggling making a frightening noise in its bid to find an escape route. As it was struggling, it was hitting every angle of the toilet walls forcefully shrieking and trying to exit the toilet.

 

“It was during the struggle that it escaped through the same point it gained entry. When it flew out, we rushed after it and it was found hanging on the antenna of our neighbour. It hung there making a terrible noise and emitting heavy smoke. I think in the process of struggle to get it out, it lost one of its components, a stand. I asked my son to climb the facial board to remove it. “When he brought it down, it was heavy and there were so many red illuminating lights all over it blinking every second,” the chief narrated.

He said when the material had been removed from where it was stuck so that they could examine it thoroughly, the object repeatedly tried to fly away.

“It  was then I asked my son to remove some of its compartments to render it inactive. We removed the battery, its censor, among others. At that time, everybody in the neighbourhood had gathered to see the wonderful object,” he added.

Chief Adetoro said they initially thought it was a mere toy but after a close look, it was discovered that “the material could be a bomb, more so that ever since we captured and incapacitated it nobody had come looking for it because we initially felt that it was one of the toys parents bought for their children for Christmas and New Year. “Also, when we considered the manner with which it got in and exited, we felt that the object was being monitored and controlled from somewhere. After careful consideration and examination of the compartments of the object we thought it could be an explosive.

 

“When nobody from this community came to claim it, we concluded that the object was more than what we thought it to be; it must have travelled a long distance,” Afeez’s father said. The Chief Imam of Awotan Central Mosque, Sheik Abdulai Adesina, and a woman who are both neighbours of Chief Adetoro confirmed the incident, saying “the sound of the object was highly terrifying and fearful.”
When the object was examined, it is made up of components such as a dry cell battery, a censor housed by a white case, a USB  (memory card) drive and a panel that is well cased as well as lots of cables.

According to Chief Adetoro, the community had informed security agents about the incident and called for investigation on it, noting that if left unravelled, it would be difficult to douse tension and erase fear among the residents of the community who now believed that they were being targeted for attacks. The object, Sunday Tribune investigation revealed, has since been handed over to security operatives.

Credit:  The Tribune

Why I Sliced My Husband Penis, Banker Explains

Bimbo and her husband

Bimbo Danju, the banker who sliced her husband’s penis with a knife, has explained why she did it. She told Saturday Punch…

“Please, kindly judge this by yourself. As a pregnant woman, will I willingly attempt to cut off my husband’s penis? I ordinarily would not have said anything. I did not realise this will escalate to this stage. The case is being handled by my lawyer at the moment.

“My husband is not a hot-tempered man but he gets angry once in a while. He lied that he washes my clothes. He only did that once or twice when I was ill. We had a disagreement that day and he beat me up. My mother came to the house and took away our son.

“Without telling anybody, I went to my hospital and was treated. I did not tell him. But when I got home, he continued to harass me. He said I must ensure his son was returned to the house.

“I was so tired and I went to sleep. But in the middle of the night, he woke me up and asked me again to produce his son. We started fighting and he was beating me. In order to escape his beating, I had to hold his penis. I wanted him to leave me alone. I held on to it until I had a chance to escape.”

“Please ask him, which certificate is he even talking about? When I married my husband, he told me he graduated from the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye, but that he had an accident some time ago, in which his certificates were burnt,” she said.

“When I married him, he did not have a job. He said he was working on a CD and all the money I made, I spent on him.”

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, her husband told a different story.

He said, “My pastor had advised me against marrying her because of an encounter he had with her. Before we got married, in a meeting with Bimbo, my pastor said he asked her about her past and my wife said, ‘How dare you!’

“Of course, I did not believe my pastor at the time because I was in love. But now, I rue the day I met that woman.”

Lekan alleged that his wife had been behaving strangely since he lost his job. He stated that he had done everything he could to ensure that she remained happy.

“I wash her clothes including her underwear. Even without a job, I ensure that the proceeds of my gospel music CD are used to take care of her and our son,” he said.

The apartment Lekan shared with his wife is a mini-flat. Asked who paid for the apartment, the man said the house belonged to his father.

