English match-fixing scandal threatens the Sodjes' football legacy

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje and his brother Akpo have been named as belligerents in the high-profile match fixing scandal threatening to undermine English football

20-year-old Nigerian, Osarieme Anita Omonuwa, bags First Class Law degree in UK

   OLUWAYINKA  DADA writes on the achievement of  a 20-year-old Nigerian, Osarieme Anita Omonuwa, who recently bagged a First Class Law degree and was awarded the prestigious Chancellor’s Award at the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
Nigerians youths have not stopped performing amazing feats both within and outside the country. With their talents, skills, academics performance and record breaking achievements, they have continued to make the nation proud.
One of such is Osarieme Anita Omonuwa, a 20-year-old Nigerian schooling in the United Kingdom who bagged a First Class Law degree and picked up the prestigious Chancellor’s Award at the University of Reading.
In the history of the 121-year-old university established in England, United Kingdom, in 1892, Omonuwa has become the first black woman to win the Reading University Chancellor’s Award.
She was described by the chancellor as a representative of the institution’s brightest and best students.
Omonuwa hails from Edo State. Her father is Mr. Omoruyi Augustine Omonuwa, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and holder of national honour, Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
She has been an achiever right from a tender age. While in Nigeria in her kindergarten days at Our Lady of Apostles School, Airport Road, Benin-City, Edo State, she finished as the best KG pupil and had a free uniform as a “motivational prize.” She also won the 2003 Bournvita Award for overall primary school performance at the same school.
She never stopped making progress as in the 2008/2009 Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin-City, she received the certificate of merit as the overall best graduating student in Accounting, English, Yoruba, Computer Science, Biology, Literature, Government, Economics and Foods and Nutrition.
She never relented in her academics even though her basic education was in Nigeria, she got to another man’s country and became the best.
In 2010, Omonuwa earned the Reading University Scholarship Award for academic excellence and won recognition as the overall best in the International Foundation Programme.
In 2012, Omonuwa’s many awards included the Clarks Legal Prize for the best performance in Part 2 Equity and Trust, presented by David Rintoul, Managing Partner, Clarks Legal LLP; Keith Wright Memorial Prize for best overall performance in Part 2; and Shoos miths Prize for best overall performance in Part 2.
She did a day’s internship in the Employment Department at Shoos Miths LLP, UK in May 2013 and in June, she stretched her internship drive into Construction Law.
Now, with her experience, she is an expert in hardcore legal issues including the intricacies of construction contracts and the inevitable consequences of breaching agreed terms.

5 reasons sex on a first date is bad

  Ask any woman and she’ll tell you that the reason you shouldn’t have sex on a first date is that the guy won’t call you back because he’ll think you are easy and will have lost interest.
That might or might not be true, but there are lots of other reasons why taking your clothes off with someone on a first date is a no no. Here are five reasons sex on a first date is a bad idea:

1. It’s awkward: The first time you have sex with ANYONE, no matter how long you’ve been dating, the sex is usually two things: one, heart pounding and exciting and two, awkward. But, it’s a lot less awkward if you know the person a little bit, and you know they care about you somewhat. Then the awkwardness fades quickly because there’s a comfort level, and a sense of friendship (or love) that makes it so much more fulfilling and fun.

2. Waiting is great foreplay: Having sex on a first date is like having dessert before dinner. How can you enjoy your delicious appetizers, salad and steak if you’ve already had chocolate chip cheesecake? You might enjoy it, but not as much. In other words, let the relationship build. It’s sexy and so much better when you take your time.

3. What if it doesn’t work out? Let’s say you sleep with someone on a first date and then you don’t hear from him? Or if you are the guy, what if you call and she doesn’t return your call? If you’ve slept with that person, you will feel so much worse!

4. Waiting gives you self-confidence and self-esteem: Men and women who are strong enough to hold out and wait for the right time to go to bed with someone are exhibiting more self control, they are thinking more clearly and objectively, and they have a certain self assurance, like they aren’t desperate, having the need to validate the relationship with sex. Waiting is mature, confident and sexy.

5. Sex clouds judgment: Let’s be honest. Sex makes you fall in love. The reason that’s not good is because you can’t see objectively anymore. What usually ends up happening is, later on, when the physical part starts to fade a bit, you realise you have nothing in common with the person. Remember that every situation is different. There are exceptions, and there may come a time when you are out with a guy and everything feels so right very early on, and you think back to this blog and roll your eyes at me. But, most times, I’d say there are so many benefits to waiting on the physical part. After all, isn’t dessert the sweetest part of the meal?

"I'm Not Attracted To An Old B**ch" Eedris Abdulkareem To Cossy Orjiakor On Twitter

   Remember the show that held in Bayelsa in June where Cossy treated Eedris Abdulkareem to an erotic lap dance while he performed on stage? Well, a few blogs reported this weekend that Cossy said Eedris begged her for s*x after the performance.


Eedris must have heard the rumours because he took to twitter a few hours ago to slam Cossy, calling her an old b**ch. Thing is; Cossy swears she never said anything like that. She said all Eedris did was encourage her music career and said she hasn't set eyes on him since the show.

How I was tricked into a porn*graphic movie – Actor, Charles Inojie

  Popular comic-actor, Charles Inojie is still wondering how he was tricked into featuring in that lewd film titled ‘Calabar Girl’ directed by  Jerry Don Nwachukwu. The film was produced by Divine Ezeibekwe and banned immediately after  it was released sometime in May, this year by the National Film and Video Censors Board. Charles recounts the story of how he got involved in the production.  He also talks about the coup that catapulted him to the top while working  as an Assistant Director under Lancelot Imasuen among other issues. Excerpts:

A  comic-actor!
Do you know that I am not aware that I am a comedian?  There are places I visit today and I tell people that I am not a regular comedian;someone you see and you start laughing or someone who is ever ready to act as a clown when the occasion does not call for it. I see myself as a very serious person. I see myself as a good
actor.

If I do comedy roles well, it is only  because that is where I have probably, been most tested and again not a function of any kind of training I had. Except that I probably just have it in me. I believe that my late grandmother had the strongest sense of humour that I ever found in anyone and I benefited generously from her talent. Maybe, I am one of those you would say are naturally gifted as humourist.

School of hard knocks
I hate it when I hear people say, I am self -made. There is no one on earth that is self made otherwise people like us are not supposed to be where we are today. When I picked my bag one morning  and told my father I had secured admission into the University of Port Harcourt , the man only  laughed at me. We were living in Ogun State then, and I  hail from Edo State .

He said, ‘you did not try to gain admission into the now Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma  or University of Benin so that your  financial challenges could be better courtailed . But now that you are going to UNIPORT, would help come your way?’.

In school, it was just me and my closest neighbour which is poverty. When I woke up in the morning, the first person that told me good morning was poverty. But I think, God gave me a special grace. Beyond all these travails, there was always a point I wanted to get to, and that was to graduate from the university at the end of the day.

I graduated from the University in 1999, and in  2000, I was already on set with Lancelot Imasuen as an Assistant Director. I was part of the productions he did in the early 2000, such as Last Burial, Isakaba, August Meeting  and many others. Therefore, I would say joining  Nollywood was not as difficult as it has been for most of my colleagues. This is because I had someone who provided the platform for me to launch my acting career.

