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Developer flees after duping 31 accommodation seekers

2012-10-31T21:10:00.000-07:00

A developer, Mr. Ibrahim Ajayi, is on the run after allegedly duping 31 accommodation seekers using four apartments – a self-contained apartment, mini-flat, and two two-bedroom flats.

The victims all paid amounts ranging from N140,000 to N450,000 to rent the apartments at a storey-building at 10, Church Street, Ojodu-Abiodun, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

One of the victims, Uwem Raymond, told PUNCH Metro that he had paid N130,000 out of the N140,000 he was supposed to pay, before the developer fled.

He said he could no longer locate the agent, known simply as Kunle, who took him to the house.

Raymond said, “When I approached the agent for a mini-flat, I was told to pay N100, 000 as the rent and N40,000 for agreement and commission.

“In August, I paid N130, 000 out of which I paid N20,000 to the agent as his commission. I was to pay the balance of N10, 000. At that time, work was still ongoing on the upper floor, which was being let out.

“But in September, I started noticing some delay in the work that was going on in the building. I approached a son of the landlord just to be sure the developer was genuine.

“The landlord’s son later told me that the developer had used the apartments to dupe many people and had fled. I am a student. I saved the money through hardwork. I failed an exam because of this problem because I was so disoriented.”

Another victim, Tajudeen Ibrahim, had a more bitter story to tell. He just wedded when he paid N400,000, with the hope of moving into his apartment with his wife.

He said, “I did not go through the agent. I paid N300,000 rent and N100,000 agreement fee directly to Ajayi. I went to the building one day to see whether the work going on on the upper floor had been completed when I saw a notice on the wall, warning people to stay off that there was a case on the building.”

Ubong Nyang also paid N350,000. Like other victims, he went to the house, hoping to pack into the house on September 1, when he discovered that the developer had fled.

Ubong said he was living temporarily with a family member.

However, the victims said when they reported the case at the Ojodu-Abiodun Police Division, the case was transferred to Police headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

They alleged that the police demanded N40, 000 for “mobilisation,” which they paid, but the police had since not done anything to apprehend the developer or to help them in anyway.

When our correspondent contacted the Investigative Police Officer in charge of the case at Eleweran, Mr. Sunday Adeyemo, he confirmed that the victims were duped.

He said, “The money we collected was for mobilisation. When the case was reported, we mobilised to the house, but it seemed the developer had got wind of our coming and he fled before we got there.

“We then placed the house under surveillance but he has not turned up since. We live in Abeokuta, so they cannot expect us to be sleeping in the place.

“Right now, I am planning to go and spend a whole day there and visit MTN office if we can trace the developer through his cell phone, because his phone number no longer goes through.”

He said it was not true that the police had abandoned the case.

Our correspondent dialed Ajayi’s two numbers but they were switched off. The number of the agent went through, but the receiver insisted he was not Kunle (the agent).

Unbelievable night as Chelsea beat Utd in nine-goal thriller

2012-10-31T21:06:00.001-07:00

Another unbelievable night of Capital One Cup action saw Chelsea gain revenge for Sunday’s controversial league defeat to Manchester United by beating the Red Devils on Wednesday, on a night when defending champions Liverpool and 2008 winners Tottenham were both knocked out.

Roberto Di Matteo saw everything go against his Chelsea side when they lost to Manchester Unitedat the weekend, with referee Mark Clattenburg subsequently reported for alleged “inappropriate language” after a highly charged encounter.

Wednesday’s match provided more controversy as official Lee Mason awarded Chelsea two penalties – both justified – as the Blues scored a 93rd-minute leveller to force extra-time. They eventually ran out 5-4 winners thanks to goals from David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard, Daniel Sturridge and Ramires.

Di Matteo made six changes from the team that lost in the league, with Cesar Azpilicueta, Ryan Bertrand, Oriol Romeu, Victor Moses, Lucas Piazon and Sturridge all coming into the starting XI. Sir Alex Ferguson also mixed up his team with 10 new faces selected, Rafael the only man to keep his place.

Significantly the two men linked to the Clattenburg case, John Obi Mikel and Juan Mata, both started, and Mikel was booked inside 25 minutes. Chelsea also fell behind in that period and they were contributors to their own downfall, with Petr Cech’s pass to Romeu inviting United pressure that led to Ryan Giggs scoring the opener.

Chelsea were level within eight minutes thanks to a similarly ridiculous piece of defending, with Alexander Buttner recklessly sliding in on Moses inside the area. The resulting penalty was dispatched by Luiz, although Anders Lindegaard did get a hand to it.

The defensive calamities continued as United scored again on the stroke of half-time, with Luiz this time the culprit. Attempting an ambitious mazy run near the halfway line, Luiz was robbed of the ball – allowing United to feed Javier Hernandez who slotted past Cech.

