My boobs have caused me more joy than pain – Cossy

Nobody has been able  to figure out Cossy, at least, not completely. She is a lady we have known for too long and too well. She started out as a video model, then walked the ropes in Nollywood and now seems to be doing more of music, which seems to suit her just fine.

Cossy has said music is actually her first love and the release of her first album ‘Nutty Queen’ was a good way to prove it.
It doesn’t look like Cossy is going to spare us of those daring mammary, not for a long while. She is proud of the boobs and proudly say it has brought her more pleasurable memories.

 “My boobs have never caused me any embarrassment, rather only good things. Though you can never be loved by all. Some  love you and some hate you. But my boobs have caused me more joy than pain”, she said.

Bowen University students to wear school uniform, sandals, cut grasses

 Nigeria’s first private University to experience a student riot, Bowen finally re-opened it’s gates to students and staff on Tuesday 22nd April.

Repairs to all damaged properties have begun in earnest. The estimated worth of the damage propoerties and infrastructure is around a whooping N50 million.

However, the university decided to punish the 50 students found guilty of the crime by forcing them to sign an undertaking to wear school uniform and sandals if they still wish to continue with their education in the same university.

In the undertaking, the students were to accept humbling punishments, which include cutting of grass and wearing of school uniforms and sandals like secondary school students.The decision was arrived at due to the intervention of the parents who felt expelling them is not the best option.

Obama plays soccer with humanoid Japanese robot

President Obama during his visit to Japan got up close and personal with the latest in Japanese science and technology, including an encounter with a humanoid robot named “ASIMO.”

During a photo op at the Miraikan museum, which showcases Japanese emerging science and innovation, Obama and the robot bowed at each other and even had a conversation in English.

"It’s nice to meet you," ASIMO said in an electronic voice. "I can kick a soccer ball, too."

"OK, come on," Obama said in wry disbelief.

ASIMO, or Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, accepted the challenge, fetching a ball, stepping back, then punting it toward the president. Obama deftly trapped the ball with his foot.

"How about that, that was pretty impressive," he said.

The robot, which was designed by Honda, told the president it had learned to jump and started to demonstrate.

Later, in remarks to students and civic officials at the museum, Obama joked that “the robots are a little scary. They’re too lifelike.”

During his tour, Obama also got a special taped message from Japanese astronauts aboard the International Space Station, who demonstrated on a large video screen new Global Precipitation Measurement satellites (GPM) data.

Watch the video here

Teacher held for’ impregnating’ pupil

The police in Plateau State have arrested a teacher, Chukwudi Boniface for allegedly putting a 12-year-old pupil in the family way.

Boniface, who works at the Bright Kids Academy, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, was alleged to have raped the primary three pupil several times.
The victim, who is four months gone, told her parents that her teacher was responsible for the pregnancy.

Police spokesman Felicia Anselm said Boniface would be charged to court.
The victim said: “Mr. Boniface tricked me into his room and he forced me. He warned me not to tell anyone, saying he will kill me if I did.”

A group, Young Women Christian Foundation, has called on the government to prosecute sex offenders and protect children’s rights.
The group said it will sponsor a private bill at the house of assembly to deal with rape cases.

JTF, labour to join forces against crude oil theft

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, code named Operation Pulo Shield, has solicited the support of trade unions in the region  in the fight against crude oil theft and illegal bunkering.

Commander of the task force, Major General Emmanuel Atewe, at a meeting with leaders of the various associations, held at the JTF headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital,  said the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft is a collective responsibility and should not be left in the hands of the security agencies alone.

”Security is everybody’s  business and should not be left in the hands of security agencies alone. There should be synergy between stakeholders, community leaders and the JTF especially in the areas of giving out credible information that will aid the Task Force to carry out its mandate,” he said.
According to him, the mandate of fighting illegal oil bunkering and related offences in the region can only be effective if all hands are on deck.

”I am looking for information on the activities of these criminals and I assure you that we will not give out the source of our information. The fight against criminalities in Niger Delta can only be reliable and effective through providing timely information to us,” Atewe

Minister weeps over Boko Haram victims

Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil, says  he wept in Borno State after beholding the gory sight of women and children wounded by Boko Haram insurgents  in hospitals, describing the situation as pathetic.

Wakil spoke in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Regretting the devastation occasioned by the attacks on  the people of the state by insurgents, Wakil said, “At the hospitals, I wept seeing  the many injured victims of Boko Haram. From the general hospitals  to the specialist hospitals, we saw the real victims of the insurgency- women, kids. The situation is pathetic.”

The Minister,  however, said  security agencies alone should not be left with the job of ensuring peace and tranquility in the country as it was the business of all.

 “We must agree that security is everybody business. It is no longer about the Federal Government as many commentators often say. The anti- terror campaign is about states, religious institutions, traditional rulers, civil societies, professional groups alongside the security agencies”, he said.

