Welcome to Ruth Duru's Blog

Peter Okoye shares photo of himself and his ex-girlfriend back in '97

2013-03-07T11:51:00.006-08:00

See more of his old school pictures after the cut...

President Jonathan Visits Borno and Yobe States

2013-03-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

President Goodluck Jonathan visited the two States today. Click to see another picture after the cut…

Nigerian Billionaire, Folorunsho Alakija, Owns N18b UK Property

2013-03-07T10:36:00.001-08:00

According to a report released last weekend by American lifestyle magazine, Vanity Fair, Nigerian oil Tycoon, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija owns five apartments in London’s One Hyde Park, the world’s most expensive apartment block.

Vanity Fair in their report wrote that Mrs Alakija owns five apartments in the 6,000 pounds-per-square-feet apartment block which she bought at a combined fee of $123 million (N18.4billion), making her the second highest property owner in the upmarket area after Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man and owner of Ukranian football club, Shaktar Donesk, whose property is valued at $215.9 million.

Others who own property at One Hyde Park include some of the richest men in Britain, Russia, Taiwan, sheiks from UAE, Naomi Campbell's boyfriend Vladislav Doronin also owns an apartment there.

Click to read more after the cut...

According to the investigation by tax haven expert, Nicholas Shaxton, who wrote the report for Vanity Fair, just 17 of the 76 sold apartments are primary residences. Because the property owners are so wealthy, many of them have other homes and do not use their exclusive Hyde Park address as their permanent home. Shaxton also revealed that many of the owners use offshore companies to buy the homes to enable them hide their identity.

Davido and siblings join billionaire dad for 56th birthday

2013-03-07T10:15:00.003-08:00

Davido and his siblings celebrated with their dad on his 56^th birthday yesterday March 6, 2013. Picture above from LHS Davido's elder brother Wale Adeleke, their dad Chief Deji Adeleke, Davido and his sister Sharon Adeleke. Sharon is getting married soon.

The Adelekes will also be marking Davido's mother's 10th year death remembrance this Sunday at their Lekki home.

Kanye West crowns Lil Wayne the best rapper alive

2013-03-07T10:02:00.001-08:00

Lil Wayne not Jay Z again? Hehehe! MTV just released their list for the Hottest MCs in the game and when asked who he felt was the best rapper alive, Kanye, who was placed at No. 7 in the list, picked Lil Wayne.

Here's the thing; Lil Wayne and Jay Z are arch enemies...and being Jay Z's former bff, one would have expected Kanye to pick Jay. Besides Jay Z is a better rapper than Lil Wayne, just saying sha.

Kanye explains himself in an interview after the MTV list came out. Read it below after the cut...

"Yeah, #7 bothers me. I think that Wayne is the number one rapper in the world."

"I just think he’s like, you know, him and Jay and Em (Eminem) and certain people are just the greatest rappers of all time. For me I feel that in order for them to put me as #7, they had to bring up things that they didn’t like [about me]."

"[Like] They didn’t like the Cruel Summer album. And I’m like, “That’s a compilation. It ain’t all rappers on G.O.O.D. Music.”

"Cruel Summer got “Don’t Like (Remix),” “Mercy,” “Cold,” “New God Flow” all on one joint, you know. And “Clique,” and “Clique!” You can’t name five records like that on no album. But they wanna diss me and be like, “He did Cruel Summer and he can’t say he ain’t part of it ’cause he’s on eight records…” Like they wanna try to—ain’t nobody bringin’ up that “Diamonds” remix verse. There wasn’t no verse in a year that’s fuckin’ with that verse."

"It’s definitely not based on a body of work, but possibly could just be overall rap, MC swag. Sean is a great rapper, period. It checks all the boxes. What happens is with them, with these types of judges and people who review it, when you come in, I had like the pink polo and the backpack and I’m checkin’ all the boxes of that Tribe Called Quest era and J. Dilla and all that, so they wanna champion it. They don’t like Givenchy Kanye. They don’t like Kanye in a kilt. They don’t like Kanye in a relationship."

