Court orders 10 Commandments Monument Pulled Down at Okla Capitol

The Ten Commandments monument at Oklahoma's state Capitol must be taken down because it benefits Christian and Jewish faiths, the state Supreme Court ruled.

The Associated Press reported:

The court ruled Tuesday that the Oklahoma Constitution bans using public property to benefit a religion, and said the Ten Commandments are "obviously religious in nature."

Attorney General Scott Pruitt argued that the monument is nearly identical to a Texas monument that was found constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court. Oklahoma justices said the local monument violates Oklahoma's constitution.

Private funds were used to erect the monument in 2012. Since then, others have asked for space, including a Nevada Hindu leader, animal rights advocates, the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and a group pushing for a Satan statue.

Credit: Fox News

7 Times When You Should Be Jealous

The feeling of jealousy isn’t a good feeling, but there are certain situations where it’s good to be jealous in your relationship.

Jealousy is a natural emotion that we can’t control at times. We often get jealous for no reason, but if your partner behaves in a way that causes you to be jealous, don’t feel guilty about expressing your emotions.

He should know about your feelings and he should admit his mistakes. When jealousy hits, make sure you have a reason for it and let your partner know about that reason. Good communication is the key to a happy and healthy relationship.

Here are seven times when it’s actually okay to be jealous.

1. When he gives flirtatious vibes to another woman

If you are at a party or any other social gathering and you notice that your partner is extremely flirtatious with another woman, it’s absolutely natural to get jealous. Don’t hide your emotions. Let your partner know that you don’t like his behavior, but do it in a calm way. If needed, take a few deep breaths to release your anger first. The last thing you want to do is to cry and scream and ruin your day or evening.

2. When you learn important things about your partner from others

When you are in a relationship, you want to know everything about your significant other. It’s painful when you learn some important facts about your partner’s life from his friends, co-workers or neighbors. It’s okay to feel jealous. After all, why do his co-workers know about those facts and you don’t? Ask your partner why he didn’t tell you anything about it, but don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Maybe he just forget to tell you about it, or maybe he has a crucial reason to hide it from you.

3. When your partner treats his job or hobby like his second relationship

If you partner spends all of his time at work, it’s not surprising you feel so jealous. While it’s great to love your job or hobby, you should also spend your time with family and friends. Discuss it with your partner and help him to find a good work-life balance. You love him and you want to spend more time with him. Tell him! He needs to make some lifestyle changes to live a happier life.

4. When you feel like he doesn’t care about you

Hearing your partner brag about his happy and successful day, when you are trying to cope with the hard times, is always difficult and it’s okay to feel jealous. Sure, you should be happy for your partner’s success, but if you feel like your partner doesn’t care about you and your problems, it’s a red flag. Just tell him that you are happy for him, but you have some serious problems so you don’t feel well now.

5. When he travels a lot

If your partner is a travel junkie, chances are that he visits new places at least once a month. If you don’t have time or simply can’t afford to travel, you may feel jealous, and it’s bad and good feeling at the same time. Again, if he loves you and cares about you, he will never go anywhere without you. Don’t let your jealousy ruin your relationship, why not save for your lifetime trip together? You will have an awesome experience and improve your relationship.

6. When he buys expensive things

If your partner makes more money than you and he never buys cheap things (like you do), it’s okay to feel kind of jealous that you can’t afford to buy a super cool smartphone or brand name clothing. This is a situation when you have to cope with your jealousy alone. Remember, he loves you for who you are. If he doesn’t tell you that you wear cheap things, there’s no need to worry.

7. When he spends more time with his friends than with you

If you feel like your partner spends more time with his friends than with you, don’t blame yourself for being jealous. Instead, let your partner know that you feel lonely because he doesn’t spend enough time with you. You should be his priority, not his friends.

Most of us believe that jealousy is a toxic emotion that can ruin any relationship, but it shouldn’t make you feel unhappy. There are situations where your jealousy can help you either improve your relationship or end an unhealthy relationship. However, if you realize you are too jealous in your relationship, try to get rid of this emotion and don’t let it ruin your life.

