Pictures of Geregu phase 2 gas turbine power plant

 Geregu is a small community located in Ajaokuta, Kogi state. This community is home to Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Project's 435MW Gas Turbine Power Plant. Already, an existing power plant (Geregu Phase 1) belonging to PHCN shares the same fence with this beautiful power station.
The power plant was built by Siemens AG of Germany in conjunction with their Nigerian branch. It consists of 3 units of V.94 Siemens gas turbine turbo-generators, each with a capacity of 135MW. The project is currently in final commissioning stage, and will soon be commissioned.

State of Emergency

On the 15th of November, precisely by 5pm, I checked my twitter handle and saw a post by Reno Omokri that President Goodluck Jonathan will be addressing the nation by 7pm Nigerian time. What immediately came to my mind was that the President will talk about the recent killings of security operatives in Nasarawa state; my mind didn't reason any declaration of a state of emergency.
But after a drab speech (which is a usual feature of all of Jonathan's speeches), the President declared a state of emergency in three states- Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states- even if he said the governors of the affected states will still carry out their 'full executive functions.
Personally, I think this development is long overdue: thousands of people have died, the economy of the affected states and the north in general is gradually grinding to a halt and people are no longer secure. The menace of Boko Haram has grown from a bunch of miscreants disturbing civil peace to a full scale act of terrorism, seemingly back by unknown but very powerful forces.
For once, I saw an angry President acting- and acting in line with the provisions of the constitution. That being said, I want to ask why other hot spots like Bauchi, Kano and Kaduna were not included; is it politics, or mere oversight? Maybe only President Jonathan can answer this.
I just hope this state of emergency brings a lasting solution to this mayhem, because I'm somewhat not comfortable with the idea of the governors still sitting in office. I believe the states should have been run by a sole administrator. What if the perpetrators move to another state to start their
operations? Will a state of emergency be declared also?
Jonathan, according to majority of Nigerians, has shown a will and guts that he still remains the president of this country; what's left to show is if his powers do mean anything.

'After 30 days, we will take you seriously'- FG to Boko Haram

The Federal Government on Tuesday reacted to the offer of ceasefire by a  faction of the fundamentalist  Islamic group, Boko Haram,  by giving a condition to the sect.

The condition: Boko Haram must  stop its  violence in the North for a period of one month.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim, stated the Federal Government’s position just as the   Federal Capital Territory  Minister, Senator Bala  Mohammed,  summoned an emergency security meeting over increased  presence of  foreign immigrants in the FCT.

Ibrahim spoke  with journalists at the opening of the 2013 seminar on National Security with the theme, Contemporary National Security Challenges: Policy Option, organied by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, Abuja.

 He said that while security chiefs were excited by the development, the olive branch  offered by  the sect called  for caution.

Ibrahim said  the government would only take the peace overture seriously  if Boko Haram  could ensure that attacks of whatever form did not take place  for 30 days.

He stated that security operatives would wait for the period to see if no public place, security formation and place of worship was bombed before taking the sect seriously.

Ibrahim  also said  he was optimistic that the  development would culminate in improved security in the country.

He said, “You see, we must treat that with a lot of caution. You understand, there are certain objective tests that will make sense. Let’s assume we can have a long period of about one month where no bomb explodes, where nobody is shot, where nobody is beheaded, where no church is bombed, where no mosque is threatened.

“If they can guarantee just one month, then we can begin to talk. You see we must take this with a lot of caution. That is what I am telling you.

“We hope whatever that must have brought about  this will further enhance our security and it’s like a recognition of the very futile approach to solving whatever they consider to be their problems. So we are a bit excited by it but we are taking everything with a lot of caution.”

 Boko Harama’s commander for Southern and Northern Borno, Muhammed Abdulazeez, had in a statement on Monday,  said  the sect resolved to stop its violence  after a dialogue with  the Government  of Borno State in Maiduguri.

Abdulazeez  urged all Boko Haram members to lay down their arms in honour of the declaration.

He said that the ceasefire had become necessary as a result of the hardship caused other Muslims and citizens of the North by the activities of the sect.

He stated that security operatives were free to arrest anybody found to be fomenting trouble after the perfection of the ceasefire deal.

Abdulazeez  had said, “For sometime now,  we the members of Jamaatul ahlil Boko Haram sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram have recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of Borno State where we resolved that given  the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire.

“We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.

“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today(Monday) lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.

“We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting was  to cease fire.”

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had in 2011 initiated a dialogue between the Federal Government and the sect.

Obasanjo had visited the family of the late leader of the sect, Mohammed Yusuf, in Maiduguri, where he  was received by the father-in-law of the leader, Babakura Fuggu.

Fuggu was killed a few days after Obasanjo’s visit.

In November last year, the sect named a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and six others to mediate between it and the government.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, on Tuesday  met  with the FCT Police Commissioner; Director, Department of State Security; FCT Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as well as  representatives of Customs, Immigration and Prisons in his official residence in Abuja.

Others at the meeting convened by the minister over the rising number of illegal immigrants in the FCT  were the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the FCT, as well as  top officials of the FCT Administration.

SUNDAY PUNCH had reported that two Nigerian affiliates of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb — Boko Haram  and the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis- Sudan — are planning major reprisal to protest Nigeria’s participation in Mali.

Nigeria has deployed forces in northern Mali to flush out the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist groups, who have taken control of the vast desert territory.

Security agents had said that the sects planned to protest Nigeria’s participation in the Mali war, and had  therefore brought into the country, terrorists that may be used to carry out attacks on government installations and  in  kidnapping   high-profile  persons.

The FCT minister stated that the meeting was called to appraise the security situation in Abuja, adding that it was normal for the FCT Administration to take proactive measures to reduce any possibility of security breach in the territory.

He emphasised that the government would not want to be taken unawares as the security of lives and property remained important to the Federal Government.

The minister called for continued collaboration,and  sharing of information with a view to ensuring synergy amongst all the security outfits in the FCT.

While reminding them of the constant need to share intelligence , Mohammed promised to support the security agencies by procuring new equipment to ease their operations.

He said, “Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory should be  on red alert to effectively take precautionary measures against any unforeseen circumstances. Residents are enjoined to be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the security agents.”

The NIS could however not be reached for comments on the alleged influx of immigrants into the FCT as its new public relations officer, Ekpedeme King, could not be reached on the phone.

He did not respond to a text message sent to his phone.

The Federal Government’s military intervention in the Malian crisis was part of the moves to solve the terrorism problem in the country, which is believed to have foreign backing.

Speaking also on the crisis in Mali, the CDS,  stated that Nigerian troops were performing very well in their peacekeeping operations in the embattled francophone country.

He said that things were moving very fast in Mali and commended Western powers such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom,  Germany, Belgium and  the African Union for the support they gave to ECOWAS in the challenge to free Northern Mali from the grip  of terrorists.

Air fares slashed by almost 50% as competition rises

Airfares on domestic routes have crashed by about 50 per cent from an average of N32,000 to N16,000 for an hour’s flight, following the recommencement of flight operations by Dana Air and Chanchangi Airlines, as well as the coming on board of a new carrier, Med-View Airlines, findings by our correspondent have revealed.

The suspension of flights by Air Nigeria, Dana Air, FirstNation Airlines and Chanchangi Airlines around the middle of last year had led to over 35 per cent increase in airfares from an average of N22,000 to N32,000.

