Apply for visa one year before travel, says US embassy

Abuja-Mr Stephen Frahm, Consular Chief of  the U.S Embassy, Wednesday, in Abuja  advised Nigerians wishing to travel to that country to apply  for visas at least a year ahead  of  time.
He said this at the  embassy’s monthly briefing  which had consular operations  as the focus.
 Frahm said the number of   applicants  outnumber those that can be accommodated daily, noting that  this  contributes to delays.
 “ In Nigeria,  there are a greater number of  applicants than we have the ability to process. The number of people that can be processed in a given day is finite and that’s why it takes a long time in many instances to get an appointment.

Girl, 6, Rescued From Kidnappers

Operatives of the State Security Service, SSS, have rescued a 6-year old girl from her abductors after she spent 13 days in captivity in Benin City, Edo State, South-South Nigeria.

•The suspected kidnappers with the N700,000 ransom recovered from them.

Briefing journalists after the rescue, the Edo State Director of the SSS in Benin City, Mr. Baba Tukur Bello Bakori, stated that they received a distress call from the parents of the girl who was kidnapped by a five-man gang at their residence at Upper Mission Area, Benin City.
The girl’s parents reported to the police and the SSS. They swung into action immediately and they had been on the trail of the kidnappers for 13 days.

Lightning kills 19 in Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi

Man loses 2 wives, 2 children
By Susan Edeh
BAUCHI— Tragedy struck yesterday as thunderstorms swept through Gombe, Yobe and Bauchi states killing 19 persons. Among the dead were eight men, six women and five children
The thunderstorm in Bauchi occurred in Soro, a village in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state which killed two women and their children.
According to the husband of the deceased, Mallam Sai’du Bello, his two wives were grinding corns with their babies strapped to their backs when thunder struck killing them instantly.

4 dead, others trapped as two-storey building collapses in Abuja

ABUJA – TRAGEDY struck, Wednesday, in Mararaba, a suburb on the outskirts of the nation’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, following the collapse of a two-storey building under construction inside a compound housing a new generation bank.
According to a source, the affected building located in the Building material area of the city came down at 10.20am.
Two buildings under construction had to be demolished before the bulldozers could  have access  to evacuate debris  and rescue victims  trapped under the collapsed building.
At the scene of the incident, officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, the FCT Department of Development Control and the Federal Fire Service were on ground to save the situation even though it was quite hectic for them due to the poor construction and compartment nature of houses in the area.

A rescued victim.

33m Nigerians defecate in the open places - UNICEF

Note: Story contains an image some may consider offensive
Abuja – The UNICEF says an estimated 33 million Nigerians still practice open defecation in different parts of the country.
Dr Suomi Sakai, UNICEF’s Country Representative and Chief Ambassador, said this at the commemoration of the World Sanitation Day on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The most worrisome of all the unsanitary practices is the high rate of open defecation practice in the country.
“It is estimated that about 33 million Nigerians defecate in the open, depositing about 1.7m tonnes of faeces into the environment annually,’’ she said.
Sakai said that the development had resulted in a high level of contamination of the environment in which garbage and faeces often find their way into water resources.

Smoke Chokes Mother, 2 Kids To Death

A woman and her two kids have been choked to death by smoke after fire razed their home in Ikotun, a suburb of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
The woman identiified as Mrs Ojo and her two children, Rachael, 2, and Richard, 8 months, were trapped inside their flat and were choked before help could come their way.
The incident happened at 17, Fehintola street, Ikotun, Lagos.
P.M.NEWS gathered that although they were not burnt by the fire, the smoke from the fire might have choked them to death.

The cause of the fire that razed the two flats was not yet clear at the time of filing this report.
According to a resident, the late Ojo went to a party with her kids and returned late at about 10 p.m. on the day.

Building collapses, kils 2 sisters in Sokoto

Sokoto – Two girls of school age were, on Sunday in Nakasari Ward in the Sokoto South Local Government Area, killed in their sleep when a building housing them collapsed.
The house, belonging to one Malam Mohammed Isa, collapsed after a heavy rainfall.
The two sisters have since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites.
Many sympathisers were seen visiting Isa’s compound to condole with the family of the deceased.
Speaking Isa said: “It is Allah we all come from and it is to Him we are all going back. That is all I will say.”
When contacted for comments, Alhaji Adeola Adeneji, the Sokoto State  Commissioner of Police, said: “I am yet to be brief about the incident.
“As soon as I am briefed, I will let you know.” (NAN).

Culled from : Vanguard Newspaper

Police Bust 3-Man Robbery Gang

Nemesis has caught up with a three-man robbery gang robbing motorists and commuters on the IBB Bridge by Adeniji Adele intersection, Lagos Island, as they were caught in the act and taken to the station.
The police identified the suspects who reportedly specialised in attacking victims with cutlasses and knives at odd hours as Rasak, 27, Isiaka, 21 and Tunde, 21.
The police alleged that the suspects were arrested on June 5, when they attacked, wounded and allegedly collected phones and jewelries valued at N40,000 from Funmi Olalekan, who in the process, had a fracture on her left leg bone.

Grandpa, Four Others Charged With Murder

An Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, has ordered that a 76-year-old man and four others be remanded for alleged murder, till 27 July 2011.

This to enable the court receive Directorate of Public Prosecution’s advice on the matter.

Those remanded were Jimoh Tijani, 75, Oluwole Sanni, 45, Safari Ayieola, 65, Olanrewaju Ahmed, 31, and Olu Tijani, 60.
The five accused persons and Kamorudeen Lamina, a.k.a Sir Kay, now at large were alleged to have conspired and killed Saheed Awoelorun, shooting him in the eyes and all over his body, on 5 June, 2011, at Ajina Awofin in Ikorodu.