Credit: Womanitely

9 Things You Should Never Say to Men

Words can ruin any relationship in a matter of minutes. You might have been together for years, but once you say one of the things women should never say to men, you may end up with heartbreak. Women tend to be highly sensitive, but men, albeit they are brave and patient, can get hurt too. Some men are like children and it’s hard to build a serious relationship with them. But if you love such a man, you should avoid being clingy and needy, because they are actually clingy and needy. Moreover, they don’t like when you say something that they don’t want to hear. Even if you will run away from a needy man, it’s important that you avoid saying one of these things to your partner.

1. You are a mama’s boy

Dating a “mama’s boy” is always hard, but if you love your man and want to spend your life with him, you should never say that he is a “mama’s boy.” Accept this fact and don’t try to change him. If your man is a “mama’s boy” in his 20s, he will be “mama’s boy” in his 40s too. Are you ready for it? If yes, then love and appreciate his mom more than your mom, and he will love you till the end of his life. Personally I avoid this type of men because any wrong word about him or his mother can ruin your relationship in a jiff. This is a lesson I learned from my own experience.

2. Tell me more about your ex

Although we know that we shouldn’t dwell on the past relationships, it’s tempting to know more details about your boyfriend’s ex. Avoid talks about exes, especially about intimate details. If you have a crush on a guy, but he doesn’t show any signs he likes you, or he has a girlfriend, don’t ask him if he slept with her. You will never win his heart with this question, as well as you will never improve your relationship when you know about your partner’s exes.

3. Look that girl looks so fabulous!

This sentence ruined many relationships. While it seems to be so simple and common, if you tell it to your partner and he will say “yes” or “fantastic” or something like that, chances are you will get jealous and it may lead to a fight. You probably start asking questions like, “Is she more beautiful than me?” or “Would you like to date her?” First, you may say that you’re just curious and you simply want to know his thought. But if he says “yes,” it will be the end of the world. If he says “no,” you will think that he’s trying to hide the truth from you, and it will be the end of the world as well. Ladies, it’s a sure sign of low self-esteem.

4. You can’t have fun

If you’re dating an introvert, you should accept this fact and appreciate your partner’s traits. You love parties and you know how to have lots of fun. Your partner, however, may not like parties, but it doesn’t mean that he can’t have fun. Think twice before telling him, “you should learn how to relax and have fun because you are so shy and boring.” Once you tell him that, he will never want to see you again, no matter how much he loves you. Introverts know how to relax and they are not shy. They know how to love and they are loyal, but they are highly sensitive. After all, introverts make the best husbands!

5. Am I beautiful?

Well, ladies, if you want to boost your confidence and self-esteem, leave your man alone. While men can help women boost confidence and feel better about themselves, you should never ask your partner “Am I beautiful?” If he really loves you, he will tell you about it without your questions. If your man doesn’t compliment you, it doen’t mean that you are not beautiful. Probably, he doesn’t love you at all.

6. You have a terrible fashion sense

If you don’t like how your man dresses, don’t tell him about it. You can slowly get rid of his old clothes and buy new ones, if you live together. If not, then try to go shopping together every time he wants to buy a shirt or a jacket. If you tell him that he has a terrible fashion sense, he won’t break up with you, of course, but you can greatly damage his self-esteem.

7. When will you call me and I see you again?

When you have a first date with a man you like, it’s so tempting to ask him about your second date. However, don’t do it. He will think you are clingy, and most guys avoid clingy girls. He will let you know when you will see again and when he will call you, so don’t ask him. It’s not a pride, but being clingy is not the best way out.

8. It’s just a job

If your man spent a few days trying to accomplish an important project, but his boss said that it’s a total failure. Don’t tell him “it’s just a job.” Men appreciate their jobs, especially when they do something they are passionate about. You can tell something like, “Next time your boss will definitely notice your work,” or “Life is unfair, so maybe your boss had a bad day and your project is actually great but he didn’t notice it because of his bad mood,” “Or don’t give up. You will do it better next time. You are strong and I believe in you.” Support your partner and he will cope with any problem faster.

9. You will never become successful

If your man has a sweet temper and he can’t take serious decisions without asking for your advice, it’s tempting to say, “You are a man, you should be brave, confident and successful. You will never become successful, because you’re born unlucky.” Don’t say it no matter what. Not only will you ruin your relationship, you will make him believe that he’s really unlucky. Support him, motivate him, inspire him and help him, but never reproach him.

