Happy Birthday to Star Actress Monalisa Chinda

Nollywood light-skinned actress, Monalisa Chinda is today, Thursday, September 13, 2012 a year older. The delectable actress and movie producer, who is also a Glo ambassador, is no doubt a big fish in the motion pictures water. She hails from Ikwerre tribe in Rivers State same as Tonto Dikeh. The divorced single mother is the first child from her family six comprising two sons and four
daughters. Monalisa is a graduate of Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. In 2011, she was made the Face of Port Harcourt - Carnival Queen.

Here's wishing her many happy returns of the day, cheers!!!

2Face Twitter Account Verified, Joins Omotola, D’Banj, Genevieve, Others

One of Africa’s finest stars, Innocent Idibia better known as 2Face has finally joined the few Nigerians that have their account with popular social networking site, Twitter verified.
The twitter handle of this Africa Queen crooner ‘@2faceidibia’ now carries the ‘blue mark’ sign associated with accounts with verified users.
2Face has now joined the likes of D’Banj, Ice Prince, Dencia, Asa, Omotola, Genevieve and few others. Before now, many have wondered why the over 200,000 twitter followers’ music icon has not been verified on the micro-blogging site until now.

NYSC inspectors extort money from corps members – DG

Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia, has alleged that some of the inspectors of the scheme extort money from corps members.

Okore-Affia blamed the development for acts of indiscipline among corps members.

The NYSC chief stated this at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Inspectors Development Programme organised for inspectors in the South at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu, Ogun State on Wednesday.

Okore-Affia, who was represented at the event by the Director, Corps Welfare and Inspection, Mr. Emmanuel Obi, also said many of the inspectors had performed poorly.

One year old boy shot by armed robbers needs your help

 

One year old Taiwo Lawal (pictured above) was one of those shot by armed robbers during the GTBank robbery that took place on Sunday September 9th in Gbagada, Lagos. Taiwo, a twin, was hit in the head by a stray bullet as the robbers exchanged gun fire with police. He was playing in his father's compound when he was hit.

Taiwo is receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and needs N500, 000 for treatment. If there's anyone out there who would like to help him, below is the account to make your donations.

His Aunt's Account details: Lawal Mariam Oyenike. GTBank. Acct no: 2087293311590. You can call Taiwo's dad - 08028416683 or his aunt - 08121118895. God bless you all.

Nigeria offers to help Zimbabwe conduct fair elections

Nigeria, the butt of international derision for successive poor national elections, until the 2011 polls, has offered to assist Zimbabwe, to conduct free and fair election.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday made the offer when the Zimbabwean Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Thokozani Kitupe, visited him at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said Nigeria was ready to support Zimbabwe through training of its electoral officers by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to him, Nigeria will continue to support sister African countries in entrenching democratic values for the general progress of the continent.
Sambo informed the deputy prime minister of the steps being taken to transform Nigeria in the areas of reducing maternal mortality, power supply, transportation, education, agriculture and women’s access to finance.
He congratulated the Global Women Power Network for the initiative to bring women from the executive, legislature, judiciary and civil society organisations together to fight for their rights.
He stated that in pursuit of the 35 per cent affirmative action in Nigeria, the  President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration had promoted the rights of women in government and other spheres of human endeavour.
Earlier, Kitupe briefed Sambo on the formation of a network for women, known as the Global Power Network for Women.

Jonathan returns to Nigeria ahead of schedule

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday evening returned to Abuja from his two-nation state visit to Malawi and Bostwana. He returned 24 hours ahead of his scheduled Wednesday arrival date.
His arrival ahead of schedule further increased the speculation over the state of health of his wife, Patience, who is believed to be undergoing treatment in a German hospital.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, had in a statement on Saturday said the President would return to Abuja on Wednesday after his state visits to the two countries.
Online reports had it that while in the middle of a luncheon in  Gaborone, Bostwana, the President received a message which allegedly changed his countenance and forced him to leave the country.
The reports further insinuated that he left some members of his delegation behind in Bostwana and might have headed to Germany to see his ailing wife. But our correspondent confirmed that Jonathan returned to Nigeria on Tuesday evening with members of his delegation.
Our correspondent spoke with Abati on telephone but while making enquiry on the President’s alleged sudden arrival, the line went off. The presidential spokesman did not pick subsequent calls made to his mobile telephone.
Culled: Punchng

Buhari: PDP must be stopped in 2015

Former Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of making Nigeria difficult to stabilise because of what he calls its penchant for rigging elections.
The 2011 presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) vowed to join forces with other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015.
Speaking with our correspondent in an interview in his Kaduna home, Gen, Buhari said opposition parties’ merger plans were on course so that they could defeat the PDP in 2015.

