Long-time Nollywood actress Sola Shobowale's father died...will be buried today!

Long-time Nollywood actress Sola Shobowale will be burying her late father Pa Olagookun today Friday May 4, 2012.

Reports say the burial which will be held in Akure, Ondo State will be attended by her Nollywood colleagues.

Pa Olagookun died on March 5, 2012 at the University College Hospital (UCH) after a brief illness.

Shobowale made her Nollywood debut in the mid 90s. She is often referred to as ‘Toyin Tomatoe‘ after playing the part of a boisterously adventurous woman in ‘Oh father oh daughter‘, a series off the very popular Wale Adenuga-produced soap opera ‘Super Story‘
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Family on Fire continues to make waves

Lagos came alive again on May 1 when Tade Ogidan’s wave-making movie, Family on Fire, was screened at the MUSON Centre, Onikan. The hall was filled to capacity with fun-loving Lagosians who were eager to have a feel of the much-talked about movie.

Comedian Teju Babyface, who was the compere, helped the audience to relax with jokes while Ogidan took the cue and enjoined parents to bring their children up in the proper way. According to him, parents who mess up Nigeria and send their children abroad  to study will only compound the problem of the society when their wards return home.

Prior to the screening, the cast made up of Nollywood’s most talented role  interpreters – including Sola Fosudo, Lanre Hassan, Sola Sobowale, Saheed Balogun, Segun Arinze, Bukky Amos, Yinka Odusanya and singer Kenny Saint Best – came on stage to display what the audience should expect from the movie.

Family on Fire,  set in Lagos and London and rendered in Yoruba and subtitled in English – and spiced with Spanish – tells the story of a spoilt youngster, Kunle – played by  Balogun.  Kunle commits a grave act of smuggling cocaine into London by burying the hard drug in his unsuspecting mother’s luggage. Apart from the in-fighting this action caused in the family, the looming crisis gets compounded when Moyo who is studying in the UK – through sponsorship by Femi, Kunle’s elder brother – steals the drugs and sells it cheaply.

Many important personalities have indicated support for Ogidan on the movement for re-orientation that he is promoting with the film. Among others, wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, has passionately asked parents, “Are you bringing up your children properly?”

There was also a musical interlude and a display by children in a candle procession, campaigning against child abuse and trafficking.

The movie is one of Ogidan’s several blockbusters as a prolific movie producer and director. Some of the crème de la crème of the society present to felicitate with him include the Managing Director of Obat Oil and Petroleum, Prince Obateru Akinruntan, and some members of staff; Hajjia Abba Folawiyo and the Yeye Oge of Lagos, Chief Oprah Benson.

The Sun ex-sales executive arrested over alleged N1.7m theft

The police, yesterday, arraigned a former sales executive with The Sun Newspapers in a Lagos Magistrate Court over an alleged theft of N1.7 million belonging to the company. Samuel Unegbu, 37, was dragged before Magistrate Fadahunsi Adefioye of the Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Kirikiri on a one-count charge of misappropriation. He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

 According to the charge preferred against him, the ex-sales executive allegedly misappropriated the said sum between October 9 and November 1, 2011 while being an employee of the company. The prosecution alleged that the stolen money were proceeds from newspaper sales.

 According to the police prosecutor, Supr. Pascal Maduka, the offence is punishable under Section 285(8) of the Criminal Code, Cap 11, Volume 44, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011. When the defence counsel, S. Shittu, prayed the court for bail for his client, the prosecutor did not object to the request but urged the court to grant the accused bail with stringent conditions.

 The trial magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties, one of whom must own landed property and present evidence of payment of Land Use Tax from 2010 to 2012. The court directed that the sureties must also be gainfully employed, verify their addresses and swear an affidavit of means.
 Trial in the matter has been fixed for May 30.

2 doctors in prison over the death of a pregnant woman for mistakenly cutting her intestine during the operation

Two doctors in Benue State are now cooling their heels in Makurdi prison for allegedly carrying out a surgical operation on a pregnant woman, which resulted in her death after they mistakenly cut her intestine.

 The doctors, Fabian Iortyumbe and Samuel Anjembe, who hail from Buruku Local Government Area of the state, were remanded in prison following an order by the trial magistrate, Dan Ogo. They are facing a of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.

 When the case came up, the pleas of the accused persons were not taken for lack of jurisdiction and the police prosecutor, Gabriel Ebonyi asked for another date to enable the police complete their investigation.
 According to the police First Information Report (FIR), the court was informed that a 31-year-old woman who was in labour, was taken to a clinic in Buruku where the two medical doctors carried out operation on her without the husband’s consent.

 Ruling on the case, the trial Magistrate, Dan Ogo adjourned the matter to June 3 for continuation of hearing.

Nollywood actress, Uche Jombo, Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker in police detention

Nollywood actress, Uche Jombo, Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker, Uduak Isong and some other crew were arrested by the police in Lagos yesterday.

We learnt that they were arrested while filming in Surulere, Lagos with some of their crew members. They were detained at Bode Thomas police station, Surulere, Lagos.

We just learnt that they have been briefed with why they were being held in police detention.

They are being held because police feel filmmakers feed people with wrong side of the Nigerian police in their movies.

Two weeks ago, Van Vicker was arrested in Lagos for arms possession which he claimed was for a movie props.

Uche Jombo was reported to have fought for his release by men of the State Security Services (SSS) in Lagos, where he was held overnight.

Source: Nigeriafilms

...They battered me and vandalised my vehicle, says victim

Family battles monarch's sons over Easter attack
An uneasy air pervades Isingwa Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State. The Anaba family is at daggers’ drawn with a royal house in the community over an alleged attack on a member of the family, Mr. Amanna Anaba, on April 7.

 The attack, it was gathered, was carried out by people suspected to be children of a traditional ruler in the area. However, men of the 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Ohafia are now trying to unravel the mystery behind the attack.
 According to members of the Anaba family, the incident was an armed robbery attack, but the other party said it was a mere fight between two brothers, insisting that one of the parties was only trying to misinform the Nigerian Army.

 Some members of the community, however, said the attack might have been one of several failed attempts to reinstate a top local government official that was suspended, following the purported humiliation of the state governor at the burial of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
 Amanna, who resides in Port Harcourt, had come from his base to celebrate Easter with other members of the family, including his elder brother, Tochukwu Anaba, who is a lawyer, and some other friends.

 Amanna said he had no premonition of evil when he decided to have some drinks with his brother and friends at the White House, a popular bar at the Amapu Ntigha community. Daily Sun learnt that trouble started when Amanna and the rest were leaving the bar. Amanna drove Tochukwu’s 2006 Volkswagen Passat car because his elder brother had decided to ride with another relative. He drove behind the car boarded by his brother.