An enthralling cup tie took another twist seven minutes after the break as Cahill produced a trademark header at a corner that crossed the line before Rafael could clear, but United quickly restored their advantage for a third time. Nani exchanged a sharp one-two with Anderson inside the area, before the Portuguese chipped the ball over Cech as the keeper raced from his line.

Moses and Hernandez both wasted glorious chances to affect the scoring again, and Mason drew the wrath of the crowd when he failed to spot Michael Keane’s handball inside the final 20 minutes. However, the ref did point to the spot three minutes into injury-time for a foul by Scott Wootton, rolled calmly home by Hazard to force extra-time.

It was a tough night for Wootton who then gifted Sturridge Chelsea’s fourth as the Blues led for the first time in the evening, sending a powerpuff header to Sturridge who rounded Lindegaard for 4-3. Luiz rattled the bar late on before Hazard created the goal of the night, bamboozling the United defence before slipping in Ramires, and there was still time for Giggs to score from the spot on another incredible night of League Cup action.

Oil subsidy thieves must suffer – Jonathan

2012-10-31T20:58:00.001-07:00

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan vowed, yesterday, that all those found culpable in the fuel subsidy scam would be severely punished after being made to refund the public funds they illegally collected.

Speaking through Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the launching of ‘Reforming the Unreformable,’ a book written by the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the president said that those found to have been involved in corruption and other economic crimes must be punished.

President Jonathan spoke as Senators came under intense pressure to stop discussions on the fuel subsidy probe and a member of the House of Representatives concurred with the findings of the Nuhu Ribadu’s panel of mega graft in the oil industry in the last decade.

Said President Jonathan: “Nigerian and African leaders must begin to write their own experiences. It deals with the challenges of creating jobs, fighting corruption and other important sartorial reforms that need urgent attention, which are crucial to the transformation agenda of this administration.

“Let me assure you that my administration is not only committed to reform, we are building on some of the reform agents. Specifically, we are consolidating on macro-economic reforms. We are going to focus on the various sectorial reforms, which will create jobs in our economy. On the government front, we are going after those who committed various economic and corrupt practices with impunity.

“As you may be aware, government is taking every legal measure to ensure that those, who defraud the government in the petroleum subsidy scheme are made to return the money stolen and punished for their crimes”.

Hope for Nigeria

He described the book as a demonstration of Okonjo-Iweala’s patriotism, particularly given the fact that “the central message of this important book is hope, hope that Nigeria can reform and grow to become one of the world’s most dynamic economies”.

According to the president, “in the past, there was a lot of cynicism about Nigeria. Many people claimed that the political and public institutions in this country could not be reformed. It clearly argued convincingly that gradually, Nigeria is undergoing reform.”

He said that one of his objectives was to build strong institutions; with the kind of policies and reforms that would consolidate on current reform efforts that could achieve credible development.

The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring an atmosphere of democracy and freedom and assured that he would “continue to work to ensure that sound democratic principles are applied in this country.

“Ever since the 2011 elections, adjudged to be the freest and fairest in our nation’s history, we have also conducted local and state government elections, which have been locally and internationally applauded. This is a new dawn in our initiative to achieve electoral reform. In all successful democracies, leadership tends to take on certain changes, changes that are tough”.

The president who gave his commitment to add value to all areas of the economy, aimed at generating employment and creating wealth, observed that the states and local governments must also key-into the federal government efforts. “The content of the book cannot only be implemented at the national level but also at the sub-national and local government levels”, he said.

In her remarks, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said she wrote the book to give hope to Nigerians on her conviction that Nigeria could be returned to the path of greatness and that all that is required is commitment of the people and political will on the part of leaders.

According to her, fighting corruption is a tough battle because, “when you fight corruption, corruption fights you back” but she encouraged Nigerians never to give up the fight against corruption, as according to her, “corruption will never win”.

She added that she did not write the book to make money but to share her experiences with Nigerians and the global community on necessary reform decisions and actions needed to turn-around the economy for the better.

Chief Sunny Odogwu, who was the Chief launcher encouraged young Nigerians to keep hope alive, as according to him, with commitment, the nation can reach the top 20 world economy goal it has set for itself. He said that Nigeria is in a transition and that with the current administration, there is hope that the economy will get better.

Meanwhile, more than a year after the Senate launched its investigations into the implementation of the fuel subsidy scheme, there are indications that the legislative chamber has come under pressure aimed at frustrating the outcome of the investigations

Continues here Senators under pressure to drop subsidy probe

“How I survived fuel subsidy crisis” -GEJ

2012-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared that the popular and democratic electoral mandate given him by Nigerians saved his job during the subsidy removal protests in the country early this year.

The President was speaking in Freetown, Sierra Leone when he met with chairman of the country’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), Madam Christina Thorpe, as well as chairmen and some presidential candidates of political parties contesting in the Sierra Leone’s general elections coming up on November 17 this year.