Rape now attracts life imprisonment in Nigeria

2013-03-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

The House of Representatives on Tuesday March 5, 2013 approved life imprisonment for any person convicted of rape. They also approved a minimum of 20 years without an option of fine for persons convicted of gang raping someone.

The bill, which was sponsored by Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also approved 25 years imprisonment for any person who attempted to use chemical, biological or any harmful liquid on another person. (e.g pouring acid on anyone).

The bill also approved 4 years in jail or a fine not more than N200, 000 or both for any person convicted of performing female circumcision and general mutilation or engaging someone to carry it out. Aiding female circumcision attracts N100, 000 or two years in jail or both.

Missing toddlers found dead after 39 days

2013-03-07T09:11:00.001-08:00

Via Punch

Two toddlers in Ketu, Lagos State, who were declared missing on January 25, 2013 have been found dead in an abandoned vehicle on the premises of a building next to theirs on Taike Street.

Punch Metro had on January 30, 2013, reported story of the kids – Toheeb Adedokun (three) and Tajudeen Falilu (three).

The family as well as the police had suspected that they were kidnapped before the discovery of their remains on Monday.

Our correspondent learnt that the vehicle in which the children were found was a Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle, which was used as collateral.

OMG! This is so heartbreaking... Continue to read after the cut...

According to a police theory, the children went into the vehicle but were trapped inside, causing them to suffocate.

The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, said the corpses were discovered by bank officials, who had gone to redeem the vehicle.

She said, “On Monday, at about 4:30pm, one Phillip Odi in company with Julius Odetola, both of whom are employees of Berachah Microfinance Bank, reported that on the same day, they received a text message from Macdonabi Jones Enterprise Limited, a customer of the bank, who pledged his Honda Pilot as collateral.

“The bank employees said on reaching the house located at 20 Taike Street, where the vehicle was parked, they discovered the corpses of the two children.”

The tragic news, however, did not go down well with residents of the street as they alleged foul play.

Our correspondent, who visited the children’s parents, learnt that the occupants of the house where the corpses were found had fled for fear of being attacked.

Some residents told PUNCH Metro that the occupants of the building had a case to answer.

One of them , who identified herself as Iya Basira said, “How could two corpses be in a compound for over a month and no one smelt any odour?

“We looked for these children for weeks and even the occupants of that building were aware that the children were missing.”

Our correspondent observed as residents pursued one of the occupants of the building, who was strolling down the road.

“Go away, we don’t want you in our neighbourhood”, they shouted.

It was learnt that earlier, an occupant of the building had to come with two policemen to be able to take some of her properties from her apartment.

It was also learnt that the vehicle had been taken to the Special-Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja.

The parents of the toddlers and other members of the family said they planned pursuing the case to a logical conclusion.

Toheeb’s mother, Adijat, said the death of the children was controversial because on the day they went missing, the said vehicle was not parked in the compound.

She said, “I went to that compound to look for them. On getting there, I saw a neighbour, Sir Kay’s wife. Sir Kay is into rental service and he is also a teacher. His wife told me she saw the two children that day. I didn’t see that vehicle in the compound because I looked around.”

Asked how she heard about the death of the toddlers, she said, “Some policemen came to me this morning (Tuesday) and asked if I was the mother of one of the missing children. They showed me pictures of the children and told me to point to mine which I did. They asked me to describe the clothes my child wore that day and I told them that he wore polo shirt (army colour mixed with red) with shorts. They asked for the clothes the second person wore and I told them.

“They told the fathers of the kids to follow them but we (women) were told to go back as we might not be able to withstand the shock. When I saw my husband’s face, I knew the worst had happened.”

Our correspondent, who went round the building, a bungalow with three flats, learnt that the landlord was late and the tenants had not returned.

