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ANOTHER BOMB SCARE HIT ABIA, MILITARY CORDONS OFF AREA.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:48:00 +0000

Residents of Ohafia in Abia State were jolted yesterday by reported discovery of bombs in the community.
This was coming barely three weeks after Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) were discovered at the headquarters of the Living Faith Church (a.k.a Winners Chapel) in Owerri, Imo State and the arrest of 486 Boko Haram suspects at Aro Ngwa Junction and Imo Gate, near Aba.

But when contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Abia State Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna, denied the discovery of any bomb in the area, saying what happened was just a bomb scare.
Reports said at about 9.00a.m. yesterday after some herdsmen had passed the area, between the house of Nigerian Ambassador to Canada, Chief Ojo Maduekwe and that of the member representing Ohafia South in the state House of Assembly, Mba Ukaha, soldiers on duty along the Ebem/Asaga Road received information about some strange objects found in the area.
The soldiers were reported to have, after seeing the objects, alerted their superiors at the 14 Brigade headquarters, Ohafia and after visiting the site, they ordered the cordoning off of the area while vehicles were stopped from plying the Ebem/Asaga Road.
Our source said men of the Bomb Disposal Unit of the Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police in Umuahia were immediately drafted to the area and on their arrival saw one of the bombs allegedly connected to a high tension wire.
The police were said to have detonated the bombs and took them to Umuahia for analysis.
Our source said the bombs discovery caused pandemonium in the area as people who had gone to work, on hearing about the incident, rushed back home.
“It was around 9.30a.m. after I had already gone to work that I received the information and I had to rush back home. On my way back, I stopped to see some of the soldiers at the checkpoint because we are friendly and they confirmed the incident to me and I had to rush home immediately,” the source, who would not want his name in print, said.
“Thereafter, the road was cordoned off for about three hours even after the bomb disposal experts from the police had left with the objects to Umuahia,” the source, who would not want his name in print, said.

Meet The Man Who Performs All Manner Of Miracles Just By Looking At People (PHOTOS)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:40:00 +0000

He doesn’t call himself a healer, guru or teacher. In fact, Braco (pronounced Brah-tzo) leads a pretty normal lifestyle; he smokes, eats meat and lives with his wife and child. But none of that gets in the way of his gazing powers. According to his followers, Braco has connectivity with the Sun, which makes him a conduit for the transmission of divine energy, and a portal to oneness or the quantum field. Apparently, the power of his gaze is so strong that pregnant women are forbidden to attend his gazing events…

That might sound like a whole lot of spiritual mumbo-jumbo to the uninitiated. But it makes perfect sense to those who have been ‘touched’ by Braco’s gaze. He does not speak in public or give interviews; the only time people have heard his ‘loving’ voice is on DVD. Some people say he hasn’t actually spoken to anyone outside his inner circle since 2002. It’s almost as though he might lose his special powers if he utters more words than strictly necessary.

Braco, a former engineer, wasn’t born with his gift; he inherited it from the Serbian master gazer Ivica Prokic, whom he met in Croatia. Prokic is said to have passed on his powers and re-christened him Braco, which means ‘little brother’. After Prokic died, Braco took his new gift, ‘the gaze’, on a tour of the world. He gathered many followers and supporters during his travels, who now vouch for the magical, healing properties of his eyes.

‘The gaze’ can be experienced in various ways – through DVD, via live online sessions, in group events, or through personal meetings. Braco encourages people to bring a photo of their child or a person needing help. The sessions are intended for adults above 18 years of age; children can meet Braco only on his birthday. These sessions can cost anywhere between $3 to $8. There’s expensive merchandise to be purchased as well, like a range of ‘sun jewelry’ featuring Prokic’s symbol – a golden sun with 13 rays. A 14 carat gold version costs around $5,000.

If the accounts of Braco’s followers are to be believed, the effects of the gaze are pretty strong. Some say that they saw him shape-shift instantly, while others describe it as a ‘shower of golden specks like a confetti’ flowing over their body. A few people were reduced to tears.

Some said that their ‘terrible foot pains’ had vanished and some were grateful for instant relief from a bad toothache. “My back usually really hurts and it hasn’t,” said a recipient of the gaze. Most people said that they felt heat, warmth, a lightness, a tingling sensation, and in some cases, a bubble of love.

According to one follower, the effects of the gaze extended to his family as well. “The next day I went to see my mom, and I walked into the hospital, and she was walking down the hall on a walker with a nurse on each side. And they’re all going, ‘My God! This was a miracle. She just got up this morning and wanted to walk in and eat breakfast.’ She hadn’t eaten anything but a cup of little something for a month.”

The gaze seems to cure all sorts of ailments and problems. One woman’s adopted daughter reached out to her birth mother, another’s brother recovered from a bone marrow transplant. A woman’s lost granddaughter found her way home. Some were cured of Lyme’s disease, a woman’s ovaries exploded (which was needed for curing her). It seems to work on animals as well, according to a woman who claimed that her mom’s cat was saved.

Although the testimonials are quite strong, there are those who believe that Braco is a fraud. Several questions have been raised about his credibility, and some people wonder if the positive effects of the gaze are merely psychological.

Nigeria Atheist Bala 'Freed From Kano Psychiatric Hospital'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:31:00 +0000

A Nigerian man detained in a hospital psychiatric ward because he did not believe in God has been freed, a humanist charity has said.

Mubarak Bala was released because of a doctors' strike which has seen many patients discharged, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) said.

He was held against his will for 18 days after his Muslim family committed him to the hospital in Kano, it said.

Northern Nigeria is mainly Muslim and adopted Islamic law in 2000.

The IHEU said Mr Bala, a chemical engineering graduate, was freed on Tuesday but news of his release was not made public until he was in a secure location.

"There are still deep concerns for Mubarak's safety in a part of the country where accusations of 'apostasy' can be deadly," the charity said in a statement.

After the 29-year-old was admitted to a psychiatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, he sought help from the hospital via email and social media, until his phone was confiscated, according to IHEU.

Mr Bala, who was medicated during his stay, said he had no desire to take further legal action and thanked those who had campaigned for his release, the statement said.

"To those who have made threats against me, I urge you to reason and learn to tolerate opinions other than yours," he is quoted as saying by the charity.

When Mr Bala was first detained IHEU said his family had asked a doctor if he was mentally ill because he had told relatives that he was an atheist.

Despite being told that he was not unwell, Mr Bala's family then went to a second doctor, who declared that his atheism was a side-effect of suffering a personality change, the group said.

"Female rappers are not appreciated in Nigeria"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:24:00 +0000

Popular female rapper, Kelechi Ohia, tells JAYNE AUGOYE why she has been absent from the music scene

Once upon a time, rapper Kelechi Ohia, aka. Kel, rocked the music scene with her chart-bursting singles, Wa Wa Alright and You too fine. But just when fans looked forward to more exciting hit songs from her, the one-time,Capital Hill Music signee, slowly faded off the scene.

Although she still finds the time to relate with music fans on social media, Kel has not recorded a new song in a long time. When E-Punch reached out to the artiste, she said the hiatus was deliberate and necessary.

She said, “I am working on other projects which are all entertainment related. Although I haven’t recorded any new song lately, I am working to release a come-back album before the year runs out. I have only stepped aside to take care of my education and to sort out pending issues with my former records label. I want to work on my music and myself, physically and mentally. But I am still in touch with the Nigerian music scene. Also, I am a brand ambassador for SOULMATE Industries.”

