7 Women Arrested For Prostitution, Child Trafficking

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Ondo State command detained seven women on suspicion of prostitution and child traf ficking.

The women were arrested at a brothel on Car Street, in Akure, Ondo state after some church members reported a suspected commercial sex worker and trafficker, Susan John, to police for luring a girl, Faith Ekepemephia, into prostitution.

READ ALSO: Pathetic Story Of How Nigerians Are Forced Into Slavery, Prostitution In Britain While giving testimony Faith Ekepemephia said:

“A girl from my village in Akwa Ibom, who re sides in Akure, Ondo State, told me that one madam she currently works with needed the service of a house help.

The girl said I would be helping the madam do house chores and will be paid monthly.

I arrived Akure last Tuesday for the house help job only to be lodged in a hotel.

It was later that I discovered that I have been lured in to prostitution.

I cried and told them that I want to go back to my village as this was not the type of work she told me about, but she threatened me.

READ ALSO: Sex Ring Forcing Nigerian Women In Prostitution Smashed In Spain The woman always collected the service money from me any time I meet with a man.

I have made up to N6,000 and slept with more than three men since my arrival.”

After being paraded by the command, the suspects had been handed over to National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigation.

Name Alleged Abductors - Pro-Lawan Senators Tell Saraki

Following the allegation the senate president, Bukola Saraki made about being a target for abduction on the day the National Assembly was inaugurated, the senators loyal to the candidacy of Senator Ahmad Lawan in the recent election for senate presidency, have challenged him to name the suspect.

Saraki being sworn in as senate president Vanguard reported that senators, who are strong members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisted that Saraki must name those allegedly behind the abduction he claimed to show that he was not economical with the truth about development preceding his emergence as Senate President.

READ ALSO: Why My Support For Saraki Is Not Disobedience – APC Senator The senators who spoke under the auspices of senate unity forum noted that they would not join issues with Saraki for now, but that said his proof of the allegation was necessary so that they can reply him properly.

This reaction from the pro-Lawan senators was made through their spokesman, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC) Zamfara Central tasking Saraki to name those who wanted to kidnap him before getting full reaction to his allegation.

Meanwhile, at a recent interview with journalists in Abuja, Saraki alleged that before the inauguration of the 8th Senate on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, there were plans by some big guns within the party, who were blatantly not in support of his aspiration as president of the 8th senate, to abduct him in a bid to deprive him from being present at the inauguration to accept the nomination for the position in person.

During the interview which has gone viral from last weekend, Saraki stated that he escaped the abduction allegedly planned against him that day by refusing to report at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel where all federal law makers elect were billed to gather at 8:am for onward movement to the National Assembly.

READ ALSO: READ What APC Leaders Will Do To Saraki, Dogara The senate president noted at the interview that instead of joining his colleagues at Transcorp Hilton Hotel at the slated time, he moved faster than everybody by getting to the premises of the National Assembly as early as 6:am that day and hid in a car at the car park for four hours where he was quiet and somewhat unnoticed.

Fast rising actor Daniel K Daniel shines in new movie, Mummy Dearest

Fast-rising Nollywood sensation Daniel K. Daniel (a.k.a DKD) who was recently nominated for the 2015 Afrifimo Awards and Film/Music Festival (AAFMF) Best Upcoming and Best Supporting Actor Categories for his role in the movie “Bambitious” was a major feature at the recent premiere of Mummy Dearest, an exciting new Nollywood family comedy/drama, which premiered on Thursday 25th June 2015 at the Film house Cinemas, Spar Port Harcourt Mall in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The highpoint of the premiere weekend was the ‘meet and greet’ by Daniel K. Daniel and the rest of the cast to the delight of the movie fans.

In spite of the fact that the major lead actress in the movie, veteran Liz Benson who gave a flawless performance as the Matriarch in the film, wasn’t available at the premiere, the fans still had a great time hanging out with the other stars in the movie and they were particularly excited to meet DKD, whose stellar performance in the movie had received rave reviews.

Mummy Dearest which was produced by Chioma Willis Ikedum and directed by Willis Ikedum, is now showing in cinemas nation wide and is sure to be one of the best loved movies of 2015!!! Check out pictures from the premiere and watch the preview and be sure to check it out at a cinema near you.

Daniel K Daniel has recently joined the cast of the hit TV series Tinsel.

Check out the video trailer and pictures from the "Mummy Dearest" Premiere

Source Linda Ikeji

Displaced persons face uncertainty as S’Africa camp closes

The last camp in South Africa hosting displaced foreigners following a series of xenophobic attacks across the country in April, is scheduled to close on Tuesday, officials from the municipality where it is located have told Al Jazeera.

Tozi Mthethwa, Head of Communications for the eThekwini municipality, told Al Jazeera on Monday that the Chatsworth camp, which at one stage hosted more than 5,000 people displaced by the violence, would be closed after a municipality assessment found that the situation had normalised.

“After assessing the conditions and conducting extensive community dialogues through the Provincial Department of Community Safety and Liaison, the city is pleased that the situation has normalised which there fore means that the shelter should cease to operate,” Mthethwa said in a statement issued to Al Jazeera.

“African immigrants at the shelter have been offered an option of being reintegrated into the communities they once lived in, while others have requested to be repatriated to their countries of origin.”

At least eight people were killed and thousands of others displaced in a series of attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa in April.

The violence started in Durban and quickly spread to areas around Johannesburg, prompting world wide condemnation.

There are still 212 people, mostly from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, living at the camp, and they say it is too dangerous to move back to their communities around Durban, or return to their home countries.

Police arraign manager for stealing N2m beverages

The police have arraigned a ware house manager, Akokhia Joseph, before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing beverages estimated at N2.2m, belonging to his employer, one Vivian Osian.

It was learnt that Akokhia was to give the goods out based on orders from the management of the company.

He allegedly diverted some of the goods, replacing them in the warehouse with empty cartons.

He was said to have also allegedly deleted stock data from the computers to cover up the crime.

It was learnt that several times, goods had been discovered missing in the warehouse, but Akokhia usually returned the monetary value of the goods, claiming that he later found and sold them.

Our correspondent learnt that after his employer noticed some inconsistencies in the computer data and the missing warehouse goods, an auditor was invited to analyse the records, leading to the discovery of the theft.

The 24-year-old was arraigned on Monday on one count of stealing.

The police told the court that Joseph stole from the warehouse between September 1, 2014 and January 12, 2015.

The charge read, “That you, Akokhia Joseph, between September 1, 2014, and January 12, 2015, at Ojuelegba Road, Surulere, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal Nestle products valued at N2,264,597, property of one Vivian Osian, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 285(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011” The defendant pleaded not guilty, while his defence counsel, Saka Bello, applied for his bail in liberal terms.

The Magistrate, O. A. Komolafe, admitted him to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.

He said, “Both sureties must have the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency ID card.

One of the sureties must be a relative, while the other must be a level 10 civil servant working with the Lagos State Government.”

The case was adjourned till July 27.

Buhari MUST Sack Jonathan's Last-minute Appointees

If president Muhammadu Buhari has to go by the recommendation of the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee, all the last minute appointees of former president Goodluck Jonathan will soon be sacked.

In less than two months, ex-president Jonathan, not previously known to readily hire and fire, sacked dozens of top officials and replaced them before leaving office, especially after losing the March 28, presidential election.

President Buhari

READ ALSO: Salary And Subsidy: Buhari Source For Funds The committee has now urged president Buhari to terminate all Jonathan’s dubious appointments and review all contracts awarded by the administration in the last 18 months because it will help the new government take aside ineptitude and waste, and scale up its revenue base.

In its 800-page report submitted to the president which contains extensive analysis of Nigeria’s key challenges, with suggested responses for the economy and finance, governance and social welfare, the report obtained by Premium Times, detailed a list of prompt, medium and long term decisions president Buhari must take, or authorise, with in 30, 45, 60 and 90 days of taking office.

READ ALSO: Transition Committee Tell Buhari To Appoint Only 19 Senior Ministers It said: “non-strategic contracts that have not commenced or where no payments have been made can be cancelled,” adding that the president must negotiate exits for projects where mobilisation payments have been made but work not commenced in order to “save expenditure on non-strategic projects, and can free up cash flows for other vital initiatives.”

The Joda-led committee also said that the president should review all appointments made by Jonathan in the last nine months, and “for strategic agencies requiring professional leadership, the government should terminate all appointments not based on merit.”

Recall that the same committee alleged that the administration of the former president virtually destroyed the nation’s economy, alleging that no ministry was free of corruption.