Desperate passengers fought to get seats on Arik Air, Aero Nigeria and IRS Airlines, the only major domestic airlines in business then. Their flight tickets were sold for between N30,000 and N35,000.

Specifically, the suspension of flights by some of the airlines led to sharp drop in the number of available seats on planes plying domestic routes, a situation that made air travel a nightmarish experience

However, investigations by our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the airfares had dropped by about 50 per cent with flight tickets now going for between N14,500 and N25,000 depending on how early a passenger bought the ticket.

The return of Dana and Chanchangi and the commencement of flights by a new operator, Med-View Airlines, in the last two months have led to the drop in airfares, according to findings

Dana Air sells its one-hour flight ticket (economy class) for between N14,000 and N20,000 depending on how early a passenger buys the ticket.

A visit to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Terminal Two, Lagos, showed that Med-View was selling its one-hour flight for about N20,000 most of the time, while Chanchangi sells it one-hour flight ticket at a flat fare of N17,500.

IRS sells its ticket on some routes, especially the Lagos-Kaduna for N16,000, depending on how early a passenger buys its ticket.

Aero’s fares have been fluctuating with its ticket being sold for over N20,000 most times. However, passengers who book online may pay below N20,000.

Arik Air, a major domestic player, has been selling its one-hour flight ticket for a little above N30,000.

Top airline officials told our correspondent under the condition of anonymity that airfares might crash further when existing carriers acquire more aircraft and more operators begin flying.

It was gathered that FirstNation might resume operations before the end of the first quarter.

Insider sources, however, said the airfares might not reduce below N15,000 because the high price of aviation fuel and exorbitant government taxes might prevent the airline operators from reducing the fares below certain levels.

The Assistant General Secretary, Airlines Operators of Nigeria, Mr. Muhammed Tukur, had predicted in January that airfares would crash by about 40 per cent to between N18,000 and N22,000.

He said, “The industry is controlled by the law of demand and supply. More airlines are coming in, while even the existing ones are buying more planes to cope with the demand.

“I believe during this year, may be in a few months’ time, the fares will drop to between N18,000 and N22,000. The reason for the drop is that the airlines will want to fill their planes.”

Super Mario goes to Milan

Mario Ballotelli has finally said good bye to Machester City in a €20m deal on Tuesday, January 29, 2013.

The former Manchester City player yesterday struck a deal with Italian Serie A side, AC Milan for a four and half year contract, ending a two and half year roller coaster with the English champions.

The final part of the contract will be completed as soon as the 22-year old completes his medical on Wednesday at the Italian club.

Manchester City had signed the youngster for €24m in 2010 with the striker scoring 20 Premier League goals for the club.

Balotelli’s departure comes weeks after he was involved in a training ground altercation with Coach Roberto Mancini amongst other controversies, on and off pitch, which has earned him the reputation as the Premier League’s most notorious player. AC Milan has always been Balloteli's dream club and had always supported them as a boy

Don Jazzy to kick off Mavin Clothing line this Summer

From music to fashion – Don Jazzy has announced he is setting up his Mavin clothing line pretty soon.

The music producer and record lable owner announced his new business venture via micrco-blogging site Twitter yesterday January 29, 2013, saying that  the clothing line will ba making its debut in the summer.

‘#MavinClothing 60% loading… Summer 2013. Watch this space. I dey hail o. IDJA’, he tweeted. It is unclear whether the producer is working with a fashion designer in the background

Don Jazzy is also looking for models who will show off his outfits on the runaway and is giving everyone an opportunity to fill in the spots by launching a Mavin Clothing Model Search.

Apart from running his record label, Don Jazzy also oversees Mavin Energy Oil and Gas service company with his younger brother James ‘Jay’ Collins.

We Want Buhari To Contest In 2015 – CPC

The Congress for Progressive Change has said it wants its National Leader, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to contest in 2015.

The party, which explained its merger talks with some opposition parties, said it wanted Buhari to contest because of the passion he had for the country.

But the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Political Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, said opposition parties’ merger would not defeat Peoples Democratic Party in 2015.
Gulak and the CPC spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, spoke during an African Independent Television programme on Tuesday.
Saturday PUNCH had on January 26 reported that there were moves  in the merger plan to ask Buhari and the Action Congress of Nigeria leader, Bola Tinubu, to make personal sacrifices.
Such sacrifices, it was reported might see the duo dumping their presidential ambition.
But Fashakin said there was nothing wrong if Buhari changed his mind to contest the 2015 presidential election.
He said, “There is peace in South-Africa because of the foundation laid by the man (Nelson Mandela), who stood for democracy in that country.
“He came and ruled for one term and handed over to people of sound character.
“Also, in Ghana, the country is better now because of what Jerry Rawlings did and that is why Ghana is what it is today.
“Nigeria and Nigerians need Buhari to do the same thing for things to move on. We cannot continue like this.”
He noted that an earlier pronouncement by the retired general that he would not contest was done at a personal level.
Fashaki said, “If after the emergence of the new political party as a result of the merger the Nigerian people say they want him, he will consider it.
“He has said it that whenever we get to that bridge and they want him to cross it, he will consider it.”
But Gulak said it would be difficult for Buhari to become President.
He said apart from not being a politician, the presidential aide said the former head of state was not a mobliser.
He added that there was no way politicians, who Buhari overthrew in 1983 would embrace him.
He said the PDP was the most organised political parties in the country, adding that existence of regional parties did not augur well for the polity.
Gulak added, “The PDP sitting up is what I see happening. That   PDP will lose power to the opposition is an illusion as I am concerned.”
He said merger could only succeed if politicians were ready to build “political bridges.”
Gulak stated, “The CPC (Congress for Progressive Change)  is a regional party. The ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) is a regional party. If they can come together, to form a formidable political party with a clear manifesto to Nigerians; it will make the PDP to be more prepared and be more organised. We need such mergers, if it going to be possible.”
Meanwhile, the intrigues in the power play within the national leadership of the PDP took another turn as all the deputy national officers of the party on Tuesday in Abuja, passed a vote confidence in their National Chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.
Addressing reporters after a meeting, the leader of the group, Senator Umar Tsauri, said they met to felicitate with Tukur on the New Year and at the same time deliberate on issues affecting the party.
Tsauri, who is the PDP Deputy National Auditor, described as “very fruitful” their deliberations with Tukur and stressed that their discussions was for the benefit of the party.
He stressed that they were in support of Tukur’s leadership and they had no problem in passing a vote of confidence on him.
“Today we told the National Chairman of the party of his leadership capabilities and the way he manages crisis and we are confidence in his style of leadership.
“Our meeting with him was fruitful and we discuss the development of the party. We pass a vote of confidence on him.”

