Commissioner of Police escapes bomb explosion

The Commissioner of Police in Taraba state, Maman Sule, has escaped a round of bomb explosions that occurred in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, killing three persons.

The Deputy PRO for the Nigerian Police Force, Frank Mba, confirmed that the blast occurred at 8:45am, Monday morning at Kebbi roundabout in the heart of the north-eastern state.

The road side bomb went off as the state’s Commissioner of Police; Maman Sule was on his way to his office.



Mr Mba in a phone conversation with Channels Television, stated that three of the suspected bombers died instantly while an outrider on the commissioner’s convoy was injured.

It is not yet certain if the bomb blast was targeted at the Commissioner of Police.
Mr Mba also confirmed that there were no explosions in Adamawa and Gombe states.


The latest bomb explosion in Taraba state is coming after a bomb attack on Sunday killed 20 people in Bayero University Kano, Kano state.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

How we snatched SUV from pastor – Robbers

A three-man armed robbery gang has revealed how it robbed a pastor, Mr. Gboyega Akerele, of his Sports Utility Vehicle in Awule area of Akure, Ondo State, on April 20, 2012.

The three robbery suspects are Ibukun Olaoluwa, Adeyemi Adedoyin and Bolaji Kazeem. They confessed to robbing Akerele of his Toyota Highlander car.

Kazeem explained that they forced the pastor’s SUV to stop by deliberately ramming their motorcycle into its rear.


He said they ordered the pastor and his wife out of the vehicle after the wife came out to inspect the extent of damage done by the motorcycle.

The police commissioner said the tracking device installed in the car helped them to track it from Akure in Ondo State to Ikirun, Osun State, where it was intercepted by the police.

Oke advised vehicle owners to fix trackers in their vehicles for easy recovery in case of theft.
Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

7 Killed, 20 Injured As Blast Hits Secretariat In Jalingo

A bomb blast  struck a police commissioner’s convoy in Jalingo, Taraba State this morning, killing seven people and wounding 20.

This is coming a day after two deadly attacks occurred in other parts of the country.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Jalingo is the capital of usually peaceful Taraba state, which borders Cameroon and has so far been spared the insurgency plaguing Nigeria’s north.
Pic:247nigerianewsupdate

The local head of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said 20 people had been taken to hospital. The blast happened between the state ministry of finance and police headquarters, Ibrahim Farinloye said.

The Jalingo strike followed two attacks on Christian worshippers on Sunday that killed at least 19 people in other parts of the country.

   Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Beyonce named as ‘world’s most beautiful woman 2012′

The 16-time Grammy-winning pop star and actress, Beyonce Knowles, has been named as the ‘Most Beautiful Woman in the World by an international People Magazine’s poll.


Although a mother, Beyonce made it to the top of the coveted list, the magazine reported.

The 30-year-old singer, while reacting to the title said she delivered her first child, daughter Blue Ivy, in a private executive suite at New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital on January 7 and according to her “I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth…I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth.”



Beyonce who has been married to Jay-Z for four years now, joins the ranks of other stars who have topped the most beautiful woman list, including Halle Berry, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Lopez, who won last year.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, who celebrates her first wedding anniversary to Prince William this weekend, is named the 10th most beautiful woman in the world.


Below is a full list:
1. Beyonce Knowles
2. Sofia Vergara
3. Charlize Theron
4. Lily Collins
5. Madeleine Stowe
6. Christina Hendricks
7. Michelle Williams
8. Paula Patton
9. Miranda Lambert
10. Kate Middleton

Culled:Channelstv

Ebonyi partners Spanish organisation on agriculture

As part of his administration's efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector in the state, Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has disclosed that the state will partner with Vera Group, a Spanish investment organisation.

Elechi stated this when he received a delegation of the Spanish Firm, led by its Chief Executive Officer Ladislao Vadja, who paid him a courtesy call in Abakaliki, the State capital.

The governor said that apart from agriculture, the organisation will also facilitate its drive in the areas of healthcare delivery and infrastructural development, adding that with these visions Ebonyi is set to become the leading state in the country.

Elechi said the state has some sectors in which it has a comparative advantage over other states, including solid minerals and agriculture, noting that his government had provided an enabling environment to attract potential investors to invest in the state.

He revealed that the state government was about to begin the full-scale development of the permanent site of Ebonyi State University and stressed that only world class construction companies would be engaged for the project, adding that the Vera Group would be welcome to participate in the initiative.