Group Urges Buhari To Cancel Anti-Gay Law

President Muhammadu Buhari, has been urged to take a cue from the United State and cancel the same sex marriage prohibition Act of 2014.

This comes days after the Supreme Court of the United States of America finally legalised same sex marriage through out the whole country.

In a report on Sahara Reporters, specifically aimed to attack the “Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014”, leading human right s organisations, PEN America and PEN Nigeria urged President Buhari to scrap the law as it en courages evictions, mob attacks, police torture, and public whippings against gays.

The report called for Buhari to repeal laws that legalise discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and people who are inter-sex and transgender.

READ ALSO: TB Joshua, Femi Fani Kayode React To New Gay Law This was disclosed by the PEN Executive Director, Suzanne Nossel, in the report titled “Silenced Voices, Threatened Lives:

The Impact of Nigeria’s Anti-LGBTI Law on Freedom of Expression.”

She said: “The Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014 punishes gay relationships with 14 years in prison and belonging to a gay associations with 10 years in prison.

It also criminalizes a failure to report homosexual activity to police which threatens the friends and families of gays living in Nigeria.

“Nigerian human rights groups have documented 105 violations against gays including assaults, mob attacks, and black mail since the passage of the law.

One case in Bauchi, an under cover police officer joined a group being counseled about AIDS pretending to be gay.

He arrested the 38 men there, tortured them, and provided their names to the public, leading to a witch-hunt.

Many gay people fled Bauchi as a result of this incident.

“The anti-gay law, while purporting to target same sex marriage, has infringed upon rights to free speech, access to health care, housing, and employment, interfered with civil and political rights, and led to wholesale impunity for violence against LGBTI people.

“LGBTI Nigerians cannot express their identities, write or publish about their experiences, or even advocate for their own human rights.”

Protesters of the Anti-gay law She added:

“The law is essentially self-enforcing, barring most challenges to its own legality as prohibited LGBTI advocacy and effectively legalizing vigilante justice against gay individuals.

“Free expression of one’s own identity and opinions is the bedrock of all human rights.

Where this right is denied, all forms of personal freedom are in jeopardy—for not just the LGBTI community, but also the population at-large.”

The group also argued that the anti-gay law distracts local populations from prevalent problems like poverty, corruption, and failed education systems under the banner of “uniting in homophobia.”

Despite protests from some countries, groups and activists, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law in 2014. Some foreign embassies were shocked by the development leading to ‘curious’ inquiries from

the federal government, but despite the inquiries, the FG said there was no going back.

The bill which was passed by the Senate in November 2011, and affirmed by law makers in the House of Representatives on May 29, 2013.

According to former president Jonathan, the decision to pass the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act of 2014, is owing to the fact that most Nigerians were opposed to the bill, saying the parliament acted in line with the wish of the majority.

NEC Sets Up Committee To Probe NNPC Accounts

In the last three years, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) withheld and spent N3.7 trillion oil revenue with out budgetary provision and approval.

Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo state Adams Oshiomhole, the governor of Edo state, disclosed this after the National Economic Council meeting, which was held at the presidential villa in Abuja.

The governor said that out of N8.1 trillion generated from the oil sales during the period only N4.3 trillion was remitted to the federation account.

Oshiomhole also disclosed that Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, the former minister of finance, spent $2 billion from the Excess Crude Account between November 2014 and May 2015 with out approval.

READ ALSO: President Buhari’s Full Speech At The NEC Inauguration

“This is the first time we had a National Economic Council meeting in which under the instructions of the president, NNPC and the office of the accountant general of the federation was compelled to provide information in black and white on issues as it relates to the total sales of Nigeria crude from 2012 to May 2015.

This never happened before.

“What we saw from those numbers, which I believe Nigerians are entitled to know, is that where as the NNPC claimed to have earned about N8.1 trillion, what NNPC paid into the federation account between 2012 and May 2015 was N4.3 trillion and NNPC with held and spent N3.7 trillion.

“The cost of running NNPC is much more than running the federal government.

That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged and what is stolen.

There are huge figures,” he stressed.

The NEC chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo set up a four-member committee to probe the accounts of the NNPC and the Excess Crude Account managed by the last administration.

READ ALSO: North Strategises To Take Over NNPC Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara state, who was also present at the meeting, told journalists:

“On that line, a four-man committee consisting of the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom state was constituted to go through the books of NNPC and Excess Crude as well as the federation account.

”The four-man committee will check the books of NNPC, most especially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the federation account.

“The FG, in conjunction with the CBN, will look in wards to see how to support, how much they will give to states especially on the issue of out standing salaries owed by the states and even the federal government.”

It would be recalled last week Buhari sacked NNPC board of directors.

Commenting on the president’s decision, Femi Adesina, presidential aide said:

“You can’t make changes without having new leadership”.

He also added that Buhari remains “committed to cleaning up the system, and wants account ability and transparency in the oil industry.”

Nigeria Court remands ex-FCT Minister’s aide, others

The Nation Online ---- Justice Abubakar Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja Monday ordered that Yau Mohammed Gital, the Chief of Staff to the immediate past FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed and two others be remanded in prison.

The judge’s order followed their arraignment on a 10-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, conspiracy and forgery involving about N192, 000,000. Also arraigned with Gital, who was said to be a member of the Land Allocation Committee, Federal Capital Territory Administration, include his former Special Assistant, with Shuaibu Yakubu and the Managing Director, Jibmir Ventures Nigeria Limited, Jibril M. Tahir.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stated in the charge that the three accused persons to obtained money from various unsuspecting persons under the false pretence that the money was for processing and facilitation of land allocation by the Federal Capital Development Authority.

The three pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which their lawyer, Nura Imam applied to the court to grant them bail pending their trial.

The judge adjourned to July 2 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the accused persons be held in prison before the next date.

Boko Haram Spy Nabbed In IDP Camp

Security agents at an Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp in Damaturu, Yobe state, yesterday arrested a suspected Boko Haram member accused of spying on the camp.

An IDP Camp in Yobe

A security official who spoke to the Daily Trust, said that suspect was apprehended after vigilante agents close to the camp reported seeing a unknown man loitering the area.

The official said: “We arrested him.

He claimed to be a Ghanaian who came from a nearby village.

We took him to the JTF head quarters for interrogation where he confessed to be a Boko Haram member spying on the area.”

READ ALSO: After 8 Months Break, Mubi Poly Reopens Despite Boko Haram Terror A resident added that the strange man was seen around the camp around 7am in the morning and residents decided to report to relevant authorities.

He said: “Nobody knew him in the area and we became suspicious of him.”

The residents then alerted the Civil Defence Service Corps guarding the IDPs camp.

The corps then arrested the man and handed him over to the military.

Meanwhile, President Muhammudu Buhari has reacted angrily to the latest Boko Haram attacks on Borno and Yobe states.

The president slammed the insurgents for attacking Muslims during the Ramadan month adding that his government will use all availiable resources to crush them.

AU will not observe elections in Burundi – Spokes person

The African Union will not observe Burundi’s legislative elections scheduled for Monday, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the chairperson of the commission of the AU, has said.

In a communique released on Sunday, Dlamini- Zuma said the “AU reiterates the imperative need for dialogue and consensus for a lasting solution to the crisis in Burundi”.

“[The AU] will not observe the elections scheduled for 29 June 2015,” Dlamini-Zuma said.

Echoing the AU’s remarks, the UN said on Sunday that Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was concerned about “the Government of Burundi’s insistence on going a head with elections on 29 June despite the prevailing political and security environment.”

Al Jazeera’s Haru Mutasa, reporting from the capital Bujumbura, said some supporters of President Pierre Nkurunziza are wondering why Sudan’s President Omar Al-Bashir was seemingly protected in South africa at the AU summit in Johannes burg just over a week back, while their president seems to have been abandoned by the AU.

Burundi has been in turm oil since April, when Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term, triggering weeks of protests, and an abortive military coup last month.

Dlamini-Zuma said the AU was disappointed that proposals put forward to postpone elections were not accepted.

“Noting that the necessary conditions are not met for the organization of free, fair and transparent and credible elections .

the AU commission will not observe the local and parliamentary elections,” the statement read.

Nkurunziza’s opponents say his decision to stand again violates the constitution as well as a peace deal that ended a civil war in 2005 The latest developments come as clashes continued on the streets of the capital Bujumbura, as the country inched to wards the controversial poll.

Italy rescues thousands of migrants from smuggler boats

Italian coast guard ships, along with military vessels from Ireland and Britain, have rescued at least 2,900 migrants from 21 smugglers boats in the Mediterranean, north of Libya.