Wizkid and Chris Brown perform together on stage in Ghana

2013-03-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Chris Brown and Wizkid performed on stage in Ghana two days back March 5, 2013 at the rLG's Hope City Launch Concert at the Accra Sports Stadium. Chris Brown was the main performer for the concert and brought Wizkid on stage to perform with him.

Liza Morales writes open letter on losing Lamar Odom to Khloe Kardashian

2013-03-07T08:43:00.001-08:00

Liza Morales (right in the picture above) was with NBA player Lamar Odom for 10 years. They had three kids together, Destiny, 14, Lamar Odom Jr, 11 and a third child, Jayden, who died at six months old of SIDS in 2006. Liza recently published an open letter in The Daily Beast speaking of her devastation at Lamar's whirlwind romance and wedding to Khloe Kardashian. Read it below...

“I don’t think I’ll forget the tight knot I felt in the pit of my stomach the morning I received the text message with three simple words on the screen. It read 'I’m getting married’ and it was from the man I’d spent more than 10 years of my life with.”

“Years that included us getting engaged in 2000 and becoming parents to one daughter and two sons. Yet not long after our separation Lamar Odom was getting married to Khloe Kardashian, a woman he’d met four weeks before.”

‘How could the man who’d constantly given me reason after reason for why we couldn’t get married just yet now be ready to tie the knot so quickly? There aren’t words to explain how I felt that day.’

Continue to read after the cut...

I met Lamar in the 9th grade in Queens, New York, and was completely taken in by his wit, charm, and that devastating smile he so easily flashed at anyone he met. We dated from the 11th grade on and shared a tight bond due to a lot of things, including the fact that we both were products of broken homes.

Though my parents weren’t together, I did have a very close relationship with my father, whom I loved dearly and consider my hero. He worked very hard to make sure I could attend Catholic school and have everything I needed. But when I started dating Lamar that all changed. My father is Puerto Rican and he didn’t approve of me dating a black man. His small mind and small thinking ended the relationship with my dad. I wanted a life with Lamar and needed my family to support that. The next 10 years would be an amazing journey filled with many ups and down but Lamar and I were creating the family we’d both always dreamed of. Or so I thought.

We talked about marriage a lot during those days but Lamar would always tell me that NBA marriages never lasted. He’d point to Shaquille O’Neal’s marriage ending or Dwayne Wade’s marriage ending as examples of why we should wait until he retired to tie the knot. He told me he wanted to leave the game early and then the timing would be perfect for us. I listened to the many reasons why we weren’t married yet and believed them, knowing deep inside something wasn’t right. And then I slowly morphed into the girl I promised myself I’d never become, the girl who stayed long after she knew she shouldn’t. Truth is, I wanted that fairy tale so badly that I couldn’t bear to walk away from that life or take my children away from the comfort and security of a two-parent home.

I struggled to deal with all the groupies around him and with whatever else that was going on and just stayed put. My denial came to an abrupt end in 2006 after the death of Jayden. Lamar and I never really talked about our loss, which I know wasn’t healthy and also meant our relationship would never last. It couldn’t. I found out soon after that he’d had a long-term relationship with another woman—a relationship he said he’d end but he didn’t—and that was that.

We kept things cordial for the children’s sake after the breakup, but that changed when he married Khloe. Now we only communicate through third parties and lawyers, which I regret deeply since it is exactly what we each experienced as children and said we wouldn’t do to our kids.

I’ve only met Khloe once, at my request since she is my children’s stepmother and I felt it was important to get a sense of her and what she’s like around my children. It was a very pleasant meeting; she gave me a hug so I’m happy it happened.

Though some frown upon my decision to do a reality show, I agreed to be a part of “Starter Wives” so I could tell my own story of how things unfolded after Lamar married Khloe. We weren’t really together so I didn’t fall apart as many have suggested. I’ve have to deal with a lot of tabloid lies as the result of all the attention Lamar gets since he’s married to someone so famous.