“It will be unfair to blame President Goodluck Jonathan for the insurgency or for the lingering conflict. The Federal Government, with support of other stakeholders, has curtailed the insurgency to a large extent. Within Borno State, the insurgents are no longer able to attack hard targets; they now kill defenceless citizens. So, we should learn to be supportive of our servicemen and women.

“Whatever shortcoming we may notice in the anti -terror war, we should stand by our troops. We should criticize them constructively and avoid utterances and actions that are capable of thwarting their gallantry efforts.

“But one fact is also clear - terrorism is a global issue. We have a trans- national conflict at hand. Like I said earlier, Nigeria shall overcome. But we all must rally round Mr. President in this fight against  terrorism.”

2015: Tinubu has no plans to impose any candidate, says Lagos APC

Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has described insinuations making the rounds that the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu plans to impose a governorship candidate on the party ahead of the  2015 governorship election in the state as false, unfounded, baseless and mere rumours.

APC in a statement yesterday by its Interim Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said it was a well known pattern in political de-marketing, which the opponents of the party use to confuse and deceive Lagos residents.
The party explained that at present, it merely zoned the choice of its governorship candidates to the Lagos East senatorial zone in line with the tenets of justice, equity and fair-play.

According to Igbokwe, “The unholy rumour about the imposition of a candidate when we are still far from the process of gubernatorial primaries fits into the sorry political calculation of the perennial losers, who will cling to any straw to whittle down the overwhelming support APC enjoys in Lagos.

We note that the rumour of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu imposing one candidate or the other is not new and had formed the outlandish and specious response of the weakened and dying opposition in Lagos to the unprecendented support Lagosians give to the APC.

We note that it was once rumoured that Asiwaju Tinubu had concluded plans to impose another Muslim candidate in Lagos. We note that at a stage, it was the rumour that the Asiwaju had concluded plans to impose his wife as the next Lagos State governor. Now, it is the rumour that Asiwaju Tinubu has concluded plans to impose a certain aspirant who is neither Muslim nor his wife just because the party decided to zone the next governorship to Lagos East when other zones had taken their turns in governing Lagos.

“Lagos APC notes that there is a rich list of competent, well qualified and worthy aspirants from Lagos East senatorial constituency, who have indicated interest in contesting for the governorship of Lagos. We note that these rich assembly of devoted party men have worked for the interest and progress of the party in Lagos and at the national level and the party owes them a free and transparent process through which one of them will emerge as the party’s flag bearer in Lagos. 

''We therefore, counsel our members to remain steadfast and continue to chart the progress of the party. We enjoin the aspirants to continue their mobilisation towards a free primary and be assured that they will have a level playing field.”

Agbakoba sues A-G, NASS to court over Marriage Act

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has dragged the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohommade Adoke (SAN) and National Assembly before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, challenging what he termed the discriminatory position of the Marriage Act and Matrimonial Causes Act to his Christian belief in marriage.

Agbakoba, in the fundamental rights enforcement suit, is challenging the unconstitutional restriction and interference with his right to religious freedom and freedom from religious discrimination by the state through the Marriage Act and Matrimonial Causes Act contrary to Section 38 and 42 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

He is further contending that he is a Christian and so was entitled under the Constitution to conduct his marriage in accordance with Cannon law, but that the state through the Marriage Act and Matrimonial Causes Act compels him to conduct a secular marriage contrary to his faith/belief.

According to him, he wants to, like adherents of other faiths such as African Traditional Religion and Islam, resolve his marriage disputes in courts manned by persons knowledgeable in Cannon law, but is compelled by the state through the Matrimonial Causes Act to use secular courts manned by persons with little or no knowledge of Cannon law.

This, according to his suit, violates his right to religious freedom and freedom from religious discrimination. Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

We'll survive Boko Haram attacks — Shettima

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State said, yesterday, that the Boko Haram insurgents would not emerge victorious in their continued killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians.

Shettima spoke with newsmen in Maiduguri following the recent attack and abduction of some female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, GGSC, Chibok.
He said: “They can burn our physical infrastructure, but they cannot destroy our souls. We are going to survive and rebuild our lives because truth will always triumph over falsehood.”

He said Boko Haram was an ideology built on falsehood which cannot stand the test of time.
Shettima described the abduction of the students as a national tragedy.
He said: “The abduction of innocent girls is also a trial from God, and we will overcome it soon. Our hearts go to the parents of the abducted girls, because it is a tragedy that has befallen all of us.”

Shettima expressed optimism that the girls would soon be rescued by security agents, noting: “Security agents are working very hard to rescue the girls. Hopefully, the girls will be rescued in a very short while.”

Terrorism: Senator urges Nigerians to search wider for sponsors

Senator Gyang Pwajok (PDP, Plateau North) has cautioned against “flat assumptions” over those responsible for the many attacks in the country, as more communities come under attacks.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Jos yesterday that “Nigerians must think deeper, search wider and push much stronger; we must spread our dragnets all over and broaden our horizon in our desire for an end to these evil deeds.