Jonathan spoke in line with his admonition to the political class, to jointly ensure free and fair polls as such this guarantee their popularity with the electorate and the ability to gain the people’s confidence when taking take strong decisions in tumultuous times.

According to the President, the crises that engulfed Nigeria when he attempted to remove petroleum subsidy last January would have seen him removed from office if not that the majority of citizens who voted for him refused to be coerced or deceived into demanding for a regime change instead of reversal of the policy.

“In Nigeria, I remember the fuel subsidy crisis all over the country, I could have been removed but I was confident of my mandate. When some people started talking of regime change, majority of the people who voted for me insisted that they elected me and what they are asking for is change of policy, not regime change; and that calmed down the situation.

“Credible elections give you the mandate of the people and confidence too. It is difficult to calm people down when elections are manipulated”, he said.

Lecturing his audience on the need for credible polls, President Jonathan enthused that he would not be in Sierra Leone to preach free and fair polls if he had not successfully done same in Nigeria. According to him “If we had manipulated elections in Nigeria, I would not have had the courage to come and confront you. If I had manipulated myself into office, there is no way I would come and sell to you what I do not have”.

He tasked Sierra Leone’s ruling party, the All Peoples Congress (APC) to ensure a level playing field that will bring about acceptable elections as the party stands to reap immensely in terms of credibility from such action. Ruling simply by might is primitive and does not ensure stable polity, stressed Jonathan who pledged more of Nigeria’s assistance towards successful elections in Sierra Leone.

Nigeria had earlier donated 25 operational vehicles and $1 million to Sierra Leone, and trained some of their electoral officials in Nigeria towards the conduct of the polls. Many of the political parties’ chieftains requested for more assistance from Nigeria, including providing subventions to the parties to enable them withstand the financial might of the bigger parties.

Jonathan was also formally bestowed with that country’s highest national honour of Grand Commander of the Republic of Sierra Leone (GCRSL) awarded to him during Sierra Leone’s 51st Independence Anniversary in April. He thanked the people of Sierra Leone for the honour and assured that Nigeria would continue to give as much assistance it could to them as the relationship between both countries grow stronger. The award, according to President Bai Koroma, was given to Jonathan in recognition of his and Nigeria’s invaluable support for and timely intervention during difficult times in Sierra Leone.

“We as a nation are very grateful. This is the crowning of our bilateral relations and your personal assistance to Sierra Leone”, Koroma said.

There’s No Issue Of My Husband Sleeping With My Daughter – St. Janet

2012-10-30T15:08:00.001-07:00

The story spread like wild fire when it was alleged that lewd singer, St. Janet called it quits on her marriage after she caught her husband, Kaode Iyun, in bed with her 16 year old daughter from a previous relationship.

St. Janet has responded to the story and calls it “false tales.” In her words:

“When I read the story I was shocked. I don’t know where it came from. Nothing of such happened to me or anybody I know. My marriage is not perfect but it’s intact. There’s no issue of my husband sleeping with my daughter. I don’t even have a 16 year old daughter. I have younger sisters who live with me, but nothing of such ever happened. I strongly believe my detractors are at work. I am strongly investigating where the story came from. It was targeted towards my career and they felt the best way they could go about it is to go about spreading false tales about my personal life.”

But really, who would readily admit on the pages of newspapers or blogs that they caught their husband in bed with another lady moreso, their step-daughter?

Soldiers take over Kaduna •Frisk motorists, passers-by

2012-10-30T01:03:00.003-07:00

SOLDIERS patrolled the streets of Kaduna on Monday, a day after at least 10 people were killed and 145 wounded in a suicide church bombing and reprisal.

Many residents remained indoors as soldiers mounted checkpoints and frisked motorists and passers-by. A number of businesses were also shut following the attack.

Christian mobs had roamed the area near the church in the Malali neighbourhood on Sunday after the attack, targeting people they presumed to be Muslims, including one man who was reportedly burnt alive.

On Monday, residents said roadblocks were mounted around the scene of the blast and the two flashpoint districts of Goni-Gora and Tudun-Wada.

“There has been heavy military deployment since yesterday following the attack. This morning, two armoured cars and more troops arrived in these areas,” said Emmanuel Mayaki, a resident of Goni-Gora.

Another resident, Hadila Johnson, spoke of an increased presence of soldiers and a number of checkpoints. He said the roads leading to the church were cordoned off by soldiers.

Military spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman, told AFP the heavy presence of soldiers was “to restore law and order.”

The attack on the church during the morning service left at least seven people dead in addition to the bomber, while at least three people were killed in reprisal. The bomb attack wounded 145 people.

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the church blast, the incident was similar to previous attacks blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.

Boko Haram’s insurgency in northern and central Nigeria is believed to have left more than 2,800 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

The group has claimed to be seeking an Islamic state in Nigeria, though its demands have repeatedly shifted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that 146 victims were admitted at Barau Dikko, St. Gerard’s and 44 military hospitals in Kaduna.