An Irish military statement said the Irish vessel Le Eithne was involved in six of the operations on Sunday, rescuing migrants from inflatable rubber dinghies.

In a statement, the Italian coast guard also confirmed the number.

About 100 of the migrants were being brought to the tiny island of Lampedusa, off Sicily.

Authorities were determining which larger, southern Italian ports would receive the others on Monday.

So far this year, about 60,000 migrants saved by ships in a multi-nation search and rescue mission have been brought to Italian ports.

Many seek asylum from wars or persecution in Africa or the Middle East, and hope to reach families in northern Europe.

It Takes Painstaking Planning To Clean PDP's Mess - PMB

The presidency on Sunday defended President Muhammadu Buhari performance in the last 30 days, dismissing an assessment by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the president failed in his first month in office.

In a swift response to the PDP’s 30 days assessment on President Buhari, the presidency on Sunday faulted the call for prayers for the president.

This was disclosed in a statement by the special adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Femi Adesina, who said that Nigerians are already on the side of the administration and that the Buhari administration is on course.

Femi Adesina, special adviser on Media and Publicity to the president According to Adesina, it requires scrupulous and painstaking planning to clean the mess left behind by the PDP.

READ ALSO: Buhari Irked By Ekweremadu Post The statement reads:

“It is amu sing to read what the National Publicity Secretary of the defeated Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, considers a 30 days appraisal of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

“He wants Nigerians to join hands in prayers for the government, so that things would begin to move.

What he does not know is that Nigerian s had long formed such coalition.

They are hands in hands, and that was what gave victory to President Buhari in the March 28, 2015 poll.

“It takes meticulousness and sure-footedness to repair all the breaches.

This, the Buhari administration will deliver.

“The Buhari administration is naturally contemplative because there was absolutely no rhyme or reason to the way PDP ran the country, particularly in the immediate past dispensation.

“That is why the Augean Stable is being cleaned now, and it requires scrupulous and pains taking planning.

“Across all sectors, our national life was devalued, and it takes meticulousness and sure- footedness to repair all the breaches.

This, the Buhari administration will deliver.”

“Metuh talks of people round the President conniving with bureaucrats to syphon money from the treasury.

This must be deja vu, as it was the pastime of the immediate past administration, and the enormity of the sleaze will be evident when stolen money, to the tune of billions of dollars, is recovered, and returned to the national treasury soon.

“In the process of time, after all that is being planned by the current administration has matured, and bearing fruits, Nigerians will be able to determine who is serving the m acceptably, and who has taken them for a ride.

It is just a matter of time. “Mean while, Metuh and his masters can only rue the missed opportunities to make salutary impact on the lives of Nigerians.

They have a long road of regrets to travel,” Adesina concluded.

Fashola turns 52 today, his brother sends him sweet birthday message

Former Lagos state governor Babatunde Fashola is a year older today, and his younger brother Demola Fashola took to Social Media to wish him a happy birthday.

What he wrote after the cut...

'Since i could remember, i have always looked up to you.

My earliest memories are of me sitting on your shoulders while walking to Eagle club.

Watching you play tennis and football, and me thinking my brother is the coolest in the world.

I remember when u moved to ur own place in aguda.

It became my home and playground away from home.

You have always inspired everyone around you.

You have been a great brother, a mentor, a role model, problem solver. Mr Trendsetter, i wonder what is next. A leader amongst the rest.

With all the pressure, you have always made time for family.

Wishing you many happy returns, long life and may Allah Grant all your heart Desires.'

Source Linda Ikeji

Elections Tribunal turns down APC witness in Ekiti

The Legislative Election Petitions Tribunal for Ekiti State on Saturday, declined the APC lawyer from leading one Mr Aderemi Akinlade in evidence, at the sitting of the tribunal in Ado-Ekiti.

The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice A. Erahor, turned down the request at the resumed hearing of a petition challenging the election of Sen.

Fatimah Raji-Rasaki (PDP- Ekiti Central) The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Akinlade was subpoenaed at the request of APC and its candidate, Mr Gbenga Olofin, in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District election.

Erahor in a ruling held that the witness was issued with `subpoena duces-tecum’ in which a witness summon is required to tender only documents and there fore, he cannot be put on oath in the witness box to give evidence.

NAN recalls that at the pre-hearing stage of the petition, counsel to the petitioners, Mr Yemi George, had caused the tribunal to issue the summon on the witness.

At the resumed hearing on Saturday, George, however, told the tribunal that he wanted to put the witness on oath and lead him in evidence.

Mr Jude Ogodi, counsel for Sen. Raji-Rasaki opposed the position of the petitioner’s lawyer on the ground that “subpoena duces-tecum” could suffice for a witness to be led in evidence.

He argued that the witness could only give evidence if he had been issued with “subpoena ad-testificandum”, a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding.

Mr Akintade Aluko, Counsel to INEC and Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner supported the argument of Ogodi and urged the tribunal to strike out the subpoena.

The tribunal adjourned to June 29 for further hearing in the petition.

UN urges Libyan rivals to reach agreement

UN envoy Bernardino Leon on late Saturday urged the Libyan conflicting parties to quickly expedite the dialogue to end the conflict in their country.

“Let’s try to make it possible this week.

What is possible now will be final solution, will be a solution that will seem difficult in the short perspective, but I am sure it will be the right one,” Leon told Libyan peace talk participants who sat down for an iftar during the current round of talks in Morocco.

The UN special representative also called the participants to show more flexibility, expressing his hope that a deal could be reached within days.

The UN-backed Libya political talks resumed in the Moroccan city of Skhirat on Thursday amid hopes that this round would be the last between the country’s rival parties.

The parties are expected to reach an agreement on the formation of a year-long mandate transitional government of national unity, in which a council of ministers headed by a prime minister and two deputies will have executive authority based in Tripoli.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after the former leader Muammar Gaddafi was to ppled during the 2011 political turmoil.

The country is now deadlocked in a dog@fight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants, which has led to a security vacuum for home grown extremism to brew.

The UN has brokered several rounds of dialogues between the conflicting parties since last September, but clashes remained despite a truce agreed on by factions.

Abducted Vice Chancellor Was Freed In Rivers

Rivers state police said on Saturday, June 27, Rosemond Osagholu, the Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University in Port Harcourt, who was abducted by gunmen has been finally released.

The professor was abducted by gunmen a week ago on June 20 as she was leaving the campus of the Rivers government-owned institution.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Ahmad Muhammad, the police public relations officer in Port Harcourt, said that Ms. Osagholu was released on June 26.

However, he did not disclose the exact location of her release or if any ransom was paid for her freedom.

Also he did not also say if any arrest had been made.

“I can confirm to you that the Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University has been released.

She is in good health and has been reunited with her family,” Mr Muhammad said.

Reportedly, the vice chancellor’s abduction threw the academic community into a state of shock.

Unions, associations and groups in the academic community mounted pressure on the police to rescue her.

My sister is married to a homosexual

From a female LIB reader

Am from Ananmbra State, a family of Five, 3girls and my sister is the eldest.

My parents are not poor, we were all educated to the university level.

Last 2 years, my sister came home and told us she's getting married to a man she has not met, just through the guys mum because she stayed in their flat when she was in Uni.

The marriage was arranged between her, my mum and her mother inlaw.

The family in question is very rich and famous, they all stay abroad.

My dad was against this but she and my mum never listened.

They did the Trad in the guys absence, she danced alone and took pictures with empty chair that the husband was suppose to sit on.

They made mockery of our family in that wedding because it was so funny.

He came back a night to his white wedding and during the vote of thanks he could not say my sister name because he doesn't know her name.......

He left 2 days after and my sister got pregnant.

This guy never came back until his daughter was 2years and few months.

The problem started when he came back, with a white guy claiming to be his friend.

He spends sometime during the day with his daughter and the night with the young man at a hotel.

Mean while since he came back, he's refused touch my sister saying he's tired.

They had a fight which got the attention of the two families, all he could say was that he had a penis surgery and the doctor said it can't stand until after a few years, and that the white guy is just a friend that he enjoys spending the night with.

At the mention of his white friend he became aggressive and said he never wanted to marry, that his parents forced him, that they should allow him live his life........he left the country the next day with the friend and since then has not called.

My sister is broken, my family is bothered, and his parents said they will sort things out.

What do we do now?