“We must never just assume because that is a very simple tendency that could affect the possibility of reaching the attackers and unveiling their sponsors and motives.”
Pwajok particularly faulted the tendency to blame “Fulani and herdsmen” for attacks in the North-West and North-Central.

He said: "When we blame the Fulani herdsmen, we communalise the crime and reduce investigating opportunities. Similarly, when we blame people of a particular tribe or religion over the attacks, we narrow the search for the culprits, who might just be bandits out to kill, destroy and tear our country into shreds.

“Cattle rustlers are also on the prowl all over the country; the rustlers could even be among the herdsmen and their host communities. We must not limit the search for such thieves to a particular group.

“Experience has shown that practically all Nigerians have suffered the effect of these attacks in one way or the other because bombs, bullets and machetes are blind to race or colour.”

The senator said “again, the girls being abducted by the bandits in the North-East could be anyone’s daughter or sister; the apprehension of the parents can only be imagined, but clearly, no one is immune to these atrocities."

Unemployment in Nigeria, a time bomb — PENGASSAN

PETROLEUM and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria, PENGASSAN,  has described the unemployment situation in Nigeria as a time bomb that can explode any moment, calling on all tiers of government, especially the Federal Government, to be practical in its quest for job creation.

A statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Seyi Gambo, yesterday, in Lagos, said the only way to win the war against crime was tackling unemployment challenges.

According to him, “looking at huge number of applicants in some of the recruitment exercise carried out recently, especially the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment and the Delta State Civil Service are testimonies that government at all levels needs to be pragmatic about job creation in the country.

"This is not a matter of statistics and figures alone. All the figures being brandished by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla, where she claimed increased job creation by the Federal Government and reduction in unemployment did not reflect the true reality on ground.

“The high number of applicants in the failed NIS recruitment exercise and other instances that may not be known shows the reality of the kind of problem the Nigerian nation is. Unless the issue of unemployment is resolved, various crises such as insurgency, kidnapping, ritual killing, armed struggles and other crimes will not stop.

"The government must take pragmatic steps in fixing the nation’s infrastructural facilities, especially power, as a genuine step towards job creation and employment sustainability in the country. The worsening power situation in Nigeria also compounds the problems of the self-employed.”

APC calls Pres. Jonathan insensitive for campaigning the day after Abuja blast, renews call for summit on insurgency

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said President Goodluck Jonathan is exhibiting the traits of an insensitive and utterly hardhearted leader by returning to his illegal campaign trail, barely 24 hours after 75 of his compatriots died in a bomb blast in Abuja, and as news broke that 200 school girls have been abducted by Boko Haram in Borno.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also renewed its call on the President to urgently convene a
stakeholders' summit and pursue a nonpartisan approach towards ending the insurgency, as it is now very obvious that the challenge posed by it is beyond the capacity of the government.

It said the President's quick return to the hustings was reprehensible and has shown that his visit to the scene of the blast was merely to avoid the kind of flak he has received for refusing to visit Yobe, where 43 school children were massacred recently, rather than a genuine show of sympathy by a truly compassionate leader.

''The message that President Jonathan is sending to Nigerians is that keeping his plum job, at all cost, is more important to him than the security and welfare of the same people who voted him into office. Otherwise, the President would not have rushed back to his illegal campaign trail at a time he should be leading the nation in mourning the dead.

''A President who said his ambition is not worth the blood of anyone is now dancing gleefully on the graves of over 70 of his compatriots. What is so important about the illegal campaign stop in Kano on Tuesday that could not have waited for the smoke to clear from the scene of the deadly blast on Monday? Who will President Jonathan rule over when his countrymen and women are being daily mowed down under his watch?

''Without mincing words, President Jonathan erred badly by not showing enough sympathy for the victims of Monday's blast. More people died in the blast than from Kenya's mall shooting last September, yet President Uhuru Kenyatta declared three days of national mourning
during which flags at public buildings flew at half mast and the people of Kenya prayed for the dead and the injured.

''In 2012, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ordered the immediate postponement of all activities long planned to mark his 70th birthday, following the death in a helicopter crash of Gen. Azazi, Gov. Yakowa and others in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa. Such is the stuff of a great leader.

''Even if President Jonathan does not want to mourn the death of the citizens, he should have at least kept a low profile for a few days to avoid a repeat of the disgusting show last February, when he led others to pop champagne corks and clink glasses at the wasteful centenary celebration right after at least 43 school children were massacred in Yobe. Nigerians are now asking; 'Would the President have returned so quickly to the soapbox if any of his family members had suffered the fate that befell the victims of the blast, or if any of his appointees had been a victim?'