Bloodbath: How newly wed was butchered by invaders

The protracted skir-mishes between the native Tiv communities of Benue State and Fulani herdsmen which have in recent time defied all peace initiatives suddenly took a turn for the worst early in the week with the sacking of Udei community in Guma Local Government Area by an army of Fulani mercenaries who invaded the community.
In these latest onslaught no fewer than 15 persons, including a soldier and newly wedded, Lieutenant Chinedu Ikenna Anyanwu, the Commander of the troops deployed from the 72 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, to maintain the peace in the volatile community lost their lives.

Lt Chinedu Ikenna Anyanwu(r) and his wife shortly after their wedding

2 die after administering Ogogoro concoction

WARRI — TWO indigenes of Gbekebor community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State, have been reported dead after taking  a concoction of locally brewed liquor (Ogogoro) and an unidentified pain killer, as traditional treatment for rheumatism.
Chairman of Gbekebor community, Mr. Apala Ebitonmo, who confirmed the incident to Vanguard said, “the victims, identified as Molo Pude and Emeka Godwin, died instantly, while the third, Muhammed Pude, a father to one of the deceased persons, is presently in a hospital in Warri.”
He said, “they died because there was no hospital in the town, which we had severally appealed to the state and local government area to provide, but all to no avail.”

Lagarde is first woman IMF head

France’s Christine Lagarde was named yesterday to be the first-ever female chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), facing an immediate crisis as violent Greek anti-austerity protests rocked the stability of the eurozone.






The French finance minister, widely respected for her leadership during Europe’s financial crisis over the past three years, according to The Associated Press (AP), was chosen to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned abruptly on May 18 after being arrested in New York for the alleged sexual assault of a hotel maid.

"The executive board of the International Monetary Fund today selected Christine Lagarde to serve as IMF managing director and madame chairman of the executive board for a five-year term starting on July 5, 2011," the IMF said in a statement.

What 20 special advisers ‘ll cost Jonathan’s govt

The record number of 20 special advisers sought by President Goodluck Jonathan would if approved cost the tax payers a basic of N15,543,000 per month and N186,516,000 to maintain per annul in basic official entitlements.
The above amount is, however, besides order perks of office including allowances plethora of aides including special assistants to the Special Advisers that are maintained by the Special Assistants themselves.
In the past budgetary provision of N4 million for overhead cost had been approved for each Special Adviser.

Church Worker Escapes With Tithe

A worker in a church shocked the congregation and committed what can be described as sacrilege in the house of God during their Sunday church service when he suddenly carted away the church tithe box containing money.
The man, Afeez Rasaki, was later arrested and arraigned before the Apapa Magistrate’s Court for stealing.
He was alleged to have stolen the box containing money collected from the congregation during their tithe and offering on that day.
This incident happened at Celestial Church of Christ, Miracle Parish, Maza Maza, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
The amount in the box could not be ascertained because it was not counted before he fled with it.
It was learnt that Afeez later claimed that it was only N20,000 that was in the box.

Bond girl Michelle Yeoh deported from Burma over Aung San Suu Kyi role

Michelle Yeoh, the former James Bond girl, has been blacklisted and deported from Burma after playing the role of freed democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a forthcoming film about her life.

Michelle Yeoh (left) and Burma's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi Photo: AP

By Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok

Yeoh, who shot to international fame when she starred as a Chinese spy in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies alongside Pierce Brosnan, was stopped at the airport in Burma's main city, Rangoon, and sent back on the first available flight.

Indians pay surgeons to turn girls into boys

Indian doctors have been accused of conducting sex change operations on young girls whose parents want sons to improve the family's income prospects.

There are now seven million more boys than girls aged under six in the country Photo: ALAMY

 
Madhya Pradesh state government is investigating claims that up to 300 girls were surgically turned into boys in one city after their parents paid about £2,000 each for the operations.

Women's and children's rights campaigners denounced the practice as a "social madness" that made a "mockery of women in India".

Bootylicious Beyoncé Rocks Glastonbury in Hotpant

Beyoncé was wearing tiny black hotpants and a gold sequinned jacket to headline the last day of the Glastonbury Festival last night

Mail Online

The hoped-for duet with Jay-Z might not have happened - but Beyoncé blew most of the doubters out of the water last night with her Bootylicious performance to close the Glastonbury Festival last night.

The star was watched by her rapper husband and friend Gwyneth Paltrow as well as 170,000 people on Worthy Farm in Somerset as she tore through an impressive hour and a half set.

Wearing just black hotpants and a gold belted jacket with her hair blowing curly and free in the evening breeze, at times, she appeared overcome with emotion at the reception she was given.

And even though she's more used to playing to fans in slick arena shows rather than to thousands of festival goers stuck in the mud, she appeared to totally win over the crowd.

Man Remanded For Touching Woman’s Breast

A 34-year old man, Effiong Edet, who touched a woman’s breast without her consent has been sent to Kirikiri Prison Apapa, Lagos State Southwest Nigeria.
He was remanded after he was arraigned before the court for allegedly assaulting a woman, Adijatu Sanni.
Adijatu also claimed that Edet did not only touch her breast, but also fondled her, including  her private part thereby debasing her as a woman.
The embittered woman lamented that since Edet has touched her breast and private part, he has used her to satisfy his sexual desire without her consent.