Source Linda Ikeji

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Source Linda Ikeji

NDLEA seizes drugs worth N542b

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, said it seized narcotics and destroyed cannabis farms worth N542bn in 2014. Chairman and Chief Executive of the agency, Ahmadu Giade who gave the figure on Friday in Abuja at the celebration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, added that 12,304 persons were arrested and questioned in connection to hard drugs in the past 17 months.

Within the same period, 2,800 persons have been convicted in court for drug offences,he explained, noting that 2,054 were convicted in 2014 while 783 persons have been convicted between January and May, 2015. The NDLEA boss noted that the country was able to have a peaceful general election earlier this year because his agency stopped enormous quantity of hard drugs from entering into the system.

He explained that if that amount of drugs had got into the system, the elections would have been violent.

Giade said, “This huge amount is mind blowing and has the capacity to derail the most credible election.

Such proceeds could be used to either subvert the wishes of the electorate or instigate upheavals.

We shall continue to incapacitate and dislodge drug cartels.”

According to him, the NDLEA had fought very hard to eradicate illicit drugs in Nigeria but had recorded tremendous success with its activities, stressing that a total of 4,529.15 hectares of cannabis farmland, constituting 53.7 million kilogrammes of cannabis were destroyed in 2014. Also, 8,826 persons, male and female were either arrested or questioned during investigations in the same year while illicit drugs seized weighed 166,697.18 kilogramme.

He revealed that the drugs seized include cannabis sativa, cocaine, heroine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, ephedrine and psychotropic substances.

Giade said, “Besides arrests and drug seizure, 3,403 drug dependent persons received drug counseling services in NDLEA centres nation wide. 2,070 cases were charged to court and 2,054 were convicted in 2014.

However, between January and May 2015, the agency arrested 3,478 drug suspects and seized 170,341 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs.

The agency also discovered cannabis farms measuring 126,721 hectares. A total of 783 cases have so far been won in court.” Giade also revealed the discovery of more clandestine laboratories for the production of methamphetamine, and the arrest of a suspected drug kingpin, Chukwunwendu Ikejiaku (a.k.a Blessed) who is alleged to be the brain behind three clandestine laboratories, and leader of an international drug trafficking organization that recruits and sponsors drug couriers to China, Malaysia, Turkey and Italy.

Can Lagosians Still Go Out On Sanitation Day?

The monthly Environmental Sanitation Day holds every last Saturday of the month in Lagos.

During the former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola tenure, a court judgement had ruled that it is illegal for@ Lagosians to be restricted at home during the exercise.

But the state appealed the judgement.

Is movement still restricted for residents or must they wait till the appeal is determined?

Some months ago, the Lagos State government was stopped from restricting residents’ movement from 7am to10am in the morning for the monthly environmental Sanitation Day.

A Federal High court had declared as unlawful the re striction of citizens’ movement during the monthly Lagos environmental sanitation exercise.

READ ALSO : Lagos Monthly Environmental Day To Be Cancelled?

The court had ruled that there is no law in force in Lagos State by which any citizen could be kept indoors, compulsorily.

It also added that there is no regulation in force currently in Lagos State which authorizes the restriction of movement of citizens, on the last Saturdays of the month, for the purpose of observing environmental sanitation.

In the judgment, the court had found that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria grants freedom of movement to every citizen, and such freedom cannot be taken away by executive proclamation, in the absence of any law to that effect.

The thereafter proclaimed as null and void the power of the Lagos State Government and its agent to arrest any citizen found moving between 7am and 10am on the last Saturday of every month when the environmental sanitation exercise is observed.

READ ALSO: TGIF: 12 Interesting Things To Do In Lagos On Weekends The suit was filed by Lagos human rights lawyer and activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, against the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Government, to challenge the restriction of human movements on the last Saturday of every month, for the purpose of observing environmental sanitation.

Adegboruwa who had argued the case himself contended that there is no law in force in Lagos State restricting movement of persons, for the purpose of observing environmental sanitation.

The lawyer also argued that section 39 of the Environmental Sanitation Law 2000, of Lagos State, which the respondents claimed to empower the Commissioner for the Environment, to make regulations, cannot be the basis for restricting human movement on Saturdays, as no regulation in force has indeed been made for that purpose.

He challenged the Lagos State Government to produce such regulation before the court.

He urged to hold that even if there is such regulation in force, it cannot be enforced on roads that are designated as federal highway s under the High ways Act, such as the 3rd Mainland Bridge where he was arrested by the police and LASTMA officials.

But in a swift reaction, the Lagos State government has appealed the judgment.

But before the appeal is determined, can Lagosians take advantage of the initial judgment to go out or do they have to wait for the Appeal Court judgment?

Olabisi Onabanjo Uni students crushed to death after container falls on commercial bus in Ogun

At least 10 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ogun state lost their lives after a container on a truck fell on the commuter bus they were traveling in, crushing all the passengers and the bus driver to death.

This happened along the Sagamu/Benin express way at Ilishan, very close to Sagamu junction at about 12noon today June 26th.

The students were on their way to Lagos when the accident happened.

An eye witness said the driver of the truck drove against traffic which caused the head on collision with the commuter bus "I was coming from Sagamu side and saw the accident.

I had to hurriedly park my car, run to the scene to see if the passengers could be rescued but unfortunately all the occupants were dead including the driver.

The bus was facing Lagos, but I dont know where it was coming from.

The driver of the truck carrying an empty container was coming from Sagamu axis but was driving against traffic and that resulted in the collision, which eventually claimed the lives of the innocent people" the eye witness said.

The remains of the victims have been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu.

Source Linda Ikeji

Ebonyi Local Govt Officials Accused Of Embezzlement

On June 25, Thursday, the Ebonyi state House of Assembly accused 12 of the 13 chair person of local government care taker committee of financial misappropriation.

The immediate past assembly had reportedly set up a committee to probe the financial dealings of the chairmen between November 2014 and June 2015 when they all resigned their appointments.

Premium Times reports that the indictment was contained in committee’s report, which was read by its chairperson, Obasi Odefa, and presented to the state assembly.

The report stated that the ex-chairper sons em bezzled the state’s funds during the period under review.

It also disclosed that that some of their expenditures had fake titles such as immunisation costs, breast feeding expenses, security expenses and solidarity rally for former president Goodluck Jonathan and others.

“The caretaker chairmen, treasurers, cashiers, and heads of departments connived to illegally with draw money from the council’s accountant s and syphoned them into private accountants.

Tribunal to rule on Ambode’s objection to Agbaje’s petition

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed July 1 to rule on the preliminary objection filed by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, against the petition challenging his victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship poll in Lagos. Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who contested on the plat form of the Peoples Democratic Party, had approached the @tribunal seeking an order upturning Ambode’s victory for alleged irregularities.

Agbaje and the PDP have accused Ambode and his party, the All Progressives Congress, of breaching the guide lines set out by the Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of the election.

But Ambode and the APC, in a consolidated preliminary notice of objection filed through their counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Dr. Muiz Banire, have urged the three-man tribunal led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo to dismiss the petitioners’ case.

While canvassing argument in support of the objection at the Friday’s hearing, Olanipekun insisted that petition filed by Agbaje and the PDP was incompetent, saying there was nothing in the petitioners’s papers directly challenging his client’s victory in the April 11 poll.

Olanipekun, who urged the tribunal to dismiss the petitioners’ case, said the reliefs they were seeking conflicted with Section 285(2) of the constitution.

He said, “I submit that there is no petition before Your Lordships known to law.

“The grounds and particulars in the petition are at opposites with the facts and reliefs being sought within the purview of Section 285(2) of the 1999 Constitution.

“There are no grounds challenging the election of my client under Section 138(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

“I urge my Lordships to dismiss the petition.

” Banire, in his own argument, described the petition by Agbaje and PDP as “groundless” and one that should be struck out.

“This is a groundless petition, there is no petition before Your Lordships.

“I pray that the purported document before Your Lordships be struck out,” Banire said.

However, counsel for Agbaje, Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor, maintained that the petition was competent and that the issues for determination by the tribunal had been carefully spelt out.

Onwuenwunor said the objection filed by Ambode and the APC was merely relying on technicalities rather than the ingredient of the case.

He said, “Paragraph 13(a) and (b) of our petition questioned the election in Lagos State on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and irregularities such as in the use of the card readers.

“We have looked at their preliminary objections in this case and have concluded that they are objections made on mere technicalities.”

Onwuenwunor urged the tribunal to dismiss the consolidated notice of preliminary objection and to award “substantial costs” against the respondents.

The court, after entertaining arguments from both sides, adjourned till July 1, 2015 for ruling.

