My wife threatened me with marriage—Charly Boy

You can call him the weird one or see him as a controversial singer, but Charles Oputa, well known as Charly Boy, will always remain the man that does not bother himself with what people say or write about him. He is one man that has stayed true to his conviction.

The social crusader recently disclosed that he never had the intention of marrying his wife, Lady D, who he has been with for many years.

Charly Boy said his wife’s curves attracted her to him. He further said he never proposed to her, but explained that one morning, after sleeping over at his place, his wife told him if he was not ready to marry her, she would walk away.

In his words, “Even though we dated for a while, in my wildest dream, I never saw her coming till one morning after sleeping over, she woke me up, looked me straight into my sleepy eyes and demanded that I marry her in the next few days or she will leave me.

“Wow! Before then, no one ever threatened me like that, no one ever gave me ultimatums. Who born them? Me, Charly Boy? Little did I know that this woman for long has been researching on me, this woman has seen me finish, figured out how best to arrest and deal with me.

“When I was much younger, I had a very violent temper, I was obnoxious. And she had witnessed me a few times in my rage with other women. ‘Ain't you afraid that I will hurt or harm you’ to that she answered, ‘you can never hurt or harm me because I will never give you a reason to’.

“Oh! See finish, 37 years later, I have become her bonafide 18krt gold Mugu. Kai!”

Ruth Kadiri threatens to have baby out of wedlock

What could be going on with fast-rising Nollywood actress, Ruth Kadiri that would have made her expressed her desperation for a baby?

In the entertainment industry, having children out of wedlock is fast gaining ground.

The era of having babies after marriage seems to be a thing of the past, going by the way the so-called role models produce offspring outside wedlock.

Not too long ago, the actress announced that, "And so I have decided. Once I clock 30 and I am not married, I am having a baby.”

Since she made that statement, many people have been wondering what could have prompted her to say such. Some have asked if this is a threat to whoever she is seeing at the moment? Only Ruth can provide an answer to that now.

Kehinde Bankole transforms in new makeover ..

Multiple award-winning actress, Kehinde Bankole caught attention of many Nigerians as an actor when she made her appearance in the Wale Adenuga Productions’ Super Story in 2007.

Ever since her debut on the series, it has been a gradual rise to fame for the delectable native of Ogun State. The highlight of her acting career so far was her win at the 2015 AMVCA held in Lagos, where she was crowned Best Actress.

A while ago, Nigeriafilms.com fashion eyes spotted the actress in a very transformed look.

Aside her charming smile and gapped-teeth, the fall of her lustrous hair and well-carved eyebrows makes the twin actress look very stunning.

Her make-over which was done by Joyce Jacob Beauty, brought out one of the best looks of the starlet we all love.

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I’m proud of who I am today...Birthday girl, Ifeoma Okeke

Nollywood actress, Ifeoma Okeke, is a year older today May 4, 2015 and she is so glad to have come this far in live.

The actress, who is just above 30, appreciated those she could identify as friends that has stood by her over the years and thanked God for those he has taken away that never added any value to her life.

Ifeoma noted that she has gone through a lot and live and wished she had leant a whole lot before now but still grateful for things she has been able to learn.

Feeling the groove of her day, the actress shared her thoughts;

Happy birthday to Me... On the eve of my birthday, I wanted to share what’s on my heart. I debated whether to write and publish my thoughts or just keep it in my head. But the amazing thing about having be social media is the ability to reflect on a time of your life in the future. So as I enter the mid year of my thirties and as a little gift to myself ten, twenty or thirty years from now, I wanted to document and also share with you some thoughts. My lessons, hopes, fears, dreams and gratitude… I wonder if you ever feel the same?

I just can’t believe I’m turning 30+. Honestly, I can’t. If someone asked me how old I am, my first instinct would be to say 30 or 29. I don’t know why, I just feel as though I’m still in my last-twenties or early thirties. If someone asked you the same question, what would your gut reaction age be?

