News Desk Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Erosion Kills 16, Sacks 180 Families in Anambra

Awka—At least 16 people from Ifite Dunu community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State have lost their lives to a devastating erosion in the community. Also, over 180 families have been sacked by erosion so far and they had fled the community and became refugees in some neighboring towns. MORE>>

Court Remands Kalu, Turaki in Prison Custody

ABUJA — FORMER governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Ibrahim Saminu Turaki, standing trial at a Federal High Court, Abuja for alleged stealing of N30 billion public funds broke down in tears, yesterday, moments after Justice Binta Murtala Nyarko ordered that he be remanded in prison custody pending hearing and determination of his bail application. MORE>>

Iwu in US, Defends Yar'Adua's Election

Echoes of the disputed elections in Nigeria have again reverberated in Washington, with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Maurice Iwu, defending the victory of President Umaru Yar'Adua. MORE>>

Dokubo-Asari wants OBJ Tried at International Court

HEAD of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, has said that the Niger Delta will not witness peace until former President Olusegun Obasanjo is tried in the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity. MORE>>

News Desk Sunday, July 15, 2007

EFCC Fresh Offensive Against Ex-Governors: Nnamani, Turaki on Their Own - Kuta, Mmamora, other Senators

SENATORS have told former governors in the Senate currently being hounded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that they are on their own.
Of the six former governors turned senators, four have questions to answer on alleged corrupt practices while in office, according to the EFCC. MORE>>

Igbo Leaders Pressure Yar'Adua To Release Uwazuruike

Top leaders of the South East extraction are mounting serious pressure on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to release the detained leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike. MORE>>

I'm Not On The Run - Nnamani

CONTRARY to media reports that former Enugu State governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani has gone into hiding in order to escape arrest and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over charges of corruption and money laundering while in office, the former governor is in Abuja. MORE>>

PHOTO OP: DICK TIGER

This boxing legend was born in Amaigbo, a village fomerly in the Orlu Province during the pre and post-independence era. An aggressive counterpuncher, Tiger earned his first WBA Middleweight title fight against Gene Fulmer in October 1962. Tiger would win the fight and the title.

Notes:

WIKIPEDIA ENTRY ON TIGER

ADEYINKA MAKINDE'S ESSAY ON TIGER

AFRICAN AMERICAN REGISTRY ON TIGER

DAMOLA IFATUROTI'S BOOK REVIEW ON TIGER

News Desk Saturday, July 14, 2007

Ex-Govs Dariye, Turaki, Kalu Diverted Over N40bn Public Funds

ABUJA — Immediate past governors of Abia, Plateau and Jigawa states, Messrs Orji Uzor Kalu, Joshua Chibi Dariye and Saminu Turaki respectively were yesterday dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for allegedly diverting over N40 billion public funds into their private businesses and pockets while they held public office. MORE>>

254 Kids Treated by Kanu Heart Foundation

Super Eagles captain and President, Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), Nwankwo Kanu, has revealed that 254 children with various forms of heart diseases have been treated by the Foundation since it was established seven years ago. MORE>>

EFCC Fail to Arraign Ex-Abia Gov

The Economic and Financial Commission [EFCC] yesterday, inadvertently confirmed widespread suspicion that there might indeed be more to the arrest, Wednesday, of former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, than just any claim of fighting corruption and his failure to freely report to the commission for questioning. MORE>>

Bush Nominates New US Ambassador to Nigeria

United States President George Walker Bush has nominated a senior Foreign Service career diplomat, Ms. Robin Renee Sanders, as the new United States Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Nigeria. MORE>>

Why We Sacked Andy Uba - Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday said that it re-instated Mr. Peter Obi as the governor of Anambra State because he was wrongly denied the right to occupy that office by Dr. Chris Ngige, who was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the 2003 governorship election in that state. MORE>>

Kidnappers Abduct 7 Staff of Dredging Firm in Onitsha

Awka—Kidnappers operating from Anambra River and River-Niger axis of Onitsha, Thursday evening, abducted seven men working for a local dredging company at Onitsha end of the River-Niger. MORE>>