Police arrest human trafficker, baby factory suspects in Imo

The Police on Friday said in Owerri that it has arrested a human trafficker and four baby factory suspects.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr Austin Evbakharbokun, told newsmen that the suspects were nabbed sequel to a report.

He gave the names of the suspects as Emmanuel Eke, the alleged human trafficker from Mbutu in Isaiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia, and 23-year-old Nkasiobi Uchenna from Nkwuegwu Umuahia also in Abia.

Other suspects included Ela David, 24, from Isoko in Delta, deaf and dump Blessing Nwabekee, and 25-year-old Oluchi Victor also from Isiala Ngwa in Abia.

Evbakharbokun said the suspects were arrested following a report that Miss Ibuchi Okafor, 20, from Ihioma in Orlu local government area of Imo whose pregnancy was due for delivery absconded from her home and later returned without a baby.

Her parents, who queried the where abouts of the baby, grew suspicious and reported the matter to the police.

Upon interrogation, the police said Okafor disclosed that she was delivered of a baby boy at the home of Mr Emmanuel Eke of Mbutu in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia.

She said the man later sold the baby to an unknown buyer.

According to Evbakharbokun, his men stormed Eke’s place and discovered other ladies believed to be producing babies for him for sale and arrested them.

In the course of investigation, he said, Eke confessed to have sold the baby delivered by Okafor at the cost of N500,000.

He said investigation was still in progress, adding that the suspects would be charged to court for child trafficking.

When interviewed, Eke told newsmen that the child trafficking business with the name, Divine Mercy Maternity in Isiala Ngwa was being run by his late wife.

Okafor also confessed that she was led to Eke’s place through one of the ladies that was arrested.

She said she was given N50,000 from the proceed of the sale of the baby boy.

The commissioner, however, frowned at the development, saying the girls now get pregnant and go to other states to deliver with ulterior motive.

He warned parents and guardians to always train their children well and ensure they know and monitor their movements to avoid such incidents.

Evbakharbokun spoke through the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Andrew Enwerem.

Vacancy at presidency: couple defraud professor of $38,000

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned a couple, Prince Alphonsus Mbakwe and his wife, Mrs Florence Mbakwe before Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

The couple allegedly defrauded one Professor Uchenna Elike by claiming to help him secure a consultancy job in the Presidency.

One of the EFCC counts read against the couple reads: “that you Prince Alphonsus Mbakwe between 2010 and 2014, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, by false pretence and with the intent to defraud ,obtained the sum of Thirty-eight Thousand Four Hundred United States Dollars ($38,400), from Professor Uchenna Elike by falsely representing to the said Professor Uchenna Elike through Mr. Chidiebere Igbokwe and Mrs. Chinwe Igbokwe that vacancy existed in the Presidency, Abuja, for the appointment of Professor Uchnenna Elike as Consultant and that you were in position to influence the said appointment and that the money you obtained from him represented the cost of your logistics, accommodation, flight and facilitation fees for the said appointment, which representation you knew to be false.

’’ The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, G.C Akaogu prayed the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

The Presiding judge, Justice Lawal Akapo ordered that the accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter to June 30, 2015 for hearing of the bail application.

Source Linda Ikeji

I never got any letter from NFF – Enyeama.

Nigeria international Vincent Enyeama has disclosed he never got any letter from the Nigeria Football Federation inviting him to any disciplinary hearing in Abuja.

The 32-year-old who did not show on Tuesday to explain his remark against the NFF’s choice of Ahmadu Stadium, Kaduna for Eagles Afcon qualifier against Chad played on June 13,2015 said he was not notified officially by the NFF insisting he only heard it in the media.

“I was told to apologise for my comments, which I did immediately and they told me that’s fine,” Enyeama told BBC Sport. “Personally, as it was resolved in-house I thought that was the end of the matter.

I only received a letter to cautioning me about it [my comments] and to avoid a repeat of such.

“But I only found out about a disciplinary hearing in the media but I didn’t get any letter to that effect,” he explained.

“As the captain I only raised our concerns about the venue before our game which didn’t go down well with the football authority.

Enyeama could face a lengthy ban for his comments which the NFF feels was against the code of conduct signed by the players as well as his failure to attend Tuesday’s hearing.

NDLEA in Jigawa arrests 92 suspects

The Jigawa Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency said it arrested 92 suspects for allegedly using and dealing in illegal drugs in the state between January and June 2015.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Commandant of the NDLEA, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdul, in Dutse on Friday.

Abdul said the command had seized 151.704 kilogrammes of illicit substance from the suspects within the period under review.

He explained that the major seizure by the agency was that of 22.350kg of cannabis property of one Muhammad Aminu, arrested in Gumel on June 1.

“The major seizure within this time is that of 22.350kgs of cannabis belonging to Muhammad Jazuli and Sani Aminu all arrested in Gumel on the 1st of June 2015,” he said.

He said that 60 drug addicts were counseled and rehabilitated by the agency within the same period.

The commandant said the agency would carry out extensive awareness campaign in the state on the dangers associated with drug abuse.

Abdul explained that the gesture was due to the increase in the number of youths that abuse commonly prescribed drugs like Cough syrups, Tramol and Valium.

He said the major challenge militating against the operation of the agency was lack of adequate vehicles to cover all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Abdul appealed to the state government and the general public to assist the agency.

Oby Ezekwesili Comments On NASS Drama

Oby Ezekwesili, the chief campaigner of the Bring Back Our Girls group, has lashed out at the law makers of the National Assembly and commented on the ongoing fracas in general.

The last couple of days have been associated with the crisis in the All Progressives Congress over the leadership in both chambers of the Assembly.

READ ALSO: Why The Senate Went On Recess –

Saraki Reveals This time the tension was not only emotional, but also physical, as the members of the House of Representatives, unable to find a consensus, yesterday engaged in fisticuffs.

Ezekwesili expressed shock over what is currently happening in Nigerian politics.

He noted that with this approach the economy will never be stabilized in the country.

See her yesterday’s tweets below:

If only these energies being dissipated in a shameful brawl by Legislators were directed @

FINDING SOLUTIONS for the over 100 million POOR.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) June 25, 2015 These “Mighty Igors” wrestling @ the NASS just because they want to be given a “Big Title” & Chair” Committees should all be ASHAMED.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) June 25, 2015 How many of you remember my tweets b 4 elections to PAY ATTENTION to QUALITY of candidates & to not VOTE & SEND “Lemons” to the Legislature??

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) June 25, 2015 Those who want to PRETEND to them selves always CHOOSE to FORGET my position that WE have a Political CLASS & NOT Political PARTY PROBLEM.

— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) June 25, 2015 “Belly-Full Politics” since forever never produced a stable and economically great country .

That, my friends is the reason Nigeria SLACKS.

Reno Omokri Turns Into An Evange list.

The Special Assistant on New Media to former president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has delved into something new.

Reno Omokri

Recall that few weeks ago, the former presidential aide announced he would be leaving politics for the evangelism.

This has now materialized as he will now be hosting a Christian program titled ‘Transformations With Reno Omokri:

The Measure of Faith’.

The contracts for the weekly show which is being shot in California was said to be finalized yesterday June 25th.

The show is being produced by the Mind of Christ Christian Center, which was founded by Omokri.

Saraki Inaugurates Committee To Reduce Salaries

Bukola Saraki, the Senate president, inaugurated an Adhoc committee to examine the senate finances and reduce lawmakers’ salaries to settle the best cost-effective regime in the 8th Senate.

According to Saraki, a 10-member committee, headed by Senator James Manager, would look at the best strategy to align with the current ad ministration’s efforts to ensure reduction in cost of governance.

He said the committee would ascertain details of salaries and allowances each senator deserves with a view to unraveling the ambiguity in the monthly salaries of legislators and their allowances.

2 committees were inaugurated today, Adhoc committee on finance to address the National Assembly budget & 2nd to draft Legislative agenda — Bukola Saraki (APC) (@bukolasaraki) June 25, 2015 Committee on Finance 2 reduce our salary & that of Legislative agenda will continue to meet.

1ce we get ministerial list, we will reconvene — Bukola Saraki (APC) (@bukolasaraki) June 25, 2015 “The 8th Senate under our watch recognises the concerns raised by Nigerians about the cost of running office, most especially with the economic challenges facing our nation.

“The senate will be more transparent regarding all public funds spent for the purpose of paying salaries and allowances of legislators and ensure that distinction is sufficiently made between what a legislator actually earns and what was being spent to run and implement legislative business and committee activities,” he said.

