“Most terrible wife ever” – Tchidi Chikere 

slams his ex-wife, shares photos of her

 with another man

Nollywood producer/director TChidi has blown the lid on why his marriage with estranged wife Sophia crumpled by exposing photos of Sophia with her lovers.

According to TChidi, he has tried in a matured way to be silent about the whole issue but he just can’t hold it anymore.


“Sophia is the most terrible wife ever in life, somebody that never gave me a home, she wanted a party freak life, no respect for marriage…all Sophia ever wanted was bear his name, no love, no affection.” he vented on twitter You will recall that Sophia had accused Tchidi’s new wife – actress Nuella Njugbigbo – of breaking her home and stealing Tchidi from her.

See Tchidi’s tweets and photos shared below:

By Omotola Filani on April 3, 2014

2,100MW of electricity lost to pipeline vandalism — FG

The country has been losing about 2,100 megawatts of electricity in past few months as a result of vandalism of gas pipelines, the Federal Government has said.

The government also said on Tuesday that it was quoted out of context when it said it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Democratic Republic of Congo for the importation of power.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said these at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja during a press briefing on the current challenges in power supply across the country.

He said the recent dip in power supply was due to inadequate gas supply to the thermal power plants as a result of recurring vandalism of the gas pipelines.

Nebo said, “Some of the more recent attacks on gas infrastructure associated with the power sector include the ELPS in which a pipeline was out for over seven months with a loss of 200 million standard cubic feet of gas and generation capacity of about 800MW; the Trans-Forcados is out now with a loss of 200mscf of gas and generation capacity of about 800MW.

“Also, the Alakiri-Onne LBVS was blasted in March and this adversely impacted on gas supply to industries. There have been similar attacks on the Trans Niger with a loss of 120mscf of gas and 500MW from the Afam VI IPP. This pipeline is vandalised for bunkering about twice every month. The temporary shutdown of the Chevron gas plant this month contributed to the low peak generation of 2,672MW on March 12, 2014.”



The minister said gas shortage was not just affecting the availability of power for dispatch to consumers, but the frequency of system collapse was also strongly related to the menace.

On what the government was doing to ensure gas supply, Nebo said it was projected that additional 295mscf of gas would be available by June 2014 and another 370mscf by the end of the year.

He added, “In order to actualise the generation targets provided in the strategic plan for the power sector, the President recently approved the reconstitution of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gas to Power.

“The committee will be charged with the responsibility of identifying and ensuring that all the enablers and interventions required to deliver adequate power to the nation’s power plants are delivered on time.”

The minister apologised to electricity consumers for the difficulties currently being experienced and assured them of visible improvement by June as directed by the President.

Nebo also denied reports that the government was planning to import electricity from Congo DR.

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Mohammed Wakili, had on Monday at a conference stated that the government had signed an MoU with Congo DR to import and export electricity.


But Nebo said, “The minister of state was quoted out of context. We are not importing power. It is just that Congo is having a very huge hydro power project and power is not something you just sign on and inject funds into.”


By BusinessNews Staff on March 27, 2014

Nigerian, Chinese investors seal pre-paid meters manufacturing deal

A consortium of companies from Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some Chinese investors for the manufacturing of pre-paid power meters and oil and gas pipes in the country.

A PHCN prepaid meter

The deal, consummated at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja on Wednesday, was facilitated by the Nigeria-China Business Council led by its National Co-ordinator, Mr. Matthew Uwakwe.

A statement from the ministry on Wednesday stated that the agreement was signed by representatives of Skydeep International Limited, Mattek Oil Services Limited, Temps Engineering and Gestric Limited, Craag Nigeria Limited, JMET Corporation and Jiangsu Sainty International Group.

The objective of the agreement, according to the statement, is to facilitate financing, procurement and operation of independent power plant projects.

Others are for the local assembly and manufacturing of pre-paid power meters and recharge cards, and setting up of skill acquisition centres for capacity building as well as production of oil and gas pipes.

