A story is told of a country- the country called Niagaria. Blessed
with human and natural resources. A giant in its own right, holding its place among the comity of nations as a force to reckon with.
As great as this country was, it had a government that controlled the affairs of its people. The head of this government who doubled as the president of the nation was a certain Mr. Jolatan.
Folklore from our ancestors reveal that Mr. Jolatan was a known
glutton- he loved food. It was also on record that he consumed 1billion
maira ("Maira" was the currency used by the people of Niagaria) worth
of food a year and was cluless as the word "clueless" could mean.
But Mr. Jolatan was a man of action. And because of this, he was
greatly loved by the citizens of the country. One of such actions
which Mr. Jolatan was admired for was his love for the setting up of
committees.
No sooner had an event/incident occured in the country, and a
committee would be hurridely set up to "look into the matter and
submit a white paper" (as if they would ever use a green one).
When the men of evil and destruction (an islamic extremist group
called the Moko-Baram) came calling, in his usual character, Mr.
Jolatan set up a committee to come up with "lasting solutions to the
matter". Nothing was heard of the findings thereafter.
Despite the obvious futility recorded by the "committee approach", and being a naturally stubborn person, Mr. Jolatan stuck to his guns and
continued to keep faith in its success like a certain Ambriomavich in a fooballer of that time called Tolles.
In the long run, the faith paid off. The result was the establishment
of more committees and the stacking of the presidential library with white papers. Thus, A4 white papers became scarce and very expensive
to obtain by those who made a living from the printing business.
It was therefore not uncommon to find committees for Works and
Transport; Youth and Social Development and a committee for sport.
Other committees set up include a Committee to look into the breakfast of the President making sure he ate balanced diet in the mornings; a committee to inspect the broken toilet seat of the presidential villa and a special sub-committee (whatever that means) to inspect the beans
seedlings in the garden of the first lady, all at the expenses of tax payers.
Funny as this may sound, it was actually true. My grandpa who told me this story couldn't have been lying.
Citizens, likewise patriots of the country who tried telling
president that his actions were not bringing the desired results were persecuted and considered traitors.
Money was fleeced from the country at an alarming rate and
poverty continued to grip the nation by the throat, the country lost its greatness and became an object of riddicle.
This is the story of Naigaria as was passed down to me by the elders. Indeed, there was a country.
(the writer can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
Friday, 30 November 2012
Thursday, 29 November 2012
THE YEAR OF THE LORD
Thus sayeth the Lord of Host: "A year cometh, and quickly so; a year
where in the first day of the first month, there shall be a
revolution."
"An uprising shall occur- an uprising by the downtrodden against the
marginalization by the clueless cabal whose stock in trade is embeded
in lies, oppression and treachery."
"A declaration shall ring out throughout the land and the days of
"all-hands-must-be-on-deck-to-bring-the-culprits-to-book' would be
forgotten."
"The sons and daughters of the oppressed shall arise and there shall
be a great quake in the land; unheard of in years recent.
"The prophets and the ministers of Baal camouflaging as 'the Lord's
anoited' shall be cast away. Great woe shall follow those materialists
who prance on the sacred altar of God laying up treasures on earth
where moth and rot can feast on them.
"Cursed also is he who is brainwashed by their false teachings as they
shall be rejected in the Synagogue. And the Lord of Host, who is the
'I AM', shall defend His people, saving them from misleading
doctrines- signs of the last days.
"Casting away shall be the lot of the children of the Levities, the
Jebusites, the Reuben Abatities, the Obasanjoites, the Jonathanites,
the Allison Mauekeites, the Amorites and the Babangidaites.
"The Lord in His splendor, majesty and awesomeness shall fight for His
people and reduce to nothing by pursuing, overtaking and destroying
the generation and descendants of evil- Boko Haram.
"There would be great peace and tranquility in all the land and He
shall restore by a hundred fold what was lost.
"The year of revolution shall herald the end of election-rigging as no
one would be deemed above the law. The standards of the Lord shall be
upheld and His fear shall reside in the hearts of the people.
"Corruption, sayeth the Alpha and Omega, shall be confined to the
history books as perpetrators shall be severely punish without fear or
favour.
"The year of the Lord is near and His judgement shall be on His people
with a heavy hand."
Let he who has ears, hear and put to use what the Lord Almighty has decreed.
*This piece was inspired by Segun Dada's "Thus Sayeth The Clueless King".
where in the first day of the first month, there shall be a
revolution."
"An uprising shall occur- an uprising by the downtrodden against the
marginalization by the clueless cabal whose stock in trade is embeded
in lies, oppression and treachery."
"A declaration shall ring out throughout the land and the days of
"all-hands-must-be-on-deck-to-bring-the-culprits-to-book' would be
forgotten."
"The sons and daughters of the oppressed shall arise and there shall
be a great quake in the land; unheard of in years recent.
"The prophets and the ministers of Baal camouflaging as 'the Lord's
anoited' shall be cast away. Great woe shall follow those materialists
who prance on the sacred altar of God laying up treasures on earth
where moth and rot can feast on them.
"Cursed also is he who is brainwashed by their false teachings as they
shall be rejected in the Synagogue. And the Lord of Host, who is the
'I AM', shall defend His people, saving them from misleading
doctrines- signs of the last days.
"Casting away shall be the lot of the children of the Levities, the
Jebusites, the Reuben Abatities, the Obasanjoites, the Jonathanites,
the Allison Mauekeites, the Amorites and the Babangidaites.
"The Lord in His splendor, majesty and awesomeness shall fight for His
people and reduce to nothing by pursuing, overtaking and destroying
the generation and descendants of evil- Boko Haram.
"There would be great peace and tranquility in all the land and He
shall restore by a hundred fold what was lost.
"The year of revolution shall herald the end of election-rigging as no
one would be deemed above the law. The standards of the Lord shall be
upheld and His fear shall reside in the hearts of the people.
"Corruption, sayeth the Alpha and Omega, shall be confined to the
history books as perpetrators shall be severely punish without fear or
favour.
"The year of the Lord is near and His judgement shall be on His people
with a heavy hand."
Let he who has ears, hear and put to use what the Lord Almighty has decreed.
*This piece was inspired by Segun Dada's "Thus Sayeth The Clueless King".
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, ZIG ZIGLAR DIES AT 82
Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar , whowrote more than 30 books on
living a balanced life, has died in Texas. He was 86.
Ziglar, who had been suffering from pneumonia, died Wednesday at a
hospital in the Dallas suburb of Plano, said his personal assistant,
Jay Hellwig.
With an aim at helping people achieve success in their careers and
personal lives, in addition to a focus on Christianity, Ziglar was a
prolific speaker who appeared at events alongside world leaders
including several U.S. presidents and former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher.
"Mr. Ziglar was the same guy behind the closed doors as he was
preparing for his presentations to thousands of people that he was
when we were sitting at the kitchen table and he was reading the
newspaper," Hellwig said.
Ziglar started his fulltime career in motivational speaking when he
was in his 40s. His first book, "See You at the Top," was published in
1975, when he was 49.
"He got saved at the age of 42, which means that he accepted Jesus
Christ as his savior," Hellwig said. "Ever since that day is what he
said was the turning point of his life. The last 41 years of his life
he lived fully with that as his mission."
"He also had the uncanny ability to make everyone he ran into feel
like they were his friend," Hellwig said.
Ziglar was a World War II veteran who grew up in Yazoo City, Miss.,
and then went to workin sales for a series of companies, where his
interest in motivational speaking grew, according to his Plano-based
company's website. Hellwig said Ziglar moved to Dallas inthe late
1960s.
Ziglar's company, which features more than adozen speakers advocating
the "Ziglar Way," offers motivation and performance training.
His book, "Confessions of a Grieving Christian," was written after the
1995 death of his oldest daughter, Suzan, at the age of 46.
After a 2007 fall down a flight of stairs left him with a brain
injury, Ziglar, along with another daughter, Julie Ziglar Norman,
wrote"Embrace the Struggle," a book that describedhow his life changed
after the injury.
In addition to his daughter, Ziglar is survived by his wife Jean, with
whom he celebrated 66years of marriage on Monday; his son, Tom Ziglar;
and daughter Cindy Oates.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
living a balanced life, has died in Texas. He was 86.
Ziglar, who had been suffering from pneumonia, died Wednesday at a
hospital in the Dallas suburb of Plano, said his personal assistant,
Jay Hellwig.
With an aim at helping people achieve success in their careers and
personal lives, in addition to a focus on Christianity, Ziglar was a
prolific speaker who appeared at events alongside world leaders
including several U.S. presidents and former British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher.
"Mr. Ziglar was the same guy behind the closed doors as he was
preparing for his presentations to thousands of people that he was
when we were sitting at the kitchen table and he was reading the
newspaper," Hellwig said.
Ziglar started his fulltime career in motivational speaking when he
was in his 40s. His first book, "See You at the Top," was published in
1975, when he was 49.
"He got saved at the age of 42, which means that he accepted Jesus
Christ as his savior," Hellwig said. "Ever since that day is what he
said was the turning point of his life. The last 41 years of his life
he lived fully with that as his mission."
"He also had the uncanny ability to make everyone he ran into feel
like they were his friend," Hellwig said.
Ziglar was a World War II veteran who grew up in Yazoo City, Miss.,
and then went to workin sales for a series of companies, where his
interest in motivational speaking grew, according to his Plano-based
company's website. Hellwig said Ziglar moved to Dallas inthe late
1960s.
Ziglar's company, which features more than adozen speakers advocating
the "Ziglar Way," offers motivation and performance training.
His book, "Confessions of a Grieving Christian," was written after the
1995 death of his oldest daughter, Suzan, at the age of 46.
After a 2007 fall down a flight of stairs left him with a brain
injury, Ziglar, along with another daughter, Julie Ziglar Norman,
wrote"Embrace the Struggle," a book that describedhow his life changed
after the injury.
In addition to his daughter, Ziglar is survived by his wife Jean, with
whom he celebrated 66years of marriage on Monday; his son, Tom Ziglar;
and daughter Cindy Oates.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK: DON JAZZY
Michael Collins Ajereh (born November 26, 1982), better known as Don Jazzy , is a Nigerian Multi award-winning record producer , singer - songwriter , musician , former CEO of Nigerian record label Mo' Hits Records founded in 2004 and current CEO of the Mavin Records label which he founded in May 2012 after his split up with childhood friend and Mo'Hits partner, D'banj.
Born in Umuahia in Abia state, his first signing was D'banj who was at that time also the Vice-President of the label and now President after split.
Don Jazzy's first full credit production work was in 2004 on Tongolo for Nigerian singer D'banj.He went on to produce D'banj's first studio album titled No Long Thing released in 2005.
He has produced tracks for Dr SID , Wande Coal , D'Prince , Darey , Naeto C , Sauce Kid , Ikechukwu & Tiwa Savage .
He also collaborated with Jay-Z and Kanye West on theproduction of Lift Off , featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne , released on August 8, 2011.
He recently was rated as the 36th. "Most powerful celebrity in Africa" according to Forbes
Born in Umuahia in Abia state, his first signing was D'banj who was at that time also the Vice-President of the label and now President after split.
Don Jazzy's first full credit production work was in 2004 on Tongolo for Nigerian singer D'banj.He went on to produce D'banj's first studio album titled No Long Thing released in 2005.