 As they drove out of the White House premises, they allegedly noticed three vehicles parked at a distance. The occupants of the cars, it was learnt, were armed with guns, machetes and bottles. Sensing danger, Amanna and the other car sped off. However, the three cars reportedly accosted Amanna at the Orie Ntigha Market as he could not catch up with the other car. Amanna, it was learnt, reversed the car from Ntigha to the White House before the suspected pursuers eventually caught up with him.

 According to eyewitnesses, the pursuers ordered Amanna out of the car at gunpoint and collected the car key from him. He was allegedly walloped thoroughly when the attackers attempted to drive the car but couldn’t because of some in-built security features in the vehicle. Nevertheless, they allegedly vandalised the car before they jumped inside their own cars and left the scene. Amanna, it was learnt, was writhing in pains before a kind-hearted man saw him and called his brother.
 Tochukwu told journalists: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him, lying in a pool of his blood and my car was also damaged. People around, who saw the attackers told me who they were and the cars they brought for the operation: a red Volkswagen Jetta, a dark Acura MDX SUV and a black Toyota Camry.

 “I got even more confused because I know my brother has no business with them. I see no reason they attacked him because we are not even involved in their local politics because we are all busy people.“I ran into a police post which is right opposite the scene of the attack and the police officers on duty who actually witnessed the incident declined to give me a report to take my brother to the hospital. I also informed them where I learnt the attackers were hiding but they refused to go with me. “In fact, they intimated me that in the history of the community, no policeman had been able to carry out an arrest in the hideout of the perpetrators.

 “When the police couldn’t provide the report to take him to a hospital, I contacted one of our friends, who is a doctor at the General Hospital, Aba, and he asked us to bring him over. A former top council official who was with me provided his car and we all drove my brother to the hospital where he was treated. I can’t really tell whether those that attacked my brother had thought that it was me simply because my friends are politicians, who are not under their grip or they did that with the aim of stealing my car.”

 At the hospital, Amanna also recounted his ordeal: “They got angry when they couldn’t drive the car and they started beating me. I was able to recognise one of them (names withheld by us) when the hostility started. He was the one, who was hitting me with the butt of his gun and others, were busy vandalizing my brother’s new car.

 “While this was going on, I was lying in the pool of my blood on the ground and was screaming for help. I don’t know the level of damage they inflicted on the car but when they were done, one of them, who also had a gun came and shouted, ‘shoot him!’ But the first man replied that people were watching and everyone would know that he killed me. Then, they continued hitting me with their gun and they stabbed me with broken bottles and I passed out. After regaining consciousness, I found myself in the hospital.”

 Investigation revealed that some concerned members of the community contacted men of the Nigerian Army 14 Brigade, Ohafia, who are currently providing internal security in Abia. The soldiers responded swiftly to the distress call. They stormed the traditional ruler’s palace in search of the people, who carried out the attack but could not make any arrest.
 The following day, one of those mentioned in the incident, a former officer in the state House of Assembly, went to the military base with a view to exonerating himself. He was allegedly interrogated by the soldiers and asked to provide names of all the people that took part in the attack. This led to the arrest of the prime suspect as well as one of Amanna’s cousins.
 But the ex-lawmaker has denied that the incident was a robbery attack, insisting that what happened was an ordinary fight between brothers.

 He told reporters: “This matter has a legal dimension and I would not want to disclose the actions that have been taken so far. I don’t know the source of your information at the moment but it is clear that armed robbery is done when guns and knives are used to dispossess people of their valuables. It is not when two groups of young men are fighting and one of them seized the opportunity in misinforming the army and the army acted on their information.

 “That is the much I can tell you. The rest is left for you to investigate and ascertain the truth of the matter. And on the activities of my brothers, you can visit the State Security Service (SSS) and the police in that area and ascertain the truth.”
 The Army Director of Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Lt. Olabisi Ayeni, confirmed that some arrests had been made, adding that investigation was ongoing. But spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, Geff Ogbonna, said he was not aware of the incident.

 Ayeni said: “The Brigade got a report on the 7th of April, 2012, and the Brigade General ordered an arrest of the culprits and some of them were arrested. As I speak with you now, investigation into the matter is ongoing. Operatives of the Military Intelligence have been sent to the scene to ascertain the truth.”

Massacre in Yobe: 60 killed as gunmen attack market, even cattle were not spared

 …Three brothers shot dead in Borno

•  Even cattle were not spared in the massacre in Potiskum, Yobe State, Wednesday
Potiskum, a commercial town in Yobe State, witnessed the bloodiest attack Wednesday when gunmen in a reprisal, stormed a popular cattle market and shot dead about 60 people. Scores of buyers and traders were also wounded. Boko Haram was yet to take responsibility for the attack even though the police said, “everybody knows the modus operandi of the Islamist sect.”

 There was pandemonium, in Borno State yesterday where three brothers were shot dead by soldiers. In the Potiskum incident, sources said business had started in the market in the early hours of the day without the slightest premonition of the tragedy ahead. By midday, some gunmen sneaked into the market and made fruitless attempts to shoot at the traders who are said to have a great deal of cash on them.

 “The market usually picks up between 11am and noon and it was around this time that some gunmen entered the market but people quickly stopped them. In fact, one of them was caught and set ablaze while the rest fled.“We thought everything was over until about 6.30pm when the gunmen returned in a deadly way,” an eyewitness in Potiskum, who would not want his name in print for security reason, told Daily Sun on phone.

 It was gathered that the gunmen returned to the market in a bloodiest manner to avenge the killing of their colleague. They were said to have been throwing improvised explosives into the market while they equally shoot those who attempted to flee. Officials of the Cattle Market Association in the Potiskum Market while briefing Gov Ibrahim Gaidam on the incident yesterday said that about 60 cattle traders, marketers and other persons were killed by the gunmen though the police maintained 34 people were killed. One of the rescue teams also confirmed that about 60 bodies were recovered from the scene of the attack.

 Sources at the Potiskum General Hospital said that about 15 injured persons were brought there on Wednesday night while some also were admitted in some private hospitals in the town. “The corpses were brought here and they are about 30”, one of the hospital staff disclosed. The state Commissioner of Police, Samuel Onitiri, confirmed the incident, but was not specific about the number of casuality.