The Governor, who expressed joy that Nigeria had become a credible and attractive investment destination in Africa, thanked the Vera Group for the confidence it reposed in the State Government, which he assured, will never be betrayed.

Speaking on the occasion, the leader of the Spanish investment delegation, Vadja, said they were in Ebonyi State to concretise an investment partnership with the State Government and open new frontiers of development in the agrarian State.

Vadja who acknowledged the rich natural endowments of Ebonyi State, noted that the experience of Vera Group in road construction, marine development and educational facilitation will come handy in fast-tracking the development of the State.
                Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

 

Nigeria To Import Fuel From Niger Republic

Nigeria may soon start importing fuel from the Republic of Niger as the latter plans to evacuate its excess petroleum products.

 Niger Republic’s minister of petroleum, Mr. Foumakoye Gado, is in the country to sign the African Petroleum Producers’ Association (APPA) Statute, which will make Niger become a bonafide member of the association.

Gado told journalists during the signing ceremony  in Abuja that Niger’s present refining capacity is 20,000 barrels of oil per day, out of which the country can only consume 7,000 barrels, an equivalent of 1.113million litres of fuel, while the excess of 13,000 barrels, an equivalent of 2.067million liters of fuel would be exported to Nigeria.

The minister who spoke through an interpreter  said the country in 2011 signed a contract for the commercialisation of crude production, adding that a feasibility study has been concluded to commence oil exportation which would boost its crude production from the current 20,000bpd to 60,000bpd.

He adding, however, that Niger presently does not have any specific target country for its crude export, but said it would be done according to international standard.

The minister who was accompanied to the event by Niger’s ambassador to Nigeria, H.E Mansourmanan H.D, explained that his country resolved to join APPA, despite being a small oil producing nation, in order to tap into the experience of other member countries and ensure that her oil prospecting is a source of blessing to the country and not a resource curse, based on lessons learnt from other countries.

While noting that the association’s objective will impact on the country’s technical know-how and help build local capacity, Gado said his country will ensure that oil proceed is used to accelerate development.

 He said the country would begin the construction of its oil export pipeline which will be routed through Cameroon in 2013, after which exportation will commence in 2014 or 2015.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, Engr. Goni I. Sheikh, who represented the minister of petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, while welcoming Niger to the association, noted that signing the APPA Statute was mandatory for all member countries who wish to benefit fully from oil and gas exploration through the association’s support.

He said the objectives of the association include the promotion of cooperation among member countries in hydrocarbon exploration, promotion of technical assistance, coordination of marketing policies and strategies as well as studying ways of providing assistance to the oil importing African countries to meet their energy requirement.

While expressing optimism that the opportunity will further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Niger Republic, Sheikh added that the association operates a fund which is dedicated to financing studies and projects in the hydrocarbon and energy sector of APPA member countries.
                        Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

More pictures from Abuja blast

All pictures courtesy Dailytrust Newspaper

Abuja blast UPDATE....Editorial Chairman of Thisday Speaks.....

 A suicide bomber forcefully drove a jeep into the ThisDay Newspaper office building, Jabi, Abuja at about 11a.m. on Thursday and detonated a bomb, killing an unconfirmed number of staff and leaving others seriously injured.

The Chairman, Editorial board of ThisDay Segun Adeniyi said two security men and the suicide bomber died while 5 of their support staff are injured.

Adeniyi also confirmed similar attack in the Kaduna office but says he cannot give details of casualties as he has not been briefed.





The Kaduna blast occurred at the ThisDay and Sun newspapers offices on Kontagora Road, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna.

But the FCT police commissioner said they were yet to get a report on the Kaduna incident and he could not, as at press time, state the number of casualties until a detailed report is received from all sister agencies.

The injured have been taken to hospitals in the city, where they are receiving medical attention.
As at the time of rescue operation, reports came of another attack at the Leadership newspaper which turned out to be a false alarm.
                                  Culled:Dailytimesng

Jos crisis: Plateau orders arrest of three traditional rulers

Plateau State Government has ordered the arrest of three prominent traditional rulers for their roles in the recurrent cases of attacks in the state.

The state announced this at the end of an emergency security meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan, in Jos.

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham, said the Special Task Force had been mandated to use “unconventional method to deal with the rising insecurity in the state, especially the frequent attacks on the outskirts of the city and to employ powers conferred on them under the emergency laws.”