Beyond that, when I became a full-fledged director,  I had the producers to contend with, who were always driven by the passion to expand their profit margin. I am a gift from God because in spite of all that I passed through, one happened to be one of the  very few people who have enjoyed prime patronage and I thank God for His mercies.

Relationship with Lancelot Imasuen
That is another story altogether. I was telling some of my close friends recently that Lancelot is my friend  because a lot of people believe that  we are brothers. I actually met Lancelot in 1992, at UNIPORT where we sat for the entrance examination for the Certificate Programme in Theatre Arts. He was in the company of another friend of ours known as  Kennedy Ovbiahon who’s now late.

After sitting for the qualifying examination, we returned to our different locations and later had to meet again  when we were offered admission.  Lancelot was as poor as I was, while on campus.  It was only  natural for us  to  share the same apartment in school. And since  then, we have been good friends.

Joining  Nollywood
We have made some humble contributions to acting. As a matter of fact, my very first movie as a full- fledged director was titled  Police Recruit, then Two Bad Boys. I shot back to back for OJ Productions. I also played one of the lead roles then.  Thereafter, I starred in Tortoise, another movie produced by OJ and directed by Adim Williams. I was an Assistant Director in that film. At the time, the three lead roles were given to John Okafor, Okey Bakassi and Victor Osuagwu.
charles-Onojie2As a second year student in 1997, I had done a movie with Adim also directed by Lancelot Imasuen. It was a comedy titled, The Year 2000. Adim played the lead role while  I had about 12 scenes. Adim asked me to play the role but the producer did not want me. But when the flick was released, it was a big hit. The film that gave me my break was when I played the role of Mr. Dumbra in Corporate Maid.

Venturing  into acting
I am a very shy person. I am not one of those who would have ended up as an actor. I am a great lover of literature. The late Professor  Bode Osanyin of the University of Lagos then had a place in Ijoko, Ota in Ogun State called Writers Resort. What the Resort does was to invite literary enthusiasts, writers, poets, dramatists and literary critics to a retreat.

The guest reader for the month would read his poems or plays and respond to questions from the gathering.  Being fresh from secondary school  then,  I and my friend, Malik Ibitoye, now a journalist, would make it to the literary gathering. This particular month, late environmentalist, Ken Saro Wiwa was hosted by the resort.

Before then, Bassey and Company, a popular soap opera was already a rave on television and Saro Wiwa was already making  waves on the international scene with his Ogoni struggle. Saro Wiwa was large and because we have read some of his plays, the enthusiasm to meet him was very high. Usually, we went to the resort that fateful Saturday evening,  arrange the chairs  and cleaned the environment. Late Professor Bode  Osanyin urged us to stage a short play for Wiwa. Initially, I refused to be part of the play, preferring to do something different.

But somehow, I was encouraged to be part of the short play.  Immediately, the last scene was over, I ran backstage to hide myself.  While I was hiding,  they invited me back on stage. But  lo and behold!  Saro Wiwa singled me out and asked if I had acted before, I replied in the contrary. He asked what I was doing, I said I was a  Jambite and wanted to read Law.

He asked if I had secured admission, I said I was waiting for my JAMB result. He reasoned that it would take about eight to 12 months and he advised me to enroll for Certificate programme that would last for 10 months. When we left, Malik and some of my friends encouraged me to do so. That was how I secured an admission to do certificate programme in UNIPORT. While doing the programme, I discovered I had only come face to face with my destiny. So, I did not spare any  time to seek admission for a full time degree programme.

Growing pot belly
In fact that is the more reason we have to thank God for Osofia’s life, if not, people would still believe that big tummy is part of the requirement for one to become a comedian. Osofia has been able to proof that you don’t need to have a big tummy to be a successful comedian. It was common problem most of us had to contend with then but thank Gos Osofia has proven it has nothing to do with it.

I cannot stab myself in the stomach to reduce it but I discovered that it is easier to acquire it than to shed it.

Starring in “Calabar Girl”movie
This is what I cannot even explain. Some time ago, a  senior colleague of mine invited me to be part of his new production. For over 15 years, he has not shot a single  movie as things  were really rough for him. He was staging a comeback and needed my support. I have known him for several years and as an undergraduate,  storming Lagos those days to attend auditions, he was one of the foremost directors in  Nollywood then. There was no way I could have refused to support his return to the industry.

That was how I ended up starring in that movie. To  win my sympathy, he narrated how a marketer once rejected  his film simply because he did not feature regular faces in the film. I appeared in few scenes in the movie which was shot in three days. I have no idea whatsoever regarding  what lewed scenes he had previously shot.

In fact, I’m yet to understand why he decided to shoot such movie. I think he took his desperation too far. I’m  surprised that he used my face to promote pornography because the very day I saw the movie jacket, I knew something was wrong with it. There was no way I could have been part of the movie  if I knew from the out set that what he has shot was something close to an adult film.

Wife’s reaction
I thank God that I married my friend. I try as much as possible to be truthful to my wife. She saw the movie and  got convinced that my character  was not in any way connected with those dirty scenes in the movie. In fact, she has nothing whatsoever to be angry about.

What I learnt from the project
What I have learnt is that next time, I should be wary about  who comes to ask for my help in disguise. Next time, I would insist on  seeing  the previous script before accepting to be part of any make-up scenes in a movie.

Meeting my wife
I met my wife the way other people meet theirs.

Marriage experience
Marriage is wonderful. I was talking to one of my senior colleagues the other day and I told him, I now know why he wanted me to get married. I think I am a better person now than before. Things that you would ordinarily react to are things you now take a second look at. Marriage has calmed me down. I am a lot more mature now and I am happy

Girl accidentally sets herself on fire while recording twerking video

  

Caitlin Heller twerking

“Twerking” became the new craze and has spread like wildfire since Miley Cyrus’s famous VMA performance.
For those who don’t know, twerking is a type of dancing in which the dancer, usually a woman, shakes her hips in an up-and-down bouncing motion.
Caitlin Heller uploaded the video to YouTube where she wrote: “I tried to make a sexy twerk video for my boyfriend and things got a little too hot .”

While dancing alone in her candle-lit room, Heller was twerking while doing a handstand and leaning against the door.
A friend opened the door, sending Heller flying. She crashed onto a glass table and onto the lit candle, which set her on fire.
Now, the whole world gets to enjoy her twerking video while she gets to be somewhat of a twerking star.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CddMD3QqTFs&feature=player_embedded

 

Video: Nurses Beat Woman For Giving Birth On Hospital Floor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4lbMFK0zPo&feature=player_embedded

This is soo painful to watch, really.
Pure man's cruelty to man.
Watch these heartless nurses force this pregnant woman to deliver on the floor in a Kenyan hospital as they look on.
They then abuse her, slap her for messing up their floor with her blood, immediately she put to birth!

Popular radio host Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi shows off hot bikini body

   
She is currently on holiday in Miami. Nice body.

Daniel, the Stowaway and the West’s Lost generation By Ayo Olukotun

  

Intense discussion, conveying admiration, rebuke, outrage as well as apprehensions concerning air travel in Nigeria trails the heroism bordering on the suicide mission of Daniel Oikhena, the 15 year-old boy who hid himself in the nose wheel apartment of an Arik plane for the duration of a Benin to Lagos flight recently. Daniel, a junior secondary school pupil assuming that the plane was headed for the United States, had taken along some personal effects and either outwitted airport security officials or was actually helped by conniving personnel to position himself dangerously in one of the wheel compartments of the aircraft.