''How can a President whose failure of leadership has led to the untimely deaths of 1,500 mostly civilians in the hands of terrorists this year alone be so numb to the fate and plight of those who voted him into office? Or how else does one describe the action of a President who was in a celebratory mood in Kano on Tuesday, even when the surviving victims are still writhing in pain in various hospitals, the bodies of the victims are still lying cold in the morgue and the fate of dozens of abducted school girls remains unknown?'' APC queried

The party urged President Jonathan, as a father, a leader and a human being, to take a moment of deep introspection, to reflect on his actions, adding: ''Perhaps he will realize that long after the glitz of office would have dimmed and the retinue of lick-spittle aides would have vanished, a leader would be remembered more for his humanity than his vanities.''

APC said it was imperative for the President to hearken to the voice of reason because his aides and party officials, desperate not to be pushed off the gravy train, would rather blame everyone but the President and themselves for the woes that have befallen Nigeria under
the President's watch.

International terrorist, White Widow might be responsible for Nyanya bombing

International terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite, popularly known as WHITE WIDOW, whose photo is seen here, may be the terror mastermind behind yesterday’s horrific attack in Nyanya, a suburb of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, which left 75 dead and over 200 wounded.

“While nobody has officially claimed responsibility, security sources fear the bombing may have been a REVENGE attack for the death of al-Shabaab terror chief Makaburi, aka Sheikh Abubakar Shariff Ahmed – Lewthwaite’s MENTOR – just two weeks ago,” reports Daily Star of Britain.
Continuing, the paper says: “Lewthwaite, the infamous widow of 7/7 bomber Germaine Lindsay, is on the run in Africa with three children.

“The daughter of a British Army soldier, she is already on Interpol’s Most Wanted list in connection with SEVEN murders as well as the siege of the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya in September last year which left 67 dead and nearly 200 injured.

“She was known to be ‘extremely close’ to Makaburi, who coordinated the Westgate atrocity.
“A senior security source said agents across Africa were on high alert after the assassination of Makaburi – reportedly by the UK and US funded Kenyan Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) 14 days ago.

“The source said: ‘Makaburi was always believed to be at the very top of the hierarchy of terror organisation al-Shabaab.
“ ‘Intelligence suggests he introduced Samantha Lewthwaite to many influential figures within the al-Shabaab network. He guided her on her path to Jihad.

“ ‘His murder was seen as yet another act of war.’
“The source added that Lewthwaite and her associates ‘wanted revenge’.
“Lewthwaite, 30, is believed to be in Nigeria, Kenya or Somalia, where Islamist terror networks are closely linked, making it far easier for her to evade detection than in Europe.

“The world’s most wanted woman was reportedly caught at a checkpoint in Nigeria just six months ago – but managed to bribe her way to freedom.

“It is thought she commands enormous loyalty and power as a white convert, female jihadist, having proved her worth in previous attacks.
“As both a mother and widow of a 7/7 bomber, she also provides the groups with invaluable propaganda.”

Kwankwaso is a fraudster — Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Kano at a PDP rally described Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a fraudster for embezzling allowances meant for party delegates during the 2010 PDP Presidential primaries.

The President, who reacted to newspaper reports which quoted Kwankwaso as saying he regretted voting for him in 2011 general election, described Kwankwaso’s outburst as a lie, pointing out that Kwankwaso never identified with him politically.
Jonathan, who was in Kano for PDP unity rally, told a multitude of party faithful that converged on the Polo ground that Kwankwaso had been busy making noise “but we talk less and this is the time to expose him.”

He said:  “I could vividly remember that the Kano State governor, Kwankwaso, did not vote for me during the primary and secondary elections  in 2011, he was part of those who worked against me during that period and did not celebrate with me after the victory.

“The allowances sent by my party campaign office for election purposes were taken away by Kwankwaso without giving anybody a Kobo.  How can he say he voted for me?”

Jonathan, who wore his native Ijaw attire, disclosed that Kwankwaso should explain the whereabouts of over N250 billion disbursed to local government councils between 2011 and now, stressing that this, perhaps, explained the absence of development at the 44 local government areas of Kano State.

“Some of you would be asking questions why the President did not wear PDP dress in the rally; I decided to appear this way because there is somebody here in Kano that said anybody that wears hat is a devil and I would explain in detail the federal government projects here in Kano. I will then leave Kano people to judge me”

President Jonathan disclosed that his administration had awarded N14 billion dual carriageway that would link Kano and Katsina, noting that this was in addition to two major flyovers being constructed at strategic locations in the city to aid smooth vehicular movement.

He said:  “Kwankwaso collected N255 billion local government federal allocation from June 2011 to date but nothing was done in the local government areas in the state.
“Despite all sorts of bad names Kwankwaso called me, including devil, Kano is one of the major beneficiaries of Federal Government projects since we assumed office.”