Abraham, who preferred not to name the traditional rulers, said the affected traditional rulers were already telling the STF all they knew about some of the attacks in the villages.

He regretted that some traditional rulers and ward heads who were mandated to talk to their subject often failed to do so after they had been mobilised for the purpose.

The commissioner said that the state of emergency imposed on four local government areas in the state had not yielded the desired result as the government at that level could not function since their subventions had not been released.

The commissioner said that before the end of the week, the ban on the operation motorcycles would be strictly enforced as the government was set to release more than 500 tricycles to take over their operations.

Abraham, who admitted that the number of tricycles being released might not be enough, said the people of the state would be happy to endure some levels of hardship if that would ensure the safety of their lives and belongings.
                                 Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

News in pictures........Abuja blast

                      All pictures courtesy Saharareporters

Explosion in Abuja

BREAKING NEWS:
An explosion has been reported at the premises of ThisDay Newspapers in Jabi, Abuja...Details will be updated as they emerge..

Pics:Dailytrust


    Picture:Thisday..
The front gate of This Day newspapers in Jabi, Abuja where a suicide bomber drove through this morning and detonated his bomb-laden car
The attack happened in Jabi/Utako area directly opposite the Jabi Motor park. Eyewitnesses said a huge explosion shook neighboring building

Nigeria Police Smash Human Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 5 Children

The police in Onitsha, Anambra, has smashed a syndicate that specialises in stealing and selling children.
The police also arrested the alleged leader and seven other suspects, including a nurse, Mr Emeka Ejide, the director, Anambra Ministry of Women and Social Development, told newsmen on telephone.

Ejidesaid that the fight against human trafficking in the state would be sustained and commended the police for a successful operation.

However, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, said he had yet to be briefed on the matter.




But a police source said the alleged leader of the syndicate acted as an intermediary between the traffickers and the buyers.

The source said that the traffickers had an operational base in Okigwe, Imo, from where the child stealing gang leader came to Onitsha and its environs to steal children after luring them with gifts.

The source said the leader of the syndicate had been on the watch list of the police after many parents reported about their missing children.

“The woman normally steals these children on Saturdays when they are at home after taking advantage of the absence of their parents to carry out her operation, often times she pretends to be a relative.

“When she observes that no one is watching, she will steal the children and take them to Imo where they will be sold to unsuspecting couples looking for a child to be adopted.

“The police acted on a tip-off and swooped on the woman and rescued five children, whose ages range between six months and two years,’’ the source said.

Report says  that four of the five rescued children have been reunited with their biological parents.
                                   Culled:247Nigerianewsupdate

Nani ’n Dani to tie the knot

MAN Utd ace Nani is to become a wed Devil after proposing to his girlfriend with a giant diamond ring.




The 25-year-old footballer and model Daniela Martins secretly got engaged last month.
But excited Daniela, 28, went shopping for her perfect wedding dress at an exclusive boutique days later.

And yesterday the Portuguese Red Devils star said: “I’m happy to announce that we’re engaged.”
A source close to the couple, who share a Cheshire mansion, said: “They’re so happy. Neither of them can stop smiling.”
                                Culled:247Nigerianewsupdate

The man who found and returned N7m

Salami Ibrahim, a staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), who found and returned a wallet containing foreign currency totalling N7.3 million while cleaning an aeroplane has been rewarded for his honesty.

Ibrahim, a cabin cleaning team leader, found the wallet containing £25,000 and €5,000 inside an aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Lagos, during a routine cleaning exercise.




Pic:Googleimage



Impressed with his show of honesty, the management of Turkish Airlines has rewarded Ibrahim with an all-expenses paid return trip to Istanbul, Turkey; despite the fact that the plane in question is not one of theirs.

Managing Director of the airline in Nigeria, Ali Bulut, said: "This is an act that should be rewarded and encouraged because it is good for the aviation industry in Nigeria. Even though the incident did not take place on Turkish Airlines' aircraft, we are happy that it happened at least in the industry.

Where I come from, good behaviour is rewarded even if it is not directly to you. We appreciate Ibrahim so much, and this is worthy of emulation for other aviation personnel that they must be trusted at all times and that good gesture such as this will surely be rewarded."

This is the second time that Ibrahim is returning money found while cleaning aircrafts. On September 11, 2009, he found another wallet in an aircraft containing cash and returned it to the owner. A letter of commendation was given to him by NAHCO then.