As aviation experts have pointed out, had the plane been going to the United States, the land of Daniel’s dreams; the boy’s daredevil pranks would have ended in tragedy as he would not have made it to his destination. Even for a short trip, given Daniel’s location on the plane chances of survival were narrow but he was providentially delivered from the wages of an overwrought imagination riding on the abiding lure of overseas travel for young Nigerians. 11 out of 12 Nigerian youths you speak to would like to travel outside the country, preferably to Europe or the United States and take up permanent residence there, if possible. What exactly would you be doing out there? “Anything”, the unfailing answer comes back, “I just want to get out of this country and make a living”. Several of course have definite plans to advance their careers and hopefully realise their aspirations of a better life.

This generational disillusionment with a country that has by default of governmental incompetence excised its youths finds voice in protest lyrics composed by young Nigerians. A rap artist some years back sneered ‘Nigeria jagajaga’ (Nigeria is deformed, wearing an ugly face). Another young musician exploded some years ago in pungent, depressive melody rendered in his native Yoruba (Egba) dialect: “O ye white men please give me a visa; I am sick and tired of this country; please give me a visa; there is no future; there is no security, please give me a visa”. These poetic laments of the Nigerian condition enshrined in memorable songs are counter narratives to a managerial perspective of a nation, a land of opportunity transforming into an economic powerhouse and a gradually consolidating democracy. But what happens when the European and American embassies don’t grant visas to young, often stranded Nigerians? They resort to stowaway exploits by sneaking like Daniel into the wheel of a plane, or they settle for a desert odyssey that will see them journeying through the forbidding expanse of the Sahara desert through the Maghreb into the southern fringes of Europe, the promised land. But even there the prospects are far from promising, inviting a reflection on the Yoruba wisecrack – ile nle wa; ona nna wa (we are driven away from home; we are beaten black and blue in a foreign land).

A magnificent feature narrative on Cable News Network earlier this week entitled ‘Europe’s lost generation’ depicts grippingly the plight of young European graduates between the ages of 19 and 26 with no jobs. As is well known, Europe is currently going through its worst youth unemployment crisis in European history resulting in 26million young folk without jobs. In worst hit countries like Spain, youth unemployment rate is close to 60% triggering a wave of migration to better off countries like Germany. One report informs that most European graduates would have made 60 or more applications for a job before they finally get one and what they get maybe frustratingly below expectation as the majority of those employed do not have decent jobs.

How about the United States, the land of Daniel’s romantic dreams? It is a country in the throes of mass youth unemployment and underemployment as more than 10 million Americans under 25 are out of work. There is over 16% unemployment rate affecting youths between the ages of 16 and 24; among Blacks and Latinos the rate moves up to 36% and 28% respectively while in some cities like Chicago the youth unemployment rate among Blacks is 90%. Described as an economic emergency, the desultory job market in the United States features many college graduates in low skilled and low wage jobs such as serving tea or coffee while many have their careers frozen in internships with no remunerations. In other words, many youths in what is increasingly called the ‘generation jobless’ are not building up human capital assets either through experience at work or time spent in profitable study.

This, then is the other side of the coin of the dream country of Nigerian youths where racial discrimination and other difficulties associated with immigration may wreak additional havoc. It is not clear whether Daniel and the generation of his older brothers and sisters have bothered to refine their images of foreign lands derived mainly from Nollywood and Hollywood portraits of a land flowing with milk and honey with this side of the story; hence, the desperate hustle to escape the social frying pan which admittedly Nigeria had been turned into by its visionless leaders. Prof. Wole Soyinka it was who created the expression ‘the wasted generation’ in the context of the bedevilling throes and travails of Nigerian citizens caught in the nightmares of postcolonial brutality. However, between Nigeria’s wasting generation of youths for whom rudderless governments have no plans and ‘Europe’s and America’s lost generation’ of teeming unemployed youths, there appears to be little to choose if we comprehensively reiterate the inconveniences of living in foreign lands without adequate support. Of course, there is a countervailing attraction of efficiencies associated with an industrialised culture in contrast to the well known lags and woes of the Nigerian environment. No doubt, travel can be fun and indeed constitutes an important part of education and cultivation of the mind; what is frightening and disabling is the Daniel-like attempted plunge into the uncertainties of a foreign land without either the compass of enlightened stock taking or the fall backs of a cushioning material order; more so, at a time of global economic depression approaching the scale of the great burst of the 1930s.

As a university teacher, I’ve had the good fortune of mentoring several Nigerian youths who started out in lowly circumstances but ended up doing very well for themselves. One of them for example, who started out as an office assistant received a doctorate several years ago at the University of Lagos where he had been employed as a lecturer and will this month defend his dissertation for a second doctorate at a university in Australia before returning to his job at Unilag. But that is a story for another day.

Our youths should be motivated and taught that even though they, like their elders live under the wings of a state that has orphaned them, there are escape windows even in Nigeria that can prevent them from taking suicidal adventures on the scale of the Nigerian stowaway in which they embark on journeys from which there may be no return.

I was paid N3,000 for my first role, my dad even collected it —Sola Kosoko

  Sola Kosoko-Abinna has been active in Nollywood since 1999, but fame did not come her way until her role in a chart-busting movie entitled: Omo Olorire. In this interview with AJIBADE ALABI, she spoke on her acting career and other issues.
Being a star must have its effects. How has it affected your life, especially when you compare yourself with your peers that are not in the movie industry?
Being a star affected me both positively and negatively; but being a star has a lot of advantages.

Which of the movies you have starred in brought you to limelight?
Omo Olorire was the film that brought me to limelight in 2002; then Abesekele by Oga Bello and then Orire by Muyiwa Ademola. Both were released in 2003.

When did you start acting?
I started acting professionally in 2001. If I can recollect, I started with Omo Olorire, which incidentally was produced by my father, Prince Jide Kosoko. Before then, I had been acting. I starred in Ola Abata. It was my father’s movie as well, produced in 1999 and released in 2000. I also participated in Oko Irese, also produced by my father. It was released in 2001. Between 1999 and 2002, I featured in my father’s films. From 2002, other producers started beckoning. ‘Iya Rainbow’ (Idowu Philips) first called me for a role. Adamu Seniyan was about the second or third movie she invited me to participate. The same year, Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo) called me for his movie entitled: Tolulope. In 2003, Muyiwa Ademola called me for his own film too entitled: Ori, a movie that further gave me immense popularity.

You said earlier on that being a star has its advantages.  Can you tell us some of these advantages?
For example, when I was still in school, whenever it was time to do my course clearance and the queue was so long and we were suffering under the scorching sun, because my face was familiar to the officials in charge, they would ask the other students to allow me in because I was a star. Some of the students would protest. That is one of the benefits, and I got a lot of them.

But it cannot be all positive; being a star must also have its own disadvantages
You are right. The negative side of it is that we spend a lot of money for street urchins or Area boys. They don’t want to know if you have the money or not. Sometimes you might be going out without much in your pocket, but they will collect at every junction. We cannot help it; it is the kind of society we have. I have been to Europe a number of times. When you are there, they don’t ask for money; instead they give you gifts. Someone once removed the SIM from his phone and gave it to me. But in our society, it is the other way round.