He has produced tracks for Dr SID , Wande Coal , D'Prince , Darey , Naeto C , Sauce Kid , Ikechukwu & Tiwa Savage .
He also collaborated with Jay-Z and Kanye West on theproduction of Lift Off , featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne , released on August 8, 2011.
He recently was rated as the 36th. "Most powerful celebrity in Africa" according to Forbes
5 TIPS ON WRITING WITH RYTHM
1. Alternate Sentence Length
Vary the word count for your sentences — not mathematically, not analytically, but naturally, organically. Introduce a comical character with a statement that resembles a clumsy person stumbling down a stairway — then bring the headlong descent to a sudden stop with a concise comment. Describe a tortuous bureaucratic procedure with a run-on-and-on sentence, and then figuratively snap your fingers at it with a brusque reaction.
For inspiration, listen to a musical composition, noting the variety of measures. Do the same with recordings of speeches or comedy routines, and with scenes from films or television programs (fact and fiction alike) — and, of course, with fiction and nonfiction writing.
2. Relocate Words and Phrases
English is a flexible language. Exploit that fact.Though parts of speech have set interrelationships, the relative positions of words representing the categories are negotiable. Shift words and phrases around until the parts of a sentence seem to fall into their preordained places. How? Read your writing aloud, of course.
Note, too, that writers are inclined to introduce the most important element of a sentence at the beginning; the key component should be provided early on, right? Wrong. Where does the punchline go in a joke? Correction: When you tell a joke, where’s the punchline? (Doesn’t that revision read more smoothly?)
3. Embrace Sentence Fragments
The law against incomplete sentences was repealed a long time ago. A very long time ago. As a matter of fact, there never was sucha regulation, except in the hidebound handbooks of grim grammarians. No kidding.People speak in sentence fragments and incomplete sentences all the time, and although writing, except for the most informal prose, should reflect a more carefullyconstructed communication, in all but the most formal writing, judiciously employ truncated statements. Over and out.
4. Match Rhythm to Mood
Let the length and rhythm of a sentence match the mood you wish to impart. A description of a beautiful landscape or an account of a rapturous experience should cascade like a rippling waterfall or undulate with the peaks of valleys of sensual imagery. Longer sentences punctuated with alliteration and assonance and laced with metaphors evoking physical sensations will help readers immerse themselves in the places and events you describe.
Conversely, the sentence structure describing a sequence of events in a thriller or a passagedetailing an exciting incident is probably most effective in brief bursts of short, simple words.
5. Apply Tension and Release
Many musical compositions are paced on the principle of building up to peaks of stress or emotion and a counterpointing relief from that ascent. Writing benefits from the same approach to carrying the reader along on waves of tension and release.
Vary the word count for your sentences — not mathematically, not analytically, but naturally, organically. Introduce a comical character with a statement that resembles a clumsy person stumbling down a stairway — then bring the headlong descent to a sudden stop with a concise comment. Describe a tortuous bureaucratic procedure with a run-on-and-on sentence, and then figuratively snap your fingers at it with a brusque reaction.
For inspiration, listen to a musical composition, noting the variety of measures. Do the same with recordings of speeches or comedy routines, and with scenes from films or television programs (fact and fiction alike) — and, of course, with fiction and nonfiction writing.
2. Relocate Words and Phrases
English is a flexible language. Exploit that fact.Though parts of speech have set interrelationships, the relative positions of words representing the categories are negotiable. Shift words and phrases around until the parts of a sentence seem to fall into their preordained places. How? Read your writing aloud, of course.
Note, too, that writers are inclined to introduce the most important element of a sentence at the beginning; the key component should be provided early on, right? Wrong. Where does the punchline go in a joke? Correction: When you tell a joke, where’s the punchline? (Doesn’t that revision read more smoothly?)
3. Embrace Sentence Fragments
The law against incomplete sentences was repealed a long time ago. A very long time ago. As a matter of fact, there never was sucha regulation, except in the hidebound handbooks of grim grammarians. No kidding.People speak in sentence fragments and incomplete sentences all the time, and although writing, except for the most informal prose, should reflect a more carefullyconstructed communication, in all but the most formal writing, judiciously employ truncated statements. Over and out.
4. Match Rhythm to Mood
Let the length and rhythm of a sentence match the mood you wish to impart. A description of a beautiful landscape or an account of a rapturous experience should cascade like a rippling waterfall or undulate with the peaks of valleys of sensual imagery. Longer sentences punctuated with alliteration and assonance and laced with metaphors evoking physical sensations will help readers immerse themselves in the places and events you describe.
Conversely, the sentence structure describing a sequence of events in a thriller or a passagedetailing an exciting incident is probably most effective in brief bursts of short, simple words.
5. Apply Tension and Release
Many musical compositions are paced on the principle of building up to peaks of stress or emotion and a counterpointing relief from that ascent. Writing benefits from the same approach to carrying the reader along on waves of tension and release.
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
TERRY G DECLARED WANTED BY NIGERIA POLICE
Contoversial singer cum producer, Gabriel Amanyi popularly known as Terry G, has been declared wanted by the Nigeria Police in relation to a hit-and-run incident in Ikeja Lagos, last Friday.
According to reports, Terry G had gone clubbing on Oba Akran Road, Ikeja penultimate Friday with friends when the incident happened.
Eye-witness reports that as Terry G was leaving the premises of the club at the dead of night, he recklessly drove out on high speed without looking and in the process crushed the legs of a funseeker who was identified as Moshood Azeez.
The victim who is a regular caller at the Computer Village Market, Ikeja was rushed tothe General Hospital, Ikeja by good samaritans for medical attention.
The matter was later reported at the MAN Centre Police Station, Wemabod Estate, Ikeja.
Ngozi Braide, Lagos State PPRO who confirmed the incident, said the police will do everything within its power to arrest the singer whose wife just recently put to bed a baby boy.
NYSC MEMBER GETS 8 MONTHS JAIL TERM FOR INTERNET FRAUD
A Lagos High Court in Ikeja on Tuesday sentenced a member of the
National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Ibok Benneth, to eight months
imprisonment for attempting to commit internet fraud.
30-year-old Benneth who is currently undertaking his one-year
mandatory service at Afikpo Local Government Council in EbonyiState
was convicted by Justice Olabisi Akinlade after he pleaded guilty to
the offence on arraignment.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports he hadentered into a plea bargain
agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
the advice of his counsel, Mrs. I. Njoku.
NAN reports that Benneth was arraigned by the EFCC on 10 counts
bordering on forgery and possession of fraudulent document. TheEFCC
counsel, Mrs. Atinuke Daramola said the commission had on July 2
received a petitionfrom one Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa claiming that some
unknown persons had hacked his e-mail account.
"The petitioner said the persons started requesting his mail contacts
to send money into a certain Zenith Bank account no: 2080306452, on
his behalf," Daramola said.
The counsel said that investigations by EFCC operatives at the bank
revealed that the account was owned by Benneth,
She said; "This led to his arrest at his residence located at Plot 2,
Pilot Crescent off Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.
"A search was conducted in his apartment and several forged documents
relating to Union Bank Plc and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) were found in his possession.
"Other correspondence via e-mail to some foreigners, where he claimed
to have won a fictitious European Winning Lottery Programme, was also
found in his laptop".
Daramola said he had admitted to the EFCC operatives in a statement
that he owned the Zenith Bank account and was also involved in other
fraudulent activities on the internet.
She said his offences contravened Sections 6, 8 (b) and 1(3) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria
In her judgment, Akinlade said the sentence would commence from August
28 when he was arrested by the police, adding that Benneth had no
justification for engaging ininternet fraud, stressing that he should
have thought of the consequences of his actions.
"At the age of 30, some of your age mates are married and already
managers with serious responsibilities in some big companies, while
you are still serving.
"Now you have been convicted, which will be reflected in your record.
You should have thought of the consequences before engaging in
fraudulent activities.
"You better go and change because if you go back to fraud, the EFCC
will catch you again and the law will catch up with you," Akinlade
said.
National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Ibok Benneth, to eight months
imprisonment for attempting to commit internet fraud.
30-year-old Benneth who is currently undertaking his one-year
mandatory service at Afikpo Local Government Council in EbonyiState
was convicted by Justice Olabisi Akinlade after he pleaded guilty to
the offence on arraignment.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports he hadentered into a plea bargain
agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on
the advice of his counsel, Mrs. I. Njoku.
NAN reports that Benneth was arraigned by the EFCC on 10 counts
bordering on forgery and possession of fraudulent document. TheEFCC
counsel, Mrs. Atinuke Daramola said the commission had on July 2
received a petitionfrom one Mr. Sam Ohuabunwa claiming that some
unknown persons had hacked his e-mail account.
"The petitioner said the persons started requesting his mail contacts
to send money into a certain Zenith Bank account no: 2080306452, on
his behalf," Daramola said.
The counsel said that investigations by EFCC operatives at the bank
revealed that the account was owned by Benneth,
She said; "This led to his arrest at his residence located at Plot 2,
Pilot Crescent off Bode Thomas, Surulere, Lagos.
"A search was conducted in his apartment and several forged documents
relating to Union Bank Plc and National Drug Law Enforcement Agency
(NDLEA) were found in his possession.
"Other correspondence via e-mail to some foreigners, where he claimed
to have won a fictitious European Winning Lottery Programme, was also
found in his laptop".
Daramola said he had admitted to the EFCC operatives in a statement
that he owned the Zenith Bank account and was also involved in other
fraudulent activities on the internet.
She said his offences contravened Sections 6, 8 (b) and 1(3) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria
In her judgment, Akinlade said the sentence would commence from August
28 when he was arrested by the police, adding that Benneth had no
justification for engaging ininternet fraud, stressing that he should
have thought of the consequences of his actions.
"At the age of 30, some of your age mates are married and already
managers with serious responsibilities in some big companies, while
you are still serving.
"Now you have been convicted, which will be reflected in your record.
You should have thought of the consequences before engaging in
fraudulent activities.
"You better go and change because if you go back to fraud, the EFCC
will catch you again and the law will catch up with you," Akinlade
said.
BREAKING NEWS: BOKO HARAM FINALLY READY FOR DIALOGUE
Apparently sensing the looming danger and the Federal Government's
readiness to oust them, outlawed Islamist extremists, Boko Haram, has
said it is now ready for peace talks.
This decision came three days after the army offered a N290m bounty
for information leading to the capture of 19 leading members of the
sect.
The letter came in through the head of journalists in Borno State, Aba
Kakami, barely 72 hours after bombers hit a Protestant Military
Church, Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State
killing 17 persons and injuring scores of others.
The letter According to an international newsagency, Reuters, was
personally signed by Sheik Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, a mansuspected
to be their kingpin.
According to a count by Human Rights Watch,since the dreaded sect
began to launch attacks on Nigerians since 1999, no fewer than 3,000
people have lost their lives.
It would be recalled that the dreaded sect said they were ready for
peace talks in the teleconference and nominating former Head of State,
Muhammadu Buhari , as a mediator. Buhari has since rejected the
mediatory role.
"We are by this letter of invitation to our respected elders proving
to government that we are not joking with the government, but we are
awaiting the response of those concerned," the letter reads.
Abdulazeez said he was speaking on behalf of the sect's leader, Abubakar Shekau.
readiness to oust them, outlawed Islamist extremists, Boko Haram, has
said it is now ready for peace talks.
