Saturday 9 March 2013

Photos-Genevieve,Omotola,Karen & others @the AMVCA Awards pre-party

These are some photos from the Africa Magic Viewer’s Choice Awards Pre-Awards party held last night at the conference centre of Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. The actual awards is taking place tonight

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday removed embattled former head of the presidential task force on pension reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina; nearly a month after a senate’s resolution urged the president to act.
The Senate had asked the president to fire Mr. Maina and order his prosecution for his alleged role in a N195 billion pension fraud. The lawmakers also accused Mr. Maina, an assistant director in the ministry of interior, of snubbing its repeated summons.
In a statement on Friday, the Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Office, CIPPO, said Mr. Maina was removed as the Director of CIPPO.
Mr. Maina, who headed the office, will be replaced by Olabisi Jaji, while Elizabeth Zenetimi, will serve as the deputy director. The directive took effect March 4, the statement said.
Mrs. Jaji was the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics in the Federal Ministry of Environment, while Mrs. Zenetimi, worked as a former Deputy Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
The president had earlier ordered the Head of Civil Service of the federation, Isa Sali, to sanction Mr. Maina.
Friday’s decision closed one chapter of a controversy that raged for months between the senate and Mr. Maina. But the government has yet to respond to the call for Mr. Maina’s prosecution.

I won’t tolerate killing of security agents anymore –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday warned that his administration would no longer tolerate wilful killing of security operatives in any part of the country.

He also vowed not to withdraw soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force deployed in troubled parts of the country until normalcy returns to the affected areas.

Jonathan spoke at a town hall meeting in Maiduguri as he concluded his working visit to Borno State, which has remained the centre of activities of members of the fundamental Islamic sect, Boko Haram, that have been responsible for bombings in northern part of the country.

Karl Dunkley

Shirt maker and owner of Grosvenor Shirts Limited, Karl Dunkley, was recently awarded the Royal Warrant by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. This makes him the Queen’s official tailor. In this interview with JULIET BUMAH, he talks about his art

What’s the process of shirt making at Grosvenor?

We start with a range of classic shirts but increasingly we become more uptown, more interesting and more unique. We first of all start about a year ahead with designing of the clothes. Then we make a whole range of a collection – very limited edition. So there would only be 10 to 12 shirts designed for only one store and potentially they could be the only 12 in the world because they could just be uniquely made for that store.

How long have you been in this business?

I have always been in the clothing industry; I started working at Harrods when I was 16 and I worked my way through different things before ending up in the clothing business.

How did you break into the Nigerian fashion industry?

Nigeria came about because of my factory in the UK. We have our own boutique in Mayfair, just off New Bond Street. Before then, we were in Selfridges, we always had a lot of Nigerian customers. I think the shirts are more appreciated by Nigerians than other nationals.

Atlanta ’96 gold medallist Garba Lawal says Nigerians have yet to see the best of the Chelsea duo of Mikel Obi and Victor Moses.

The former international, who hailed the winning performances of the players at the South Africa 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, believes they could explode to a higher standing at future competitions.

Lawal, a versatile player in his heyday, urged the Eagles to take every match of their Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers seriously, saying bagging a ticket to play at the championship could present Mikel and Moses as well as other players who distinguished themselves in South Africa an opportunity to showcase their talents.

The Peoples Democratic Party has begun desperate moves to prevent governors elected on its platform as well as its members from carrying out their threat to defect to the newly formed All Progressives Congress.

This follows indications that no fewer than 12 PDP governors as well as many of the party’s members in the national and state assemblies and its 36 state chapters were being wooed by APC chieftains.

Some of the governors had told PDP leaders last week that they would leave the fold in protest at the disdain which President Goodluck Jonathan and the party leadership had shown for them.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the PDP had moved to stop a mass defection by embarking on a sudden reconciliation drive, to stop estranged members from defecting to the APC.

The three major political parties that merged to form the APC are the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change.

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, is also involved in APC.

