Police rescue Obodo from kidnappers

The Nigeria Police in Delta State, on Sunday night confirmed that they have rescued Super Eagles player, Christian Obodo from the abductors who snatched him at gun point.

The midfielder who has not played for the Eagles in recent years was early Saturday kidnapped by four unidentified gunmen in Warri, Delta State.

The state Police Spokesman, Mr Charles Muka who spoke with The PUNCH on the telephone Sunday night said that several arrests were made in the operation carried out at Emevor in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State where the kidnappers had apparently taken him to from Warri.

He said, “We are actually on from way from the operation location to the headquarters with Obodo. Every other detail will be given tomorrow morning.”

The Police officer said that the footballer was rescued unhurt and that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers as they had demanded. The rescue operation was carried out hours after the Police made a general appeal for information on the crime.

PUNCH

Who rocked it best?

Kim K, Kelly Rowland, and Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson in Givenchy blazer. Who rocked it best?

Crash: Victims’ families reject ‘joint burial’

Families of victims of last Sunday’s Dana flight 992 crash have rejected a Lagos State proposal to give the victims a joint burial.

The state had reportedly said that if the families agreed to a joint burial in a dedicated cemetery, the families would be allowed to exhume the corpses if they wished to identify them further.

 One of the victims’ relative, John Akande, told our correspondent that the families rejected the option of a joint burial because of the stress it would bring.

“The process of exhuming the bodies could be tedious, which is why we rejected it. The government committee and our own committee will meet to sort things out so that we can all have the remains of our members on time,” Akande said.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who addressed journalists after a four-hour meeting with the families on Sunday, said they (famlies) agreed to be patient, while government identified the victims before their release for burial.

He said, “The families agreed with the process we adopted. They agreed to wait while we identify the bodies.

“We subsequently set up a relationship team (committee) to be made up of people from government and some members of the families. The committee will coordinate information between government and families and manage the release of the bodies.”

The families would meet at the mortuary of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Monday (today).

Source 

My image in N96m bribe video doctored – Farouk Lawan

CHAIRMAN of the House of  Representatives Committee on the probe of fuel subsidy mismanagement, Mr. Farouk Lawan, said on Sunday that the video purportedly showing him receiving a bribe from an oil marketer was  doctored.

The Lawan committee, which discovered that subsidy thieves had stolen N1.7trn from government coffers as a direct consequence of malpractices in the oil sector, had been embroiled in bribery scandal since last week.

A video recording of  the bribe deal between the oil marketer and the lawmaker is believed to be in the possession of the State Security Service.

However, Lawan said that the  allegation that he collected $600,000 from the  oil marketer to influence the report of the House probe panel was a ploy to divert attention from the recommendations of the committee.

The Rep at a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday said, “I categorically deny that I or any member of the committee demanded and received any bribe from anybody in connection with the fuel subsidy probe and I believe that this is evident from the thorough and in-depth manner the investigation was carried out.

“The present mudslinging is not unexpected in view of the calibre of people whose actions and inactions were found wanting in the report.

Eagles resume training for Rwanda

The Super Eagles have resumed training for their weekend fixture against the Wasps of Rwanda less than 24 hours after returning from Malawi on Sunday.

The team will be back in camping in Calabar, Cross River State on Tuesday.

Nigeria played a 1-1 draw with the Flames of Malawi in their 2014 World Cup qualifier  on Saturday but still remain atop Group F with four points in two games. Namibia, who defeated Kenya 1-0 on Saturday, are second in the group with three points.

Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood children now live in fear

A widow, Mrs. Deborah Adekunle, whose property was looted at the scene of Dana plane crash, crying in Lagos

As normalcy gradually returns to the Iju-Ishaga area after the unfortunate plane crash on Sunday, children in the neighbourhood, who witnessed the incident, now live in fear. Some of the children said  they had developed phobia for planes after Sunday’s incident that left over 160 people dead. 

Daily Sun gathered that shortly after the incident, most proprietors in the area hurriedly closed their schools.  However, the schools re-opened yesterday with panic-stricken children questioning their teachers and parents why the plane crashed.  

The Proprietress of Fredaks School on Agbado Road, Iju-Ishaga, Mrs Atinuke Sunlola told Daily Sun that she had to close her school because of the heavy security presence and the air of uncertainty in the area.  

She said: “The crowd around this area was too much. People were trooping to the crash site and you do not know who is who. We did not want to take chances. Moreover, some of our children live around there, so the school bus could not get there.”

In a sheer demonstration of love for the victims, pupils of Radiant School located in the neighbourhood offered prayers at the site of the accident. The children, led by their teachers, bore candles, as they prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims.   

 

Source: SUN NEWSPAPER

I’m lonely, where’s Mr Right?–Yvonne Nelson

For movie buffs in Ghana and Nigeria, Yvonne Nelson needs no introduction. The star actress is a household name in both countries as she has featured in several flicks that have endeared her to her numerous fans. The Entertainer recently caught up with the Ghanaian screen diva in Accra and she opened up on her career and sundry issues. Enjoy it.

I learnt you are veering into production? Yes, I am actually the General Manager of a financial company called, Media GH and they would be launching soon. They will manage musicians; do movie and music at the same time so I represent the movie arm of the company. So far, this is the second movie we are shooting. I won’t say I am now into production, they needed my help and I am giving them. I will say yes it is a full time job. If I am not on anyone’s set and there is something to do, I will go there. Though, it’s not as if I have left everything to work for them.