According to him, he was living in a rented apartment in Ikorodu before relocating to his father’s house in Surulere so that it would be easier for his wife to get to work.

Lekan explained that Bimbo was a good woman at the time.

He said, “I married her legally. We did a church wedding, went to court and did the traditional wedding. But when I lost my job, I realised that after a little disagreement, she  would rain abuses on me and my family.

“She would sometimes destroy things in the house. There was a time we had a disagreement and she chased me down the street with a stick. During another disagreement, she took my HND certificate to the end of the street and dropped it beside a gate. Neighbours had to plead with her to bring it back.”

He narrated to Saturday PUNCH how his wife attacked him.

“That fateful day, I was washing my wife’s clothes. She reminded me that she needed some money for foodstuffs and I told her that God would provide for us. Later, she came out of the house and said she had eaten noodles and had fed our son.

“When I finished with the clothes, I was so tired because the clothes were many. I ate the leftover of her noodles. There were about three-spoonfuls left.”

Lekan alleged that that did not go down well with his wife who said she still wanted to eat the leftover.

He said he had to go to the street to buy bread for her since she said she was still hungry.

He further explained that he had to go out shortly after to get some money from a salesman who handles his CD sales.

“I came home and informed my wife that I got some money from my CD. She told me that she would like to eat wheat and white soup which I usually buy for her from a restaurant. I bought that for her,” he said.

By that time, Lekan said the only thing he had eaten that day was the leftover noodles. He said the remaining money from the CD sales had been used to buy things needed in the house.

But his elder sister who had a shop nearby was to later give him N500 when she noticed that he did not look like he was feeling well.

“I went out to buy rice and when I came in and she saw me eating that, she flared up. She said I lied to her that I had no money. She was shouting but I pleaded with her to calm down so that my people around would not hear. She replied that it would not be well with the people. She abused my relations and parents.

“The following day, a Sunday, I swallowed my pride. I woke up and asked which clothes she would like to wear to church so that I could iron it with mine. When she did not answer, I left for church but came back after the workers’ meeting.

“I got home and saw her preparing jollof rice but I went out to buy N60 bread and N40 beans. Trouble started again when she saw me eating that. She said I refused to give her money but I was buying food to eat. She said, ‘Before I say anything now, you will go and complain to your useless family.’ That was when I told her that it was her whole family that was useless. Had I known, I would have kept quiet. She took the plate of beans and poured it on my head.”

But Lekan said even though many men would have pummelled such a woman, he feared he might kill her in anger. The matter died down, or so it seemed.

Around 2am, Lekan said he received a sudden and painful knock that woke him up from sleep and realised that it was from his wife.

“I knew she had decided to start her trouble again. But I did not in my wildest imagination think that she could do what she did next.

“Before I realised what she was doing, I felt a sharp pain in my manhood. I touched it and blood was gushing out. I screamed and my immediate thought was, ‘Is this the way I would die?’”

Lekan pointed to a kitchen knife in a corner of his room. He said it was the weapon his wife used.

The wound inflicted on Lekan’s manhood was deep but it had been stitched after he was rushed to the hospital by neighbours.

Lekan said he is not pressing charges against his wife.

Culled from Punch

Pastor Tunde Bakare Rejects Jonathan Christmas Cow Gift

Pastor Tunde Bakare

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, has revealed that Pastor Tunde Bakare, the General Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly and the Convener of the Save Nigeria Group, turned down a cow, which was reportedly sent to him for Christmas by President Jonathan.

 

In a tweet posted on Sunday, El Rufai wrote: “Just learnt that GEJ sent a Christmas cow to Pastor Bakare, but Pastor asked – is it cow we need in Nigeria? Nigerians want good governance!”

 

It is believed that Pastor Bakare made this known to his congregation, as moments before then, El Rufai tweeted: “On my way Latter Rain Assembly to see my Egbon, Pastor Tunde Bakare, by God’s Grace….” and later tweeted to his followers saying, “Inside Latter Rain, Pastor Tunde Bakare praying for peace, stability and unity of Nigeria in 2014….that our nation gets capable leaders…”

 

It is public knowledge that the President and the fiery man of God do not agree on a number of issues, so it comes as a surprise that he decided to send this gift.

