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Saturday 28 September 2013

Miss Philippines Wins This Year Miss World Pageant

Courtesy: BBCNEWS/AP

Miss Philippines, Megan Young, has won this year’s Miss World Pageant on the Indonesian island of Bali.

The US-born Young, beat one hundred and twenty other contestants to win the coveted trophy.

Miss France, Marine Lorphelin, came second while Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter, took the third place.

The competition was moved to Bali from the capital Jakarta, because of protests from hardline Muslim group.

Gunmen Kills Eleven People In Kaduna


No fewer than eleven people have been killed in a renewed attack in Zangang village in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Gunmen reportedly attacked the village in the early hours of today, leaving several houses completely burnt.

The spokesman of the State Police Command, Aminu Lawal, who confirmed the incident said a combined team of security operatives had been deployed to the area.


This is the fourth time Zangang is witnessing violent attacks this year.

President Jonathan Set To Host Media Chart Tomorrow



President Jonathan is to host another edition of the Presidential Media Chat tomorrow at seven p.m.

He will in the course of the programme answer questions from a panel of journalists on current national issues and events; as well as policies and actions of his administration.


The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Doctor Reuben Abati in a statement urged members of the public to send their questions via Twitter to @mediachatgnone.

Manchester United Looses To West Brom At Home For The First Time In 29 Years.



It was a black day for the city of Manchester as its two English Premier League clubs lost their matches.

Defending champion, Manchester United fell to West-Brom two goals to one at Old Trafford while Manchester City lost three-two to Aston Villa at Villa Park.

David Moyes’s  side who lost at home to West Brom for the first time in twenty nine years, has now suffered its third Premier League defeat this season.

In the London derby, Chelsea and Tottenham played one-one draw.


In other results; it was Fulham one-Cardiff two, Hull City one-West Ham nil, and Southampton two-Crystal Palace nil

Friday 27 September 2013

California Passes Law To Check Paparazzi


A new legislation which will limit the ability of the Paparazzi to photograph the children of starts has become law in the US state of California.

 The bill which was championed by actress Halle Berry, sets out to protect the children of those in the public eye.

 The bill lays out penalties for taking photos and video of a child without the consent of the parents.

Reps To Sanction Mainstreet Bank


                                                                                   
The House of Representatives' Committee on Banking and Currency has threatened to issue a bench warrant against the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Mainstreet Bank, Mrs. Faith Tuedor-Matthews, for her failure to honour the invitation of the Committee .

The Committee is probing last year sack of Six Hundred and Seventy staff of the Bank and the refusal to pay terminal benefits.

The MD did not appear in person but delegated the Executive Director in charge of Operations, Mr. Anogwi Anyanwu, to stand in for her and on behalf of the company.

Chairman of the committee, Jones Onyereri, who did not hide his anger over the development insisted that the committee would not accept anybody else to speak for the bank apart from the MD.

The bank reportedly terminated the appointments of 670 of its staff, most of who were of management cadre, last year and also allegedly refused to pay them their terminal benefits in accordance with the rules of engagement.

PDP Crisis May Break Nigeria-Senator Balogun




A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Lekan Balogun today warned that the current internal wrangling in the party may break the country if not quickly nipped in the bud.

He accused members of G-7 of being parochial.

Speaking with newsmen in Ibadan, the party chieftain said the crisis was not that of the party but for the country.


According to him, if the warring parties are not reconciled in the next two months,the crisis will explode to become national problem.

The PDP chieftain who took swipe on the G-7 over the crisis, said members were pursuing personal interest against global interest.

He said members were desperate for power, adding three of them were targeting the presidency while another is interested in vice president slot.

He said it was unfortunate that those who were opposing President Goodluck Jonathan were too temperament and displayed a lot of egoism.

He said they had abandoned democratic practice and norms.

Balogun who noted some people have opposed Jonathan's second ambition because he had been swore in twice, said they ought to have sought the judiciary's interpretation of the law rather than engaging in parochial and selfish interest.


I Acted In Error, Fashola Tells Ndigbo In Lagos


Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday said the Ndigbo are his kindred and tendered an unreserved apology to the segment of the people who misunderstood a recent action of his administration even as he insisted that there was a need to discuss factors that could be responsible for under-development in the South East.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island venue of a Symposium to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, said although majority of Ndigbo in Lagos understood and appreciated the action of the State Government, it was obvious that some Igbos did not understand  it.