Police officer’s son arrested for robbery

A police officer’s son and another suspect who allegedly robbed a member of the Under 23 national soccer team, Harmony Ekandem, have been arrested by the police in Lagos.
Ekandem was robbed of $10,500 in his hotel room in FASTAC after he returned from Tanzania where he  represent ed the country.
The incident occurred at Devine Kitchen Lodge, 71 Road, by 23 Road at FESTAC Town, in Amowo-Odofin.
It was gathered that Ekandem had left the hotel for training with an instruction that nobody should enter his room.

13 ex-ministers lucky as Jonathan drops 24

Dr. Jonathan

THE President may have dropped 24 of his 42 former ministers, it was learnt.
Besides, 16 technocrats may join the cabinet.
But the battle for nomination continued at the weekend, with Soutsouth leader Chief Edwin Clark and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi struggling for the Southsouth ticket.
The immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Odein Ajumogobia, may not make the cabinet list, following plans by the President to appoint him as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), it was learnt.

Woman dies of heart attack caused by shock of waking up at her OWN funeral

• Started screaming as mourners gathered around coffin saying prayers for her soul
• 'Her eyes fluttered but she only lived for another 12 minutes before she died again, this time for good'

A woman died from a heart attack caused by shock after waking up to discover she had been declared dead - and was being prepared for burial.As mourning relatives filed past her open coffin the supposedly dead woman suddenly woke up and started screaming as she realised where she was.
Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov, 49, had been wrongly declared deceased by doctors but died for real after hearing mourners saying prayers for her soul to be taken up to heaven in Kazan, Russia.

Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov pictured with her husband Fagili. The Russian woman died from shock after waking up at her own funeral

‘Islamic Bank, Plot to Islamize Nigeria’

Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor

Delta State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (C.A.N.) has alleged that the decision to establish the first Islamic bank in Nigeria was in furtherance of the plot to Islamize the country.

The state branch of the authoritative umbrella of Christian groups in Nigeria further accused the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Alhaji Lamido Sanusi of planning to destabilize the country's banking sector through the unwarranted establishment of an Islamic bank.

How ‘Holy Spirit’ marriage collapsed

THE Holy Bible says, “He  who finds  a  wife, has found favour from God.”
When the wife of Jide disclosed to him that she was the Juliet divinely made for him  as  wife  during  a church service in 2006, he thought he had indeed found favour from God.
Without doubting the supposed Holy Spirit speaking through the woman, the man endorsed the lady instantly only to regret later. As if the woman used magic on the man of God, the two of them suddenly became husband and wife, though the  woman  had denied using  deceit  or magic to marry the man.
Two children who are products of the collapsed marriage, are the victims of  the  deceit. Their plight  has  elicited reactions from a non-governmental organisation, Child Growth Concerned Initiative (CGCI).

Michael Jackson's Children Find Strength in Each Other on the Second Anniversary of Father's Death



Michael Jackson's children put on a brave face

Michael Jackson's children put on a brave face yesterday, just two days before the second anniversary of their father's death.

Prince and Paris' close relationship has helped them heal following the trauma of losing their role model. The siblings, who bear a striking resemblance to one another, shared a joke and smiled together as they headed to the cinema.

Earlier this week, they were presented with custom-made Michael Jackson memorial motorcycles. Family friend Marcell 'Porkchop' Miller designed the bikes, plastering them with images of the King of Pop through various stages of his career. 

New Cabinet: Jonathan concedes finance portfolio to Okonjo-Iweala

Barring any last-minute change of arrangements, Madam Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is set to become President Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Finance in the yet to be constituted Executive Council of the Federation, EXCOF.
Okonjo-Iweala, Sunday Vanguard learnt, is already clearing her desk at the International Monetary Fund, IMF, where she is presently working as managing director, preparatory to assuming duties here in Nigeria.
It was not clear at press time if the concession by the president to give the finance portfolio to her was at her request or purely Jonathan’s initiative.  Okonjo-Iweala had served the Obasanjo administration also as the finance minister only to be redeployed to the foreign affairs ministry before her dramatic resignation from the cabinet and return to the IMF, her former employers.

Passionate kisses are good for you!

Kissing offers many health benefits but may also transmit a small number of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Bacteria and viruses in the saliva or blood of one person can be spread to another person by kissing.
Some diseases are more easily spread than others.
Research into passionate kissing has uncovered many valuable health benefits, including:
•Emotional bonding – kissing your partner is a fun, pleasurable and important part of physical intimacy and helps maintain a sense of togetherness and love.

Alleged rape of corps member: Osun monarch placed under house arrest after dramatic appearance in court

 

THE appearance in court yesterday of the Alowa of Ilowa-Ijesha, Oba Adebukola Alli, ended with Magistrate Adewunmi Makanjuola placing him under house arrest.



The judge also ruled that the travelling documents of the accused, who was supported to step into the court room by his wife and driver, be submitted to the court with immediate effect.
The court at its sitting two Fridays ago ordered that the accused, who had failed to come to court for four consecutive sittings, be arrested or in the alternative his surety be brought to court on Friday June 24, 2011.

Pastor Paul Adefarasin turns musician

After a very long wait, the first ever musical album by Pastor Paul Adefarasin is finally ready to hit the stores.
The album became a reality a pain staking production effort of Paul Adefarasin, senior pastor of House on the Rock Church, the executive producer of the album and some of Nigeria’s leading musicians.
Popular artistes who are part of the deal are Sammie Okposo, Niki Laoye, Timi Dakolo, Segun Obe and Saxophonist Mike Aremu.
The album which was recorded in the finest studios across the world, has the production imprints of great producers like Cobhams Asuquo, Rotimi Akinfenwa, Flo, Darasen Richards, Nichola Brown and Wole Oni

"I know my daughter, those are her children" – 75yr old father of mother of 'miracle babies'

Anthony Achonye, 75, father of Mrs Precious Donatus Ogbonna who earlier spoke with Saturday Vanguard  when our correspondent visited Owerri said he knows his daughter and she has given him 7 grandchildren.
The septuagenariand father of Precious Donatus Ogbonna told Saturday Vanguard that he has three children, all girls and Precious was his first daughter. He operates a kiosk in the church premises founded by his daughter.