Building a strong and healthy relationship is never easy. It’s important to understand your partner, support him, love him and help him become happier. He, in his turn, should do the same. If you are in an unhealthy relationship, it’s better to end it now. However, if you date a man and want to tie the knot with him, avoid saying any of these 9 things. Do you agree with this list? Do you think there are some other things women should never say to men?

Credit: Womanitely

Former NBA star and friend of Justin Bieber found dead in his pool after tripping on stairs

A former NBA star has been found dead in his pool after tripping, hitting his head and falling in.

Jackson Vroman, 34, was at his home in Los Angeles County, California, on Monday when he drowned, the coroner's office confirmed.

The naturalized American Lebanese player who was friends with Justin Bieber and Reggie Bush, was the 31st pick in the NBA Draft and went on to play for Phoenix Sun and New Orleans Hornets.

He was sitting down, he got up to go inside the house, tripped on the stairs, hit his head and drown [sic] in the pool,' he wrote.

The professional poker played uploaded a picture of the athlete in a private jet with a dog on his lap after hearing news of his death.

He also wrote: 'One of my best friends passed away today, everyone who knew him loved him, Godspeed my brother.'

I'm suing the 'Plane Crash' Pranksters - Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton is telling business associates she will sue the people responsible for putting her on a plane that appeared to be in crash mode just to get a rise out of her.

We're told Paris is furious over the stunt in which a TV crew got the pilot to pretend to shut down the engines in her plane, and then nose-dive to the ground. Paris says she was in mortal fear for her life ... something the video pretty clearly shows.

Our sources say she's "totally freaked out" over flying anywhere ... something she's required to constantly do. She's already called her lawyers to find out who's responsible, and they told her she has a solid case for emotional distress.

Paris tells them she had absolutely no clue this was a prank ... she wasn't in on it. She also doesn't believe anyone in her camp was involved.

An Egyptian TV show host engineered the prank as they flew over Dubai.

And Paris says ... it was a lot worse than it looked on video. She says the plane almost hit the water during the dive and then steeply pulled out of the dive, almost doing a loop as it ascended. 

Credit: TMZ

Caitlyn Jenner steps out in new style

Caitlyn Jenner proves she can keep up with the Kardashians too as she makes glamorous debut on New York night scene in a tight bandage dress  

She's only been seen attending various speaking engagements at LGBT centers since her Vanity Fair cover.

But on Monday night Caitlyn Jenner made her debut on the New York City night scene in a skintight bandage dress as she stepped out for dinner at Tutto Il Giorno.

The 65-year-old reality star made a glamorous exit from the Tribeca Italian restaurant, making sure all eyes were on her while balancing in a pair of stilettos.

The brunette wore her gorgeous locks in flowing waves over her shoulders as she sported large gold hoop earrings. 

With a plunging neckline, the former Olympian appeared to be in a celebratory mood as she looked positively radiant while clutching a small metallic handbag.

The bandage dress was a classic designed by Herve Leger, a brand that was once a favourite of the entire Kardashian clan, with Kim leading the trend in countless bodycon numbers.

See more photos after the cut...











Credit: Daily Mail

Full Details Of The Powerful Forces Behind APC Crisis

After winning the last presidential election, monitors say the crisis currently rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) was expected given its popular tag as a “marriage of strange bedfellows”. EDEGBE ODEMWINGIE reports that the crisis is fueled by a supremacy battle among three political power blocs struggling to shape the workings of the present administration vis-à-vis political posturing towards 2019

The defeats suffered by the ‘anointed’ candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 9 National Assembly elections highlighted the major cracks in the political party coalition that brought President Muhammadu Buhari to power last month.

Despite APC holding majority seats in the Senate and House of Representatives, candidates backed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) managed to get elected.

“This party is a coalition of several other parties. So, these little squabbles must always be there. But the overriding interest of the people is what we are pursuing and the people who have agreed to be one, they have no choice but to be one,” a member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Sam Nkire said on the party’s crisis.

In spite of these comforting words from Nkire, the APC crisis is worsening and the party is increasingly polarised.

As it stands, the struggle for power within the party is being fought by three political power blocs: the Buhari/defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) caucus; Bola Tinubu/defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)/South West caucus and the Atiku Abubakar/Bukola Saraki/nPDP caucus. Another school define the political tussle as a straight fight between the party’s northern elements/nPDP against South West interests led by APC’s National Leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the tussle is not unconnected to the different political power blocs posturing towards the 2019 elections. Even though President Buhari has not publicly declared that he will not seek re-election in 2019, political alignment by at least the Atiku Abubakar/Bukola Saraki/nPDP caucus has been reported.