Bow and Go: Hoe Senate Screened Ministerial Nominees

The Senate’s decision to allow live coverage of the screening of ministerial nominees was a step probably taken to build up the image of the legislative body. However, at the end of the second day of the screening exercise, the image conveyed was that of a patronizing Senate with distinguished Senators falling over one another to adore the nominees. MORE>>

This Day Music Festival Live at 6 PM

Shakira, the Latin Ame-rican singing sensation, Kelly Roland and Rihanna arrived Nigeria in the early hours of today to participate in the 2007 THISDAY Music Festival. Their arrival was preceded by neo-soul singer, John Legend, earlier on Friday, on a British Airways flight. MORE>>

News Desk Friday, July 13, 2007

EFCC Guns for Nnamani, Dariye, Nyame, Haruna - Yar'Adua Backs ex-Govs' Arrest

ABUJA — THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is expanding its latest crackdown on former governors, according to indications yesterday.
At least four more ex-governors may be arrested soon in addition to the two — Chief Orji Kalu (Abia) and Alhaji Saminu Turaki (Jigawa)— who were taken in by the commission on Wednesday. MORE>>

Soldiers Rob, Killed Obiekea, Witness Tells Court

OWERRI—An Owerri High Court presided over by Justice Ngozi Benardine Ukoha, was at the commencement of the murder trial of two soldiers, Bassey Asiyang and Augustine Nwaolisa, told that the accused persons “abducted, robbed and killed” Sylvester Nnaemeka Obiekea on December 24, 2006. MORE>>

EFCC May Arraign Kalu, Turaki Today

Indications emerged on Thursday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission might arraign the ex-governors of Abia and Jigawa states, Dr. Orji Kalu and Alhaji Saminu Turaki, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday (today). MORE>>

Ex-Senators, Reps fail to Return Diplomatic Passports - Foreign Affairs Ministry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Thursday, expressed displeasure over the failure of former senators and members of the House of Representatives to return their diplomatic passports given to them between 2003 and 2007. MORE>>

Human Trafficking: Two Bus Loads of 121 Suspects Intercepted

Two bus loads of 121 persons suspected to be trafficked emigrants were on Thursday, intercepted at Ezzamgbo community in Ohaukwu Local Government area of Ebonyi State on their way to Cameroun and other central African countries. MORE>>

Yar'Adua Sets up Panel on Ministerial Portfolios

DETERMINED to produce an effective cabinet, President Umaru Yar’Adua has set up a three-man committee to produce a draft allocation of portfolios for the incoming ministers. MORE>>

Obasanjo Worth N180 billion, says Daboh

Assistant National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (North Central) Dr. Godwin Daboh Adzuana has criticized the emergence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo as Chairman Board of Trustees of the PDP. MORE>>

Govt Threatens Reprisal Over Maltreatment of Nigerians Abroad

WORRIED by the harassment being suffered by Nigerians in foreign lands, the Federal Government has lodged a formal protest with the European Union (EU), the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations. MORE>>

Linus "Wayne" Ekene Faces Life in Prison

On January 10, 1997, Linus "Wayne" Ekene fatally shot Okon Nelson Offem over an inexplicable business dispute at his North Hollywood apartment. Being on the lam for nearly a decade, Ekene was arrested in Utah in 2006 on a misdeamenor battery charge for beating up his boss with a baseball bat. His fingerprints matched the ones recovered from the North Hollywood murder scene and was immediately repartrated to California to face a more serious charge.

On Monday, July 09, 2007, "Wayne" was found guilty of all charges and would spend the rest of his life in prison when sentenced next month at Van Nuys Municipal Court.

Naija Videos On The Net

Naija music videos has come with a bang and twist. Watching these videos, one will be wondering, though getting better, why the featured artists and performers are bent on Google and YouTube videos, notoriously an internet crackpot. Check out this 7 minute miracle a paralized man was made to walk by the miracles of God which has invaded the entire nation. These churches are spreading in an alarming rate and nothing is stopping them from keeping the word of God alive. Keep the good work of God coming, folks!

Or this one by Harriet Kisakye titled Ki Nigeria with the vibes basically the same without category. But, hey, it sounds like a dance track and you might as well get on with the groove and save yourself the agony of trying to figure out what the hell it's all about. The lady is pretty, ain't she?