The panic within the ruling party was responsible for the hurried formation of the PDP Governors Forum, which came few days after the opposition governors announced the formation of the Progressive Governors Forum.

Unarguably one of the most anticipated awards in Nollywood in recent times, the AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) holds today, Saturday, March 9, 2013 in Lagos.

Though in its maiden edition, the awards, going by the feelers around, may finally be the Africa's Oscar Awards many have been waiting for as it is in Hollywood.

What seems to make this awards special might be the 'Africa Magic' in it. It is a known fact that the DSTV's Africa Magic channel is dedicated to Nollywood movies, a favourite station of most housewives and movie lovers who are addicted to Nigerian films.

Also, the idea of the viewers being the decider of the awards' winner might also make it special, making it a truly 'viewers' choice awards'.

Later today, the event would be beamed live to viewers as heavyweights in Nollywood step out to grace the occasion. What are your expectations?

Babcock University Undergraduate Set To Launch TV Station

Eneanya Chukwuemeka Nnamdi is a 400l Babcock

University Student and CEO Pen Point Review

Media.

 
The 21 year old entrepreneur is set to unveil

his television Station called CMS9ja TV.

He revealed this in a recent interview with

Solid Fm and Neptune Magazine.
 
According to Chukwuemeka, There are a lot of

Nigerians in different parts of the world who

desire their Nations Entertainment TV and

the Nigerian Entertainment industry is One

that is interesting and fun.

The Television Station will be launched in

 April 2013 in Lagos,Nigeria.

Pregnant British mum Karen McMartin was shocked to see the face of her baby on her pregnant belly. It looked like the baby was trying to break out of her tummy. Karen discovered the print on her tummy when she was just 25-weeks pregnant. Karen explained to The Sun how she discovered it.

“I was in the staff room on a break. We were actually having a laugh at my belly button sticking out and checking for baby movement. Then Karen who owns the salon came in and said, ‘Oh my God, I can see a face.’ She took a picture and we’ve been showing it to folk ever since.”

Looks like a face to me but doctors say it's an illusion we are looking at and not the face of Karen's unborn child.

On if she has ever fought over a man: I have never fought over any man. Men are just too many. I cannot fight over any man. Why will a girl fight me over a man? The kind of men I have dated (they are not many though) don’t have eyes for other women when they are with me. If you are in a relationship with me, you are really in a relationship with me. There will be nothing like another girl by the side. I have never been in such situation.

Who will be next Pope?—Cardinals likely to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. Top row from left: Argentine Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio; Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera; Brazilian Joao Braz de Aviz; Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle; Ghanaian Peter Turkson. Bottom row from left: Italian Angelo Scola; Canadian Marc Ouellet; Nigerian Francis Arinze; Nigerian John Onaiyekan, and USA’s Timothy Dolan. AFP PHOTO.

AS Catholic cardinals begin the process to elect a new Pope who will succeed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a sex abuse victims’ network has named a “Dirty Dozen” of cardinals who are contenders for the role of next pope.
The list, compiled by Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) and based on each individual’s actions and statements re-child abuse and a Church cover-up in the church, includes some frontrunners for the position.
The cardinals on the list have not responded to it. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said: “It is not up to SNAP to decide who comes to conclave and who is chosen.” SNAP’s executive director, David Clohessy, said the group had focused on candidates who had the best chances of being nominated pope.

Governor Akpabio Splashes Prado SUV On 2Face, Annie; Promises 30-Man Team For Dubai Wedding
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State has given the newly married celebrity couple, 2Face Idibia and Annie Macaulay a wedding gift.
The governor, who was present at the pre-wedding party held in honour of the couple on Thursday in the state, gave a Prado SUV gift to them on their traditional wedding held yesterday.
He also promised to send a 30-man delegate to Dubai for an exclusive white wedding to be held later in the month for the couple.
The governor has not hidden his affection for 2Face Idibia and his wife, Annie Macaulay, who hails from Akwa-Ibom.
The couple’s wedding is presently one of the most talk about weddings in town.