Saraki pledged that the watch word in the senate’s financial issues would be fiscal conservatism and that the committee was mandated to carry out thorough fiscal examination on the senate finances.

Nigeria Police Honours Airport Cleaner Who Returned N12m.

The Murtala Mohammed International Airport cleaner Mrs Josephine Ugwu, who returned N12 million found at the Airport toilet has been honoured by the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) attached to the airport.

Presenting a plaque to Ugwu on behalf of the PCRC members, Mr Haminu Makama, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Airport Command urged her to continue with her honesty, despite the high rate of unemployment in the country.

Makama, on Thursday, said the cleaner was honored for her sincerity in a society where many would not return such an amount adding that Mrs. Ugwu behavior would present Nigeria in a good light on the international scene.

The deputy commissioner also urged other Nigerians to act in like manner.

Alhaji Falekulo Lamidi, Chairman, PCRC, MMIA Division, also appreciated Ugwu.

He said; ” Today, we are recognising a honest worker who has displayed great character that is worthy of emulation to others.’’

He recalled how robbers raided a bank in Ikorodu forcefully but Ugwu was able to return such huge amount of money.

READ ALSO: APC: Aregbesola’s N500m Helicopter Will Not Be Sold He continued:

“I believe that with what she has done, she should be recognised by all.

The money she returned was much, but there are some rewards that are bigger than money.

“PCRC is very impressed with your courageous and honest behaviour and this is worthy of emulation.“ Ugwu recalled how she had formerly returned N600,000 and later N3m.

She also thanked the PCRC for praising her attitude.

She how ever added that she had yet to received the job promised by FAAN but claimed the employment was still in progress.

Ugwu, a cleaner with a concessionaire of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Patovilki Industrial Cleaning found and returned the N12m while on duty on Feb. 16. Ugwu who was on a salary of N7, 000 per month as at the time of the incident has attracted nation wide credit for her sincerity.

Morgues over flow in Pakistan as heat wave toll nears 800

The death toll from a severe heatwave in southern Pakistan is edging to wards 800, with the threat of more deaths to come as temperatures remain unseasonably high for the fourth consecutive day, officials have told Al Jazeera.

At least 775 people have died of heatstroke, dehydration or other heat-related illnesses in Karachi, the country’s largest city, since Saturday, according to government figures.

“The mortuary is over flowing, they are piling bodies one on top of the other,” said Dr Seemin Jamali, a senior official at the Jinnah Post graduate Medical Centre, the city’s largest government hospital.

“We are doing everything that is humanly possible here,” she said, adding that since Saturday, the JPMC had seen more than 8,000 patients with heat- related symptoms. Of those, 384 patients had died, she said.

“Until [Tuesday] night, it was unbelievable.

We were getting patients coming into the emergency ward every minute,” she said.

Among those who have died, most have been either elderly or poor, officials say.

On Wednesday, the grounds outside the JPMC’s Emergency Ward are teeming with people, many seeking relief goods such as blocks of ice, cold water and juices from one of the many aid tents that have sprung up here overnight.

Inside the ward, the crowds have begun to lessen. “Mostly people coming here are facing heatstroke and they are old people.

Their ages are around 45 to 50 years old, so the older they are, the more serious problems they are facing,” Junaid Ahmad, a volunteer, told an agency.

MTN Project Fame Auditions Wraps Up In Abuja/Port Harcourt

If there ever was a doubt about MTN Project Fame being West Africa’s biggest talent hunt competition, the Abuja and Port Harcourt auditions certainly dispelled the doubt.

The event drew a multitude of music enthusiasts from the two cities, all of them seeking a shot at the grand price of N5m, a brand new SUV and a re cording deal worth millions of naira.

The venues for the auditions, Bolingo Hotels in Abuja and Vointel Hotel, Port Harcourt, were a beehive of activities during the two days.

For the wannabe super stars, it was all or nothing as they tried to impress the judges comprising Tyeng Gang, Matilda Duncan and Godpe On Debeatz in Abuja and Mary Ann Okon, Ada On wusiribe and Chuks Robert in Port Harcourt.

The Abuja audition had an added twist with the presence of Geoffrey, winner of last year’s edition of MTN Project Fame.

Himself, a past contestant from Abuja, Geoffrey’spresence was a morale booster for the teeming crowd that turned up for the auditions.

The Benue State born artiste also gave an entertaining performance of his latest single, ‘Burst My Brain’

. At the end of the auditions, it was different strokes for different folks.

For some it was the end of the road, a painful end of their dreams of stardom.

For others, all of the hard work and persistence they put infinally paid off as they were selected to go to Lagos for the Live auditions.

Up next is the Ibadan auditions which will hold on June 27, 2015.

There will also be auditions in Ghana the same day while the Lagos auditions will hold 3rd and 4th of July.

If you have what it takes to become the new Iyanya,Praiz, Chidinma or Geoffrey,then come show your stuff at the Ibadan auditions.

You can register by following these simple steps- 5900 on your MTN line, listen to the voice prompt, follow the instruction and you will be given a unique PIN number.

You can also record your songs and submit it via the Interactive Voice recording Platform.

The overall winner in MTN Project Fame 8 will walk away with a brand new SUV, a recording contract worth millions of Naira and N5million in cash while the 1st Runner up will get a saloon car and N3million in cash.

The 2nd runner up will not go home empty handed as he or she will drive away a brand new saloon car along with N1million while the 3rd runner up is made a Millionaire.

You can log onto www.projectfamewestafrica.com for more registration and audition details.

See pictures below...

Source Linda Ikeji

Sanction dishonest lawyers, CJN tells NBA

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed said on Wednesday that the bar must purge it self of its dishonest members for the bench to be corruption-free.

Justice Mohammed said since the bench was a product of the bar, it would not change if its origin remained the same.

The CJN spoke through another Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice John Fabiyi, who re presented him at a one-day seminar organised by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Anti-Corruption Commission.

The event was with the theme, ‘The fight against corruption in Nigeria:

The way forward’. Justice Mohammed said it was time for the legal profession to exorcise the pernicious ghost of corruption from its midst so that the bench could be free of unethical practices.

He said, “It is important to highlight that the bench is a product of the Bar and unless we work in synergy to ensure that only fit and proper persons remain in our midst, it will be impossible to expect a different bench when its origin remains the same.

“I hereby call on the leadership of the bar to expunge from its ranks, such persons whose conduct may be unfit, improper, dishonest or otherwise unethical.

“The time has surely come for us all to take concrete, meaningful and lasting action to exorcise the pernicious ghost of corruption from the most noble of professions.”

He said although there were corrupt judges in the judiciary, “corruption within the judiciary is only imbibed by a minute minority.”

The CJN however noted that while the judiciary continued to discipline erring judges, the beneficiaries of such corrupt acts were never punished.

He said between 2009 and 2014, there were 64 judges among the serving 1,020 judges of the superior courts of records as of 2014 “were disciplined as appropriate” with some of them sacked by the National Judicial Council.

Three IT-Disorders And Scandalous Related Cases in the World

Oscar Otero Aguilar
Naij.com --- The American Psychiatric Association (APA) has recently officially designated taking selfies as a mental disorder, called selfitis.

The new disease is defined as the obsessive compulsive desire to take photos of one’s self and post them on social media in order to make up for the lack of self-esteem and to fill a gap in intimacy.

What started as an innocent trend, has turned into a mania.

The APA provided three levels of the disorder:

Borderline selfitis: taking photos of one’s self at least three times a day but not posting them on social media;

Acute selfitis:

taking photos of one’s self at least three times a day and posting each of the photos on social media; Chronic selfitis:

Uncontrollable urge to take photos of one’s self round the clock and posting the photos on social media more than six times a day.

REAL STORIES

Quite a number of sad cases have been associated with taking selfies.

For example, this young man named Oscar Otero Aguilar killed himself after taking a selfie with the gun, which accidentally discharged and mortally wounded him.

The 21-year-old Mexican died on his way to the hospital.

And here is another tragic story of teenager Xenia Ignatyeva who fell of the 30-feet railway bridge and was electrocuted when she tried to grab live wires.

This occurred when the 17-year-old Russian girl was making a selfie.


Xenia Ignatyeva
Gaming

In May 2013, the APA proposed criteria for identifying video game addiction as a mental disorder.

Although at that time the provided information was considered insufficient, this might change soon.

Numerous studies show that children are most vulnerable to video game addiction, which might be associated with aggressive behaviour and hostility.