The Permanent Secretary, MITI, Ambassador Abdulkadir Musa, said while addressing the investors that Nigeria and China had experienced consistency in bilateral and investment relationships for the mutual benefit of both nations.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan had made industry and investment policy a major driving force that would propel Nigeria to greater height through the adoption of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the National Enterprises Development Programme.

Both policies, he stated, would serve as a catalyst for industrialisation and manpower development.

Musa stressed that the country needed more investment in the area of power generation and transmission in order to achieve its development programme.

“Despite the unbundling of the power sector in the country, we still need more investment in the sector to generate power that will sustain our growing population and industries as well as create employment opportunities for our youths,” he added.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the entry of the Chinese investors into the sector was timely following the privatisation of the power sector.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Liu Wembin, said the MoU was important to Chinese investors since they were anxious to start the projects with the best technology available.

MARCH 27, 2014 BY IFEANYI ONUBA 

2015: CBN to withdraw N360bn from banks

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Tuesday moved to tighten liquidity ahead of the 2015 elections by raising the Cash Reserves Requirement for private sector deposits by 300 basis points from 12 per cent to 15 per cent.

The CRR refers to the amount of funds that the banks have to keep with the CBN and it determines the volume of cash in circulation within a given period of time. Whenever the central bank increases the CRR, the available amount with the Deposit Money Banks reduces, while the lending rates will increase.

The decision to increase the CRR for private sector funds was taken at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting held at the central bank’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The increase in private sector CRR, according to analysts, will enable the CBN to withdraw about N360bn from circulation through the DMBs. The private sectors’ deposits in the banks stand at about N12tn presently and the three per cent increase in the CRR will add up to N360bn.

Announcing the decision while briefing journalists shortly after the MPC meeting, the acting Governor of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, said the decision was taken in order to consolidate the success of the monetary policy in attaining price and exchange rate stability.

She also said the potential headwinds in 2014; the ultimate goal of transiting to a truly low inflation environment; and the need to retain portfolio flows were also major factors that were considered before the decision was taken.

The acting governor said while the committee unanimously voted for further tightening of the monetary policy, members were divided on the instruments to be used in achieving the objective.

She explained that the committee saw a raise in the  private sector CRR as the best option that would achieve the monetary tightening needed presently without necessarily forcing an increase in lending rates through the hike in the Monetary Policy Rate.

Alade noted that while some members voted for an increase in the MPR to retain and attract more inflows, others felt that such an increase could have negative implications on access to credit and domestic growth.



For instance, she said, seven out of the nine members that attended the meeting voted to increase the CRR on private sector deposits by 300 basis points to 15 per cent, while two members voted to retain it at 12 per cent.

Alade said, “The committee unanimously agreed that a continuation of a tight monetary policy was needed to consolidate recent gains. Recent resurgence of core inflation in spite of the downward trend in headline inflation reinforces this position.

“Thus, a prudent monetary stance will also facilitate better reserves and exchange rate management in an environment where Fed tapering increases pressure on emerging economies’ financial markets.

“The MPC welcomed the growth expectations but expressed concern that the industrial sector had continued to lag behind.

“The committee noted that growth remained consistently in favour of the agricultural sector, noting that the continued achievement of relative exchange rate stability and single digit inflation in 2014, given the risks in the horizon, would require extraordinary measures.”

On the MPR and CRR on public sector deposits, the acting governor said the committee decided to maintain the current rate at 12 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.

Asked if the central bank was considering the devaluation of the naira in the face of exchange rate pressure, she said the bank had no plans to do that.

Alade stated that the CBN was committed to exchange rate stability and would continue to defend the naira as long as inflows remained.

“The issue of devaluation is not on the table for now. And that is why we voted for increased CRR. We still believe that the interest rate can be used at the moment rather than going the devaluation way,” she added.

She  put the gross external reserves as of March 2014 at $37.83bn, compared with $42.85bn at the end of December 2013.