NAN also reported that 35 of the injured victims were still receiving treatment at the three hospitals on Monday.

The figure was released during a visit to the hospitals by officials of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

According to the administrator of St Gerard’s Hospital, Sister Theresa Dung, 14 victims were brought to the hospital and two had been discharged.

Theresa said that four of the victims on admission at the hospital were children.

At the Barau Dikko Hospital, the CAN officials were told that out of the 97 victims of the Sunday bomb blast, only 18 were left.

The team leader of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr Aly Ouattara, who was seen treating some of the patients, said that the hospital had discharged 79 patients who were in stable condition.

NAN reported that officials at the army hospital confirmed that 30 patients had also been discharged while five were still receiving treatment.

In his remarks, the state CAN chairman, Reverend Samuel Kujiyat, said “in this situation, we are also grateful to God because we cannot question

We’ve put Ondo gov election behind us

2012-10-30T01:00:00.000-07:00

Barely 10 days after Governor Olusegun Mimiko won the gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the national chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande, on Monday, said his political party had already put the poll behind them.

He contended that the people of the state reserve the exclusive rights to determine who leads them, saying “no one race or political contest is worth damaging our democracy. We would rather lose the race and gain democracy than win the race and lose democracy in the process.”

Reacting to the outcome of the election, in which ACN came third with 143,512 votes, in a press statement, Chief Akande remarked that “the governorship election in Ondo State is over and the ballots received by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been tallied. Some people have urged us to reject the INEC results outright, because they do not favour my party. This we shall not do.”

The statement added, “This is our position. We believe in the right of the people of Ondo State to determine who leads them. For us in the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Ondo State election is a battle in a larger war; the war of deepening democracy and ensuring accountability in our country. We have, therefore, resolved to put the elections behind us while pursuing the task of providing leadership to our people effectively.”

Akande maintained that “should we find ultimately that irregularities and wrongful actions materially altered the results, we shall contest the transgression as is ours and duty in a democracy.”

GEJ calls for Ribadu Committee’s report

2012-10-30T00:42:00.000-07:00

President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, directed the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force chaired by Nuhu Ribadu to present a comprehensive report to him this week.

Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, adding that the directive was in furtherance of the administration’s commitment to transparency in the petroleum sector.

He stated that the presentation of the committee’s report would take place on Friday, November 2, at 11 a.m., at the State House, Abuja.

The committee was set up in February to, among other tasks, verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues (taxes and royalties) due and payable to the Federal Government.

It was also tasked to take necessary steps to collect all debts due and owed, and to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators.

Taraba deputy governor denies acting governor claims

2012-10-30T00:40:00.000-07:00

In response to insinuations that he has taken the position of his injured boss, Taraba State deputy governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, said he has not been sworn-in as acting governor.

Umar, while addressing journalists at the Government House, Jalingo said he remains the deputy governor.

The deputy governor said that Governor Danbaba Suntai was responding to treatment.

“I remain the deputy governor of Taraba State. I am not acting. I can’t be sworn-in as acting governor because my boss is still alive,” he said.

Umar also denied claims of attack on him by thugs on the evening his boss was involved in the crash, as reported by some newspapers.

Suntai, who was involved in a plane crash, has been flown abroad for treatment.

The Nutritional Benefits of Fruit

2012-10-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Good nutrition is key to living a long and healthy life. Increasingly we are receiving poor nutrition from ready-meals, fast food and processed foods. These foods contain little, or no nutritional value, and are usually loaded with salt, hydrogenated fats, and sugar. Poor nutrition can lead to various health problems in the short and long term, and make you feel tired, lethargic, and miserable too.

Nutritional Value of Fruit

Most fruit is naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. What’s more, they don’t contain cholesterol, but are packed full of vitamins and minerals – the right nutrients your body needs. These nutrients include: potassium, dietary fibre, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid).

Potassium

Diets rich in potassium will contribute to a healthy blood pressure and reduced risk of developing kidney stones. Fruits that contain potassium include bananas, plums, prunes, peaches, apricots, and oranges.

Dietary Fibre

Regular amounts of dietary fibre help reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. It is also important in maintaining regular bowel movements. Fibre helps reduce constipation and therefore reduce the amount of toxins exposed to the bowel for any length of time. All fruits contain dietary fibre, but fruit juice doesn’t, so you will need to eat the whole fruit to get this nutritional benefit.

Fruit and Weight Loss

2012-10-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Studies have shown that weight loss is quicker if fruit or vegetables make up a third of the food consumed each day. This is because fruit helps fill the stomach faster but is low in calories and fat. It is also thought that eating plenty of fibre and eating a wide variety of food will help us burn more energy.
To live a healthy and energetic life our bodies must be fit for the job. This requires a balanced diet that incorporates plenty of fresh fruit.