Pa Achionye

But Pa Achonye refused to comment on his daughter’s detention when contacted  on phone after Precious’ arrest.  He said  he was not unaware of the arrest  but  was on a sick bed in Nwangele Amiegbo, his village receiving treatment. “I have been told of her arrest but I cannot tell you anything now, I am on a sick bed in my village and until I get back to Owerri, I can’t say anything now.”

CAMPUS ‘RUNS’ How female undergraduates take to part-time prostitution

Some female undergraduates are gradually turning to prostitution  in their bid to meet up with the lifestyle they have  carved out for themselves on campus. Ordinarily, the higher institution is a place where the young adult finds herself alone for the first time in his or her life. He or she is forced to take decisions for  good or bad and if not properly guided, could make grave mistakes.
So, it appears normal when young adults indulge in sexual activities, especially if they are left on their own for a long time. In most cases, that will be the first time they are going into this act of free unchecked sex. Some of these young adults get heart broken or otherwise.

Ruggedman, 9ice Fight Again

The acrimony between two leading musicians, Michael Ugochukwu, a.k.a Ruggedman and Akande Abolore also known as 9ice, has taken a turn for the worse, with Ruggedman boasting that “9ice is my boy. He met his wife through me.”
9ice’s estranged wife, Toni Payne, is at the centre of the strained relationship between the erstwhile best friends.
Just as the acrimony between Ruggedman and 9ice was ebbing, the former again stirred the hornet’s nest in a new Yomba TV programme called Gbamu Gbanu.

From Kero to Zero: Nigerians groan under high cost of kerosene

A fresh wave of  kerosene scarcity has engulfed the nation and consumers are not smiling. Long queues are visible at filling stations and the product sells between N150-N300 per litre.
At  that  price range per litre, kerosene has never been so costly in Nigeria. The experiences of consumers vary from person to person.
Early in the week, Mrs Ebere , a mother of twins left her home around 4.30 am in the cold weather in search of kerosene. She got an information that there was a supply of kerosene at the NNPC filling station along Oshodi/Apapa Expressway.

Mother of 'miracle babies' experience tough time in police station.

THE mother of seven ‘miracle babies’, Mrs Precious Donatus Ogbonna  is making  a desperate plea for help out of her current  situation as she languishes in police detention in Owerri. She is also  insisting   her story is true.  A source from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) where she is being held  disclosed that she is seeking  help out of  her situation as the police continue  to gather information on her claim.

Precious, mother of miracle babies

An inside source told  Saturday Vanguard that she is being subjected to a very annihilating condition, an action which suggests that she has already been condemned by the police.
“The condition of where she was kept is terrible. Only one of the family members was allowed to see her since her detention”

Cheat on my hubby? Never, but… – Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

In our last edition, we did a cover story which was titled ”Omotola in the eye of the storm! Husband angry over butt-grabbing photo at the Grammys…Why she apologized.”
The story centered around the rumors then spreading all over the world about the state of marriage of Omotola-by far, one of the most visible and popular stars in the Nollywood firmament following a butt-grabbing incident by her escort at the 2011 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles-an event that had Omotola, as the first Nollywood star to ever walk the Red Carpet at the star-studded event.
The picture had elicited wild rumors and innuendoes – with some speculating that h

Drama: Rape victim forgives her defilers

There was a dramatic turn of event yesterday at Benin, Edo State as a teenager asked the police to withdraw a criminal case against her defilers and set them free.

It was at the Oregbeni Area Customary Court, Benin, yesterday. Consequently, the court stuck out a two-count charge of conspiracy and having carnal knowledge of the teenage girl, name withheld following the victim’s decision to withdraw the case from court.

The victim through her lawyer, J. O. Emiantor told the court that she has forgiven the two men who was allegedly raped her in November last year. The accused persons have been charged with conspiracy and having carnal knowledge with the victim without her consent while armed with cutlass and knife. However, at resumed hearing of the case yesterday, the victim through her counsel, said she had forgiven the accused persons and was no longer interested in prosecuting the two count charge of conspiracy and unlawful carnal knowledge.

Last wish of suspect that allegedly stabbed best friend to death •“Give my N3,500 life savings to his mother”

Policemen attached to Oke-Odo division have arrested a man for allegedly stabbing his friend to death during an argument over winner in a ludo game.
The incident, occurred at the 23-year-old suspect’s one-room apartment around pleasure area of Oke-Odo, at about 7.30pm last Sunday.

Ismaila

The suspect, Ismaila Adeniyi , stared at everyone as he was paraded before newsmen Monday at the Oduduwa Office of the Police Public Relations Officer, unsure of what was going to happen to him . When asked was in police net, he openly declared that he mistakenly sent his bosom friend to an unprepared grave the previous day during a scuffle over winner in a ludo game.

Girl, 5, Foils Kidnap Attempt

A five-year old girl who was kidnapped at Ijora-Oloye, Apapa, Lagos, foiled an attempt by her abductor to take her away when she reportedly told him that he was not her uncle as he claimed.

•Wasilat Habeeb

The suspected  kidnapper, Peter Sunday , was alleged to have  kidnapped Wasilat Habeeb, a pupil of Nigeria Navy Primary School, Ajegunle  at their house at 1, Oyewole street, Ijora-Oloye Apapa.
The incident happened  in the night at about 8.p.m.