PDP rules out automatic ticket for Jonathan, govs in 2015

THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has ruled out automatic tickets for President Goodluck Jonathan and the governors elected on the platform of the party in 2015.

In a statement issued by the PDP National Publicity Secretary yesterday in Abuja, Olisa Metuh, the party said it had been inundated with telephone calls following a speculation by some newspapers that PDP was reworking its constitution to accommodate automatic tickets for Jonathan and some of its governors.
The party described the publications as strange, adding that the claims that PDP was undergoing another process of constitutional amendment to guarantee automatic tickets to some incumbent office holders for second terms were untrue.
Metuh said: “The authors of this alien idea insinuated that we want to model our internal nomination process after the practice in the United States of America.
‘’We have received several calls from concerned party members for clarifications following this misleading publications.

Nigeria’s insecurity will soon be over, says Police IG

Nigeria’s head of police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, said in Kano on Tuesday  that the security challenges in some parts of the country would  soon be over.
Abubakar made the statement  when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano State, which experienced multiple attacks on 20 January from militants of the Boko Haram sect.
“The issue of security challenges will soon be a forgotten issue as the force will continue to do everything possible to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the country,’’ he said.
He said commercial activities had started picking up in Kano and gave an assurance that the Police Command in Kano State would continue to do its best to ensure security of lives and property.
“From the look of things, peace and stability is gradually returning to Kano State, the security situation is improving and the situation is appreciating to normalcy.
“We are now putting additional measures to ensure that Kano State remains calm and secured,” he said

Ogun’ll not borrow to pay salaries – Amosun

Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has said his administration will not resort to borrowing in order to clear the arrears of salaries owed by the  previous administration.
The governor said this on Tuesday while addressing  the non-academic staff of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu.
The TASCE workers were protesting against   non-payment of their  10-month   salary between 2009 and 2010, non-inauguration of  the Governing Council of the institution and non-implementation of the new minimum wage.
Speaking through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, Amosun  lamented the plight of the workers,  promising  to pay the salary arrears when the finances of the state improve.
He  said, “So many workers from virtually all the sectors were owed by the previous government and we have begun piecemeal payment of those arrears. Even a worse case was the pensioners that were owed for 29 months. But we have started paying these people within the limit of the resources available to us.
“You have laboured for the state and you deserve to be paid. But we will not deceive you that we will pay you the arrears tomorrow.”
Source

Adenuga’s GCON well deserved – Presidency

THE Federal Government yesterday defended the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON honour on the Chairman, Conoil, Chief Mike Adenuga, describing it as well deserving. Addressing newsmen, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said there was the need to divorce the action of Adenuga’s company from his personal achievements.
Okupe who noted that he stands as one of the greatest employers of labour in Nigeria today, said Chief Adenuga has done a great deal for the country through his numerous business concerns which employ thousands of Nigerians.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, also disclosed that Nigeria now expects power generation  to hit about 7,000Mw by December with the increased availability of gas to power the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPP, in the country.
He also said the nation’s external reserves will soon hit $50 billion, stressing that at present, it stands at about $39billion which according to him was enough to guarantee three months of imports without fears. Okupe said that with the present reserves, it will strengthen the Naira, stabilize the economy as well tame demands on income.

The Tonto Dike you don’t know

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike may strike many as a magnet for controversy, but a stroll into her world reveals there’s more to her than controversies, tattoos, cigarettes, twitter fights and drama.

Here’s the Tonto Dike you do not know:

Born on June 9th, 1985, Dike is now a force to reckon with in Nollywood, the Nigerian movie industry. With an increasing number of Nollywood movies to her credit, she has gradually acquired a large fan base among Nollywood movie fans, both in Africa and in other parts of the world such as the United States, where these movies are exceedingly popular. The light skinned, beautiful and talented Tonto has her determination and her God to thank for her break into the limelight.

