Court refuses to stop Gbajabiamila’s speakership bid

Ahead of Tuesday’s inauguration of the new 8th National Assembly, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday rejected a prayer for the disqualification of a member-elect and the immediate past Minority Leader in the 7th House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, from contesting the position of the Speaker.

The All Progressives Congress, which constitutes the majority in the incoming National Assembly, had, after a mock election it organised on Saturday, nominated Gbajabiamila as its sole candidate for the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The inauguration of the new 8th National Assembly and election of the principal officers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives will hold on Tuesday.

A group, Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness Initiative, had, on June 4, 2015, filed an ex parte application asking the court to restrain the House of Representatives from accepting Gbajabiamila’s nomination as an aspirant for the speakership position.

The plaintiff filed the ex parte application along with the main suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/501/2015) in which Gbajabiamila, the House of Representatives and the Attorney-General of the Federation were joined as the 1st to the 3rd defendants.

It also filed a motion on notice seeking an interim injunction against respondents, a prayer similar to what is contained in its ex parte application.

The plaintiff’s prayer was anchored on alleged “conviction” of Gbajabiamila in the state of Georgia, United States of America, for unethical practices in the course of his practice as a lawyer.

Gbajabiamila was said to have been suspended from practising as a lawyer for 36 months in Georgia State of the USA.

The plaintiff also accused Gbajabiamila of possessing United State of America’s passport even as a Nigerian descent.

The plaintiff alleged this contravened “our Constitution as regards membership of the House of Representatives.

” The plaintiff in its prayer in the ex parte application sought “an interim injunction restraining the 2nd defendant (the House of Representatives from accepting the nomination of the 1st defendant (Gbajabiamila) as an aspirant for the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

But Justice Abdukadir Abdu-Kafarati, on Monday, rejected the plaintiff’s ex parte application seeking to disqualify Gbajabiamila to contest for the office of the Speaker.

The judge, who heard the plaintiff’s lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), inside his chamber, however, ordered the respondents to appear in court on June 18 to show cause why the prayer sought by the plaintiff in the ex parte application should not be granted.

It was learnt that the judge ordered that the processes filed in the suit be served on all the respondents in the suit.

Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Social Justice and Civil Rights Awareness Initiatives, Alozie Nmeregwa, stated in the affidavit filed in support of the ex parte application, that Gbajabiamila’s character had been tainted and thus not qualify to hold the office of the Speaker.

The affidavit read in part, “That few days ago, it came to public knowledge that the 1st defendant was a leading candidate to the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“That my organisation, following the wind of change that has pervaded the political environment in Nigeria, deemed it proper to carry out a background check on the leading candidates for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“That I discovered that the 1st defendant was a lawyer and practised in the United States of America, particularly in the state of Georgia.

“That upon further enquiry, I discovered that the 1st defendant was convicted in the state of Georgia for unethical practices and was disbarred for 36 months.

“That I also discovered that the 1st defendant has United States international passport even though he has Nigerian decent which contravened our Constitution as regards membership of the House of Representatives.

“That the mood of the nation today will not warrant placing the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the hands of any individual that has tainted or questionable character.

” In the motion on notice, the plaintiff urged the court to determine “whether, upon the construction of Section 66 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 1st defendant is a fit and proper person to be elected to the House of Representatives and/or the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

” It consequently argued that the 1st defendant is not a fit and proper person to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives and/or as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Nigeria military's control centre has now reportedly moved to Maiduguri

According to BBC, the Nigerian Army's spokesperson Colonel Sani Usman says the Nigerian military's command center has now been relocated to Borno state as directed by President Buhari in his inaugural speech.

"The team has already commenced work in earnest," Col Usman said in a statement released today.

The statement also added that all senior military officers will relocate to the north east., the bedrock of Boko Haram crisis.

Source Linda Ikeji

Oscar Pistorius to be released from jail - after serving just 10 months

The South African paralympian who shot his girlfriend at his home on Valentine's day February 14th 2013 will be released from Kgosi Mampuru prison in two months time, after serving 10 months in prison, it has been revealed.

After he leaves prison around August, he will be under house arrest. However, Oscar's murder acquittal is set to be appealed.

Prosecutors have until August 17th to appeal a judge's decision and take Oscar back to court.

Source Linda Ikeji

PR Guru, Alima Attah dies of cancer

PR Guru, educationist, MD of Sesema PR and host of TalkBiz on Smooth 98.1fm, Alima Atta has died. Alima, recently named one of Nigeria’s 100 most influential women died on Saturday June 6th after a battle with cancer.

Alima Atta studied French and Marketing and had a successful career in Public Relations and Marketing for over 20 years and worked at MMD Marketing Communications and Anderson Soames in the UK before establishing her own PR agency in 2002.

She was an inspiring woman who worked hard to get to the top. May her soul rest in peace, amen.

Source Linda Ikeji

Crucial facts that men must know

When we talk about sexual health, the focus is usually on women because of many peculiarities.

However, sexual health goes beyond gender, as it affects men and women alike.

Indeed, experts aver that reproductive health is an important component of men’s overall health and well-being.

One of the things that make men who they are is the male sex organ; its overall wellbeing cannot be overemphasised if men must function optimally biologically, mentally, physically and physiologically.

Physicians advise that routine visits with a health care provider can help prevent serious illness, as they can readily diagnose and treat the common conditions that affect men before they spiral out of control.