Although Kel noted that the times have changed since she last released ‘Give It to Me’ alongside W4 about three years ago, she appears to be in no way threatened by the new crop of artistes who are ruling the Nigerian music scene.

She said, “When I eventually return to the music scene, those who appreciate my kind of music will still embrace it. Yes, the industry has changed. So have people’s motives and standard for music changed. Some people have come out with very amazing music that people are accepting these days and others have also come out with very ridiculous and funny music.

“Some people are also accepting the industry that has gone down in some areas. But in terms of international appeal, a lot of artistes have bridged that gap internationally, which is a good thing. Content wise, the music is depleted. Thankfully, people are getting tired of “club songs” with the same old beats and lyrics. Competition is something I don’t focus on. I have never done it and I never will.”

The fact that the rap music scene in Nigeria is being run by the male rappers, with a few female rappers slowly tagging along, is no longer news. Save for the likes of Eva, Sasha P, Muna and Weird MC-who are yet to hold their own competition-wise and a crop of underground acts, it is indeed a tough call for female rappers. While Kel – whose rise to stardom was propelled by her debut album entitled ‘The Investment’ in 2009 – is yet to announce her return.

“Rap will always be a looked down upon as a music genre in Nigeria. The truth is that only two percent of the country’s population really appreciates rap music for what it is. Being a female rapper in Nigeria puts you under so much pressure, but I won’t be switching genres when I return. I just want to release my new album as a surprise. I am not signed on to any records label because I run my own label and won’t be signing on any artiste for now,” she said.

For now the artiste who made her last public outing as the co-host of ‘One Mic Naija’ in February, confessed that she was in love with the music style of fellow rapper cum producer whom she describes as the ‘new’ Jesse Jagz. She seemed to have grown wiser when she spoke about learning some lessons during her absence from the music scene.

She said, “I used to read what was written about me, become saddened and sometimes cry. But I have moved on. Now I read and laugh a lot, shake my head, and sometimes share jokes with friends. I have grown wiser and stronger and more comfortable and honest with who I am. Experience has taught me a lot and I have learnt that nobody will look out for you like you can.

“Right now, I will make music that is raw and real.. I miss performing on stage. Some people said I left because I was broke and started a family somewhere. But they are all wrong. I am dedicated to my work and music for now. I won’t be releasing a double album because that will be too much music at once. Nigerian artistes are doing well especially on the international level.”

Notorious Prisoner Impregnates 4 Prison Guards [PHOTOS]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:19:00 +0000

Maryland gang member, Tavon White, is accused of running a scheme to smuggle contraband into the prison by persuading 13 female prison guards from behind bars. But for four of those women, that persuasion included getting it in…and eventually getting pregnant.

A federal indictment says Tavon White has been charged in the plot to smuggle drugs, cell phones and other contraband into the Baltimore jail and other corrections facilities, along with the prison guards, six of his fellow inmates and five others with gang ties who allegedly operated outside the jails.

The indictment also says the ring involved sex between the inmates and guards, which led to four of the officers becoming pregnant by White, the leader of a jailhouse gang called the Black Guerrilla Family.

White is accused of “corrupting” the female officers through personal and sexual relationships and other bribes. Eventually he convinced them to join his ring.

According to MyFoxDC:

The ring became increasingly brazen and confident over time, with White quoted as saying: “You understand me? This is my jail. I am dead serious, I make every final call in this jail.”

Who the hell does he think he is?

The gang members and the corrections officers have been charged with conspiracy, drug possession and distribution and money laundering.

So a criminal with no money, no freedom, and arguably no looks now has four children on the way and their mothers are all prison guards? This man is a hell of a persuader! SMH!

Ebola Outbreak: West African States Agree Strategy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:15:00 +0000

Health ministers from 11 West African countries have adopted a common strategy to fight a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region.
At an emergency meeting in Ghana, ministers promised better collaboration to fight what has become the world's deadliest outbreak to date.
So far, 759 people have been infected with the virus in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and 467 of them have died.

The two-day meeting was called by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Under the new strategy, the WHO will open a sub-regional control centre in Guinea to co-ordinate technical support.

Keiji Fukuda, the WHO's assistant director-general of health security, said it was "impossible to give a clear answer" on how far the epidemic could spread.

"I certainly expect that we are going to be dealing with this outbreak, minimum, for a few months to several months," he told AFP news agency.

"I really hope to see a turnaround where we begin to see a decrease in cases in the next several weeks."

BBC West Africa correspondent Thomas Fessy says educating people rather than closing borders is seen as the most effective way to contain the outbreak.

Cultural practices and traditional beliefs in some areas have hampered public health measures, contributing to the spread of the disease, he adds.

In some cases, mobs have attacked health workers forcing emergency centres to close.

The WHO has already sent more than 150 experts into West Africa over the past few months to try to contain the outbreak.

But it says political commitment is needed from the region itself to ensure this outbreak is stopped soon.

Most of the deaths have been centred in the southern Guekedou region of Guinea, where the outbreak was first reported in February.

But health officials say the region's porous borders have allowed infected people to carry the disease into other countries.

Ebola spreads through contact with an infected person's bodily fluids and there is no vaccine or cure. It kills up to 90% of those infected

'The Girl I Sponsored To School For 8-Years Broke My Heart!'- Yemi Sax Reveals!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:04:00 +0000

Nigerian Saxophonist, and newly married man, Yemi Sax has said he thanks God for his life and the woman God has given to him to be his wife. Recalling what he went through in his last relationship, Yemi said, the lady he practically took care of left him after 8 years. And even when the softsell reporter tried to say may be she left him because she was more educated, Yemi was quick to deny it and said, no it wasn't even that, it was far from it. Lol… His words after the cut.

Before you married your wife, I am sure a woman would have broken your heart; can you tell me about the experience?

Of course I have had a long relationship of like eight years that didn’t even work out. You know after eight years I was heartbroken. A woman I gave my all to decided to mess the privilege and brought my heart to great sorrow. It is not about being a star really, my wife that I married right now had sworn with her life that she world never marry an entertainer but man proposes and God disposes, even she knew that it is by the grace of God that it all happened. Our ways at times are not His ways. It is what God wants because she is a Corporate person, she is in the corporate world. So, she doesn’t even have the time to go out and start dating an entertainer but God called me her husband and she my wife. I give all thanks to God for His benevolence.

The woman that broke your heart after eight years, don’t you think she must have felt that she is more educated than you and maybe saw you as a seep in her life?

I think at first, everything was rosy but you know you can’t pretend for long. She was just there pretending I think it was because of the things she was gaining from me and you know you can’t pretend for long because character is like a flame it will always come out eventually. So, it got to a time that her real personality manifested and that was when the relationship came to an end.

So, you didn’t think it was as a result of personality and educational difference?

Nooo, not at all; she is even somebody I brought up. She is somebody I brushed up, I sent her to school. So, it is not about being more educated than me or not, you understand what I mean. I did everything to make her a success but she chose otherwise.

So, what did that episode teach you about life?

I think it is a great lesson; I will advise people not to expect too much from a fellow human. That is the way you can live long, that is the way you can enjoy life; expect the worst from others. So, that is my advice to people. It is my guiding philosophy as well. I don’t think it is a good thing to put your trust in people. Instead, put your trust in God who never disappoints.