Growing up without her mum, Tonto was confined to the parental care of her father and later on, her stepmother, in a family of nine. At a tender age, she gained admiration for notable Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Al Pacino, and said to herself, ‘I can do this.‘

Her description of Julia Roberts: ‘Lighthearted and serious-minded, brave in the face of any movie role that comes her way…. I see a lot of Julia Roberts in myself.‘ The journey to acting had its rough patches, the most threatening being her admission into University to study engineering. She says, ‘Deep within my heart, I cried, thinking I would never achieve my dreams.‘ She had embraced the idea of the incompatibility between higher education and acting.

However, she decided to take on both activities with enough passion to keep her going till the end, a decision that worked in her favour. Tonto is a graduate of petrochemical engineering from the University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Nigeria.

Teco Benson and Peace Anyiam Osigwe to get National honours

Popular Nollywood movie director, Teco Benson and founder of Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Peace Anyiam Osigwe, have been pencilled to receive National honours come Monday, September, 17, 2012.

The two notable Nollywood executives will be honoured and decorated by the President, Goodluck Jonathan along with 147 other Nigerians who have made positive impacts in their chosen fields.

Benson, who has for long been a popular movie director will be given the MFR title, same with Anyiam Osigwe, the AMAA boss.

With this development, the duo will join the growing list of Nigerian entertainers who have at different times been given national honours including Stephanie Okereke, Olu Jacobs, Genevieve Nnaji and a host of others.

Other Nigerians to be honoured include Tony Elumelu, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, Mike Adenuga  and many others

Here is the full list of honorees.

DR. MIKE ADENUGA, CON (GCON)

HON. JUSTICE MAHMUD MOHAMMED (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE WALTER S. NKANU ONNOGHEN (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE SULEIMAN GALADIMA (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE BODE RHODES-VIVOUR (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE NWALI SYLVESTER NGWUTA (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE MARY UKAEGO ODILI (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE ANDREWS OTUTU OBASEKI (RTD) (CFR)
HON. JUSTICE KAYODE ESO (RTD) (CFR)
M. D. ABUBAKAR IGP (CFR)
BRIG. GENERAL MOBOLAJI JOHNSON (CFR)
CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION, CON (CFR)
RT. HON. GABRIEL SUSWAM (CON)
DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN (CON)
CHIEF MARTIN ELECHI (CON)

Patience to return before September ending

Patience Jonathan is expected back in the country before the end of September ahead of Nigeria’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

Patience is said to be hospitalised at the Horst Schmidt Klinik in Wiesbaden, Germany.

While a section of the media said she underwent surgery for appendicitis, some others said she was being treated for food poisoning.

Amidst the conflicting reports however, her media aides insisted that she only travelled abroad to rest after the stress involved in the hosting of the African First Ladies’ Conference in Abuja.

They also insisted last week that they did not know when the President’s wife would return to Nigeria.

Her media aide, Ayo Osinlu, had told our correspondent. “She is not a regular public office holder who has a specific duration for vacation. Assuming that she has a specific duration for vacation, then we could have said the vacation will end on a particular day and she will return on a particular day.

“But as it is, she can decide to return anytime she feels she has rested enough.”

But investigation by our correspondent on Sunday showed that Patience would come back to the country before the grand finale of activities marking the celebration of this year’s Independence anniversary on October 1.

A source in the Office of the First Lady said the ailing wife of the President had a role to play in one of the programmes outlined for the celebration and had expressed her desire to personally play the role.

“It is only when madam does not return to Nigeria to personally handle the activity allotted to her office in the independence programme that you can now say that indeed, there is something wrong,” she said.

Source 

Holy Slap: Igbinedion Drags Bishop Oyedepo To Appeal Court

Robert Igbinedion, the lawyer suing on behalf of the teenage girl humiliated with a dirty slap by Bishop Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church in a video which gained worldwide publicity, has filed an appeal challenging the judgement which gave victory to the wealthy Bishop in an Ogun State High Court two months ago. The appeal (Suit No: MT/73/2012) stated that the trial Judge, Mobolaji Ojo placed unnecessary and undue reliance on technicalities of the case to the detriment of the suit.
Mr. Igbinedion said that the judge erred in law by concluding that a better affidavit, which he filed to replace the former one after a preliminary objection was raised by the respondent, contained fresh issues.
The appeal faulted the grounds on which the judgement was held. The appeal stated that plaintiff lawyer did not necessarily need to prove his presence during the particular service or show the date or time since he had already presented video evidence that the incident actually took place. Igbinedion also said he did not necessarily need to present the victim, whom he represented as ‘Miss Justice’ in the suit, before pursuing the case.