The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy laments that for much of their lives, men need a range of medical and, in particular, educational and counseling services to protect their own health and well-being, as well as to equip themselves to be good partners and fathers.

It notes that though policy makers are beginning to focus on men’s roles as fathers and husbands, little attention is being paid to their sexual and reproductive health needs. “Available data illustrate that those needs are substantial and long-term,” the report further says.

What are these health peculiarities that men should be aware of and guard against for overall well- being? Read on.

Peyronie’s disease Also known as induratio penis plastica or chronic inflammation of the tunica albuginea (the fibrous covering of the testis), physicians say this disease is caused by scar tissue along the length of the male sex organ, causing it to bend.

The condition can make sexual intercourse painful or difficult outright, they submit.

A General Practitioner, Dr. Grace Asiodu, says while the cause of this disease is basically unknown, researchers believe that it can develop after a trauma to the male sex organ – such as if something hits it hard, which may lead to internal bleeding inside the penis.

Again, she says – and this is instructive — certain medicines can have side effects that include Peyronie’s disease.

“That is why we say it’s dangerous to indulge in self-medication or abuse of drugs that the doctor may have prescribed for you at one point or the other,” Asiodu warns.

She also discloses that the disease sometimes runs in families, but that if sexual intercourse is not affected, it may not elicit much anxiety.

She says the problem is mostly visible when the penis is erect, as it can cause the organ to bend into an arc shape, a situation that sometimes results in sharp pain.

In terms of overall healing of this disease, opinion differs.

While some doctors say the situation can resolve itself in about five to 19 per cent of the cases, some patient’s case may require surgical correction.

However, according to Dr. Culley C. Carson III of the University of North Carolina, “A full recovery isn’t guaranteed.” Beware of fish Do you love to swim?

Actually, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with swimming, except that you should know ahead of it the types of fish that can be your unwanted companion while the exercise lasts! One fish to beware of as you swim is the candiru — also known as the vampire fish or toothpick fish.

Experts describe it “as a species of parasitic freshwater catfish that is peculiar to Latin America.

The horror surrounding this small fish is that, unlike other fish that we know, it is parasitic and feeds on blood!

How this affects you as a man? Here: the fish is so tiny that it can literally swim into your penis opening as you swim.

Once inside your manhood, it sees your urethra as a fish’s gill and then spreads a network of umbrella-like spines, which allow it to feed on your blood.

Experts say it could be removed through surgical intervention; but they also warn that the process could be terribly painful.

So, before you jump into that water, you may want to wear a cap on your manhood!

Too many women can kill Many men count it a symbol of virility by getting around with many sexual partners.

Physicians are saying it’s one sure way to a diseased life.

Asiodu says Chlamydial urethritis is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, and it can cause the inflammation or blockage of the urethra.

When you consider the fact that the urethra serves as the passage for urine and semen during sexual intercourse, you’d work hard to protect your own! The physician adds, “Chlamydia and gonorrhoea often occur together, and it affects people who are sexually active and those with multiple sexual partners.”

The symptoms include difficulty in urinating, painful urination, burning sensation during urination, discharge from the penis, redness, swelling, itching of the opening of the urethra at tip of the penis, swelling and tenderness of the testicles “The symptoms can appear similar to those of infection with gonorrhea, but continue even after treatment for gonorrhea,” experts at medlineplus, an online community, say.

In fact, as bad as this infection is, a case study from India reports that it can leave the penis twisted and swollen, making sexual intercourse absolutely impossible! So, men who think that conquering the world amounts to fooling around sexually should have a rethink.

Vigorous sex can break you In these days of unguarded drug use, it’s not uncommon to see men who take aphrodisiacs at will, all in a bid to ‘surprise’ their partners.

However, researchers at Ohio State University warn that vigorous sex can break the cylindrical tubes (the corpus cavernosa) that fill with blood when you have an erection!

The scientists warn, “These tubes can rupture and cause blood to fill your penis, leading to swelling and permanent deformity or loss of sexual function if not surgically treated immediately.” Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved.

This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Dangote to expand Ethiopian cement plant

The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said that plans are afoot to double the capacity of the newly opened 2.5 million- metric-tonne per annum cement plant in Ethiopia.

Dangote, who stated this at the inauguration of the $500m plant located in Mugher District, Oromia national regional state of Ethiopia, said the expansion work would begin before the end of the year.

According to him, the decision to set up as well as expand the plant was informed by the enabling environment created by the Ethiopian government with massive investment in several large-scale infrastructure projects, including the construction of the continent’s largest hydropower dam.

He noted that in addition to the plant known as Dangote Cement (Ethiopian) Plc, the company was simultaneously setting up new plants and terminals across 16 African countries. He said,

“This is in line with our long term vision to become the world’s biggest cement producers.

We envisage that by the time we complete all our ongoing African projects, we will be on track to achieving our target. “We believe that manufacturing and not trading is the best way to grow an economy.

Apart from cement production, we are also investing substantially in other sectors of the economy such as agriculture, oil and gas refinery, fertilizer and petrochemicals.

In all, we have 13 subsidiaries in Nigeria and we are investing about $16bn between now and 2018 in new projects and existing plants.”

The Ethiopian factory is Dangote’s sixth offshore plant that have commenced operations outside Nigeria.

Others countries where the company currently has plants running are Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia, while some other plants are at various stages of construction across the continent.

Dangote said the Ethiopian plant would create direct employment for 2,000 people in the main plant operations and logistics, with a fleet of 600 trucks; while 5,000 indirect jobs would also be created, adding that African businessmen should invest more in the continent.