Check Out The Top 10 Richest, Biggest Musicians in 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:02:00 +0000

1. Beyonce Knowles

The biggest year of Queen B’s career comes courtesy of a massive tour. The superstar singer played 95 shows, bringing in an average $2.4 million per city, according to Pollstar. She also dropped her most innovative album. Titled simply “Beyoncé,” the record hit iTunes in December with barely any publicity; the single “Drunk in Love” has already sold more than 1 million copies.

2. Dr. Dre

It was a year of superlatives for the legendary producer, thanks to Apple’s $3 billion purchase of Beats, announced in May. His spoils boosted his annual income to an astronomical $620 million — not only the best year of his career and tops among the names on this year’s Celeb 100, but the highest yearly earnings total of any entertainer ever evaluated by FORBES.

3. Jay Z

The mogul’s $60 million total is his highest since 2010, bolstered by a diverse list of sources. There’s his growing Roc Nation empire; 68 concerts in our scoring period; business ventures ranging from his 40/40 clubs to his D’Ussé cognac; and his latest album, which was certified platinum before it was released due to an agreement with Samsung to buy 1 million copies. For more on Jay Z’s rise, check out Empire State of Mind.

4. Rihanna

Rihanna may be the perfect embodiment of the modern pop star. The 26-year-old Barbados native churns out radio hits like “We Found Love” and “Diamonds” and collaborates with some of the biggest names in the business like Jay Z and Eminem. But she also uses social media better than almost anyone. Her Twitter and Instagram feeds allow her to connect with her fans in a way that feels honest and unfiltered and they love her for it. Rihanna is the second most-powerful social media user on our list after Justin Bieber.

5. Katy Perry

Even with a fairly modest touring schedule this year (Perry only played 20 public gigs during our time frame), the pop star is still one of the biggest earners in her field. Perry is unafraid of the shill. She gets paid to endorse brands like CoverGirl and Pop Chips and she has her own fragrance with Coty brands called Killer Queen. Perry also earns big playing private events. What rich kid wouldn’t love Perry to play her Sweet 16?

6. Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi’s massive touring schedule lands the New Jersey band on our list for the 7th time. With “What About Now,” the band is still selling out arenas all over the word en route to $82 million in earnings. But age may be taking a toll. Drummer Tico Torres was sidelined for part of the tour due to gallbladder surgery and Richie Sambora skipped the tour to take care of personal issues. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi shows no signs of slowing down. His Soul Foundation branched out into housing this year with a four-story mixed-use development in Philadelphia for formerly homeless people.

7. Bruno Mars

Mars debuts on our list thanks to a busy touring schedule: the 28-year-old crooner played 118 dates during our time frame. He also managed to squeeze in a performance at the Super Bowl halftime (along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers) that earned him the title of the youngest halftime headliner ever. The performance helped propel sales of his latest album, “Unorthodox Jukebox” to double platinum. For more, check out “The Evolution of Bruno Mars.”

8. Miley Cyrus

Cyrus returns to the FORBES Celebrity 100 after a four-year absence. The last time she made our list was when she was still rolling in Hannah Montana money. Now the pop singer is all grown up and courting controversy at every turn. Her twerking at the MTV Video Music Awards shocked many people who still see Cyrus as a little girl but the attention helped record sales. Her latest album “Bangerz” has been certified platinum.

9. Taylor Swift

Only 24 years old, Swift is making her fifth appearance on the FORBES Celebrity 100 with her highest earnings to date: $64 million. Swift’s latest, “Red,” was shut out at the Grammy Awards but the cross-over star was honored with the Pinnacle Award at the latest Country Music Association Awards for her success. The award has only been given to one other person, singer Garth Brooks. Swift also earns with endorsements for Diet Coke, Keds and CoverGirl.

10. Lady Gaga

Gaga’s earnings continue to fall from her 2011 peak of $90 million Her third studio album, “Artpop,” has failed to produce the same success as her prior efforts and a hip injury side lined part of her world tour. Despite those setbacks, Gaga is still one of the most influential pop stars out there and she ranks 19th on our list. Only 28, she has plenty of time to return to the top 10

DOCTORS’ STRIKE! Patients cry out: We’re dyiny ooooo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:59:00 +0000

Three days into the ongoing strike by public sector doctors, patients abandoned in hospitals nationwide, yesterday, cried out that they were dying slowly, and prayed for God’s intervention to settle the rift between the government and the striking doctors.

While Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State appealed to the doctors to stop using strike as a means of fighting for their demands in the interest of innocent Nigerians, the doctors on their part accussed government of playing hide-and-seek with them.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Health to urgently engage the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, and Ministry of Health with a view to bringing the ongoing industrial action to an end.

Vanguard visited public hospitals in Lagos. From Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH; General Hospital, Gbagada; Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, were lamentations as patients, who refused to relocate, have been abandoned to their fate.

New patients were denied admission, while elderly ones who refused to leave were offered skeletal services by nurses and other health workers not affected by the strike.

Seeking divine intervention

Some of the patients were seen praying for God’s intervention.

At the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, patients stood in front of Accident and Emergency Unit, praying to God to touch the heart of both government and the striking doctors.

One said: “Our God in heaven, listen to our cry and come to our aid. Arrest the heart of doctors and government to end the strike. We are dying slowly on daily basis.”

At other wards, some patients that spoke to Vanguard insisted that whether the strike continued or not, they had nowhere else to seek medical attention.

They claimed their medical needs were peculiar and could not easily be handled at private hospitals.

One of them, who identified himself as Clement Odia, and had been on admission since January, said he was not in a hurry to relocate to any private hospital for financial reason.

‘Am going nowhere’

He said: “I came here since January because of my broken hand. You do not expect me to leave now because I am almost healed. If I have to go to private clinic, where is the money? Also, they may not be able to take care of my situation, so I am staying here.”

Another patient, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accused doctors of aggravating his pain.

He said: “I know if government answers them, in another six months same doctors will ask for more allowances. No doctor has attended to me since yesterday.”

Source: vanguardngr

BRT Bus Kills Soldier, Colleagues Unleash Terror On Drivers, Set BRT Buses On Fire In Lagos (Photo)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:57:00 +0000

Soldiers are on rampage at the Obanikoro area of the ever-busy Ikorodu expressway in Lagos, maiming people and physically destroying BRT buses. According to report, one of the BRT buses that rides on a dedicated lane hit a soldier, and his fellow soldiers decided to take the law into their hands.

FIFA Threatens to Ban Nigeria From International Football.(See Why)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:56:00 +0000

Sepp Blatter the President of world football governing body FIFA, has warned that Nigeria is at risk of getting an international ban due to government's direct interference after a court sacked the football federation's executive committee.

The Nigerian sports minister Tammy Danagogo, yesterday Thursday July 3rd, appointed Mr. Lawrence Katiken as sole adminstrator of the NFF. Danagogo acted after a high court sitting in Plateau State granted an injunction stopping elected NFF president Aminu Maigari, his executive committee and the NFF congress from office, which implys a direct interference by government in football, which is against FIFA's regulations.

Nigerian Big Boy jailed for 8yrs in the UK for scamming pensioners with fake lottery (See his lavish lifestyle)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 09:44:00 +0000

According To UK's Daily Mail Nigerian man named Frank Onyeachonam, 'Fizzy' because of his love of champagne has been jailed for eight years for conning vulnerable pensioners out of their life savings.