If you had not been an actress, what would you have been?
Initially I wanted to become a broadcaster; I love to be seen on TV, reading news. Maybe that was why it was easy for me to become an actress. But I also yearned to be a lawyer. Unfortunately, I did Industrial and Labour Relations for my diploma, so it was difficult to cross from Social Science to Law. Then, I said if I could not study Law, let me go and study Mass Communication, which unfortunately again is an Arts course at the Olabisi Onabanjo University. So, I went for Sociology.

The roles you played in the films produced by your father, did you get them on merit or did he create them to accommodate you?
My father is a professional. There are times when my stepmother would exclaim ‘that is Sola’s role’, but my father would not hear of it. He would say I could not play the role; that being his daughter does not mean I would be given a role just anyhow even when I do not deserve it. My father is a professional when it comes to that.

Since you became a professional, how do you pick your roles?
I scrutinise my scripts very well and ask myself if the film is the kind that I can participate in. For instance, a producer has been calling me for weeks now to come and take a role in a film; but when I went through the script, I discovered that it is not the kind of film I will like to participate in. I must know who the director of the film is.

What would you consider the most trying period of your life?
My staying at home for five years before I could get admission into the university. Though I was doing a certificate course, it was not like the real university. Then I was being called for movie jobs, so I became distracted. Sometimes there were forms that I was supposed to obtain, but I would keep procrastinating till I eventually missed the opportunity. Before my four-year degree progamme, I did a two-year diploma course. That experience hurt me.

How much was your first pay as an actress?
My first pay? Hmm. I can’t remember the title of the movie now, but it was produced by Adebayo Salami (‘Oga Bello’). I was paid N3,000. When I got home, my father shared the money. He gave my stepmother a share; he gave my brothers and sisters and I took the rest.

Are you a shy person?
Yes I am. Forget the fact that I am an actress. I always have a stage fright. When I see a crowd, I can easily forget everything I want to say and I will start stammering. But I think I am outgrowing it now. When it comes to my work, and I take to the stage, I become transformed.
 
Before you finally chose to marry your husband, how many men did you date?
I dated like a hundred (general laughter). Really, I didn’t have the experience. The man that is my husband has always been with me since I was in secondary school. I remember the first JAMB I wrote. We were doing the running together. At that time, he was already a graduate.

How was your growing up like?
Growing up was fun. My secondary education was at Aje Comprehensive High School, while my primary school was at Aje Methodist Primary School. Both schools are side by side at Ebute-Meta, along Borno Way, which used to be called WEMA Street. That was where I grew up in Ebute-Meta.
It was my grandmother who brought us up, my elder brother and my younger ones. We were staying with her, though my father was in Lagos. He was always traveling, always on tour. I lost my mum when I was very young. Whenever my father was around, he was always with us, playing with us, taking us to different places, like the Amusement Park.

Can you recall the day you lost your mum?
It was in September 1993.

Where were you that day when you got the news?
I was with my grandmother who, like I told you earlier, was training us before my mother’s death. It was my dad himself that came to break the news to my grandmother.

How did you react to the sad news?
The normal reaction when you lose someone you love; but because I was young, you won’t compare the kind of feeling that I would have then to what I would have now. If my mum just died now, the way I would feel is not the way I felt the other time. Then I just felt, ‘Oh, my mother died’ and I cried.

What would you say you would have benefitted from her if she was around?
I cannot begin to count the benefits. There were a lot of times when I was in the university, that I really felt the vacuum. A lot of mothers were always coming around bringing palm oil and other stuff for their daughters. That was when it actually hit me that I didn’t have a mum. My daddy could not bring palm oil.
He was always coming to see me, but it’s not the same as the impact of a mother. Secondly, when I was getting married, I felt that something was missing and that was my mum. Though I hardly cry, I felt the pain deep inside me. There are a lot of times I would remember her and I would cry, in my closet though.

Uncovered The incredible world of Nigerian Millionaire student fraudsters

Before he met his waterloo some months ago, 30-year-old Hope Olusegun Aroke lived in the elite 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Aroke, an undergraduate in a Malaysian university, had the world at his beck and call, as he could afford just about anything that meant class.For him, provision was probably just another successful scam away. And the race to maintain the social status that fraud had allegedly earned him could never end.
In his garage was a fleet of posh cars and SUVs, all of Mercedes-Benz brand. Though a tenant, he successfully outshone the status of his co-residents.To many, the young man had done well for himself by a dint of hard work.In some sense, Aroke was working hard, but as a suspected serial scammer.His busy neighbours barely noticed his unusual schedule, but many were irked by his exceptional flamboyant lifestyle.
Most times, when neighbours were out to work, Aroke stayed indoor in company with other young men, who were later discovered to be his fraud cell suspects.These young men included his apprentices and internet scam partners.The operation that marred Aroke’s merry-making living would have shot up his net worth by several notches.
Going by the revelation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, he had successfully carried out the scam operations worth N55m on unsuspecting members of the public. He, however, became unfortunate while trying to conceal the nature of the proceeds by converting it to foreign currency in partnership with Ibrahim Tafida, a Bureau de Change operator.
He was eventually nabbed by the team of the EFCC in Lagos.
Last year, 25-year-old Sunkanmi Odewale, a 200-level undergraduate of Mechanical Engineering, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, a suspected fraudster, breezed into an automart and bought a Toyota Venza for N4m.
Before, he was picked up in Ibadan, Oyo State, three months ago, he was alleged to be notorious for regularly swindling unsuspecting members of the public via the internet.
His N4m Toyota Venza was the latest of his collections of luxury toys allegedly acquired from the proceeds of cyber crimes.He, however, forfeited it and other valuables worth millions, which were seized during the arrest.
The EFCC said he was currently facing prosecution.
During some sting operations based on internet-prompted information, the EFCC recently arrested another five suspected fraudsters in Enugu State.
They are: 27-year-old Uche Nwakor; 30-year-old Oluchukwu Ejikeme; 28-year-old Ifeanyi Ejikeme; 30-year-old Nnamani Ikechukwu; and Ibe Kodili.
They were arrested at their expensive houses at No 26 and 42, Chimaobi Uba Street, GRA, EnuguThe team is said to be “serial scammers,” having defrauded several victims.
Items seized from them where they were perfecting how to get the next victim are: eight exotic cars, nine laptops, 21 mobile phones, internet routers, drivers’ licenses and internationalpassports.

Two months ago, the game was over for notorious internet fraudster, Wale Olaide, who specialised in defrauding members of the public through bank credit alerts.Popularly called Wale Dollar in his clique, he had great tentacles as his business transversed the shores of Nigeria.
Although he had successfully executed bigger deals, which had earned him a comfortable life, he came crashing over a N5m deal involving two brothers Abdulhamid Abubakar, based in Nigeria and Hashim Abubakar based in Togo. They are both into BDC business.
Under the pretext that he wanted to do genuine business with them, he contacted the Togo-based operator, asking for his Nigerian bank account number, which he authorised his brother to give him. Olaide was supposed to pay in N5m to purchase the CFA Francs equivalent.
But when he got the account details, rather than send the money as agreed, he sent a false credit alert notifying the BDC operators that his account had credited at the Seme border branch and so he released the equivalent to him.
He was shocked to find out the next day that his bankers couldn’t trace such payments made into his account.
The EFCC said it took investigative initiative to arrest Olaide, who it described as “a member of the deadly syndicate involved in duping unsuspecting members of the public.”
It described fraudulent credit banking notification as a new trend in criminality by fraudsters and warned the public to be careful.
The EFCC Ag. Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, told Saturday PUNCH that it was not in the character of fraudsters to buy lands or build houses.He said, “They seldom even buy houses or have permanent addresses because of the nature of their activities. They often spend money on exotic cars, throw parties and generally squander the money on things that are not fixed. All the people arrested for such crimes are usually made to face the law.”
Uwujaren said there were signs that could put one on the guard. “If for instance somebody you have never met in person begins to pester you about your personal banking details online, chances are that the person may be a potential scammer.