REAL STORIES

A 22-year-old unemployed man from South Korea left his 28-month-old son at home to starve to death while he played online computer games at an internet cafe for several days.

Daniel Petric, aged 17, murdered his mother and seriously injured his father when they refused to let him play the popular video game, Halo 3 (a shooter).

Social Media

The number of studies dedicated to the negative influence of social media on people’s lives is gradually increasing.

One of the researches contains:

“On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection.

But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result – it undermines it.”

Facebook has been linked to a surprising number of undesirable mental health consequences: depression, low self-esteem, jealousy, anxiety, loneliness, aggression among others.

There is no formal definition or diagnosis of social media depression at this time.

However, health experts agree that children and teenagers are more sensitive to media influences.

REAL STORIES

Phoebe Prince, aged 15, committed suicide after having been cyber-bullied for months.


Phoebe Prince
Prince had moved from Ireland to Massachusetts, US.

What is more horrible, a group of schoolmates had been continuing bullying campaign against Prince even after her death.

Brian Lewis killed his wife, Hayley Jones after she changed her Facebook profile from ‘married’ to ‘single’ (year 2009).

Ex-Algerian tycoon jailed 18 years over corruption

Former Algerian business man Abdelmoumene Rafik Khalifa on Tuesday was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the criminal court of Blida in one of heaviest corruption cases in the nation.

The accused was charged with conspiracy, breach of trust, forgery and use of forgeries, corruption, and fraudulent bankruptcy.

The trial, which began on May 4, heard 71 senior political, financial, sporting and cultural Algerian personalities, either as defendants or witnesses.

After one week deliberation, Khalifa was sentenced to 18 years, and fined 90,000 U.S. dollars, in addition to the confiscation of his properties.

He was acquitted of abuse of influence charge.

Meanwhile, 53 defendants were acquitted, while 18 others were sentenced to three to 10 years.

A son of a former minister, Khalifa emerged as a young business man in early 2000s through the establishment of a bank, an airway company and some other business in pharmacy, construction and tourism.

This young man has been able to form a fortune in record time, as he was nicknamed “the Golden boy” by the Algerian media.

However, one of assistants was caught by airport police while smuggling a big sum of hard currency.

An investigation was opened immediately to reveal a large money laundering and corruption case.

Then Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia called it “the scandal of the century.”

Khalifa managed to leave the country to Britain, while the Algerian government in 2006 started the liquidation of Khalifa Group in 2006.

Khalifa was first tried in absentia in 2007 while arrested in Britain, as he was inflicted life sentence.

Besides his home country, the accused is also sued by the French justice for “breach of trust, misappropriation of assets, bankruptcy accounting concealment and money laundering in an organized gang”. Mr. Khalifa was arrested March 27, 2007 in Britain as part of a European arrest warrant issued by the High Court of Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine, in the Ile- de-France).

Rafik Khalifa was extradited to Algeria in December 24, 2013 after more than ten years exile in London.

US 'spied on French presidents' - Wikileaks

The US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on French Presidents Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande in 2006-12, WikiLeaks says.

The whistleblower website cites "top secret intelligence reports and technical documents" from the NSA.

US state department spokesman John Kirby said: "We do not comment on the veracity or content of leaked documents." France has made no comment.

The NSA was earlier accused of spying on German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

That allegation arose from documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden about large-scale US surveillance in 2013. However, earlier this month Germany dropped its investigation, saying the NSA had failed to provide enough evidence to justify legal action.

On Tuesday, Wikileaks said it began publishing the files under the heading "Espionnage Elysee" - a reference to the French presidential palace.

It said the secret files "derive from directly targeted NSA surveillance of the communications" of the three French presidents as well as French ministers and the ambassador to the US.

One of the files, dated 2012, is about Mr Hollande discussing Greece's possible exit from the eurozone.

It is unclear whether the material comes from the data stolen by Edward Snowden, the BBC's security correspondent Gordon Corera says.

Buhari Okays Military Checkpoints In 3 Northern States

Naij.com --- Governor of Zamfara state and Chairman of the Governors’ forum, Abdulazeez Yari, has said that the order by President Muhammudu Buhari to remove all military checkpoints nationwide has been reversed by the president himself.

Buhari’s Snail Pace

Founded on Naij.com:
Punch has published the short opinion of Okunaiya Adegbuyi which is extremely popular today in different sources.

Read below....

“Ayo Olukotun’s write-up in his column on Friday, June 19, 2015, entitled, Buhari on his age factor, is interesting. I am not surprised at the apparent snail pace of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
This has nothing to do with his age.

I am a student of cosmic science and the cosmic indication on the swearing-in date indicated a flat-footed action by whoever was sworn in on May 29, 2015.
Even if former President Goodluck Jonathan had won and was sworn in as president for another term, the same scenario would have played out.
However, Nigerians should expect a change of pace in the first week of August and will hit the ground running first week in October. He may face a serious obstacle around the first week of December 2015.” Ayo Olukotun in the article titled “Buhari on his age factor” says that there is hardly a better way to demystify a vociferous opposition than to give it power.
The author adds that an opposition party enjoys the luxury of imagined possibilities, an alluring innocence, and a vista of counterfactual beckoning of how much different things would have been if it had been at the driving seat.
“Once it takes office however, its toga of assumed superiority, and its halo of knowing it all, quickly wears thin; it will now be judged not by the ability to rhapsodise about the coming utopia but by the capacity to solve problems, and allay distress,” he states.
In his article Olukotun notes that it is premature to expect wonders in the economic circumstances under which the APC took office. Once Buhari remarked: “I wish I became head of state when I was a governor just a few years as a young man, now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”

Diddy Arrested after wristling With UCLA Football Coach

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Diddy allegedly attacked the coach with a kettlebell weight. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon a felony.P. Diddy has been arrested for allegedly getting into a fight with a football coach at UCLA where his son is on the team, TMZ Sports has learned.

Police took the music mogul into custody early Monday afternoon. Diddy's son, Justin Combs, is a defensive back on the team.

The fight went down at the UCLA athletic facility. One source says an assistant coach was screaming at Justin on the field during a strength and conditioning session.



The coach "was riding Justin, screaming intensely at him." Diddy watched the whole thing from the sideline. At some point later, Diddy confronted the coach in his office and grabbed him. Diddy was arrested for assault. A source connected with Diddy tells TMZ Diddy himself initially wanted to call police, but the phone was taken out of his hands.

Diddy is still in custody at campus jail. It's not uncommon for Diddy, who lives mostly in L.A. now, to be on campus for UCLA football practices. TMZ video of him roaming the sidelines back in April.

Are the blueprint on battle to defeat ISIS?

ISIS has been forced from one of its stronghold outposts, a key access point to its self-declared capital, where it was entrenched for two years. And the defeat along a vital stretch of terrain could be a potential blueprint for more military successes against the militants.

In freshly-liberated Tal Abyad -- not far from the Syria-Turkey border -- the scars of battle are everywhere, as are ISIS booby traps.

ISIS ruled this rural landscape with impunity, fortifying it to defend a vital frontier and a key access point to their capital.

The YPG, the Kurdish fighting force, had tried and failed to capture key towns in the past. ISIS would counter each assault with heavy weapons, car bombs and suicide bombers, each time forcing the YPG to retreat.

But in the last month, the battlefield dynamics have changed. Coalition airstrikes pounded ISIS fighting positions, taking out the terrorist group's armored vehicles, heavy weapons, headquarters, and other targets, allowing the YPG to barrel through around 80 kilometers (50 miles) of ISIS territory to reach the major prize -- Tal Abyad. The town is the gateway to a crucial border crossing with Turkey.



The combination of coalition power in the air and a committed force on the ground was so effective that ISIS fighters rapidly retreated. ISIS blew up a bridge, and put up a fierce, but brief, fight -- and then drew back.

The Kurdish force had estimated it would take them weeks to defeat ISIS in Tal Abyad. In the end, it happened in two days.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley says Confederate flag has 'no place' on statehouse ground

Fox News’ John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report --- South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called Monday for the removal of the Confederate flag from statehouse grounds but defended the right of private citizens to fly it.

“The time has come,” Haley said. “That flag, while an integral part of the past, does not represent the future of our great state.”

The Republican governor, who avoided calls to remove the flag in the first few days following Wednesday’s shooting death of nine black members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, said taking the flag down would unite the state.

“We are not going to allow this symbol to divide us any longer,” she said. “The fact that people are choosing to use it a sign of hate is something that we cannot stand. The fact that it causes pain to so many is enough to move it from the capital grounds. It is after all a capitol that belongs to all of us.”