Nollywood actress in court over alleged illicit affairs on location

Mr. Micheal Suaib wants Agege Grade A Customary Court  to  dissolve his marriage to Nancy, a Nollywood actress, for not being submissive, flirting and other irreconcilable differences.
Micheal, who lives at  4, Moses Eleya Street new Oko  Oba, informed the court that he got married to his wife 19 years ago in accordance with native and custom of the land.
The 52-year-old man also said that despite the fact their union is blessed with three children, there’s no more reason for the respondent in the case  to be his wife because she has demonstrated that she’s no longer interested in the marriage.
The petitioner  said  Nancy has been going in and out of her matrimonial home, adding that he started suspecting his wife of flirting when he got to know that she was nowhere to be found on location.
He claimed that the first time the wife moved out, he threatened to sue  for divorce, but, according to him, Nancy has confessed to  having illicit affairs on location.
“When l discovered that her wardrobe was empty, l knew that she was planning to move out of my home”.
Michael also said he pleaded to her to let them drop bitterness after they had a scuffle and think of the welfare of their children but she refused. He therefore urged the court to dissolve the marriage and grant him custody of the children.
Suaib was not in court to defend the allegations against her. Court  president  Emmanuel Shokunle adjourned the case till september 12, 2012.

Source

Cossy Orjiakor - "I am a born again Anglican"

"Prayer is a personal thing with God. I tell God what is on my mind. All have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. I go to church you know; I am a born again Anglican."

"I have bad press publicity about the kind of clothes I wear and all that. There was a time I attended this old school party and I dressed the old school way. The press then wrote that this is how Cossy is, she is looking ugly, and maybe she was on cocaine and all that. How could I go to an old school party looking new school? That day, I even had nice Brazillian weave-on on and I had to weave it any how so that I will look old school. I think they just like talking about me." She said.

Hehehehehehe this one na real born wuruwuru lolzzzz

Timaya Flaunts 3-Month-Old Daughter (Photo)

A few days back Timaya posted a picture of his three months old daughter on twitter.

Timaya tweeted, "My daughter is growing so fast. Love her too much." in May 2012, Timaya announced on Twitter the arrival of his first child (daughter). He was reported to have disclosed that marriage was not in his agenda.

Olympic Gold Medalist Chioma Ajunwa Gives Birth to Triplets

After waiting for many years, God has answered Nigeria's first ever Olympic Gold Medalist Chioma Ajunwa's prayers. The 41 year old former athlete turned police DPO gave birth to triplets September 3rd 2012. She gave birth to two boys and a girl, all in great health. Big congrats to her and her husband.

Air Nigeria passengers stranded for hours in London, asked to contribute for fuel

Over 190 Air Nigeria passengers who arrived the Gatwick Airport on Friday morning were stranded in London for about eight hours and had to contribute for fuel before they could be airlifted to Nigeria.
It was reported that the stranded passengers were asked to contribute extra £40 each to buy fuel for the aircraft.
It was learnt the plane eventually left Gatwick airport at 4:30 a.m and arrived Nigeria at about 12:30 today.
The passengers were reportedly asked to come back for their luggage as the plane arrived without them.
Air Nigeria has said that it will no longer fly from Monday 10th of September.

Source

Adenuga, 148 others to get national honours

Globacom Limited Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, has joined the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among personalities to be conferred with the award of Grand Commander of the Niger.