At the APC presidential primaries held in Lagos, Tinubu backed President Muhammadu Buhari over Atiku to emerge flagbearer. Tinubu had also single-handedly picked now vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate.

Recall that Atiku came third in the APC presidential primaries after the former Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso clinched the second highest number of votes. However, the John Odigie-Oyegun-led APC got signed commitments from all the party’s presidential aspirants to work for the winner of the presidential primaries, despite the outcome of the result.

After the presidential election, Atiku forged a new alliance with other power blocs within the APC – G5 governors; immediate past Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other politicians that decamped from PDP to APC in 2013 to present a parallel power arrangement within the party.

The politicians had a common adversary – Tinubu. They plotted to cut him to size and they did. The newly formed political bloc decided to throw up Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as House of Representatives Speaker to thwart Tinubu’s inroad to the National Assembly. Atiku’s bloc has taken Saraki and Dogara’s emergence as its own share in the APC 2015 election victory.

Party insiders report that Atiku and his loyalists are working to check Tinubu’s grip on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), as presently constituted.

Atiku’s camp has not stopped there. Last week, the new leaderships of the Senate and House of Representatives rejected APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) approved list of principal officers which included candidates backed by Tinubu, viz: Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila. Recall that Lawan and Gbajabiamila failed in their respective bids to emerge Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker, respectively.

Despite protests by some members of the Senate APC caucus, Senate President, Bukola Saraki refused to rely on the APC NWC list but opted for nominations brought by Senate zonal caucuses to appoint principal officers.

In the House of Representatives, the violent scenes that played out in the chamber last week Thursday over the selection of principal officers startled Nigerians including a group of secondary school students on excursion to the National Assembly at the time of the commotion.

On Thursday, proceedings in the House of Representatives turned rowdy and almost bloody after an attempt by a lawmaker from Sokoto State, Abdullahi Balarabe Salame, to snatch the Mace – the symbol of authority- threw the House into a free-for-all fight.

The constitution of the House APC caucus principal officers was deadlocked following the fracas. A fresh attempt to constitute the principal officers will be when the National Assembly reconvenes on July 21.

There were early signs prelude to Thursday’s fracas. Reports filtered in early last week that the APC House caucus had broken into factions over the choice of candidates to fill four vacant principal officers positions in the newly inaugurated 8th House.

It was learnt that the two APC House factions communicated to the party’s leadership on how the positions should be shared.

One faction loyal to the House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara insisted that the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution must be adhered to in appointing the four vacant positions.

By this position, the North East and South West have been settled with the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions respectively.

The other faction “Loyalists Group” loyal to the former Minority Leader and Speakership candidate in the June 9 House elections, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/APC) insisted that the principal officers must emerge on the basis of popularity within the House APC caucus.

According to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Standing Orders of the Senate and House of Representatives, the political party with majority seats (APC) produces the House Leader, Deputy House Leader, Majority Whip, Deputy Chief Whip.

Zoning debacle
Since the presidential election, the APC on the directive of its National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun announced that the party would zone vacant political positions. Led by the former chairman of the defunct ACN, Bisi Akande, other Tinubu supporters including the party’s NWC, Oyegun’s zoning directive was overruled. The party conducted a contentious mock election to “select” its candidates for Senate President and House Speaker. The candidates lost.

Again, when the issues of National Assembly principal officers came up, Oyegun reiterated his call for zoning. The APC chairman’s call fell on deaf ears. Backed by the party’s NWC, some APC governors led by Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state brought seperate letters containing the party’s list of principal officers in the Senate and House of Representatives. Again, Oyegun, it was gathered, was forced to sign the letter when the team insisted that it was the decision of the party.

On Wednesday, the APC North Central and South East House caucuses rejected the party’s nominees to occupy the four vacant principal officers positions.

The zonal caucuses which were excluded from the APC nominations, insisted that the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution must be adhered to in occupying the four vacant positions.

Monitors say the party leadership’s inability to rise above personal interest which has been characterised by imposition of candidates and weak internal party democracy has triggered the costly divisions the party grapples with lately.

A member of the APC in Kogi State, Oyisi Okatahi traced the party’s problem to the fact that it was built on faulty foundations and selfish interests.