The push to remove the Confederate flag – which has flown in front of the state capitol for 15 years after being removed from atop the statehouse dome -- comes after last week’s shooting deaths of nine black members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

President Obama and Vice President Biden will both travel to Charleston at the end of the week to attend the funeral services for Pinckney. Obama will deliver the eulogy, a White House spokesman confirmed to Fox News.

Momentum has grown since last Wednesday’s murders to take down the flag. The accused killer, Dylann Roof, was photographed holding the the flag and with other symbols of white supremacy.

Over the weekend, nearly 2,000 protesters braved triple-digit heat to call for the flag’s removal in the state capital of Columbia . The Sons of Confederate Veterans said it plans to vigorously fight any effort to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of South Carolina's Statehouse.

Leland Summers, South Carolina commander of the group, says the group is about heritage and history, not hate. He offered condolences to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and said now is not the time to make political points. Summers said the Sons of Confederate Veterans have 30,000 members nationwide that will fight any attempt to move the flag.

Fraudster bags three years for N27million scam

Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on Monday June 22, 2015, convicted and sentenced one Emmanuel Osita (a.k.a Chuks) to three years imprisonment on a two count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

The convict was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sequel to a petition from a legal practitioner on behalf of one Mrs.

Veronica Okonkwo, an eighty- one (81) year-old woman who was the victim.

The convicts while operating as a commercial tri- cyclist conspired with other persons who are still at large and falsely represented to the victim that they had the capacity to produce local and foreign currencies from pieces of papers by dipping them into mercury.

Osita and his accomplices hoodwinked the 81- year-old woman to let go the sum of N120, 000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) as registration fee with a mercury company prior to the procurement of the chemical.

The octogenarian was also induced to sell her property in Festac Town Lagos for N27 million and the proceeds appropriated by the convict and his co-travellers.

Upon his arrest, the convict was arraigned on 1st July, 2014. He subsequently pleaded guilty after making restitution to the victim; including the property valued at N27 million as the alleged buyer forfeited same to the victim.

Based on his plea and the restitution of the victim, Justice Lawal Akapo convicted and sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment without any option of fine.

Source Linda Ikeji

Woman with cocaine in breast implants arrested in Colombia

Colombia police said on Monday that a Honduran woman, carrying 1.5 kg of liquid cocaine in her breast implants, was arrested at the Colombian airport in Bogota.

Airport police, Col. Diego Rosero-Paola, said 22 year-old Deyanira Sabillon was attempting to travel to Spain, when her apparent nervousness aroused suspicion in the security line.

He said X-rays revealed a recent surgery on Sabillon’s breasts.

Rosero-Paola said during interrogation that she confessed that an unknown substance had been implanted in her breast which she was meant to take to Barcelona.

The officer said a preliminary investigation showed that the surgery took place at a clandestine clinic, in the city of Pereira, in western Colombia.

Rosero-Paola said the implants were removed at a Bogota hospital where Sabillon was also being treated for an infection.

300l student of Anambra State university shot dead by suspected cultists.

On Saturday June 20th, a 300l student of Public Admin, Anambra State University named Chuboy was shot dead around the school premises.

Chuboy was at his home in Ogidi when he received a phone call from a friend asking if they could hang out.

Apparently this friend was someone well known and trusted by Chuboy.

According to his friends, Chuboy agreed to go not knowing it was a set up.

Immediately after stepping out of the school gate, Chuboy was ambushed, accosted and shot dead, point blank.

He died on the spot. Students of the school say it was actually a cult clash between Black Axe and Vikings. RIP Chuboy.

Source Linda Ikeji

Germany to consider Al Jazeera journalist's extradition

A court in Germany is set to consider a request from Egypt to extradite Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour, who was detained at Berlin airport at the request of the Egyptian government.

Egypt asked Germany and Interpol on Sunday to extradite Mansour, but prosecutors have said they have not yet decided whether to send him to Egypt or set him free.

Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Berlin, said the temporary detention investigative judge concluded his investigation with Mansour on Sunday, after which he was transferred to Moabit prison in Berlin.

"At 9am [07:00 GMT] on Monday, the attorney general will arrive at his office and start reading the documents that were rubber-stamped over the weekend," Brennan said.

"At some point after that he will call Ahmed Mansour's local lawyer to convene a formal hearing to look in substance at the allegations which the Egyptian authorities are levelling against Mansour.

" Dozens of supporters of Mansour protested in front of the Berlin court building where the journalist from Al Jazeera's Arabic channel was being held.

Mansour's lawyer, Fazli Altin, called for the journalist's immediate release, saying that Germany was getting involved in a "politically tainted case".

Mourning shooting victims, Charleston anguishes over 'freshness of death'

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Hundreds of people packed a sweltering Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston for an emotional memorial service on Sunday just days after a gunman, identified by authorities as a 21- year-old white man, shot dead nine black church members.

"We are reminded this morning about the freshness of death that comes like a thief in the night," the Reverend Norvel Goff told a mostly black congregation that swelled to about 400 people for a service remembering those killed on Wednesday in the latest U.S. mass shooting.

Armed police searched bags at the door of the church, home to the oldest African-American congregation in the southern United States, and officers stood at intervals inside the church along the side of the nave and in the gallery.

Outside the church, a large, mostly white crowd gathered to express solidarity with those inside.

Goff's rollicking sermon brought people alternately to tears and laughter as the church reopened to worshippers for the first time since the shooting.

They whooped, cheered and raised their hands, and ended the service with embraces after Goff, whose voice rose to a shout at times, encouraged them to "hug three people next to you and tell them, 'It's going to be alright.'"

The suspect, Dylann Roof, was arrested on Thursday and has been charged with nine counts of murder.

Authorities say he spent an hour in an evening Bible study group at the church, nicknamed "Mother Emanuel" for its key role in U.S. black history, before opening fire.

Federal investigators were examining a racist manifesto on a website that appeared to have been written by Roof.

The site featured white supremacist writings and photos, apparently of Roof.

Goff was standing in for Clementa Pinckney, 41, senior pastor at Emanuel and a Democratic member of the state Senate who was killed in the massacre.

"When evil is in the world, you and I may not be able to control evil-doers. ... Some of us are still trying to seek answers to what happened last week, Wednesday," Goff said. "I've decided to turn it to over to Jesus."

Among those at the service, which lasted more than two hours, were South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley and Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum.

"The blood of the Mother Emanuel Nine requires us to work until not only justice in this case but for those who are still living in the margin of life, those who are less fortunate than ourselves, that we stay on the battlefield until there is no more fight to be fought," Goff said.

Hand fans fluttered as those in attendance tried to beat the heat.

"I thought the service was comforting, refreshing and encouraging," said Everald Galbraith, 58, president of the Methodist church in Jamaica, who attended the service.

"There was not a sense of great mourning.

They recognized what had happened but there was confidence in the salvation of those that died."

The massacre has again trained a spotlight on the divisive issues of race relations and gun crime in the United States and reignited a debate over gun control in a country where the right to own firearms is constitutionally protected.

GUN CONTROL Riley, on the CNN program "State of the Union," called for stricter gun control laws.

"It is insane the number of guns and the ease of getting guns in America," Riley said.

"It's not that people should not carry guns and all of that, it's just that there are so many of them and the ease of them and there is no accountability." President Barack Obama, in an interview recorded on Friday, expressed frustration over the issue.

He blamed the powerful National Rifle Association gun-rights lobby group and public apathy for the failure to implement new gun control measures.

The church massacre has also renewed the controversy around the flag of the pro-slavery Confederate Southern states in the American Civil War that ended in 1865.

It is a symbol of Southern pride for some and an emblem of hatred for others. On NBC's "Meet the Press," James Clyburn, a black Democratic U.S. congressman from South Carolina, called on state lawmakers to pass legislation to remove the flag from the state capitol grounds, where it is mandated by law to fly.

The church shootings were the main topic at other Sunday services in Charleston, sometimes dubbed "The Holy City" because of its multitude of historic churches.

At the predominantly white-membership St. Michael's Church, founded in the 17th century, the Reverend Alfred Zadig Jr. said he did not know any of the victims and asked for forgiveness "for failing to be a pastor who reaches out beyond my world." "You and I are so good at compartmentalizing grief," Zadig told his congregation.

"Today I'm asking you to feel the unthinkable pain ...

This is not God's will.

God did not ordain this event to happen to make a point about racism." (Additional reporting by Harriet McLeod in Charleston and Lucia Mutikani in Washington; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Frances Kerry)