Frank Onyeachonam ran the UK end of global lottery scam that was orchestrated from his native Nigeria for seven years to fund his lavish millionaire’s lifestyle.

It involved hundreds of perpetrators in several countries, detectives say.

In the UK, 38-year-old Onyeachonam conned pensioners out of sums from £2,000 to £600,000, deliberately targeting his victims because they were potentially vulnerable to his tactics. Continue...

While he bled them of their life savings, Onyeachonam enjoyed a life of fast cars, champagne and designer clothes.

Pictures he posted on Facebook show he spent the cash on Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani designer clothes, Rolex watches, Porsches and Maseratis.

He even stuck wads of what look like £50 notes in his Buzz Lightyear toy.

Onyeachonam, of Canning Town, east London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to defraud following a three-week trial.

Lawrencia Emenyonu, 38, and Bernard Armah, 51, both of Wood Green, north London, were also found guilty of money laundering. All three denied the charges.

Emenyonu was jailed for 18 months while her partner Armah received an eight-month term.

Judge Rebecca Poulet QC, said there had been 'some very serious outcomes' for the victims caught up in the scam.

She told married father-of-two Onyeachonam: 'I judge your culpability to be very high. This was a very well thought out operation, sophisticated in both its planning and its operation.

'Mr Onyeachonam, you targeted these individuals because they were elderly and likely to agree and be tricked by this scam.'

This was demonstrated in the fraudster’s own notes in which he described them as 'crippled, old or poor', she said.

One of the Rolex watches Onyeachonam allegedly spent the money on

Lavish lifestyle: A property in Nigeria belonging to fraudster Frank Onyeachonam who has been jailed for eight years at the Old Bailey

A regular in members' clubs Onyeachonam's favourite drink was Ace of Spades champagne (pictured in the door) costing between £300 and £500 a bottle. His fridge was also stacked with Dom Pérignon (top shelf left) and Moët & Chandon (middle shelf)

The harm that was caused to these people could not just be calculated in financial terms but also on the 'dreadful impact ' on their lives, mental capacity and relationships with loved-ones.

The judge went on: 'You contested the case in the face of powerful evidence. You demonstrated the arrogance that you must have carried with you throughout this fraud by continuing after you knew that the police had raided your premises.'

The ruse - known as an 'advance fee' fraud - saw Onyeachonam send victims emails claiming they had won millions of pounds on a non-existent Australian lottery and requesting a charge to release their winnings.

He even stuck wads of what look like £50 notes in his Buzz Lightyear toy

Onyeachonam spent the cash on Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani designer clothes, Rolex watches, Porches and Maseratis

Onyeachonam was seen as the key figure in the UK but police suspect a criminal network was in place in several countries around the world

When they raided his luxury apartment in Canary Wharf police discovered an 'Aladdin’s cave' of evidence pointing to an advanced fee scam

Investigators traced 14 victims - mainly from the U.S. but including one from Britain - who were defrauded of a total of around £900,000.

But detectives believe this is the 'tip of the iceberg' with evidence suggesting there may have been as many as 400 victims and the sum may be as high as £30 million.

Onyeachonam was seen as the key figure in the UK but police suspect a criminal network was in place in several countries around the world. Authorities found an alleged co-conspirator abroad had an email containing the details of more than 100,000 potential victims.

Detectives believe this is the 'tip of the iceberg' with evidence suggesting there may have been as many as 400 victims and the sum may be as high as £30 million

The defendant was thought to have started working on the scam almost immediately after he arrived in the UK from Nigeria in 2005, and was said to have carried on into 2012 while he was on bail following his arrest the year before.

His crimes were uncovered in a three-year operation led by the National Crime Agency with assistance from the Postal Inspection Service and Internal Revenue Service in the US.

When they raided his luxury apartment in Canary Wharf police discovered an 'Aladdin’s cave' of evidence pointing to an advanced fee scam.

Among 200 exhibits were notebooks containing the names, addresses, cash tallies and other personal details relating to 406 people. Police estimate that the fraud is likely to have run to at least £5 million and possibly as high as £30 million if all those in the notebooks suffered losses.

Onyeachonam, at his London apartment in Canary Wharf, overlooking the Millennium Dome

Partners in crime: Bernard Armah and Lawrencia Emenyonu who were jailed for their part in a scam involving fraudster Frank Onyeachonam

Steve Brown, senior officer in the NCA’s cyber crime unit, said the majority of Onyeachonam’s victims were from America.

He is thought to have selected his targets from a database known among fraudsters as a 'suckers list', which includes people who are believed to be susceptible to the tactics.

Mr Brown said: 'Victims were sent an email from an alias used by Onyeachonam saying they had won an Australian lottery. They would be directed to ring him and he would say ‘if you send me money I will then release your lottery funds’.'

The lottery ‘winnings’ ranged from £2 million to £9 million and once they sent on cash victims were 'hooked' into the 'unrelenting' scam, he said.

He added: 'Once they’ve got their claws into someone they won’t stop. As long as they keep sending them money they will keep going until there’s nothing left.'

Onyeachonam, 38, of Canning Town, east London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to defraud

Using the alias Dr Jeff Lloyds, Onyeachonam built up a rapport with his victims and continued extracting money from some for as long as seven years.

In order to make the required payments several victims took out high interest loans, forcing them to come out of retirement to repay the debts.

Some of those exploited by Onyeachonam suffered the added trauma of falling under suspicion themselves as they were used as 'pawns' in the criminal network to launder the proceeds of the fraud by sending on money from other victims or setting up business accounts.

Mr Brown said the scam had made a 'mental wreck' of victims, 'hammering' their life’s savings, forcing them to lose their homes and leaving them isolated from their friends and families.

Emails showed victims pleaded with Onyeachonam to send them money to pay for healthcare, while some died before he could be brought to justice.

The British victim was left with debts of £90,000 and was forced to sell her home, move into rented accommodation and return to work in an attempt to stave off bankruptcy.

An American victim lost her dream home and she no longer speaks to her sister or friend.

She described how the scam made her feel like she had been 'raped over and over again'.

While he left a trail of destitution and devastation in his wake, Onyeachonam enjoyed the high life from the fruits of his deception.

Mr Brown said he lived a 'cash rich' lifestyle, earning the nickname 'Fizzy' for his taste for expensive champagne. Photographs show him surrounded by cash and bubbly in nightclubs.

His car collection included Porsches and Maseratis while his Thames-side flat was full of luxury brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton when it was searched by police.

Onyeachonam was the key figure as far as the 'UK nexus' was concerned but detectives believe this was part of an international enterprise.

The alleged mastermind or 'chairman' of the network is based in Nigerian capital Lagos and he is currently under investigation by authorities there.

Asked how many people were working on the global scam, Mr Brown said: 'Name a country and there seems to be a connection. It’s been almost impossible for us to track everybody down. They’ve all got responsibility for their own country.'

The prosecution has moved for a confiscation hearing for Onyeachonam.

This is Too Bad! Missing Chibok Girls are being r*ped and shot on camera!!! (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 09:07:00 +0000

In an interview with Sahara Reporters, Senator Khalifa Ahmed Zanna of Borno Central said that the girls are being r*ped while someone films them.