Establish proof on 83% oil blocs, ACF tells FG

Apparently miffed by alleged half truths and outright falsehood following revelations on the floor of the Senate that northerners own 83 percent of oil blocs in the country, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday urged the Federal Government to institute a commission of enquiry to establish the veracity or otherwise of such allegations.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mr Anthony Sani.
The Senate heard on Wednesday that contrary to the principles of Federal Character, the majority of the oil blocs in the country, even as President Godluck Jonathan was asked to revoke the licences and re-award all the blocs already allocated to Nigerians in an equitable manner.However, sources said that majority of northerners were infuriated over the allegations in the Senate, as according to them, there were more Southerners whose names were not mentioned as among owners of oil blocs.

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday swore in the first female Attorney General (AG) since the creation of the state in 1976. She is Barrister Mrs Abimbola Ibironke Akeredolu.The Governor also swore in Barrister Mrs Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi as Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony attended by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mrs Olatokunbo Olopade and immediate past Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wemimo Ogunde (SAN), at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, Amosun recalled that this was the first time the entire top echelons of the justice system in the state would be manned by women.
He told the two women to see their inauguration on “the day the world is celebrating International Women’s Day” as a call to service.
”We must ensure that the confidence reposed in us by the electorate is not misplaced,” he said.
The state helmsman praised the immediate past AG, noting that “he worked diligently well.”
The Oath of Allegiance, Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy were administered on the new officials by 9.15am.
The new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, was born in 1964 and secured degrees and certificates at the University of Lagos as well as institutions in France and Italy.
Her appointment brings the number of women in the Cabinet of Ogun State to 12, thus making the state the most gender-friendly in the country.
Mrs Patricia Funmilola Oduniyi graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1983 and was until now the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice.

Govt should help Nigerians build cheap houses –Ogunniran

Managing Director, UACN Property Development Company Plc, Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, tells Udeme Ekwere what government can do to provide affordable properties

In your opinion, do you believe that there can be affordable housing for all in Nigeria?
Well I would say that in countries where they have been successful in affordable housing, there have been critical drivers of their success. The first thing is that such governments have created the right environment for affordable housing. Creating the right environment involves easing the process of acquiring the size of land that you can use for affordable housing, and creating a separate window for players to network. It is a network of participants; governments, banks, development institutions and others. As it is here, as a developer, if I have to buy land from the open market, I have to apply for approval in the other manner, I have to source funds from the bank to do my development, I have to pay all that I need to pay, and that will make it impossible to deliver houses at prices which are affordable. So, what government needs to do is to create the right environment, understand that there is no affordable housing in the social context, and put in a social context and create that window.
In Chad, interestingly, it is a Nigerian company that is working with the government to provide affordable housing. The government of Chad provided land for the company and the funds that it required from multinational institutions were guaranteed by the government of Chad. They also created the right environment. And so for it to be affordable housing, as a developer, government must understand that you must be interested in both the demand and supply. So, if you ask me to come and build, you have to create an avenue for me to sell those products. Affordable housing means that the total costs that goes to housing, that is rent, electricity and others on a monthly basis, is not more than 30-35 per cent of a household’s gross domestic income for the month.

Nigerian Idol 3 Eviction Party for Amara & Joe Emmal

Etisalat hosted the second set of evictees from the Top 10 contestants, Friday night (1st March), at POP Club on Saka Tinubu in Victoria Island.

The evictees, Amara and Joe Emmal, spent their final hours on NI3 with fun and laughter.
Surprisingly, Immaculate Victoria, who was evicted a week earlier, showed up to party with the evictees & contestants.

As reported by Sunnewsonline.com

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

From top left, lady with Rita Dominic, Genevieve Nnaji, Susan Peters, Fathia Balogun, Uru Eke and Chika Ike.