Alade attributed the decrease in the reserves to increased funding of the foreign exchange market in the face of intense pressure on the naira and the need to maintain stability.


By BusinessNews Staff on March 27, 2014

Ibadan kidnap victims respond to treatment

The eight kidnap victims rescued from the “forest of horror” in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, are responding to treatment.
The victims, who were too weak to eat on Saturday, voraciously devoured large portions of food yesterday.
When our correspondent visited the State Hospital, Yemetu, yesterday, the victims looked better than the previous days.
However, abnormal behaviour by some of them suggests that they may be mentally ill.
A reliable source at the hospital said a psychiatrist had examined them.
The source said: “They are much better now. They are looking more radiant as you can see and are also now eating voraciously because their appetite has been restored. You know they were starved for a long time. Now that they are in a good environment with medical attention, they are eating very well. Their appetite improved on Tuesday. So, what the hospital does is to make provision for extra food, even for the night.”
The source said those with psychiatric problems would be transferred to appropriate centres for treatment.
Fewer people were at the hospital yesterday, as many satisfied their curiosity earlier in the week.
One of the victims, Mrs. Cecilia Obaikhena (72), who disappeared shortly after they were rescued on Saturday, is still missing.
Her children, who came looking for her from Lagos after seeing her picture in The Nation, are still searching for her.
Mrs. Obaikhena strayed away after the rescue operation. She was sighted by passers-by. It is believed that the old woman is roaming the city.

Her son, Victor (48), said his mother was kidnapped in Edo State in 2008.


Posted by: Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

Facebook pictures of Kaduna killings: Former Yakowa’s 

                         aide regains freedom

Former Senior Special Assistant on Media to the late Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Reuben Buhari, was set free yesterday by the police.

Late Gov, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa

He was arrested about a week ago for posting images of dead victims of the recent killings in Kaduna State.


His kinsmen have however risen in his defence, wondering when it became an offence to post unfabricated photos of senseless massacre that claimed scores of lives. In a statement signed by Southern Kaduna Indigenes Forum, the group condemned the arrest, describing it as witch-hunt.

Signed by its chairman, Maj. George Nchok Asake (rtd), the statement reads in part; “Politics should have a human face devoid of malice, rancour and witch hunt of any nature. Why did the Kaduna State Police Commissioner deny Reuben Buhari the right to drop feeding allowance with his wife who only put to bed on Monday?

“Are the pictures he uploaded on the internet not true? Did he commit any treasonable act? Is his action worse than that of the killers of the 126 people from the communities that the police should have long arrested instead of harassing innocent mourners?

“Truth in this case has been penalised while murderers are left to roam about freely in order to commit more murders and destruction”


By Wale Odunsi on March 27, 2014

Spending N1.3trn on subsidy threatens Nigeria’s economy – APC

The Federal Government was yesterday accused of not presenting the seven billion naira reportedly allocated for the convening of the on-going National Conference in its 2014 Budget proposal presently before the National Assembly and that the Federal Government’s expenditure of a whopping N1.3 trillion on petroleum products subsidy was a serious threat to the economy of the entire nation

This allegation by Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi while speaking at the Progressive Governors Forum roundtable dialogue with legislators and civil society leaders.

The Senator cited this as one of the examples of extra-budgetary expenditure currently embarked upon by the present administration.

The lawmaker cited other examples to include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC unilateral disbursement of kerosene subsidy, and the allocation to Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme of the Federal Government.

He further advocated that the budgetary system under a future All Progressives Congress, APC, controlled Federal Government, would be guided by the need for the enactment of tighter laws on fiscal control and budgeting.

According to him: “APC should design an accounting system which would ensure that all revenues collected by the agencies of the Federal Government are paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation”.

He further proposed the need for the creation of a new budget time-table which must also be a new law.

In his own remarks at the occasion, Senator Bukola Saraki declared that the Federal Government’s expenditure of a whopping N1.3 trillion on petroleum products subsidy was a serious threat to the economy of the entire nation.