Through experience, I’ve learned so much over the last decade. Part of me wishes I knew then what I do now. That I had the confidence and self-assurance I now possess, but I guess you can’t develop that without enduring conflict situations. The journey you go through to understand who you are, what you stand for, your values, beliefs and standards is an amazing one. I feel like towards the end of your twenties & early thrities, you come into your own and have some answers to what you once questioned. People have come and gone (unfortunately sometimes you just lose touch and some I’m pleased to say are gone!), but those who I’ve chosen to continue to grow with are truly cherished. There are friends I know will be life-long and some live thousands of miles away, but the connection is never in doubt and you know no matter what, when you see them it’s like no time has passed. I remember my Dad once said, if you can count your true friends in life on one hand, you are very blessed. I believe my twenties & my thirties were a great time to establish genuine friendships and discover which ones will go the distance.

Wale Adebayo flaunts lover after alleged affair with Clarion Chukwurah

Reports making the rounds indicate that Nollywood actor, Wale Adebayo, better known as Sango, is madly in love with a US-based lady.

The two alleged lovebirds were pictured together displaying love for each like teenagers just introduced into relationship for the first time.

Recall that sometimes ago, it was reported that that the tall and huge actor was in a secret relationship with veteran actress, Clarion Chukwura. Though Clarion Chukwurah was furious about the report when Nigeriafilms.com contacted her about it.

I was shocked my 14-year-old daughter knows about 'Blow-Job'- Mercy Aigbe

Mercy Aigbe-Gentry needs no much introduction, as the Edo state born delectable actress has in little time carved an niche for herself in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

She is popular and has as well produced some movies, but there is one worry the proud mother of two is tackling right now; how to educate her teenager daughter about sex.

The 'Osas' movie star in a recent interview revealed the shock and fear on her face when her daughter returned from school one day to tell her about 'blow-job'.

"There was a day she came back from school and was like ‘Mummy somebody got expelled in my class for giving someone blowjob’ and I just exclaimed ‘Blow what? You know what that is?’ She just laughed and said ‘Mummy, you don’t expect me not to know that.’ You know, that opened another room to educate her.

As often as possible I have to talk to her about boys. Teens need sex education. She is growing up so fast, so I need to tell her all she needs and wants to know so she doesn’t get it all mixed up."

She also talked on the real reasons her former marriage which produced the 14-year old pretty girl, crashed.

"Actually I’ll prefer not to talk about it but looking back, I thank God for where I am today. I would say it’s not that there was something both of us didn’t do right. The only issue we had was his mother, she just didn’t want me to marry her son because I’m not from the Igbo tribe. That was just it. We actually tried to convince her and all that but when it wasn’t working, I just felt I had to leave," she stated

Is Fathia Balogun pregnant?

Some days ago, the true state of Fathia Williams’ marital status was made known to the public through a report that revealed the documents relating to the dissolution of the marriage between her and former husband, Saidi Balogun.

Before the documents found its way to the internet, the actress had notified her teeming fans that she wished to be henceforth addressed as Fathia Williams, not with the Balogun surname that belonged to her ex-husband. Though till now, many still refer her to Fathia Balogun.

The Nollywood actress was spotted by Nigeriafilms.com at a recent event in Lagos and from the pictures we took; they indicated a bump around her abdomen. It is not clear if she was already going through a ‘nine-month course’ or it was as a result of the ‘puff puff’ she ate, borrowing the words of Tiwa Savage.

Or what do you think?


 Credit: Nigeriafilms.com

People clean my shoes because of the power of God in me -Sammie Okposo

Is there any country that believes so much in God like Nigeria? The high rate at which religion is so much respected in this part of the world is bound to get one tempted to ask if God only exist in Nigeria alone.

Recently in Benin, Edo state, some Nigerian gospel artistes, gathered together to praise God and the turnout was massive as many came out to exalt the name of the most high.

Popular gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, was not left out as his songs sent many on their knees seeking God’s face and weeping for God’s manifestation of His powers on them.

While this was going on, some people stepped out to use their handkerchiefs to clean the shoe of the singer with the hope that his God will also visit them.