Read his disturbing disclosure below:

“Actually the information I’m getting, some of them are very disturbing. Although I don’t want to mention but they are just r*ping the girls on camera and even showing them on video, releasing it to the public.

Somebody told me that they were shown being r*ped, and in turn, it is the girl who was r*ped that came out kneeling down and begging the man to be patient. Do you know the reason why? They said when they r*pe them they shoot them.

Therefore the girl after being r*ped, she curled down to the man, kneeling down and begging him to please be patient. So disturbing.

And although I didn’t see the video, the person narrated to me, he said he had the video, and he was narrating to me, and look at the situation. And then the other scenario is that the Boko Haram are now out of funds, they are not getting enough food.

So they are going from one village to another, taking the little the villagers had, and going away. In fact most of the villages are almost moved out of their villages and moved to cities or gone into the neighbouring countries. So more or less they don’t have any chance of getting food. So I don’t know what they’re going to do, if food is not available are they going to sacrifice to give it to the girls.

And then, the other information I have, because you know the kidnap is a continuous process which they have been doing before the 200 and after the 200. So in their position, there are up to 500 or over 500 women who are being taken from the streets, on the main roads where they are traveling, or they go to the villages and collect them; all kinds of abductions.” he said.

It’s been 81 days since the school girls in the Chibok area were abducted by the Boko Haram sect.

National Conference: Confab Endorses Creation Of Aba, Ijebu, 17 Other States, Also Wants Presidency Rotated

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 09:02:00 +0000

The National Conference on Thursday voted for the creation of 18 more states in the country. The creation of new states was one of the decisions taken by the delegates at their plenary while considering the report of the Committee on Political Restructuring and Forms of Government.

Apart from the 18 new states proposed, the conference said a separate state-yet-to-be named should be carved out of the South-East to bring the number of the states in the zone to six.

In creating a new state from the South-East geopolitical zone, the conference said the creation would correct the imbalance of the zone having the least number of states.

In the existing 36 states arrangement, each zone has six states with only the North-West having seven states.

The new states proposed by the conference are: Aba, to be carved out of the present Abia State; Katagum, from Bauchi State; Ijebu, from Ogun State; Amana, from former Sardauna Province; Apa, from Benue State; Anioma, from Delta State, Savannah, from Borno State; and Etiti, from South-East.

Others are Njaba/Anim, from Anambra and Imo states; Gurara, from Kaduna State; Ghari, from Kano State; Adada, New Oyo from Oyo State; Orachi, from Rivers State; Ogoja, from Cross River State; and Kainji, from Kebbi and Niger states.

Two other states, one each from the South-East and South-West zones, are also yet to be named.

It was agreed by the delegates that the 18 new states would be shared among the six zones in a manner that no zone would have more states than the other.

Though it was also agreed that states were free to have their constitutions, the request to change the name of Adamawa State to Gongola State was overwhelmingly rejected by the delegates.

The delegates also voted that the Presidency should rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the country.

However, a delegate, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, condemned the decision to create more states.

He said the action was at variance with the decisions and resolutions earlier taken by the conference on the need by government to cut cost.

“Having regard to the several resolutions of the National Conference on the need to reduce the cost of governance, I found the recommendation for the creation of additional 18 states rather contradictory,” Falana said

HEAR WHAT US IS SAYING ABOUT BOKO HARAM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:54:00 +0000

A statement issued by the US State Department, yesterday, in Washington, said the US government was invoking Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224 to designate Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

The Federal Government which had hitherto mounted pressure on the US against taking such action, also issued a statement through Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US to explain why it accepted the US classification of Boko Haram and Ansaru as terrorist groups.

Decision taken November 8, 2013

According to Ambassador Ade Adefuye, the decision to declare Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, was taken at a meeting at the State Department on Friday, November 8, 2013, and they took immediate steps to inform the authorities in Abuja.

He said: “For the past couple of months, this embassy successfully countered pressures from religious organizations and politicians both in Nigeria and the US on the American government to make this declaration. Our belief then was that the twin-track approach of enforcement and dialogue adopted by the Nigerian Government would make Boko Haram see reason. Regrettably, the continued intransigence of the sect compelled our government to proscribe the organization on June 4, 2013.”

The Federal government said its earlier opposition of the designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as FTOs by the US was “because of the wider implication and exposure to stringent measures that such actions will impose on ordinary Nigerians”. But the State Department said its assistance to Nigeria stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring that human rights are respected. It said designation of these groups as FTOs demonstrates U.S. support for the Nigerian people’s fight against Boko Haram and Ansaru.

Ambassador Adefuye said: “We have taken note of the statement by host authorities that the latest action is meant to enhance further co-operation between Nigeria and the US in tackling this issue. The Government of Nigeria remains committed to bringing to an end the atrocities of Boko Haram in collaboration with our foreign partners.”

Activities of the radical Islamic sects have become worrisome to the United States and other countries that are uncomfortable with Boko Haram, which has been responsible for the death of thousands of civilians and security personnel across religious divides in North-East and central Nigeria since it commenced its campaign in 2002. Also operating in Nigeria, Ansaru is a Boko Haram splinter faction that earlier in 2013 kidnapped and executed seven international construction workers.

Diplomatic sources said the designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as FTOs is “an important and appropriate step, but just a step in a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups through a combination of law enforcement, political, and development efforts, as well as military engagement, to help root out violent extremism.”

Global FTOs

With this designation, Boko Haram and Ansaru would be treated like other terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, Salafis movement or Al-Qaeda, Al- Shabbab in the Horn of Africa, Taliban in Afghanistan, Haqqani in Pakistan and Hamas in the Middle East, including Mujoa and Ansar Dine in Mali. These are global networks of jihadist organizations that want to institute orthodox theocratic states based on Islamic tenets and doctrines. They have relied on criminal activities such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling and kidnapping to raise funds for their campaign of terror worldwide.

The United States has been concerned about the link between Boko Haram and Ansaru and Al-Qaeda in Magreb AQIM and the Al-Shabaab Islamic sect operating in East Africa from where the group gets its training and logistics support. Al-Qaeda in The Maghreb stretches from the North African nations of Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, to Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Cameroon and Northern Nigeria.

Implications for Nigeria

The consequences of these FTO and E.O. 13224 designations include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide material support or resources to, or engaging in transactions with Boko Haram and Ansaru, includes freezing of all property and interests in property of the organizations that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the control of U.S. persons. The Department of State took these actions in consultation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury.

These designations will assist U.S. and other law enforcement partners in efforts to share intelligence, training of security operatives in counter intelligence strategies, investigation and prosecution of terrorist suspects associated with Boko Haram and Ansaru.

Security and Intelligence experts said this declaration would require the US Congress to enact relevant legislation to back the anti-terrorism campaign in Nigeria. “ There are also strong beliefs that the US might use its controversial drone programme to attack leaders of these radical groups which have declared that they would attack the US and her interests in Nigeria.

Dr. Dan Mou, a retired director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja told newsmen that designation of Boko Haram and Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organisations means that America will now treat Nigeria as a terrorist country and Nigerians travelling to the US, would be singled out for special attention. It would mean that Nigerians applying to travel to US would face a stringent visa regime.”

Special security scrutiny

Foreign Affairs Ministry sources further told newsmen that “the classification affects members of Boko Haram sect would of course, affect innocent Nigerians while the issue of who is innocent is purely subjective so we as citizens of Nigeria will have to pay the price.”.