-culled from Naij.com

We are not against GEJ- Governors reply Clark

The 36 state governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, yesterday dismissed allegations by Elder Statesman and prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark that they had formed an opposition to the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government.
According to the governors, they were not fighting the President, just as they stressed that as an elder, they were not prepared to join issues with the former Federal Commissioner for Information.
Addressing journalists at the end of their meeting, held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro Abuja, Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, however, tongue lashed the Federal Government over its attitude towards the management of Excess Crude Account, ECA. This came just as the governors vowed not to further accept adjournments of the case pending at the Supreme Court.
Asked to react to Chief Clark’s allegation of forming an opposition to the Federal Government and whether they were fighting President Jonathan, Amaechi said: “No. Chief Edwin Clark is an elder statesman, we are not going to respond to him.”
Clark last Thursday alleged that the governors had become more dictatorial than former military governors and using the forum as an opposition Party to the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government. There have been several moves by the Federal Government to have an out of Court resolution of the excess crude account crisis with the governors, but all moves have been futile because against the governors had repeatedly described the action of the Federal Government on the account as illegal.
Vote of Confidence on Amaechi
At the end of the meeting which was the first this year, the governors also “declared their confidence in the Chairman and endorsed his leadership as head of the Forum.”
Amaechi said: “Forum decries the present attitude of the Federal Government on Excess Crude Account and resolves to take no further adjournments in the subsisting case in court but to seek a final resolution of the matter from the Supreme Court.
“Forum agreed to hold a two-day retreat to deliberate on the current state of security of the country.
“On the rising incidents of Polio in the country, Forum unanimously agreed to lead the efforts to eradicate polio by instituting the following:
“A monthly campaign to be headed by Governors in all 36 states of the federation to promote healthy environmental habits;
“Governors from non-polio states will support their counterparts in affected states by joining them in their states during upcoming national polio campaign;
“To meet with Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication in order to identify current funding gaps and challenges against polio eradication in Nigeria.
“The Forum remains resolute in the development of our different states for the benefit of the nation and our citizens.”
On when the security summit will be held, he said, “the committee is working on it. When the committee brings in their report we will fix a date.”
On the health situation of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and as one of the governors who visited him, Amaechi said: “I talked with him, put him on the phone to an editor of Vanguard who is my friend. It was real.”
At the meeting were governors of Nasarawa, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun, Rivers, Imo, Taraba, Anambra, Bauchi and Adamawa. Others were deputy governors of Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa, Kwara, Jigawa, Niger and Benue.

Nobody Can Stop Jonathan From Re-contesting In 2015 – Clark

Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, yesterday, declared that nobody could stop President Goodluck Jonathan from seeking a second term in office, saying only the Nigerian electorate could decide his fate in 2015.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the opening of the Southern Leaders Conference in Enugu, Chief Clark said it would be wrong for the South to return power to the North in 2015 when the incumbent president had all the rights to re-contest.
He said since the North had ruled the nation for 38 years and the South had done only 13 years, there was need for the purpose of equity, justice and fairplay, for power to still remain in the South
His words: “The Constitution provided for two terms. In 1979, Shehu Shagari from the North was president until 1983 when he got his second term but Buhari for reasons best known to them, they thought that at the end of his second ruling he will hand over to Ekwueme or to Akinloye. They then staged a coup and drove him (Shagari) away and imprisoned all the politicians.  Who took over? Another Northerner.

“Then Ibrahim Babangida said we have had enough. He took over from Muhammadu Buhari. Babangida handed over to Ernest Shonekan, he didn’t even rule for only three months and Sanni Abacha overthrew Shonekan. Even when MKO Abiola was elected in 1993 he was not allowed to rule even one day. MKO Abiola was driven away and killed – one of the wealthiest men in Africa.  Abdulsalami Abubakar also ruled after Abacha died.

“Then Obasanjo came and ruled for eight years and Umaru Yar’Adua was also going to rule for eight years.  Why would Jonathan not be allowed to rule for eight years?
“Well, that is not what we have come here to discuss but quote me, the Constitution of Nigeria says a president will contest election for two terms and remain in office for eight years, four years each.  Jonathan came in as president because his master (Yar’Adua) died. And somebody has to feel that position and you don’t count that period as if he has contested election.  Swearing-in has nothing to do with that provision of the election. Jonathan has every right to re-contest in 2015 to complete his eight years. Nobody can stop him.”
Also speaking at the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) attended by over 120 delegates from the South East, South West and South South, the convener and Chairman of the forum , Dr. Alex Ekwueme enumerated the gains of the meeting, the second of its kind, to include collective bargain and speaking with one voice in the nation polity, just like the monolithic north does.
Ekuweme recalled that after the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates on January 1, 1914, the Northern Nigeria continued to be administered as one unit whereas the Southern Nigeria was constituted of the colony of Lagos, the western and Eastern provinces, respectively.
The second republic Vice President further narrated that part of the reason why he was denied the Presidential candidate of the party he founded in 1999, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was because of his “hard-line posture” in securing power shift and 13% derivation for the southern states during the General Sani Abacha’s midwived Constitutional conference of 1994-1995.
Ekwueme said that during the conference, the northern delegates summoned a meeting amongst them where they resolved to maintain status quo of retaining power in the north and he took a proactive step to ensure that the southern delegates sojourn to the conference was not a sheer waste of time and so he summoned a counter southern delegates meeting.
He said: “I therefore took immediate step to organize a Southern delegates’ caucus. In this initative I had the support of late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye and High Chief Dr. Emmanuel Nsan all under my leadership and chairmanship. The immediate task of the southern delegates’ caucus was to devise a strategy that would prevent continuation of the status quo, that is, continue retention of power by the Northern elements on return to civilian rule.
“We mounted a proposal for constitutional provision for alternating or oscillating the presidency of Nigeria between the North and the South after each five-year single term, a provision more popularly referred to as rotational Presidency.
“The proposal was strongly resisted by many northern delegates who eventually accepted it provided it was enriched in the political parties’ constitutions rather than in the national constitution. The unworkability of the political party constitutional provision arrangement was then demonstrated beyond all doubt.
“When opposition to the rotational presidency persisted, it was pointed out that if the purpose of the 1914 amalgamation was to ensure that the south was always under the leadership of the north, then it might become necessary to consider the option of de-amalgamation. With this show of brinkmanship, both sides opted to retreat in the interest of Nigeria continued existence and unity and rotational presidency was endorsed by consensus and became part of the draft 1995 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ekwueme further traced the history of power rotation, saying the first hiccup was which zone, North or South, would produce the Presidency to start with, adding that since the idea of rotation was muted to check the prolonged northern rulership, it made sense to start with the South.
“At that point we changed our sloganeering from rotational presidency to power shift so as to put the question beyond doubt. It was this power shift that the subsequent leading party, the PDP, entrenched as one of its cardinal objective principles and which ensured that northern aspirant sought the presidential nomination of the party at the return to civilian governance in 1999; and which made it possible for General Obasanjo to become the Presidential candidate of the party in 1999,” said Ekwueme.
He further narrated that with the problem of power shift settled, the next was the percentage to be ascribed to derivation. Again, the north was said to have insisted on 3% but with the agitation and doggedness of the Southern delegates, 13% minimum was finally settled for even after the group wanted 50% as was the case in the 1963 constitution.
“It was suggested to me that my so called hard-line posture in successfully securing power shift and 13% minimum for derivation were contributory factors to my inability to obtain the presidential nomination of the party I founded and nurtured to success. Be that as it may, I have no regrets as long as my guiding principles were a search for justice, equity and fair play,” said Ekwueme.
Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, urged the Southern leaders to endeavour to set things right both in the zone and in the entire nation saying Nigeria was fast drifting from the right path.
He commended the conveners of the meeting for their commitment towards ensuring the unity of the entire south, adding that the importance of the meeting made him to contribute meaningfully to its success.
“People are no longer shocked when dozens of their citizens are gunned down and bombed In his speech, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Leader of the Yoruba Unity Forum,   called for immediate national dialogue  of various sections expressed  serious concerns over the challenges plaguing the country on behalf of Yoruba delegation, said that corruption, insecurity, inequitable and problematic constitution have compounded the problems, stressing that  such ugly trend had continued to play negative impact on the progress of the country.
He said that the security situation of the country had continued to deteriorate; stressing that kidnapping for ransom had become rapidly blooming business as army of youths and unemployed swarm across villages and cities
by the Boko Haram. The massacres have become routine. It is not clear what government’s policy is towards Boko Haram. Is it dialogue or is it the use of force? It has become unconvincingly to call the terrorists faceless because recent developments show that they are known by our rulers”, he said.
Expressing disgust with the call on the president to dialogue with the Boko Haram as well as monetary compensation to their leaders and families, Gbonigi said it was akin to setting wrong standards and raising fundamental question as to whether every group needed to resort to violent acts against other citizens before they can attract government’s attention.
“There are groups in Nigeria today who believe that the mode of national revenue sharing is unfair to them, or that their part of the country is grossly marginalized, or that the constitution we operate is oppressive and disadvantageously constructed against them, or that it stifles their self realization and development. Must the government wait till all these groups mount their own insurgencies before it listens to them, and will it then proceed to have separate dialogues with each, accompanied by monetary compensation? If it is acceptable to dialogue with the Boko Haram, why can’t we have a dialogue that embraces all Nigerians once and for all, for all grievances to be expressed and mutual accommodation reached? Such a national dialogue is clearly what the nation needs, and is long overdue”, Gbonigi said
Among personalities from the three zones in attendance were Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Edwin Clark, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi, Chief Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Alabo Toye Graham-Douglas, Chief Ralph Obioha, Senator Rowland Owie, Chief Olu Falae, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, Dr. Okwy Nwodo, Dr. Silas Iloh, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Senator Ofia Nwali, chief John Oyegun, Senator Syvester Ngele and Dr. Sam Egwu.