Gov Oshiomole Survives Another Auto Crash

Gov Adams Oshiomole

The convoy of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, on Saturday was involved in an accident that recorded “no injuries”, according to the state government.

 

The incident occurred twenty months after a similar incident, which led to the death of three journalists.

 

We gathered that Oshiomhole was returning to Benin City from his Iyamho hometown where he had spent the Christmas holiday.

 

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Kassim Afegbua, said: “The incident occurred at about 9.45am at Ewu, in Edo Central Senatorial District, when a Peugeot J5 bus filled with tomatoes and plantains apparently lost control and rammed into the governor’s flag car from the opposite direction before swerving into a road side ditch.

 

“Three vehicles in the convoy were in front of the flag car and had passed the bus before it (bus) had direct impact with the governor’s car which had the governor, his aide-de-camp and his driver as occupants. “The governor’s car was badly affected but no injuries were sustained by both occupants of the Peugeot J5 and that of the governor.

 

“The bus was following a truck that was descending the Ewu slope when it suddenly veered off into the governor’s lane from the opposite direction and directly impacted on the governor’s vehicle, apparently because of a brake failure.

 

“The good story is that nobody sustained injuries in both vehicles. The governor is hale and hearty, his ADC and other occupants of the Peugeot J5 are also in good condition. The incident has been reported to the Divisional Police Station at Ewu for further investigation.

 

“This is to assure all good people of Edo State that there is no cause for alarm. Their loving comrade governor is fine, hale and hearty, as well as occupants of the other affected vehicle. The governor is wishing everyone a prosperous new year ahead,” he said.

 

Recall that on April 28, 2012, during his re-election campaign, Oshiomhole’s convoy was involved in ghastly accident at the Ikharo and Auchi section of the Auchi/Sabongida-Ora road.

The driver of a lorry that rammed into the convoy, reportedly lost control, following a break failure, as he descended the Auchi hill along the route.

 

Although, the lorry narrowly missed hitting the governor’s vehicle, it collided with the media team bus and one of the escort cars in the convoy, killing the three newsmen.

El-Rufai Others Survives As Aero Aircraft Crash Lands In Lagos

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir Elrufai, Sunday morning cheated death as he and other passengers on board an Aero Contractor plane, survived a crash landing in Lagos.

El-lrufai, who was on his way to attend Last Sunday of the year Church service at Pastor Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Assembly, broke the news via his Twitter handle.
Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai): “Upon landing in Lagos, our Aero aircraft lost a tyre. The pilot did a great job of breaking to a halt suitably. My phones flew under seats, he said”.
Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai): “It was amusing hearing shouts of Allah Akbar and Jesus, Jesu while the dutiful captain was trying to slow the plane down to a safe location”!

 

Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai): “One of the passengers joked that he knew nothing would happen to us as I was on board, nice of him, but Allah Decides our fate in His Way”.
Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai): “The Aero pilot was good, the cabin staff were calm and professional in the midst of mild drama and little panic by a few passengers. We Thank God”.
Nasir El-Rufai (@elrufai): “On my way to Latter Rain Assembly to see my egbon, Pastor Tunde Bakare, by God’s Grace”.

The incident is one of the many recorded this year, a development that has made many aviation experts call for overhaul of the sector

Nigerian Army Redeploys Senior Officers

The Nigerian Army on Friday announced new postings of its senior officers.

This was contained in a statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

Under the new arrangement, Major General John Nwaoga, has been named as the new General Officer Commanding 3 Division while Major General Mohammed Idris, is now the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy.

Major General Chris Olukolade retains his post as Director, Defence Information.