“The power of God was so strong at SOPP Benin city that people were coming to the stage to clean my shoes with their handkerchiefs and take back with them #I refuse to take any credit ##all power all glory belongs to God #it’s all about Jesus #it’s not about me,” he said.

The event had the likes of Tim Godfrey, Eben, Buchi and many other gospel stars in attendance.

AI wants Ihejirika, Badeh, others probed for war crimes … asks ICC, Buhari to launch investigation

A

Badeh; Ihejirika

Amnesty International has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands to investigate some former and serving Nigerian service chiefs for war crimes.

The crimes, according to the global civil rights organisation, were perpetrated during the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East between March 2011 and 2014.

It said in a   comprehensive report, entitled, “Stars on their shoulders, blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military,” that no fewer than 8,000 persons were “murdered, starved, suffocated and tortured to death “in the North-East during the period.

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AI added in the report which was presented in Abuja on Wednesday by its African Director (Research and Advocacy),   Netsanet Belay, and Senior Director of Reseach,   Anna Neistat, that it had “compelling evidence”   for the investigation of the former and serving service chiefs as well as “mid-level and senior-level military commanders.”

The rights group outlined the roles and possible criminal responsibilities of those along the chain of command – up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff.

It therefore   listed a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika; former Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim; the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, among the nine senior military figures that should be investigated for their command and individual roles in the commission of the crimes.

The others are Maj. Gen. John   Ewansiha, Maj. Gen. Obida Ethnan, Maj. Gen. Ahmadu Mohammed, Brig.-Gen. Austin Edokpayi and Brig. Gen. Rufus Bamigboye.

The AI report revealed that since March 2011, more than 7,000 young men and boys died in military detention while no fewer than 1,200 people were unlawfully killed in February 2012.

It said, “We call on President Buhari to end the culture of impunity that has blighted Nigeria ,and for the African Union and international community to encourage and support these efforts. As a matter of urgency, the President must launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the crimes detailed in the report and hold all those responsible to account, no matter their rank or position. Only then can there be justice for the dead and their relatives.

“The Nigerian military, including senior military commanders, must be investigated for participating in, sanctioning or failing to prevent the deaths of more than 8,000 people murdered, starved, suffocated, and tortured to death.

“Based on years of research and analysis of evidence – including leaked military reports and correspondence, as well as interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces – the organisation outlines a range of war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by the Nigerian military in the course of the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East of the country.

“The organisation has also submitted to the ICC a list of names of military officers who should be investigated for their possible role in the crimes under international law and serious human rights violations documented in this report.

“They (officers) would be responsible if they knew or if they should have known about the commission of the war crimes and failed to take adequate action to prevent them or ensure that the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.”

According to AI, more than 1,200 people were victims of extrajudicial killings by the military and associated militias in the North-East   while the worst case documented   took place on March 14, 2014 when the military killed more than 640 detainees who fled Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a Boko Haram attack .

According to the report, the conditions of detention in Giwa Barracks and detention centres in Damaturu “were so overcrowded that hundreds of detainees were packed into small cells where they had to take turns sleeping or even sitting on the floor.”

The report added that “at its peak, Giwa Barracks   which was not built as a detention facility   was accommodating more than 2,000 detainees at one time.”

The organisation said it had also petitioned the ICC with a view to ensuring the prosecution of the indicted officers for war crimes in Nigeria.

AI added that it had already shared the findings of the research and relevant evidence with the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC.

“AI has also shared the findings of this research and relevant evidence, with the office of the ICC . The organisation has also submitted to the ICC a list of names of military officers who should be investigated for their possible role in the crimes under international law and serious human rights violations documented in this report,” it added.

Buhari acknowledged receipt of the AI report   and promised to study it with a view to taking an action on it.

He said in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,   Garba Shehu,   from Niamey, Niger Republic that the report contained many disturbing allegations that needed to be looked into.

“I assure you that your report will be looked into.We will not tolerate or condone impunity and reckless disregard for human rights,” he added.