How about this one where a man is raised from the Dead? This 9 minute plus something video is amazing, and you better believe it - the dead man was revived to life. Whoever said Naija can't perform miracles?

And this Fela's Zombie soundtrack submitted to YouTube by Scambaiter? Ain't the name funny to make you wonder if this 18 minutes of rubbish is worth your time? It could be fun to some people, though. Just take a look!

News Desk Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Ministerial List: Senators Worry Over Nominees' Portfolios

ABUJA — THE non attachment of portfolios to the list of ministerial nominees is provoking palpable angst in the Senate. Already, only 17 of the 34 names submitted have been given security clearance for the screening which is expected to start today. The non-inclusion of the portfolios first caused a sharp division among senators after the list was presented last week. MORE>>

EFCC Moves to Freeze Kaduna Govt's Accounts

ABUJA — OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, swooped on the branches of some commercial banks nationwide, seeking to freeze the accounts of the Kaduna State Government. MORE>>

Constitutional Amendment, Senate's Priority

President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has said that the amendment of the 1999 Constitution is a priority of the new Senate.A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, on Monday said Mark made the commitment when he addressed the Annual General Meeting of the Idoma National Forum on Sunday in Otukpo. MORE>>

PDP Chairman Rains Insults on Journalists

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, on Monday, went wild in Abuja as he rained insults on journalists and the media. In a fit of anger, the PDP chairman described Nigerian journalists as a bunch of ignoramus who had always found it impossible to understand his English. MORE>>

CNN Has Apologized to Nigeria - Obiozor

Cable News Network, CNN, has apologised to Nigeria, the country’s outgoing Ambassador to the United States, Professor George Obiozor, has said. Empowered Newswire reported that Obiozor, who spoke on Friday in New York at a reception to mark his departure from the US as Nigeria's Ambassador, said a Nigerian delegation including himself visited the CNN to express Nigerian’s displeasure at the repeated coverage portraying Nigeria in bad light. MORE>>

Resign Now, CNPP Tells Yar'Adua

Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has asked President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to resign since he admitted that the election that brought him to power was marred by fraud. MORE>>

Etteh Tasks Okiro on Cops' Welfare

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, has challenged the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, to faithfully implement the police budget for the improvement of the welfare of his officers and men. MORE>>

How Kidnappers of British Kid Lost N50m Ransome

Combined pressure from Rivers State government and some prominent Ijaw leaders forced the release of Baby Margaret Hill, the three-year-old British girl abducted last week. The little girl, who was kidnapped Thursday last week near her school in Port Harcourt by five gunmen, was let go on Sunday night by her abductors. MORE>>

Uba Denies Begging Ngige

Controversial godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba, has denied reports that he apologised to former governor Chris Ngige, over his travails while serving as governor. A national daily (not THISDAY), had quoted Ngige as saying that he had accepted Uba’s apology in good faith, adding, “if there is no sin, there won’t be forgiveness.” MORE>>

Nigeria to Avoid External Debt Trap, says President

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria will avoid the pitfalls of foreign debts, President Umaru Yar'Adua said on Monday, two years after a landmark deal with the Paris Club granted Africa's top oil producer $18 billion in debt relief. Nigeria's Debt Management Office told Yar'Adua that the country's external debt now stood at about $2.6 billion, while internal debts were 1.86 trillion naira. MORE>>

Militants to Hold Talks With Yar'Adua

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar'Adua is to meet with Niger-Delta militants in Abuja soon over their demand for the creation of two more states - Oil Rivers and Toruebe for the Ijaws and an additional Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, as part of the conditions for peace to reign in the region. MORE>>

Nigeria's Guaranty Trust Bank to Raise 750 mln usd from London Listing - Report

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Nigeria's Guaranty Trust Bank is planning to raise 750 mln usd in a global offering of shares to become the first bank from sub-Saharan Africa to list on the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Times newspaper reported. MORE>>

The Famous Ngwa Road, Aba

The above is what Ngwa Road has been reduced to, courtesy of Orji Kalu

News Desk Sunday, July 08, 2007

Ministerial List Shocker: Abia Senators Reject Ojo Maduekwe - Priotest in Edo, Osun, Kaduna