Ex-GTB MD, Tayo For Burial Friday

The late Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB, Mr. Olutayo Aderinokun, will be buried next week Friday at the Vaults and Gardens, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRSC Close, Ikoyi, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

The late Tayo Aderinokun.

According to a statement signed by Babatunde Aderinokun on behalf of the Aderinokun family, the week-long burial rites commence next week Monday with a GTB Commendation Service at Harbor Point 4, Wilmot Point Road, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

How SSS rounded up gang of kidnappers in Abia

For Udechukwu Peter, the leader of a gang of dangerous kidnappers and armed robbers that had terrorized and held the people of Abia state, particularly people from Abia North zone comprising Arochukwu Local Government Area, captive, it is now a day of reckoning. His gang had unleashed terror and fear on the people in the area for years. They terrorized, maimed and wasted innocent lives.

Inset: the gang leader.

They were foolishly bold in their criminal act that they also robbed churches and kidnapped God’s anointed. Perhaps, that was a pointer that time was up for the gang. It is said that those the Gods want to kill, they first make mad. So it was for this heartless gang led by Mbaise, Imo state- born Udechukwu Peter.

No court has power to try me – Bankole

ABUJA—EMBATTLED former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, yesterday, challenged the power of an Abuja High Court sitting at Apo, to try him for alleged fraud.
Bankole who went before the high court with an application seeking to quash the entire criminal charge against him, maintained that no court has the power to try him over any action he performed while exercising his powers as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In an application he filed through his lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the former Speaker relied on provisions of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act and the National Assembly Service Commission Act, to insist that he was immuned from prosecution, even as he contended that there was no evidence to sustain any of the 17-count charge against him.

Bankole

MKO Abiola’s son in EFCC’s custody over alleged N35.5m fraud

The Late Chief MKO Abiola

Lagos – An Ikeja High Court on Thursday remanded  Deji Abiola  in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  over alleged N35.5 million fraud.
Deji, second son of late Chief M.K.O Abiola is to remain in EFCC custody pending his arraignment on June 30.
M.K. O Abiola was the acclaimed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The younger Abiola was dragged before the court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo for alleged stealing and fraudulent conversion.

Church bans chieftaincy titles, wedding for pregnant women, others

Umuahia – The Diocese of Amichi, Anglican Communion, has banned new couples from celebrating church wedding before their traditional engagement.
Couples in Igboland often fixed both church and traditional weddings on the same day to save cost. But the Bishop of the Diocese in Anambra State, Rt. Rev. Ephraim Ikeakor, disagreed with the arrangement, and banned the practise.
Ikeakor, who also banned wedding celebration for pregnant ladies, also declared as unacceptable the conferment on its members with Ozo title, especially those already admitted into Knighthood.

Confession of suspected receiver of stolen cars – Custom officer sold the vehicles to me

Last week, men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command arrested a suspected receiver of stolen cars, recovering nine vehicles in the suspect’s Lape phase II, abode in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos.

• The suspect

The suspect, Israel Ubatuegwu was reportedly arrested in his attempt to drive a suspected stolen Toyota Corolla, parked in a hideout, when SARS men led by the officer-in-charge, Mr Abba Kyari, swopped on him.
The suspect shocked detectives when he claimed that one Festus fooled him after he allowed him(Festus) use his compound as garage where the vehicles were kept. He also denied ever taking part in any of the robbery operations.

32-year-old expectant Nigerian turns refugee camp tenant in Europe

The crowd at the refugee camp

After a forced emigration to Europe  following the crisis that hit Libya where she had stayed with her husband for years, 32-year-old Nigerian Mrs. Madeline Adebisi, an expectant mother now lives in uncertainty in a refugee camp, unsure of what the future holds. She is about to be delivered of a baby, even as there is no word from her husband, who left Tripoli in April. Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN reports
Like many a Nigerian who had dreamt of a better living, 32-year-old Mrs. Madeline Adebisi and her husband  sought a greener pasture in Libya. Presumably, they both had sweet tales to share there, until a few weeks ago. The North African country is at war. 

Bankole Lands in Lagos with Chartered Aircraft

Dimeji Bankole, former House Speaker

Embattled  former Speaker of House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole arrived Lagos yesterday in a chartered aircraft. It was not clear where he arrived from.

Bankole flew in in a chartered Hawker Siddley 125 aircraft with registration number ZS-BOT, which touched down and taxied towards the tarmac end of the Presidential Wing axis of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos at about 08.00 pm.

16/6 Attack: Police Recant, Say Blast Not Suicide Bomb

Hafis Ringim, Police IG

Barely a week after the 16/6 attack at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Hafiz Ringim, Wednesday denied earlier claim by his spokesman, Mr Olusola Amore, that the blast was a suicide bomb.

THISDAY had reported on Monday that the claim by the police authorities that the attack on the Force Headquarters was carried out by a suicide bomber was being disputed after an analysis of the CCTV footage.

Debunking the “suicide bomber” claim, Ringim told journalists that it was rather hasty for such claim, adding that until investigation was concluded, no one could state categorically what went wrong.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Amore, had on the day of the blast, told journalists that the explosion was carried out by a suicide bomber.

Police arrest, detain ‘miracle child-birth’ woman

LAGOS — EMBATTLED Precious Donatus Ogbonna, the woman who claimed to have given birth to seven babies in one year was, yesterday, detained by the police in Owerri, Imo State.
Vanguard also learnt that the seven kids have been taken to a motherless babies home in the town.
Sources told Vanguard that the Police stormed the house of the ‘miracle babies’ woman at Irete, Owerri, Monday evening and took her away to the State Police CID, opposite Government House, Owerri, for interrogation.