Newsmen learnt that Nigerians who have visited countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, Niger, Yemen, and Chad where Al-Qaeda and its affiliates are known to operate are marked out for special security scrutiny in the United States.

Among its most lethal attacks, Boko Haram carried out indiscriminate attacks in Benisheikh, Nigeria in September 2013 that killed more than 160 innocent civilians, including women and children. Boko Haram has also conducted attacks against international targets, including a suicide bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja on August 26, 2011, that killed 21 people and injured dozens more, many of them aid workers supporting development projects across Nigeria.

Ansaru’s attacks have focused on Nigerian military and Western targets. In November 2012, Ansaru raided a police station in Abuja, killing Nigerian police officers and freeing detained terrorists from prison. Also in January 2013, Ansaru attacked Nigerian security services when its members ambushed a convoy of Nigerian peacekeepers. Ansaru has also conducted several kidnappings of foreigners living and working in Nigeria.

Nigeria-US relations

Ambassador Adefuye further said that the action of the US State Department would not affect relations between the two countries negatively. He said “The Embassy wishes to assure American investors and tourists that our country remains a favourite destination for investors and tourists”.

He said “Every nation has its security challenges in one section of its geographical entity. The threat of Boko Haram exists in some parts of the 36 states of Nigeria.

According to the envoy, there are “many American investors who are presently in Nigeria and we have received firm assurances from the host authorities that the declaration is only to speed up the process of ending Boko Haram atrocities. The intensity of US-Nigeria relations will not in any way be adversely affected: The Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission will continue to be implemented with vigour. Our citizens will not be subjected to unnecessary harassment at Immigration border posts. The economic, social and political ties with the United States will continue to wax stronger”.

Kiss Her – Flavour Finally Opens Up [PHOTOS]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:53:00 +0000

Tiwa Savage Gave Me The Go Ahead to

There has been rumours that Flavour once dated Tiwa Savage after a collaboration with her, actually, he was caught kissing Tiwa during the shooting of his movie, don’t get this gist twisted, it was what the director of the movie wanted from them, the next rumour was he got his girlfriend engaged, well , Flavour says he is still single and not thinking of getting married soon, he is only concentrating on his music, to reduce scandals, he is only moving around with a selected few.
The hardest part of Flavour’s job is not to come up with a hit , but to be there and keep giving his fans the hit till when he retires . The drive is to just keep on doing what he is doing well and going deep into it . And always source for ideas , look for different things , know his market and the people that are looking up to him.
We gathered that Tee Billz didn’t feel bad when he heard about the rumour of flavour dating Tiwa, because he knew Tee Billz was around her during the shooting of that video… While shooting the music video, the director came to them and said, you guys are playing love scene, you need to do something intimate. He urged them to do it, and he looked at Tiwa and she gave him a go ahead and he said ‘yes’ we can do it. There was nothing wrong with that. Moreover, he said they did music with passion.
People will always talk and turn around stories when it comes to his private life. But he said he is still single because marriage is not his priority for now. He still wants to hit the top before thinking about marriage. It’s not yet time. Flavour is still concentrating on my music

Photo: Bridge collapses in Ndi Ebe Abam, Abia State

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:49:00 +0000

The popular Igwu bridge linking Ndi Ebe Abam to other towns collapsed yesterday July 1st when a 25 tons tipper carrying gravel plied on it. Fortunately no life was lost but now the villagers say they have been cut off from other towns as a result of the collapsed bridge which served as the only motor-able road through which the indigenes used to connect with other towns.

They sent me the photo and asked that we appeal to the Arochukwu L.G.A. Chairman and Abia State government to come to their aid, saying people residing in the town have been adversely affected by this mishap.

They are appealing to the authorities concerned to help them rebuild the bridge in a modern form that will last longer than the former one which was made with irons and planks and maintained by the indigenes for many years. They also implored the government to help them construct the road which has been neglected for years

Movie Director McCollins Calls Out Genevieve Nnaji

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:12:00 +0000

Screen diva Genevieve Nnaji in an interview with one of the national newspapers revealed that her face has been scarce in many recent Nollywood films as a result of not finding the right script yet.
Now we know that Creativity and Depth are the qualities she looks out for in a script.

Actress Genevieve Nnaji and Movie Producer, Mac Collins Chidebe
"In the beginning, the movie industry emphasized quantity but things are changing and there is an improvement in trend. I am among the people who advocate for the improvement of the industry. So said, I am constantly watching out for the kind of stories I take part in. I am in support of movies that show a great deal of professionalism and creativity. Having practiced my art in international & professionally produced stories like ‘Ije’, ‘Mirror boy’, and ‘Tango with me’, I don’t think I can return to the blandness and mediocrity that characterized Nollywood in the past,” the Nollywood actress further explained.
Related: The Real Reasons Why Celebrity Marriages Do Not Last
Well, Mac Collins Chidebe, a Nollywood movie director, has replied Genny in a statement released today. Mac Collins blatantly replied saying Genevieve should come and improve Nollywood instead of blasting the industry that brought her fame and fortune.
Related: PHOTO: This Is What Happens When Genevieve Nnaji Rocks Street Style
"Genevieve has just insulted the industry that made her who she is today and what effort has she made to help improve Nollywood? Those days in Enugu when Genevieve was growing in Nollywood, our movies were not rubbish; she has grown now, made money, fame, popularity etc., how much has she invested in this Industry that made her? All the while she was busy waiting for Titanic scripts, Nollywood was trying their best to keep the flag flying waiting for her to come back and take the industry to the next level. Artistes should stop biting the fingers that fed them. We are watching and waiting for them to bring down heaven. We made them stars; we are waiting for them to come back and take the industry to the next level. Instead of blasting Nollywood, come and improve Nollywood,” Chidebe said.
Baby Gene, who recently celebrated her 35th birthday has gotten a lot of international slots for many movies, hence, her thirst for a better Nollywood.

APC Strike Again, Accuse Fani-Kayode Of Distorting Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:08:00 +0000

Following an emotional response by former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode to a statement by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party has once again accused him of lying and distorting facts.

Femi Fani-Kayode & Lai Mohammed
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday by APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Fani-Kayode was distorting facts to reach a prepossessed conclusion on the party’s comments concerning the proscription of Boko Haram by the Federal Government, adding that his response repudiated everything he ever said he stood for.
The party said his response failed to wash off the thick mud he splashed on himself when he returned to his vomit and made himself a tool, used for criticising the opposition, Vanguard reports.
Describing Fani-Kayode as a Janus-faced, brassy personality who stands for nothing and will fall for anything, the party said they would expose him for who he truly is, adding that they would not engage in brickbats with him but simply set the record straight for the sake of posterity.
RELATED: Fani Fayode Threatens To Expose APC’s Attrocities
The statement reads in part: "On June 9th 2013, the ACN issued a statement in which it said in the opening paragraph ‘The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said that the recent proscription order against Boko Haram and Ansaru, desirable as it may be in tackling the terrorist organisations, violates the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by stifling the press and tampering with the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.
"Any person, especially one who supposedly had the benefit of a sound education, who interprets this statement as a condemnation of the proscription itself is either acting out of deliberate mischief or has failed to take advantage of his good education, perhaps in a desperation to escape justice at all cost."
RELATED: We Never Trusted Fani Kayode – APC
Fani Kayode, while speaking on Channels TV’s breakfast show, Sunrise Daily, had claimed that Boko Haram was the armed wing of the APC and its leaders of being supportive and sympathetic of the dreaded sect.
The APC, who disowned Femi-Fani Kayode as a member earlier in June 2014, had asked him to retract his comment or face a legal action.
However, the former Aviation Minister had replied that he would not apologise and "hell will freeze over" before he issues Lai Mohammed or the APC any type of apology for what he said, adding that he looked forward to seeing them in court.