World football governing body FIFA has written to the Nigeria Football Federation over reports that lesbians had been banned from playing football in the National Women’s League.
A FIFA spokesman confirmed the letter but emphasised it was a preliminary inquiry,Reuters says.
Media reports have widely quoted Nigeria Women’s Football League boss, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, as saying lesbian players would not be allowed to compete.
It is a tricky issue for FIFA, however, because homosexuality is illegal under Nigerian law.
The Nigeria’s National Assembly recently passed a bill prohibiting same-sex marriage, and it only needs the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to become law in the country.

A GRANDSON of the late Sir Louis Ojukwu, founder of Ojukwu Transport Limited (OTL), Lotanna Ojukwu, has countered the prayers of Chief Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the purported first son of the late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who is seeking the leave of court to enforce his fundamental human rights as a member of the family.
Lotanna, in a 22-paragraph affidavit deposed to before a Federal High Court in Lagos stated that Debe was never a grandson of Sir Lious Ojukwu. “The applicant, to the best of my knowledge, as well as to the Ojukwu family, is not and has never been a grandchild of the late Sir L.P.O. Ojukwu”, he swore, stressing that all the respondents did know him as a son of Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

A 28 year old father Steven Deuman Jr has been sentenced to 2 life terms in prison for causing the death of his 3 months old daughter while he was oral raping her. In August 2011, Deuman's infant daughter, Evelynne Deuman, was found dead with a condom in her mouth. Deuman said he had stepped outside to smoke only to return and find their daughter on the floor bleeding from the nose, unconscious and not breathing with the discarded condom in her mouth.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the federal government to fully implement report of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN) Justice Muhammad Uwais’ Electoral Reform Committee.
Atiku stressed that Nigeria should be among the countries that would record one of the best electoral process in Africa and the world by the year 2015.
The former VP stated this in Abuja yesterday at the book presentation in honour of the former CJN. He also emphasised that the Uwais’ Committee report remains the most comprehensive one, which if implemented, could improve significantly Nigeria’s electoral system.
He therefore urged the National Assembly to take advantage of the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution to inculcate those recommendations of Uwais’ report that could strengthen our electoral system.
Atiku also said that both members of the National assembly and officials of Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) present at the book presentation should take it upon them as a challenge in ensuring that they make Uwais’ report an issue of national importance.

It Is Better For APC To Contest Against Jonathan – Masari

Following the recent high court ruling upholding the eligibility of President Jonathan to contest election in 2015, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Bello Masari, has said that it is better for APC to contest against President Goodluck Jonathan than anyone else
The former speak who spoke with Leadership pointed out that it will be easier for APC to contest against President Jonathan than any other candidate as President Jonathan has no achievement to show in his six years in office.

Taken from a social networking site ...

Terrible things are happening all over the place. Last week, a man who pretended to be a Mad man was caught around Lomalinda Estate, Independence Layout Enugu near the Brick house Estate Refuse Bin, picking used Sanitary Pads.

Initially, young guys around there thought he was actually mad but one of the guys said the guy had hung around too long near the refuse bin and so he got suspicious.

The guys kept on drinking and gisting amongst themselves and the so-called mad man laid down and started sleeping.
...
Around 9:30pm when the shops started closing for the day, the man woke from his evil sleep and went over the refuse bin and started picking used sanitary pads again.

The guy who had earlier on suspected that the mad man was there for some funny mission went over to see why the mad man had suddenly become very active and lo and behold, he had already picked up a bag-ful and was filling the second bag. The guys gathered around and beat him black and blue until he confessed that a politician asked him to get them and pays N400k for a bag.

When he was searched, he had a Blackberry phone on him. He managed to escape being lynched by the young men. So please Guys, kindly advise your wives, sisters, girlfriends, relations and loved ones to always BURN their USED Sanitary Pads before disposing. Evil people are all over the place......