He continued: “This expenditure is not under our scrutiny because it was not even appropriated for”.

“For instance,how do we handle the issue of kerosene subsidy which we did not even appropriate for? “ he asked.

He presented another poser: “How was possible that some of these huge funds were deducted from source even when they were not budgeted?”

Saraki further observed that as long as the National Assembly continued to condone this type of expenditure pattern on the part of the executive arm of government, there is no way infrastructural development would take place in the country.

Commenting on recent remarks made by the Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs Diezani Alliison-Madueke that the subsidy on petroleum products should be entirely removed, Saraki said the problem faced by the present administration was the management of the subsidy funds.

Said he: “The removal of fuel subsidy is not the solution to the problem, but the proper management of the subsidy funds.”

He reminded his colleagues who were present that sections 80 to 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended gave the National Assembly clear powers on the control of the National Treasury.

He however, commended APC over the efforts it had made in recent times by exposing corruption in public places adding that the excess crude oil account which had been declining for long had began to rise again in recent times.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamilla said the National Assembly carries the full weight, burden and pains of this country adding it must take its oversight functions more seriously, conduct more vigorous and rigorous public hearings and in performing its oversight functions must as a matter of necessity, scrap the service wide votes sub-head of the budget.

He further advocated that the National Assembly should address the nation’s economic development more seriously.

Said he: “ I have sponsored the Economic Stimulus Bill which has passed the second reading in the House. The Bill seeks to dedicate for the next five years a minimum of 40 percent allocation in our annual budget to capital expenditure. If the Executive refuses to do the right thing, then the legislature must pick up the gauntlet and compel it”.

In a communique that was issued at the end of the occasion, participants agreed there exists an urgent need to put in place a national budget time table to ensure that the budgeting process is not subject to the whims of the Federal Government; that Structures and institutions at all levels must be strengthened to ensure accountability in budgeting; that the budgeting process must be designed based on sector plans, not mere statements of intended expenditure or mere line budgeting to be executed at the whims of the civil service; that there must be provision for a closing figure for the previous year before any new budget is presented; that the National Assembly’s oversight function must be reinvigorated to ensure strict compliance with budgetary provisions and that extra-budgetary expenditure which is an impeachable offenc must be halted and punished where applicable.

Participants also agreed that the envelope system, which guarantees payment amounts to certain line charges regardless of needs must be discarded; that there is need for more vigorous public hearings in relation to budgets and public expenditure processes; that there is urgent need to set up a National Assembly Budget Office similar to the Congressional Budget Office in the USA.

They also resolved that Progressive Governors should put in place structures and programmes to fight corruption and poverty which undermine transparency, security, participation and fundamental freedom and that legislators and Civil Society Organisations must work together to promote public awareness and ensure that the public is able to demand for accountability for all public funds budgeted and spent.

They also urged the public to view public funds as their own and respond to the way they are spent. Participants also agreed that APC governed States must lead by example and promote citizen participation in the budgeting process.

on March 25, 2014, BY OKEY NDIRIBE

Marketer wants FG to remove subsidy on petroleum products

An Ilorin-based petroleum products marketer, Alhaji Abdulkareem Sanni, on Sunday urged the Federal Government to totally remove subsidy on all petroleum products.

Sanni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that subsidy, from his own personal assessment, had become a source through which some individuals “milk the nation dry’’.

He also alleged that corruption in the oil sector had become worrisome and needed drastic measures to tackle. The marketer urged government to critically check activities in the oil industry, claiming that the action of some players in the sector was a negation of government’s reform programmes.

“If they want to remove subsidy on oil, let them remove it totally so that we will know actually where we are going.

“This is because there are lots of damages incurred in subsidy, more than the benefits we are deriving from it. By the time it is removed, we will know who is who,’’ he said.

Sanni claimed that a lot of money which was earlier not budgetted for had been spent on kerosene, thus leading to a probe by the National Assembly.