To be honest I’m really doing the show for my daughter to prove to her that you can get up and move on after things fall apart. I did it to show her how you make mistakes and fix them and that you can never give up on yourself. She needed to see that and hear it from me. I think I also hope my father sees it as well. The only time I’ve seen my dad in recent years was at the funeral for my son. That was the first time Lamar had ever met him or that the kids had a chance to meet him. I’d really love for my kids to have their grandparents in their lives. They've met Lamar's father (his mother passed away before we met) and are very close to my mother. I’d like to see that change and see them have relationships with both of their grandfathers.

As I continue to move on with my life, it can be difficult to avoid hearing about the Kardashians day in and day out. But I do what I can to ignore the constant chatter and I try to keep it from the kids as well so they can have a life that is as normal as possible. I am hopeful that one day I will have a cordial relationship again with Lamar, but until then I have to think of myself and the future I’d like to have given that I’m still in my early 30’s.

I know Lamar wasn’t that happy with the show but it’s helping me move on with my life by getting my truth out there and that’s what’s important. I’m taking college courses now to help with my dream of creating a skin care line in the future. I spent a great deal of my young life focused only on Lamar and his world. That’s all over now. I'm looking forward to meeting someone new and finding a love again and finally walking down the aisle. I'm hopeful that I'll find someone willing to be a role model and a father figure for my children. They deserve that. Today it’s about me and the kids and moving forward. No anger or regrets. Just lessons learned and good days ahead.

Mother, son bathed with acid in Nnewi

2013-03-07T08:20:00.001-08:00

Culled from Sun News

Thirty-two-year-old mother of five, Mrs Chinwe Ozoemena and her six-year-old son are now writhing in pains at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State as their neighbour at Nkwo Nnewi market allegedly bathed them with acid. The incident happened last Saturday.

According to a family source, the woman and her little boy had closed business for the day on that fateful evening and were about leaving the market. But unknown to them, their attacker was lurking around the shops, waiting for them with undiluted acid.

Daily Sun was told that as soon as the suspect who was allegedly not in good terms with the Ozoemenas sighted the victims, he advanced towards them “which made the victims’ (mother) who was using her cell phone torchlight, (as it was getting dark) to shout, calling Sunday, Sunday (suspect) what is it again.”

Continue to read after the cut...

The source said it was at that moment that the suspect poured the deadly liquid on the victims and disappeared. Daily Sun gathered that as the mother and son cried out in pains, sympathizers rushed to the scene and applied first aid, using water and oil to douse the devastating effect before they were rushed to NAUTH.

When Daily Sun visited the victims at the Accident and Emergency Unit, NAUTH it was observed that the woman had a higher degree of burn than the son as her face and chest were targeted, while her son was affected in the back and part of his head.

Speaking to Daily Sun, the woman’s husband, Mr Bright Ozoemena, a building contractor and a native of Mmiata Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area, said when he got the news of what happened to his family, he rushed to the hospital and was briefed by his wife and later ran to Nnewi Central Police Station which led to the arrest of the suspect, a native of Abakiliki in Ebonyi State, according to Mr Ozoemena.

The matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka for further investigation. Contacted, the Anambra State Police Command image maker, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka said he was yet to get details of the incident.

Kanu urges NFF to intervene in Osaze, Keshi’s rift

2013-03-07T08:13:00.002-08:00

Nigeria’s former skipper, Nwankwo Kanu, has made a passionate appeal to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to intervene in the invitation rift between West Bromwich Albion Nigerian striker, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, and the Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, stressing that though no player is bigger than the country, the team still needs Osaze and others. The Arsenal’s former flamboyant player, who spoke with the media during the formal presentation of trophy to Chief Edwin Clark for the Clark Under-18 International Football Tournament in Abuja, equally appealed to the Albion’s forward to understand and acknowledge the fact that the head coach is totally in charge, urged the federation to urgently broker peace between them.

“As I always say, the situation is something that they have to solve and sort out. The NFF has to be involved to make sure it is sorted out. Keshi is the boss as the coach, while Osaze is a player. The situation is between a player and a coach and whatever decision the coach takes becomes the final. “However, no matter the situation, Osaze remains a good player that, of course, Nigeria would need any day any time. But, the situation is now a big problem and the earlier it’s solve, the better.