NDLEA foils attempt to export 800g of cocaine to London

ATTEMPT by a 36 year-old man, Obani Saheed, to export 800 grammes of cocaine to London had been aborted at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
This followed the detection of the drugs concealed in the metal handle of his luggage by officials of the anti-drug agency, during the screening of passengers on an intended flight to London, on Sunday.
The suspect was immediately arrested and transferred to the airport command’s investigation room, where he was assisting investigators, even as two others were also apprehended.

Damilola Taylor's dad calls for sacking of judge handling son’s case

Father of Damilola Taylor, a schoolboy murdered by a notorious student gang in Peckham, London, has called for the sacking of the judge handling his son’s case.
The 10-year-old boy bled to death after he was jabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle by a gang of youths in Peckham, south London
Richard Taylor said the Justice Secretary, Kenneth Clarke in charge of his son’s case should be sacked over his plans to halve jail terms for offenders who had earlier pleaded guilty.
Consequently, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron on Tuesday, at Downing Street, announced government’s to stop the judge’s plans.

Kate Winslet starstruck in sex scene with Guy Pearce

Guy Pearce and Kate Winslet both star in Mildred Pierce. Picture: Herald Sun Source: Herald Sun

KATE Winslet sang Guy Pearce the Neighbours theme song after they filmed raunchy sex scenes together recently.

The Oscar-winning actor admitted to UK magazine Radio Times she was totally starstruck by the former Ramsay St hunk.
"I was so in love with Mike from Neighbours that I'd fake illness to stay off school and watch the 1.25pm edition," she laughed.
And after filming steamy scenes for the pair's latest TV drama, Mildred Pierce, starstruck Winslet admitted she sang him the theme tune to calm down.

Bin Laden widow to return to Yemen

THE youngest widow of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will return home to Yemen from Pakistan in the coming days, her brother says.

Amal Abdulfattah's family was informed by "the foreign ministries of Yemen and Pakistan of plans concerning the return of Amal and her five children to Yemen in the coming days," Zakariya Abdulfattah said yesterday.

"There have been diplomatic arrangements between the Yemeni and the Pakistani parties to secure her return to her country and we have received promises that it will take place soon," he said.
Her family had demanded last month that she and her children be repatriated from Pakistan where she is being detained.

Alicia Keys: Music Maestro, Fashionista and Humanitarian

Alicia Keys

BY GABRIELLA OSAMOR

Alicia Keys, an accomplished pianist, is an American recording artist whose body of work tells of a multitalented, ever evolving artist in search of that perfect vehicle through which she could tell her story… of love, heartbreak and female empowerment.

She has through the years remained true to her love of singing even when she has dabbled into films and has garnered numerous awards and accolades during her musical career which started when she was a child.

Nigerian found guilty of sham marriage in UK.

• To be sentenced on July 20

A Nigerian has been found guilty of attempting to organise sham marriages in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.




Abiola Abdul Kareem was arrested by UK Border Agency officers as he arrived for a wedding ceremony at Abingdon Register office in May, last year.
He had helped arrange the ceremony that was due to take place between Nigerian Idowu James Ojomu, 36, and 20-year-old French national Maria Deroff.
Kareem, 32 of Woodfarm Road, Oxford, will be sentenced on July 20.

Chelsea break world record for manager Andre Villas-Boas following Portuguese's switch to Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have paid Porto €15 million (£13.3 million) to make Andre Villas-Boas their new manager and the most expensive coaching appointment in football history.

History repeating: Andre Villas-Boas, the new Chelsea manager, has made the move from Porto just as Jose Mourinho did in 2004 Photo: ACTION IMAGES

By Jeremy Wilson and Rory Smith

11:31PM BST 21 Jun 2011

At 33, Villas-Boas is also poised to become the youngest Premier League manager and the seventh incumbent at Stamford Bridge since Roman Abramovich bought the club eight years ago.

A formal announcement is expected from Chelsea today, but it is understood that personal terms – an annual wage of £5 million and an initial two-year contract, with the option of a third season – have already been verbally agreed.

Eight million gallons of water drained from reservoir after man urinates in it

Eight million gallons of water had to be drained from a reservoir in Oregon after a man urinated in it.

The cost of draining the reservoir after Joshua Seater was caught on a security camera relieving himself in the pristine lake is costing taxpayers $36,000 (£22,000) Photo: ALAMY

By Nick Allen, Los Angeles

3:26PM BST 19 Jun 2011

The operation is costing the state's taxpayers $36,000 (£22,000) and was ordered after Joshua Seater, 21, was caught on a security camera relieving himself in the pristine lake.

Health experts said the incident would not have caused any harm to people in the city of Portland, who are supplied with drinking water from the reservoir.

They said the average human bladder holds only six to eight ounces, and the urine would have been vastly diluted.

Sperm killers and boosters

with  Dr. Abayomi Ajayi
Deficient sperm production is one of the major concerns of male infertility today to the extent that 90 per cent of male infertility is caused by the failure to produce sperm that is good enough to facilitate conception. Azzospermia occurs when no sperm is produced while olibospermia is diagnosed when few sperm are produced.
Since most sperm are destroyed before ever reaching the egg, the more sperm there are the better the chances that one will successfully fertilise the egg. However, a low sperm count, or a total sperm count of less than 5 million/ml, does not necessarily mean that a man is infertile if the sperm that he does have are healthy, properly formed, and mobile.