“Only one truck of kerosene was often brought for six or more filling stations in Ilorin to share for sale, as against between 30 or 40 trucks of the product usually said to have been sent to dealers in the town.

“This is bad, and it shows that a lot of things are wrong in the whole set-up,’’ he said.

By Daily Post Staff on March 24, 2014

I’ll donate N12m confab allowance to charity — Falana

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has said he would donate his Federal Government allowance for the ongoing National Conference, totalling N12m, to charity.

Mr. Femi Falana

He said he would not reject the allowances like some of his colleagues but would give it to the needy. He said this was to prevent a possible diversion of the money.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the third out of the 492 delegates at the conference to decline spending the money. Others are Pastor Tunde Bakare, and a former President, Nigeria Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, also a SAN.

The confab, which began on March 17, 2014, will last for three months. Each delegate will be paid N4m per month.

In an exclusive interview with our correspondent on Friday, Falana said, “I once rejected rams and rice sent to me for Christmas by a state government but I found out that they were not returned to the sender; they were diverted by those who brought them.

“Since then, I have learnt to collect such gifts and donate them to the poor, who really need them.”

Falana stated that while a number of groups could sponsor their members; students, the physically-challenged, pensioners, workers and “other economically disadvantaged people” at the confab needed government support.

He added, “Those are the delegates who should be sponsored by the Federal Government. It does not make any economic sense to pay N12m to ex-governors, captains of industries, retired generals and other members of the national bourgeoisie.

“Why pay allowances to those who live in their own houses in Abuja or those who are accommodated in posh hotels by their state governments?

“I am aware that Pastor Tunde Bakare and Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, have announced that they would not take the allowances. That is commendable. I know both of them. They are very comfortable. In my case, I shall collect the allowances and give them to the needy.”


Falana, however, said he would consult with his colleagues in the civil society organisations, which he is representing at the confab, on the specific charity to give the money to.

MARCH 23, 2014 BY LEKE BAIYEWU 

National Conference: North shelves plan to walk out

The umbrella body of northern Nigeria, Arewa Consultative Forum, has said the North has buried its initial plan to walk out of the National Conference, if the agenda of the conference does not address issues that affect the North.

Spokesperson for the Yoruba socio-political group,

 Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin

A communiqué issued by the Northern Elders’ Forum after its two-day meeting in Kano on March 11, 2014, had asked delegates to the conference to stage a walkout whenever it became clear that their interest was at stake.

The northern elders had also dismissed the national conference saying, it “lacks a constitutional basis or any form of legitimacy or authority to speak for the people of the North or other Nigerians.”

They also said the proceedings, conclusions and recommendations of the confab would not be accepted by the people of the North.

After a retreat of northern delegates to the National Conference on Thursday in Abuja, the ACF however stated that the North would fully participate in the conference.

The National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mr. Muhammadu Ibrahim, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the ‘Kano Declaration’ had become a thing of the past, saying they were only interested in the unity of Nigeria.

He said, “Forget about the ‘Kano Declaration’ that the North may stage a walkout. It is now a buried issue. We are participating fully in the conference. We are participating because we are interested in the unity of Nigeria.”

A major outcome of the retreat was the formation of an alliance between the core North (North-West and North-East) and the Middle Belt (North-Central) under an umbrella called the Northern Delegates’ Forum.

The NDF, which is co-chaired by the Chairman, ACF, Ibrahim Coomassie, and Chairman, Middle Belt Forum, Prof. Jerry Gana, would serve as a platform for the delegates from the 19 states of the North.

A communiqué released at the end of the retreat stated that the NDF, in collaboration with appointed members of the North’s think-tank, would harmonise the positions of all parts of the region.

Meanwhile, the South-South and South-West delegates to the national conference have started reaching out to delegates from other zones, to drum up support for regional autonomy.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered in Abuja, on Friday, that the delegates had begun to convene caucus meetings to discuss the matter.