Wizkid Is Richer Than BankyW, Forbes/Channel O List Of Top 10 Most Bankable African Artists 2013

Channel O, in association with Forbes Africa, presented a list of the Top 10 Most Bankable African Artists yesterday.
And here's who they say is making bank and who is talking smack!
Their list was put together using factors such as endorsement value, popularity, show rates, Sales, awards, YouTube views, appearance in newspapers, investment, social media presense, Influence and so many other factors.

1. AKON – CEO of Konvict Music, opened doors with other African artiste
2. DON JAZZY - Producer. CEO Mavin Records, Influential producer, MTN, Samsung and Loyal Milk endorsement. D’Banj, Kanye West, Beyonce and Jay Z on production credit
3. P SQUARE – Music Duo. Featured on Forbes Africa twice, sold out concert, presidential guest in at least 5 African countries, they fly private jet…
4. D’BANJ – Music Artiste. International music brand, GOOD Music deal, Sony Entertainment deal
5. WIZKID – Music Artiste. EME artiste, Starboy CEO, affiliation with Disturbing London, several international collaboration, highest paid Pepsi ambassador in Africa, ambassador of MTN
6. 2FACE IDIBIA – Music Artiste. 10million disc and at least 7million digital sale, multiple ambassador, one campaign… associated with Guinness, Haven Homes, Airtel Worldwide and philantropist – 2face foundation
7.  ANSELMO RALPH - Music Artiste Samsung and Coca Cola ambassador, Angola prince, Perfume line, clothing label, multi million dollar tour bus, Sony artiste
8. SARKODIE –  Rapper. Presidential youth ambassador Ghana, Sark clothing, Samsung ambassador, fan milk Ghana
9. ICE PRINCE – Music Artiste. Six million downloads, 2 studio owner, one foundation member, Plug N Play ambassador, Zamani foundation
10. BANKY W – Music Artiste. Co owner EME, Samsung Ambassador, Philanthropist, multiple award winner

"Marrying Hon Makinde Is A Dream Come True' - 23-Year-Old Beauty Queen

23 year old former Miss Osun State, Oyebanke Oyelami who got married to 48 year old politician Hon Rotimi Makinde on Saturday August 24th says it's a dream come true.

"Marrying him is a dream come true. My joy is unlimited and I am more than fulfilled. I have known him as a very good lover. When I met him, at first I found it difficult to believe he was single as he claimed.

I did all I could to verify his claims and as I moved closer to him, I discovered him to be a very responsible, caring and romantic person.

I have always prayed to God for marrying a man like him. I have always looked forward to meeting a very nice and responsible man who will not only see himself as my husband, but a friend and a father, which Rotimi stands for. I give God all the glory.

LUKAKU LOANED OUT

 
Romelu Lukaku will spend a second season on loan at a Barclays Premier League club with a move to Everton completed.
The 20-year-old striker's season at Goodison Park will follow on from a year of significant progress at West Bromwich Albion when he featured in 38 games and scored 17 goals, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in the Premier League since Michael Owen in 1998/99.
Lukaku, who is in the Belgium squad for their World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Friday, made three substitute appearances for Chelsea at the start of this season and since joining from Anderlecht in the summer of 2011, has made a total of four starts and 11 substitute appearances for the Blues

PHOTOS: Beverly Osu's Stunning Look @ Her Welcome Back Party In Lagos

Beverly Osu's Stunning Look @ Her Welcome Back Party In Lagos

 

Last Friday, 30th August 2013, a welcome back party was held for our dear Big Brother Africa The Chase ousemates Beverly and Melvin at D’Marquee, Victoria Island, Lagos.

And for the event, Beverly stepped out looking this great. Melvin too in a blue blazer, a pale pink shirt and dark navy pants. See more pics below:

 

 

 

Singer Praiz Acquires New 2013 Model Mercedes Benz

  The Music star, Praiz, who rose into fame through MTN Project fame reality showz just shared via his Instagram a photo of his new Mercedes Benz 2013C-Class 2013 car.

Tope Alabi’s enstranged spiritual father, Prophet Ajanaku resurrects after being certified dead

Like a proverbial cat with nine lives, controversial pastor and estranged spiritual father of popular gospel singer, Tope Alabi, Prophet Iretiola Ajanaku is said to have regained life after being certified dead.
   Hospital sources revealed that while effort were being made to prepare him for morgue, the man, who has refused to die, awoke and shouted ‘Thank You Jesus!’ and relapsed into a spiritual slumber.
Meanwhile, his wife, we gathered, has been telling sympathisers that “I knew daddy would come back to life again.” Right now, we cannot categorically tell you if the man will awake again or not.

Another report has it that, while preparations were in top gear to get his body deposited at a nearby morgue, a medical doctor was said to have been contacted to certify him dead and get a death certificate but they were shocked when the doctor declared that the man still has live in his body. For now his inner members are insisting that the prophet should be left till Friday, believing that he would have come back fully to life. So the waiting continues.
Prophet Ajanaku who is famous with popular gospel singer Tope Alabi’s fame was recently in the public eye when he opened up that the singer had demanded s*x from him.
Source: Nigeriafilm

“You’re a fool – 2face’s wife tells fan who vowed to kiss her

Some overzealous fans are gradually making some Nigerian celebs loose their tempers on social media networks. Few days ago, it was Wizkid who got into the trap and today, it is the wife of 2Face Idibia, Annie Macaulay.
 
After posting her recent picture online taken with her only daughter, Isabela, a fan (name withheld), wrote, “that mouth of hers I will kiss it one day, I promise her that.”

The post to the up and coming actress on the popular social media platform, twitter, got a harsh response from her. Annie replied, “you are a fool, get off my page, sick man.”

Actress Ngozi Ezeonu responds to critics ”I am not ill, I feel great”

 
When Actress Ngozi Ezeonu’s recent pictures hit the internet, there were insinuations about her being ill and not looking nice.
Well, the actress has debunked such claims, she’s insisted that she is very fine and healthy.
”I am not sick I have been battling with my weight for ten years and i have finally achieved what i want. I am not sick, it is my choice to loose some weight and i pulled it off. I feel good. Loosing weight takes a lot of discipline” she disclosed in a recent interview with celebrity blogger, SDK.
Read the interview conversation below:

How did you pull it off?
”I cut off eating a lot of things,i was addicted to coca cola,juice and  i cut off all that,i also stopped eating banana altogether,it took a lot of discipline.i stopped eating too much carbohydrates and i eat more of proteins and a lot of veggies…a lot”
So you are not ill?
”i wonder why they will think i am ill when my skin is glowing and when i feel good..when people are used to see you looking fat and they see all the fat gone,their eyes plays tricks on them”
Whats the secret of your glowing skin’
”i didn’t do anything,i don’t even do facials,i don’t even have a cleanser.i just drink lots of water and dont forget i am light skinned”

Oboabona agrees 4-year deal with Caykur Rizespor

 

The Super Eagles defender has finally agreed terms with the Turkish top division side and is set to be presented officially on Thursday

Super Eagles defender Godfrey Oboabona will be officially unveiled as a player for Turkish side Caykur Rizespor on Thursday after he agreed terms with the club and passed his medical on Wednesday.
The Sunshine Stars captain has been a mainstay of the national team – playing all the matches and every minute for the Super Eagles as the team won the Nations Cup.
Caykur Rizespor released a statement on their official site that: “Premier League team of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Team player Godfrey Oboabona Itama Sunshine Stars stopper born 16.08.1990 in all matters of principle, an agreement was made with the club.”
The sale is reportedly for 650,000 Euros.