According to the Governor, who referred to Ndigbo everywhere as “My kindred”, “There are people who clearly do not understand me and they have misunderstood words said or misrepresented actions taken in the way that it has pleased them to do so. To those people, I owe an explanation in defense of what has happened and that is partly why I am here as well”.

Noting that the Igbo and the Yoruba have built a relationship based on tolerance, based on mutual respect, based on trust and love”, Governor Fashola declared, “That relationship was started by our ancestors. It was handed over to us and we have nourished it with a lot of trust and a lot of understanding and a lot of fidelity”.

“Those who misunderstand that relationship, who think that there is no value in that relationship, I have come here to correct that. I put a lot of value in that relationship. And so if those people have misunderstood me or they have misunderstood actions taken by our Government, here, now, today I offer an unqualified and unreserved apology”, he said.

The Governor, however, said even the apology does not take away the real issue that provoked the misunderstanding pointing out that the real issue lay in the reason or reason why some sections feel compelled to migrate from one part of the country to the other.

Urging Aka Ikenga to rise up to the challenge of underdevelopment in the Southeast, Governor Fashola declared, “There are questions that caused the misunderstanding and it is those questions the Aka Ikenga must address if it must continue to fulfill its purpose”.

Continuing, the Governor said there was a need to raise certain pertinent questions. “Is there one part of this country that is less endowed whether with human or natural resources? Is that the problem? Is it the case that, perhaps, some parts are so endowed and not well managed? Those are the honest debates that we must have”, the Governor said.

He recalled the remarks of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Nnachi, who made a distinction between the Igbo in Lagos and those at home, adding, “As he began to distinguish between the Igbo in Lagos and the Igbo at home I knew there was a real issue; that those at home don’t look like those of you here and you don’t look like them. They are questions that I think the Aka Ikenga should address”.

Stressing the commitment of his administration to making life better for residents, Governor Fashola said if other state governments and their indigenes should commit to developing their state and making life better for the rural communities, the issue of people being compelled to migrate from their homes to other states, without any concrete plans, would be greatly curtailed wondering how a state that produced so many great Nigerians could lag behind in development.

“How can development be so difficult in the part of Nigeria that gave us Ike Nwachukwu; that gave us Chinua Achebe, Azikiwe, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Ekwueme and so on and so forth? How can development be so hard in that part of this country? I think those are the real issues”, he said adding, “And as I listened to talks about Ndigbo, perhaps, we should reflect deeply more about the issues that Bishop Kukah’s speech has provoked here. Are we more Igbo than Nigerian or are we more Nigerian than Igbo”.

Governor Fashola debunked the notion that he was at the occasion “to settle his problem with the Igbos” pointing out that such a “problem” was non-existent pointing out that he had come first to thank the Igbo who, according to him, donated the largest herd of cattle during his father’s burial.



Pictures: Gov. Fashola, Senator Pius Anyim, Others At Aka Ikenga’s 25th Anniversary Symposium

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN addressing the cross section of the audience during the 25th Anniversary Symposium of Aka Ikenga with the theme, “Nigeria-The Challenge of Democracy”, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN addressing the cross section of the audience during the 25th Anniversary Symposium of Aka Ikenga with the theme, “Nigeria-The Challenge of Democracy”, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (middle), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (right) and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (left) during the 25th Anniversary Symposium of Aka Ikenga with the theme, “Nigeria-The Challenge of Democracy”, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right), Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (middle) and former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs,  Ambassador George Obiozor (left) during the 25th Anniversary Symposium of Aka Ikenga with the theme, “Nigeria-The Challenge of Democracy”, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (3rd left), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (3rd right), President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike (right), and former Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Ambassador George Obiozor (left), Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (2nd left), Chairman of the Lecture, Senator Ike Nwachukwu (2nd right) during the 25th Anniversary Symposium of Aka Ikengawith the theme, “Nigeria-The Challenge of Democracy”, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos

Picture: Governor Oshiomhole Congratulates New Chairman of SUBEB

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State congratulates Chief Steve Alao, Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) after inaugurating the Board, yesterday.

Apo Assault Was In Order - Ihejirija



Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Azubuike Ihejirika , has insisted the killing of nine suspected terrorists in Apo legislative quarters in Abuja, was a pre-emptive measure to forestall attacks in the Federal  Capital Territory.

The Army Boss, who appeared before the House of Representatives' Committee on National Security, explained that military operatives who were on the operation were attacked by occupants of the building before they returned fire.

Chairman of the Committee, Bello Mutawalle, assured Nigerians the Parliament would unravel the truth behind the killings.