Keshi Is 'A Confused Coach' - Emmanuel Babayaro

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:06:00 +0000

One of Nigeria’s goalkeepers to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA, Emmanuel Babayaro, has reacted to Stephen Keshi’s denial about his resignation from his role as the head coach of the Super Eagles.
The Nigerian coach was reported in the media to have resigned from his role during a meeting he had with his players after Nigeria’s 0-2 loss to France in the round of 16 of the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup holding in Brazil.
But the following day, Keshi denied he has resigned, saying he only bid his players farewell because his contract will expire after the World cup and he hasn’t been offered a new one.
Speaking on the matter on Wednesday, 2 July, 2014, Babayaro described Keshi’s denial as that of a confused man.
He said: “When I read about his denial, I felt disappointed because he failed to convince me with his side of the story.

* Coach Keshi
“To start with, he didn’t deny he wished his players bye, if he truly have hopes of continuing he won’t address his players so fast, at least let the pain of crashing out subside a little, and maybe hear from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, bigwigs before telling his players he might not continue like he claimed.
“To me he is looking for attention and maybe he is at cross roads over to stay or leave, he appears confused a bit as he loves Nigeria and his job.”
Babayaro, who is the elder brother of another former Super Eagles player, Celestine Babayaro, also advised the NFF to address the issue of Keshi’s stay or departure because the 2015 Africa Nations cup is around the corner.
“Our first qualifier for the Nations cup in 2015 is less than two months away, we should be concern with players invitations not who will handle the team?”

* Emmanuel Babayaro
“The NFF most move quickly,make a decision on his future to avoid panics when the qualifiers are close or begin."
It could be recalled that Nigeria is grouped with Sudan, South Africa and a third that would be decided after the third round of qualifiers.
In a related development, the NFF has said it would not hold Keshi from quitting his job if he decides to leave.
Though most football fans in Nigeria are calling for Keshi to stay, some reports are already saying the NFF has shortlisted Michael Emenalo, Sunday Oliseh and former Eagles coach Samson Siasia as replacement for Keshi’s job

Man Butchered To Pieces In Taraba

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:03:00 +0000

A middle-aged Tiv man was butchered into pieces yesterday, July 2 at Bantaji in Wukari local government area of Taraba State, following a disagreement between him and a Fulani man.
According to Leadership report, the deceased said to be in his forties had a minor disagreement with a Fulani man, which resulted a fight that left him in pieces in Wukari market.
His death was said to have caused a battle between the Tiv and Fulani factions in the area.
The two clashing factions moved the fight from the market to the major high way, the popular Jalingo- Wukari road, where they engaged each in a free for all fight.
Motorists and all who were plying that route had to stop several kilometres away from Bantaji, the urban centre of the city.
The crisis was however brought under control by the combined effort of both the military and the police.
Related: Tension mounts as vigilante group butchers man to death in Enugu
Normalcy has since returned to the area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the Taraba State police command, Joseph Kwaji, called on residents to go about their normal activities, adding that the police was on top of the situation.
Taraba has been plagued with socio-ethnic and ethno-religious clashes for years. It is believed that the Fulani herdsmen, who have often been accused of being a part of Boko Haram sect are behind most of the attacks.

Asari Dokubo Reveals How He Met Leaders Of Boko Haram

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 11:02:00 +0000

Former Ijaw Youth Council President and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari has revealed how he met some leaders of islamist militant group, Boko Haram.

Speaking in an interview done by the Vanguard, the son of a former judge in Rivers State judiciary said while he met a lot of the leaders of the terror group while he was in solitary confinement in SSS underground for 10 months and 11 days.

According to Asari Dokubo, who clocked the golden age of 50 on June 1, 2014, some of the Boko Haram’s leaders he met while in prison were Muda Shiru, Mohammed Isam, Yusuf Hussein, Asan Yusuf and Mohammed Bello.

Below are excerpts from the interview where he tells the story of his many struggles among others:

Let us start with your many encounters with the law and arrests. We recall you were a regular guest to the offices of security agencies.

Arrest was a regular thing. I can’t really tell. I became used to arrest. In fact, the police and SSS in Port Harcourt, maybe they advised the government, saying ‘pls, just leave this guy alone. This guy, arrest no dey do am anything’. (Laughing and speaking in pidgin English). ‘Just leave him alone. The guy enjoys getting arrested’.
Yes, that was one of the greatest undoing of Obasanjo because he thought I could be cowed. Go and look at my trial videos. There is trial like that where the judge was put in the dock. I was the one questioning the judge. It is not possible. So, the government and Obasanjo really, really, really did not understand the type of person he was dealing with. May be in Nigeria, there were no such people then. Today, we have Boko Haram. So, a new group of people has started.
Were you ever taken to any dungeon…?(Cuts in) I was in SSS underground for 10 months and 11 days in solitary confinement.

* Asari-Dokubo, left, and President Goodluck Jonathan

How did you cope?