He noted that achieving a real economic integration in the African continent would require political stability and a breakdown of the barriers and borders between countries, which hindered free flow of goods, services and people. Dangote added, “We need to make deliberate efforts to encourage Africans, not just foreigners, to invest in Africa.

Dangote Cement is currently in 16 African countries with plans to invest in many more over the next years.

“There are a number of other successful pan- African brands today such as MTN, Shoprite and Ecobank.” “We need to encourage this trend to see more investments in Africa by Africans.

Above all, there is need to encourage the private sector to collaborate with governments across Africa to address the issue of infrastructure deficit, which has plagued the continent for decades.”

The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that the Ethiopian plant underscored the importance of promoting intra- African investment. “Africans have the capacity to drive the continent’s growth rather than rely on foreign investment.

This project will have economic effect not only on Ethiopia, but on the entire region and it will enhance the process of Africa exporting cement to other continents of the world,” he said.

The Prime Minister, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, noted that as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the country’s investment potential had barely been scratched on the surface.

He said the government was spending millions of dollars on critical infrastructure to address investment and align with policies that were already in place to aid investors. “Ethiopia represents a lucrative market that has barely been tapped with its 95 million people and growing economy,” he said.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Industry, Ahmed Abitew, said that with the new plant, the cement sector of the country would make significant growth in meeting local demand, which has grown due to infrastructural development.

According to him, production has currently risen from 11.23 million metric tonnes to 17.5 million metric tonnes per annum.

“The government is giving due attention to the industrial sector with its average growth of 20 per cent per annum,” he said.

Dangote also encouraged the Nigerian delegation at the event, which included captains of industries, to invest in Ethiopia and other parts of the continent, adding that the policies that had been put in place by the CBN to create an enabling environment for the private sector in Nigeria should be replicated across the continent. Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved.

This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

The Payporte Kids Rainbow sale!

Sales are back again at Nigeria's most preferred online store Payporte.com but this time around for the Kids! Get your little ones Stylish and Quality Boys and Girls Fashion wares, Toys, Books, Stationery and other Accessories at up to 30% Off its original price. In The Kids Rainbow Sale now on at www.payporte.com

Do not miss this unique opportunity to reward your kids, nieces and nephews or little cousins.

You can also get a gift for your expectant friends baby shower now!

Click this link https://www.payporte.com/inde x.php/kid-sales to start shopping For guaranteed quality, same day delivery and superb customer experience Keep shopping on on Payporte.com The True Shopper's Delight.

Source Linda Ikeji

Photos: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fly Economy class with their 6 chidren

The famous family flew economy class from Paris to Nice, you can imagine the astonishment of passengers in the economy class.

They just kept taking lots and lots of photos of the family. 40 year old Angelina Jolie and her 51 year old beau-Brad Pitt and their 6 children all seemed to enjoy their flight.

The couple said they wanted their children to feel as normal as possible and to appreciate everything in life.

More photos after the cut..

Source Linda Ikeji

2 murder convicts escape prison, NY state offers $100,000 reward for capture of the escaped prisoners

The U.S. Marshals Service issued federal arrest warrants Sunday for two convicted killers who escaped from a maximum security prison in upstate New York over the weekend.

The warrants charge Richard Matt and David Sweat with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, according to William O'Toole, a U.S. Marshals Service spokesman.

The warrants clear the way for the federal government to involve its considerable resources in the manhunt.

Matt, 49, and Sweat, 35, who were both serving life sentences for vicious murders, emerged through a manhole cover 200 metres from the prison walls and made off into the night.

The pair were discovered missing from their cells Saturday morning during a "standing count" of inmates at the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, state police said.

In this picture is the cell of 1 of escaped inmates looking at hole cut in wall as part of escape

Using power tools smuggled into the jail, the pair cut holes in the steel walls of their cells, before following a series of pipes and tunnels under the 10-metre-high walls of the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York state.

Have a nice day! A note left on the pipe the two inmates cut open as part of escape from Dannemora correctional facility

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the pair's capture.

Maj. Charles Guess of the New York State Police said Sunday.

"We're leaving no stone unturned, all available assets are being brought to bear."

Source Linda Ikeji

APC berates new Ekiti Assembly members

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has described the newly inaugurated State House of Assembly as a contraption by Governor Ayodele Fayose to protect his personal interest, instead of working to restore hope for the state’s development.

The party noted that such selfish agenda held no promise for the growth of the state and political development of the people.

A statement by APC’s Publicity Secretary in Ekiti, Taiwo Olatubosun, said the profile of new members in the new Assembly had revealed that many men and women lacking skills in tedious business of law-making were ‘selected’ to be members of the Assembly above eminently qualified Ekiti sons and daughters.

This, he said, the governor did to advance his personal interest. “Only few of them are worthy of the exalted position of legislators.

We all saw the intrigues that characterised the primaries that returned the new members.

It was ballot snatching and violence on massive scale.

The same for April 11 Assembly poll.” Olatubosun said, “Fayose just selected his cronies across the state above well-educated members and imposed them on the party.

Most of them are miscreants and school drop outs who Fayose compensated as honourable members.

“Fayose’s public declaration of political death for any member who works against his interest points to where Ekiti people are headed in the business of lawmaking in the next four years.

”We saw the first public declaration of loyalty by the Assembly members on the day of inauguration when they all prostrated for Fayose in the chambers, stating he is their father.”