Manchester United submit £35m joint bid for Fellaini & Baines

  The Premier League champions have come back in for the Everton pair after seeing previous bids - described by the Toffees as "derisory and insulting" - rejected
 By Greg Stobart

Manchester United have launched an improved £35 million double bid for Everton pair Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines on Thursday.

The fresh bid values the Belgian midfielder at £20m and the left-back at £15m after the Toffees rejected a "derisory and insulting" initial offer worth £28m for the pair a week previously.

United's offer values Fellaini at less than the £23.5m release clause that expired in July but sources have told Goal that the Old Trafford club have set a £20m ceiling for the 25-year-old and that there is no room for manoeuvre.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has publicly stated his desire to keep both players at Goodison Park but the Spaniard wants the situation resolved quickly so that he can re-invest in the squad before the close
of the transfer window.
United manager David Moyes is a huge fan of Fellaini and Baines, having worked with them at Everton before replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford at the end of last season.

The Red Devils boss is prepared to pursue a separate deal for Baines should the Toffees reject United's final bid for Fellaini.

The Scot believes that Everton need the money from the sale of at least one of their star players this summer, with the Merseyside club lining up a move for Wigan winger Callum McManaman.

Moyes put Fellaini and Baines at the top of his target list, having failed this summer with his pursuit of Thiago and Cesc Fabregas.

Everton responded angrily to United's first bid, with director of communications Alan Myers saying: "Those bids were rejected out of hand as derisory and insulting.

"The club did not make public these details as it was vital Roberto Martinez's preparations for the opening game of the Premier League season were not disrupted in any way."

Everton were particularly angered that United did not improve on the £12m that they offered for Baines, 28, in June while the £16m valuation of Fellaini fell well below the now-expired buyout clause.
 

Chelsea to do striker deal with La Liga side

Chelsea striker Demba Ba is a target for Malaga, but they will only make a move if they miss out on tea,-mate Romelu Lukaku
Malaga will turn to Demba Ba as a secondary target if their first proves to be unsuccessful, but look unlikely to be able to persuade Chelsea to let him leave on loan.
A deal worth £8m for Ba would be enough to let him leave the Premier League, which they paid for him last year, but Malaga will find it difficult to launch such a bid because of their current financial situation. (Daily Star)
Ba is seemingly done at the blues and a move away may be the best thing for him

Premier League: Paul Lambert says Aston Villa should have had penalty at Chelsea

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has suggested Chelsea would have been awarded a penalty if an incident similar to John Terry's apparent handball had occured in their home box on Wednesday.

Lambert felt his side were denied a clear penalty in their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge when Terry appeared to block Gabriel Agbonlahor's header with his arm.
The Villa boss also insists Branislav Ivanovic should have seen red for catching Christian Benteke with his arm, the winning goalscorer instead receiving a booking.
Lambert, speaking about referee Kevin Friend, said: "I spoke to Kevin afterwards, and obviously what is said in there stays in there. But I didn't need to speak to him really.
"It was a clear handball. It's a stone-waller, a clear penalty. I don't care what anyone says, that is a penalty.
"Gabby has won the header and it has hit John's hand. I'm pretty sure if it
had been down the other end, it would have been given."

No Mourinho rift

Lambert also played down claims of a rift between himself and Mourinho after heated discussions appeared to take place in the technical area.
The 44-year-old added: "I think there has been a lot made of me and Jose in the technical area. There was the odd little thing, but there was a lot of banter between us.
"The two of us were shouting at referees and officials and everything. I'm not going to go there and lie down, and neither is Jose.
"A lot has been made of me moaning - he does his fair share as well, just to
let you know. It is not a problem. We had a bit of banter between us and I saw him afterwards.
"I like him and he is a brilliant football manager. There was never a prob

Ogbonna: Champions League vital to Juventus move

 

The defender says that a switch to the Bianconeri made perfect sense and hopes that the transfer will boost his Italy national team hopes

Angelo Ogbonna revealed the promise of Champions League football was key in him signing for Juventus.
The Serie A champions parted with €13 million to sign the Italy international from local rivals Torino last week, with Ogbonna penning a five-year deal at the Juventus Stadium.
The Old Lady secured their second straight league title last season meaning they will once more feature in the Champions League, something Ogbonna labelled crucial in his decision to join the club.
"Playing in the Champions League is the ambition of every youngster. I hope I'll be able to have the opportunity," he told reporters.
"There are great teams in the Champions League and we'll work hard to prepare ourselves for that particular challenge."
The 25-year-old revealed his move was motivated by ambitions of improving his career both domestically and on the international stage, and said he has been well received by the supporters.
"Moving here fits in perfectly with my ambitions," he continued. "The only team who really wanted me was Juventus, no one else.
"I've joined a great team comprised of many champions. I'll look to do my best and find a place in the side.
"Playing alongside my new team-mates could also help me as far as my progress with the national team is concerned."

Mikel Obi: How to strike a balance for Chelsea and Nigeria

 

The midfielder needs to find a balance between being an attacking player for his country and a defensive Trojan for the Blues

ANALYSIS
By Babajide Alaka | Deputy Editor
Mikel Obi can be described as a player with multiple personalities. He performs as one kind of midfielder for Chelsea and a totally different kind for the Super Eagles.
As club and country are miles apart in their physical locations, so the performance of Mikel is widely different when he is in the blue of his club and when he is adorning the green of his fatherland.
You can see Mikel the introvert at Stamford Bridge and the extrovert when he plays for Nigeria. But why is he so different?

At Chelsea, it has been ingrained in him to win the ball and release it, but under Stephen Keshi, he has been given the freedom to assert and make the plays for his team.

Mikel has helped Chelsea win major trophies in the last six seasons

He confirmed this in a recent interview where he said he has to find a balance for his future: "I always try to do what my coaches tell me. At Chelsea, I have to play for the team and be more defensive but in Nigeria, the coach allows me to express myself and I enjoy myself.
"Now, I have to find a balance between the two because it is important for my future,” Mikel added.
But it all could have been so different. At the time when the ownership tussle raged in 2006 between Chelsea and Manchester United, little could we see into the future that the attacking gem would be turned into a defensive stalwart.
Jose Mourinho was just into the Chelsea saddle and was building an all-conquering side that did more than win – they tried to pulverize opponents which meant that there was no need for more than five passes from one end of the pitch to the other. Then there was the enigmatic Claude Makelele (who gave his name to the position in defensive midfield) from whom Mikel was supposed to take over.
That in itself was the start of a downward spiral in the offensive abilities of the spindly young man that had wowed the fans and Nigerians at the 2005 U20 Fifa World Cup in the Netherlands.
At that championship, he was second only to the inimitable Lionel Messi, who has gone on to win four consecutive World Player of the Year awards while Mikel has never been nominated for that exalted award.