CHIEF Ojo Maduekwe’s ministerial nomination has been declared dead on arrival with all three senators from Abia State declaring their opposition to the nomination. By Senate convention when two of the three senators from the state of a nominee oppose the nominee, the nomination is rested. MORE>>

Militants Ultimatum to Kidnappers: Free British Girl Within 48 hours or face consequences - They Have Asked for Ransom. Who Will help me pay them? - Mother

NIGER Delta militants under the aegis of the Joint Revolutionary Council, JRC, have issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the kidnappers of three-year old Briton, Miss Margaret Hill, to set free their captive or face their wrath. The ultimatum took effect from yesterday, just as the distraught mother of the little girl, Oluchi, said the kidnappers had asked for ransom. She did not say how much was being demanded by the kidnappers. MORE>>

Money Laundering: UBA to Forfeit $5.3m to US

For obstructing a probe into an alleged money laundering activity in the United States of America, the United Bank for Africa Plc is to forfeit $5.3m to the US government. According to a report by the Bloomberg News on Friday, US prosecutors agreed not to file criminal charges against the bank following the readiness of UBA to pay $5.3m as a settlement fee as part of an agreement announced on Friday in New York by US Attorney, Mr. Michael Garcia. MORE>>

FG Behind Kidnapping - Dokubo

Alhaji Mujahedeen Asari-Dokubo has appealed to kidnappers in the Niger-Delta region to search their conscience since there is always a day of reckoning in this world or in the hereafter, even as he alleged that Federal Government was paying militia groups in the Niger Delta to carry out the kidnappings. MORE>>

Ohakin Proposes N80bn Wonder Lake

GOVERNOR Ikedi Ohakim has said that industrialization of Imo State is the cardinal objective of his administration, just as he added that plans are underway to establish N80bn Wonder Lake Resort at Oguta. The governor who said this during a courtesy visit by the Archbishop and Bishops of Owerri Anglican Ecclesiastical Province led by Archbishop Benneth C.I. Okoro, unveiled other plan for the launch of the Clean and Green Initiative programme to clear over 2000 damaged vehicles littering the states. MORE>>

Aba Boils

Twelve persons have so far been arrested by the police in Abia State following the violent clashes between members of Aba Township Bus Drivers union and the police. Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, has been boiling since Friday due to drivers’ union’s protest against Police harassment and intimidation at different check points in the city and its environs. MORE>>

Orkar Coup: Major Mukoro Pardoned

Seventeen years after the Major Gideon Orkar-led coup which attempted to topple the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, one of the major actors in the coup, Major Saliba Daddy Mukoro has been granted presidential pardon. Sources hinted that the presidential pardon was signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 24, five days before he left office on May 29. MORE>>

Hostage taking: Okiro Confers with UK


Acting Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, has opened discussion with officials of the United Kingdom on how to tackle the ugly incident of hostage taking in the Niger Delta. The chat has coincided with revelation that those who kidnapped the three-year old Briton, Margaret Hill, have formally demanded for ransom from the parents. MORE>>

OBJ Will Destroy You, Rimi Tells yar'Adua

"(Ex-President) Olusegun Obasanjo is not a democrat. He is a dictator, a very bad politician, a bad influence and he is not good for our country's democracy."
With those harsh words, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi at the weekend urged President Umar Yar'Adua to be wary of people he seeks advice from, lest he is misled into disaster. MORE>>

Me, Obasanjo and Nigeria - 'Dangote'

“The price Nigerians are paying for fuel and diesel is high because they are paying the price of inefficiency and corruption within NNPC,” Dangote says. “They (NNPC) are not efficient. If they are efficient, then they should produce like India. We are paying for the inefficiency and corruption. There is corruption in the industry. It is a known thing.” MORE>>

Jungle Beat at Samaka Studios (5)

I wrote about this pop diva here, and good for her she made it at number five in "Jungle Beat at Samaka Studios" with the track "Vul'indlela" from the Greatest Hits CD.

I am not sure if Brenda earned this slot on my list. But watching that emotional video calling on Nelson Mandela to step up stage and join the groove, she rightly earned it, and I gave it to her. Mandela is my idol!