But the PDP, in a statement by its Acting Publicity Secretary, Jackson Adebayo, said the new members of the Assembly were better in all ways than candidates presented by the APC at the poll. “

Although we know that APC is talking from a frustrated position which they find themselves after their failed evil plots to remove our Governor, Ayo Fayose, but they should also be made to know that there is nothing they say now that would change the togas of failure which has been attached to their name permanently,” the statement said.

Wawrinka stuns Djokovic, wins French Open

Stanislas Wawrinka stunned Novak Djokovic to win his first French Open title and thwart the world number one’s career Grand Slam hopes.

The Swiss eighth seed played magnificently in a 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory at Roland Garros.

Wawrinka, 30, brought an end to Djokovic’s 28- match winning streak as he claimed his second Grand Slam title.

Djokovic had been hoping to become the eighth man to complete the set of all four major titles.

The 28-year-old Serb had been a strong favourite to finally get his hands on the Coupe des Mousquetaires after beating nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and third seed Andy Murray, but he was outplayed by Wawrinka.

Islamic State militant tweets selfie giving away location, Air Force blows up entire HQ

Islamic State militants like to use social media for their propaganda and sometimes, the use of social media is their undoing.

According to reports, an Islamic State militant tweeted a selfie in front of an IS headquarters in Syria, bragging about how they have recently seized a new territory.

Unknowingly to them, intelligence analysts in the US were able to determine the exact location the pic was taken.

A day after the selfie was posted, a coalition airstrike tore the building to shreds and killed everyone inside.

"The guys were combing through social media and see some moron standing at this command bragging about the command and control capabilities for Daesh,” Air Force General and head of Air Combat Command, Herbert ‘Hawk’ Carlisle, told The Telegraph “Long story short, about 22 hours later through that very building, three JDAM’s [Joint Direct Attack Munitions] take that entire building out.

It was a post on social media. Bombs on target in 22 hours.

source Linda Ikeji

Warri Wolves are out of the Caf Confederation Cup following a 3-4 aggregate loss to AC Leopard at the Warri Township stadium.

A Gbolahan Salami brace and an Oghenekaro Etebo late strike could not strike out a first leg 3-0 deficit for the Seasiders as the visitors from DR Congo grabbed a a vital away goal to spoil the day for the home team.

Scores were evenly poised at 0-0 at the break, but Salami opened scoring on 47 minutes.

Leopards leveled few minutes later before Salami completed his brace in the 72nd minute and Etebo sealed a 3-1 win a minute to full- time.

Leopards thus advanced into the group stage draw of the Caf Confederation Cup on aggregate scores.

Photos: Davido set to graduate from Babcock University

Singer Davido pictured right in his graduation gown during his pre-graduation procession which held today June 6th. This procession is ahead of his graduation tomorrow June 7 from Babcock University, Ogun state.

Photos by Linda Ikeji

Don’t Permit Boko Haram To Thrive, Soyinka Charges FG

In an emotion laden voice, the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, on Saturday lamented that the abducted Chibok schoolgirls were still in captivity.

Soyinka who wondered whether the abductors of the over 200 schoolgirls were from this planet, charged the Nigerian government not to permit the enemies of knowledge(education) to thrive.

He lamented the agony, humiliation and trauma of the abducted Chibok girls in the hands of their captors,saying that he was always sad whenever he relived the imagination of the experience the girls would be going through.

Delivering the third convocation lecture of the Kwara State University(KWASU), Malete, the scholar declared that ” enemies of knowledge should not be permitted to thrive”.

While stressing the urgent need to secure the release of the innocent girls, Soyinka quoted an inscription he saw at a point while entering Ilorin on Friday which says ” no woman, no nation”. He urged the Nigerian government to do more to end pervasive insecurity in the country occasioned by Boko Haram sect, warning that temple of learning mighty soon be eroded.

He cautioned Nigerians against viewing the sufferings, brutality and terror and insurgency being witnessed by some states in the northern parts of the country as their problems alone. He expressed the fear that looking at insurgency as problem of a section of the country could cause spread of the hazards.

He made an example of having an open university in some universities where there are less security problems, for displaced students in the troubled states of the country. He also emphasised that the temple of learning must be protected irrespective of gender or religion.

Soyinka, in a lecture titled, Science and Imagination in Temple of Knowledge, asked rhetorically, ‘can science and religion co-exist?’, and described members of Boko Haram sect as enemies of sound knowledge. He said members of Boko Haram are not actually without any knowledge, since they knew the science of making bomb and killing people, adding that they had failed to acquire knowledge on human co-existence.

He also decried agony, humiliation and trauma of the abducted Chibok girls in the hands of their captors, as they embarked on their secondary school qualifying examination, saying that he was always sad whenever he relived the imagination of experience the girls would be going through, described the situation as irony.

In his speech, the chancellor of KWASU, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, warned that education sector in the country was in dire straits, due to constraints of funds.

“Basic infrastructural, teaching and learning facilities are pathetically lacking in most areas of academic pursuits in our universities which has painfully led to the ‘half baked graduates’ syndrome”, he said.

He appealed to Nigerians, organisations staff, and stakeholders who are financially blessed to pick up the gauntlet and invest in university education, saying “we cannot afford to leave the funding of university education to governments alone because relying solely on subventions from the government alone will only exacerbate the already dismal state of the sector.