Mikel at the Confederations Cup was a sheer delight to behold

Though there is no denying the fact that no one can say for sure what he would have transformed into at United because there is the example of Anderson, hailed as the next Ronaldinho when he was in Portugal but his career has been stifled at Old Trafford where he has been turned from a purely offensive player into one whose attacking qualities have been nullified.
For Chelsea, the midfield has been built around Frank Lampard – a player that scores like a striker and in the event that he is to do what he does, there will always be pockets of space that can be exploited by opponents in the midfield when he goes forward so the likes of Mikel have to keep the shape and that takes away any offensive traits.
Though he has been widely acknowledged as a player that plays well in the big games – Mikel showed in Brazil that he just needs the conducive environment to show off his attacking nous as the goal against Uruguay had him doing a Kanuesque dribble on Diego Lugano while the left-footed curler was simply sublime.
But what stands out in his performances for Nigeria in Brazil was the fact that he was getting near and into opponents’ boxes which almost never happens when he is playing for Chelsea. He again showed this in the game against Spain in which he almost scored but his shot was blocked.

The difference really is in meters – Mikel needs to add more meters to his mileage when he plays for Chelsea in the Premiership – if he stays, and then he will be become the same kind of player for club and country.

Chelsea miss out in transfer pursuit

Speculation has been rife in the Football Transfer Tavern all summer about the possible destination of Napoli striker Edinson Cavani with Chelsea though to be major contenders for the Uruguayan’s signature.
But in recent weeks it has become increasingly unlikely and today’s edition of The Express confirms that Cavani will instead join Paris Saint-Germain after he passed a medical ahead of a whopping £55 million switch.
The highly coveted striker, 26, has undertaken a medical with the Parisian club and will be unveiled as a PSG player at a press conference tomorrow after the French club decided to pay him a massive £8.5 million-a-season.
This news comes as another blow for Chelsea and returning boss Jose Mourinho who had outlined a move for Cavani this summer  as he seeks to find a keynote signing to add more goals to his current strikeforce of Demba Ba and Fernando Torres.
Mourinho is also likely to lose out on the signing of Borussia Dortmund ace Robert Lewandowski who looks set to join Bayern Munich next summer while another target, Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao has already joined Monaco.
This leaves the Blues without the top class striker Mourinho craves and that could see the club moving for Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke, 22, who could be available for around £25 million this summer.

Diary: Oneal wants Elikem out of the House

Can you feel the burn? Things are heating up in the Ruby House. Today crafty Tswana fellow, Oneal shared his game plan with Biggie and Elikem is at the centre of it all.
Just yesterday the self-proclaimed deep thinker told Biggie that he can easily ”out smart and out think” the Ghanaian and today he echoed those same sentiments and elaborated a bit more on his plans for the young actor.
“My plan is to get rid of him from the House,” confessed the Ruby lad during his Diary session this afternoon. The radio personality was quick to clarify that he has nothing personal against Elikem or his girl Pokello.
But as he put it, he just refuses to be intimidated by people because of the region that they come from. The talkative Ruby also shared that him saving Elikem from Evictions last week was all part of his master plan. He said: “I wanted to keep him in the House and I wanted him to know that I am keeping him in the House so that he lets his guard down. As soon as he lets his guard down that is when I will strike.” Woo child!
During his Diary session yesterday, he said that the 24 year old Accra guy had gone around saying that he is the smartest person in The Chase and that he will be smarter than the 33 year old when he is that age, which is what started this whole plot against Elikem. Today he revealed that it was his woman Feza that Elikem had apparently said this too.
Are you excited to see where Oneal’s plot will lead; Yes or No

Kcee Finally Reveals The Meaning Of ‘Limpopo’

For those of you trying to decode the mystery of ‘Limpopo’, the stylish artiste finally revealed the meaning during the live chat, “Limpopo just means ‘Lets have fun’, he said. “It's a ‘feel good song’ and I really appreciate how my fans have so quickly taken to it.”
Did you guess it right? I "thought" it meant ... to do badt thing!!!

Timaya Blasts OAP On Air

The Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa might like his music fast paced and energetic but when he talks, he wants you to listen, and listen carefully.

So, while trying to explain the finer points of his argument during a live programme at Blaze FM Nnewi , he was rushed off a question one time too many-the artiste wasn't having any part of it! 

Timaya made sure to make his feelings known right on air!


“Why do you journalists (OAPs) always cut people off”, he demanded, “You ask one question and won’t allow people to ‘land’ before asking another? 

Suitably chastised, his host JJ, graciously allowed the artiste to have the ‘mic’, leading to fifteen hilarious minutes as the jovial artiste and Kcee, took their fans on a quick rundown of StarMusic Trek’s 10 city 10 week concert currently touring round the country.

Timaya and Kcee made a brief stop at top radio station BlazeFM, before heading to Beverly Hills Resort Nnewi to perform at the 6th leg of the on going Star Music Trek nationwide concert.

Nigeria under fire for hosting al-Bashir

Posted by: Yusuf Alli in Featured, News 15 hours ago 33 Comments

•Govt: he’s AU’s guest
THERE was outrage yesterday over Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir’s presence in Nigeria. al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague is in Abuja attending the Africa Union (AU) summit on HIV/AIDS.
International and local organisations are calling on the Federal Government to arrest him in Abuja.
The United Kingdom (UK) also berated the Federal Government for hosting him.
But the government has said it will not order al-Bashir’s arrest because he is a guest of the AU and not that of the government.
The UK Foreign Office Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds, expressed disappointment that Nigeria chose to allow al-Bashir to attend the summit.
The Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court (NCICC) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to seek arrest warrant against al-Bashir.
Mark Simmonds said: “The UK has a strong and abiding bilateral relationship with Nigeria. I am therefore disappointed that Nigeria has chosen to host President al-Bashir of Sudan at an African Union event, despite International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
“This undermines the work of the ICC and sends the victims a dismaying message that the accountability they are waiting for will be delayed further.
“The British Government takes seriously its obligations as a State Party to the Rome Statute and consistently urges other State Parties in all parts of the world to do the same.”
The NCICC called for al-Bashir’s “immediate arrest and surrender to the trial chambers of the International Criminal Court in The Hague for atrocity crimes in Darfur with which he is charged.”
The coalition made the demands in a statement in Abuja by its Steering committee Chairman Chino Obiagwu; Vice Chair Dr Abiola Akiyode and Treasurer Mrs. Oby Nwankwo.
“The judiciary in this country has the responsibility to implement legal obligations created by treaties undertaken by Nigeria. As a state party to the Rome statute of the ICC, Nigeria is under legal obligation to execute within its national jurisdiction the arrest warrants issued by the trial chamber of the ICC against Mr. al-Bashir while in its national territory.
“It is not an excuse that African Union is calling its members not to cooperate with the ICC. The obligation of State Parties to the ICC, who have ratified the treaty, is stronger and legally binding than mere resolution of the African Union. Moreso, a Nigerian judge is in the chambers of the ICC.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent urgent request to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Ms Fatou Bensouda, requesting her to “use your good offices and position to urgently refer the Nigerian government to the UN Security Council for failing to arrest President Omar Al-Bashir and surrender him to the International Criminal Court to face fair trial on the charges against him.”
In the petition dated 15 July 2013 and signed by Solicitor to SERAP Femi Falana, SAN, the organisation stated: “Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, having ratified the Statute in September 2001. Under Article 87, the ICC Prosecutor can refer a state party that refuses to cooperate with a request from the ICC to the Assembly of States Parties or, where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court as in this case, to the Security Council.”
The organization said: “President Omar Al-Bashir is currently in Abuja attending a conference. SERAP notes that the International Criminal Court already issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.”
But Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday said al-Bashir is in Nigeria at the instance of the AU.
He said Nigeria has no choice than to remain committed to the decision of the AU.
Ashiru, who spoke with our correspondent from Brazil, said: “Remember AU in 2009 passed a resolution not to cooperate with the ICC on indictment of President Al Bashir.
“He is therefore not in Nigeria at our instance. Nigeria’s commitment to AU remains firm.”
The 2009 Resolution of the AU reads: “[The AU] decides that in view of the fact that a request of the African Union [to defer al-Bashir’s indictment] has never been acted upon, the AU member states shall not co-operate pursuant to the provisions of Article 98 of the Rome Statute of the ICC relating to immunities for the arrest and surrender of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to the ICC.”