This decision came three days after the army offered a N290m bounty
for information leading to the capture of 19 leading members of the
sect.
The letter came in through the head of journalists in Borno State, Aba
Kakami, barely 72 hours after bombers hit a Protestant Military
Church, Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna State
killing 17 persons and injuring scores of others.
The letter According to an international newsagency, Reuters, was
personally signed by Sheik Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulazeez, a mansuspected
to be their kingpin.
According to a count by Human Rights Watch,since the dreaded sect
began to launch attacks on Nigerians since 1999, no fewer than 3,000
people have lost their lives.
It would be recalled that the dreaded sect said they were ready for
peace talks in the teleconference and nominating former Head of State,
Muhammadu Buhari , as a mediator. Buhari has since rejected the
mediatory role.
"We are by this letter of invitation to our respected elders proving
to government that we are not joking with the government, but we are
awaiting the response of those concerned," the letter reads.
Abdulazeez said he was speaking on behalf of the sect's leader, Abubakar Shekau.
WIZKID GIVES FANS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER AT UAE
Wizkid, over the weekend, stormed the UAE, Dubai precisely where he
gave a superlative account of himself at the capital's Crown Plaza
hotel night club.
The pop sensation who has been busy most of the year extending his fan
base outside the shores of the country, held fans at the capacity
filled venue in awe, as he dished outone hit song after the other from
his repertoire of music collections.
It would be recalled that the EME/Konvict music superstar came off the
Channel O Music Video Awards in South Africa empty-handed but that
hasn't dampened his morale as he continues to develop on his art and
make good music.
gave a superlative account of himself at the capital's Crown Plaza
hotel night club.
The pop sensation who has been busy most of the year extending his fan
base outside the shores of the country, held fans at the capacity
filled venue in awe, as he dished outone hit song after the other from
his repertoire of music collections.
It would be recalled that the EME/Konvict music superstar came off the
Channel O Music Video Awards in South Africa empty-handed but that
hasn't dampened his morale as he continues to develop on his art and
make good music.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
KOLO TOURE CAUGHT IN RELATIONSHIP MESS
Married Premier League star Kolo Toure had alengthy affair with a
young model – after tricking her into believing he was a car salesman.
The Manchester City defender told pretty Kessel Kasuisyo his name was
Francois and showered her with expensive gifts he claimed he bought
with cash he made selling motors, she claims.
And in a desperate bid to keep his real identity secret, she says, the
£90,000-a -weekstar would sneak into her council flat wearing
sunglasses with a baseball cap pulled over his face.
Smitten Toure, 31, kept up the astonishing facade for two years.
He married the mother of his two children during the alleged affair
and even carried out a bizarre pretend proposal to Kessel, 22 –
getting down one one knee to give her a £1,000 diamond ring.
But the game was up for the Ivory Coast international – who portrays
himself as a devoted family man – when one of his mistress's pals
recognised him.
She told Kessel to Google her car salesman boyfriend's real name – and
the shocked beauty found Toure's wedding pictures online.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Kessel says: "Iam devastated. On some
of the wedding pictures he is crying but a few weeks before he was in
my bed.
"Two or three weeks after the wedding he was at mine. Around the time
he got married he called and said he was back in Africa and had just
sold two cars.
"I believed everything he said, I am hurt and confused by it all.
Maybe he wanted me to be a second wife. I just don't know. Everything
about his strange behaviour now all makes sense."
Kessel met Toure, whose brother Yaya also plays for City, outside the
Bijou nightclub in Manchester in September 2010. "He started chatting
me up and we swapped numbers," she says.
"Then he gave me a lift home. The next day he called me and we met at
a hotel. I told him he looked familiar and he just said maybe he looks
like somebody. He said he sold cars in Africa and did some charity
work."
At least Toure wasn't lying about his charity work as he is an
ambassador for Save The Children Foundation.
Kessel says: "He said he came from Ghana and was a student too. He
said his father was a minister. I am not a fan of football. I thought
maybe I had seen him on telly with his father."
He called her again within a fortnight and they met in the same hotel,
the Malmaison in Manchester. "He bought me some sexy white lingerie
and black shoes," says Kessel. "We started kissing and ended up doing
it."
Kessel claims their relationship was on and off until December of that year.
"We would go a week without seeing each other and then he would call
me. Sometimes we would meet twice in a week," she says. "I asked if he
had a girlfriend and he said no."
But devout Muslim Toure had been with fiancee Awo for at least nine
years. The couple live in Manchester with their daughterand son. When
Toure, who joined Man City for £16million from Arsenal suddenly
stopped calling Kessel in December 2010 she thought it was the end of
their brief fling.
But nine months later, after she had moved home, he called her again.
"He asked if I wanted to meet up and I told him I had my own flat
now," says Kessel. "He came around in a big car. He was wearing a cap
and big sunglasses.
"I told him it was my birthday and he asked me if I would wear some of
the stuff he bought me so I got dressed up and we ended up in the
bedroom.
"The next time I saw him he bought me a birthday present. He got me a
gold watch and some 18-carat diamond earrings.
"He used to call me constantly but from a private number so I couldn't
call back. I was suspicious, but he said he didn't want me to waste my
money calling.
"He once gave me £500 to send to my mother in Zimbabwe. Another time
he gave me £200 for food because my fridge was empty. I started to
question him about exactly what he did and he would say just selling
cars. Things were on and off. This January he asked me to be a
girlfriend but said he was going back to Africa to do business."
Kessel said Toure, banned last year for six months by the FA for
taking his wife's diet pills, broke off contact again between January
and May this year. When he got back with Kessel, she had no idea he
was weeks away from getting hitched. "He said he had something special
for me," she says. "He called me Princess and turned up with a £1,000
diamond and ruby ring.
"It wasn't an engagement ring but he said it was symbol of how he
felt. He went down onhis knee and said he was really serious about me.
"He really got to me. I started telling my friends about him. But
whenever I asked to take his picture he refused which I found a bit
odd." Yet Kessel managed to snap him off guard. In June, Toure went
back to Africa and married Awo at a mosque in the Ivorian capital
Abidjan with his brother Yaya as best man.
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young model – after tricking her into believing he was a car salesman.
The Manchester City defender told pretty Kessel Kasuisyo his name was
Francois and showered her with expensive gifts he claimed he bought
with cash he made selling motors, she claims.
And in a desperate bid to keep his real identity secret, she says, the
£90,000-a -weekstar would sneak into her council flat wearing
sunglasses with a baseball cap pulled over his face.
Smitten Toure, 31, kept up the astonishing facade for two years.
He married the mother of his two children during the alleged affair
and even carried out a bizarre pretend proposal to Kessel, 22 –
getting down one one knee to give her a £1,000 diamond ring.
But the game was up for the Ivory Coast international – who portrays
himself as a devoted family man – when one of his mistress's pals
recognised him.
She told Kessel to Google her car salesman boyfriend's real name – and
the shocked beauty found Toure's wedding pictures online.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Kessel says: "Iam devastated. On some
of the wedding pictures he is crying but a few weeks before he was in
my bed.
"Two or three weeks after the wedding he was at mine. Around the time
he got married he called and said he was back in Africa and had just
sold two cars.
"I believed everything he said, I am hurt and confused by it all.
Maybe he wanted me to be a second wife. I just don't know. Everything
about his strange behaviour now all makes sense."
Kessel met Toure, whose brother Yaya also plays for City, outside the
Bijou nightclub in Manchester in September 2010. "He started chatting
me up and we swapped numbers," she says.
"Then he gave me a lift home. The next day he called me and we met at
a hotel. I told him he looked familiar and he just said maybe he looks
like somebody. He said he sold cars in Africa and did some charity
work."
At least Toure wasn't lying about his charity work as he is an
ambassador for Save The Children Foundation.
Kessel says: "He said he came from Ghana and was a student too. He
said his father was a minister. I am not a fan of football. I thought
maybe I had seen him on telly with his father."
He called her again within a fortnight and they met in the same hotel,
the Malmaison in Manchester. "He bought me some sexy white lingerie
and black shoes," says Kessel. "We started kissing and ended up doing
it."
Kessel claims their relationship was on and off until December of that year.
"We would go a week without seeing each other and then he would call
me. Sometimes we would meet twice in a week," she says. "I asked if he
had a girlfriend and he said no."
But devout Muslim Toure had been with fiancee Awo for at least nine
years. The couple live in Manchester with their daughterand son. When
Toure, who joined Man City for £16million from Arsenal suddenly
stopped calling Kessel in December 2010 she thought it was the end of
their brief fling.
But nine months later, after she had moved home, he called her again.
"He asked if I wanted to meet up and I told him I had my own flat
now," says Kessel. "He came around in a big car. He was wearing a cap
and big sunglasses.
"I told him it was my birthday and he asked me if I would wear some of
the stuff he bought me so I got dressed up and we ended up in the
bedroom.
"The next time I saw him he bought me a birthday present. He got me a
gold watch and some 18-carat diamond earrings.
"He used to call me constantly but from a private number so I couldn't
call back. I was suspicious, but he said he didn't want me to waste my
money calling.
"He once gave me £500 to send to my mother in Zimbabwe. Another time
he gave me £200 for food because my fridge was empty. I started to
question him about exactly what he did and he would say just selling
cars. Things were on and off. This January he asked me to be a
girlfriend but said he was going back to Africa to do business."
Kessel said Toure, banned last year for six months by the FA for
taking his wife's diet pills, broke off contact again between January
and May this year. When he got back with Kessel, she had no idea he
was weeks away from getting hitched. "He said he had something special
for me," she says. "He called me Princess and turned up with a £1,000
diamond and ruby ring.
"It wasn't an engagement ring but he said it was symbol of how he
felt. He went down onhis knee and said he was really serious about me.
"He really got to me. I started telling my friends about him. But
whenever I asked to take his picture he refused which I found a bit
odd." Yet Kessel managed to snap him off guard. In June, Toure went
back to Africa and married Awo at a mosque in the Ivorian capital
Abidjan with his brother Yaya as best man.
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DUTCH WOMAN JAILED FOR ARRAINGING FAKE MWEDDINGS FOR NIGERIAN COUPLES
A 45-year-old Dutch woman has been jailed for four years for
organising nine sham marriages, involving Nigerians living in the
United Kingdom.
Diana Olivieira flew the brides over from Holland to the North West
for the ceremonies.
They all married Nigerians so that they and their partners could take
up residency in the UK.
She was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to
conspiracy to facilitate non EU persons into the UK.
Olivieira was arrested at her home address inRotterdam and brought to
the UK on 25 July.
Investigations by the UK Border Agency found she travelled from
Holland to the UK several times with her clients.
Flights were arranged for Dutch nationals to visit the UK for short periods.
As people from the Netherlands are entitled to live and work in the
UK, while here their spouses applied for documents and National
Insurance numbers.
After they married, the Nigerians applied for European Economic Area
(EEA) residency status as spouses of EEA nationals.
Dave Magrath, from the UK Border Agency, said: "The sentence handed to
Olivieira sendsout a clear message that we will not tolerate abuse of
our immigration system."
Six of the grooms and some of their partners have been prosecuted and
received jail sentences totalling 17 years.
organising nine sham marriages, involving Nigerians living in the
United Kingdom.
Diana Olivieira flew the brides over from Holland to the North West
for the ceremonies.
They all married Nigerians so that they and their partners could take
up residency in the UK.