He expressed gratitude to Turkish Airlines for giving him the chance for the vacation. "When I found the wallet inside the aircraft while cleaning it, I submitted it to security and airline personnel; and the passenger came to collect the wallet in my presence. I want to thank Turkish Airlines for rewarding me on this," he said.
                              Culled:Dailytimesng

Nigeria Inflation Accelerated to 12.1% on Fuel Prices

Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 12.1 percent in March after the government lifted gasoline subsidies, boosting prices in Africa’s top oil producer.



Inflation in Africa’s most populous country,according to the National Bureau of Statistics accelerated from 11.9 percent in February.

The median estimate of eight economists surveyed by Bloomberg was for inflation to slow to 11.4 percent.

President Goodluck Jonathan partially removed fuel subsidies in January, pushing up the gasoline price by half to 97 naira ($0.62) a liter (0.26 gallon). The central bank, which raised its policy rate by 6 percentage points to a record 12 percent since 2010, expects inflation to reach as high as 14.5 percent in the first half of this year.
             Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

Osaze Odemwingie picks June 2 for wedding

 

Edo State born striker Osaze Odemwingie has picked the 2nd of June two weeks after the UEFA
Champion's League.




According to Osaze and his fiancée Sarah they had fixed their wedding date as May 19th the date of the Champions League final and one week after the close of the Premier League, but his would-be father-in-law insisted he would not attend if Manchester City survived to the end of the competition.

“We wanted to get married the week after the season ends but when we fixed the date, Manchester City was still in the Champions League and Sarah’s dad, Mike, who is a big fan, said he’s never coming if they’re in the final, which is on that Saturday.

Osaze was the fifth highest scorer in the premier league last term with over 15 goals, though his down with a little knee ankle and hamstring injuries which disrupted him from the second season and he described it as a “Little strange”.

             Culled:Channelstv

NDLEA sniffer dogs detect heroin from Iran at Lagos airport

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its sniffer dogs have helped in the confiscation of 16 Kilogrammes of highly grade heroin at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.



The agency through its head of public affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell said this is the first major seizure of narcotics this year.

Mr Mitchell said that the anti-narcotic agents had placed the consignment on surveillance following the alert signal of the sniffer dogs. The operation led to the ultimate abandonment of the 16 kilogrammes of heroin by a suspected drug syndicate at the National Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Shed of the airport.

According to him, the brownish substance that tested positive was packed in white transparent polythene and hidden inside metal pipes and that the drug which was industrially packed was brought as cargo on a KLM flight from the Republic of Iran.

The airport commander, Hamza Umar said that the consignment arrived from Iran but was left unclaimed.

NDLEA boss added that the role of the sniffer dogs in the seizure underscore the importance of logistic support in the drug war.
              Culled:Channelstv

153 Deputy, 38 Assistant Commissioners swapped in Police Mass Transfer

In a sweeping move to overhaul the operations of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar has directed the immediate transfer of Deputy Commissioners of Police and Assistant Commissioners of Police across the country.
                           

The mass transfer list posted yesterday on the website of the Nigeria Police Force, saw no less than 91 senior officers – 38 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 53 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) swapped across various commands and formations nationwide.

The exercise,report says, is in line with the resolve of IG Abubakar to fortify the police force in the wake of increasing terrorism and other violent crimes nationwide.

The Deputy Commissioners of Police who were swapped from the various police commands and formations nationwide are expected to resume duties in their new commands with immediate effect.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olusola Amore, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, was sent to Calabar, Cross River State, as Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations while his immediate predecessor, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police is to take charge of Abuja zone 7 CID.

It was not immediately known who is to replace Amore as the spokesman of the Force.

Also, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu, will henceforth be in charge of the presidential and VIP movement.

Culled: Vanguard

World Malaria day

 25th of April every year has been sat aside to commemorate  World Malaria day, in hopes of highlighting the global effort to provide effective control of this terrible disease.

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected female mosquito.

Pic:Google images


Once it enters the body, the parasite multiplies in the liver, and then infects red blood cells, causing fever, severe headache and other symptoms. In some cases, the disease can progress to coma, and eventually death. Ninety percent of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, and 85 percent of the fatalities are children under five years old.


Pic:Google images

About half of the world’s population, nearly 3.3 billion people, is at risk for malaria, primarily those living in developing countries. In 2010, 216 million people become infected with the disease, and 655 thousand of them died. And because malaria is a preventable killer, they died needlessly.