He urged the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to tackle the current socio-economic challenges “such as high poverty level, huge youth unemployment, persistent power blackout despite huge amounts of money invested, the challenge of insecurity, especially the scourge of Boko Haram and the perennial disconnect between the citizen and the government that has inevitably led to high levels of distrust of the leaders by the rest of the citizens.

“Indeed the broken ‘socio- contract between the rulers and the ruled must be fixed. The government should as a matter of priority open and strengthen communications between government and citizens. Trust building between the government and the citizens would make the people feel carried along in the business of governance”, he said. On the 2015 elections, Gambari described the aftermath as rebirth of democracy in the country.

“Nigeria now has a new opportunity to deepen its democracy and deliver its dividends such as quality social services, including especially education and health, prosperity and security of life and property”, he said.

He also said that change slogan of President Buhari should not remain so, adding that government must prepare to deliver on campaign promises. He thus solicited the support of Nigerians for the new administration, saying that it can only succeed with people’s support, adding that people must give that support while insisting on a permanent end to impunity and zero- tolerance for official corruption.

Culled from Leadership News

Boko Haram raises operations, wants to subdue Nigeria – Atiku

Former Vice -President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to stand up and counter the menace of Boko Haram by being more security conscious.

He said the populace should offer information of any strange movement in their localities to the security agencies.

The former Vice-President, who spoke on Friday, was reacting to the Thursday’s bomb blast that rocked the Yola Modern Market, resulting in the death of over 40 persons.

He said the insurgents had raised their modes of operations, and appeared to habour an intention to subdue the country.

Atiku visited the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, on Friday in company with the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase; Adamawa State Governor, Senator Jubrilla Bindow; and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mohamad Sani Sidi, who were in the state to visit the victims of the blast and sympathise with them.

He explained that the insurgents had begun the “second phase” of its onslaught with the intention to subdue the country and win the fight against Nigerians.

Sani Sidi distributed drugs to the victims of Thursday’s bomb attack that took place near Jimeta Market.

The NEMA boss, who led the Federal Government’s delegation, including the IGP, called on the people to give security agencies the needed cooperation to stem the tide of attacks on innocent Nigerians.

He appealed to well meaning individuals and corporate bodies to assist the victims with blood as doing so might save some lives.

The entourage was at Government House, where they sympathised with the state governor before proceeding to the House of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Federal Medical Center Yola and the scene of the explosion.

In his remarks, Arase called on Nigerians, especially the people of Adamawa State to have confidence in the Nigeria Police and other security outfits, adding that the security operatives were doing their best to address the current security challenges in the country.

Photos: Prince Harry spotted getting cosy with actress at Polo event

Prince Harry of England was spotted getting cozy and flirting with 29 year old Doctor Who actress, Jenna Coleman after playing in a charity match last Saturday May 30th.

The pics of the two chatting intimately and the 30 year old Prince putting his hand on Jenna's knee, only emerged today.

Jenna, who has a boyfriend, looked happy getting all that attention from England's most eligible bachelor.

Eye witnesses said Harry led the actress by the hand out of the star-studded after-party to chat on a sofa outside.

More photos after the cut...

Source Linda Ikeji Blog

Anna Banner spends the night at Flavour's home, shares pic

The pregnant beauty queen shared a pic of herself at Flavour's home this morning, playing with one of his dogs, Miley.

I wonder how Flavour's other baby mama, Sandra Okagbue, would be feeling about all this.

Source Linda Ikeji Blog

Nigerian doctor charged with manslaughter after pregnant woman dies from massive blood loss after abortion

A Nigerian doctor named Dr Adedayo Adedeji, 62, was on June 4th charged with manslaughter after a pregnant woman died from massive blood loss after he performed an abortion on her.

The woman, who is also of African descent, traveled from Dublin to London in January 2012 for the abortion after healthcare workers in Ireland refused to help when she tried to terminate the pregnancy.

According to UK Daily Mail, after the 32 year old woman had the abortion at the West London Clinic, she collapsed several hours later while traveling in a taxi in Slough, Berkshire, and died of ‘extensive internal bleeding’. Dr Adedeji and two other nurses, Gemma Pullen, 31, and Margaret Miller, 54, have been charged with the manslaughter of the woman because of their alleged gross negligence three years ago.

Speaking later, the woman's husband said the woman had been diagnosed with a condition which can carry an elevated risk of miscarriage and other complications, but was not considered to be life-threatening and that when they sought help in Ireland, doctors refused to help them, forcing them to go to London.

A year after the incident, detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances of the woman’s death and on June 4th, announced that the doctor and two nurses have been summoned to appear before a magistrate to face manslaughter charges.

They are being accused of gross negligence and ‘failing to take reasonable care of other persons who may be affected by acts or omissions at work’.

They will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 19.

Source Linda Ikeji.

Lola Maja and Chef Eros?

First it was Waje, then Toju Foyeh and now Lola Maja? One might be seeing a pattern.

The Billionaire baker is at it again.

After a successful store opening, Cookie Jar store by Culinary Artist Chef Eros will be hosting another Sunday Showcase.

Word is that the award winning make-up artist Lola Maja will be presenting the ' Hello Kitty' with her 2 lovely kids.

She will be presenting the Hello Kitty which we heard is a cake made from a giant cupcake with more cupcakes and more cupcakes.

Sounds like something to tempt those with a strong resolve.

The showcase will be taking place on Sunday the 7th of June 2015, at the Cookie Jar flagship store at 20 Admiralty way, Lekki phase 1, Lagos (in- between E-Bar and ICF).