Continue to read after the cut...

Therefore, the NFF has to intervene to ensure that there is peace. Let me also correct the impression that winning the Nations Cup without some senior players does not mean that they are no longer needed in the team. “What it means is that Nigeria is blessed, it also shows that we have the talent, the players and we can now do without anybody because nobody is bigger than the country. The meaning is that whoever you are and wherever you are, you have to appreciate that Nigeria is bigger than any individual. “The players must understand the magnitude of pressure on them from more than 160 million Nigerians.

No player should see himself as god and it applies also to every other Nigerian in every field of human endeavour. Every player must begin to appreciate the importance of the invitation to play for fatherland,” he noted. On Super Eagles qualifier matches, the former Portsmouth of England intelligent forward argued that having won the AFCON, the team has proved that the Keshi-led boys are in killer mood, begging Nigerians to only give the players and technical crew the needed support and prayers.

“We don’t need to doubt what Nigeria can do now in football after winning the AFCON trophy. The option left for us is to put our heads together and support Keshi. When he started, there was this question of why, but now we are champions of Africa. “I don’t think we still need to ask further why, concerning the strength of the team because we have the players. And as I said before, even we want to raise another 23 new players that can make us proud, we can still have them. All we should do is to believe in them and they will achieve,” he noted.

Two teenagers rape step-sister to death

2013-03-07T07:53:00.002-08:00

Culled from Sun News

A 19-year-old boy, Felix Inia and his 16-year-old brother, Stanley are now cooling their heels at the headquarters of the Delta State Police Command, Asaba, for allegedly defiling their six-year-old stepsister, Precious Kankamor. The incident, which eventually led to the death of the victim, occurred at Ogbe-Ijoh community, Warri South Local Government Area of the state. The suspects were said to have had carnal knowledge of the minor by forcefully penetrating her, which led to severe injuries in the victim’s private part.

Besides the injuries sustained after the alleged sexual abuse, little Miss Precious later developed protruding stomach, leading to medical complications that eventually cut short the life of the victim. Investigation revealed that the suspects’ mother got married to the father of the deceased after her first marriage ended with the death of Mr. Inia. The now embattled mother moved into her new marriage with her teenage sons, who unsuspecting, had eyes on little Miss Precious immediately they stepped into their new home.

Click to read more after the cut...

They allegedly carried out their ignoble mission last month when they were left with the victim at home while others had gone out for the day’s activities. According to a police source, the younger Inia, Stanley, allegedly lured his elder brother, Felix, into the act. “The younger brother said he sold the idea to his elder brother. He (Stanley) assured his brother that there was nothing to be afraid of and that he (Stanley) had been doing it with other children in the area,” the source told Daily Sun. Public Relations Officer of the command, ASP Famous Ajieh, confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that they would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

Ajieh said the command was also investigating four suspects who were arrested during a raid on suspected criminal hideouts in Kwale in which one Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and nine live cartridges were recovered. Besides, Ajieh stated that the command’s special patrol team code-named Dragon 11 also attached to Kwale axis, while on routine patrol, intercepted two men on motorcycle who had in their possession one brownie pistol with tempered breech number. According to him, one of the suspects, Chukwudi Nwafor has admitted ownership of the firearm, which he claimed he bought in Jos, adding, however, that the matter was still under investigation.

Watch Video Recording of Angry Nigerian Citizens Vandalizing Nigerian Embassy in Senegal

2013-03-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

Nigerians in Senegal are destroying Nigerian Embassy in Senegal for failing to help them get the body of a deceased friend. Well, I think that is not good reason to wreck such havoc.

9 year old boy electrocuted in Ebonyi

2013-03-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

Culled from Vanguard

A nine year old boy, Master Chinedu Nwangwu of Echara community in Ezza South Local government area of Ebonyi state was weekend electrocuted when he tried to pluck fruits from a Cashew tree in the area.