 “There were multiple attacks and bomb blasts by suspected gunmen on the Potiskum Cattle Market on Wednesday evening, killing many traders. An unconfirmed number of traders were also injured in the attacks, after they were attacked by these robbers, who came to the market to rob them”, he said. A witness, Mamman Yusuf, said the gunfire lasted for almost an hour. According to him, “they threw explosives and shot indiscriminately, setting fire to the market, killing lots of livestock and wounding many people, mostly cattle dealers.”

 He said that the death toll may rise because families were also burying bodies of relatives without bringing them to hospital.
 Police Commissioner Onitiri said the market had already been cordoned off by the Joint Task Force (JTF).
 As at Press time yesterday, the otherwise burstling city of Potiskum reportedly wore a sickening look as residents grieved over the tragedy said to be the bloodiest in the history of the city.

 One resident said firefighters were at the scene on Thursday morning, searching for water wells out of fear that some residents might have fallen in and drowned while trying to flee. Residents crowded a local hospital to determine if their relatives were among the dead.“The whole market was burnt down,” a resident said. “Roasted remains of cattle litter the whole place. The ground had been scorched.

 Meanwhile, there was pandemonium at Biu, south of Maiduguri in Borno State yesterday following alleged killing of three brothers by soldiers. Some youths were said to have alleged that the three men arrested by soldiers were killed on the suspicion that they were Boko Haram members, but Daily Sun could not get official confirmation on the matter from the military in the area as at Press time.

Rihanna Parties With Strippers

Rihanna just wants to have fun and she wants you to know how much fun she's having.

The 24-year-old singer hit the strip club and she didn't hesitate to post racy photos of herself partying with some dancers on Tuesday night.

 "Best stress reliever = $tripper$. Kill it Tip it #Cake," Rihanna unabashedly tweeted to her 18.2 million followers. An hour later she posted a photo in which she's throwing money at a pair of women who are simulating oral sex.
 "#ROCstarshit my daddy would be proud," she wrote.

The "We Found Love" singer then posted another photo from her wild night, in which she's grinding with a dancer and holding her drink with her mouth so that she can count a wad of cash. "#RoleModelShit #NaviShit," she tweeted with the photo.

Beyoncé adds writing award to her star-studded resume

Beyoncé has sold millions of albums, won loads of music awards, starred in critically acclaimed movies, and is currently the holder of the prestigious "Most Beautiful Woman in the World" title -- and is about to become an award-winning journalist, too. The New York Association of Black Journalists will honor the 30-year-old for an Essence magazine article she wrote called, "Eat, Play, Love." The July 2011 piece focused on her (still totally cool and glamorous) life away from the limelight during her 2010 hiatus, proving the superstar is so talented she even wins awards when she's on vacation. She'll get the prize at a fancy ceremony on May 15.

Genevieve Nnaji happy birthday to U!

3 May 1979, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria

Genevieve Nnaji started her acting career as a child actress in the then-popular television soap opera "Ripples" at the age of 8. She was also featured in several commercials, some of which included Pronto beverage and Omo detergent. In 1998, at the age of 19, she made her debut in the growing Nigerian film industry with the movie "Most Wanted." As an upcoming actress, trying to create a niche for herself, she went through various minor roles seeking for that opportunity for a breakthrough.

The star actress turns 33 today. Wishing her many more successful years ahead!

co-CEO of Primetime Entertainment, Dayo 'D1' returns from surgery

The 47 year old top showbiz personality and co-CEO of Primetime Entertainment, was admitted at a specialist hospital in Victoria Island where he went through an appendicitis operation. He has since been discharged and recuperating well at home.

Woman sets co-wife ablaze in Ebonyi

TRAGEDY struck on Monday at Akpoha community in Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi State as a woman (names withheld) allegedly set her co-wife ablaze over marital acrimony.

The assailant whose name was identified as Ogeri, Vanguard learnt, has already been arrested by the police.

Explaining the reason for her action, the woman stated that she was surprised and angry to discover that her husband, after all she had contributed towards their livelihood, could have the conscience to bring in another woman into their matrimonial home as her co-wife.

It was gathered that the victim, who hails from Abomege in Onicha LGA of the state, was married on Sunday only to meet her death the next day.

Meanwhile, as a result of the ugly incident, the village had remained in a pensive state as members of the community, especially women, were seen at different spots discussing the incident.

An eyeswitness, who gave his name as Peter Imo, told Vanguard that the victim was set ablaze by her co-wife around 3.45pm on Monday when she was taking a nap in the afternoon.

He said nobody knew that she (first wife) had made plans on how to kill her co-wife, adding that when she noticed that her co-wife was sleeping on the fateful day, she quickly locked the doors and  windows of their apartment and set fire on the building.

He said: “So when we started seeing smoke and someone shouting for help from the building, we rushed and put out the fire from the building, then rescued the woman and took her to a nearby native doctor, only to discover that she was already dead.”

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebonyi State Police Command, ASP John Eluu, confirmed the incident, adding that both the first wife and her husband were being interrogated to ascertain the motive behind the killing of the victim.

1950s Hollywood leading lady Patricia Medina dies

The actress who became a leading lady of Hollywood films in the 1950s opposite Glenn Ford, Alan Ladd, Karl Malden and Fernando Lamas has died in Los Angeles. Patricia Medina was 92.

Her close friend, Meredith Silverbach, told the Los Angeles Times that Medina had been in declining health and that she died Saturday at Barlow Respiratory Hospital.

The British-born actress was the widow of actor Joseph Cotten. She arrived in Hollywood after World War II and signed with the MGM studios.

She had lead roles in "Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion" in 1950, "Sangaree" with Lamas in 1953, "Plunder of the Sun" with Ford in 1953, "Botany Bay" with Ladd in 1953 and "Phantom of the Rue Morgue" with Malden in 1954.

Medina wrote an autobiography, "Laid Back in Hollywood," in 1998.

This Treasure Hunter Says He Has Located Bin Laden’s Body

That smiling guy is Bill Warren, the Californian treasure hunter who claimed he was searching for Osama Bin Laden's dead body back in June 2011. He didn't find him then, but now he claims he has located the cadaver.

Talking to Spanish newspaper El Mundo, Warren says he has no doubt about where Osama is:

I've located where they threw him away. I'm the only one with this information. He's 200 miles to the west of the Indian city of Surat.

Warren—who claims he has discovered more than 200 shipwrecks during his career as a treasure-hunter—says that bin Laden's body is still at that same location, deep under water. His thought is that, since the Navy weighted down the bag, the body hasn't moved from where it was dropped. He is now trying to rent Russian deep diving equipment to locate his payload, and to conduct DNA tests once he finds him.