Chef Eros has a pattern and habit of surrounding himself with success.

Follow on Instagram @iamcookiejar Follow on Twitter @iamcookiejar Please email us at biteme@cookiejar.com http://www.iamcookiejar.com ☎️ 0700COOKIEJAR ��08092031111 Picture by AI Studios @ayoishola

Source Linda Ikeji Blog

Did the Senate really pass a law which legalizes sex with an 11 year old?

When I read the report online a few days ago, I didn't carry it because I didn't believe it.

The report claimed that the Nigerian Senate had on Wednesday June 3rd passed a bill that approved prison terms for rapists and anyone who has sex with a child under 11 years old.

That means if the child is above 11, men can have sex with them and face no consequences? Still hard to believe.

FFK just reacted to it on Twitter

Source Linda Ikeji Blog

Chris Brown's fans slam Kylie Jenner for slamming him over his Caitlyn meme

So, Chris Brown shared a meme of Caitlyn Jenner as a Science project as shared by Snoop Dogg and got reprimanded by Kylie Jenner, well, Chris Brown's goons/fans had some words for her before he deleted the post.

Check out the responses after the cut.

Source Linda Ikeji Blog.

Buhari moves to slash own salary, allowances

There are strong indications that in fulfilment of his campaign promise to reduce the cost of governance, President Muhammadu Buhari may have concluded plans to slash his salary and reduce his personal emoluments.

It was learnt that the President expected the Vice- President and other political appointees to take a similar decision.

Saturday PUNCH gathered in Abuja on Friday that the President would have made his decision public but chose to consult with his close associates on how best to approach the issue without being seen as dictatorial.

According to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, President Buhari will earn a monthly salary of N3, 514, 705. He is also entitled to a regular hardship allowance and 50 per cent of the basic salary, which is N1,757,350.50.

There is however no information yet as to what percentage of Buhari’s salary and emoluments will be slashed.

But it was reliably learnt that the President would also reduce State House budget.

Other areas being considered by the President included appointment of aides and the possibility of implementing the report of the Stephen Oronsaye-led Presidential Committee on the Rationalisation and Restructuring of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies.

Buhari, had on Tuesday sought the approval of the National Assembly to appoint 15 special advisers, unlike former President Goodluck Jonathan, who had 23 special advisers and scores of special assistants.

It was gathered that the President, who in his inaugural speech, said the Nigerian economy was in deep trouble, might not increase the number of special advisers from 15 as part of the measures to cut down cost of governance.

It was also learnt that the President might look into the report of the Oronsaye committee and the White Paper on it.

The committee had said that out of the existing 541 MDAs in the country, only 163 deserved to exist.

A top member of the APC, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, said that the President had also concluded plans to submit some bills to the National Assembly for the implementation of some of these cost-saving measures.

But President Buhari had, at various fora, faulted the budgetary process adopted by successive Peoples Democratic Party-led administrations over the past 16 years.

A close confidant of the President, Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, had in his inaugural address to the people of the state, announced a fifty per cent cut in his salary and that of the deputy governor.

One of the President’s acolytes, and South East Zonal Spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu told Saturday PUNCH that, left to him alone, President Buhari would not bat an eyelid before taking such a decision.

He, however said, “But you see, the circumstances now are different, he has to do a lot of consultations because the composition of the National Assembly means he has to consult across party lines.

“From the little I know of him, his desire like he said during the campaigns and afterwards, is to reduce the cost of governance across board and this cannot be done without consultations.

“We can’t have a situation where he will be seen as trying to make other party members look bad by taking a salary cut while others are not carried along.”

He also said, “He is committed to cutting cost across board and I see him reducing the pecks of that office to an acceptable level and this becomes even more compelling because of the economic mess we have found ourselves in.”

Another associate, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, also told Saturday PUNCH that another area likely to take a hit is the Presidential Air fleet which is reported to have about 10 aircraft.

He explained that the cost of maintaining this number of aircraft is one area that is likely to attract the President’s attention.

According to him, the President who has experienced governance at the highest level is not one to do things in a hurry without consultation and thinking them through.

Fashakin noted that critics may accuse the President of not acting fast enough without putting things in perspective.

He said, for example, “The President has not taken any definite action.

Ordinarily, people will not even expect the service chiefs to still be operating now, but because of the exposure and maturity that we are having in government; with a person of President Muhammadu Buhari’s stature, he studies a situation before taking action “He won’t just appoint ministers to fulfil all righteousness, he will do a thorough job and this is a democracy which he has subscribed to.

“He promised to cut the cost of governance to an acceptable level and this is even more so when the economy like every other aspect of our national life is in tatters.”

Attempts to get a reaction on issues raised from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone did not connect while a text message sent to him was yet to be delivered as of the time of filing this report (8:11pm).

It may be recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration had made a provision of N348, 342,741 as its proposal for honorarium and sitting allowance for the State House in the 2015 budget.

The breakdown of the expenditure on travel and transport showed that the president will be spending N1, 306,834,350 on local travels and transport and the sum of N621, 067,913 on international travel and transport.

The travel bill of the president for 2014 was higher than the provision for 2014.

The 2014 budget made a provision of N2, 378,862,017 for the office of the president for local and international travels.

For food stuff/catering materials supplies, a provision of N142, 472,537 was made for the office of the president.

The 2015 budget proposal included a provision of N131, 911,315 for fuel and lubricants for the State House.