His words: “What is happening to APC is a result of building a party on faulty foundations. There is no perfect society or party but parties that have stood the test of time are built on core values. For APC, this is not the case, rather it is “the survival of the fittest”, because many decisions are based on the interest of the day and not on any core value or principle.”

Oyegun has now assumed the role of the fallen guy. He has been blamed for the recent political misfortunes in the APC, leading some governors and party faithful to call for his sack. The Tinubu camp accused Oyegun of not doing enough while the Atiku/Saraki camp accused Oyegun of acting Tinubu’s script. President Buhari has repeatedly said he would not be drawn into the political face-off typified by the National Assembly leadership tussle between the power blocs within the party.

Also, not a few political analysts are of the view that the call for Oyegun’s resignation is uncalled for, premature and diversionary.

“Honestly APC is going the politically wayward ways that led to the ouster of PDP from power. Must the chairman of the party be sacked anytime there are challenges within the party? How will such actions resolve the crisis? Oyegun is about the best the party can have for now as his track records of public service is outstanding. He is a seasoned technocrat; progressive politician and knowledgeable administrator," an APC stalwart stated.

Political drawbacks
Although Buhari has maintained his neutrality in the APC crisis and expressed readiness to work with Saraki and Dogara, it may not be a given. Since 1999, Nigeria’s attempt at constitutional, electoral, anti-corruption, judicial, health, power, federal structure, security and oil and gas reforms have suffered, largely due to political drawbacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed reforms in governance, economy and security sectors will require legislative approval from the newly inaugurated 8th National Assembly which is led by Buhari’s political party but backed by the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Monitors say having opponents in powerful positions in the legislature will not make Buhari’s job any easier.

For now, most Nigerians are watching with keen interest if APC will fritter such historic opportunity or deliver on its promise of change.

 
Written by Edegbe Odemwingie for Leadership

Mozambique Scraps Anti-Gay Law

Mozambique legalized homosexuality on Monday when a new penal code came into force that swept away old Portuguese colonial laws, in a victory for campaigners for gay rights in Africa.

The old code, dating back to 1886, targeted anyone “who habitually engages in vices against nature”, but no known prosecutions were brought after Mozambique became independent in 1975. Breaking the law was theoretically punishable by up to three years of hard labour.

Dercio Tsandzana, an influential blogger and activist, said there had been no public discussion of homosexual rights. “The government instead abides by the external pressure put by some embassies and foreign donors,” he said.

Homosexuality is punishable by death in Sudan, Nigeria and Mauritania.

How We Strangled Our Boss, Ex-VC, FUTA Killers Confess

Two domestic staff persons employed by the late former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Prof. Albert Ilemobade, on Monday confessed to killing their boss.

The staff, a former driver, Olayemi Bamitale, and the security night guard, Daniel Ita, confessed about how they purposely killed the former university don in cold-blood at his private residence in Ijapo Estate, Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The killers, who looked stern in their confessional statement at the headquarters of the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Akure, narrated the way they “strangulated” their boss to death with the aim of stealing and selling off his recently purchased Red Toyota RAV 4 Jeep.

Confessing his crime, the former driver, Bamitele, said after working with the late Professor Ilemobade for several years and then eventually running away from the family, he was called from Ado Ekiti by the security night guard.

“He [Daniel] called me that he had already arranged how we are going to steal baba’s [Prof. Ilemobabe] vehicle. I was surprised but I told him am not presently in town that am in Ado Ekiti. He told me I should enter a commercial transport and come to Akure immediately. I don’t even have transport fare but he said I should enter into any vehicle and when I get to Akure he would pay for it.

“I got to Akure, I called him and he came to meet me at the popular Oba’nla junction where he gave me N1000 to pay for the transportation fare, and afterward he collected a change of N500 from me after paying the transport fare and he told me I should come to Baba [Prof. Ilemobabe] house by 9 pm at Ijapo Estate and I still know the location, is a place I have worked as a driver to the late deceased”.

Bamitele explained further, “I got there at exactly that time same day, and he told me he had consulted a herbalist who told him that if we really mean business in stealing Baba’s vehicle, we should strangulates him [Prof. Ilemobabe] to death and evacuate the vehicle out of the compound. He also told me that the herbalist made it clear that we should take along some piece of sand so that we would not be caught.”