I will defeat Jonathan if... —Kwanwaso

Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwanwaso has accused President Goodluck Jonathan  of being insensitive to the yearnings of Nigerians, lamenting that at a time when the nation should be mourning the Nyanya bomb explosion that left many either dead or injured, the president decided to embark on what he described as “merry-making trips”.

A statement issued  by the Director of Press and Public Relations Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye, quoted Governor Kwankwaso as saying that, “at a time when several innocent lives have been lost, when many of the victims are in hospital seeking blood donations to survive, the president is gallivanting round the country in the name of PDP unity rally”.

The governor who was said to have spoken in Hausa during the matriculation ceremony of students of Northwest University, Kano, at the Government House,   “wondered why the president should be travelling aimlessly with taxpayers’ money, while the common man is being killed daily because of failure of the Federal government to adequately protect lives and property”.

Governor Kwankwaso chided the President for justifying, promoting, and sustaining  corruption, pointing out that despite the allegation of corruption against the Minister of Aviation and the missing 20 billion USD oil funds, for instance, the president remained silent on such issues during his illegal campaign visit to Kano.
According to Kwankwaso, “The man came to Kano to smear our image but thank God, the man gave me free publicity by mentioning my name over 50 times in a 15 minute address.

“The President, his Vice and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation are vultures. They want the PDP to die and feast on its carcass, but personally their present disposition is fertilizer to my future political aspiration.

“Supposing I decide to contest for the number one seat in this country, I will beg APC, APGA and Labour Party not cast their votes for me – I want to assure you that with the PDP vote that I will garner, definitely I will defeat the incumbent President hands down,” the governor maintained.

He said the Federal Government, under Jonathan has failed the people of Kano state and indeed other Nigerians by not doing what is expected of a responsible government to better their lives, adding that in Kano for instance, the Jonathan administration can only boast of constructing one bridge of not more than N2billion.

One dies, several injured in Lagos cult clash over girlfriend

A 33-year-old man has been killed during a feud between two cult groups around Iba new site.

Trouble, as gathered, started on Monday, April 14, at about 8pm, between two cult groups from Aratomi and Chemist, after a cult member  from Aratomi reportedly snatched a female lover from a member of the other group.

This unfortunately led to a battle that lasted several hours resulting in the death of a man simply identified as Hamburger, while several others were injured.
It was gathered  that for the timely intervention of policemen from the Ojo Police division it would have degenerated.

One of the victims, who was attacked with machete and an axe on his head and body, was rushed to the Igando General Hospital where he died yesterday from loss of blood.

According to a police source, who preferred annonimity, “already, 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing and have been taken to Panti.”

Account of victim’s brother

According to the victim’s brother; “My younger brother was returning from work on Monday when he was attacked. There were deep cuts on his head, spinal cord and legs. We took him to the hospital where he died.

“He is my younger brother, he is not a cultist, he spent 10 years with me as an apprentice learning tiling and recently he had his freedom.”

19-yr-old Pakistani nabbed with N228m heroin at MMIA

 A 19‑year‑old Pakistani, Iftikihar Muhammed Arslan, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for attempting to smuggle 25 parcels of heroin into the country.

The suspect, who claimed to be a student of Punjab College in Pakistan, was  apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos,  by the operatives when the illicit drug was discovered in his  luggage during inward screening of passengers on board a Qatar airline flight.

It was learnt that seized drugs weighing 25.400kg, have an  estimated street value of  N228 million.

Preliminary investigation has shown that the suspect left Lahore, Pakistan with the drugs to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, then Doha, in Qatar, from where he connected to Lagos. He is believed to be working for a Pakistani drug cartel.

Spokesman of the agency, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, who described the incident as the  single largest seizure  of heroin at the Lagos airport since January, said the  NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, found  the 25 parcels of brownish substance that tested positive for heroin hidden in a smaller bag inside the suspect’s luggage.

Ofoyeju said the suspect was cooperating with the agency’s team of investigators.

Meantime, Arslan, who speaks English fluently, confessed how he got the drugs.

According to him, “I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres. Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos airport, the heroin was found in my luggage. This is my first time of coming to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two.”

Scores killed in Abuja bomb explosion

A car bomb explosion rocked Nyanya Bus terminus in Abuja with scores of people dead and several cars set on fire.

The incidence happened at about 6:45am at the bus station which serves as a major terminus for commuters coming into Abuja from satelite towns in the Federal Capital territory.

Though details of casualties were not officially available, at least ten bodies were seen at went of the incidence.

Atleast seven burnt cars were seen at the park as a joint team of different security forces battled to evacuate the dead and injured, which an eye witness put at ‘over fifty’.

NYSC member murdered in Edo

A National Youth Service Corps member in Asaba, Delta State, Mr. Osaro Edeghonghon, was weekend murdered by unknown assailants at Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was allegedly murdered at a drinking spot along the Benin-Auchi road at about 9.00 am.