The breakdown showed that plant/ generator fuel will consume N35, 344,855; motor vehicle fuel will consume N85, 843,802 while cooking gas/fuel will consume N10, 102,858. For 2014, the State House received lesser provision of N122, 855,267 for fuel and lubricants.

This was broken down into motor vehicle fuel, N79, 950,407; plants and generators, N33, 476,963 and cooking gas/fuel cost, N9, 427,898.

A provision of N60, 847,647 was made for the office of the president for advertisement and publicity.

For the State House, N287,514,283 provision was made for welfare packages; N174,537,975 for refreshment and meals; N215, 635,715 for food stuff and catering services; N31,582,475 for medical expenses; and N35,495,233 for publicity and advertisement.

These provisions are likely to be reviewed downwards. Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved.

This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Oil spill: 32 years after, S’Court orders Shell to pay N30m compensation

The Supreme Court on Friday finally decided a 32- year-old case against the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited ordering the company to pay N30, 288,681 compensation for oil spillage in four communities of Delta State.

The four communities – Obotobo, Sokebolo, Ofogbene (Ezon Burutu) and Ekeremor Zion (Ezon Asa) – had through some of their leaders instituted separate suits against the oil company before the then Bendel State High Court in 1983.

The Bendel State High Court in a judgment on May 27, 1997, granted the prayers of the plaintiffs and awarded N4,095,085 to Obotobo; N13,278,306 to Sokebolo; N7,392,589 to Ofogbene (Ezon Burutu) and N5,522,701 to Ekeremor Zion (Ezon Asa).

On May 22, 2000, the Court of Appeal in Benin City dismissed Shell’s appeal and affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Dissatisfied with the Court of Appeal’s judgement, Shell had further appealed to the Supreme Court.

The Justice John Fabiyi-led panel of the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Shell on Friday holding that the appeal lacked merit and awarded N500,000 cost against Shell and in favour of each of the communities.

Justice Kumai Akaahs, who read the lead judgement, also held that the damages awarded in favour of the communities were not baseless. Other members of the panel – Justice John Fabiyi, Clara Ogunbiyi, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and Chima Nweze – agreed with the lead judgment.

Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal to the effect that the “direct compelling and largely uncontradicted evidence available to the learned trial judge, I am convinced that the damages awarded by the learned trial judge are not baseless or erroneous or in any event, as that offensive as the awards are amply supported by evidence.”

The apex court added that the respondents’ right to fishing in the creeks was affected.

It added that the payment of compensation was made to each of the various communities for loss of income suffered by the community members, who had a right to fish in the creeks located in the community.

The court held, “The award is for the temporary loss of fishing right caused by the oil spillages.

The second issue is resolved in favour of the respondents and against the appellants on the principle that the rights of common fishery in tidal waters is a public right both under the Common Law and Natural Law, and was not affected by Section 3(10 of the Minerals Act, which was first enacted in 1916.”

The Supreme Court also faulted Shell’s argument that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the cases in view of the promulgation of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Decree no.59 of the 1991, the Federal high Court (Amendment) Act 1991 and the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree No. 107 of 1993 on grounds that the cause of action arose before the enactment of the laws. It held, “The concurrent findings of fact made by the two courts are not perverse.

I find that the appeal totally lacks merit.

“It was fought principally on the assumption that the Admiralty jurisdiction is exclusively vested on the Federal High Court, and the consolidated suits which were commenced in 1983 before the then Bendel State High Court ought to have abated after the promulgation of the Admiralty Jurisdiction Decree No. 59 of 1991, the Federal high Court (Amendment) Decree No. 60 of 1991 and 16 of 1992 and the Constitution (Suspension and Modification) Decree No. 107 of 1993.

“This appeal is therefore dismissed in its entirety and I award costs of N500,000 to each set of respondents in the consolidated suits against the appellant.”

Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved.

This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

China ship disaster death toll crosses 300

The death toll in China cruise ship disaster has risen to 331, state media has said, making it China’s deadliest boat disaster in nearly seven decades.

Disaster teams on Saturday searched the now- upright ship for more bodies as more than 100 remained unaccounted for.

Just 14 people have been confirmed alive out of the 456 – mostly tourists aged over 60 – on board when the “Eastern Star” rapidly sunk on the Yangtze river in a storm on Monday.

Authorities gave the death toll of 331 as of 08:00 am (0000 GMT) on Saturday, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Xinhua earlier gave the total of confirmed dead as 345, but then revised it down to 331. An official said on Thursday that no new survivors are expected to be found.

Authorities have attributed the overturning of the cruise boat to sudden, severe winds, but also have placed the surviving captain and his first engineer under police custody.

Passengers’ relatives have raised questions about whether the ship should have continued its cruise after the storm started in a section of Hubei province and despite a weather warning earlier in the evening.

The vessel was cited for safety infractions two years ago, according to a notice by the Nanjing Maritime Bureau, but no further details have been given about the state of the ship.

Information about the sinking and media access to the site have been tightly controlled, and any online criticism of the search operation quickly doused.

Stricken Chinese cruise ship lifted from Yangtze River; 331 bodies recovered

The Eastern Star is upright once again, looking almost normal with its bottom resting on the water and its deck and cabins clear above it.

The ship's positioning Friday was a step forward in the dayslong nightmare playing out on a section of the Yangtze River that flows through Hubei province.