Less than 24 hours after an Abuja High Court sentenced Pension Thief John Yakubu Yusuf to two years in prison for admitting to stealing around N2 billion, an Ikare Magistrate Court in Ondo State has sentenced another man to three years in prison for stealing a telephone handset worth N17, 000. The Abuja court had on Monday sentenced the former director of the Police Pension Board, John Yakubu Yusuf, to two-year imprisonment. Mr. Yusuf pleaded guilty to two-count charges of embezzling about N2 billion of the total N33 billion stolen from police pensions. He was, however, given an option of fine of N250, 000 instead of going to jail. Adepoju Jamiu, 23, living in Ondo was not so lucky. On Tuesday, the Ikare Magistrate Court sentenced him to three years imprisonment for stealing a China Blackberry phone worth N17, 000. Like pension thief Yusuf, Mr. Jamiu also pleaded guilty to the charge. If the ratio of years of sentence was relative to the amount stolen and the same law was used to try both men, should Mr. Jamiu be jailed 3 years, Mr., Yusuf would have been sentenced to at least 110,000 years in jail. Not only was Mr. Jamiu given a seemingly incomparable jail sentence, he was not given an option of fine by Chief Magistrate Sunday Adeniyan. Mr. Jamiu’s crime The police prosecutor, Aigbojie Amileomen, told the court that the stolen phone belonged to one Suleiman Asimiyi. While briefing the court on the case, the prosecutor said the accused committed the offence in November 2012 at about 5.30 a.m. at Olukare Central Mosque, Inu Odi, Okela, Ikare. When the case was read, the accused pleaded guilty as charged. Mr. Adeniyan convicted Mr. Jamiu having found him guilty. He said Mr. Jamiu’s action violated Section 383(1) and punished him under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, volume one, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. He therefore ordered that Mr. Jamiu should remain in prison for three years without an option of fine.

here were  indications on Tuesday that public outcry against the light sentence handed an Assistant Director in the Police Pension Office, Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf, by  a  Federal Capital Territory High Court,  forced the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to rearrest him.

The high court presided over by Justice Mohammed Talba had on Monday  sentenced Yusuf  to only two years’ imprisonment with an option of N750,000 fine for conniving with others to defraud  the PPO and pensioners of N27.2bn.

Even before the  judge rose, many in the courtroom expressed amazement at the judgment. While many Nigerians took to social networks like the Facebook and Twitter mocking the judgment, prominent lawyers and civil rights activists condemned it as a setback to the Federal Government’s anti-corruption crusade.
On  Tuesday, one of the civil rights groups, Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, demanded the probe of Talba for the light sentence.
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress said the judgment was an indication that the judiciary could not be relied on to deliver the country from monumental corruption.
A source close to the EFCC told one of our correspondents that the commission,  apparently  embarrassed by the public outcry , moved swiftly to redeeem its image by sniffing more into Yusuf’s records in order to nail him.
The source said, “We never expected what happened yesterday(Monday). The reactions that followed the judgment  were  embarrassing to us and that was why we quickly had to look into his files again and sniffed out things that we had overlooked. With  those things, we had to rearrest him for fresh prosecution.”
 EFCC  spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,  had  told The PUNCH in Abuja that Yusuf  was rearrested because he had a pending case. “He  will  face fresh charges. When you are arrested and you are being investigated, logically you will be rearraigned to face fresh charges, ” he added.
 He later issued a statement in which he  said  Yusuf  would be arraigned today (Wednesday) before Jutice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja on four counts.
 Uwujaren said, “He will be arraigned over non-declaration of his assets and liability in his asset declaration form and his failure to declare his interest in a company known as SY-A Global Services Limited.
“The pension fraud convict is alleged to have used the company, SY-A Global Services Limited, to lodge N250m  with Zenith Bank.
“Yusuf’s re-arraignment  is coming on the heels of a questionable ruling by Justice Mohammed Talba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, January 29, in which he was handed a two- year jail term with an option of N250,000 fine on each of the three counts against him.
“Yusuf is one of the six persons standing trial in the N32.8bn Police Pension scam.  The six accused persons in the police pension scam were first arraigned on March 29, 2012, on 16  criminal charges bordering on conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
“The other accused person  are  Esai Dangabar, Atiku Kigo, Ahmed Wada, Mrs. Veronica Onyegbula and Sani Zira. Kigo was the director of the PPO  before he was made a permanent secretary.”
 Count one and two of the charges to be preferred against Yusuf reads:
 “That you, John Yusuf on or about February 14, 2012 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets and liability in the Declaration of Asset Form filled by you, by not declaring your interest in a company known as SY-A Global  Services Limited , a Nigerian company incorporated by you, and solely owned by yourself and members of your immediate family and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(3) of the EFCC  (Establishment, etc.) Act CAP E1 2004.
 “That you, John Yusuf, on or about February 14 , 2012 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division knowingly failed to make full disclosure of your assets and liability in the Declaration of Asset Form filled by you, by not declaring your interest in the N250m  you have  in a fixed deposit account with Zenith Bank in the name of SY-A Global  Services Limited, a company in which you are the sole signatory to its account and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27(3) of  EFCC (Establishment ,etc.) Act CAP E1 2004.
  Furthermore, count three explained that the convict also, knowingly, failed to make full disclosure of the sum of N10m he lodged in a fixed deposit account with the First Bank of Nigeria Plc in the name of the same company.
Count four accused him of failing to make full disclosure of  N29m which was fixed on his instruction  by one Danjuma Mele  in the account  of Jidag Technical Services Ltd with Diamond Bank.
A list of witnesses attached to the charge sheet  showed   Mustapha Gandaya,  Mele, officials of Zenith Bank and officials of Diamond Bank   as witnesses to be called against the accused person in the course of  his fresh  trial.
Exhibits to be presented in court for the trial, according to the charge sheet, include statement of the accused person, statements of witnesses, and other relevant documents and exhibits.
The charge sheet in the new suit was numbered FHC/ABJ/CR/14/2013 and  dated January 29, 2013. It was signed by Chile Okoroma,  the Acting Director, Legal and Prosecution Department, EFCC, on behalf of the Chairman of the commission and the Attorney- General of the Federation.
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), and many   others in the FCT  High Court  where  Yusuf  was convicted  on Monday,  had openly expressed their amazement with  the lightsentence handed him.
Also,  the  EFCC had, in a statement shortly after the  court rose , condemned the sentence,  saying it would study it  and  “respond appropriately.”
 The statement read in  part, “The  EFCC has expressed reservations about the ruling of an FCT High Court, Abuja which handed a six year jail term with the option of N750, 000 fine to  Yusufu, one of the six persons standing trial in the N32.8bn Police Pension scam.
“The commission is of the view that the option of fine runs contrary to the understanding between the prosecution and the defence wherein the convict consented to a custodial sentence with the forfeiture of all assets and money that are proceeds of the crime.”