The thirty-six year old former driver added that the security night guard [Daniel] lied to the Professor that there was an electric outbreak in the compound and they immediately bounced on him by strangulating him to death.

“I asked him how did he want to carry out this evil act since Baba is already asleep on the bed. He said I should not worry that he would wake him up and lied that there was an electrical fire outbreak in the sitting room and through that process we would quickly strangulate him to death and run away with the vehicle.”

“Truly, he went to the side window room of Baba and called him out that there was an outbreak. Baba too quickly woke up and passed through the kitchen and immediately we bounced on him and strangulated him to death.”

“He now said we should put his dead body inside the pantry close to the motor garage and lock him up. We immediately proceeded into the main compound and busted into the room where we searched for the key to the vehicle and made away with two big small bags, laptop, two mobile phones, an Ipad and N7000 belonging to the deceased.

“We passed through the main entrance to the gate of the Estate and even saw some policemen who flashed their torchlight at us but said we should go without even questioning where we were heading to at the night. We made our way outside the estate and headed to the house of his relatives along Arakale road, but none of them picked our calls.”

“According to him, they passed the night somewhere and by 4 am in the morning; Daniel said they should head to Calabar in Cross River State [his hometown] to sell the vehicle.”

“But I told him, the petrol inside the vehicle cannot get to Calabar. I said we should go to Lagos to sell the vehicle. I took him to where I knew in Lagos but on getting there, I explained to the buyers how we came about the vehicle, and they said they cannot buy it.”

“We left there and proceed to Ijebu Ode, but unfortunately officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) stopped us and said that our vehicle particulars are not complete and they immediately impounded the vehicle and booked us N3000 to pay the fee into first bank and we didn’t have any money on us. We left the vehicle in their custody and came back the second day to pick other stolen items inside the vehicle such as the phones and laptop.”

“We took it to Epe so that we could sell them to bail out the vehicle. Nobody could buy from us unless they flashed it and someone told us flashing it is risky. We now later jammed someone who spoke the same language as Daniel speaks. It was that person that gave us N3000 to go use it and bail out the vehicle while we gave him the phones.

“We later bailed out the vehicle and went to Ijebu Ode around Iloti to sell it off, it was the person we contacted that implicated us by calling the Police to arrest us”, he said.

In Daniel Ita’s, the late professor’s security night guard, confessional statement he claimed that Bamitale masterminded the killing. He also noted that he was scared to join Bamitale to perpetrate the crime.

“Bamitale had firstly stolen Oga’s [Prof. Ilemobade] vehicle and it was later recovered but not without selling off its extra tire. We made a manhunt for him through the police but he ran to Edo State to hide. Later, he called me that he is Edo to look for buyers who would buy Baba’s vehicle.”

“I told him the first attempt you made was not successful and now you are planning another one and want to put me into trouble. He [Bamitale] said I should not worry that it is a normal thing to do and we would even kill Baba. I rejected and said we could carry money or any other thing like money or even tie him down and run away, but not kill the old man.”

“Since, I was born I have not killed, but Bamitale rejected that we would have to kill the man because he would be looking for our whereabouts. I bluntly told him, I couldn’t do it.”

“He now said he wants to come down to Akure, but he doesn’t have transport fare and that I should give him transport fare and I said there is no problem he should come and I would give him. He came and I gave him the money. He later came into the house around 9 pm and stayed at the gate where he called me to open them for him.”

According to him, “I immediately told him that I still hold up to my words that I won’t join him in killing the old man because the professor is a father to us all. I later asked him again, how are we going to go about it?”

“Although, I told him that there was electric outbreak in my security room, but the electricity was restored.”

“He now said I should use that opportunity to call out the baba to check it out so we could quickly carry out the act. If Baba comes out he too would stand in a corner and press baba’s neck and I agreed with him.”

“I called out the old man through his window and he passed out through his kitchen. I pointed a touch light to the ceiling where the outbreak occurred and immediately Bamitale bounced on him and pressed him till he died. We later dropped his dead body at the store near the motor car park so that people will not see”

“I felt bad and I was worried, but Bamitale said the deed had already been done and that’s not the first time he would carry out such dangerous act. He entered into the compound and brought out money and stolen items because he had worked here before. We then ran away,” Daniel said.

APC insists on Ekweremadu’s removal as Deputy Senate President

The battle for the control of the National Assembly may be long drawn as the leadership of the APC has once again insisted on removing the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, of the minority PDP.