Pic:Google images

The United States has been involved in the global effort to control malaria since the 1950s. In 2005, the administration of President George W. Bush expanded the U.S. global malaria program through the President’s Malaria Initiative, with the goal of reducing malaria-related deaths by 50 percent in 15 countries in Africa.


In 2009, this Initiative became a core component of President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative and subsequently PMI expanded into 19 focus countries in Africa and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

Working in partnership with international agencies such as the World Health Organization, with non-governmental and private organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and with local governments and organizations, the U.S. Government is working toward the goal of halving the burden of malaria in 70 percent of at-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the last decade we have seen a renewed commitment by the United States, international organizations, and private foundations to eliminate all malaria deaths,” said U.S. Congressman Chris Smith during a House Congressional hearing on the disease in December of last year.
“The world has the tools to prevent and treat malaria. No one in the twenty-first century should have to suffer from it, let alone die from it.”




Pic:Google images

The theme for 2012 is‘Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria’.
                     Culled:247newsupdate

150 million Nigerians at risk of malaria attack – Minister of Health

The Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu says over 150 million Nigerians are at risk of malaria fever.




The Minister disclosed this at a press conference marking the 2012 World Malaria Day celebration in Abuja.

According to him, the figure translated into 90% of Nigeria’s population of 167million.

He said the 2010 Malaria Indicator Survey conducted in Nigeria, revealed that about 52 per cent of children aged between 6 months and 5 years tested positive to malaria through Rapid Diagnostic Test, stressing that prevalence was higher in rural areas, estimated at about 55.9 per cent.

Malaria Onyebuchi said is a major public problem in Nigeria, contributing a quarter of malaria burden in Africa. Over 90 per cent of the population in Nigeria, put at 167 million, is at risk.

Mr Chukwu said that the government have distributed 47 million Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) so far in 30 states of the federation to help reduce the prevalence of malaria.

“The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria’, while the slogan is ‘Let’s work together’.

Despite the challenges in fighting the spread of the disease in Nigeria, Mr Chukwu said that investments in malaria control have resulted in great achievements in the fight against malaria, with malaria deaths reduced by one- third in Africa in the last ten years, while outside Africa, 35 out of 53 countries, were able to reduce the malaria deaths by 50 percent in the same period.
                                                  Culled:Channelstv

Update: University Of Ibadan shut down for two weeks over students protest

Following two days of protest by students of the University of Ibadan, over poor electricity supply to the institution, the university authority has closed down the institution for two weeks with immediate effect.

The school authority declared the closure after an emergency Senate meeting held late Tuesday afternoon to appraise the situation.

According to the school’s authority the closure became necessary to abort the indefinite protest by the students.

The authority claimed the closure will avail them some time to fix some of the problems the students have complained about and ensure that electricity is generated within the campus.

They promise to work towards letting the students have at least seven hours of uninterrupted electricity daily.



Academic and commercial activities were grounded for the second day running at the University of Ibadan and its environs as students took to the streets protesting epileptic power supply to the academic institution.

The students in their hundreds trooped out off the school’s gate and took control of the U.I/Ojoo road, cordoning it off and hindering vehicular movement.

The student union president, Edosa Raymond Ekhator said with exams around the corner, the protest became necessary to get special intervention from the government to make the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) supply electricity to the school.

The deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Prof. Afolabi Bamgbose who represented the Vice chancellor found the protest needless and embarrassing as he claims the institution is trying its best to provide power with generators that run for at least 3hours to supply uninterrupted power daily.
He disclosed that U.I Spends N20 million monthly on diesel to power generators against the N16 million annually provided by the federal government.

From playing cards to actually sleeping with mattresses on the main road, the protesting students of the nation’s premier academic institution, paralysed economic and academic activities in and around the university for several hours.

They also vowed not to go off the street until power supply by PHCN improves remarkably.
Speaking, the students’ union president, Ekhafor Raymond Edosa, said that they will not be off the roads until the federal government intervenes and solve the electricity problem on campus.
“UI has tried all it can but we need the assistance of government. They need to build a transmission station in UI” he said.

Prof. Bamgbose said the protest is unnecessary as the institution is not immuned from the epileptic power supply bedeviling the country.

The Oyo state Police Commissioner, Tambari Mohammed also waded into the matter promising to meet with PHCN management for an amicable solution.