Source: Alabamauncut

Thursday 7 March 2013

"Pray For Me To Get Up And Walk With My Legs" - Lanre Teriba

Famous Gospel musician Lanre Teriba also known as 'Atorise' was robbed and shot after a concert he performed in South Africa on the 15th of Feb, 2013. Since the accident Lanre has been receiving treatments at Steve Biko hospital in Pretoria, South Africa and has been confined to a wheelchair.

The singer recently said

"The doctors have put me on wheelchair for now. Steve Biko hospital in Pretoria South Africa. I don't want to send the pictures because I don't want to remain on the seat. I just want people to pray for me to get up and walk with my legs."

May the good Lord heal you Lanre.

Source

Maina insists on N1.5bn compensation for ‘psychological trauma’

Abdulrasheed Maina

The embattled former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, has pressed his case before a Federal High Court, Abuja, to order the Senate and the Inspector General of Police to pay him N1.5bn as compensation for the “trauma and psychological pain” they allegedly caused him and his family.

Maina, who is reportedly on the run, had dragged the Senate, the Senate President, the Clerk of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, the Senate Committee State and Local Government Administration, the Inspector General of Police, Senator Aloysius Etuk (The Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service), and Senator Kabiru Gaya (of Senate Committee on State and Local Government Administration), before the Abuja FHC presided by Justice Adamu Bello to enforce his fundamental human rights and also set aside the warrant of arrest issued against him by the Senate on February 2, 2013.

ACN Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed

Action Congress of Nigeria has described as “uncouth, uncharitable and insulting to Nigerians,” Presidency’s reaction to last week’s visit of the All Progressive Congress governors to Borno State.

The ACN wondered when it became an offence for Nigerians to visit any other part of their country.

In a statement on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Presidency’s reaction could only be “likened to the antics of a punch-drunk boxer who, having been knocked out by his opponent, suddenly got up and started punching the referee whom he mistook for the guy, who knocked him out”.

Army uncovers bomb-making factory in Kaduna, arrests nine

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said it had uncovered a bomb-making factory at Sabon-Birni, Kawo in Kaduna State.

Curiously, the factory is just a few meters away from the Kaduna Army headquarters, which was bombed last year by suspected Boko Haram members.

The Army said it arrested nine persons, including five children in connection with the bomb-making factory.

Addressing reporters at the Headquarters of the One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, on Wednesday, its Internal Security Commander, Brig.-Gen Tagbo Ude, said the building housing the factory belonged to a former All Nigerian Peoples Party Chairmanship aspirant in the Federal Capital Territory, Husseni Dei Dei.

Ude, who said officers of the division uncovered the factory following a tip-off, also confirmed that the house, where the factory is located, was just some few meters away from the Division headquarters.

Emulate Chavez, NLC urges Nigerian leaders

Nigeria Labour Congress has urged Nigerian leaders and others in Third World countries to emulate the late Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chavez, who the congress said exploited the resources of his country to promote the interest of the people.

President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar, urged leaders in the country to defend the interest of the people rather than big business and Western interests.

Omar, whose comments were contained in a statement on Wednesday, said Chavez would be missed by millions of Venezuelans who benefitted from his populists progammes and their friends all over the world who admired his policies.

Minister of State for Power, Mrs. Zainab Kuchi

Indications emerged on Wednesday that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria had abandoned four helicopters worth millions of dollars at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the German-made Bolkow 105 helicopters had not flown in the last one year following internal disagreements among some key PHCN officials on how they should be run.

The helicopters are used for surveillance of PHCN installations across the country, including detection of faults arising from bad or disjointed cables, especially in remote locations that are difficult to access by road.

Further findings revealed that the helicopters were being maintained for PHCN by Pan African Airlines, which is based at theLagos airport.

Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi

The International Olympic Committee has sent the gold medal won by Nigeria’s 4×400 metres relay quartet at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games following the disqualification for doping violation of Team USA squad, the original winners.

The IOC letter covering the dispatch of the medal and signed by the IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge was addressed to the Nigeria Olympic Committee.