It was learnt that the ruling APC was still miffed that Ekweremadu emerged as the deputy senate president and had vowed never to allow “a senator from a minority party take over the duties statutorily assigned for the majority party.”

“As deputy senate leader, Ekweremadu is automatically the Chairman, Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment. This is a sensitive position that, statutorily, should not be held by the minority. 

“Ekweremadu and his PDP co-travellers will hamper the policies of the Buhari government. By the virtue of Senate rules, a member of the minority is not supposed to be the deputy senate leader; so, he is occupying the post illegally."

A leader of the APC, who spoke to Punch on condition of anonymity, insisted that Ekweremadu as deputy senate president would hamper the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“We know the body language of some of these elements to anti-corruption. Nigerians know the stance of Buhari on corruption and insecurity. These elements occupying positions in the National Assembly must be removed. Otherwise, this administration is dead on arrival.”

He said Buhari is in support of the candidacy of Senator Ahmed Lawan for the senate presidency and had told Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, to support APC’s candidates.

“The President has refused to see Saraki and Dogara since they emerged as senate president and speaker. Both Saraki and Dogara have done everything possible to see the President but he has shunned them because he is not happy about their conduct. You can see that the President has seen the Lawan group; this shows where his support lies,” the source added.

CNN confuses black and white flag covered in sex toy symbols for that of ISIS during London Gay Pride parade

CNN has mistaken a flag displaying sex toy symbols for that of the terrorist organisation Islamic State ISIS in a report it aired on London's Gay Pride parade.

In an 'exclusive' report which ran on Saturday, a CNN correspondent Lucy Pawle, went on air to claim she was the only one to notice an ISIS jihad flag being waved among gay pride crowds.

But to the broadcaster's embarrassment, the satirical flag was covered not with Arabic lettering, but symbols of sex toys.

'If you look at the flag closely, it's clearly not Arabic, in fact it looks like it could be goobledegook, but it's very distinctive - the ISIS flag.'

Pawle then states that she appears to be 'the only person' to notice the extremist flag being waved on London's Regent St.

'I seem to be the only person who had spotted this, and nobody seems to be raising any questions or pointing it out, so I immediately went to an events organiser who said he didn't know anything about it.

'I also spoke to the police nearby, who weren't aware either.'

However, viewers quickly went on Twitter to correct the journalist's error.

Credit: Mailonline

Okonjo-Iweala spent $2.1bn without approval - FG

The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation.

“We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn.
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.

“Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,”.

According to the economic council, the ‘unauthorised’ spending is among the several anomalies discovered in the management of the nation’s economy between 2012 and May 2015.

Within the period, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was said to have earned a total of N8.1 tn but remitted only N4.3tn.

Due to this reason, the Federal Government has constituted Oshiomhole, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel; and Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, into a panel to probe the NNPC and the ECA between 2012 and May, 2015.

Oshiomhole, el-Rufai, Emmanuel and the Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, jointly briefed journalists at the end of the meeting.

Yari told journalists, through the Director of Funds, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. M.K. Dikwa, that council members received the report of the ECA and unremitted funds by the NNPC.

He said: “On that line, a four-man committee consisting of the governors of Edo, Gombe, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom states was constituted to go through the books of the NNPC and Excess Crude as well as the Federation Account.
”The four-man committee will check the books of the NNPC, most especially the issue of excess crude and what is not remitted into the Federation Account.

“The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, will look inwards to see how to support and how much they will give to states, especially on the issue of outstanding salaries owed by the states and even the Federal Government.”

Explaining what happened at the NEC meeting, Oshiomhole said the NNPC and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation were compelled for the first time to provide information on the total sales of Nigeria’s crude from 2012 to May 2015.

The Edo governor said, “We are talking about transparency; we are talking about change. And what we saw from those numbers, which I believe that Nigerians are entitled to know, is that whereas the NNPC claimed to have earned N8.1tn, what NNPC paid into the Federation Account from 2012 to May 2015 was N4.3tn.

“What it means is that the NNPC withheld and spent N3.8 tn.
“The major revelation here is that the entire federation, that is the Federal Government, the states and all the 774 local governments, the amount the NNPC paid into the Federation Account for distribution to these three tiers of government came to N4.3 tn and the NNPC alone took and spent N3.8tn.