Police recover engine, chassis number of suicide bomber’s car

THE Police have recovered the engine and chassis number of the car suspected to have been used by a suicide bomber to detonate explosives at their Louis Edet House headquarters, Abuja last week.




The Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Forensic Laboratory in Lagos, Dr Vincent Okaa, submitted the details to the investigating team last Friday after analysing some of the data collected from the charred and shattered remains of the car believed to have been used for the explosion. The Boko Haram Islamic sect has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Illegal immigrant slashes throat on board plane as he is deported

An illegal immigrant slashed his throat on a plane today as he was being deported to Jamaica.

The Virgin Atlantic aircraft was carrying 449 passengers and 17 crew Photo: AP/ Jim Michaud

4:37PM BST 20 Jun 2011

The man is receiving treatment in hospital after the Virgin Atlantic flight from London Gatwick to Kingston, Jamaica, was postponed.

A UK Border Agency spokesman said an investigation was being launched into how the man was able to inflict the ''superficial injuries'' on himself.

Passengers, who watched in in horror as the incident took place, have been offered counselling by the airline.

Emergency services prevented more serious injury by "gluing" his throat together, a source said.

‘How Onitsha’s tunnel of death was discovered’

Gov . obi of Anambra

THERE were more facts yesterday on how the ‘Tunnel of Death’ was discovered in the heart of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State by the Task force on Security and Crime control.




The tunnel, discovered at the foot of a mobile telephone company mast, within the ever-busy Upper Iweka has sent security operatives back to the drawing board, with the hierarchy of the police pointing accusing fingers at reporters, who they alleged over-blew the number of bodies found in the tunnel.

Customs intercept $110,060 at Lagos Port

Customs officers counting the money at the enforcement unit, Tin-Can Port ... yesterday.

A bag filled with $20 and $50 denominations of United States dollars valued at $110, 060.00 (about N16 million) was intercepted yesterday at the Tin-can Island by men of the Nigerian Customs.

The money was shipped illegally into the country from the United States in container no MSKU 966291/0 on board MV Maersk Dunedin brought in by Safemarine shipping.

The container also had used vehicles and personal effects.

Mob sets 4 robbers ablaze in Imo

OWERRI – Four robbers were, yesterday, burnt at Amakohia, near Owerri, while attempting to rob staff of Mary Sumner Primary School of their valuables.
Vanguard investigations revealed that the gang of about six robbers stormed the primary school, owned by the Anglican Diocese of Owerri, at about 9am.

44 feared dead in Russian plane crash

A plane carrying 52 people in northern Russia crashed late on Monday night, with many of the passengers feared dead.

Image 1 of 3

At least 44 people were killed when a passenger plane broke up and caught fire on coming into land in heavy fog in north-western Russia Photo: REUTERS

12:33AM BST 21 Jun 2011

The Tupolev-134 was travelling from Moscow to the northern Russian city of Petrozavodsk when it crashed just before midnight. It was carrying 43 passengers and nine crew.

Eyewitnesses said that the plane broke up and caught fire on landing.

"Preliminary information is that about 40 are dead. The other eight are in hospital," said a spokesman for the Russian Emergency Ministry. Later the death toll was revised up to 44.

Half of Britons have German blood

They are among Britain’s most bitter rivals, but despite two world wars and any number of football matches, it would seem we are closer to the Germans than many might imagine.

11:55PM BST 20 Jun 2011

Geneticists claim that as many as half of Britons have German blood, a consequence of Anglo-Saxon migration after the Roman Empire fell.

“There is no use in denying it,” Der Spiegel, the German news magazine, wrote this week. “It is now clear the nation which most dislikes the Germans were once Krauts themselves.”

University College London academics studied a segment of the Y chromosome that appears in almost all Danish and north German men. They found that half of British men also have the segment.

4 corps members, 24 others perish

National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members on parade ground.

No fewer than 28 persons including recently discharged youth corps members were killed Monday in a ghastly motor accident along Enugu-Nsukka road.

The accident which occured at a rural community, Amoka in Udi Local Council involved two commercial vehicles belonging to Peace Mass Transit, going to Nsukka from Enugu and Enugu Transport Company (ENTRACO), coming from Makurdi to Enugu.

Fifa vice president Jack Warner resigns

Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has resigned, world football’s governing body has confirmed.
“As a consequence of Mr Warner’s resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained,” said a Fifa statement.
Warner was suspended pending an investigation into bribery allegations.
He and fellow Fifa member Mohamed Bin Hammam are alleged to have paid bribes of £600,000 to Caribbean associations.

Clerk: Bankole rejected advice

Bankole

Former Speaker Dimeji Bankole took loans for the payment of members’ allowances to avoid impeachment, House Clerk Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori has said.
The Clerk said the leadership of the House bowed to pressure from members who insisted that “if the leadership does not announce the date of payment of the running cost, they were all going to be removed”.
Bankole and his erstwhile deputy, Usman Nafada, are on trial over the way they ran the financial affairs of the House.
They were granted bail at the weekend after being remanded in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody.
The Clerk’s clarifications, in a statement made to the EFCC, have been attached to the Proof of Evidence before the court. 

CCTV Footage Casts Doubt on Suicide Bombing Claim

Hafis Ringim, Police IG

By Ike Abonyi in Abuja, Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano and Toba Sulaimon in Ado-Ekiti

The claim by police authorities that the 16/6 attack on its headquarters was carried out by a suicide bomber is being disputed after an analysis of the CCTV footage, THISDAY has learnt.

Meanwhile, security chiefs have placed their men on red alert in Kano State, with a heavy security presence at various locations, especially the major roads linking the state to neighbouring Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto.