The Army statement read in part: “As part of routine posting of senior officers in the Nigerian Army, the Army Headquarters has released the fourth quarter posting and appointment of its senior officers.  “Some of the affected senior officers include; Major General John Kwabe, now Chief of Logistics, Defence Headquarters, Major General Ugo Buzugbe, Commander, Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Major General Ebiobowei Awala, Military Secretary (Army), Major General Olufemi Adeosun, Director, Policy Defence, Headquarters.”

Others listed in the statement include: Major General Sunday Adebayo, Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Major General Mobolaji Koleoso, Director, Armed Forces Simulation Centre, Major General Letam Wiwa, Director, Military Intelligence.

Major General Patrick Akem, was named Director, Legal Service (Army), while Major General Charley Okoro, takes over command as Director, Peace Keeping Operations, Defence Headquarters.

Other affected officers are: Major General Obidah Ethan, Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General Junaid Bindawa, General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Modibbo Alkali, Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Artillery. Major General Shehu Yusuf takes charge as Commandant, Depot, Nigerian Army, and Major General Ahmed Mohammed takes over as Commander, Nigerian Army Training Centre.

Major General Iliyasu Abbah, Commander, Joint Task Force (Operation Pulo Shield), Brigadier General Arinze Ebenebe, Commandant, Warrant Officers Academy, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana, Director of Army Reserve Recruitment and Resettlement.

Other postings include that of Brigadier General Kasimu Abdulkarim, Director of Physical Training, Brigadier General Enitan Ransome-Kuti, Commander, Multi-National Joint Task Force, Brigadier General Ibe Nicholas, Commander, 23 Brigade.

Brigadier General Ohifeme Ejemai, Commander, 9 Brigade, Brigadier General Bright Fibionumama, Commander, 3 Brigade, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, Commander, 13 Brigade, Brigadier General Mustapha Onoyiveta, Head, Nigerian Army Operations Monitoring Team, Brigadier General Lanre Bello, Commander, 34 Brigade and Brigadier General Olajide Laleye, Director, Army Public Relations among others.

Boko Haram New Video: Shekau Boast of Invincibility

The leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamists, Abubakar Shekau, has claimed a daring December 20 raid on a military barracks in the restive northeast, in a video obtained by AFP Friday.

The insurgents stormed the barracks in the town of Bama in a convoy of trucks before sunrise, opened fire on the soldiers inside then torched the compound. Several witnesses said the gunmen kidnapped soldiers as well as women and children.

“Our fighters stormed the Bama barracks,” Shekau said, while seated on a mat and flanked by a group of armed men.

Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader: claims Bama barracks attack

Shekau has released a series of videos since taking control of the rebel group more than three years ago. The latest recorded statement was delivered to AFP through the same channel as previous messages.

“This is a victory from Allah,” said the wanted insurgent leader after claiming to have destroyed “21 armoured tanks” and killed “multitudes” in the raid.

The Nigerian military claimed 15 soldiers died in the combat, while it claimed that its men killed 50 terrorists. According to the defence ministry, more than 50 “terrorists” were killed when ground forces backed by fighter jets pursued the fleeing Islamists after the raid.

Residents told AFP that an unknown number of civilians were killed and four villages destroyed during the military response.

Shekau has been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which put a $7 million (5.1 million euros) bounty on his head. Nigeria has separately offered 50 million naira ($300,000) for information leading to his capture or death.

In the video, Shekau appeared to mock the notion that one of his loyalists would betray him in exchange for a reward.

“What is 50 million naira? We do not worship money. As for those who are in our midst, Allah has taken care of them,” he said.

The Bama attack was the second major strike on the military in the northeast this month and was seen as a reminder that more than seven months into a military offensive aimed at crushing the insurgency, Boko Haram remains capable of striking high profile targets.

The group’s four-year insurgency, which seeks to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north, has killed thousands.

Credit: PM News

Man Detained For Two Months For Criticizing Bayelsa State Governor On Facebook

Where lies the the ‘Freedom of speech entrenched in Nigeria’s constitution? The current trend of autocratic democracy being exhibited by men in power calls for serious concern.

Seriake Dickson - Bayelsa State Governor

It was reported by PREMIUM TIMES that a businessman, Tonye Okio, spent his Christmas and will start the New Year at a Bayelsa prison for allegedly criticizing the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson, on his Facebook account.