Sunday 22 September 2013

PHCN To Become Extinct In October 2013

Only  26, ,000 out of  49, ,000 former workers of Power Holding Company of Nigeria have been paid up to date despite the fact that government is hoping to hand over power generation and distribution companies to their new owners by October this year.

The Nigerian government is however determined to complete the process of settling  severance packages to ensure a smooth hand over of 15 generation and Distribution companies to private owners.


The National council on Privatization expressed this resolution on Friday as it met to tie up the few loose ends before the Power Holding Company of Nigeria becomes extinct.


These are the final days before the much vilified Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN becomes a footnote in history and a new set of actors take over the responsibility of providing electricity for Nigerians.


A lot of resistance had preceded this event especially from workers who felt they had not been given a good deal and who had disputed the value of the severance packages despite the over 384 billion Naira set aside to settle disengaged workers. 



Nevertheless the handover of the Government owned Power Distribution and generation companies is going ahead but not before all entitlements of former workers expected to be paid before the end of September.



Government is also organizing massive severance training of the PHCN workers on post retirement benefits even though it is expecting them to be promptly re engaged by the new owners.


Corruption Will Destroy Nigeria - Bola Ajibola


 Former Judge, International Court of Justice, Bola Abdul-Jabar Ajibola has lamented the vast spread of corruption saying quick steps to stem it was paramount. 

Speaking at the 2nd annual symposium of MSSN in the southern states held in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital, the former judge of the international court of justice emphasised the need for recommendations to put a stop to corruption in Nigeria. 

Today's Premiership Match Results



Manchester City 4 Manchester United 1

Tottenham 1 Cardiff 0

 Swansea 2 Crystal Palace 0

Arsenal 3 Stoke City 1

Utomi Took N59m Undisclosed Loan From BANKPHB -EFCC




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, September 20, 2013, told Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that Prof. Pat Utomi, the first defence witness in the trial of a former Managing Director of BankPHB, now Keystone Bank, Francis Atuche and two others, took loan facilities to the tune of N59million at different times from the bank during his tenure as the vice chairman of the bank. This revelation came while Utomi was being cross-examined by the EFCC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN. 

Pinheiro, while presenting documents before the court said Utomi took facilities worth Fifty -Nine Million Naira from the bank during the tenure of Atuche. He said a forty million naira facility was granted to the witness on July 3, 2008, and another draft of ten million naira was also raised on September 23, 2008 in favour of the witness. 

He said the witness, through a company, U R Maintenance Limited, took another facility of five million naira. Pinheiro also said one Emmanuel Utomi; a relative of the witness received a cheque of four million naira allegedly on behalf of the witness from Clairemount Management Services, a company in which Atuche is alleged to be the sole signatory.

Pinheiro said that at the time the Board of Directors of the bank were ratifying facilities granted by the bank, the facilities granted to the Utomi and many others were not disclosed.

Apart from Utomi, other board members also took various loan facilities from the bank. Mike Ajoku, a kinsman of Utomi from Ibusa in Delta state was granted a N428million (Four hundred and twenty eight million naira) loan facility. Fidelis Idita, also a kinsman of Utomi from the same community, took a loan facility from the bank.  It was also alleged by the prosecution that one Consolidated Business Support Services got a facility of N1 Billion. The company is allegedly linked to one Ifeyinwa Osime, also a member of the bank's board.  


The matter was adjourned to October 3, 4, 23, 24, 25; November 18 and December 3 and 4, 2013 for continuation of trial.

Death Toll In Kenya Shopping Center Attack Hits Fifty Nine


Courtesy: Daily Beast/Reuters

At least fifty nine people have been killed and one hundred and seventy five injured in yesterday’s attack on a Nairobi shopping center.

A Kenyan government minister, Joseph Lenku said one thousand people have managed to escape from Westgate centre after the assault by suspected al-Shabab militants.

He said between ten to fifteen attackers were still in the building, adding that it is not known how many civilians remain trapped in the shopping center.


Al-Shabab said it carried out the attack in response to Kenya’s military involvement in the war in Somalia.

Friday 20 September 2013

President Jonathan Sacks Joy Emordi And Tunji Bello As Special Advisers




President Jonathan has sacked his Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Joy Emordi.

Also sacked was the Special Adviser on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD, Doctor Tunji Olagunju.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Doctor Reuben Abati who announced their sack in a statement did not give any reason for the President’s decision.