I would have run mad. Many people did. But because I had memorized parts of the Koran, instead of talking to myself, I just recited the Koran. That was what kept me alive. If I had not memorized the Koran, I would have been mad. Talking to yourself is a different thing. But this one, you are reading, edifying your soul.
So, while in prison, did you get to meet with any of the people now linked to Boko Haram?
I met with so many people, not only Boko Haram militants. Yes, I met with a lot of them: Muda Shiru, Mohammed Isam, Yusuf Hussein, Asan Yusuf, Mohammed Bello.
Who were these people?
They were leaders of the group that is now called Boko Haram. They were arrested and repatriated from Libya.
Do you know if they are still alive?
Yeah. But some of them are no longer with them. Isam is no longer with them. I don’t have their contact. But I believe that the majority of those people may have been dead because we had very close relationship when we were in prison even though we didn’t see face to face. They were in their cells and I was in mine; so we hit the wall and talked. During prayers, we prayed together by shouting.
If that is the case, don’t you get to talk to them to broker ceasefire and all that or do we have new faces now?
No, no, no. It depends on government approach. Someone in government thought it could be wished away, that it was easy. Boko Haram? ‘It will fizzle away’ and all the warning we gave them, they did not accept. They misled the government into believing that it could be wished it away. If they had taken a decisive action at that time, I don’t think that this would have reached the stage it has reached now.
But a decision was taken on their leader, Yusuf Mohammed?
That was not the sort of decisive action. The killing of Yusuf Mohammed was a mistake. If Yusuf Mohammed were to die, he should have gone for trial. Nobody should use his whims and caprices as the law like what Saddam Hussein said “whatever I wrote with my hand, that is the law”. That was what Yar’Adua did. Why should you kill somebody extra-judicially? Take him to court if he had committed any offense. You have the laws. If they had followed due process, it would have mitigated what is happening. But they did not follow. They went outside the law. When you go outside the law, you are also telling the other person to also meet you outside the law.
The thinking in many quarters now is that these people are taking a revenge on the government while some people disagree, saying it is pure terrorism. You have also said they are acting on a wrong ideology. How do you reconcile all these?
Yea, they are acting on a wrong ideology but even if it was a revenge, Islam does not permit you to take people who are not combatants. When you take the lives of people who are not combatants, then you are not longer fighting the cause of Allah because Allah SWA clearly said in the Koran that if you kill an innocent man, it seems you have killed the whole world.
Let’s go back to the struggle. Do you think it has paid off?
Not 100 percent. Maybe 20 percent. We have somebody that looks like us, dresses like us, eats our food, dances the way we dance as President. It is a victory over those who feel that they were born to rule. Who says they are born to rule? It is a negation of that erroneous position.
But to everyone in Nigeria, the President is Nigeria’s President not an Ijaw President even though he is coming from that background.
Yes, it is true. But he came from somewhere. He did not fall from the sky.
The President has been accused of not really been presidential in the real sense of the word. Again, you have very many challenges bedeviling the country which many Nigerians had expected him to deal with decisively.
Yes, most of us feel that he has not done things the way they ought to be done. But there are individual differences. For instance, does Mr. President believe in things that the ordinary Ijaw man believes? The ordinary Ijaw man who was at the airport to bring the corpse of Isaac Boro; that the Ijaw nation must be liberated, must be independent? Do most of the elites share the same beliefs that we share? No.
You are quoted as saying that the abduction of the school girls in Chibok is a scam. Some people feel shocked by that statement coming from you even when we have seen the international community coming in…
(Cuts in) which international community? The United States of America with her allies Britain and the European Union cajoled the whole world and told us that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. At the end of the day, were there weapons of mass destruction? There was none. So the international community for whatever intent and purpose that is compelling them to do what they are doing is best known to them. But it will not be far from economic interest. How can you believe that 270 girls will be taken? How? It is not possible. If you tell us that 20 girls were taken, 30, maybe 50, fine. How will you tell us that 270 girls were writing physics exam? How? In which school? Where? Even in the most educationally advanced part of this country, can you find any school where even 20 students are writing physics? I run a school. How many of my students are writing physics? They just finished their SSCE? And this is an elitist school, we make very good results. How many people are writing physics? Who are they telling? So, if you are not into education business, somebody can cajole you and tell you a lot of stories. When they took the students, the Principal, who said she thought they were soldiers, again said she was in Maiduguri for medical treatment when they came. Her daughter too was in the school. Why didn’t they take her daughter? Why did they take other peoples daughters? The military was aware four hours before the attack; the people who sent the information that Chibok was to be attacked four hours to the military, why did they not inform the chairman of Chibok, SSS Rep, DPO or anybody in Chibok? The Chibok community leader who has been talking, why didn’t they say, ‘Please, move the girls, we are suspecting that there was going to be an attack on the school? Move these children out of the school’. Why was it only the military they told? They couldn’t reach any other person but the military? What are they telling us now? Ok, today, one of the girls said she ran and jumped over the fence. She climbed the tree and then the man was saying come down, come down o’. What sort of thing is this now? So, the girl can climb a tree faster than a man with a gun? Why didn’t you just simply shoot her and he left her and went away? And some four persons were found in their house and they said they escaped and came back? What sort of stories?
How has it been in the last 50 years you have lived?

Ah! My life at 50. My experience. How am I going to put it? Well, I got into the university at the age of 21 in 1985; the University of Calabar. And from that age of 21, death became my constant companion at every turn.

REVEALED! How Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Became The World’s Youngest Billionaire!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 09:38:00 +0000

Mark Zuckerberg was born in White Plains, New York on May 14, 1984. He became interested in computers around the age of 12 and used Atari BASIC to create a messaging program he named “Zucknet.” His father, who was a dentist, used the program in his office to allow his receptionist to notify him when new patients arrived. Zuckerberg’s family also used the program inside the house to communicate with each other.

Zuckerberg also created games out of drawings done by his friends, and in an attempt to strengthen their child’s knowledge, his parents hired private computer tutor David Newman. While in high school, Zuckerberg created an early version of Pandora, a music software, which he named Synapse. He turned down offers to buy the software as well as employment opportunities with companies such as AOL and Microsoft.

In 2002, Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard University, and by his sophomore year, he had become the go-to software developer on campus. It was during this time that Zuckerberg developed the programs that served as precursors to the internationally known social media site Facebook. These programs were CourseMatch, which allowed students to pick classes based on the classes other users had picked, and Facemash, which allowed users to vote between the attractiveness of two student’s pictures.

The next step in the birthing process for Facebook was the development of the networking site Harvard Connection which Zuckerberg worked on with fellow students Divya Narendra, Cameron Winklevoss, and Tyler Winklevoss. Zuckerberg soon decided to work on his own social networking site choosing to work with his friends Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Eduardo Saverin. The site the four developed allowed users to create profiles and communicate with other people who had profiles on the site. By the end of 2004, Facebook had 1 million users, and Zuckerberg had dropped out of Harvard to move to Palo, Alto, California and run the site full time.

By December 2005, the site had more than 5.5 million users and Zuckerberg turned down offers from companies such as Yahoo! and MTV Networks to continue running the site himself. He decided to open the site to outside developers and began adding more features. The company continued to grow, and in 2010 Time named Zuckerberg Person of the Year and Forbes ranked him as No. 35 on its “400″ list, which ranks the country’s richest billionaires. Forbes estimated his net worth at that time to be $6.9 billion.

The company went public in May 2012 and became the biggest internet IPO in history raising $16 billion during its initial offering. In May 2013, at 28 years old, Zuckerberg became the youngest CEO to ever make the Fortune 500 list.

Goodluck Jonathan Joins Ramadan Fast with VP Sambo & Other Senior Govt Officials! [Photos]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 09:34:00 +0000

Presidential aide, Reuben Abati shared the photos last night.

Police detain Emir’s son over bomb scare in Kano!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 09:32:00 +0000

The police in Kano have detained a middle age man believed to be the son of Emir of Ringmer over a bomb scare that triggers pandemonium at Sa”adatu Rimi College of Education located on the busy Kano – Zaria federal Highways.

The Jigawa prince identified as Mahmood Sayyadi but known and called Mazaje in social circle was said to have breached security when he was flagged down for checks.

Security sources in Kano confided in Vanguard that the prince had arrived the scoop in a black SUV car and forced his way into the school campus.

The ensuing commotion crippled academic activities as students took their heels to avoid been a victim of a suicide bomber.

Eyewitness disclosed that few gallant security guards confronted the emir’s son and forced him out of the jeep.

The account further revealed that the suspect confessed to the guards that he has no link with terrorists adding that “I am here to see a friend”.

The account said that when it became clear the identity of the suspected suicide bomber fleeing students return in anger and was about administering jungle justice when the police arrived

Vanguard learnt that a call was put to the police by a concerned citizen who deployed men to the spot to contain the situation.

Security sources revealed that “the police had to apply minimum force to restore order, adding that the suspect and his car was secured and taken to the police station.

A top police officer told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that hard drugs were recovered from the vehicle , adding that investigation had since commenced to ascertain the true position.

Commenting on the incident, the police public relations officer in Kano confirms the arrest but was quick to add that “we are yet to establish the identity of the detained suspect”.

AS Majia said ‘gentlemen of the press we had a security breach at Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education and we have taken the suspect into custody as normalcy has been restored to the affected schools”.