Five-a-Day

For fruit to have a positive impact on your weight loss you need to eat around five portions of it each day. This can be dried squeezed, bottled or fresh. Try sprinkling dried fruit over your breakfast cereal, eating an apple, banana or pear as a mid-morning snack, or feasting on a punnet of grapes or strawberries instead of heading for the chocolate.
Not only are fruits loaded with minerals, vitamins and antioxidants to keep the body healthy, but they also contain no fat, and very few calories. This means that you can fill your stomach with fruit, and help your body repair itself with all those nutrients, minerals and antioxidants. Because there is no fat involved, your body will start to lose weight naturally.

Water Weight

Fruit also contains no sodium, which is thought to increase what’s known as ‘water weight’. Sodium in the body is mainly found in the fluids around the body's cells, including the lymph fluid and blood. When sodium intake is greater than what the body can deal with, it accumulates in the intestinal region. The kidneys then work harder to flush this excess sodium out of the body, and the body stores the extra fluids in the blood and around the cells. This leads to increased blood pressure and excess weight gain from water.

Western Diets

The average diet in the west is made up of convenient, packaged or fast food. These always consist of high levels of salt, or sodium, as well as fat, calories and artificial chemical preservatives. It is estimated that many people in the UK and USA may carry up to 2.5kg of extra weight due to the effects of a high sodium diet.

Energy

Our bodies need energy to function properly. Traditionally, this energy was absorbed from dietary fibre consumed, but in recent years, this has shifted, and now over 50% of the energy absorbed in the average western diet is taken from sugar, dairy products, alcohol and vegetable oils. None of these foods contains any dietary fibre. This can result in poor bowel movements, but also sluggish behaviour, a lack of concentration and motivation, and an increased risk in developing heart disease and cancer.
Fruit contains plenty of dietary fibre to wake you up and provide you with plenty of energy. This has the double benefit of giving you more energy with which to exercise and burn excess calories, which will help you loose weight even faster.
Fruit is a fantastic source of all things good for you. Vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and antioxidants are all important in our diets and should be consumed regularly. Eating plenty of fruit can help achieve the ideal weight, and make you feel more alert and energetic too. So what’s stopping you.

Controlling Pests and Weeds

2012-10-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Growing your own fruit is relatively hassle free. But there are some precautions you should take to ensure your crop is not attacked by pests or overpowered by weeds.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

There are plenty of things you can do to ensure you grow strong, healthy plants that will resist any attack from pests or competition from weeds. When you buy your plants, make sure they come from a reputable supplier, who can guarantee they have a degree of resistance to disease. Make sure your growing medium is fertile and well cultivated, and don’t over feed them in the early stages of growth. This will encourage lush, sappy growth of leaves and shoots, which will leave them open to attack.

Weeds

Weeds can be prevented by thoroughly digging the ground before planting and removing every trace of weed roots. Some weeds, such as bindweed and couch grass will grow from a tiny piece of root, so it’s important to remove every last piece. You can also mulch the area after planting to suppress their growth by restricting light to the area. A mulch can be in the form of a piece of carpet or mulch mat, or a layer of straw or thick compost or well-rotted animal manure, which is placed around the stems of the plant t prevent weeds from growing.

Pests

The most common pests that affect fruit are birds and aphids. Birds are particularly keen on berries, though other soft fruit can also be attacked. Using netting can ward them off, simply place it over the plants so the birds can’t access the fruit. Make sure you do this after the plants have flowered, however, as you’ll need bees and other pollinators to come and fertilise them to produce a good crop.

The Health Benefits of Eating Fruit

2012-10-29T09:20:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that eating fruit is good for you and has plenty of health benefits – but what are they? Generally, people who eat more fruit as part of a healthy diet are less likely to develop diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and cancer, and they provide your body with all the nutrients it needs to fight other infections and repair cells, too.
Most people want to be as healthy as possible. We want to be able to enjoy life without the constraints of illness and disease, and live a long, and active life. Eating fruit every day as part of a balanced diet is just one of the ways we can improve our health, and give our bodies a helping hand in living to a ripe old age.

Why Fruit?

These days our bodies need more vitamins and minerals than ever before. This is because we work longer hours, are exposed to more toxic fumes from pollution and are under more stress than we used to be. Eating fruit every day is a simple way of providing your body with these nutrients to ensure you are well equipped to deal with the stresses of daily life, and possibly protect you from illnesses in the future.
A diet involving regular amounts of fruit will provide your body with antioxidants to help prevent free radicals from attacking the body.

Free Radicals

Free radicals are molecules that are produced when our bodies react with oxygen. They react with other molecules within cells and can damage their proteins, membranes and genes. The damage caused can lead to the onset of disease, in particular Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer. It also contributes to the ageing of our bodies.

Chelsea files complaint against referee after loss to Man U

2012-10-29T09:13:00.001-07:00

Nigeria U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, on Sunday beat Guinea 4-0 on in Conakry to qualify for the next round of the African Junior Championship on a 7-0 aggregate.