NDLEA Transferred N93bn, 70 Cases Seized From Traffickers to EFCC – Mr. Ahmadu Giade

Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, on Monday said the agency transferred over N93.1bn it seized from traffickers to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from 2006 to date.
Giade, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes in Abuja, told the lawmakers that the anti-graft agency handed over 70 case files to the EFCC for prosecution.
He, however, said only three of the cases had been successfully concluded by the EFCC to the knowledge of the NDLEA.
The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Adams Jagaba, is investigating the status of assets seized or recovered by the EFCC till date.
A breakdown of the money the NDLEA handed over to the EFCC included N27.8m; $2.8m; $7.1m (fake); £20.3m; £188m (fake); €11,266; €6,400 (fake); and CFA93.7m. The total money is about N93.1bn.
Giade informed the committee that by procedure, the NDLEA was required to transfer all seized assets and suspects’ case files to the EFCC for prosecution.
He explained that the role of the NDLEA ended at this point.
Giade said, “We normally send our returns with a covering letters and the case files, which are stamped ‘received’ and we keep our copies.”

He gave the breakdown of the cases as follows: 2006 (12); 2007 (14); 2008 (21); 2009 (12); 2010 (3); 2011 (4); and January 2013 to date (1).
However, the EFCC’s Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, failed to turn up at the sitting of the committee on Monday.
He wrote the committee, saying he would not be available, a decision that members of the committee frowned on.
Speaking for the committee, Jagaba said Lamorde was taking lawmakers for a ride and did not seem to appreciate the importance of the investigation.
The committee summoned Lamorde to appear before it unfailingly on Wednesday (tomorrow).
His predecessors, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu and Mrs. Farida Waziri, also shunned the committee’s sitting.

Mba finally returned to Warri Wolves

Afcon 2013 hero, Sunday Mba has finally returned to Warri Wolves. In a landmark meeting between the player and representatives of the Warri-based club in Lagos yesterday, the following terms were reached.
1) MBA accepts fully the ruling of the NFF and that Warri Wolves have full control of his contractual rights.
2) Despite the NFF ruling over two months ago Rangers international FC have not been unable to meet the terms of transfer requested by Warri Wolves.

3) Realising that the player needs to continue to play at the highest possible level and in the highest profile competitions and in keeping with Warri Wolves policy to encourage to the best of their ability the career paths of their players and in order not to jeopardize the international career of the player the club have agreed to allow the player to continue to play for Rangers pending his inevitable move to a club abroad.
The loan move to Rangers International does not have any financial obligation attached to it.

Mourinho gunning for victory in all four competitions this season

BANGKOK – Jose Mourinho said Tuesday Chelsea would be gunning for victory in all four competitions this season as he prepared to kick off his second spell in charge with a friendly in Bangkok.
The 50-year-old Portuguese said there were “no priorities” for Chelsea as they tackle the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, following their pre-season tour of Asia and the United States.
“The next match is the important one. If our next match is the Champions League, the Champions League is our competition,” Mourinho told a press conference.
“And the same with the Cups because we know what the English Cups mean, especially the FA. And we want to play every competition with this mentality — so for us, no priorities.”
Mourinho won back-to-back Premier League trophies, the FA Cup and two League Cups during his first time in London. But the Champions League, which he has lifted with Porto and Inter Milan, remained elusive.
He named Manchester United and Manchester City, the two most recent winners of the Premier League and both also under new management, as his main competition in England.
“In European football we have more candidates (to win the Champions League) and because of that it’s more difficult to win, but we want to be there and we will be fighting for it,” Mourinho added.
Mourinho said he would try to instill a winning culture from his very first game on Wednesday — against the Singha All-Star XI, who shocked Manchester United 1-0 last week in David Moyes’s debut game in charge.

The Portuguese, known for his meticulous attention to detail, said he had sent his assistant to scout Saturday’s game and give him a tactical blueprint of the opponents, whom he rated as dangerous.
“I don’t like to lose, the players don’t like to lose… for sure, tomorrow my boys will try to get a result,” he said. “Losing is not a drama, losing doesn’t change anything in the team. But it’s not nice, we don’t like it.
“Winning is part of the culture and if you can do that even in friendly matches, you have to do it.”
Mourinho also deflected the latest transfer speculation, which includes links with Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney, Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke and even former Chelsea ace Didier Drogba, 35.
“Managers of big clubs are connected with everybody until August 31,” he said, referring to the end of the July-August transfer window.
“That’s the old story in football: rumours and rumours and rumours, and at the end of the day after so many rumours, something becomes true.
“But in this moment I’m so happy with the people I have here that I’m not thinking about other players.” AFP

After 81 days of inactivity, polytechnic students across the country are expected to return to their classrooms as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspends its strike today.

Protest: Polytechnic students protesting against ongoing nationwide strike, on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday.

The ASUP Chairman, Dr. Chibuzor Asumogba, told Vanguard in a phone interview that the decision was made by the National Executive Committee of the Union as a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representative on Education.
He said the union gave the government representatives one month to accede to their demands and release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics.
The ASUP Chairman however, called on all lecturers to go back to work. “All lecturers are to resume work at their various institutions today”, He said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/asup-suspends-strike/#sthash.6Mxl2Ewr.dpuf

After 81 days of inactivity, polytechnic students across the country are expected to return to their classrooms as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspends its strike today.

Protest: Polytechnic students protesting against ongoing nationwide strike, on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, yesterday.

The ASUP Chairman, Dr. Chibuzor Asumogba, told Vanguard in a phone interview that the decision was made by the National Executive Committee of the Union as a result of the intervention of the Joint committee of the Senate and House of Representative on Education.
He said the union gave the government representatives one month to accede to their demands and release the white paper on the visitation panel to federal polytechnics.
The ASUP Chairman however, called on all lecturers to go back to work. “All lecturers are to resume work at their various institutions today”, He said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/asup-suspends-strike/#sthash.6Mxl2Ewr.dpuf