Source: gizmodo

Christian Onyenora, a driver found with N4m escapes

Christian Onyenora, the driver of a blue Honda Accord 2003 from which Federal Road Safety Corps recovered huge sums of money on Saturday, is presently on the run, police sources have said.

Onyenora was involved in an accident in the Badagry area of Lagos on Saturday. The FRSC, RS 2.11, Badagry Unit Command, on getting to the accident scene, recovered the sum of N4.09m.

Onyenora, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was taken to the Badagry Police Division by FRSC officials where the money recovered was handed over to the Divisional Crime Officer, identified simply as Mr. Oni, a superintendent of police.

Onyenora, who complained of body pains as a result of the accident, was taken to Badagry General Hospital for check-up.

According to reliable sources, the police had yet to begin investigations on the source of the money found in the car.

A senior policeman, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the driver was to be investigated for robbery.

The police were however shocked on Monday when on getting to the hospital to interrogate Onyenora, he was said to have fled.

Our source said, “When the driver was brought to the division, he was conscious but later started complaining that he was not feeling too well. So, we took him to the general hospital so that he could be checked in case he had internal bleeding.

“However, on Monday, when we got to the hospital, the medical staff told us that he had left the hospital. We were already suspecting him of robbery but we wanted to make sure he was in good health.

“He was probably pretending to be ill and had actually planned to escape all along. We have his picture and we have intensified the search.”

Lady Gaga, Taylor Kinney Split, Says Source

Lady Gaga recently hit the road -- and told beau Taylor Kinney to do the same!

The pop singer, 26, and the "Vampire Diaries" actor, 30, are now "on a break," a source tells Us Weekly exclusively. "She will be touring nonstop until next year and has found she can't have relationship at the same time."

The insider adds that the performer will have her hands full recording her next album while on the 110-show tour. "There's just no room for anything else. Her work is all-consuming."

Still, the couple of 10 months weren't exactly destined for the altar, says the friend. "Taylor was all about himself, a typical actor, and didn't completely get Gaga," says the friend.

And maybe she liked him for the wrong reasons. Says the pal, "She loved that she got this guy who everyone thought was hot! But it was never going to last."

Slain banker: Court refuses pictures as evidence

A Lagos High Court on Wednesday refused to admit as evidence photographs of the vehicle of alleged wife killer, Akolade Arowolo, due to legal technicalities.

While being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan; the ninth witness for the prosecution, Mr. Gift Ineche, a police inspector, told the court that he took the pictures of the crime scene.

Ineche, who is attached to the Forensic Photography Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, said he used an analogue camera to take pictures of the blood-stained vehicle of Akolade’s Honda Car at Aswani Police Division.

He said, “On June 28, 2011, Mr. Titus Ogbonna, a policeman at the SCID, asked me to accompany him to a crime scene.

“We went to the Aswani Police Division where the Divisional Crime Officer took us to see a Honda car parked on the premises.

“Inside the car there were blood stains on the steering, the driver seat, the gear; and by the turtle there was a blood-soaked N100 note. I took photos of the interior and exterior of the car.”

The pictures labelled ID4, ID5, ID6, ID7 and ID8, were shown to Ineche for identification purposes and were recognised by him.

Ogungbesan then sought to tender the pictures as evidence but Akolade’s lawyer, Mr. Olanrewaju Ajanaku, immediately objected to it on the grounds that since the pictures emanated from an analogue camera, the negatives ought to be tendered as the primary evidence.

Ajanaku prayed the court not to admit the pictures as evidence since the negatives were not made available to the court.

Justice Lateefah Okunnu said, “The law is settled that the camera in question is an old style camera. It is therefore the negatives that are primary evidence and no foundation has been laid.

“IDs 5-8 are therefore refused by the court.”

Ineche then proceeded to describe in detail the scene of the crime, that is, the couple’s apartment at 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo.

He said he took photographs of the couple’s home, which had blood stains in various parts of the house.

He said, “I took pictures of the kitchen door of the apartment, which had blood stains as well as the wall. In the basin, there was uncooked fish and meat which seem to have spoilt.

“I proceeded to the staircase which had blood stains and then the bedroom which was turned upside down as if it had been ransacked. There was a lump of flesh and I took pictures of it as well before it was recovered by the Investigating Police Officer.

“I was led to the balcony where I took pictures of the railings which had blood stains as well. I took shots of the entire building as well before leaving.”

Ineche said after the detectives left the crime scene, they proceeded to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital to see the corpse and also took pictures of Titilayo’s corpse in the presence of her family members.

Ogungbesan prayed the court to adjourn the case so that the prosecution could have enough time to produce the negatives in court.

“We don’t have the negatives in court this morning due to a slight mix-up. I have another witness but I want us to finish with Ineche before the next witness takes the stand. The negatives will be made available at the next date of adjournment,” she said.

Ajanaku however objected to Ogungbesan’s request, describing it as an attempt to undo what the court had finalised.

Okunnu described as sloppy the failure of the DPP to make the negatives available to the court but gave her the opportunity to redeem herself.

She said, “The prosecution was sloppy but since this is their first fault, I’ll give them the opportunity to bring the negatives to the court at the next date of adjournment

“The case is hereby adjourned till June 6 and 7 for further hearing.”

Akolade is in court for the alleged murder of his wife, Titilayo, an employee of Skye Bank, who was killed at their home on June 24, 2011.

Fulani herdsmen killing Berom women, children and men...Govt do something quick!

Five women who escorted a bride to her matrimonial home were among those who were killed by gunmen since the insurgence of Fulani herdsmen against the Berom tribe began about two weeks ago.

 This is even as Berom Youth Movement appealed to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to halt the gradual but steady elimination of Berom women, children and men by Fulani militant group. The group put the death toll at over 20.

 Information gathered revealed that at Gwa-Rim village of Riyom district, six women had escorted the bride to her matrimonial home on Tuesday to arrange her wares in her new home.

 Just as they were carrying out the arrangement, one of them left the room to answer the call of nature when she began to hear the sound of gunshots. Thereafter she saw some men with the guns going into the house. The gunmen killed other women arranging the bridal wares in the house.

 As at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the bride could not be ascertained. Reacting to the attack, the National President of the Berom Youth Movement, Mr. Francis Jamang, said: “Our peaceful and accommodating nature should not be seen as cowardice as no one person has the monopoly of aggression. Therefore, we shall resist any attempt by disgruntled elements that terrorize us.”

Governor Peter Obi vowed to quit political position

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has vowed not to contest any political position again on completion of his second tenure. Speaking at the Governor’s Lodge during a dinner organized in honour of Committee of Directors of the State Civil Service, which toured some completed and ongoing projects by his administration, he said, what he was doing by laying good foundation for the state was not for any campaign.