The Eaglets won the first leg qualifier 3-0 in Calabar two weeks ago and with Sunday’s result, they have set up a final qualifier with the winners of the match between Mali and Mauritania in November.

The Eaglets led 2-0 with goals from Alhassan Ibrahim and Isaac Success in Sunday match.

Success scored again in the second half to complete his brace while Musa Yahaya completed the rout with a fourth goal.

Nigeria have won the U-17 World Cup thrice in 1985, 1993 and 2007, but the current team is proving to be another strong side as they have not drawn or lost on the road and at home any of their two qualifiers against Niger and Guinea. Scoring 17 goals and conceding a goal in the process. Morocco will host the African Junior Championship in April next year.

MAY D MAY ENTER INTO TROUBLE WITH PSQAURE

2012-10-29T09:11:00.001-07:00

Akinmayokun May D Awodumila might be spooling for another fresh war or may be telling the world that the battle between him and the sensational twin singer, P Square is finally over as he performed two of Paul and Peter Okoye’s songs at the Felabration 2012, New Afrika Shrine, Lagos.

Though some of the stakeholders in the industry said that, May D may or may not know what he has done what is termed plagiarism; but the tides are already heating up and soon, there may be just another messy war between him and Square Rcords barely two months after he was dropped by the label.

During his performance at the recently held Felabration 2012, at the New Afrika Shrine on Friday, October 19, the pop singer kicked off his performance with Psquare’s ‘Do as I do‘ which features Tiwa Savage and himself. He then goes on to perform his first single ‘Soundtrack‘ before following with Psquare’s ‘Chop my money‘. He didn’t stop there as he went quickly into his award winning single Soundtrack before diving headlong into Chop my Money. May D wrapped up his act with his hit single Ile Ijo. In all of P Square’s songs performed on this night, May D didn’t stick to his lines; rather, he took the entire songs from start to finish.

The crowd, however, didn’t seem to notice or perhaps were not bothered as they hollered and danced away the entire time. Square Records boss Jude Engees Okoye had in a statement issued in August this year announced that the label was severing ties with May D due to irreconcilable differences. A month later, May D launched own label Confam Entertainment. His single Soundtrack fetched him the ‘Best R&B Single’ award at The Headies this year.

NEW TEJUOSHO SHOPPING COMPLEX NEARING COMPLETION

2012-10-29T09:06:00.001-07:00

The new Ultra modern Tejuosho shopping Complex is slowly but certainly nearing completion. This project has been in the pipe-line for over ten years but it took a 'mysterious' fire outbreak at the old Tejuosho Market in 2007 before aggressive construction could commence. Five years down the line and the project is really beginning to take shape.

The New Tejuosho Shopping Complex is fully financed by First Bank of Nigeria Plc and is being undertaken by Stormberg Engineering Limited under the Public-Private-Partnership programme of the Lagos State Government for 25 years. The edifice sits on approximately 3.062 hectares and it is strategically located in Yaba.

The main shopping complex, when completed will provide major retail and wholesale market opportunities for the teaming Lagos population. The new complex encompasses 4,040 shop units of various sizes ranging from 9 metre squares to 12, 19, 23 and few larger units of 142 metre squares for banking and restaurant uses as well as Kee-Klamps. The shops units are arranged on four levels: Upper ground level, entrance level, level three and level four.

Prices of shop units range from N5.4 million or N600,000 per square metre with prospective buyers having the opportunity to pay by instalment. The new shopping complex, when completed will offer the following array of modern retail facilities and amenities: Multi level parking for over 720 cars, efficient internal traffic system and management, lifts and elevators for shoppers and cargos; serviced fire station, police station and uniformed security patrols.

Nigerian business men and women in the Diaspora interested in setting up shop in Nigeria SHOULD also take advantage of this property. It is a worthwhile investment.

This project is indeed a sight to behold and even though provision is already being made for a fire station; my prayer is that the Lagos State government ensures that an even more sophisticated fire prevention and protection facility is installed. I know what I’m talking about.

Oga Fashola, please take note o!