-culled from Naij.com

Man Gets 3-Year Jail Term For Stealing Blackberry, As Pension Thief Is Freed For N2billion Theft

Less than 24 hours after an Abuja High Court sentenced Pension Thief John Yakubu Yusuf to two years in prison for admitting to stealing around N2 billion, an Ikare Magistrate Court in Ondo State has sentenced another man to three years in prison for stealing a telephone handset worth N17, 000.
The Abuja court had on Monday sentenced the former director of the Police Pension Board, John Yakubu Yusuf, to two-year imprisonment.

Mr. Yusuf pleaded guilty to two-count charges of embezzling about N2 billion of the total N33 billion stolen from police pensions. He was, however, given an option of fine of N250, 000 instead of going to jail.
Adepoju Jamiu, 23, living in Ondo was not so lucky. On Tuesday, the Ikare Magistrate Court sentenced him to three years imprisonment for stealing a China Blackberry phone worth N17, 000.
Like pension thief Yusuf, Mr. Jamiu also pleaded guilty to the charge.
If the ratio of years of sentence was relative to the amount stolen and the same law was used to try both men, should Mr. Jamiu be jailed 3 years, Mr., Yusuf would have been sentenced to at least 110,000 years in jail.

Not only was Mr. Jamiu given a seemingly incomparable jail sentence, he was not given an option of fine by  Chief Magistrate Sunday Adeniyan.
Mr. Jamiu’s crime
 The police prosecutor, Aigbojie Amileomen, told the court that the stolen phone belonged to one Suleiman Asimiyi.
While briefing the court on the case, the prosecutor said the accused committed the offence in November 2012 at about 5.30 a.m. at Olukare Central Mosque, Inu Odi, Okela, Ikare.
When the case was read, the accused pleaded guilty as charged.
Mr. Adeniyan convicted Mr. Jamiu having found him guilty.
He said Mr. Jamiu’s action violated Section 383(1) and punished him under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37, volume one, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
He therefore ordered that Mr. Jamiu should remain in prison for three years without an option of fine.

Ivory Coast Player Sends A Message to Super Eagles via Twitter

After Super Eagles victory win against Ethiopia in yesterday's match, they will be playing with Ivory Coast next in the quarter final stage at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations - on Sunday 3rd of February.
Emmanuel Eboue is an Ivory Coast player and former Arsenal player and he has sent a message to the Super Eagles team.
Read below...

AFCON 2013: Eagles Get $30,000 Each For Qualifying For Quarter FinalThe Nigeria Football Federation yesterday dolled out US $30,000 to each member of the Super Eagles for qualifying for the quarter final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. CELEBRATION . . . Super Eagles defender Efe Ambrose (2nd R) celebrates with an acrobatic display after Nigeria defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in their last Group C match of AFCON 2013 at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg. Photo: AFP The Super Eagles yesterday defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in a tension soaked match played in Rustenburg. The Eagles qualified alongside Burkina Faso from Group D. Burkina Faso on the other hand ended their tie with Zambia 0-0 at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. The result ensured the elimination of Zambia that ended third in the log with 3 points from three matches.

The Nigeria Football Federation yesterday dolled out US $30,000 to each member of the Super Eagles for qualifying for the quarter final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles yesterday defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in a tension soaked match played in Rustenburg. The Eagles qualified alongside Burkina Faso from Group D. Both goals were scored via penalties taken by Chelsea striker Victor Moses.

Burkina Faso on the other hand ended their tie with Zambia 0-0 at the Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. The result ensured the elimination of Zambia that ended third in the log with 3 points from three matches. These results placed Burkina Faso on top of the log with 5 points, followed by Nigeria with 5 points and a less superior goal difference.

‘I Introduced Whitney Houston To Cocaine’ – Brother

Contrary to the widely held belief that ex-husband Bobby Brown introduced Whitney Houston to drugs, Whitney’s brother, Michael, confesses to having introduced the late songstress to drugs.

Micheal and his mother Cissy, were guests on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show, ‘Oprah Next Chapter’, on Monday, January 28, 2013 where he confessed to have been the first to introduce the late singer to crack cocaine in the 80s.
‘You gotta understand at the time in the ’80s it was acceptable. It’s painful, I feel responsible for what I let go so far’, Michael told Oprah.
He also says he didn’t realize how deadly drugs could be when he first brought them to Whitney’s doorstep.
Whitney Houston, 47, was found dead in her Beverly Hills Hotel room on February 11, 2012 as a result of excessive use of cocaine

El-Rufai Apologises For Tweeting Jesus, Mary Joke

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has apologised for the 'Jesus joke' he retweeted on Twitter.
Ogunyemi Bukola, with the handle @zebbook, had tweeted: "If Jesus criticized Jonathan’s govt, Maku/Abati/Okupe will say he slept with Mary Magdalene". After this, El-Rufai copied the tweet and added the letters "LWKMD" which means "Laugh Wan Kill Me Die" [Laughter will kill me].

The infamous tweet
Professor Pat Utomi, a respected voice, immediately went on Facebook to show his displeasure.
I'm at a loss for words! We should draw the line somewhere? The most Sacred of names must never be desecrated an the altar of politics. PU," he wrote.
El-Rufai has now decided to publish a full statement on his Facebook page, apologising for the joke.
The full statement reads:
"Hello Friends. I have been travelling and try to catch some sleep in between the last 24 hours and missed all the furore arising from my retweet of Ogunyemi Bukola’s (@zeebook) joke Maku eat al and Jesus. I must say I am taken aback by the extent of desperate misrepresentation of what was an innocuous attempt to show the godlessness of the Jonathanians to denigrate anyone that dares to ask them to be accountable.
"To those who were genuinely offended by the retweet, I apologize. I did not meant to offend anyone, neither did the @zeebook I know and featured as one of the Young Voices in my Friday Column. Jesus or Isa Alaihis Salaam is a respected prophet of Islam. Every Muslim accepts this in addition to his miraculous virgin birth. It is therefore absurd for any Muslim believer to disrespect Jesus Christ.
"I hope those in this class will see my point of view and accept my apologies for any offense or disappointment caused. And I advise everyone… to read @zeebook’s timeline and mine to read EXACTLY what was tweeted rather than the second-hand reports of certain people who ALWAYS twist whatever I write or not write to achieve their morally-repugnant objectives.
"To those in that class of liar – the political contractors who tried to attribute the entire statement to me to destroy perceived political capital, I say keep on doing that till the day your cups will be full. Everything these days is reduced to posturing for 2015,but those doing it do not even know which one of us will be alive to witness the events of that time. I leave all those to God and their conscience.
"To the Warriors of God, who misinterpret the Scriptures (both Bilble and Qur’an) and pretend to be capable of fighting His battles, please learn from history. The multiple Crusades and Jihads are yet to convert the entire human race into one religion. If God wished us all to be of one religion, He would have made us so. So please leave God’s work to Him, and just be good to other humans.
"I thank all my friends who stood up for me in this saga. They know me better than what the desperate Jonathanians want to paint as El-Rufai. And those that wish to know me a little better should please read my forthcoming book. Thanks and God Bless."