But the Defence Headquarters said the AI report smacked of extreme bias “which is disturbing coming from an otherwise reputable organisation that is expected to be just and fair to all.”

The DHQ added in a statement by the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade,   that the serving and retired senior military officers mentioned by AI   had no reason whatsoever to indulge in the allegation made against them.

“It is unfortunate that the organisation just went out to gather names of specified senior officers, in a calculated attempt to rubbish their reputation as well as the image of the military. The action, no doubt, depicts more of a premeditated indictment aimed at discrediting the country for whatever purpose,” it stated.

The DHQ noted that each of the previous allegations made by AI had been thoroughly responded to and cleared in the public   and insisted   that the human rights organisation had taken a premeditated position, “which is far from noble.”

It added,   “It is curious that a body that has never been able to seriously condemn terror in Nigeria now claims to have done an extensive research with the aim of discrediting the nation’s effort at curtailing terror.

“It is clear that Amnesty International becomes more active in presenting distractive allegations whenever the terrorists are losing ground in the battle. It is very unfortunate that Amnesty International has used this report to further confirm its questionable interest in the counter-terrorism effort in Nigeria.”

The DHQ advised AI to stop playing the role of an irritant coming up loudly only when the terrorists are losing out and remaining silent or complacent whenever they (terrorists) heighten   their atrocities.

It said that it was   unfair of AI to persist in effort to discredit the military by seeking all avenues to stigmatise individual officers purely to satisfy an agenda against the security agencies and image of Nigeria before the international community.

Credit: PUNCH

20 UNN students feared dead in auto crash

TWENTY students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, were feared dead in a multiple road accident late on Tuesday, eyewitnesses said on Wednesday.

Our correspondent learnt that the victims met their deaths on the Nsukka-9th Mile Expressway while travelling to their homes in a commercial mass transit bus after the UNN authorities had directed the students to embark on a compulsory two-week break.

A statement by the university’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Okwun Omeaku, had directed the students to vacate the school with immediate effect.

Although the UNN management had described the closure as a “mid-semester break”, students told our correspondent that the school was shut to avert an action said to have been planned by the students to protest the lack of electricity and water in their hostels.

The students had been directed to vacate their hostels before 6:00 pm on Tuesday.

Though the Enugu State Police Command said only three undergraduates died in the accident, eyewitnesses said no fewer than 20 students of the UNN perished in the accident.

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Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, in a statement made available to journalists, said apart from the three who lost their lives, five other students sustained injuries in the accident.

Amaraizu said, “Three persons have been confirmed dead while five others sustained various degrees of injuries. The injured are being attended to at Our Saviour Hospital, 9th Mile Corner, Ngwo, while the dead bodies are also deposited at the same hospital mortuary.

“The auto crash involved a diesel truck with registration number AWK 311 XB, which is believed to have lost control as a result of suspected brake failure and hit two buses with registration numbers UWN 406 XA and UWN 57 XA and also a motorcycle.”

Before the closure of their school on Tuesday, our correspondent learnt that the students had planned to embark on a demonstration over the lack of electricity and water in their hostels.

It was learnt that the planned demonstration was to take place within the week.

A student, who pleaded anonymity, had told our correspondent that there had been acute water scarcity and zero power supply in their hostels for a very long time.

Credit: PUNCH

N8bn scam: Cash assistant has N134m in one account, says EFCC

More of the N8bn currency fraud suspects being taken to a court in Ibadan, Oyo State ... on Wednesday.
| credits: NAN

Hearing in the Central Bank of Nigeria N8bn mutilated currency fraud suit continued at the Federal High Court, Ibadan on Wednesday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told the court that one of the accused persons, Mr. Ayodeji Alase, had N134m in one of his bank accounts.

The EFCC told the trial judge, Justice A.O. Faaji, that Alase, a primary six certificate holder, started work at First Bank as a guard before he was promoted to the position of a cash assistant.

The lead prosecution counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob (SAN), also told the court that the accused had property worth hundreds of millions of naira.