She was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to
conspiracy to facilitate non EU persons into the UK.
Olivieira was arrested at her home address inRotterdam and brought to
the UK on 25 July.
Investigations by the UK Border Agency found she travelled from
Holland to the UK several times with her clients.
Flights were arranged for Dutch nationals to visit the UK for short periods.
As people from the Netherlands are entitled to live and work in the
UK, while here their spouses applied for documents and National
Insurance numbers.
After they married, the Nigerians applied for European Economic Area
(EEA) residency status as spouses of EEA nationals.
Dave Magrath, from the UK Border Agency, said: "The sentence handed to
Olivieira sendsout a clear message that we will not tolerate abuse of
our immigration system."
Six of the grooms and some of their partners have been prosecuted and
received jail sentences totalling 17 years.
Sunday, 25 November 2012
PATRICK OBIAGBON SPEAKS ON THE PRIVATE JET PASTORS
Patrick Obahiagbon added his voice to the growing debate of pastors
private jet...
"I cast my vote for Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Pastor Tunde
Bakare in their demosthenic vitriol against spiritual megalomaniacs
whose modus vivendi has become increasingly byzanthine and repulsively
narcissistic.We must all begin to deprecate this razzmatazz and
Nestorian braggadocio in the "HOUSE OF GOD", because when there is no
difference between the values of a Pastor and a typical Nigerian
Politician,then it's truly a bolekaja ambience."
Someone please interprete! Am as confused as hell!
private jet...
"I cast my vote for Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and Pastor Tunde
Bakare in their demosthenic vitriol against spiritual megalomaniacs
whose modus vivendi has become increasingly byzanthine and repulsively
narcissistic.We must all begin to deprecate this razzmatazz and
Nestorian braggadocio in the "HOUSE OF GOD", because when there is no
difference between the values of a Pastor and a typical Nigerian
Politician,then it's truly a bolekaja ambience."
Someone please interprete! Am as confused as hell!
Saturday, 24 November 2012
MANCHESTER UNITED HONOUR SIR ALEX FREGUSON BY UNVEILING A STATUE IN HIS HONOUR
A statue of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been
unveiled outside Old Trafford to commemorate his 26 years in charge of
the Premier League club.
The ceremony was attended by Red Devils players past and present, with
the 70-year-old also receiving video tributes from the likes of Sepp
Blatter, David Beckham, CristianoRonaldo and Tony Blair.
An estimated 2,500 supporters also turned up to see former players
such as Eric Cantona,Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Denis Law, Sir Bobby
Charlton, Gary and Phil Neville, Dennis Irwin, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke
and former goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, among
others, while the event was compered by well-known United fan Eamonn
Holmes.
Old Trafford Chief executive David Gill also made a speech, stating
that the legendary manager brought respect back to the club, while
Ronaldo congratulated his former boss in a video message, stating that
he "100 per cent deserves" the recognition.
Asked who he would like to unveil the statue, Sir Alex joked that
singer Elvis Presley would have been his choice but that he could not
bethere. However, he selected his wife, Lady Cathy Ferguson, to
complete the unveiling.
The boss, who has already had a stand at Old Trafford named after him,
told MUTV : "It's a proud moment. Normally people die before people
see their statue. I'm outliving death!
unveiled outside Old Trafford to commemorate his 26 years in charge of
the Premier League club.
The ceremony was attended by Red Devils players past and present, with
the 70-year-old also receiving video tributes from the likes of Sepp
Blatter, David Beckham, CristianoRonaldo and Tony Blair.
An estimated 2,500 supporters also turned up to see former players
such as Eric Cantona,Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Denis Law, Sir Bobby
Charlton, Gary and Phil Neville, Dennis Irwin, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke
and former goalkeepers Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, among
others, while the event was compered by well-known United fan Eamonn
Holmes.
Old Trafford Chief executive David Gill also made a speech, stating
that the legendary manager brought respect back to the club, while
Ronaldo congratulated his former boss in a video message, stating that
he "100 per cent deserves" the recognition.
Asked who he would like to unveil the statue, Sir Alex joked that
singer Elvis Presley would have been his choice but that he could not
bethere. However, he selected his wife, Lady Cathy Ferguson, to
complete the unveiling.
The boss, who has already had a stand at Old Trafford named after him,
told MUTV : "It's a proud moment. Normally people die before people
see their statue. I'm outliving death!
11 YEAR OLD BOY ARRAIGNED BEFORE COURT FOR PUTTING HIS HANDS IN BETWEEN WOMAN'S LEGS
One of the youngest sex offenders to be arrested for assaulting an
adult has been sent on a sex education course.
The 11-year-old Romanian boy forced his hands between his victim's
thighs after confronting her while she was out shopping.
The boy, who has now turned 12 and cannot be named because of his age,
then rode off on his bicycle.
He denied sexually assaulting the woman but was found guilty following
a trial at North London Youth Court.
The boy had given police a variety of different addresses before they
tracked him and his family down.
District Judge John Perkins handed him a nine-month youth
rehabilitation order - the juvenile equivalent of a community order -
and sent him on an educational course.
He said: 'This was an unpleasant offence, and you continued to deny
that you did this when in my view, the evidence was overwhelming.
'It clearly caused great distress to the young woman concerned, and
because you showed no remorse and did not admit it she had to come to
court to tell me about it.
'You show a low risk of further harmful behaviour, and you have never
done anything like this before.'
The boy, who is not in school and spends his days cycling around the
streets with friends, smirked as he left court with his parents, who
were ordered to undergo
childcare training.
The youngster committed the assault in the early afternoon of June 26
this year in Wycombe Road, Tottenham, north London,
after approaching the victim and saying 'hello'.
Prosecutor Lorna Ewen said: 'He then, with his right hand, moved
towards her and grabbed her between the thighs before
cycling off.
'The victim called the police and she pointed him out to them as the
person who assaulted her.
'He dropped his bike and was chased by the police. When later
interviewed, he admitted
being present but denied any sexual assault.'
The boy, who lives in Manor Park, east London, was given a nine-month
youth rehabilitation order with a supervision requirement and told to
attend a programme with the youth offending team
for six months focusing on sexually harmful behaviour.
His parents were told to complete a six-month parenting course and
encouraged to get their son into education.
adult has been sent on a sex education course.
The 11-year-old Romanian boy forced his hands between his victim's
thighs after confronting her while she was out shopping.
The boy, who has now turned 12 and cannot be named because of his age,
then rode off on his bicycle.
He denied sexually assaulting the woman but was found guilty following
a trial at North London Youth Court.
The boy had given police a variety of different addresses before they
tracked him and his family down.
District Judge John Perkins handed him a nine-month youth
rehabilitation order - the juvenile equivalent of a community order -
and sent him on an educational course.
He said: 'This was an unpleasant offence, and you continued to deny
that you did this when in my view, the evidence was overwhelming.
'It clearly caused great distress to the young woman concerned, and
because you showed no remorse and did not admit it she had to come to
court to tell me about it.
'You show a low risk of further harmful behaviour, and you have never
done anything like this before.'
The boy, who is not in school and spends his days cycling around the
streets with friends, smirked as he left court with his parents, who
were ordered to undergo
childcare training.
The youngster committed the assault in the early afternoon of June 26
this year in Wycombe Road, Tottenham, north London,
after approaching the victim and saying 'hello'.
Prosecutor Lorna Ewen said: 'He then, with his right hand, moved
towards her and grabbed her between the thighs before
cycling off.
'The victim called the police and she pointed him out to them as the
person who assaulted her.
'He dropped his bike and was chased by the police. When later
interviewed, he admitted
being present but denied any sexual assault.'
The boy, who lives in Manor Park, east London, was given a nine-month
youth rehabilitation order with a supervision requirement and told to
attend a programme with the youth offending team
for six months focusing on sexually harmful behaviour.
His parents were told to complete a six-month parenting course and
encouraged to get their son into education.
Friday, 23 November 2012
CHINA TO BUILD TALLEST SKYSCRAPER IN 90 DAYS
A company in China is preparing to build the world's tallest
skyscraper in just 90 days.
From the foundations upwards, the whole construction will be erected
within three months at a rate of five floors a day.
Work will start at the end of this month and itshould all be finished
by the end of February.
It is a challenge only China could attempt to take on and it will be
built in a city most people will have never heard of - Changsha
inHunan Province.
The building will be called Sky City and its statistics are quite
remarkable. It will be 838 metres high, with 220 floors and a
construction area of one million square metres.
To achieve that, 200,000 tons of steel will be used.
There will be space for 31,000 people inside, who will be able to move
up and down with the help of 104 high speed lifts.
Some 83% of the building will be for residential use, with room for
17,400 people. It will be taller than Dubai's Burj Khalifa
It will also contain a hotel with a capacity for 1,000.
There will be schools educating up to 4,600 children and a hospital
which will treat 1,400 patients.
Only 3% of the building will be for office use. Any remaining space
will be shops and restaurants.
The building will be just a few metres taller than the Burj Khalifa in
Dubai but will be constructed at a fraction of the cost.
The company behind it, Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), specialises
in prefabricated modular technology which allows them to cutcosts
significantly.
The Burj in Dubai cost £9,500 per square metre, whereas Sky City will
cost just £950 per square metre.
Some of the same team who built the Burj will work on this new project.
It is not the first seemingly impossible, fast construction project by
the company. In January, they built a 30-story hotel in just 15 days
and it is still standing.
Any concerns that the speed of construction will seriously jeopardise
the safety of Sky City have been refuted by the company.
BSB claim that the building will be state-of-the-art in every respect.
It will be resistant to fire for up to 15 minutes and will, they
claim, even be able to withstand magnitude nine earthquakes.
skyscraper in just 90 days.
From the foundations upwards, the whole construction will be erected
within three months at a rate of five floors a day.
Work will start at the end of this month and itshould all be finished
by the end of February.
It is a challenge only China could attempt to take on and it will be
built in a city most people will have never heard of - Changsha
inHunan Province.
The building will be called Sky City and its statistics are quite
remarkable. It will be 838 metres high, with 220 floors and a
construction area of one million square metres.
To achieve that, 200,000 tons of steel will be used.
There will be space for 31,000 people inside, who will be able to move
up and down with the help of 104 high speed lifts.
Some 83% of the building will be for residential use, with room for
17,400 people. It will be taller than Dubai's Burj Khalifa
It will also contain a hotel with a capacity for 1,000.
There will be schools educating up to 4,600 children and a hospital
which will treat 1,400 patients.
Only 3% of the building will be for office use. Any remaining space
will be shops and restaurants.
The building will be just a few metres taller than the Burj Khalifa in
Dubai but will be constructed at a fraction of the cost.
The company behind it, Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), specialises
in prefabricated modular technology which allows them to cutcosts
significantly.
The Burj in Dubai cost £9,500 per square metre, whereas Sky City will
cost just £950 per square metre.
Some of the same team who built the Burj will work on this new project.
It is not the first seemingly impossible, fast construction project by
the company. In January, they built a 30-story hotel in just 15 days
and it is still standing.
Any concerns that the speed of construction will seriously jeopardise
the safety of Sky City have been refuted by the company.
BSB claim that the building will be state-of-the-art in every respect.
It will be resistant to fire for up to 15 minutes and will, they
claim, even be able to withstand magnitude nine earthquakes.