-culled from Naij.com

Chime Will Be Back Soon – Aide

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sullivan Chime on Media Matters, Afam Okereke has thanked the people of the state for their solidarity since his boss left the country and said that the governor would be back soon.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP in Enugu, Okereke expressed regrets that some politicians and people who have decided to oppose Governor Chime’s administration, “are beginning to use his absence as an opportunity to make some unnecessary statements which are not supposed to even come up for any reason at all”.
He lamented the politicisation of Chime’s absence. He said, “The unfortunate thing  is that some politicians and people who have decided to oppose Governor Chime’s administration, are beginning to use his absence as an opportunity to make some unnecessary statements which are not supposed to even come up for any reason at all.”
Furthermore he said that “ the most recent rumour that Governor Chime was located in a London Hospital, let it be on record that independent check revealed that there is no hospital bearing such a name in London.
Only God knows what the faceless SEG are trying to achieve by giving people the impression that Enugu is under political tension.  My investigation also revealed that most of these publications were hand works of lieutenants of the failed previous administrations that never offered the citizens any meaningful dividend of democracy.”

‘I like 2face and Wizkid, but I don’t like D’banj, he sold his soul’ – Majek Fashek

As the old school acts continue to give way to the new generation superstars, veteran reggae musician, Majek Fashek seems to be impressed with a few of the younger generation of Nigerian artistes.

In a recent chat with NET, Majek who continues with attempts to revive his career, expressed his approval for the kind of music played by pop icon 2face Idibia and pop sensation, Wizkid. ‘I like Wizkid and 2face, they play good music’, said the ‘rainmaker’.

But he knocked D’banj for his alleged ‘affiliation’ with the mystery cult, Illuminati.

In the interview, due to be published later today, Majek said, ‘I don’t like that other boy called D’banj, those ones that went to join Illuminati. How can you go and sell your soul to the devil because you want to be famous. I don’t even like his music anyway’.

Majek Fashek whose real names are Majekodunmi Fasheke, was a reggae path-finder and international star; tipped by many to lead the genre from where Bob Marley stopped. But years of alleged substance abuse and failed projects have ruined that hope. Many are now concerned for his mental health, even as those close to him say he’s living in incredibly humiliating conditions.

Nigerian Hangs Himself In UK Over Fear Of Deportation To Nigeria

An inquest into the death of a detainee heard he killed himself because he feared being sent back to Nigeria.
Riliwanu Balogan was found hanged at Glen Parva Young Offender’s Institute in Leicester a day after his 21st birthday in 2011.
The inquest heard he had told staff he had nothing to live for.
The hearing coincided with the release of a report which said the centre had improved but there were still problems.
‘Living in the slums’
The jury inquest, which is expected to finish on Thursday, heard Mr Balogan moved to the UK when he was seven-years-old and spent much of his childhood in institutions.
He was transferred to Glen Parva, which holds men aged 18 to 21, in April 2011 to await deportation.
The morning he was found hanged on 8 May 2011 he was assessed by staff after cutting himself.
Paul Mayfield, a senior prison officer, said at the hearing: “He told me he had nothing to live for. He said ‘I’ll be deported back to Nigeria. I’ve got no-one back there. I’ll be living in the slums’.”
He was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary after staff tried to revive him but died a week later.
The hearing also heard he had a string of previous convictions and that at the end of April he struggled to speak to a nurse because he was sobbing so hard.
An interim report by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, released on Wednesday, showed the institute was “making sufficient progress” since its last inspection in 2009.
Inspectors, who visited after Mr Balogan’s death, said they were pleased to see improvements in the management of vulnerable prisoners and that suicide and self-harm was “generally well managed”.
But concerns were raised over dirty accommodation and the limited amount of time detainees spent outside their cells.
Source: BBC

Abuja Court orders bride’s parents to refund N570,000 dowry over sexless marriage

A Nigerian court based in the capital Abuja has ordered a 16-year-old girl, Maryam Suleiman, and her parents to refund N570,000(about $4,000) to her husband, Mukailu Naibi, over a fraudulent marriage.
The judge in the Area Court sitting in Lugbe, Haruna Masanawa, ruled that Suleiman and her parents must refund the money to Naibi within 30 days. Masanawa also ordered that Naibi’s estranged wife, who had filed for divorce, must remain married to him pending the full refund of the amount.
“Based on the evidence before me, the court is convinced that the plaintiff’s parents are dubious people that no child should be proud of. They collected money from different suitors, all with the fraudulent intention of marrying their daughter out to them; all of which turned out to be fake promises.
“This honourable court hereby orders the plaintiff to pay the defendant the sum of N570,000 before divorce is granted to her,’’ Masanawa said.
Naibi of Keke village, Kaduna, whose wife allegedly starved him of sex for two years of their marriage, had demanded N1. 2 million as compensation from the wife’s parents before he would agree to his wife’s request for divorce.
Naibi, 37, while testifying in the case, said the amount covered the bride price he paid before marrying Suleiman.
He told the court that the amount also covered the cost of damage done to his house after Suleiman set it on fire before filing for divorce. Naibi tendered written documents with records of all expenses made on his estranged wife and her parents, in addition to presenting a witness who testified in his favour.
He told the court that his wife had refused to make love to him since they got married two years ago.
“Your worship, since we got married two years ago, my wife never allowed me to make love to her for once and all my attempts to do it always led to fighting.
“I married her out of love and I still love her, but with this development, I have no choice, but to ask the court to grant her divorce wish for the sake of peace,” Naibi said.
In her testimony, Suleiman said her husband had made love to her once but she was not impressed and so wanted divorce.
“I don’t love him; I don’t love anybody who bears his name and I hate anybody who loves him,” she told the court.
Naibi’s in-laws denied most of his claims.

-culled from 9jamayor

Rick Ross survives drive-by shooting on 37th birthday

US rapper Rick Ross has been involved in a ghastly car crash following a failed drive by shooting incident.

The incident occurred early this morning in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Today is the rapper’s 37th birthday.

MTV reports that police were called to an intersection in the South Florida neighbour at around 5 a.m. in response to reports of a car accident and gun shots being fired.

Upon the arrival of law enforcement, they discovered that Ross’ Rolls Royce had slammed into a residential building after being fired upon. The shooters have not been identified.

Witnesses on the scene say Ross and an unidentified woman were in the Rolls Royce when it crashed to evade the gun fire.