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Alase, according to the anti-graft agency, has a duplex at Oluyole Estate in Ibadan, a shopping complex, a warehouse at Podo, a fenced plot at Dugbe, a block of four flats at Apeye, two plots of land and five-bedroom flat in other parts of the state capital.

He was alleged to have a credit balance of N132m in one of his bank accounts.

The commission also alleged that Alase possessed a block of five-bedroom flat at Apete area of Ibadan and a supermarket at New Garage, Apata area of Ibadan.

Other accused persons, including Olaniran Adeola, Ayodele Adeyemi, Isiaq Akano and others were also said to own property in South Africa, filling stations, cement shops, schools, supermarkets, exotic cars and buildings in several locations in Nigeria.

One of the accused, Mrs. Afolabi Olunike, was alleged to be the owner of a duplex, several plots of land, a storey building and another three acres of land.

Earlier during the hearing, Alase had delayed court proceedings when he claimed not to understand English Language when charges were read to him. But Jacob rose to fault his claim, alleging that although Alase was employed as a guard, he rose to become a cash assistant in First Bank Plc.

Justice Faaji later ruled that an interpreter should be provided for Alase to ease communication between the court and the accused. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On Wednesday, cases were heard before Justice Faaji in batches with the first set of accused persons slammed with a 28-count charge.

They are Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola, Toogun Phillip, Ayodele Adeyemi, Isiaq Akano, Oyebamiji Akeem, Alase, Ajiwe Adegoke and Idowu Oguntade, who is still at large.

Three officials of the CBN were among the accused, while others were from Wema Bank Plc and First Bank Plc.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi, told the court that the accused persons were charged with a 28-count charge which included forgery of documents, conspiracy and stealing.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons were charged with intent to defraud and conspiracy to commit an offence punishable under the Nigerian law.

They were also accused of sharing among themselves mutilated currency meant to be destroyed and destroying and defacing some boxes used to move the currency from one bank to the other. They all pleaded not guilty to all the charges and despite efforts of the counsel to the accused persons to secure bail for them through oral application, Justice Faaji ruled that they should be remanded in prisons pending further hearing.

The case was adjourned to June 8, 2015 for hearing of the bail application.

 

Credit: PUNCH

Fayose’s thugs beat PUNCH correspondent in Ekiti

Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose

Some thugs loyal to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Wednesday descended on The PUNCH Correspondent in Ekiti State, Kamarudeen Ogundele, beating him to stupor while on official duty.

The thugs, who continued to lay siege to the House of Assembly Complex and all roads leading to the state capital, attacked him around noon on Bank Road, very close to a road-block mounted by the police near the Assembly complex.

He had gone to gauge the mood in town when the thugs descended on him for trying to take the picture of women praying for peace in the state, about 200 metres away from the Assembly complex.

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Many of the loyalists of the governor and members of the Peoples Democratic Party lined up all the major streets leading to the complex to prevent the 19 APC lawmakers from gaining entry to the assembly to actualise their move to impeach Fayose.

His dress was torn into shreds by the hoodlums who were angry with him for taking picture after seizing his phone.

He said, “I was about leaving the place when I saw the women praying for peace to reign in the state. I felt it was a spiritual approach to the trouble in the state, so I decided to take the picture. The thugs emerged from their hideouts and swooped on me.

“I kept shouting ‘I’m a journalist’ but they did not show me mercy as they pounced on me. They were like 50 persons kicking me all at the same time. They dragged me out of the car and continued hitting me. At a time, one of them went to carry a big plank of wood in an attempt to hit my head.

“Two policemen raced to the scene to intervene but they were overwhelmed by the mob. One of the policemen started shouting, ‘run, run, run, don’t let them kill you!’ I thought the end had come because they continued beating me. Luckily for me, a few among them felt they had beaten me enough and started fighting their colleagues to let me go. I capitalised on their disagreement and with the help of the police, I quickly escaped.”

The governor later called one of the leaders of the Nigerian Union of Journalist in the state to apologise for his supporters’ action. He also expressed regret over the mob action.