However, our correspondent reports that the relationship between the President and the National Assembly has not been cordial resulting in speculation that the Presidency is pushing for the removal of Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Super Eagles Squad For 1st Leg Of 2014 FIFA World Cup Elimination Fixture


Vincent Enyeama
 Austin Ejide
Chigozie Agbim
Efe Ambrose
Elderson Echejile
 Francis Benjamin
 Solomon Kwambe
 Azubuike Egwuekwe
 Godfrey Oboabona
James Okwuosa
 Mikel Obi
John Oguh 
Ogenyi Onazi.


 Nosa Igiebor
Victor Moses 
Sunday Mba
 Nnamdi Oduamadi
 Ahmed Musa
Brown Ideye
 Shola Emeobi
Emmanuel Emenike
 Obinna Nsofor
 Uche Nwofor

Dbang And JCC Back In Da Days

JCC, Dbang, And Don Jazzy Back In Da Days
Courtesy: lindaikeji.blogspot.com

Allison Should Go; Not Okonjo Iweala - Rep


The House of Representatives has described as hasty calls by the Rotimi Amaechi led governors' forum for the resignation of Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala.

Chairman of the Committee, Abdulmumin Jubril, who spoke in Abuja, argued that the call for resignation should rather be directed at the Petroleum Minister, Deziani Madueke, for the shoddy manner she has run the country's Oil industry.

Jubril explained that the Petroleum Minister should be held responsible for what he described as monumental fraud and the secrecy surrounding the operations of the Oil industry.

Breaking News: Boko Haram Strikes Abuja Again


Unknown gunmen have killed eight people and injured over ten others in an attack in Gudu District behind the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja.

The attack has created panic among residents in the Federal Capital Territory.


Security operatives have been drafted to the scene of the attack which was carried out by gunmen dressed in Nigerian Army Camouflage.

Jay Z And Beyonce Are The Highest-Earning Celebrity - Forbes


Forbes has named Beyonce and jay Z the highest-earning celebrity couple.

 The pair are reported to have taken home an estimated ninety five million dollars in the last year.

Forbes said that Jay Z’s recent Watch the Throne album went platinum and launched a world tour that brought in one point four million dollars per night in America.

 Beyonce’s Mrs Carter world tour is estimated to have taken in an average of two million dollars per night.

Monday 16 September 2013

Breaking News: Super Eagles To Play Ethiopia In Final Qualifying Round Of Twenty Fourteen World Cup


The Super Eagles of Nigeria are to play Ethiopia on the final round of the twenty fourteen FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

 The draw placed Burkina Faso against Algeria, Ghana is to play Egypt, Tunisia against Cameroon while Ivory Coast is to take on Senegal.

USA Excludes Nigeria & UK from Participating In Its Diversity Visa Lottery Programme.


The United States has excluded Nigeria and eighteen other countries from participating in its Diversity VISA Lottery Programme.

The US State Department said Nigeria was no longer eligible because over fifty thousand Nigerians had immigrated into the US in the last five years.

Other countries affected include, Brazil, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El-Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru.


Others are Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Sunday 15 September 2013

Pictures: Gov. Fashola Renders Account Of Stewardship To Commemorate His Administration’s 2,300 Days In Office

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right), his Deputy, Hon. (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right),  Interim State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale (3rd right), Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (3rd left), first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande (2nd left) and his wife, Mrs Abimbola Jakande (left) during the rendering of account of stewardship by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to commemorate his administration’s 2,300 Days in Office at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja,

Cross section of Community Development Advisory Committee, Lagos State Community Development Council, traditional rulers, invited guests and other stakeholders during the rendering of account of stewardship by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to commemorate his administration’s 2,300 Days in Office at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Saturday, September 14, 2013. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (left) delivering his keynote address.

Cross section of Community Development Advisory Committee, Lagos State Community Development Council, traditional rulers, invited guests and other stakeholders during the rendering of account of stewardship by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to commemorate his administration’s 2,300 Days in Office at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Saturday, September 14, 2013. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (left) delivering his keynote address.

Cross section of Community Development Advisory Committee, Lagos State Community Development Council, traditional rulers, invited guests and other stakeholders during the rendering of account of stewardship by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to commemorate his administration’s 2,300 Days in Office at the Blue Roof, LTV 8 Complex, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja, on Saturday, September 14, 2013. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (3rdright), his Deputy, Hon. (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (2nd right), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba (right), Interim State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale (middle), Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas (3rd left), first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande (2nd left) and his wife, Mrs Abimbola Jakande (left).