QPR SACK MARK HUGES
QPR have sacked Mark Hughes after a run of 12 games without a win this season has left the club bottom of the Premier League .
Defeat at home to relegation rivals Southampton last weekend confirmed the R’sjoint-worst start to a Premier League season – equal to Everton’s 1994-95 opening - with asection of supporters holding banners callingfor the appointment of former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
Assistant manager Mark Bowen and first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the team’s trip to face Manchester United on Saturday.
A statement on the club’s official website read: "This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the Board of Directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days.
"The Board of Directors wish to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his ten months in charge.
"Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the Board of Directors with very little choice but to make a change.
"The Board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible.
"Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the R's trip to Manchester United inthe Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon."
Redknapp is the early favourite to fill the managerial vacancy, with the former Portsmouth boss also interesting Ukraine.
Defeat at home to relegation rivals Southampton last weekend confirmed the R’sjoint-worst start to a Premier League season – equal to Everton’s 1994-95 opening - with asection of supporters holding banners callingfor the appointment of former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
Assistant manager Mark Bowen and first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the team’s trip to face Manchester United on Saturday.
A statement on the club’s official website read: "This decision has been taken after careful consideration by the Board of Directors, following numerous meetings over the last few days.
"The Board of Directors wish to thank Mark for his commitment, hard work and dedication in his ten months in charge.
"Mark has shown integrity and professionalism throughout his time here, but ultimately the circumstances we find ourselves in have left the Board of Directors with very little choice but to make a change.
"The Board will now be working actively to put a new managerial structure in place as soon as possible.
"Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki will take charge of the R's trip to Manchester United inthe Barclays Premier League on Saturday afternoon."
Redknapp is the early favourite to fill the managerial vacancy, with the former Portsmouth boss also interesting Ukraine.
NIGERIA IS MOST CORRUPT COUNTRY IN AFRICA
A global audit and financial advisory firm, KPMG, has rated Nigeria as the most fraudulent country in Africa.
The rating is coming on the heels of President Goodluck Jonathan's claim that his administration has done better than previousones in the fight against corruption.
According to KPMG, Nigeria accounted for thehighest number of fraud cases on the continent in the first half of 2012.
The cost of fraud in the country during the period was put at N225 billion ($1.5 billion).
KPMG, in its second Africa Fraud Barometer result, released on Wednesday, also said Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa accounted for 74 per cent of all fraud cases in Africa in the same period.
The report stated that the number of fraud cases in Nigeria has been worsened by fraud and corruption in the oil sector.
It identified the common forms of fraud in the country as "bribes in the private and public sector, misappropriation, and contract inflation."
Government officials and top management staff in private companies were described as the worst offenders leaving companies shareholders and the general public to bear the brunt of their profligacy.
The report further blames the long and tedious legal system in the country of doing next to nothing in bringing perpetrators to book.
"The general belief in Nigeria is that the legal system is not effective enough," said OlumideOlayinka, Head of Risk Consulting of KPMG Nigeria.
"There have been a lot of cases involving the banking and the oil and gas sectors or government that lead to prosecution. The current noticeable trend is that many cases either end with a plea bargain or are simply closed without any conviction," he added.
Data for the fraud barometer are aggregated from news articles and reviewing fraud casesfrom designated databases.
Though the amount of fraud in the country isgrim, the report observes a decline in the cases of fraud from 520 in the second half of 2011 to 503 cases in the first half of 2012 in the continent.
During the same period, the value of fraud decreased from N495 billion (US$3.3 billion) to N300 billion (US$ 2 billion).
Jonathan had during the presidential media chat last Sunday said his administration was pro-actively fighting and winning the war on corruption. He said he believed had done better than his predecessors in fighting corruption in the country.
DISABLED LAWYER BEATEN AT PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE HEARING
Chinedu Anaje, Disabled Lawyer Beaten At Presidential Committee Hearing
Nov 22, 2012 – Injustice: Chinedu Anaje, Disabled Lawyer Beaten At Presidential Committee Hearing.
A handicapped lawyer, Mr. Chinedu Anaje was yesterday beaten up and thrown out of the office of the Chairman of a Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractices. Anaje, a Lagos-based legal practitioner was there to represent Hyundai Nigeria Limited on the invitation ofthe office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Committee was looking into a petition brought by Primlacks Galvanizing Nigeria Limited against Hyundai Nigeria Ltd. Primlacks had alleged “forgery, betrayal of trust and other trade malpractices” against Hyundai. Mr. Anaje was invited to give his perspective on the allegation.
Saharareporters source said that trouble started when Anaje informed the committee chairman, Mallam Dahiru Ado-Kurawa that the matter under discussion was pending in a competent court of law, and as such it should not be deliberated upon pending court decision. Anaje’s counsel did not go well with the chairman of the committee. “They felt uncomfortable with that,” Mr. Anaje told Saharareporters. “The chairman asked me to leave his office. They wanted to kick me out and then detain my client of which theyhad no such powers.”
According to Anaje, before he could say jack, three lieutenants of the chairman pounced on him, pushed him down and dragged him out of the office. “One kicked me on the ass,” he said. “One had to hold me by the neck. They tore the button of my shirt. I was on thefloor, and they were dragging me.”
Mr. Anaje sustained injuries on his bad leg. He said he would be going to an orthopedichospital to see a doctor.
Speaking further to Saharareporters about his ordeal, Mr. Anaje said, “I’m actually taking legal action against them. It is uncalled for. It is the height of barbarism.”
Nigeria has a long history of poor treatment of disabled individuals. The Nigerian DisabilityBill, an act to enhance the dignity of disabled individuals has been languishing in the National Assembly for years. Most public buildings in Nigeria do not have handicap access.
Nov 22, 2012 – Injustice: Chinedu Anaje, Disabled Lawyer Beaten At Presidential Committee Hearing.
A handicapped lawyer, Mr. Chinedu Anaje was yesterday beaten up and thrown out of the office of the Chairman of a Presidential Committee on Trade Malpractices. Anaje, a Lagos-based legal practitioner was there to represent Hyundai Nigeria Limited on the invitation ofthe office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The Committee was looking into a petition brought by Primlacks Galvanizing Nigeria Limited against Hyundai Nigeria Ltd. Primlacks had alleged “forgery, betrayal of trust and other trade malpractices” against Hyundai. Mr. Anaje was invited to give his perspective on the allegation.
Saharareporters source said that trouble started when Anaje informed the committee chairman, Mallam Dahiru Ado-Kurawa that the matter under discussion was pending in a competent court of law, and as such it should not be deliberated upon pending court decision. Anaje’s counsel did not go well with the chairman of the committee. “They felt uncomfortable with that,” Mr. Anaje told Saharareporters. “The chairman asked me to leave his office. They wanted to kick me out and then detain my client of which theyhad no such powers.”
According to Anaje, before he could say jack, three lieutenants of the chairman pounced on him, pushed him down and dragged him out of the office. “One kicked me on the ass,” he said. “One had to hold me by the neck. They tore the button of my shirt. I was on thefloor, and they were dragging me.”
Mr. Anaje sustained injuries on his bad leg. He said he would be going to an orthopedichospital to see a doctor.
Speaking further to Saharareporters about his ordeal, Mr. Anaje said, “I’m actually taking legal action against them. It is uncalled for. It is the height of barbarism.”
Nigeria has a long history of poor treatment of disabled individuals. The Nigerian DisabilityBill, an act to enhance the dignity of disabled individuals has been languishing in the National Assembly for years. Most public buildings in Nigeria do not have handicap access.
FINALLY THE MIKEL RACIST SAGA IS PUT TO REST
FA takes no further action against Clattenburg while Mikel is charged.
After investigating the referee's alleged abuse of John Obi Mikel, the
association does not believe the offical has a case to answer - and
has charged the Nigerian midfielder.
The FA will take no further action against referee Mark Clattenburg
after concluding its investigation into the official's alleged
misconduct during the Premier League match between Chelsea and
Manchester United .
The west London side made a formal complaint about the 37-year-old
after Ramiresand Jon Obi Mikel told club officials of their belief
that the referee had abused the Nigerian 25-year-old on October 28.
However, the FA do not believe the official has a case to answer - and
Obi Mikel has been charged with using threatening and/or abusive
and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in or near the Match
Officials' room.
The FA's official statement reads: "The FA has concluded its
investigation into alleged misconduct by Mark Clattenburg during the
match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC on Sunday 28 October
2012. No disciplinary action will follow against Mr Clattenburg."
The FA revealed the chronology of their investigation as follows:
"Following the conclusion of the match, Chelsea FC reported to the
match delegate that two of their playershad been separately subject to
abuse by the match referee, Mark Clattenburg.
"On Monday 29 October 2012, The FA contacted Chelsea FC to establish
whether the club and individual players wished to make a formal
complaint in relation to the allegations reported to the match
delegate.
"On Wednesday 31 October Chelsea FC contacted The FA and confirmed
that the club had conducted an internal enquiry and that they did wish
to proceed with a formal complaint in relation to one of the
allegations of abuse. The club did not wish to proceed in relation to
the other allegation. The club provided witness statements from two
players, Ramires Santos do Nascimento ("Ramires") and John Obi Mikel.
"The details of the allegation were that following one or the other of
the red cards issued during the second half of the game, Ramires heard
Mark Clattenburg say to John Obi Mikel, "shut up you monkey". John Obi
Mikel did not hear the alleged comment.
"On 1 November 2012, The FA requested that Chelsea disclose full
details of their internal investigation.
"On 5 November 2012, Chelsea FC provided The FA with witness
statements from other Chelsea FC players and officials.
"On 5 November 2012, The FA interviewed Ramires and John Obi Mikel,
using the TV match footage obtained by The FA.
"Between 7 and 8 November 2012, The FA interviewed all four match officials.
"On 9 and 14 November 2012, further to FA requests, Chelsea FC
provided unbroadcast video footage of the game from static cameras.
"On 15 November 2012, The FA re-interviewed Ramires to show him the
previously unseen video footage provided by the club. At this stage,
for the first time, the exact point at which the comment was alleged
to have been made was established.
"Chelsea FC was offered the opportunity to provide any further
information or evidence that they believed could be relevant to the
allegation.
"The FA then sought advice on the evidence gathered from independent
Queen'sCounsel.
"The evidence for the allegation came from one witness, Ramires.
Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained that his
instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from John Obi Mikel as
to what the referee had said.
"John Obi Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much
closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is
suggested was said to him.
"Three other witnesses, i.e. the other Match Officials, to whom
everything said by referee was relayed via their communication
equipment, are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.
"There is nothing in the video footage to support the allegation.
"For completeness, but of lesser weight, two other players, whose
first language is English and were in the vicinity, did not hear
anything untoward.
"Having considered all of the available evidence it was the opinion of
David Waters QC, independent counsel, that the evidence of Ramires was
not supported by any other evidence. Moreover it was contradicted by
other witnesses and does not cross the evidential threshold required
to bring a charge against Mark Clattenburg.
"Equally The FA is satisfied that the allegation against Mark
Clattenburg by Ramires was made in good faith. It is entirely possible
for a witness to be genuinely mistaken and convincing in his belief.
"The FA receives and investigates numerous allegations of misconduct
over the course of a season. All allegations are properly
investigated. It is not uncommon for investigations to lead to no
disciplinary charge being brought.
After investigating the referee's alleged abuse of John Obi Mikel, the
association does not believe the offical has a case to answer - and
has charged the Nigerian midfielder.