While condemning the incident, Fayose said the action of the overzealous men should not be taken for action of his government.

He assured journalists that they would be guaranteed freedom to discharge their duties without fear or favour in the state, and without intimidation from any quarter.

Meanwhile, riot policemen took over the Efon Alaaye, the border town of Ekiti State with Osun State, where some supporters of the PDP had prevented free vehicular movement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Idowu Faleye, has said the insistence of the 19 APC lawmakers to impeach Fayose would definitely affect their political future in the state.

Credit:  PUNCH

Senate passes anti-rape bill, 45 others in 10 minutes

Senate President, David Mark

THE 7th Senate, on the eve of its lifespan on Wednesday, passed 46 bills, among them the Sexual Offences Bill, which has been pending in the upper federal legislative chamber since 2013.

Wednesday’s session at the Senate became rowdy as senators hurriedly said ‘ayes’ to the 46 bills which will be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, who introduced the bills said they had all been recently passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate for concurrence.

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Enang said the Senate had expended much resource on the processing of the bills and that they were needed to be passed before the 7th Senate is dissolved.

Consequently, the Senate invoked Order 1 (b) of the Senate Standing Order 2011 as amended to adopt a special procedure on the bills for concurrence.

Besides, the Senate suspended Order 79 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders, which portrayed all the bills as having passed first, second and third readings on the floor of the senate and concurred, as well as reproduced and circulated to senators.

Enang said, “The bills by this resolution are hereby read, and deemed read a third time and passed, to be transmitted to the President for assent in accordance with the Acts (Authentication) Act, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

“That the votes and proceedings containing all bills be produced for adoption, as passed by the House.”

Senators Domingo Obende and George Sekibo opposed the passage of the bills in less than 10 minutes through voice votes.

Senate President David Mark however urged the aggrieved senators to protest in writing during plenary on Thursday (today).

The Sexual Offences Bill prescribes life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexual offences like rape and child sexual tourism, among others.

Some of the offences listed in the bill included rape, child sex tourism and people who deliberately infect others with HIV/AIDS.

Chairman of the Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu, sponsored the bill, which is expected to pass concurrence in the House of Representatives on Thursday (today).

The bill also prescribes 10 years imprisonment for incest; 10 years imprisonment for child pornography or a fine of N2m, while those who engage in sex abuse will go to jail for 14 years.

The Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Umaru Dahiru, said the bill sought to redefine and consolidate existing laws on sexual offences.

Anyanwu said the new sexual offences law had criminalised actions of “people who deliberately lace drinks with drugs with intent to stupefy and sexually abuse persons with mental disabilities, among others”.

The other bills passed during the Senate record performance on Wednesday are, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment etc) Act (Amendment), 2015; Office of the Nigerian Financial Ombudsman Bill; Institute of Chattered Trustees of Nigeria Bill; National Convicts and Criminal Records (Registry) Bill, 2015; Community Service Bill; People’s Bank of Nigeria Act (Repeal) Bill, and Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry Act (Repeal).

Others are, National Commission for Rehabilitation Act (Repeal), Bill; Maintenance Orders Act (Repeal) Bill, 2015; Federal Saving Bank Act (Repeal) Bill 2015, Loan (State Development) Act (Repeal), 2015; Nigerians in Diaspora (Establishment) Commission, 2015, and Electronic Transactions Bill, 2015.

The rest include the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria, 2015; Nigerian Metallurgical Industry Bill, 2014; Federal Audit Commission Bill, 2015; National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation Act (Amendment,) Bill; Nigerian International Financial Centre (Establishment, etc) Bill, and the Investment and Securities (Amendment) Bill.

Credit: PUNCH

Ex-FIFA executive Blazer admits taking bribes

A former executive committee member of football’s global governing body FIFA told a US judge in 2013 that he took bribes in connection with the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, according to a partial release of his testimony.

US prosecutors on Wednesday unsealed the transcript of the 2013 hearing in US District Court in New York during which Chuck Blazer agreed to plead guilty of racketeering and other charges.