 He said, “I’m not doing what I’m doing today as a campaign strategy because, I have said I will not aspire for anything again after eight years in office as Anambra governor. I’m not doing it to seek glory because I have got all I want from God.
 “The history of Nigeria will not be written without a page being devoted to my contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.”

 The governor stated that, based on the foundation he has been laying; Anambra would be the best state in Nigeria in 20 years time. He noted that his efforts and rapport with the presidency had attracted foreign investors to the state, resulting in the decision of the second largest brewers in the world, SABmiller, to establish a factory in Onitsha,.

 The factory which is one of the three being put up in Onitsha industrial area, he said, would employ an initial 350 people, with 60 per cent coming from Anambra State, as mutually agreed while the other two would employ about the same number.

How 400 newspaper vendors, agencies, The Sun staff escaped death in Kaduna bomb blast

The suspect who allegelly drove into the The Sun premises

If the Thursday suicide bomber that hit the Kaduna offices of The Sun, Thisday and The Moment newspapers had succeeded, over 400 newspapers vendors, agents as well as staff of the media houses would have perished. According to the Secretary of Kaduna Newspapers distributors Association, Joseph Anebi, it was on that day that over 400 of his members, including the street vendors usually  made payment to the newspapers organizations for the supply received.
 Anebi said if the bomb had exploded by the bomber’s initial plan, all his members would have been trapped and killed in the incident, adding that it would have been more devastating because the central business area of the newspapers distributions was directly behind the scene of the incident.

 However, he said one of his members whom he simply gave the name as Daddy was injured in the blast, and that he was receiving treatment at the 44 Army Reference hospital, Kaduna. “We are appealing to both the Federal and State Governments to beef up security to avert future occurrence since the target of the bombers is now media houses and we are part of the media organizations workers either directly or indirectly.” Anebi said.

Pastor & General Overseer of a ministry in Eket, Akwa-Ibom is our leader - Deadly gang of armed robbers says

A suspected evil pastor who allegedly doubled as the ring leader of a deadly gang of armed robbers has been nabbed. Pastor and General Overseer of a ministry in Eket, Akwa-Ibom, one pastor Eze was arrested by the operatives of Ondo State Police Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) who trailed him to Eket, Akwa-Ibom after being exposed by members of his gang.

 The deadly four-man gang that specialized in snatching of high profile cars and Sports Utility Vehicles(SUV) according to police sources had been terrorizing residents of Akure, Ondo State capital, and Ilesha in Osun State before they met their waterloo. The 41-year old pastor popularly known as Chairman was said to be the sole receiver of the cars snatched from innocent people and disposed them off in Akwa-Ibom.

 It was gathered that whenever Pastor Eze and his gang went for operation he would stay in an hotel while the four gang members would be carrying out their nefarious activities  of snatching cars on the road . When the car has been snatched it would be taken to the Pastor in the hotel. The Pastor would drive the stolen car to Akwa Ibom where it would be sold . One of such stolen vehicle was said to have been sold for N2.5million

 On March 6, 2012, Pastor Eze and his gang stormed Akure. He lodged in an hotel as usual and his gang members double-crossed  a woman, one Mrs Olubunmi who was driving an  SUV along FUTA Road  and snatched her car. The car was taken away and when information got to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), it swung into action  and got one of the gang members arrested in Akure and he confessed that one Pastor Eze  who was their gang leader always sold the snatched cars at Akwa Ibom State.”

 Nanakumu explained that the policemen had to travel to Eket in Akwa Ibom State and arrested the said Pastor who happened to be the General Overseer (GO) of a church which has a large congregation in Akwa Ibom. He was arrested with charms, ritual  rings and Bible in his house. Pastor Eze, according to the Ondo CP confessed right in Akwa Ibom that he is the leader of the gang of armed robbers and the receiver of snatched cars and that he used to sell them at Akwa  Ibom State. CP Nanakumu said that the policemen arrested the four members of the robbery gang and that they confessed their operations in several states.

Meet MI’s new squad

Few years after rising to the pinnacle of Nigerian Hip-Hop music, foremost Chocolate City rapper, MI, is hoping to replicate his success formula on the rock group Threadstone from his home city Jos.

Still maintaining an executive position in Chocolate City, the multiple award winning rapper is now peddling an on-the-side music imprint, Loopy Music, on which he has signed on this rock trio, Threadstone.

Meet the new boys in the video below.

Still kicking at 65! KSA rocks Lagos Shift stage

Like the old saying goes, ‘a leopard never changes its spots’, veteran Juju music singer King Sunny Ade.

Held a crowd of different generation spell bound as he took to the stage of the Lagos Shift initiative on Mayday.

The Sixty-five year old Grammy Award nominee, defied his age as he made a meal of his brief stint he had on the stage and even reprising his trademark dance step.

D’banj speaks on Good Music and new name...

Former Mo Hits star Dapo “D’banj” Oyebanjo was recently in London and decided to visit the Choice FM studio to hang out with popular presenter Max.

He opens up on his post Mo Hits venture and his new name with the delectable radio presenter, who takes her time to pick on the Nigerian music icon’s use of the word “kokolette”.

Spotting a new “jesus piece” handed to him by the CEO of Good Music, Kanye West, D’banj gives a hint on his new partners to the  british-accentuated presenter and endorses her remix of his hit song  Oliver Twist

Genevieve to starr in Chimamanda Adichie’s movie...

Top Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji has been selected to feature in the big screen adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel “Half of a Yellow Sun”.

Genevieve will be joined by other stars such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dominic Cooper, Anika Noni Rose and Thandie Newton in the eagerly anticipated film.

According to her publicist, the actress cum singer will play the role of Ms Adebayo, a professor who develops a flirtatious relationship with her colleague Mr Odenigbo (Ejiofor).

Half of a Yellow Sun will be produced by  British Academy of Film and Television Arts, BAFTA, winning producer, Andrea Calderwood and directed by Biyi Bandele.

Chimamanda’s half of a yellow sun novel centers on the Nigerian civil war and was published in 2006.

David Beckham celebrates his 37th birthday

Treating themselves to an evening of sport, David Beckham and Victoria Beckham were spotted at the Los Angeles Lakers basketball game at Staples Center last night (May 1).

The English soccer stud and his beautiful wife were joined by David’s mother and sister as they watched the game from their primo court side seats - with the night coming as an early birthday celebration for David, who turns 37-years-old today (May 2).