The students have promised to continue protesting till their demands are met.

                                    Channelstv

NFF organizes Futsal, Beach Soccer courses for coaches and refrees in nigeria

In recognition of the potential that Nigeria has to make an impact in the sectors of Five-A-Side (Futsal) and Beach Soccer in the world, the Nigeria Football Federation is organising introductory courses for Coaches and Referees in the two specialties this week.

While the Beach Soccer course will take place at the Confluence Beach Hotel, Lokoja, the Futsal course will hold at the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja from Wednesday, April 25 – Saturday, April 28.

Nigeria’s FIFA Instructor in beach soccer, Sunday Okayi, who is also the only African FIFA Instructor in the game, says the nation has huge potentials in the game considering the vast coastal lines available. 

Okayi  further added It is in prelude to this high-level course that the NFF has decided to conduct the basic/introductory course for our Coaches and Referees.


                                  Culled:Premiumtimesng

FG begins disbursement of $200m entertainment fund

The Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) has started donating the $200 million fund pledged by Goodluck Jonathan to the Nigerian entertainment industry.

Speaking at a press briefing in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos, NEXIM Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Roberts Orya, said the partnership signified the flag-off of NEXIM's support for film production which was promised in 2011 by the Federal Government to help grow capacity in the entertainment industry.

The first beneficiary of the fund, named NEXIM Creative Arts and Entertainment Facility, is Black Ivory Communication.

Black Ivory communication will be using the funds given to them to finance a film titled 'Doctor Bello'.

Orya said the fund has been opened for access to anybody interested in investing in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

He added that the movie, 'Dr Bello' had a compelling story line that promises a good return on investment for the bank and the producers.

The CEO of Black Ivory Communication, Tony Abulu, said that 'Dr. Bello' is set to take the movie industry to the next level.

                Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

Serial child rapist arrested in Lagos

Forty five year old Abubakar Sulaiman, a suspected serial rapist, has been charged before the Ikeja Magistrate Court, Lagos for allegedly raping children.

Police officers attached to the Area M police command filed a two-count-charge against the petty trader at the family court 6 for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old girl (names withheld).

The charge sheet read that on March 28, at about 4.000pm in the Ifelodun area of Shasha in Lagos, Abubakar, had unlawful carnal knowledge of the 7-year-old in his kiosk, and on the same date and in the same place, he also raped her sister.

According to the prosecution, the accused committed an offence punishable under section 218 of the Criminal Code cap17 volume II laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.

Following the arraignment, the accused was conveyed to the Kirikiri prison, where he will be remanded until June 18 when the case will come up for hearing.

Sadly, these are not the only rape cases Abubakar will answer to, as he is also alleged to have raped a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old both of whom he lured to his shop with candy.

Abubakar resides on the same street with the girls’ parents at Shasha.









According to the girls’ mother, Abubakar is a serial rapist and medical reports show that he also raped the girls in his shop on their way back from school sometime in March.


Medical examinations conducted on the girls by the Orile- Agege General hospital revealed that the girls’ hymens were broken due to penile penetration.

The report further revealed that the four girls had sexually transmitted diseases known as Cultured Staphylococcus Aureus, which has been treated.
                        Culled:Dailytimesnigeria

More witnesses to testify against Arowolo, alleged killer of wife

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions say it would call five more witnesses to testify against Akolade Arowolo, who allegedly murdered his banker wife, Titilayo.



Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, Director of DPP, announced this before an Ikeja High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Lateefat Okunnu.

Akolade was charged to court for allegedly stabbing his wife to death on June 24, 2011, at their 8, Akindeinde St. residence in Isolo, Lagos.

He had pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder and was remanded in prison custody.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Ogungbesan apologised to the court for the absence of three prosecution witnesses expected to give evidence in the trial.

According to her, two of the witnesses are police officers, while the remaining one is a female relative of the deceased.

Ogungbesan said it was not the intention of the prosecution to stall the trial, adding that two other witnesses, including a pathologist, would be called before the prosecution closes its case.

She assured the court that some of the witnesses would be available on Wednesday to continue with the trial, and therefore, asked for an adjournment.

Arowolo’scounsel, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, did not oppose the application for adjournment, but urged the prosecution to bring its witnesses to court on Wednesday.




The DPP had earlier called seven witnesses to testify against the 31-year-old accused, since the trial began on Feb. 8.