Mr. Okio, who was also a former Abuja Liaison officer for Bayelsa State, was arrested on October 26 at his Abuja residence.

Tonye Okio

He was subsequently blindfolded and driven to Bayelsa by the Special Investigation Bureau, SIB. The police also stripped Mr. Okio of his mobile gadgets and all postings on his Facebook account, ‘Tonye Okio’, about Mr. Dickson was deleted.

Two days after his arrest, the Bayelsa police released a statement that Mr. Okio was arrested for seditious publications against the Bayelsa governor.

“This is to inform the general public and the good people of Bayelsa State in particular that the Bayelsa police command has succeeded in apprehending one Tonye Okio ‘M’ of Otiokpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State for the offence of seditious publications.

“The suspects whose syndicate members are now at large will be appropriately arraigned in court when investigation is complete,” the police said.

The police then detained Mr. Okio for 10 days without trial. Mr. Okio’s lawyer subsequently filed a case at a Bayelsa High Court demanding his fundamental rights be obeyed and he be charged to court if he has indeed done anything wrong.

A day before his fundamental rights case was to be heard, the police on November 5, charged the victim before a Magistrate Court for defamatory publication against the Bayelsa governor.

After taking his plea, the Magistrate Court adjourned the case to November 21 for trial.

When the case came up on November, 21, the magistrate court granted Mr. Okio, an aide to ex-Bayelsa governor, Timipriye Sylva, bail in what a civil society activist described as ‘ridiculous conditions.’

The bail conditions included N5 million with one surety in like sum who must be a permanent secretary in the state and resident within the court’s jurisdiction.

Following the ruling, the victim’s lawyer, Doueyi Fiderikumo, prayed the court that it would be impossible to satisfy the condition because the complainant was the state governor who he suspected must have threatened most permanent secretaries in the state.

Sources close to the Bayelsa State government also told PREMIUM TIMES that no permanent secretary under the state’s employ dare stand as surety for Mr. Okio out of fear of the governor.

Although an application was filed at the Nembe Division of the Bayelsa High Court in the state to demand a variation in the bail conditions, the court reportedly fixed three consecutive days for hearing and was unable to sit on any of those days.

A ruling on the review of bail application was slated for December but was again adjourned by the presiding judge, J. Buofini.

On the said date, the judge through the court’s registrar notified counsels that the ruling on the bail review application was not ready; and therefore the case was adjourned tillJanuary 20.

Civil society groups react

Two civic groups, the Movement for Accountability and Good Governance (MAGG), and Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CISNAC, have reacted to the continued detention of Mr. Okio and demanded the immediate release.

The program officer of CISNAC, Toyin Koleade, in a statement said the organisation was deeply concerned about the conspiracy between the Bayelsa governor and the state’s judiciary over the illegal imprisonment of Mr. Okio.

“The Civil Society Network Against Corruption is deeply concerned with the tyrannical conspiracy of the Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and the State Judiciary, over the illegal imprisonment of Mr. Tonye Okio, a social media activist who was arrested from his Abuja home on the 26th of October 2013, based on the orders of Mr. Dickson,” Mr. Koleade said

He said it was unfortunate that public office holders, voted into power by the people, turn around to witch hunt people who they ought to be accountable to.

Also, the National President of MAGG, Jasper Azuatalam, said the police alleged that they saw on Mr. Okio’s facebook page that a particular South-South governor was apprehended in the United States for laundering about $5 million and that another governor from the same region had had the same kind of case. He said the police also claimed that Mr. Okio denied that the said Facebook account does not belong to him.

Mr. Azuatalam condemned the treatment of Mr. Okio and demanded his immediate release.

Olamide, Phyno Tops Headies 2013

Olamide

Fast rising rap star Olamide Adedeji emerged the biggest winner with three awards at Nigeria’s premium awards show, The Headies 2013 held last night 26 December at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Phyno

The event which can truly be described as the biggest awards of 2013, had A-list artistes go head to head to win bragging rights for the next one year in their different music categories. But Olamide shone brightly.