The rapper and his female companion were not injured during the crash and the police have yet to reveal her name for safety reasons…

Manchester United is first team to top $3bn

English Premier League club Manchester United is the first professional sports team to be valued at more than $3 billion in the world, says Forbes Magazine.

According to a Forbes report on Monday, January 28, 2013, Man Utd received a huge amount in club’s shares after being offered little on the New York Stock Exchange last year. This has boosted the football team’s value to $3.3bn.

Man Utd is now comfortably ahead of the second-most valuable sports team Dallas Cowboys of the American NFL which is worth $2.1bn.

United which is owned by the American Glazer family boast of 659 million followers worldwide and we aren’t talking Twitter here.

Kim Kardashian’s mum kicks off talk show this year

Producers at Twentieth Television have announced that Kris Jenner will launch her own talk show named ‘Kris’ on Fox entertainment later this year. ‘Kris’ will be a one-hour show featuring celebrity guests, fashion, beauty and lifestyle discussions

‘This is something I have wanted to do all my life so it’s definitely a dream come true! I can’t wait for this new adventure to begin’, Kris said.

Jenner has appeared on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami, Khloé & Lamar, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Good Morning America, The Talk and America’s Next Top Model.

Her net worth is estimated at $20 million.

She divorced Robert Kardashian (Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Rob’s father) in 1990 and married Bruce Jenner in 1991. She has two kids with Bruce (Kendall and Kylie).

AFCON 2013: Ghana, Mali advance; DRC, Niger out

Ghana cruised into the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals Monday by hammering Niger 3-0 while Mali joined them with a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Captain Asamoah Gyan, recalled Christian Atsu and defender John Boye scored for the Black Stars while Niger were furious that a legitimate early equaliser from Koffi Dan Kowa was disallowed in Port Elizabeth.

Rocked after conceding a third-minute goal, 2012 bronze medalists Mali fought back to level before the end of the first quarter in Durban and had three late chances to collect maximum points.

Qualification was a pleasant diversion for the troubled west African nation where Malian, African and French troops are fighting armed Islamist groups in the north.

“Our country is in one of the most difficult moments of its history. Malians are regaining control of the north and our qualification will bring joy to the people. I am very proud,” said emotional Mali captain Seydou Keita.

Ghana collected seven points, Mali four, DR Congo three and Niger one from a mini-league that failed to match the final-round drama generated by Group A the previous day as hosts South Africa and debutants Cape Verde qualified.

Former winners South Africa face 1972 runners-up Mali at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban Saturday and four-time champions Ghana tackle Cape Verde in Port Elizabeth earlier the same day.

Niger, who conceded only one goal in matches against Mali and DR Congo, fell behind after only six minutes at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as Gyan fired past Daouda Kassaly.

But the Black Stars were lucky three minutes later when the Senegalese referee disallowed a Niger goal because he wrongly believed goalkeeper Fatau Dauda had been fouled.

Big-screen replays showed Dauda falling awkwardly after colliding with a teammate, and Ghana took advantage of the let-off to double their lead midway through the opening half when Atsu struck.

Any doubts about the outcome were laid to rest four minutes into the second half as Boye, sporting a peroxide cross in his hair, latched on to a rebound and netted.

“We stepped up our game and won against a good Niger team,” said Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah, a member of the last Black Stars team to win the Cup of Nations 31 years ago.

Niger coach Gernot Rohr said: “I am proud of my players despite the loss. They displayed courage and the future is bright. We were up against a better, faster team today.”

A proud record of making the knockout stages in every Cup of Nations appearance as a coach ended for veteran Frenchman Claude Le Roy when the Congolese were eliminated.

Le Roy was coaching at the tournament a record seventh time having guided Cameroon to two finals, Senegal to fourth place and the quarterfinals, Ghana to third place and DR Congo to the last eight during a previous spell in charge.

“We had control of the game, but did not create enough dangerous situations and Mali equalised too fast. We did not have enough experience for this tournament,” said Le Roy.

Tresor LuaLua Lomana struck a post within 20 seconds of the kick-off for the Leopards and they were awarded a penalty 10 seconds later when Mohamed Lamine Sissoko tripped Yves Diba.

Goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa dived the right way, but could not prevent Dieumerci Mbokani scoring off a shot delivered with perfect height and power to the delight of many Congolese supporters.

Comical defending allowed Mali to level after 14 minutes as several attempts to clear the ball were botched and when it was cut back to Mahamadou Samassa he made no mistake.

But the game steadily faded as a spectacle and Mali came closest to winning in the second half through substitutes Kalilou Traore and Cheikh Tidiane Diabate and Keita.

“It was emotionally difficult knowing what was happening in the Ghana game and realising we needed just a point. We need to keep up our intensity,” said Mali coach Patrice Carteron.

-courtesy; Supersport

Upcoming Musician, Gbemi Adetuberu, Kicked Out Of Matrimonial Home 3Weeks After Wedding

An upcoming musician, Gbemi Adetuberu, married to Ibadan society lady and interior decorator, Laide, has been booted out of the latter’s apartment allegedly for physical assaults barely three weeks after their society wedding on November 8, 2012, at one of the Akure branches of RCCG.
Mrs Olaide Adetuberu reportedly sent her husband, Mr. Gbemi Adetuberu, out of her apartment for allegedly making the heat in the kitchen unbearable for her with his endless beatings.
It was alleged that Gbemi was seen 20 days after the N4m wedding, beating the living daylight out of her wife in Lagos during an event that had foreign guests in attendance.
The interior decorator was said to have kept mum over the battery allegation but eventually did opened the Pandora’s box after getting the nod from her lawyer. The lady confirmed that she had been through hell in the hands of her husband.
She described her husband, Gbemi, as a violent husband whom she had hoped would change in marriage. Hear her: “He used to beat me even before we got married, but I believed he would change once we got married. I was wrong.”
Claiming that she had invested millions of naira in her husband’s musical career since they started dating a year and a few months ago, Laide said Gbemi was not appreciative enough “to show some seriousness in his career” to justify her investment in his life. “He had always been interested in music, a passion that I passionately invested money in just to please him even though my parents wanted him to be a prophet. Because I wanted to support him, I paid almost N200,000 for him to participate at the NIMEX exhibition held at the Muson Centre, apart from other amounts spent on him”, she added.
At the exhibition on November 28, both had agreed that Laide would stay in the car outside the venue of the exhibition to get some rest as she had been exhausted by preparations for the event, and that Gbemi should join her in the car once he was done auditioning at the event.
Gbemi was said to have been through in less than 30 minutes after he was called on stage, but didn’t go to join his wife in the car as both had agreed. Worried, she looked for Gbemi and found him chatting with an usher.
Not wanting to cause a scene however, she walked up to her husband, asked the usher to excuse her as she wanted to talk to her husband, and both strolled into the venue of the exhibition.
They talked briefly but Laide said she could sense from her husband’s countenance that he was getting worked up. Laide ignored Gbemi, who had shouted at her that they should leave the event and go home. “He didn’t care whether we were at a public place, he continued to raise his voice at me”, she said.
Laide said she was ashamed as Gbemi continued to shout at her that she should leave Muson Centre start going home. She refused to do as she was instructed by her husband and his next action was to slap her. “I was stunned.
He just kept beating me right there in public and astonished guests couldn’t do anything. It took the intervention of security officials before I could be rescued  from him. He beat me black and blue. I never expected he would beat me like that in public. I had expected that he would wait till we got home, he didn’t. He has come to beg me, but I am afraid of losing my life because that is how he has been beating me from time.
Even my friends warned me not to marry him because each time he came to beg me after beating me, I always forgave him. But I’m now afraid for my life”.
She said that her in-laws were aware of the ugly development, but that each time she reported Gbemi, his parents always waded in and Gbemi would always promise not to beat her  again.
She also said she reported these beatings to some of her friends. “After the Lagos beating, I decided to send him out of my apartment because the suffering was getting too much for me. I reported to the police at Iyaganku in Ibadan, because he has started threatening me via e-mails since he can’t come to my house. I have refused to take him back but I’m still afraid he may break into my house one day to injure me.”
However, the musician, Gbemi is yet to tell his own side of the story.