GCON is usually bestowed on the country’s Vice-President.
But last year, Dangote made history when he was conferred with the award.
A statement on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary (Special Duties Office) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. Henry Akpan, said 149 Nigerians would be conferred with this national honours on September 17.
He said, “The Office  of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties Office, have concluded preparations for the conferment of National Honours Award on 149 Nigerians and others.
“President Goodluck Jonathan will conduct the 2012 National Honours Award Investiture of deserving Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.”
Among the recipients are six Supreme Court Justices (CFR); the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar (CFR); Gabriel Igbinedion (CFR), former Managing Director of UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu (CON); and former Acting Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Kawu Baraje (CON).
Also, two retired Supreme Court Justices, Kayode Eso and Andrew Obaseki, will be conferred with CFR.
Others are governors Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta) and Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), who will be conferred with CON.
Seven serving senators, including Victor Ndoma-Egba, Abdul Ahmed Ningi and Ayogu Eze will also be conferred with CON.
Others are Wole Olanipekun (OFR), former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (retd.) (CFR); Cletus Ibeto (CON), Benin-based lawyer, Omoruyi Omonuwa (OFR), Alex Izinyon (OFR), Labour Party Chairman, Dan Nwuanyanwu (OFR) and an artiste, Teco Benson (MFR).
The recipients also include the General Overseer of TREM, Bishop Mike Okonkwo (MFR), Osemawe of Ondo, Obama Victor Kiladejo (MFR) and film director, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe (MFR).

Source

Security: Mark Charges The Armed Forces To Upgrade

As the country continues to grapple with security challenges, President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has charged the leadership of the Nigerian military to intensify their efforts in the training of its personnel, upgrading  equipment, institutions,  improve research and development in tandem with global development of military capability.
Mark gave the charge after he was conferred with honorary Doctorate Degree  of Political Science by his Alma mater, the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna at the weekend.
Also honoured at the ceremony, were President of the Republic of Liberia Mrs. Ellen Sirleaf Johnson who was awarded Doctorate Degree  of Management Science and former CommonWealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku who received honourary Doctorate Degree of Letters.
Mark, who graduated from the NDA in 1969/70 and belonged to the 3rd Regular Course, also reminded the Armed Forces of its sacred duty of holding in trust for the Nigerian People the military might and the ultimate defender of its territorial integrity as well as independence against all adversaries.
Senator Mark noted that the nation was passing through security challenges  but pointed out, ” these challenges are indeed not insurmountable if we collectively come together to confront it. It could be seen as a passing phase in the nation’s tortuous journey to achieving an enduring democracy.
“We recognize the fact that the armed forces have played significant role in maintaining peace and order in the present dispensation and must be encouraged to do more by way of capacity building and upgrading its equipment and materials”.
To the graduates, he enjoined them to enlist in pioneering the new push at rebranding the Nigerian Armed Forces as a modern corps adding ” you must always see your responsibility as an honour to fatherland and endeavor to lay solid foundation upon which future generation of officer corps shall build upon”.
The president of the Senate reassured  the Armed Forces that the National Assembly particularly recognizes the strategic role the military has been playing in sustaining the present democratic order saying,” we shall continue to provide support for the development of our armed forces to guarantee your welfare and enhance professionalism”.
Recalling with nostalgia his days as a Cadet at the NDA, Senator Mark stated ” I have always counted myself privileged and eternally grateful to God to have passed through this foremost military academy that prepared me to face the vicissitudes of life and made me what I am today.
“This honour therefore has a special place in my heart and I will cherish it for the rest of my life”.

Source

Robbers in possession of police walkie-talkie – CP

The Commissioner of Police in his account of how the robbery attack was carried out said: “The operations started early in the morning, dressed in mufti and snatched a vehicle around Gbagada area with intent to use it to carry out robbery attack in certain places.
They were intercepted by the traffic policemen who were just resuming duty while they abandoned the vehicle and disappeared.
“The bandits now resurfaced around Ikeja-Agege axis in the afternoon, going round looking for places to rob. While they were doing that the police were on their trail looking out for them but police lost control of their whereabouts because the robbers were in possession of police walkie-talkie and were intercepting police conversations.
“A few minutes after that they succeeded in robbing a Bureau de Change at Agege and as they were coming out the police anti-robbery team and Rapid Response Squad, RRS, members who had already blocked all major highways on the instruction of the CP now intercepted them around Oba Akran Avenue and Ikeja under bridge. They succeeded in killing three of the policemen there in an exchange of fire.
“Some of the armed robbers were fatally wounded as there were blood stains at the scene after they escaped through the old toll gate.
Meanwhile, the CP has ordered a 24-hour surveillance and combing of all the nooks and crannies of the state in search of the fleeing bandits.
He has also directed Area Commanders and DPOs to comb all the areas under their jurisdiction with a view to arresting the bandits.

Source