And when it came time for the Kiss Cam, Posh and Becks were singled out and ended up sharing a sweet smooch as the 20,000-person crowd cheered them on.

Of course, David and Victoria both looked super hot, with Mr. Becks sporting a black t-shirt, khakis and tattooed arms, while Mrs. Becks rocked a black jacket and jeans.

Two weeks ago, it was Victoria's birthday. She turned 38 on April 17 and marked the occasion at a family lunch with David and their 10-month-old daughter Harper at lunch at Matsuhisa.

Official Video Beef - MI

Official Video off MI's second album titled MI2...

Norwegian 26year old, world champion swimmer found dead in bathroom

One of the London Olympic Games medal favourites, Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen, has died of a suspected cardiac arrest while training with the Norwegian national team in Arizona USA.

 The 26 year old, who was the defending world champion in the 100 breaststroke, was found dead in his bathroom last night Monday April 30th. The country's swimming federation said he was found sprawled on the bathtub. Teammates became worried when repeated knocks on the door went unanswered. A team doctor performed CPR before an ambulance arrived, but the young swimmer was never resuscitated and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

 At 26, Dale Oen was already the greatest swimmer in Norwegian history. He won the nation's first swimming medal in Beijing. So sad. May his soul rest in peace!

Omobaba Tweets: God saved my life; My car got burnt...

The top comedian lost his car in a fire accident around the Maryland area of Lagos yesterday. He said what happened was a mystery to him as the car had not developed any fault prior to the fire incident. According to him, while driving, they noticed the car battery was malfunctioning, they came out to check it out and in less than two minutes, the car was on fire!

We will soon attack PUNCH, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord - Boko Haram

“The second group we will also attack soon are PUNCH, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord”

The Islamic fundamentalist sect, Boko Haram, has threatened to attack PUNCH and six newspapers, all based in the South. The sect issued the threats in an 18-minute video posted on Youtube.

The sect did not cite the region where the media houses are located as a reason for the threats. However, the media houses listed for attacks are based in the South while those given warnings are based in the North.

The video message also contains a live coverage of the bombing of the Abuja office of ThisDay newspaper on Thursday by the sect.

The full transcript of the video is below.

“This is a message from the public awareness department of the Jamatu Ahlis sunnah lil daawati wal jihad, a group engaged in jihad in Nigeria.

“We wish to explain about the attack we carried out on ThisDay newspapers. Some of the reasons why we decided to attack some media houses, especially ThisDay, is because the paper was used in dishonouring our prophet, Mohammad (SAW), during a beauty pageant in Kaduna in November 2002.

“At that time, some people who called themselves leaders of Muslims came out to say they had forgiven those who committed the offence.

“But based on our knowledge, we know that no one has the power to forgive anyone for an offence that God himself has given judgment, especially on an offence that has to do with dishonouring Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“No one has the power to forgive this type of offence, and the judgment is for such persons to be killed.

“This lady that committed this crime, the judgment on her is to be killed at any opportunity; and the media house is also supposed to be driven out of existence whenever there is a chance to do so.

“We are just getting the opportunity to attack the media house, and we are hoping to continue these attacks until we drive them out of existence.

“It is our hope that Allah (SWT) will help his religion.

“We know that any genuine Muslim must have been deeply touched by the Thisday incident.

“ThisDay newspaper is also leading in helping the government in fighting us, alongside other media houses that we will mention soon.

“Some of the offences of ThisDay and other media outlets include: firstly, during the botched attempt to rescue some kidnapped foreign nationals in Sokoto; these media houses asked us if we have anything to do with the kidnap and we said we have nothing to do with it, yet these media houses reported that we were responsible for the incident, that was a lie against us.

“Secondly, when we sent a video of our leader, Abubakar Shekau, the media houses reported things that our leader did not say, such as that in response to the president’s threat to finish us in three months, we have also threatened to finish the government in three months. But the truth is, nowhere in the video did our leader say what they attributed to him.

“Thirdly, on the purported arrest of Abu Qaqa by the SSS, we have come out to tell them that the person arrested was not Abu Qaqa,yet the media continue to portray us as liars, and even said that our leader had ordered for Abu Qaqa II to be executed, and we are now searching for Abu Qaqa III.

“Recently too, they came out with another lie that one Mohammed Awwal Kontagora was the Abu Qaqa II that was executed, and that even his parents confirmed it, that was just a big lie to convince the world.

“The media also said that we have killed the father of Abu Darda, so as to pass a message to him, because he had leaked our secrets after his arrest by security agencies, and they wanted him to know that he is one of our targets.

“These are all lies, and they are many.

“These media houses have committed a lot of offences that are detrimental to Islam, and we don’t have the power to forgive them. We will take revenge on them by God’s grace, some of these media houses have been categorised into three groups.

“The first group is the likes of ThisDay whose offences are big.

“The second group we will also attack soon are Punch, Daily Sun, Vanguard, Guardian, Nation, Tribune, and National Accord, which are all newspaper houses.

“There is also VOA Hausa radio. All these media houses we will attack them including their staff and offices, by God’s grace.

“VOA Hausa for instance has recently started campaigning for people to support the government against us by exposing us.

“The next group that are on the verge of joining this list who if they are not careful we will attack very soon include, Leadership, Daily Trust, Peoples Daily and RFI(Radio France international).

“There is an online medium known as Saharareporters who have their office in New York, and who have made their site as a platform for attack against Islam. So we are warning them to stop making their site an avenue for attacking Islam, otherwise we will find a way of attacking them too.

“We resorted to using this medium to send our message instead of the normal tele-conference because of the fear by journalists; which made them refuse to conduct the conference.

“We are grateful to God for the success recorded on the attack on Thisday, and we hope to continue such attacks.

“Finally, the government has now resorted to arresting our wives and children and also demolishing our houses, like they did in Biu recently, that is why we have also resolved to start attacking government schools, especially, tertiary ones.

“We promise to demolish 500 buildings for any one of our houses that the government destroys. We have already started with Gombe and Kano.”

Global ban hits six players - FIFA

FIFA has extended the two-year suspensions for six players implicated in fixing matches in Finland to apply worldwide.

FIFA says the players were initially banned from “taking part in any football-related activity’’ through to April 5, 2013, by the Finland Football Federation last month.

They are Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Steven Kunda, Christopher Musonda, Chanda Mwaba and Nchimunya Mweetwa.

The Zambian players with the RoPS team from Rovaniemi were implicated in a match-fixing scandal that led to a criminal trial last year.

Man arrested for paying with real $50

Tennessee police are apologizing after arresting a man for using a $50 bill they thought was fake but that turned out to be real.