“This means that the cost of running the NNPC is much more than the cost of running the Federal Government. That tells you how much is missing, what is mismanaged and what is stolen. There are huge figures.”

“If the Federal Government cannot spend without appropriation, why should any agency spend without appropriation.

“This is what the Constitution provided for and this is what President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to do; henceforth all money must go to the Federation Account.

“If you were doing that, you would not have a situation where the NNPC alone will spend N3.8trn and remit to the federal, states and local governments N4.3trn, which means NNPC is taking about 47 per cent and that explains all the leakages you are talking about.”

El-Rufai said the account was set up in order to be accountable such that every state and local government would know what they had in the account though they could not spend it.

He said, “The Excess Crude Account is 52 per cent owned by the Federal Government and 48 per cent owned by the states and the local governments.

“So the decision of the NEC is to set up this committee of four to look at the operations of the Excess Crude Account and make recommendations to council on its future.

“The other thing the committee will do is to look at the operations of the Federation Account, particularly the shortfall and again come back to council with very clear recommendations as to what to do.

“We have not been given a time frame but as you can imagine state governments are under pressure, many of our state governments are unable to pay salaries on time without recourse to borrowing, so this is very important to us.

“This is an all-governors’ committee; we wear the shoes and we know where they pinch. So we are going to do this as quickly as possible.

“The next meeting of the council is on July 23; we hope to complete our work and be in a position to report to council on that day. So within the next one month, we will be done by God’s grace.”

Credit: The PUNCH

Overweight woman flaunts her muscular new physique

An overweight 27 year old Canadian woman shed a third of her body weight, she went from being overweight in high school to placing in national bodybuilding tournaments.

Trista Elaschuk who used to weigh 195lbs now weighs only 130lbs and is now participating in various bodybuilding competitions.

Trista said she decided to lose weight after high school so she joined weight watchers and lost 50lbs but like so many other people she gained weight again. However, when she met her current bf Kale, he inspired her to lose the wiehgt and maintain it.

About a year after they met, in November 2010, they went on a double date to their first bodybuilding convention. There, she felt in awe of the professional bodybuilders, and realized that she, too, could compete.

'I was so inspired and motivated by these women on stage and knew I had to be one of them,' she explained.

So Trista hired a coach, who worked with her for 23 weeks to get ready for her first competition.

'I traded in partying and binge eating on the weekends for heavy lifting and meal prep,' she wrote on her Facebook page. All that hard work paid off - her debut was at the Southern Alberta Bodybuilding Championship, where she placed three out of 15.

'I struggled with weight my entire life and went on my first diet at the age of 16,' she said in a recent interview. 'I knew I had to made a change.'

Mum who killed her own 2 kids says she feels no remorse for killing them

Remember the story about the mother who killed two of her children and left their bodies in her kitchen freezer? Well, she  has pleaded guilty to their murders saying but says she feels no remorse for killing them. She said: “I don’t feel no remorse for the death of them demons.”

Mitchelle Blair 36, of Detroit, Michigan, without remorse admitted abusing her 13-year-old daughter Stoni Blair and nine-year-old son Stephen Berry, before their deaths. The bodies of the children were discovered in a deep freezer at her apartment on May 24 when bailiffs arrived to evict her. The mother has two surviving children aged eight and 17-years-old.

As she appeared in court, Blair said she killed her children after claiming they repeatedly “gang-raped” her youngest child.

Blair however, did not report the alleged sexual abuse and never witnessed it first hand.
“She raped my son,” Blair said about Stoni. “I intentionally killed her.”
“It wasn’t an accident?” Judge Dana Hathaway asked.
“No, not at all and if I had the chance to do it again, I would,” Blair said.
“I don’t feel no remorse for the death of them demons.”
Blair said she concealed the bodies so she could take care of her surviving children “as long as possible".nStephen died in August 2012, his sister May 2013.

The mother admitted strangling Stoni and Stephen before suffocating them by putting bags over their heads until they lost consciousness.

The autopsies revealed both children were malnourished, although Blair admitted only to starving Stoni, whom she fed one bowl of porridge a day.

Blair will receive a mandatory life sentence for the murders of her children after she voluntarily pleaded guilty.

Credit: Mail Online

Checkout this Throwback photo of El-Rufai and his wife

That's the Governor of  Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai and his wife many years ago.

Credit: LIB