It means answers should be easier to come by as to why the Eastern Star capsized Monday night and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

It also means closure could be coming soon to hundreds of families. By 8 a.m. Saturday (2 p.m. West African time Friday), 331 bodies had been recovered, according to Chinese state media.

There are 111 people still unaccounted for.

Of the 456 people on board, 14 survived. But rescuers have had no luck since Tuesday, when a 21-year-old sailor and 65-year-old woman were plucked from the water.

Authorities say the chances of more miracles have dwindled with each passing day.

And the salvage process has begun.

That process involved huge floating cranes that set up alongside the overturned river cruise ship, dropped cables and hooks into the water, rolled the ship upright and raised it to the surface. About 50 divers took part overnight Thursday by tying slings around the 2,200-ton vessel.

State-run news agency tweeted pictures of the Eastern Star after this happened Friday.

Parts of its top level looked smashed, but the other levels appeared largely intact.

By draining the ship, the idea is that it could again float on its own.

CCTV News Agency

Source Linda Ikeji

Scores killed in Buhari’s first week in office

Two suicide bombers attacked a market hours after a blast outside a military barracks in Adamawa , as the death toll from suspected Boko Haram violence during President Muhammadu Buhari’s first week in office hit 82.

President Mhammadu Buhari and President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou while waiting for the Press conference shortly after the bilateral meeting at the presidential palace in Niamey on June 3rd 2015Police in the Adamawa state capital Yola said two assailants approached the Jimeta Main Market and faked a fight to attract victims before blowing themselves up.

At least 31 people were killed and 38 others injured, rescue officials said.

The Yola blast followed a suspected suicide bombing in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno state, that killed at least four people when a truck carrying firewood rammed into a checkpoint outside a military barracks.

The violence on Thursday came as Buhari ended his first foreign trip since taking office.

He visited Chad and Niger, which with Cameroon areNigeria‘s key allies in the battle against an Islamist uprising blamed for 15,000 deaths since 2009.

Buhari urged closer regional security cooperation and thanked Nigeria‘s neighbours for their efforts to date while demanding more action from a multi- national force battling the insurgents on the frontline.

Analysts said Buhari made the trip because he cannot afford early setbacks against Boko Haram and needs Niger and Chad to ensure progress.

But the spate of bombings through his first week in office highlighted the severity of the challenge.

A new video released by the group — its first for several months and first under the banner of the “Islamic State in West Africa” — insisted the rebels were still to be reckoned with.

– Fake fight –

Yola had been seen as a relative safe haven inNigeria‘s embattled northeast, with no confirmed Islamist attacks in several years.

With explosives strapped to their bodies, the bombers entered the Jimeta Main Market after sundown on Thursday and “pretended to be fighting”, said area police spokesman Othman Abubakar.

The staged fight between the two men “attracted the attention of people nearby to see what was happening,” he told AFP.

“When people had gathered, they detonated their explosives.

” The coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency in Yola, Sa’ad Bello, gave casualty figures of 31 dead and 38 injured.

No group claimed responsibility but the blast bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram, who have frequently targeted crowded markets.

The Maiduguri explosion outside the Maimalari Barracks at about 5:00 pm killed four people and also resembled past strikes by the insurgents, who have made suicide attacks against the military a key feature of their uprising.

Separately, a military statement said troops had repelled attack by “a band of terrorists” and killed several late Thursday in the Borno village of Shetimari, roughly 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of the city, providing no further specifics. – Regional cooperation – Buhari was in Chad’s capital N’Djamena on Thursday for talks with his counterpart Idriss Deby after visiting Niger on Wednesday.

“Your troops have stood shoulder to shoulder and fought gallantly with ours in the fight against the forces of evil,” the 72-year-old former military ruler told Deby.

For his part, Deby “reaffirmed Chad’s involvement and availability” to work with Nigeria.

Anglophone Nigeria has typically viewed its Francophone neighbours with suspicion, which has been blamed for the lack of a joined-up approach in tackling the militants.

The head of the Africa Programme at the London- based think-tank Chatham House, Alex Vines, said the trip underscored that Buhari “needs to make quick progress on Boko Haram… and needs the support of Chad and Niger”.

If Nigeria‘s president meets early setbacks against the insurgents, it could undermine his ability to push through “tricky reforms”, including expected anti-corruption measures, he added.

“Progress in (the) northeast will help strengthen support for his mandate, which will be important,” he said.

On Wednesday, the military in Abuja announced that a Nigerian officer had taken charge of the new African Union-backed Multi-National Joint Task Force based in N’Djamena.

The 8,700-strong unit, made up of military personnel, police and civilians from Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon, had been due to be deployed last November.

Buhari has ordered the military’s command centre be moved from Abuja to Maiduguri, where Boko Haram was founded in 2002.

The army has since been tested with two rocket attacks on the city, as well as an explosion opposite a military facility on Wednesday, which left at least 18 dead.

There were also two suicide bomb attacks — one at a mosque on Saturday that killed 26 and another on Tuesday at a cattle market, in which 13 people died.

Football & fashion! Barcelona FC stars land in Berlin in double denim uniform (photos)

Barcelona FC stars including Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Luis Suarez touched down in Berlin today ahead of the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday wearing matching outfits - head- to-toe denim, hand-designed by Italian brand, Replay.

The fashion brand was recently picked as the official supplier of formal and casual wear for Barcelona the next four years, marking the first time that a denim company has worked with a football team.

More photos after the cut...

Source Linda Ikeji Blog