The FA will take no further action against referee Mark Clattenburg
after concluding its investigation into the official's alleged
misconduct during the Premier League match between Chelsea and
Manchester United .
The west London side made a formal complaint about the 37-year-old
after Ramiresand Jon Obi Mikel told club officials of their belief
that the referee had abused the Nigerian 25-year-old on October 28.
However, the FA do not believe the official has a case to answer - and
Obi Mikel has been charged with using threatening and/or abusive
and/or insulting words and/or behaviour in or near the Match
Officials' room.
The FA's official statement reads: "The FA has concluded its
investigation into alleged misconduct by Mark Clattenburg during the
match between Chelsea FC and Manchester United FC on Sunday 28 October
2012. No disciplinary action will follow against Mr Clattenburg."
The FA revealed the chronology of their investigation as follows:
"Following the conclusion of the match, Chelsea FC reported to the
match delegate that two of their playershad been separately subject to
abuse by the match referee, Mark Clattenburg.
"On Monday 29 October 2012, The FA contacted Chelsea FC to establish
whether the club and individual players wished to make a formal
complaint in relation to the allegations reported to the match
delegate.
"On Wednesday 31 October Chelsea FC contacted The FA and confirmed
that the club had conducted an internal enquiry and that they did wish
to proceed with a formal complaint in relation to one of the
allegations of abuse. The club did not wish to proceed in relation to
the other allegation. The club provided witness statements from two
players, Ramires Santos do Nascimento ("Ramires") and John Obi Mikel.
"The details of the allegation were that following one or the other of
the red cards issued during the second half of the game, Ramires heard
Mark Clattenburg say to John Obi Mikel, "shut up you monkey". John Obi
Mikel did not hear the alleged comment.
"On 1 November 2012, The FA requested that Chelsea disclose full
details of their internal investigation.
"On 5 November 2012, Chelsea FC provided The FA with witness
statements from other Chelsea FC players and officials.
"On 5 November 2012, The FA interviewed Ramires and John Obi Mikel,
using the TV match footage obtained by The FA.
"Between 7 and 8 November 2012, The FA interviewed all four match officials.
"On 9 and 14 November 2012, further to FA requests, Chelsea FC
provided unbroadcast video footage of the game from static cameras.
"On 15 November 2012, The FA re-interviewed Ramires to show him the
previously unseen video footage provided by the club. At this stage,
for the first time, the exact point at which the comment was alleged
to have been made was established.
"Chelsea FC was offered the opportunity to provide any further
information or evidence that they believed could be relevant to the
allegation.
"The FA then sought advice on the evidence gathered from independent
Queen'sCounsel.
"The evidence for the allegation came from one witness, Ramires.
Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained that his
instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from John Obi Mikel as
to what the referee had said.
"John Obi Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much
closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is
suggested was said to him.
"Three other witnesses, i.e. the other Match Officials, to whom
everything said by referee was relayed via their communication
equipment, are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.
"There is nothing in the video footage to support the allegation.
"For completeness, but of lesser weight, two other players, whose
first language is English and were in the vicinity, did not hear
anything untoward.
"Having considered all of the available evidence it was the opinion of
David Waters QC, independent counsel, that the evidence of Ramires was
not supported by any other evidence. Moreover it was contradicted by
other witnesses and does not cross the evidential threshold required
to bring a charge against Mark Clattenburg.
"Equally The FA is satisfied that the allegation against Mark
Clattenburg by Ramires was made in good faith. It is entirely possible
for a witness to be genuinely mistaken and convincing in his belief.
"The FA receives and investigates numerous allegations of misconduct
over the course of a season. All allegations are properly
investigated. It is not uncommon for investigations to lead to no
disciplinary charge being brought.
THE SCARED KID- Olubayo Paul
It's 12:35am
Am I'm still awake!
Why can't I just go to bed?
Don't know.
Let's pray 'ojuju' doesn't come
And carry me away.
But then, can these rats shut up?!
Their squeaks are so annoying;
Guess they're having a family re-union.
Thoughts of THE masquerade come to me.
Vivid images of the terrible thing,
As clear as day they taunt me.
Why did I sit sown with mummy
To watch African Magic?
I should have "kukuma" watched
My Cartoon Network jeje.
Now I cannot sleep.
The shouts of "Amadioha" make
Me sweat in the heat sending
Shivers down my spine.
I alone can hear them.
They exist in my head.
When will this "yeye" NEPA bring light?
The reflection of the shadow of dad's shirt
Hung on the door isn't helping matters o!
But I'll close my eyes and try to sleep.
I must think good thoughts to clear my head.
Yes, good thoughts!
Good thoughts?
Well, only one comes to my mind.
My kiss with Chiamaka in school today.
But am not too young joo
Am old enough.
Shebi am in Primary 5 and am a big boy.
Oya sleep come jare.
Let me take sweet Chiamaka to my dreams.
I'll see her tomorrow.
But for tomorrow to come, i must
Move past today.
I must sleep. And sleep I will.
Am I'm still awake!
Why can't I just go to bed?
Don't know.
Let's pray 'ojuju' doesn't come
And carry me away.
But then, can these rats shut up?!
Their squeaks are so annoying;
Guess they're having a family re-union.
Thoughts of THE masquerade come to me.
Vivid images of the terrible thing,
As clear as day they taunt me.
Why did I sit sown with mummy
To watch African Magic?
I should have "kukuma" watched
My Cartoon Network jeje.
Now I cannot sleep.
The shouts of "Amadioha" make
Me sweat in the heat sending
Shivers down my spine.
I alone can hear them.
They exist in my head.
When will this "yeye" NEPA bring light?
The reflection of the shadow of dad's shirt
Hung on the door isn't helping matters o!
But I'll close my eyes and try to sleep.
I must think good thoughts to clear my head.
Yes, good thoughts!
Good thoughts?
Well, only one comes to my mind.
My kiss with Chiamaka in school today.
But am not too young joo
Am old enough.
Shebi am in Primary 5 and am a big boy.
Oya sleep come jare.
Let me take sweet Chiamaka to my dreams.
I'll see her tomorrow.
But for tomorrow to come, i must
Move past today.
I must sleep. And sleep I will.
PRESIDENT SAYS HE CAN STAY IN OFFICE BEYOND 2015
As insinuation over his possible intention to seek re-election in 2015 mounts, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, told a Federal High Court in Abuja that contrary to the provision of the 1999 constitution, the tenure of an incumbent president can extendbeyond four or eight years.
President Jonathan, who adduced the argument while responding to a fresh suit seeking to bar him from vying for presidency in 2015, maintained that those who were contesting his possible bid in the next presidential election, had failed to canvass any valid reason why he cannot contest.
The fresh suit was filed against him by a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Henry Amadi, who is equally a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The plaintiff is contending that Jonathan is not eligible to contest in 2015 on the grounds that by so doing he would be spending more than the maximum period of two terms of four years envisaged by the 1999 constitution.
The suit is similar to the previous one filed byanother member of the PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, on March 20, 2012 before an Abuja High Court, which is equally seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting in 2015 on the premise that he is already in his second term in office.
Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi had earlier slated November 13, 2012 to deliver judgment on Njoku’s suit but subsequently adjourned indefinitely following his trip abroad.
Meanwhile, in the instant suit, Amadi named Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as defendants.
The plaintiff is asking the court to stop Jonathan from putting himself forward or participating as candidate for election to the office of the President at the end of his current term of office in 2015.
Amadi also asked the court to direct INEC not to accept Jonathan’s nomination as candidateof the PDP by 2015 because by so doing, Jonathan will hoist illegality in the polity sincethe oath of allegiance and office he will take if he wins will violate the two oaths of allegiance and office stipulated by the 1999 constitution.
Plaintiff lacks locus —Jonathan
However, in a counter-affidavit filed on his behalf by Mr Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), Jonathan maintained that the court should divest itself of the jurisdiction to entertain thesuit, arguing that the plaintiff lacks the locus to request court to stop him from contesting 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan said Amadi failed to disclose reasonable cause of action and that the plaintiff’s claim was hypothetical and academic.
Jonathan averred that he took the first oath of office on May 6, 2010 following the death of erstwhile President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He said: ‘’The question that arises for determination is whether, having regard to the facts of this case, is he in his first or second term? In other words, given that the constitution prescribes a maximum of two terms of four years each totalling a maximumof eight years as President, is he eligible to run for re-election in 2015?
“If yes, that would mean that, if he wins, he would be in office for a period of more than eight years. On the other hand, if the answer is no, that would mean that he, for no fault of his, would be constrained to serve for a period of less than eight years.
“Given that between May 6, 2010 and May 28,2011 he held office for the unexpired term of office of Yar’Adua following the death of the latter. Does the constitution contemplate that the period of about one year and three weeks would constitute his first term, a period of less than half of the constitutionally prescribed period of four years.”
Okeaya-Inneh argued that, “in resolving this issue, the court is invited to make a determination whether the period of May 6, 2010 to May 28, 2011 wherein Jonathan occupied the office of the President can in law be regarded as one term of office and relevance of the oath of office Jonathan took on May 6, 2010 in computing the tenure of office of Jonathan in line with sections 135 (1) and (2), 137 (1)(b), 140 (1) and (2) and 146(1) of the 1999 constitution.”
He argued that it was better with the politicalsituation of Nigeria for Jonathan to spend nine years in office than to spend less than eight years.
He maintained: “This approach is also consistent with the time honoured canon of interpretation to the effect that if confronted with two interpretations, one of which would abridge a person’s right and another which would maintain or enhance a person’srights, the former constitution yields to the later.”
President Jonathan, who adduced the argument while responding to a fresh suit seeking to bar him from vying for presidency in 2015, maintained that those who were contesting his possible bid in the next presidential election, had failed to canvass any valid reason why he cannot contest.
The fresh suit was filed against him by a Port Harcourt-based legal practitioner, Henry Amadi, who is equally a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The plaintiff is contending that Jonathan is not eligible to contest in 2015 on the grounds that by so doing he would be spending more than the maximum period of two terms of four years envisaged by the 1999 constitution.
The suit is similar to the previous one filed byanother member of the PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, on March 20, 2012 before an Abuja High Court, which is equally seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting in 2015 on the premise that he is already in his second term in office.
Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi had earlier slated November 13, 2012 to deliver judgment on Njoku’s suit but subsequently adjourned indefinitely following his trip abroad.
Meanwhile, in the instant suit, Amadi named Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as defendants.
The plaintiff is asking the court to stop Jonathan from putting himself forward or participating as candidate for election to the office of the President at the end of his current term of office in 2015.
Amadi also asked the court to direct INEC not to accept Jonathan’s nomination as candidateof the PDP by 2015 because by so doing, Jonathan will hoist illegality in the polity sincethe oath of allegiance and office he will take if he wins will violate the two oaths of allegiance and office stipulated by the 1999 constitution.
Plaintiff lacks locus —Jonathan
However, in a counter-affidavit filed on his behalf by Mr Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), Jonathan maintained that the court should divest itself of the jurisdiction to entertain thesuit, arguing that the plaintiff lacks the locus to request court to stop him from contesting 2015 presidential election.
Jonathan said Amadi failed to disclose reasonable cause of action and that the plaintiff’s claim was hypothetical and academic.