The killing of Edeghonghon came on the heels of the murder of an aide to the Chairman of Esan‑West Local Government Area by a woman two weeks ago at the same drinking spot.
It was learnt that the late NYSC member was accosted by his assailants while making his exit from the beer parlour and sensing dangers, he took to his  heels, but was pursued by his assailants who caught up with him before raining bullets on him.

He was thereafter left to die in the pool of his blood.

However, his father, Mr. Patrick Edeghonghon had accused the police of  handling the case in a shoddy way and alleged that he was prevented from seeing a suspect arrested in connection with the murder.

He, therefore, appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Folusho Adebanjo, to intervene in the matter to ensure that justice was done.

70-yr-old HIV patient rapes girl, 13

A 70-year-old man has been arrested for raping a 13-year-old girl in Barkin Ladi Local Government of Plateau State.

The man whose name has been withheld was said to have raped the girl last Thursday.

The suspect said to be  in police net is infected with HIV and is on anti-retroviral drugs.

The old man was said to have been caught in the act by the son of the landlord, who immediately reported the matter to the police.

It was also gathered that the old man had confessed committing  the crime, but later denied after some of his kinsmen told him to deny raping the minor.

The Plateau State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Olakpe confirmed that the 70-year-old man is in police custody in Barkin Ladi, for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl but said he would be transferred to the headquarters in Jos.

Killer Child-Bride Speaks: ‘I regret killing my husband, 17 days after wedding’

Child-bride, Wasila Umar, accused of killing her husband and three of his friends while injuring many others after she served them poisoned food, in Kano, says she regrets her action.

“Mine was a classical example of youthful exuberance; it dawned on me shortly after that it was a joke taken too far to resolve a forced marriage question”, Wasila, 14, said. The killings happened only 17 days after their marriage.

The suspect, in tears as she spoke at Bompai police headquarters, Kano, where she was being detained, added: “I have never enjoyed the opportunity of going to Islamic school or acquiring Western education. My father forced me into this mess by stubbornly forcing me into a relationship I was not prepared to live in “.

The girl, who hails from Yansoro- Kademi in  Gaya local government area of Kano State, revealed that “though my target was my late husband, I must confess that my blood went cold when I realized I had committed mass murder”.

UTME candidates killed in Ondo auto crash

Two candidates who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yesterday, lost their lives in a multiple road crash along Owo-Ikare road in Ondo State.
It was learnt that the auto crash involved a tipper, a Nissan car and a Peugeot J5 vehicle.

Eyewitnesses said two out of the vehicles were coming from Offa in Kwara State when the crash occurred.
It was learnt that the tipper overtook the Peugeot J5 vehicle while trying to negotiate a bend before ramming into the Nissan  car conveying the candidates.

The Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ikare Akoko, Mr. Samuel Ibitoye, confirmed the death of  the candidates.
Ibitoye said three other sustained various degrees of injuries and were on admission at Ikare Specialist Hospital.

He added that the corpses of the two candidates were deposited at the hospital mortuary.
Ibitoye pointed out that the deceased candidates could not be identified.

Tonto Dikeh hits out at siblings

It’s National Sibling Day in the US but the Nollywood actress thinks her brothers and sisters are not worthy to be called worthy siblings.


On Instagram Tonto wrote ‘National siblings day,I am ma own family/Sibling.. For those of u wit worthy siblings/Family dnt 4get to show dem Love 2day n continually‘.

Earlier in the year, a woman reported to be the actress’ sister put her on blast using Twitter to reveal that Tonto fabricated stories of her past for fans to feel sorry for her.

I avoid some female fans like plague-Timi Dakolo

Have you been avoided by gospel act, Timi Dakolo before? Ok, here is the reason, according to an interview he granted recently...

Coping with female fans

I appreciate my female friends a lot, but I tell them that I can’t promise anything, I am not just married but I am happily married. Although some female fans don’t care if you are married or not, those are the female fans I avoid like plague. Actually I haven’t had any scandals because I spend a lot of time with my family except when I have shows. From a distance I can smell trouble.

My heart has been broken, shattered, scattered... — Lillian Esoro

They say no two separate journeys of life are ever the same. The path some have found so smooth is the same path others may see as bumpy, uphill and rough. For Nollywood beauty, Lillian Esoro, popular for her role as ‘Nurse Abigail’ in the TV soap ‘Clinic Matters’, her romance with the word ‘love’ has been as sweet as it has been unsavoury.

“ Let’s just say I have fallen in love before. Eh, everyone has fallen in love before. Love is a beautiful thing. When I was in love it was like Heaven and I wished the feeling never went away. It was good while it lasted. It’s an experience everyone should have” she said.

But that experience, according to her doesn’t always end well, adding that her heart has been broken.
“Oh, broken, scattered, shattered, ironed and everything. It was actually my broken heart that led me to success. After I fell out of love I was so heartbroken that I could not get my mind off it. So, to get my mind off it, I decided to do something else and that led me into forming my own company to start event management business but I don’t want to talk about it” she said

As hurtful as the experience was for her, beautiful Lillian still believes in love and feels the right man might just be right at the door.