Police in Shelbyville thought the bill was counterfeit after a convenience store clerk called them. The clerk said a marker used to detect false money didn't show the bill was real.

The Shelbyville Times-Gazette (http://bit.ly/JL6mJx) reported Officer Brock Horner arrested Lorenzo Gaspar on Friday.

But a police evidence technician told the arresting officer that some old bills don't react to the markers. So police gave the money to two banks to check, and they said it was real but just very old.

Gaspar was released from jail and police apologized to him.

Naomi Campbell signs on to new modeling reality show

Naomi Campbell is throwing her hat into the reality TV ring.

The occasionally temperamental supermodel has signed on to serve as one of the coaches on Oxygen's upcoming unscripted offering "The Face."

The series, which comes as part of Oxygen's push to boost its original programming by 50 percent, will feature three supermodel coaches leading and mentoring their teams of aspiring models through the ins and outs of the modeling world.

"Throughout the series, the supermodel coaches will mentor these young hopefuls through the tricks of the trade while exposing them to the very best photographers, stylists and designers in the fashion world," Oxygen said of the series.

The winning contestant of the series will receive a contract to model for a major national brand.

Check out msnNOW: The social trends people are talking about

The show's other coaches, as well as the brand that the contestants will be vying to represent, will be announced at a later date.

"The Face" will be produced by Shine America, the people behind such reality fare as "The Biggest Loser," "Tabatha Takes Over," "Shear Genius" and "The Buried Life."

"I am looking forward to working in partnership with Oxygen and Shine America to discover the next beautiful face of the modeling world," Campbell said of the series. "With 'The Face' the audience will get a real insider's look at this exciting industry that has been so good to me."

12 arrested for tweeting rape victim's name

Twelve people have been arrested for allegedly tweeting the name of a woman who was raped by British soccer star Ched Evans.

The tweets on micro-blogging site Twitter were posted after Evans, 23, was jailed last month following his conviction for the rape of a 19-year-old woman in May 2011. He was sentenced to five years, although his attorney say he plans to appeal the conviction.

In Britain, rape and sexual assault victims "are legally entitled to anonymity for life," notes British newspaper The Guardian, and identifying such a victim "in a publication or program" is considered a criminal offense punishable by a fine of around $8,000.

In the United States, news organizations voluntarily do not use the names of victims of sexual assault, but there is no law prohibiting it.

The tweeting arrests are distressing, says the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital civil liberties organization.

"Obviously, it's deplorable and digusting that people were tweeting the name of the rape victim, but that doesn't mean people should be going to jail for, what, at least in the U.S. would be considered free speech," said Trevor Timm of the EFF, in an interview with msnbc.com.

"One of the problems with arresting people for saying things like this is it can end up backfiring," he said."Now this is an international story. Instead of ignoring the people who were mentioning the victim's name, now other news organizations are broadcasting where people can go and find this information, and it ends up turning into a situation where more people are going to know her name than if it was just ignored."

Particularly in the world of the Internet, this is known as the "Streisand effect," where an attempt to hide or remove information "ends up completely backfiring and publicizing the information more," Timm said.

"I think they would have been better off not doing anything than arresting people for what should be protected speech."

Some of those arrested have been released on bail. But more people could wind up in custody.

"We continue to be proactive in this investigation and anticipate that further arrests will be made in the near future," police detective sergeant Bob Halford told The Guardian.

Avery, my little angel is gone...

Imagine you've been diagnosed with an incurable genetic disease and you are told you will not only lose your ability to walk and move your arms, but you will die between now and the next 18 months. What would you do? My name is Avery Lynn Canahuati, I'm almost 5 months old, and this has become my reality. But before I die, there's a few things I'd like to accomplish...this is my bucket list and my story. SHARE IT & HELP ME TELL THE WORLD ABOUT SMA!

A Texas baby born with an incurable disease whose parents created an online "bucket list" for their daughter that became an Internet sensation has died, her father said on Tuesday.

Michael Canahuati said in a blog posting that five-and-a-half-month-old Avery died on Monday afternoon after going into cardiac arrest. The little girl was born in November with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disorder that doctors predicted would kill her before she turned 2.

"Avery's passing this quickly came as a complete shock to all of us, as she had just been given a thumbs up at her last doctors appointment only three days ago," Canahuati wrote on Tuesday.

He made the announcement on the website -- http://www.averycan.blogspot.com/ -- where over the past month he and his wife have been posting fanciful light-hearted blogs written as if penned by Avery herself.

Among the postings was a so-called "bucket list" of things Avery hoped to do before she died. The list included a number of goals -- to swim with dolphins, to get a manicure and pedicure and a tattoo -- that expressed an optimism the little girl would prove the doctors wrong and live a long, rich life.

Avery did many of the things mentioned on the list including moving her legs, tasting solid foods and visiting relatives.

The "Baby Avery" blogs have attracted more than 3 million page views since April, when they first began being posted, according to a counter on the website.

Senators, prominent Nigerians condole with The Sun

Many prominent Nigerians have continued to condemn the recent bombing of media outfits in the country. Below are some of the comments; “The news of the bombing of the premises of Newspaper Houses especially The Sun and Thisday is extremely distressing and marks a new low in the terrorist invasion of Nigeria.

 It should be clear to all now-Greek or Jew that Nigeria is at war. My worry is that we seem to be handling the aggression with kid gloves and branding it mere skirmishes. I am asking that we need to mobilize the entire security arsenal to stop the Boko Haram before people resort to self help.
 –Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa (OFR))

“I condemn it. It is clear that the activities of this terrorist are intended to over awe the Federal Government, intimidate all voices of reason and cow the freeexpression of diverse views by the Nigerian people.
 I have continually held that negotiating with terrorists is not an option that works. I was among those who opposed the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta and I want to be on record as re stating that negotiating with those who carry arms against the society will only encourage more crimes against the society. We must create avenues to attend to the legitimate grievance of our citizens without their recourse to violence. Boko Haram should renounce violence and seek then path of peace or face the wrath of all men of goodwill.’’
 –Senator Magnus Abe
 
 “It is unfortunate for such incidences and hope the Media will not be deter by these in the discharge of its responsibility to the people.  We pray to Allah (swt) to touch the heart of all and call on Government at all levels to find solution to the situation.’’
 –Dr. Isa A.  Muhammad Wade
 Commissioner for Higher Education, Gombe State
 
 “It is a sad and unfortunate development and extremely misguided. How do you explain that newspapers that continue to give undue and underserved publicity to the terrorist that the same people would turn around to do this to them. We console those who have lost loved ones and pray government to intensify efforts to find the killers.’’
 –Amb. Joe Keshi
 CEO BRACED Commission