At various times, prominent Nigerians from the two zones had canvassed for regional autonomy and fiscal federalism, stressing that more powers should be devolved to the regions.

Speaking during the week, the spokesperson for the Ijaw Republican Assembly, Mrs. Annkio Briggs, who is also a delegate at the National Conference, confirmed the development to SUNDAY PUNCH.

She added that the South-South was going to align with the South-West and other groups on fiscal federalism and regional autonomy.

She said, “Our demand for self-determination is not about breaking up Nigeria. It is like regionalism, which Nigeria used to practised. It’s the military that scattered it.

“At the conference, we will agree with groups that have a similar position with us. For instance, the South-West also believes in fiscal federalism and regional autonomy. If they put that on the table, we will support them. We will also put it on the table.”

Brigss was, however, quick to add that the South-South would support any other geopolitical zone that presented any issue that would be beneficial to the Nigerian federation.

“If the Igbo put something on the table, we will support them. I hope they would also support our positions, if they agree with them,” Briggs said.

She added the search of liked-minded groups for consensus would help to rebuild Nigeria on the basis of justice, trust, equality and brotherhood.

Speaking in a similar vein, spokesperson for the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that the South-West, South-South, South-East and the Middle Belt shared similar views on the issue of true federalism.

Odunmakin, who is one of the South-West delegates to the conference, said these geopolitical zones would push for federalism with “a little autonomy” at the regional level. He added that the true federalism being canvassed for, would have regional autonomy and resource control as its components.

He said, “A peep into the agenda of the geopolitical zones shows that there are a lot of stakeholders who share common interests. Quite a number of zones are saying that Nigeria has to be a truly federal country, with a little regional autonomy. These zones are the South-West, South-East, South-South and the Middle Belt. We have yet to know the actual position of the North on this.

“The idea is to build a consensus around issues; that is the way to go. The challenge is how to convince others into buying our ideas.”

Also, the Secretary of the Middle Belt Forum, Mr. John Dara, confirmed that the delegates from the zone had met with other zones to set an agenda for the conference. However, he did not name the areas where the zone and others would collaborate.

Rather, he said the zone had taken decisions on the issues it considered as priorities. According to him, these issues are peace, security and sustainable development.

Dara said, “Having identified our focus, we have reached out to all the zones in southern Nigeria. People should not presume that we are in perpetual enmity with any part of the country.

“We believe that the Middle Belt, as our name implies, should be a bridge between the north and the South. We should foster unity, peace and stability. We are reaching out to all interest groups in Nigeria to make sure this conference is a success.”

As for federalism, he said, “The concept of true federalism is a misnomer. Federalism is either federalism or not federalism. Federalism is when you have federating units coming together to form a nation where they share resources and responsibilities.

“Federalism always needs adjustments or fine-tuning in terms of what will be the responsibility of the government at the centre and the responsibilities of the federating units.”

However, early indications that northern delegates are likely to oppose the lobby for fiscal federalism or autonomy for state emerged on Thursday, after a retreat organised by the Arewa Consultative Forum.

A Kano State delegate, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said Nigeria had “federal units” and not “federating units” as proponents of fiscal federalism would want others to believe.

He said, “What is it they call fiscal federalism? Why are we talking about federating units as opposed to federal units? Federating units are quasi-independent countries that agreed to come together and devolve certain powers to a federal or central government. They would also agree to devolve certain financial control commensurate to the powers devolved to the central government.

“But every state in Nigeria today is not a federating unit, it is a federal state. It is a creation of the Federal Government. “If the Federal Government decides to withhold money generated by it, it is justified in law. The states, which make up our federal system today, are a creation of the fiat of the Federal Government.”

He explained that he and his northern colleagues were prepared to build a  consensus with delegates from every part of the country on issues of common national interest. However, he said they were not prepared to “indulge anyone” whose idea was based on narrow, self-serving interests.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, who is also a delegate to the conference said the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation had decided that no Igbo group would canvass for the dismemberment of the Nigerian state no matter how stormy  sessions become during the conference.