NEW TEJUOSHO SHOPPING COMPLEX NEARING COMPLETION

2012-10-29T09:05:00.001-07:00

Update: 10 dead, 145 wounded in Kaduna church bombing, attacks

2012-10-29T02:56:00.000-07:00

KADUNA (AFP) – A suicide attacker drove a car bomb into a church on Sunday, sparking fierce reprisals that saw a Christian mob burn a man alive in day of a bloody of violence that left at least 10 people dead and 145 wounded.
Christian youths took to the streets of the northern city of Kaduna with machetes and sticks after the blast, targeting those they believed to be Muslims as anger again boiled over due to repeated church bombings in recent months.
Attackers beat a motorcycle taxi driver near the church, then put his bike on top of him before dousing him with petrol and setting him on fire, an AFP correspondent who saw the violence said. Two other bloodied bodies apparently killed by the mob were seen near the church.
A rescue official on condition of anonymity also spoke of the man being burnt and said rescuers could not save him because the mob was too violent.
The mob also attacked an ambulance in the ensuing violence, but there was no indication that rescuers were wounded.
“So far we have eight dead and 145 injured from the church blast,” Musa Ilallah, regional coordinator for the National Emergency Management Agency, told AFP, noting that his death toll included the suspected bomber.
The attacker rammed what residents said was an SUV into St. Rita church, shaking the Malali neighbourhood of Kaduna, a city that has suffered a wave of deadly violence blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram.
“All of a sudden it drove on high speed and rammed into the church wall, forcing its way into the church premises,” said witness Samuel Emmanuel.

“Initially I thought the driver had lost control of the vehicle. Suddenly there was a huge explosion as the car reached the church building. It was dust, fire and smoke all over.”

To stop Boko Haram, Shehu wants action on oil exploration along Chad Basin

2012-10-28T23:16:00.001-07:00

TO end the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno State and other states in the North, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubukar Umar Garbai Ibn El-Kanemi, wants the Federal Government to expedite action on oil exploration along the Lake Chad Basin; and job creation, while Borno elders will continue to hold quarterly meeting at the palace until peace is restored.
The monarch spoke, yesterday, at his Maiduguri palace while addressing traditional and religious leaders on how to ensure “peace, unity and security” of life and property amid the Boko Haram insurgency in the state.
He said the Boko Haram insurgency could be overcome with intensive “prayers and fasting,” while the Federal Government expedites action in the exploration of oil in the Chad Basin areas, so that more jobs could be created for the unemployed youths roaming the streets.

Speaking on the roles of traditional and religious leaders to overcome security challenges, El-Kanemi said: “Members of the Borno Emirate Council (BOEC) have resolved that elders along with their religious and traditional rulers will be holding a quarterly meeting at the palace.

Teenage girl killed by policemen is buried

2012-10-28T23:13:00.002-07:00

Family of Lucy Ukpong, the 18-year-old sales girl killed by some policemen in Apo, Abuja on October 12, have said nothing short of justice will be acceptable to them.
This is just as Lucy was buried amid tears at Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State on Saturday.
PUNCH Metro had reported on Friday that the police authorities had pleaded with the family to accept an amicable settlement of the matter.
But Lucy’s uncle, Tony Ukpong, who spoke with our correspondent in Etinan on Saturday, insisted that the family was more interested in justice.
Although he acknowledged that the police had made entreaties to the family, he said family members were still meeting and had yet to decide whether to dialogue with the police authorities or not.
Tony said, “Justice must be done because the way Lucy was killed is not acceptable to us; we demand justice and nothing less.
“We have no demand but we want to go into a dialogue. We have not stated any of our demands. Negotiation is ongoing within the family that is the best I can tell you.”
Meanwhile, the National Coordinator, Greater Gbagyi Development Initiative, Gbaiza Gimba, has said the organisation will not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.
Gimba, who spoke with our correspondent after the burial, said the group took interest in the matter in line with its principle that justice must be done to aggrieved parties.
“We believe that Lucy died for justice. We shall be ready to give her justice. Whatever the situation, we will be talking with our leaders, our traditional institutions in making sure that justice is done to ameliorate the suffering of the son that she left behind,” he said.
He blamed police brutality on bad leadership, adding that the leaders had abdicated their responsibility.
Gimba observed that in developed countries, policemen use rubber bullets to disperse crowd during civil unrest, wondering why the Nigeria Police always use live bullets to disperse protesters.
He said, “In crisis, police were supposed to go with teargas, but because there is no control over issues by the government, that is why anything can happen in this country.

“If police are shooting, they might be telling us that they are shooting to defend themselves, but it is not within our power to say this is how it should go. We will continue to make sure that the right things are done for justice to be given to whom it is taken away from.”

Update: At least 3 killed in new Kaduna church blast

2012-10-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

KADUNA (AFP) – An attacker attempted to slam a car bomb into a church during service on Sunday, killing at least three people, including himself, while wounding others, a rescue official said on Sunday.

“At least three people are confirmed dead,” the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to give out figures. He added later that the toll included the suspected attacker