Jonathan averred that he took the first oath of office on May 6, 2010 following the death of erstwhile President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
He said: ‘’The question that arises for determination is whether, having regard to the facts of this case, is he in his first or second term? In other words, given that the constitution prescribes a maximum of two terms of four years each totalling a maximumof eight years as President, is he eligible to run for re-election in 2015?
“If yes, that would mean that, if he wins, he would be in office for a period of more than eight years. On the other hand, if the answer is no, that would mean that he, for no fault of his, would be constrained to serve for a period of less than eight years.
“Given that between May 6, 2010 and May 28,2011 he held office for the unexpired term of office of Yar’Adua following the death of the latter. Does the constitution contemplate that the period of about one year and three weeks would constitute his first term, a period of less than half of the constitutionally prescribed period of four years.”
Okeaya-Inneh argued that, “in resolving this issue, the court is invited to make a determination whether the period of May 6, 2010 to May 28, 2011 wherein Jonathan occupied the office of the President can in law be regarded as one term of office and relevance of the oath of office Jonathan took on May 6, 2010 in computing the tenure of office of Jonathan in line with sections 135 (1) and (2), 137 (1)(b), 140 (1) and (2) and 146(1) of the 1999 constitution.”
He argued that it was better with the politicalsituation of Nigeria for Jonathan to spend nine years in office than to spend less than eight years.
He maintained: “This approach is also consistent with the time honoured canon of interpretation to the effect that if confronted with two interpretations, one of which would abridge a person’s right and another which would maintain or enhance a person’srights, the former constitution yields to the later.”
ACCIDENT CLAIMS THREE LIVES ON BADAGRY-SEME EXPRESSWAY
No fewer than three persons were crushed to death yesterday when a 40-feet containerized vehicle fell on a Mazda car on the Badagry-Seme Expressway.
The accident which occurred at about 1.15p.m, was attributed to the bad road which has been a nightmare to commuters and other users of the road.
The containerized vehicle with registration number XT 339 AKD was said to be conveying some goods when it lost control and fell on the car, with four occupants. Three of the passengers died instantly, whilethe driver was in a critical condition.
The accident caused a heavy traffic while passers-by went on an immediate rescue mission of the trapped persons, before officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authourity, LASTMA, came to the scene of theaccident.
Three of the occupants pulled out from the crushed car had already died. Vanguard learnt that the driver of the truck fled immediately the accident occurred. Eye witnesses told Vanguard that the bad portion of the road has been left because of the on going reconstruction and that the danger has been there all along.
“For the fact that the road is no longer manageable, road users often drive against traffic to avoid container carrying trucks; now it has claimed lives,” exclaimed a regular road user.
The accident attracted a lot of condemnations of the government towards its people, with an eye-witness saying; “This is an indication that we are all driving on a time bomb. It could be I or you tomorrow”
As at the time LASTMA officials arrived the scene of the accident with a towing van in order to lift the container off the compressed car, a large number good spirited Nigerians, who swung into action almost immediately the accident occurred, had already evacuated the passengers on board the car with registration number UK 641 KJA.
The accident which occurred at about 1.15p.m, was attributed to the bad road which has been a nightmare to commuters and other users of the road.
The containerized vehicle with registration number XT 339 AKD was said to be conveying some goods when it lost control and fell on the car, with four occupants. Three of the passengers died instantly, whilethe driver was in a critical condition.
The accident caused a heavy traffic while passers-by went on an immediate rescue mission of the trapped persons, before officials of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Lagos State Traffic Management Authourity, LASTMA, came to the scene of theaccident.
Three of the occupants pulled out from the crushed car had already died. Vanguard learnt that the driver of the truck fled immediately the accident occurred. Eye witnesses told Vanguard that the bad portion of the road has been left because of the on going reconstruction and that the danger has been there all along.
“For the fact that the road is no longer manageable, road users often drive against traffic to avoid container carrying trucks; now it has claimed lives,” exclaimed a regular road user.
The accident attracted a lot of condemnations of the government towards its people, with an eye-witness saying; “This is an indication that we are all driving on a time bomb. It could be I or you tomorrow”
As at the time LASTMA officials arrived the scene of the accident with a towing van in order to lift the container off the compressed car, a large number good spirited Nigerians, who swung into action almost immediately the accident occurred, had already evacuated the passengers on board the car with registration number UK 641 KJA.
HONEST CABBIE RETURNS MONEY FOUND IN HIS CAR
A taxi driver in Singapore has been praised for remarkable honesty after handing in £500,000 which he found in the back of his cab.
Sia Ka Tian, who is 70 and has been driving taxis around Singapore for more than 30 years, had just dropped off a Thai couple who were on holiday in the city.
He then found a black paper bag on the back seat. Inside was one million Singapore dollarswhich equates to just over £500,000.
"When I saw the money, I thought, trouble is here. I was sure there was at least $200,000 in the bag," Mr Sia said in an interview with the Singapore Straits Times.
He immediately took the stash of thousand-dollar bills to the local lost property office. He and his colleagues counted it and discovered how much was really there.
"The money is unimportant to me. It doesn't belong to me, so how can I use it?'' he said to the newspaper.
The Thai couple are said to have reported their loss to the taxi company.
Mr Sia was waiting for them when they arrived to claim their money.
According to local media reports, the driver has been rewarded for his honesty and will be given an award by his company.
It is unclear why the Thai tourists were carrying so much cash.
ASTRONOMERS REVEAL PLANET IS MADE UP OF DIAMONDS
A planet about 40 light years away and twice the size of Earth is made largely out of diamond, astronomers have said.
The rocky planet, called 55 Cancri e, which is in the constellation of Cancer, is orbiting a sun-like star that is visible with the naked eye.
Discovered by a US-Franco research team, the planet's radius is twice that of Earth's and its mass eight times greater.
Temperatures on its surface reach 3,900 degrees Fahrenheit (1,648 Celsius).
"The surface of this planet is likely covered in graphite and diamond rather than water and granite," said Nikku Madhusudhan, the Yale researcher whose findings are due to be published in scientific journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
The study, with Olivier Mousis at the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie in Toulose, France, estimates thatat least a third of the planet's mass could be diamond.
Diamond planets have been spotted before but this is the first time one has been seen orbiting a sun-like star and studied in such detail.
"This is our first glimpse of a rocky world with a fundamentally different chemistry from Earth," Dr Madhusudhan said.
He added that the discovery of the carbon-rich planet means distant rocky planets can no longer be assumed to have chemical constituents, interiors, atmospheres, or biologies similar to Earth.
David Spergel, an astronomer at Princeton University, said it was relatively simple to work out the basic structure and history of a star once you know its mass and age.
He said: "Planets are much more complex. This diamond-rich super-Earth is likely just one example of the rich sets of discoveries that await us as we begin to explore planets around nearby stars."
Thursday, 22 November 2012
DROGBA'S LOAN MOVE CALLED OFF
Chelsea's move for Didier Drogba is off after Fifa blocked him from leaving Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on loan before the January transfer window.
The Ivory Coast international, 34, wants to stay fit to prepare for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as the Chinese season has finished.
He asked for permission to move, but has been informed that he is not exempt from international transfer rules.
Chelsea had been in talks over a deal for theirformer striker.
The Blues are short of attacking options with Fernando Torres out of form and Daniel Sturridge injured.
Didier Drogba's Chelsea record
*. Debut: v Manchester United, 15 August, 2004.
*. First goal: v Crystal Palace, 24 August, 2004.
*. Appearances: 342
*. Goals: 157
*. Honours: Premier League: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10. FA Cup: 2006-07, 2008-09. 2009-10, 2011-12. League Cup: 2004-05, 2006-07. Champions League: 2011-12.
*. Premier League top goalscorer: 2007, 2010
Fifa said in a statement: "We can confirm thatthe player Didier Drogba submitted a request for authorisation to be registered outside an open registration period for a club on a loan basis.
"Fifa has informed him about the relevant regulations, that players may only be registered during one of the two annual registration periods fixed by the relevant association."
Drogba, who had also been linked with Liverpool, spent eight years at Chelsea after arriving from Marseille in 2004.
His last act in a Chelsea shirt was scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final defeat of Bayern Munich in May.
The striker teamed up with former Chelsea colleague Nicolas Anelka in China in June after agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract with Shenhua.
He has scored eight goals in 11 games for the Chinese side.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations takes place in South Africa between 19 January and 10 February.
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Former Super Eagle’s coach, Clemens Westerhof described the Men’s senior national team as ‘Super corrupt.’ In a chat with Supersports.com, he raised allegation that some of the players who didn’t merit a spot in the Super Eagles, bribe the coaches in order to be selected. “ We had a situation where we had the wrong people in the wrong places, even in the (Nigeria) FA,” Westerhof said. “ We had cases where players paid money to the coach and said ‘I want to play for the national team’ and the coach would accept. They bought their way into the national team and it was an unbelievable situation. Very sad. I know these things,” Westerhof added. Westerhof who led Nigeria to the 1994 Nations Cup triumph in Tunisia and also a memorable out at the 1994 World Cup in USA. He praised the present Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, from such accusations,saying that players are now been invited on merit. “ My captain (Keshi) is there now and you can see the changes because he selects the right people. “ Nigeria beat Liberia 6-1 in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier and outclassed Venezuela (in an international friendly earlierthis month). The results come because players are now selected on merit”. “ If Keshi can manage to hold that group together things will get even better. If there is discipline everywhere; the players sleep in time and live like professionals, work like professionals and think like professionals and even go to the toilet like a professional, then you will see Nigeria will come back,” he added.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
Omotola: The Real Me , the eagerly anticipated reality show, starring Omotola Jalade Ekeinde will debut on Africa Magic Entertainment (DSTV 151) on December 6, 2012. The 13-episode show, will be aired every Thursday for 13 weeks. The show willtake viewers into the private life of Omotola. Omotola: The Real Me was filmed in Lagos, London, Ghana, Miami, and Kingston. It is a joint production of IFactory Live, Oh Africa and Red Hot Concepts.
Saturday, 17 November 2012
I AM JUST A MAN
I am just a man.
I am but a mortal passing through life;
One who, like every other,
Has embedded in him dreams and aspirations.
I am your brother, son and friend.
I am just a man.
A man who dreams of the "better days"
And works towards its actualization.
I am me.
Actualizing my dreams in my own little way.
Doing it to the best of my ability.
I am just a man.
A man who craves for love
And wants to be loved in return.
I am that he who has only his
Loyal heart to give his Love.
I am just a man.
That man who tries to be the
Hero for those he cares about.
Not the costume-wearing one,
But that hero who touches lives
In his own little way.
Enriching, and living sweet memories.
I am just a man.
I have my own shortcomings.
I am definitely not perfect.
I get angry, jealous, bitter and envious.
I am he who tries to be strong
But cries when the need arises.
I am just a man.
I am an African; proudly so.
I am that African: a Nigerian
Who would stand up to be heard.
And resist corruption in whatever
Shape, color and size.
I am just a man
And I am me!
I am but a mortal passing through life;
One who, like every other,
Has embedded in him dreams and aspirations.
I am your brother, son and friend.
I am just a man.
A man who dreams of the "better days"
And works towards its actualization.
I am me.
Actualizing my dreams in my own little way.
Doing it to the best of my ability.
I am just a man.
A man who craves for love
And wants to be loved in return.
I am that he who has only his
Loyal heart to give his Love.
I am just a man.
That man who tries to be the
Hero for those he cares about.