It reads, “I am pleased to send you this Olympic Gold for Mr Enefiok Udo-Obong, who was part of your men’s 4x400m now placed first in the athletics men’s 4×400 metres relay event at the Games of the XXV11 Olympiad, Sydney 2000.

A copy of letter, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, was silent on the medals for the other members of the team.

Nigerian striker Victor Moses did not make the trip to Bucharest for Thursday’s Europa League clash with Steaua Bucharest as expected. The Super Eagles attacker and Brazilian Ramires were left behind as the others boarded the flight to Bulgaria on Wednesday.

It was learnt that Rafa Benitez chose to rest the pair ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Striker Demba Ba also missed the trip but in his own case he is cup-tied after playing for Newcastle in the competition before crossing over to Chelsea.

Interim manager Benitez has placed high premium on the FA Cup as that is one of the two trophies still available to the English club. Chelsea set unenviable record this season as the first defending champions to drop out at the group stage. Having lost out of the Premier League chase, the FA Cup is the only domestic trophy still within reach.

The African Nations Cup star rallied his team mates last week to work harder after they defeated Middlesbrough 2-0 to book a date with United.

Northerners hold 83 per cent of oil blocks – Senator

Senator Ita Enang

AMID a raging debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Ita Enang, on Wednesday, said that 83 per cent of oil blocks in the country are owned by Northerners.

“There should be equity and federal character in the allocation of oil blocks in this country. Eighty-three per cent of all present oil blocks are held by northerners,” Enang said on the floor of the Senate, without any of the senior lawmakers contradicting him.

Enang, representing Akwa Ibom North-East (Uyo) Senatorial District, therefore demanded a review of oil block licences in the country even as other senators from the South urged him on.

Today is the birthday of veteran Nigerian actor, Pete Edochie. He was born March 7, 1947 in Enugu (Nigeria). He had his primary and secondary school education in northern Nigeria. He joined the Eastern Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in 1967, and he would work as a broadcaster until he retired in 1988.
Pete Edochie is one of the most respected and accomplished Nigerian actors. Blessed with a deep voice and commanding presence, he is one of Africa’s most formidable actors. He shot into prominence when he took the lead role in the NTA TV series, Things Fall Apart (1987). After retiring from broadcasting he went fully into acting, and he has featured in over 200 movies, some of which are Throne of the Gods, My Beloved Son, Secret Pain, Passage of Kings, Return of the Princess, and Egg of Life.

Source

Wednesday 6 March 2013

I’ve Not Experienced Sexual Harassment In Nollywood -Benita Nzeribe

Benita Nzeribe, a Nollywood star actress can be described as one of the luckiest actresses in the country, having started as a teenager in the industry in the late 90s. And at the age of 28, she became a veteran.
The Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State-born actress who just got a multi-million naira deal as the Ambassador and Face of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), has appeared in many movies. Without mincing words; she is a talented actress based on her blockbuster performance in a TV drama series “Beyond Our Dreams” and several other hit movies.
The Nollywood star actress, despite her shyness is a reporter’s delight any day. The beautiful and sexy actress spoke with showbiz last week after signing the multi-million naira deal that confirmed her global rating as one of the emerging stars in Nollywood.

When did you join the industry?
I have always been there. Remember, I started early. I became a star as a teenager, and I grew up in the industry.

The crisis that has characterized the leadership and unity of the national ruling party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), is really eating deep into the party structure and may adversely affect the performance of the party come 2015.
The recent moves by some governors sponsored to remove the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi as Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, to elect the governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio using the platform of PDP as the umbrella of its own body, have really not helped the situation.
As we learnt, that move was initiated by the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who has been very uncomfortable with the leadership style of Amaechi. Amaechi has been alleged by the presidency to have been using the NGF platform to threaten the president’s position each time there was a decision taken on behalf of the party.
It is on note that President Jonathan is nursing the ambition to return to office in 2015. At the same time, Amaechi is being speculated to be nursing a secret ambition of vice-president seat to a northern governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido of Jigawa State.
Meanwhile, putting in mind the capacity of the presidency to win battles in its favour, Governor Amaechi was said not to be taking chances, as he is said to be currently aligning himself with other aggrieved party chiefs and governors who are opposed to Jonathan’s second term bid, to spring a surprise in the war of his political life.