Blazer said: “I and others on the FIFA executive committee agreed to accept bribes in conjunction with the selection of South Africa as the host nation for the 2010 World Cup.”

The former No 2 official of football in North and Central America and the Caribbean also said he arranged bribes around 1992 in the vote for which country would host the 1998 World Cup.

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Blazer, a US citizen, secretly pleaded guilty to 10 criminal counts in federal court in New York as part of an agreement with US prosecutors, according to the transcript of the hearing.

Credit: Aljazeera

Scores dead in Accra petrol station blast

An explosion at a petrol station in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, has left at least 70 people dead, the country’s fire brigade said.

Many of the victims had sought shelter at the station due to torrential rain.

About a dozen people were taken to hospital after the blast, which is believed to have been an accident linked to the downpour, Prince Billy Anaglate, the fire brigade’s spokesman said.

Details later. ..

 Credit: Al-Jazeera

Police rescue Kogi Commissioner

The Police in Kogi on Thursday announced the rescue of the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Stephen Maiyaki, who was abducted on May 30.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Shola Adebayo, said in a statement in Lokoja that Maiyaki was rescued at about 2am from the kidnappers hideout at Abobo village in Adavi Local Government area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the commissioner and six other persons were abducted at Osara village also in Adavi local government while there to resolve a land dispute.

The statement said Maiyaki had been reunited with his family but was silent on the fate of the other six persons abducted along with him.

It was also silent on the fate of Justice Samuel Obayomi of the state High Court who was abducted in the same local government area on May 25.

The kidnappers had killed the policeman attached to the High Court Judge before taking him away.

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The judge was on his way to court when he was kidnapped by six masked men.

Already, judiciary workers and lawyers in the state have embarked on strike in protest over his abduction.

The police command in the state has since deployed units of mobile policemen and special anti-robbery squad to areas where Obayomi and others are believed to be held by the abductors. Credit: NAN

Buhari capable of ruling Nigeria -Edwin Clark

Chief Edwin Clark

A former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Clark, has once again canvassed support for President Muhamadu Buhari.

He described the President as being capable of leading the country; therefore, he should be supported by all Nigerians.

Clark, who was one of the staunch supporters of former President Goodluck Jonathan, spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at his residence when he received a group, known as Probity Ambassadors Organisation of Nigeria.

He said though he was among those who campaigned against the emergence of the President during the election, Clark said since Nigerians voted for him (Buhari), the President must be supported in order to enable him succeed in the task ahead.

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The foremost Ijaw leader added that the way former President Jonathan conceded defeat had also made the task of running the country easier for the President.

Clark said, “I have congratulated President Buhari and today, he is our President. He’s not the President of a section of the country.

“Buhari is fit for the job and he’s capable of leading us. We will support him.

“Campaigns are over and a winner has emerged. We must come together after the election and give our support to the President.

“The loser of the election, who had all the powers to do and undo, came out to congratulate the President.

“That action of the former President is the best thing that has happened in this country.”

He said that former President Jonathan took that action of congratulating President Buhari because of his love for the country.

“You can only be the President of the country when it is intact. All of us must join hands together to support President Buhari,” he added.

He asked those who might not agree with the President to wait until 2019, when elections would be held again.

He said, “This is when there will be another opportunity for election.

“Then Nigerians would determine if the President has done well or not. Democracy has come to stay in the country.”

He asked Nigerians to learn from the attitude exhibited by the people of the United Kingdom, who he said had forgotten about their last election which was held in May.

Clark said, “Members of both the Conservatives and the Labour Party are living together in peace now as if nothing had happened.”

He also said that those who thought he would die because his party, the Peoples Democratic Party and former President Jonathan lost the election, were short-sighted.

He said that as an elder statesman, he was bound to support whoever wins the election to lead the nation.

 
Credit: PUNCH

Alibaba takes on women who expose boobs, other body parts in public

What the comedian wrote on instagram above. See more after the cut...

Credit: LIB