Vanguard gathered that the victim, a pupil of Echara community primary school in Ezza South LGA who lost his life on the fateful day, climbed a cashew tree without knowing that one of the branches of the tree was resting on a high tension wire that supplied electricity to the community.

Click to read more after the cut...

Lamenting over the incident, mother of the deceased, Mrs. Nwangwu who was filled with pains when she saw the lifeless body of her son, stated that similar incident also led to the demise of one of her sons.

As the family of the deceased is still battling with the loss of their son, Mrs. Nwangwu attributed the incident to the activities of some spiritual forces that were beyond her control.

“I should blame my God for allowing me to live in the land of the living without my son. It is not up to three years I lost one of my boys to motor accident and today again, it is another calamity; wouldn’t it be better if I cease to live as life is becoming useless without my children” She lamented.

One of the teachers of Echara community primary school who spoke with our correspondent, attributed the misfortune that befell the family of the deceased to lack of proper home training adding that if the boy was well tutored by his parents he wouldn’t have climbed the cashew tree in the first place.

According to the teacher, the school authority had earlier directed the pupils not to climb any tree or pluck any fruits in the school without the consent of the school authority.

Sources close to the family revealed the deceased boy had since been buried.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is my first real marriage” – Singer Kefee

2013-03-06T05:39:00.001-08:00

"My husband is a very nice man and I'm enjoying my marriage. I'm writing a book about that beautiful part of my life but I don't want to reveal much about it for now. I am so happy and as far as I am concerned this is my first real marriage." the singer said.

See the video for Kefee's new single, Beautiful, after the cut...

The baby born without a skull

2013-03-06T05:12:00.000-08:00

Okikijesu Olawuyi was born in May 11, 2010 without more than half of her skull. A rare medical condition called Congenital Cranial Deficiency.

All of the hospitals visited by their organisation home and abroad could not offer a cure or lacked the facilities and man power except for the John Hopkins hospital in Maryland, Baltimore USA where the director of Paediatrics Dr Ben Carson is the first doctor to handle an issue like this ever, only then it was on a conjoined twins joined at their heads (the Binder twins).

Click to read more after the cut...

When GIPLC became involved in Okiki's case and after due consultations, inquiries and findings as to how much it will cost to have Okiki treated, they were able to raise within the space of 72 hours the sum of $234,000 (two hundred and thirty four thousand USD) or N37,000,000 (thirty seven million naira)and deposited the complete sum to the John Hopkins Medical which was their required deposit to commence the series of surgery on Okiki. She will now leave Nigeria in the company of her parents for the USA by April 2013.

Okiki is not the first child GIPLC has sponsored overseas for Medical attention. They have for a period of six years raised over N120,000,000 (one hundred and twenty million naira) for children with debilitating medical condition.

Okiki's is special because no NGO in the history of Nigeria has accomplished this feat, to raise the sum of N37,000,000 for a single individual!

Nollywood actor RMD denies N50 million fraud, my hands are clean he says

2013-03-06T04:03:00.000-08:00

RMD and Toolz at Iyanya's concert in Lagos

According to Sahara Reporters, star actor and current Delta State commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Richard Mofe Damijo, is at the centre of an alleged fraudulent transfer of funds which the EFCC is supposedly currently investigating. The report claimed that RMD and the acting GM of the Delta State Tourism Board, Mrs Philo Nkem Ajufo, squandered N50 million belonging to the ministry (Google the story, it's all over the net).

RMD has finally reacted to the allegations, insisting it's not true.

"I won't respond to Sahara Reports. When it's time, I will. And I'm sure you know it's not true" He told Encomium magazine on March 3rd.

RMD and Toolz hosted Iyanya's concert on Saturday and the governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan was in the audience. The most interesting part of this allegation is that EFCC is yet to alert the nation of any fraud in Delta State.