He said, “There is no cause for alarm. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, just like other Igbo groups, believes in the unity of Nigeria, where there is equity and justice for all. We would do the best to ensure that this is actualised at the conference. Any deviant is not a patriotic Nigerian.”


MARCH 23, 2014 BY JOHN ALECHENU, ALLWELL OKPI, LEKE BAIYEWU AND OZIOMA UBABUKOH 

NCC raids 10 locations, arrests 5, recovers N30m

The Nigeria Copyrights Commission has raided 10 pirate locations in Enugu State and arrested three suspects as well as recovered contrivances worth N30m.

The NCC saidon Saturday, in Enugu, that the raid followed a complaint from cable network providers such as Multi-choice Nigeria.

Two teams of copyrights inspectors and 20 Anti-terrorism Unit officers embarked on the enforcement action within Enugu metropolis.

In another development, the Commission also carried out a raid at E Line in Ogbete Market, Enugu on some shops selling various types of “dongles” which are mainly used for piracy.

This resulted in the arrest of two persons and recovery of items such as Q-Sats and
A-Z Skys were confiscated.

South-East Zonal Manager of the NCC, Mrs. Ngozi Okeke, said the recent enforcement actions were in continuation of the war against piracy, which the Commission has been waging over the years.

“This war has been intensified since assumption of office of our present Director General, Mr. Afam Ezekude, in the last few years and it is continuing,” Okeke said.

She also said the activities of the NCC are a signal to pirates who have refused to listen to its appeal to desist from piracy and engage in meaningful ventures.

“All the contrivances are items of infringement. They (pirates) will be prosecuted and be made to face the wrath of law. There is no hiding place for them,” Okeke added.

MARCH 23, 2014 BY OZIOMA UBABUKOH, ENUGU 

I’m A Detribalized Nigerian, Tukur Says At Conferment Of Igbo Chieftaincy Title In Lagos

Immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his wife, Hajia Fatimah Tukur have been conferred with the title of Ezigbu anyi Ndigbo of Nigeria by the Igbo Speaking Community of Lagos State.

At a ceremony held at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, Tukur and his wife were said to have been conferred with the traditional titles in recognition of their humanitarian support for Nigerian people.

In his address, the President General, Igbo Speaking Community of Lagos State, Chief Ebere Ubani said though, the gathering despite being non-political, have sustained the ideology of rewarding outstanding Nigerians in whatever fields of endeavour.

“On annual basis, the Ndigbo community in Lagos State does gives out awards to different personalities who are believed to have made tremendous impacts on the lives of Nigerians. This year, we are recognising Alhaji Bamanga Tukur for his exemplary leadership and the entrenchment of rule of law while holding sway as the National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, Ubani said.

In his response, the former PDP chairman expressed appreciation at the gesture but stated that it did not come as a surprise to him, because he is a detribalised Nigerian and has always rendered assistance to Ndigbo.

“I believe all these honours coming from different parts of Nigeria is an attestation to the fact that I am a detribalised Nigerian. I recount that in my service to the nation I have given succour and salvation to greater number of Igbos dead or living”, Tukur said.

Posted by: daniel on March 23, 2014

17 Killed As Boko Haram Bombs Market In Borno

No fewer than 17 people have been killed in an explosion in a village market in Borno State in an attack blamed on Boko Haram Islamists, police said on Sunday.

The deadly blast struck a busy marketplace late on Thursday in the remote village of Nguro-Soye, injuring many more, said police chief Lawan Tanko.

News on the attack was slow to emerge after insurgents destroyed nearby telecom towers, shutting down communications in the area.

“An explosion in the market in Nguro-Soye killed 17 people,” Tanko told AFP, adding that police were investigating the source of the explosion.

“The attack on Nguro-Soye, as in previous attacks, is the handiwork of Boko Haram insurgents.”