Kidnapped corps members regain freedom in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT- FIVE corps members kidnapped two weeks ago in Rivers state have regained their freedom, says the Rivers state Police Command. A statement from the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam, said they were freed, Sunday night, at Ama, Omoku in Rivers state.
According to him, they were rescued by Mobile Policemen on Stop and search Operations  at Omerenu checkpoint on Port Harcourt-Owerri road. Adding that they have since been handed over to the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General M.I. Tsiga.

Lamentations of robbery victim: Needs financial help to be able to walk again

He is a victim of an armed robbery attack that left many people dead along the Sagamu – Benin expressway five years ago. But Ifechukwu Eze was lucky to be one of the survivors who lived to tell the tale of that scary encounter with men of the underworld.
Narrating his experience at the time, Eze informed that the incident that almost cost him his life occurred while he was on his way back to Lagos after travelling to his home town in Anambra State. This was in June 1, 2006.
He had boarded what is commonly known as a night bus based on cost consideration as travelling by night was cheaper. The journey was initially uneventful until the bus got to Asaba where they were accosted by the robbers who went on to dispossess them of their phones and other valuable items.
Not satisfied with robbing the hapless travellers, the bandits asked them to lie on the expressway, ostensibly to serve as a form of barrier to in-coming vehicles.

Human skull business booms in Taraba

TWENTYFIVE-year old Umaru Hamadu, until the fateful day of arrest by the Nigerian Police, had six human skulls ready for sale. The buyer, Umaru Usman Ali, 29 was waiting patiently for him to deliver the product.




The academic economic forces of ‘Channels of Distribution’ in trade also ring true in the evil business. So, while Hamadu is the producer, Ali, is an agent who searches for prospective customers. He profiteers as he bargains with the clientele.
Thus, after arranging with a customer, Ali had gone to Hamadu to collect the goods (skulls) when police led by Cpl. Ben Sunday, on a tip off, emerged and arrested him. The producer – Hamadu brought out a single barrel gun and fired at the policemen. There was exchange of fire and Hamadu was shot in the leg and arrested. He, however, died while receiving medical treatment.

Olympic team trounce Tanzania 3-0

Nigeria moved closer to qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics after the country’s representatives thrashed an ambitious Tanzanian side 3-0 on Sunday in a delayed return leg match played in Benin City.
The match which was originally planned for Saturday but could not hold due to a heavy downpour, saw the Austin Eguavoen-tutored side take the lead four minutes from start through Super Eagles hot shot, Ekigho Ehiosun.

Tragedy in Rivers: 5 JAMB’s exam candidates die, 5 injured in auto crash

JAMB’s exam candidates

Tragedy struck yesterday in the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State, as five candidates for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB’s) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) died in an auto crash, on the way to their centres, while five others were injured.






Corpses of the deceased were deposited at the morgue of Ahoada General Hospital in Rivers state, while those injured and on danger list, are receiving treatment at the same hospital.
It was learnt that the accident occurred around 7am at Ojiagbidi, near Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers state and it involved a Mazda saloon car and a motorcycle.
The car, with the UTME’s candidates, was coming from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and heading for Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Abuja blasts: CIA investigators arrive as probe begins

*Searchlight on suicide bomber’s identity, bombs origin, sponsors
By Kingsley Omonobi, Abuja
There are indications that two  experts in improvised explosive devices from the United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may have arrived Nigeria  to help the police unravel several disturbing angles in the investigations into the twin bomb blasts that rocked the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Sunday Vanguard gathered that the arrival of the American experts, in the early hours of yesterday, was immediately followed with a briefing by the police investigating team comprising the Criminal Investigations Department of the FCT and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) under the headship of DCP Alkali Baba Usman.

Wife-battering: Accused envoy due for retirement

Recalled Nigeria’s Ambassador to Kenya, Dr. Chijioke Wigwe, may be retired soon from the country’s diplomatic service, as he has reached the 60-year retirement age, Empowered Newswire reports.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that while Wigwe has since been recalled for consultations by President Goodluck Jonathan from his duty post in Kenya, the Federal Government is considering retiring him since he has attained the compulsory retirement age.

Last month news broke from the Kenyan media that Wigwe reportedly beat his wife leading to her hospitalisation with photos of the battering splashed all over the Internet.

Slain corpers’ colleagues return to Bauchi, forgive Yuguda

Following the remorse shown by  Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda over the death of some corps members during the post-election violence in the state and his offensive comments afterwards, some colleagues of the fallen NYSC members are back to duty in the state.
Yuguda’s administration, as a show of remorse, compensated the 10 families of the slain corps members with 2 million Naira each,  with the plea by the state government to the run-away NYSC members to return to the state, as  adequate security measures have been put in place in the state to safeguard their lives.

Rape victim transferred to FCT for security reasons

Oba Adebukola Alli

 An Osogbo magistrate’s court has ordered the immediate arrest of the Alowa of Ilowa, Oba Adebukola Alli, on the grounds that his alibi that he suffered a stroke was unacceptable.

The Magistrate, Mr Adewunmi Makanjuola, on Friday, ordered the arrest of the monarch, who is standing trial over an allegation that he raped a female National Youth Service Corps member (name withheld)

NYSC Chief Inspector, Mr. Rauf Busari, told the court that the victim was initially posted to NYSC state headquarters, Osogbo before she was later redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for security reasons.

The one-count charge of rape against the monarch indicated that “the 47-year-old Alli, on Friday, March 25, 2011, at about 6pm at Rasco Housing Estate, Osogbo, did unlawfully have carnal knowledge of the 23-year-old NYSC member.”