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez dies at 58 after battle with cancer

2013-03-06T00:34:00.000-08:00

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has died, the nation's Vice President, Nicolas Maduro, announced last night. The 58-year-old socialist leader died after battling with cancer for almost two years. He hadn't made a public appearance since his return to Venezuela last month after cancer treatment in Cuba. May his soul rest in peace… Amen.

Youth corpers asked to frog jump at Nasarawa state NYSC camp

2013-03-06T00:12:00.004-08:00

NYSC camp opened yesterday, some corpers that came late to the Nasarawa State NYSC camp were asked to frog jump with their bags on their heads as punishment. OMG! This is not good at all…Lol.

Angry Rev Father Burns Benedict’s Photo During Sermon, Says a Shepherd Never Leaves His Flock

2013-03-05T09:19:00.001-08:00

Culled from Daily Sun

Church chiefs in Italy have launched an investigation after an Italian Priest set fire to a photograph of former Pope Benedict XVI in front of dozens of stunned worshippers. Father Andrea Maggi, 67, ignited the picture during a sermon, saying that Benedict had “abandoned” the Catholic Church.

He then went on to compare him, to Costa Concordia captain Francesco Schettino, who was been accused of fleeing his post and leaving passengers on the stranded cruise ship. Father Andrea, a priest for more than 40 years, told the packed service at Santo Stefano church in Castelvittorio near Imperia: “I’m doing this because he has not been a Pope, he has abandoned us.

Click to read more after the cut...

A shepherd never leaves his flock.” Parishioners including children, looked on amazed as the picture of Benedict, who resigned last week after eight years as Pontiff was enveloped in flames before the priest let it drop to the ground and burn itself out.

Father Andrea is unrepentant, and said: “I’d said that I would burn his picture the day he left and that’s what I did. I’m glad what I did have caused such an outcry. I don’t have maize in my head. We are not in a communist state. “I’m not interested in his reasons for leaving. The job of Pope is for life. He should not have left. He’s behaved just like (Francesco) Schettino. Where is the proof of his faith? “The Pope said this was the year of faith and he then leaves his post as head of the church.”

Bishop Alberto Maria Careggio, of the diocese, said: “This was an abominable action. I’m mortified by the actions of Father Andrea who in the past has always been a very generous and sensible priest. I’m arranging a meeting with him as soon as possible.”

Benedict said he made the shock decision, the first time a Pope has resigned in 600 years because he “felt tired”. However by stepping down he has angered many Catholics and some senior Church chiefs as the job is for life. Locals in his parish, which nestles in a picturesque medieval hilltop village, have described him as “very strict and ultra-orthodox”.

Before the incident Father Maggi, who has been a priest there for five years, had been complaining bitterly about Benedict’s decision. Gianstefano Orengo, mayor of Castel Vittorio, who witnessed the incident, said: “Certainly everyone knew Father Andrea was upset and angry at Benedict’s announcement. “It was a shocking thing to see. I know it may be a difficult time for him but it was still a serious thing to do.”

He pulled out a picture of the Pope and then used a nearby candle to ignite it as he started his sermon. “It lasted a minute or so and he then said Benedict had acted in a similar fashion to (Francesco) Schettino who left his post when the Costa Concordia struck rocks and with passengers still needed to be saved. People were shocked and started complaining and several including myself left the service.

There was no justification at all for it even if there are mitigating circumstances. “People were shocked and started complaining and several including myself left the service. There was no justification at all for it even if there are mitigating circumstances.” Meanwhile cardinals in Rome have begun their discussions ahead of setting a date for the start of the conclave which will elect the next Pope, with the selection process expected to begin in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel next week.

Dangote moves from the 76th to the 43rd richest man in the world

2013-03-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is now the 43rd richest man in the world, according to the Richest People in the World list Forbes released yesterday.

Dangote moved from 76th with a net worth of $11.2billion in 2012 to 43rd with a net worth of $16.1bn as of March 2013. So he made about $5billion in one year! Choi!