Residents who fled the village to the state capital Maiduguri put the death toll at nearly 30, and said more people were hurt.

“They (attackers) fired RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) on the market and opened fire, killing 29 people,” said local trader Hamisu Ibrahim.

“Many people were injured in the attack and the stampede that followed,” said Ibrahim.

Nguro-Soye lies close to the town of Bama where 60 people were killed last month in coordinated bomb and gun attacks by Boko Haram that burnt half the town.

Deadly attacks blamed on the sect have intensified since the turn of the year, making it one of the bloodiest since the insurgency began in 2009.

So far in 2014 some 700 people have been killed in more than 40 incidents, according to Human Rights Watch.

“There is an ongoing military operation in the area (Borno) against the group and the attack was likely in frustration over their losses,” Tanko said.

“It is not established whether the attack explosion at the market which killed 17 people was as a result of planted IED (improvised explosive device) or RPG.”

Tens of thousands have fled for their lives in the restive northeast of Nigeria, either in fear of further attacks or after militants razed their homes and businesses.

A wave of attacks on education targets, including the slaughter of boarding school students in their beds while they slept, has prompted international condemnation.

Authorities in Borno state have shut indefinitely all public secondary schools after 43 students were shot and hacked to death by suspected Boko Haram gunmen last month.

Posted by: niyi on March 23, 2014, [AFP]

Nigeria, Namibia to Build Joint Oil Refinery

The Federal Government and the Republic of Namibia have proposed to construct a joint oil refinery to maximise cooperation in the area of energy.

The decision was reached during the two-day official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Namibia at the invitation of his counterpart, President Hifikepunye Pohamba.

This is contained in a joint communiqué issued on the visit in Windhoek, Namibia.

It stated that the refinery, which would be located in Walvis Bay, would be wholly private financed.

The two leaders urged the private sector of both countries to work toward a speedy realisation of the joint oil refinery.

They commended the hosting of a business forum between the private sector stakeholders of both countries on the margin of the state visit.

The leaders urged their respective private sector stakeholders to take the full advantage of the abundant business opportunities, to optimise trade and commerce between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has agreed to train Namibian diplomats at the Nigerian Foreign Service Academy.

The Federal Government also agreed to provide volunteer health professionals to Namibia under the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) Scheme.

The agreements were among the 11 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed by both countries to broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation.

Others are: Agreement on Youth Development, Bilateral Air Service Agreement and Agreement on Waiver of visa requirements for citizens holding diplomatic and official passports and Extradition Treaty.

They also sign Cooperation in the legal field, Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and in the Field of Geology, Mining, Mineral Processing and Metallurgy.

The others are Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation and on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism.

ARTICLE | MARCH 23, 2014  | BY AUGUSTINE AMINU

House of horror: SEE the kidnappers’ den in Oyo where 20 corpses, skulls were uncovered (GRAPHIC PHOTOS)

20 bodies suspected to have been that of ritual victims were yesterday dug up in Soka, Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. 

18 men and 5 women were also rescued in the same location. The rescued victims were suspected to have been bewitched and physically bound with fetters in a dungeon.

All the rescued victims appear malnourished and unable to explain how they got there. One of the women was said to have been delivered of a baby who was sold to a waiting buyer among those who always thronged the secluded area at night to buy human parts.

The secret location was located by Fulani cattle rearers who grazed within the vicinity of the sinister camp.

Reports say containers and wells containing human parts, including skulls were discovered in the bush.

A suspect identified as Akeem Isiaka (38) was arrested in connection with the incident and taken to Sanyo Police Station.

A woman, Titi Adeniyi, who managed to speak, said she had been held captive for more than two years. Another captive, Tunji Alabi, who said he was a bus conductor before he became a victim of the ritualists, could not say much.

Oyo State Police Command PRO, SP Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor, said some arrests had been made over the discoveries.

More photos below:

Posted in wpzoom Odd World on March 23, 2014 , by Isime Esene, by Akan Ido