Not the costume-wearing one,
But that hero who touches lives
In his own little way.
Enriching, and living sweet memories.
I am just a man.
I have my own shortcomings.
I am definitely not perfect.
I get angry, jealous, bitter and envious.
I am he who tries to be strong
But cries when the need arises.
I am just a man.
I am an African; proudly so.
I am that African: a Nigerian
Who would stand up to be heard.
And resist corruption in whatever
Shape, color and size.
I am just a man
And I am me!
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
WELCOME TO NIGERIA- Olubayo Paul
I live in a country called Nigeria
A country rich in human and natural resources;
Comprising over 250 ethnic groups;
And blessed by mother nature with intellectuals,
artisans and every good thing you can ever imagine.
Let me take you around my country.
Diverse in language, culture and ancestors.
But first I must ask,
Would you want a road trip around this
Beautiful country of mine,
Or one in a private jet?
Nigeria, my Nigeria, a country where
Even in the midst of prevalent suffering, we find
A good reason to laugh.
If you aren't from here,
Or you haven't been here, you are definately missing!
How dare you globe-trott without paying
A visit to the country with the happiest people on earth.
Insubordination!
This is Nigeria:
A 'no dulling' country where if you as much
Make the mistake of turning to greet a friend in a crowded street
Without clutching your back pocket,
You could loose your wallet!
A country where ministers of God fly to
Heaven to have a their annual council meeting with
The Almighty in their private jets!
A country where the proverbial "deck"
Has long been broken by too much weight as on almost
Every occassion, all hands are on the deck
"To bring the culprits to book!"
Thus, nothing is achieved.
Have I failed to inform you that in Nigeria,
My beloved country, we sleep soundly?
But with one eye closed.
You sleep with the two closed,
Then you are either robbed, bombed, raped or burnt alive.
You doubt it?
Please go to Aluu community to find out.
My beautiful country where to get a job,
All you need, regardless of your certificate,
Is to know somebody that knows somebody
That knows somebody in the firm you have in mind.
It's that simple!
Or you could likewise
Use what you have, to get what you want.
Do I see the ladies shaking their headsin confirmation?
My beautiful country where
The basic neccessities of life are still elusive.
My beautiful country where the provision
Of drinkable water is celebrated with so much festivity
By the "men in power."
Isn't that naturally what they are expected to do?
So we can face more serious issues like
Cancer, globalization and the likes?
If the president of the USA pays for his feeding
In the White House, well mine doesn't pay for his!
Thus, he can decide to eat like a glutton and spend
Billions of naira on his food- taxpayers hardearned money
Who can hardly afford three square meals.
Brothers and sisters,
Fathers and mothers,
Siblings, relatives and friends,
Let me not bore you with my litany of what makes my country tick.
Welcome to Nigeria and bon voyage!
(The Poet can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
A country rich in human and natural resources;
Comprising over 250 ethnic groups;
And blessed by mother nature with intellectuals,
artisans and every good thing you can ever imagine.
Let me take you around my country.
Diverse in language, culture and ancestors.
But first I must ask,
Would you want a road trip around this
Beautiful country of mine,
Or one in a private jet?
Nigeria, my Nigeria, a country where
Even in the midst of prevalent suffering, we find
A good reason to laugh.
If you aren't from here,
Or you haven't been here, you are definately missing!
How dare you globe-trott without paying
A visit to the country with the happiest people on earth.
Insubordination!
This is Nigeria:
A 'no dulling' country where if you as much
Make the mistake of turning to greet a friend in a crowded street
Without clutching your back pocket,
You could loose your wallet!
A country where ministers of God fly to
Heaven to have a their annual council meeting with
The Almighty in their private jets!
A country where the proverbial "deck"
Has long been broken by too much weight as on almost
Every occassion, all hands are on the deck
"To bring the culprits to book!"
Thus, nothing is achieved.
Have I failed to inform you that in Nigeria,
My beloved country, we sleep soundly?
But with one eye closed.
You sleep with the two closed,
Then you are either robbed, bombed, raped or burnt alive.
You doubt it?
Please go to Aluu community to find out.
My beautiful country where to get a job,
All you need, regardless of your certificate,
Is to know somebody that knows somebody
That knows somebody in the firm you have in mind.
It's that simple!
Or you could likewise
Use what you have, to get what you want.
Do I see the ladies shaking their headsin confirmation?
My beautiful country where
The basic neccessities of life are still elusive.
My beautiful country where the provision
Of drinkable water is celebrated with so much festivity
By the "men in power."
Isn't that naturally what they are expected to do?
So we can face more serious issues like
Cancer, globalization and the likes?
If the president of the USA pays for his feeding
In the White House, well mine doesn't pay for his!
Thus, he can decide to eat like a glutton and spend
Billions of naira on his food- taxpayers hardearned money
Who can hardly afford three square meals.
Brothers and sisters,
Fathers and mothers,
Siblings, relatives and friends,
Let me not bore you with my litany of what makes my country tick.
Welcome to Nigeria and bon voyage!
(The Poet can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
OF PASTORPRENEURS AND THE JESUS EXAMPLE
Much has been said about the flamboyant lifestyles of Nigerian pastors. This piece, is thus, one which looks at the logic behind such un-Christlike living amongst the men of God.
Sunday morning, November 11, 2012; and I was greeted by the shocking news of Pastor Oritsejafor's private jet birthday gift.
In a country where the average citizen lives below a dollar per day, could this be said to have been a right step? Only God knows!
World over, where the rich like the Bill Gates, celebrate their birthdays by reflecting on the challenges facing the world by giving back to the society, our very own men of God do the opposite.
If Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, could set up the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in which they give half of their wealth to those in need; if our Nollywood stars likewise our musicians, find pleasure in giving back to the needy on their birthdays, then much more is expected from Ministers of the gospel that this public dance of shame to which they are all wriggling their waists to.
Have we forgotten so soon the flood that displaced people and destroyed properties worth millions in various parts of the country?
One would have expected that considering the magnitude of the damage the flood caused in its wake, alongside other societal problems facing the country, a very insightful Oritsejafor, should have used his birthday/anniversary celebration to touch such lives by complimenting the efforts of the Federal Government.
Oh! It was a birthday gift!
Am quite aware of that. Oritsejafor too cannot likewise claim ignorance of such gift before it was officially presented to him. One would have expected him to tell those "well wishers" to channel the money into touching the lives of the needy.
And what does the Bible say about laying up your treasures in heaven?
I believe the CAN president might have forgotten that in the paparazzi that culmilated to his bithday/anniversary celebration or how else do we explain this heart breaking show of reckless spending by a "Minister of God"?
Imagine what $4.9million (the estimated cost of the private jet) would have done to the lives of his church members in Bayelsa (affected by the flood) if it was used to buy only food essentials like rice, garri, beans, salt etc. What joy would have burst out of their hearts, singing praises to God and praying for their spiritual leader.
But no, our man of God preferred to toe the path of shame.
Now I ask myself, as it is now a common tradition for men of God to acquire private jets (Adeboye and Oyedepo inclusive), what kind of jet would Jesus have acquired if he were a Nigerian pastor?
Am definately sure, my Jesus, in a bid to outdo the Oyedepos and Ortisejafors would have gone for a rocket! Abi?
"But, they have a wider outreach unlike Jesus and would have to preach the gospel to all corners of the earth; acquiring a jet would make the word of God spread faster", many Christian fanatics have argued.
But seriously, does it make sense? Is acquiring a private jet part of the great commission of evangelism?
I would leave that for you to answer.
Like I previosly updated on my Facebook status, we would wake up one morning and ask our children what they want us to get for they in the nearest future, and they would tell you with a straight face:
"Mummy, I need a private jet!"
Thus, long live Pastorpreneurs who have perfected the "divine" means of squeezing their congregation dry finacially by hoodwinking them with heavenly blessings.
Long live the government who continue to turn a blind eye to taxing these holy 419ners.
Long live the country of Nigeria which has over 150 registered private jets, unlike India which spends money on its helath facilities and have over 120 globally recognized health institutions.
And God help me in my quest to become a Pastorpreneur when I grow up!
N.B.: If we all cringe at the thought of buying of private jets by these "Men of God (?)", how then do we explain the ownership of four state-of-the-art private jets by Bis-hop David Oyedepo?
(This writer can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
Sunday morning, November 11, 2012; and I was greeted by the shocking news of Pastor Oritsejafor's private jet birthday gift.
In a country where the average citizen lives below a dollar per day, could this be said to have been a right step? Only God knows!
World over, where the rich like the Bill Gates, celebrate their birthdays by reflecting on the challenges facing the world by giving back to the society, our very own men of God do the opposite.
If Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, could set up the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation in which they give half of their wealth to those in need; if our Nollywood stars likewise our musicians, find pleasure in giving back to the needy on their birthdays, then much more is expected from Ministers of the gospel that this public dance of shame to which they are all wriggling their waists to.
Have we forgotten so soon the flood that displaced people and destroyed properties worth millions in various parts of the country?
One would have expected that considering the magnitude of the damage the flood caused in its wake, alongside other societal problems facing the country, a very insightful Oritsejafor, should have used his birthday/anniversary celebration to touch such lives by complimenting the efforts of the Federal Government.
Oh! It was a birthday gift!
Am quite aware of that. Oritsejafor too cannot likewise claim ignorance of such gift before it was officially presented to him. One would have expected him to tell those "well wishers" to channel the money into touching the lives of the needy.
And what does the Bible say about laying up your treasures in heaven?
I believe the CAN president might have forgotten that in the paparazzi that culmilated to his bithday/anniversary celebration or how else do we explain this heart breaking show of reckless spending by a "Minister of God"?
Imagine what $4.9million (the estimated cost of the private jet) would have done to the lives of his church members in Bayelsa (affected by the flood) if it was used to buy only food essentials like rice, garri, beans, salt etc. What joy would have burst out of their hearts, singing praises to God and praying for their spiritual leader.
But no, our man of God preferred to toe the path of shame.
Now I ask myself, as it is now a common tradition for men of God to acquire private jets (Adeboye and Oyedepo inclusive), what kind of jet would Jesus have acquired if he were a Nigerian pastor?
Am definately sure, my Jesus, in a bid to outdo the Oyedepos and Ortisejafors would have gone for a rocket! Abi?
"But, they have a wider outreach unlike Jesus and would have to preach the gospel to all corners of the earth; acquiring a jet would make the word of God spread faster", many Christian fanatics have argued.
But seriously, does it make sense? Is acquiring a private jet part of the great commission of evangelism?
I would leave that for you to answer.
Like I previosly updated on my Facebook status, we would wake up one morning and ask our children what they want us to get for they in the nearest future, and they would tell you with a straight face:
"Mummy, I need a private jet!"
Thus, long live Pastorpreneurs who have perfected the "divine" means of squeezing their congregation dry finacially by hoodwinking them with heavenly blessings.
Long live the government who continue to turn a blind eye to taxing these holy 419ners.
Long live the country of Nigeria which has over 150 registered private jets, unlike India which spends money on its helath facilities and have over 120 globally recognized health institutions.
And God help me in my quest to become a Pastorpreneur when I grow up!
N.B.: If we all cringe at the thought of buying of private jets by these "Men of God (?)", how then do we explain the ownership of four state-of-the-art private jets by Bis-hop David Oyedepo?
(This writer can be found on twitter @olubayo1)
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