Dangote is still the richest man in Africa. The other Nigerian billionaire on the Forbes Billionaires list is single Paddy Adenuga's dad, Global chairman Mike Adenuga, who ranked 269 with a net worth of $4.7bn.

Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim is the world's richest man with a net worth of $73bn, while Bill Gates is the second with a net worth of the $67bn. 3rd is Armancio Ortega of Spain ($57bn), 4th is Warren Buffet ($53.5bn), and 5th is Larry Ellison with $43bn net worth.

2face and Annie Idibia release pre-wedding pictures

2013-03-05T05:42:00.003-08:00

Just three days to go! 2face Idibia and Annie's traditional wedding will hold this Friday 8th March at the Apostolic High School, Esit Urua Community, Eket - Ibeno road, in Uyo, the bride's hometown.

Photos above and after the cut are photos of the couple that will be used for souvenirs, some will be used as backdrop for the reception walkway at their white wedding in Dubai. Congrats to the love birds! See more pictures after the cut...

Uche, Joke Silva, Genevieve, Chidi Mokeme at President's dinner

2013-03-05T04:35:00.000-08:00

Nollywood stars met with Mr. President on Saturday March 2, 2013 in Lagos to celebrate Nollywood at 20. See more pictures after the cut...

2face Idibia and Omoni Oboli cover March issue of Red Sheet Magazine

2013-03-05T04:24:00.001-08:00

Check out Omoni Oboli channeling legendary actress Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Nice! See more pictures of the two after the cut...

Father ties, locks up six-year-old daughter for witchcraft

2013-03-05T04:09:00.001-08:00

Culled from Punch

A 42-year-old father, Mr. Edet Etok-Akpan, is currently being quizzed at the headquarters of the Cross River State Police Command in Calabar for torturing his six-year-old daughter, Edidiong, as a result of a church prophetess’ pronouncement that the girl was a witch.

Edidiong was beaten by her father and locked up in a room with her hands, mouth and face bound for four days before she was rescued by neighbours.

It was learnt that Etok-Akpan started beating her on February 19 after an unidentified prophetess in their church told him that Edidiong was the witch responsible for the stagnancy in his life.

Click to read more after the cut...

Narrating her ordeal to PUNCH Metro on Monday, Edidiong said after the beatings which lasted for some days, her father on February 21 tied her hands with a cord and bound her mouth with a piece of cloth.

She said, “He locked me in the inner room of our house and he never gave me food and never allowed me to go to school.”

The girl, who said she is in basic three at Femos Nursery and Primary School located at 24 Etyin Abasi Street, said she was becoming weak after days without food or water.

Luck, however, came her way on February 23, when another child, who lives with her parents in the same 42 Atakpa Street, came to their veranda to look for broom and discovered her.

Giving details of how she was rescued, a lawyer with the Basic Rights Counsel, Mr. James Ibor, said, “The girl went to Edidiong’s veranda to look for a broom and heard the sound of the girl like that of someone battling with her last breath.

“She looked through the louvers of the window and saw Edidiong bound on the floor and raised the alarm. Her parents and other neighbours rushed to the place and saw Edidiong bound inside her apartment.”

Ibor said one of the neighbours called him and he in turn informed the police.

He said, “When the policemen and I got there, we saw a crowd gathered outside. We were able to rescue the child by breaking the door.

“The girl was very weak because she had been without food for days and so we had to give her water first, then after about ten minutes we gave her milk before solid food an hour later.”

Ibor said the culprit and his wife had locked up the girl in the inner room of their two-room apartment and went to church, adding that the girl was presently living with her grandmother in another part of the town.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. John Umoh, said Etok-Akpan, who is from Akwa Ibom State, had been arrested and would soon appear in court to answer charges of felony.

He said, “To tie a small girl’s hand and mouth and lock her in a room for some days without food is a grievous offence, he shall soon appear in court.”

Umoh, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, warned parents to always treat their children with care, adding criminalities are increasing daily because parents had abandoned their responsibilities to their wards.

He also said the police would visit the church where the father got the prophecy.