 “The security situation is now completely out of hand that the time has come for fundamental reform of security policy to stop this descent to anarchy. I can only add my condolence to all whose families lost loved ones in this mayhem.’’
 –Olisa Agbakoba
 Former NBA President
  “It is getting more out of any known form of armed agitation, to be bombing without boundary of enemies and supporters. It is even worse, when we can not determine their target, as both Muslims and Christians have been fatal victims of this madness.
  –Nwaka Ogbonnaya Inem
 Immediate Past President ACIU, Lagos

 “The bombing of the newspaper houses in Abuja and Kaduna is despicable, unwarranted and condemnable. The media represents the last line of defence and the bastion of democracy. Any assault on the media is therefore a brutal and frontal assault on democracy and first line denigration of society.
 –Mike Chukwu
 Former CEO Spring Bank PLC
 
 “The action is condemnable in all its’ ramification like Mike Mudock wrote, ‘the seed of progress grow best in the soil of peace’. The press should rather be commended for their role in the emergence of democracy, strong resistance against the military dictatorship. President Jonathan’s vision towards transforming Nigeria is legendary. He is a listening and humble leader committed to the common good of all Nigerians.
 Please, let all join the transformation train’’.
 –Abudl Ibrahim Fatai
 Abuja based Human Right Activist
 
  “The bombing of Thisday and The Sun Newspaper office was a dastardly and most despicable act. It is clear that the perpetrators of this wickedly acts have no regard for God. These acts betray intense hatred for our dear country and must be condemned in the strongest terms’’.
 –Prof. Chinedu Nebo
 
  “The bombing of The Sun and Thisday newspapers in Kaduna and Abuja is a declaration of war against the bastion of freedom of expression by a ragtag army of nihilists. I believe that the terror campaign against Nigeria and Nigerians should be depoliticized. We have to discover the courage, urgency and strategic acumen to completely defeat terrorist of every kind to keep alive the dream of a great Nigeria of freedom and prosperity.’’
 –Dr. Sam Amadi
 CEO NERC
 
  “The unwarranted bombing of the newspaper houses of Thisday and The Sun is a barbaric and satanic action that portends grave danger for the guardians of the nation’s conscience and indeed the entire polity. All Nigerians should condemn this persistent security threat in the strongest possible language while the federal government must convince the nation that the war against terror must be won sooner than later.’’
 –Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa
 SSG Abia State
 
 “ASUU received with shock, disbelief and sadness the recent bombing of The Sun and Thisday newspapers offices in Abuja and Kaduna, the Union joins other well meaning and patriotic Nigerians in condemning this act of terrorism an unwarranted attack on these media houses and by extension the Nigerian media. it is our belief that whatever is the motivation or grievances the perpetrators of these dastardly act may have. It is our belief that their approach is totally unacceptable. While we call on government to rise and confront the challenges of insecurity in our country. They must address with it the issues of corruption, poverty and joblessness.
 We hearty convey our sympathy and condolence to the management and staff of those Media houses, members of Nigerian Union of Journalists and to the families who lost their beloved ones in that sad and unfortunate incident’’.
 –Prof. O. U. Awuzie
 ASUU President
 
  “The various acts of terror are unacceptable threats to national security. The alarming rate and the bombing of The Sun and Thisday Newspapers are desperate efforts by terrorists to silence Nigerians and overrun the nation. All arms of Government and patriots must wake up to protect lives and properties and save the nation’’.

–Prof. Tunde Adeniran

Three commercial banks was robbed in Ondo, 7 killed.

It was a night of terror in Ikare-Akoko, Ondo State as seven people were killed while others sustained serious injuries when a gang of armed bandits attacked three commercial banks in the town. The robbery incident, which took place on Monday night caused pandemonium as the robbers first attacked the police station in the town before they struck at the banks.

 The daredevil robbers, numbering about 30, who were carrying out the robbery operations simultaneously, blew off the security doors of the three banks with explosive devices believed to be dynamites. They were about gaining entrance into the banks when men of the anti robbery squad engaged them in a gun duel. It was gathered that the battle lasted for over an hour and the police were said to have called for reinforcement from Owo police area command.

 Investigation revealed that the robbers shot indiscriminately with stray bullets hitting some residents .
 At the end, seven people were feared dead while several people sustained injuries. The robbers, it was learnt, destroyed the personnel armored carrier of the police, set one of the banks ablaze and destroyed the security barriers of another bank before the arrival of the police reinforcement from Owo.

 It was also gathered that a security guard in one of the banks identified simply as David was said to have been hit by bullets and died on the spot while a pastor, who was going for a vigil was among the seven killed during the attack. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Adeniran Aremu explained that those killed were hit by the bullets of the robbers, because they came out of their homes when they heard gunshots. The police spokesman said more policemen had been deployed in the town while efforts had commenced to track down the fleeing robbers.
 When the reinforcement arrived, the police outgunned the bandits, who fled the scene of the attack while the police were said to have given them a hot chase.

 It was gathered that the driver of the APC was said to have sustained serious injury during the encounter with the robbers and was said to be receiving treatment .
 In a related development a group of armed robbers had earlier on same Monday night laid siege on Akure/Owo highway dispossessing travelers their valuables before they were dislodged by armed policemen, who engaged them in a gun battle during which two were killed .

16-yr girl raped to death in Odume area of Obosi...SAD!

Residents of Odume area of Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, woke up yesterday morning bewildered over the raping to death of a 16-year-old girl living in the area. The deceased whose name was not immediately known was found lying naked in a cassava farm. The girl, was said to have earlier been sexually abused by a neighbour who was now serving a prison term for the crime.

 Our source said the 16-year-old girl was living with her parents in an uncompleted building in the area before the family was given a notice to quit the premises. Sources said following the quit notice, the parents of the deceased packed out of the place two days before the incident, leaving the girl to join them later. The source stated that in the morning of yesterday the body of the girl was seen lying in the cassava farm, naked.

 The incident attracted neighbours and passersby, including officials of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, who alerted the police. The police, it was gathered, removed the corpse.
 Meanwhile, the corpse of the deceased girl has been taken to the mortuary while the police are carrying out investigation to unravel those behind the act.

 Contacted, the Divisional Police Officer for Awada, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ugwu, confirmed the incident and said the state Police Command was already carrying out investigation to find out those behind the crime.
 The Police Public Relations Officer for Anambra State, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka also confirmed the incident, adding that effort was already on top gear to find out those who committed the heinous crime.