Boko Haram: Gunmen Kill Son Of Yobe Ex-Perm Sec

2012-10-28T10:20:00.002-07:00

GUNMEN, suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect, on Friday, in Maiduguri, killed Abdulrahaman, son of the former Yobe State Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Mustapha Sheriff.
The deceased had gone to the Maiduguri Cattle Market at about 8.45am to purchase a ram for the Sallah celebration when he was attacked.
An eyewitness said the gunmen also snatched the Sports Utility Vehicle belonging to the late Abdulrahaman.
“Two gunmen trailed Abdulrahman in a tricycle. They stopped him at a road junction and fired several bullets into his head.
They took his Jeep and fled to an unknown destination in Gambouru ward. The ram was in the vehicle as they made away. Soldiers arrived the scene at about 9am.”
Confirming the incident, yesterday, spokesman for the Joint Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col Sagir Musa, said he heard of the attack and killing of a motorist who was shot in the head by armed men at a road junction leading to the cattle
market.”
He said the media would be briefed further as soon as he received detailed information about the attack from the Sector Area Commander of the JTF.
He disclosed that the scene of the incident has been cordoned off.
Meanwhile, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubukar Umar Garbai Ibn
El-Kanemi, has called on the federal government to expedite action on oil exploration in the Chad Basin with a view to ending the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno and other Northern States.
The monarch spoke yesterday in his palace in Maiduguri while addressing traditional and religious leaders on peace and security in the state.
He urged government to step up action on oil exploration so that more jobs could be created for unemployed youths.
Speaking on the role of traditional and religious leaders in surmounting
securit y challenges, the Shehu said: “Members of the Borno Emirate Council (BOEC) have resolved that elders with religious and traditional rulers will hold quarterly meetings at the palace. Such meetings are to fashion out strategies and means of ending incessant attacks, bombings and
killings of innocent citizens by the Boko Haram sect.
He said one of the major reasons for the insurgency, is poverty and massive unemployment among youths.

According to him, the idle minds of youths have furnished a devil’s workshop for launch of attacks and killings of innocent citizens.

Ballon d’Or: No African female player on FIFA’s shortlist

2012-10-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

FIFA and France Football have Thursday announced the names of the players and coaches on the shortlists for these awards without a single African on the list.. The final decisions will be made, as usual, by the captains and head coaches of the women’s national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.
The shortlists for the FIFA Ballon d’Or (best male player) and the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football awards will be revealed on October 29, 2012.
The winners of all of the awards will be revealed at the FIFA Ballon d’Or gala as part of a televised show at the Zurich Kongresshaus on January 7, 2013, during which the FIFA FIFPro World XI, the FIFA Puskás Award – for the most beautiful goal of the year – the FIFA Presidential Award and the FIFA Fair Play Award will also be presented.
The list of ten female candidates has been drawn up by experts from the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as by experts from France Football. The list of ten coaches has been drawn up by football experts from the FIFA Football Committee, the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as by a group of experts from France Football.
On November 29, 2012, FIFA and France Football will announce at a press conference in São Paulo (Brazil) the names of the three men and three women, as well as the three coaches for women’s football and three coaches for men’s football, who have received the most votes (without unveiling the winners). The three nominees for the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA FIFPro World XI shortlist for the best forwards will also be announced (the shortlists for best goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders will be unveiled on 19, 22 and 26 November, respectively).
The 10 women who are in contention for the title of FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year 2012 include Camille Abily (France), Miho Fukumoto (Japan), Carli Lloyd (USA), Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Alex Morgan (USA), Megan Rapinoe (USA), Homare Sawa (Japan), Christine Sinclair (Canada), Abby Wambach (USA).
The 10 coaches who are in contention for the FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women’s Football 2012 include Bruno Bini (France/France national team), John Herdman (England/Canada national team), Patrice Lair (France/Olympique Lyonnais), Maren Meinert (Germany/Germany U-20 national team), Silvia Neid (Germany/Germany national team), Hope Powell (England/England national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japan national team), Pia Sundhage (Sweden/USA national team), Steve Swanson (USA/USA U-20 national team), Hiroshi Yoshida (Japan/Japan U-20/U-17 national teams)

Many marriages are collapsing in Nigeria – Legal Practitioners

2012-10-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Legal practitioners in Lagos State have expressed concern over the increasing rate of divorce in Nigeria. According to Mr Olalekan Ojo, of Ojo and Company Law Firm, intolerance, infidelity and battery were the major factors responsible for divorcein the country.
In his words, “Many marriages are collapsing with the customary courts terminating a large number annually… The court should always make an effort to reunite the couple rather than dissolve the marriage,” he said.
The legal practitioner also explained that most children from broken homes roamed the streets and indulged in unlawful activities. He advised the government at all levels, parents and religious leaders to join hands and find ways of stemming the tide of divorce.

Another lawyer, Mr Ayo ogunlade, said that the reasons for marriage failure were insincerity, unfaithfulness, incompatibility and immaturity. For him, “Couples should always engage in dialogue in resolving issues, be open to each other and avoid influence of family and friends in order to enjoy lasting union… Many couples pretend during courtship to be what they are not only for the deceit to be discovered after marriage,” he said.

B-r-e-a-k-i-n-g News : Catholic Church in Kaduna Bombed

2012-10-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

An explosion, suspected to be suicide attack, this morning rocked the St. Rita Catholic Church in Ungwar Yero area of Kaduna metropolis. The attack occured around 8:50 AM during the morning mass. It was gathered that the officiating priest was seriously injured. Details later