The 24-year old rapper bagged the ‘Best Street-Hop Artiste’ with “Durosoke”, ‘Best Rap Album’ and ‘Album Of The Year’ both for his sophomore YBNL album.

Olamide also won alongside another new sensation Phyno in the ‘Best Collabo’ categories with the hit track “Ghost Mode”.

Phyno who is yet to drop his debut also won the Headies’ ‘Best Rap Single’ for his hit track “Man of the Year”.

Last year’ The Headies Next Rated winner Davido also bagged two awards: the Hip Hop World Revelation of the year award and Best R&B/Pop Album with his debut OBO.

This year’s award ceremony hosted by the duo of Mavin Records’ Dr Sid and Tiwa Savage, saw the tightest competition with a selection of some of the hottest names in the Nigerian music scene.

Sean Tizzle

Fast rising Afro pop artiste, Sean Tizzle won the Next rated awards with his increasingly popular song “Sho Lee”. He dusted the likes of Burna Boy, Dammy Krane, Seyi Shay and Phyno to win the keys to a Hyundai Tucson SUV that is attached to the award.

Waje

Other winners include 2Face Idibia (Best Pop Single for “Ihe Ne Me”); Banky W (Best R&B Single for “Good Good Loving”); Waje (Best Reggae/DanceHall Single for “I Wish”);

Banky W

Black Magic (Best Alternative Song for “Repete”) and Dee Tunes (Producer Of The Year with “Sho Lee”).
Best Music Video award went to Jude Okoye & Clarence Peters for PSquare’ “Alingo” and Most Downloaded Callertune award was won by Harrysong for his tribute song “Mandela”.

Legendary rapper Mode 9 came back this year to pick the “Lyricist On The Roll” title he has been winning until last year with his “Let It Go” single. Praiz won Best Vocal Performance Male for “Rich And Famous” and Nikki Laoye won Best Vocal Performance Female for “Only You”.

Jaywon’s “This Year” was adjudged the “Best Recording Of The Year”. Iyanya emerged the Artiste Of The Year, just as KCee’ Limpopo emerged as the Song Of The Year.

Award presenters for the night included Mai Atafo, Stephanie Coker, Yvonne Ekwere, Koch Okoye, Darey Art Alade, Kemi Adetiba, Chin Okeke, Seyi Law, Lynxxx, Osas Ighodalo, Mercy Omo London, Toolz, Kelechi Amadi Obi, Funmi Iyanda, IllBliss, Jumoke Awolade-James, Freeze, Tewa Onasanya, Chris Ihidero among others.

The awards featured stellar performances from Iyanya, Waje, Olamide, Phyno, Praiz, Seyi Shay, Niyola, Zaina, Yemi Alade.

KWAM1

But the highlight of the night was the induction of legendary Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal into The Headies’ Hall of Fame.

The Fuji music czar who thanked the organisers of the award for the honour later closed the show with a five-star performance.

Ukrainian Woman Goes Topless For The Pope In Protest

Inna Shevchenko topless at St. Peter's Square: being pursued by Vatican policeman

A leader of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen bared herself near St Peter’s Square on Thursday shouting “Christmas is cancelled!” in a protest against the Catholic Church’s stance on abortion.

Inna Shevchenko, 23, went topless and ran towards the square but was stopped by some 20 police officers.

She had “Christmas is Cancelled ” written across her chest.

The police quickly formed a barrier around the activist to prevent media from documenting the event.

Inna Shevchenko topless at St. Peter’s Square: being pursued by Vatican policeman

Covered in a blanket, she was taken away in a police car as tourists and pilgrims looked on with bemusement.

Inna being held by a policeman

Inna now subdued and arrested. All Photos AFP

Femen activists have targeted St Peter’s Square before, including on the eve of the conclave that elected Pope Francis in March, and have begun a series of protests in Christian centres in support of abortion laws.

Femen is a Ukrainian group whose members have drawn attention worldwide with nude stunts targeting a range of political and religious figures, including Italy’s ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.