The witnesses included Titilayo’s father, George Oyakhire; her step mother, Adetoun Oyakhire; and her sister, Aidehi Oyakhire.

Others were Saidu Husseini, the security guard at the residence of the Arowolos; Ademola Adeyemi, a neighbour; and two police officers– ASP Titus Ogbonna and Insp Gabriel Nyeche.

The matter has been adjourned till Wednesday for continuation of trial
                                             Culled: (NAN)

‘Man of God’ hangs self after inviting deity

An alleged man of God in the University town of Nsukka, Enugu state has reportedly committed suicide by hanging himself using a ceiling fan few weeks after inviting the dreaded Adoro deity in his compound to protect him and his family from enemies.

The alleged man of God, who was simply addressed as ThankGod hailed from Mbuke village in Nsukka Local Government Area, was said to be conducting prayers and crusades for different kinds of people seeking divination for different issues of life.

Report says that the alleged man of God had tricked his wife away from the family house before he embarked on the suicide mission.

Few weeks ago, the said man of God, who was engaged in a land tussle with his relations, invited the dreaded Alor-ano Adoro deity to protect himself and his family.

Reports  further revealed that his relations had consulted the Adoro deity to intervene in tussle for the said piece of land between them and the alleged man of God. Fears that the deity may attack and kill him, the alleged man of God equally invited the same Adoro deity to protect him.

An eye witness to the deity rituals, told newsmen that on the day of the rituals, a live tortoise dressed with stripes of red cloth was paraded the compound while the chief priest made incantations to crown the rituals, shots of canon guns were fired into the air to show that Adoro deity has been invited for protection from the hands of enemies.

                                                  Culled:247nigerianewsupdate

EFCC Docks Banker, Six others for N42.5 Million Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday April 23, 2012 arraigned seven persons before Justice Candide Johnson of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere Division, for stealing and conspiracy to commit fraud.



Those arraigned were Umeh Ndidiamaka, a former staff of United Bank for Africa; Emeka Onoh, a former security officer with the bank and three others: Augustine Afagimoh, Samuel Mebele and Obialla Donatus, who are said to be associates of Ndidiamaka. The others are Delight-In International Limited and Water Innovation Nigeria Enterprises, companies owned by the accused persons.

The accused persons who were arraigned on a five (5) count charge of conspiracy pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. They were said to have on or about the 11th of June 2009 attempted to steal the sum of N42. 5million from United Bank of Africa Plc

By Wilson Uwujaren -Head, EFCC Media & Publicity        

In line with the declaration by the trial judge that he prefers arraignment to be followed with immediate commencement of trial, counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that he was ready to proceed with the trial and that he had come to court with four principal witnesses.

Ojo Oladimeji, an Internal Auditor/Investigator with UBA, was the first witness presented by the EFCC counsel. He told the court that a customer of the bank got an alert that his account had been debited to the tune of N42, 500,000.00. He said the customer informed his account officer who immediately informed the manager and the operations manager about the incident. Further checks then revealed that N265 million had been transferred to seven accounts in different locations using the password of the Branch Manager. He further told the court that the funds were moved from the account using the user ID and password of the Branch Operations Manager (BOM). Oladimeji further told the court that upon the receipt of the customer’s complaint, a red flag was raised on the account.


He told the court that with the sum of N42,000,000 already transferred into the accounts of Delight International Agency, the 4th defendant issued six different cheques valued at N1 million, N5 million, N2 million, N2,million, N2million and N10 million all on the same date of June 11, 2009.

 He said one of the suspects was however arrested when he attempted he present the cheque in Lagos.


He further alleged that the 4th defendant is a strong member of a syndicate that specializes in defrauding financial institutions and unsuspecting members of the public.
Another witness, Ugwuoke Oliver, a staff of UBA also told the court that Ndidiamaka used the computer of the branch manager to commit the fraud and that she confessed to committing the crime when she was interrogated by the bank officials.

The testimony of the 3rd witness could not be taken for lack of time. However, counsel to the 1st accused person, Michael Aboh told the court that he had filed a bail application. But Justice Johnson adjourned to Friday, April 27 while the accused persons are remanded in EFCC custody.

                                        Culled:Saharareporters

News in picture.....who will emerge victorious?

UEFA Champions League semi-final; BARCA VERSUS CHELSEA



                                     Culled:247nigerianewsupdate