Source

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

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

Okikijesu Olawuyi: the baby born without a skull

The incredible people at Global Initiative for Peace Love and Care (GIPLC) an NGO based in Abuja with a strong bias for orphans and vulnerable children are doing a great job and I wanted to shared something phenomenal they did recently - the case of Okikijesu Olawuyi.

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

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

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he would use the last drop of his blood to defend the unity and progress of Nigeria.

This came as President Goodluck Jonathan described Obasanjo as “a true nationalist and promoter of national unity.”
Obasanjo spoke during his 76th birthday celebration, at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The birthday celebration also featured a public presentation of a book titled “Olusegun Obasanjo- the Presidential Legacy-1999-2003.”
Obasanjo said: “Even if it remains the last breadth in me, I will work, preserve and promote the unity and progress of Nigeria, work for Africa development and indeed promote humanity.

Reps move to criminalise late, non-payment of salaries

A new bill before the House of Representatives has proposed stiff penalties for employers of labour in both the public and private sectors who fail to pay or delay the payment of workers’ salaries.

The bill passed second reading on Tuesday, getting the support of the majority of lawmakers at a session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.

It also proposes that underpayment of workers’ wages; pension and emolument will attract sanctions.

According to the sponsor of the bill and House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the penalties will include the loss of 10 to 20 per cent of the value of the delayed salary.

He explained that after a salary delay of one week, the employer would begin to lose percentages of the salary, which would be added to the employee’s pay.

The Shell Petroleum Development Company has declared force majeure on the Bonny Light off take programme effective Tuesday following the shutdown of the Nembe Creek Trunkline after a leak was observed on Sunday.

The cause of the leak would be determined by a joint investigation visit, which would be scheduled once the leak point had been excavated, the firm said in a statement on Tuesday.

SPDC said it was mobilising a team to repair the line after the investigation. Thereafter, the NCTL will reopen for operations.

According to Shell, there has been a recent upsurge in crude theft activities on the NCTL, resulting in frequent production shutdowns and massive oil spills blighting the environment.

“Between February 22 and 25, 12 flow stations producing into the pipeline were shut down by safety systems three times due to oil theft. The leak on Sunday occurred directly on the NCTL and necessitated its immediate shutdown for repairs,” Shell added.

Source

Accounting for assets seized by EFCC

The House of Representatives, last Thursday, took on an issue that has been agitating the minds of many Nigerians when it instituted a probe of the status of all assets seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from persons either accused of, or convicted, for corruption. The Lower Legislative Chamber, sequel to a motion sponsored by Hon. Toby Okechukwu and 15 others, mandated its Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes to investigate the state of the assets seized through various court orders by the anti-graft agency since its inception, and report back to it.

Pope’s election: Fake Cardinal storms Vatican

A fake bishop managed to hoodwink senior cardinals gathered at the Vatican to discuss arrangements for the election of the next Pope. German-born Ralph Napierski was pictured with senior clerics as they arrived for the start of the College of Cardinals meeting which Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor was also attending.
Mr Napierski was seen shaking hands with unsuspecting Cardinal Sergio Sebiastiana outside the Vatican’s Pope Paul VI hall, with several other priests in his entourage who were also thought to be bogus. Alert Swiss Guards rumbled him because his vestments were wrong and because they noticed his purple sash was really a scarf and he was also wearing an odd-looking fedora hat. The other giveaways were the shortness of his black cassock and the crucifix around his neck on a short chain.

Saturday 9 March 2013

Friday 8 March 2013

Thursday 7 March 2013

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he would use the last drop of his blood to defend the unity and progress of Nigeria.