I can never cut my dreadlock- Phyno

In a recent chat, Phyno revealed he has had his dreadlocks for thirteen years now and he doesn’t see how he would ever be seen without it

“Someone has actually begged me with a hundred thousand to have it cut. But nothing can make me cut it. It’s my identity, I’m a Rastafarian. I believe in living natural, the way God made me. I feel naked without my dreadlocks. When I was younger, my mum used to cut my hair and I used to feel so shy and naked. It gives me a lot of confidence” he said.

Kanye West sings about Kim Kardashian butt

Kim Kardashian‘s famous butt has been making headlines this week, thanks to a beach photoshoot and some lewd lyrics from her husband-to-be Kanye West. Kim K, 33, revealed her famously curvy rear while posing for a photo in Thailand on March 31.

The photos hit the internet this week. Also, US Hip-Hop act, Future, released a song on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, titled ‘I Won’ which features a very interesting verse from Kanye West. The two men celebrate the women in their lives, Ciara and Kim K respectively, comparing the women to trophies.

For Kanye, he raps about Kim’s famous rear, how he won her from NBA and NFL players, and how he put an angel in her ‘ultrasound’ …talking about their baby. He then raps about Kim’s sisters. Read the lyrics below… ‘You the number one trophy wife / so it’s only right to live the trophy life.

You grew up on J. Lo, Timberlands by Manolo now /till one day I put an angel in your ultra sound.’ ‘I want to dip that ass in gold, I want to dip that ass in gold / I made it over NBA, NFL players / so every time I score it’s like the Super Bowl. Baby, we should hit the south of France / so you could run around without them pants.’

‘I put that glacier on your little hand /now that’s the only thing without a tan. You could look at Kylie, Kendall, Kourtney and Khloe /all your mama ever made was trophies, right?‘...

I can act nude— Clarion Chukwura

Clarion Chukwura, frontline Nollywood actress and mother of
famous muisc producer, Clarence Peters, has said that she can play any role in  movie including acting nude in order for her to pass the message in her role.

She made the disclosure in an interview with NET.
she said, "There’s no role I will never play. I am an actor and if that role has a message that I think makes sense for me to fathom, I’d play it.It depends on the context of the nudity. Is it a woman who went nude as a result of her mental state? If I see a message that is worthy of me passing, I will."

Police recover arms from illegal firearms factory in Enugu

Men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, of Enugu State Police Command, in the early hours of yesterday, raided an illegal gun manufacturing factory at Ihuoha Amansiodo Oghe community in Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state arresting a widow in whose house some arms were hidden by the manufacturer.


The widow and a mother of four, identified as Mrs. Juliet Nwachukwu, is now in police custody and assisting the operatives in their investigations, according to the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu.

The local gun manufacturer identified as Ejike Eze, was said to have relocated the guns already produced and were ready to be sold, to the house of the widow on Wednesday and disappeared from the community.
The man who must have gotten wind of the planned raid on his factory, which he had operated for several years, moved the arms to the house of the widow without telling her the reason before absconding  from the community.

The police spokesman said when the SARS operatives stormed the factory yesterday, the man was nowhere to be found and following a tip off, the widow’s house was searched and the firearms hidden in one of the rooms were recovered. He said that the arms were the type used by hoodlums to attack innocent citizens.

He said that items recovered included cut-to-size double barrel and single barrel guns, his manufacturing tools and some of the manufactured cartridges.

'Yobo not fit for World Cup'

Veteran coach and former Nigeria Football Federation technical director, Kashimawo Laloko said yesterday that coach Stephen Keshi will be making a mistake if he includes Joseph Yobo into his plans for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He argued that the Super Eagles captain who played a cameo role at the 2013 Nations Cup success in South Africa and has not played for the Eagles since then, has passed his prime and he was only angling to go to Brazil 2014 and make the record of being the Nigerian player with the most attended world cup.

“ I don’t see what a person like Yobo is coming to do other than to create record; he wants to say he has been to the World Cup three, four times.
“That is the reason; otherwise you look at his ability, his performance, his age, his technical preparation; we have younger players who can play in that position better than he.

“At the end of the day Keshi has the final decision. What we should guard against is the pressure of the press and others who are influencing him to begin to force players on him.
“But I am sure that Keshi being a good player himself must know what he requires to get a good team,” Laloko said.

If you are HIV positive, please don’t pass on the virus — VC pleads with students

Prof. Charity Angya, the Vice-Chancellor, Benue State University, Makurdi, on Thursday advised students of the institution to go for HIV and AIDS test to know their health status.

Angya, who gave the advice at the university’s 22nd matriculation ceremony, also advised them against unprotected sexual encounters.
“If you check your status and you are already infected, please go for treatment and do not pass on the virus,” she said.

Angya also advised them against vices such as cultism and avoid taking drugs.
She told the students that administration of matriculation oath was a covenant between them and the university.
The vice chancellor said that the institution matriculated 4,900 students.

Pastor charged for defiling two sisters

A 49-year-old pastor, Friday Arthur, was yesterday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defiling two under-aged sisters (names withheld) aged 10 and 11.

Arthur, a Beninoise, who resides at No. 856, Ikota Housing Estate, Lekki, Lagos, is facing a charge of defilement.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Victor Eruada, told the court that Arthur committed the offence between March 28 and April 6 at the Ikota Housing Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

Eruada said that the pastor, had at various occasions, lured the minors into his room and defiled them.
He said that the offence violated Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 137 prescribes life imprisonment for anyone convicted of the offence of defiling a child.
The victims and their female guardian were in court.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs Linda Balogun, granted the pastor N500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till May 27 for trial.

Supreme Court slams Lagos State over VAT suit against FG

The Supreme Court, yesterday, declined jurisdiction to adjudicate on a suit that was filed before it by the Lagos State government, challenging the powers of the Federal Government to assess and collect taxes on the supply of goods and services rendered within the state.

A seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, in their unanimous judgment, dismissed the suit on the premise that the subject matter bothered on acts of a federal agency, saying in such cases, the Supreme Court, lacks the powers to invoke its original jurisdiction as it was prayed to do by the Lagos state government.

Specifically, the Lagos State Government had in the suit which was filed by its Attorney General, prayed the Supreme Court to abolish the Value Added Tax Act, which it said infringed on its power to assess and collect taxes on the supply of goods and services within its territory.

It further asked the court to declare that the VAT Act was outside the legislative competence of the National Assembly and is therefore unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
Besides, Lagos state, prayed the apex court to invoke section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, and determine all the substantive issues it raised in the suit.

However, the federal government, in a preliminary objection it filed against the suit, insisted that the apex court was bereft of the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, even as it accused Lagos state of abusing the judicial process.

FG, alleged that Lagos state had filed the same suit before different courts, as well as, sought for the same reliefs.
Meanwhile, in the lead judgment prepared by Justice M. D. Mohammed, the Supreme Court, upheld the objection by FG, describing the suit as an abuse of court process.

The panel, held that instead of appealing previous judgments of the lower courts on the matter, the plaintiff, approached the apex court with the request that it should conduct de-novo (fresh) hearing on the case.
The apex court therefore branded the suit as “an abuse of court process in the extreme,” and struck it out, adding that the action of the plaintiff amounted to “forum shopping.”

Army officers’ wives protest posting of husbands to fight Boko Haram

Authorities of the Nigerian Army have set up a board of inquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to the protest of wives of soldiers in Army barracks Enugu.

Military sources told Saturday Vanguard that the wives of soldiers of 103 battalion at Enugu sometime last week, took to the streets protesting the posting of their husbands to Maiduguri to join in the war against insurgency.

The source revealed, that the wives numbering over 200, protested throughout the day, demanding the army authorities to bring back their husbands.

According to the source, the wives of the soldiers claimed that their husbands did not join the army to die hence they (husbands) should be left afar from the war zone so that the wives don’t become widows and the children fatherless at such young ages.

It was gathered that, the army authorities in 82 Division Enugu, had to address the women and assured them that their husbands are safe and alive, before nerves could be calmed.
It was gathered that the women had written series of letters to the army authorities to bring back their husbands  which did not see the light of day hence they had to embark on the protest to call the attention of the authorities to their plight.

Pope Francis asks for forgiveness for child abuse by clergy

Pope Francis has asked for forgiveness for the “evil” damage to children caused by sexual abusers in the clergy.

In quotes carried by Vatican Radio, he described the abuse as a “moral damage carried out by men of the Church”, and said “sanctions” would be imposed.

It is being described as his strongest statement on the issue so far.
Last month, Pope Francis strongly defended the Roman Catholic Church’s record on tackling sexual abuse by priests, following UN criticism.

The Pope set up a committee last year to organise help for victims of clerical sexual abuse but has been accused by some Catholics of dragging his feet in acknowledging the extent of the moral and mental damage caused by paedophile priests, the BBC’s David Willey reports from Rome.

Epileptic power: Fashola appeals for understanding

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday appealed to the public to exercise patience in their bid to enjoy dividends of power sector reforms.

Fashola made the appeal in Lagos at the closing ceremony of the 7th Lagos Economic Summit, tagged: “Ehingbeti,’’

According to him, the privatisation of the power sector will not be successful without the cooperation of investors and consumers.

He urged the public to develop energy conservation culture and manage existing power infrastructure adequately.

“We should desist from illegal connections of electricity and ensure that our bills are paid appropriately. Electricity poles should not be used as speed breakers by reckless drivers; we should all protect the infrastructure from being damaged,’’ he said.