The Majek Fashek interview: ‘I’m not a mad man’

It took me a while to find my way to the Sewage Road, Gowon Estate residence of Majekodunmi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fashek.

As I knocked on the gate, a young man named Ogaga came to attend to me. I introduced myself as a Journalist from Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET) and explained my mission. He tried to dissuade me from seeing the rainmaker, insisting that I needed to speak with the management before I could chat with him.

But Majek heard our dialogue, rushed to the gate and insisted that I come in. The nineties hit-maker was dressed in a denim shirt and jeans. It was 10am in the morning of Friday January 25. Majek  was already reeking of alchohol.

Since Ogaga had warned me against having an interview with the veteran reggae artiste, I left  the premises and waited not too far from the house, hoping to catch Majek coming out of the apartment.

I was determined to speak with the man who many say has become mentally imbalanced, about to roam the streets.

And it was my lucky day, as 25 minutes later, Majek wandered out of the house. I approached him and he readily suggested a place we could go and drink talk.

For a man who was admired all over the world, and tipped to be the next big thing after Bob marley, Majek has become a shadow of himself.

After agreeing to buy him a bottle of Big Stout, while also giving him N500 (he asked for N4,000), we get to sit down for a quick, albeit  revealing chat…

Your album was scheduled to be released sometime this month, is that still possible?

The album is ready. It will be released next month. It is titled ‘I Am Not Afraid.’

Who are the artistes that you featured on the album?

I featured Blackface and Tuface.

Reports have it that you are having problems with your label?

Yes, we are having problems. Haija (his manager) wants to cheat me. We had an agreement that she would get me accommodation, a car and other things. I’m in this house now and there’s no light (electricity). I have been here suffering. They also monitor my movement as if I am a child. The Mercedes Benz they gave me is lying out there broken.

They say they need four hundred thousand naira (N400,000) to repair the vehicle. Here I am, I have nothing. Little Wizkid has a jeep while I have nothing. I have a green card, I can always go back to America, but God said I should not go yet. I allow Hajia to do as she pleases because she is a woman and she is like a daughter to me.

Do you have children or family you could have been staying with?

I have four boys, and they are all in America with their mother, an Igbo woman. I can’t ask my children to come to Nigeria because if they experience NEPA, they won’t like me again. The eldest is in college now and he is a rapper. He has just been signed by the American rapper, Lil Wayne. You know you can’t compare American rap with Nigerian rap. Nigerians can rap but they don’t have the swagger of the Americans.

So which young Nigerian artistes that you like?

You know these days they use a drum machine. There are hardly any real musicians amongst them. I like Wizkid and 2face. They play good music. I don’t like that other boy they call D’banj; those ones that went to join Illuminati. How can you go and sell your soul to the devil because you want to be famous? I don’t even like his music anyway.

Have you read stories saying you’re going mad?

I didn’t read it, I was told by my boys in this beer parlour. Look at me, am I mad? I’m a strong man. I may look old and rough right now, but I know what I’m saying and what I’m doing. Many people think that Majek has gone and that Majek is no more, but I’m still here and I’m probably going to live longer than a lot of you.

Your label also reported you missing. Where were you the whole time?

I was in heaven. I went to see Fela Anikulapo Kuti in heaven. I was in heaven the whole time they were looking for me. Fela was not happy with me. He told me that some people want to kill Femi (Kuti). He said that Femi is his heir and that there are some elements that are trying to assassinate him. He told me that he will hold me responsible if anything should happen to Femi. He even gave me this ring I’m wearing.

Did he say who was trying to kill Femi?

He said the government.

Did he mention a specific name?

He just said the government.

Do you still use cocaine?

I have never ever used cocaine. I don’t do drugs. It is just me, my beer and my ogogoro (local gin).

Are you saying you didn’t do drugs in America?

I never did drugs. It was just a conspiracy to get me off my music because I was speaking and singing the truth.

Conspiracy by whom?

By the powers that be. Powers in high places.

You sound like a very spiritual person…

I am a very spiritual man. I am a ‘juju’ on my own. Sometimes I can go into a trance and relate with spirits in the spirit world. The ‘Cele’ tried to stop me, they couldn’t. The ‘aladura’ also tried but they couldn’t tame me. As I am, no spirit can do anything [to me].

Do you miss the glory days when you were one of the biggest artistes in Africa?

I’m still in my glory days. I’m still a legend. I still play my music every Friday night in this joint. In America we have what we call royalties, money paid the artiste for each time his music or video is played. I still get my royalties. I still have my guitar and I play it all the time

-culled NET

Fika panel submits report, seeks cut in top civil servants’ perks

• Says allowances take N1.031tr out of N1.126tr salary vote
• Presidential flood committee presents final findings
WITH the submission of the report of the Adamu Fika-led Presidential Committee on the review of the reform processes in the nation’s public service Monday, huge allowances being paid to top civil servants may be stopped.
The report submission exclusively reported by The Guardian Monday recommended that only directors that have spent a number of years on general administration should be made permanent secretaries.
But Fika refused to answer questions from journalists after presenting the report that among other contending issues questions the rationale behind the payment N1.031 trillion in allowances to top civil servants.
The Presidential Technical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment also submitted its final report yesterday, stating that 90 per cent of their recommendations contained in the final report, were also included in the interim report submitted last year and are already implemented.
While giving the report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, the Chairman of the committee and Minister of Environment Hajia Hadiza Mailafiya, said that data available showed that “363 lives where lost in the flood nationwide…while two million people where displaced.”
The Fika report also states: “Revenue mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) fixed and allowed the gross amount for salaries and allowances to rise to N1.126 trillion. Of this, salaries took a mere N94.56 billion, while allowances gulped the whole N1.031.65 trillion…
“It is certainly not morally defensible from the perspective of social justice or any known moral criterion that such a huge sum of public funds is consumed by an infinitesimal fraction of the people.”
Both reports received by the SGF on behalf of the President were in line with the transformational policies of the Jonathan administration. Anyim said the Federal Government had always placed premium on quality service delivery that would facilitate the development of Nigeria.
On the recommendation that “the tenure policy in the public service should be abrogated”, the committee stated that, “the policy was introduced without any impact assessment study carried out, and the current tenure policy violates the rights of those affected to serve in accordance with their terms of engagement.”
Fika said the committee also found that “the tenure policy had depleted and thus deprived the service of some of the most competent and experienced hands, …has introduced a destabilizing and rapid turnover of senior officers in the service.”
The report also read in part: “We recommend that only directors who have spent a minimum of our years on schedule of general administration of personnel management should be eligible for consideration for appointment as permanent secretary.”
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, expressed optimism that the flood disaster that submerged roads would not happen again because of the projects and efforts put in place by the ministry to raise the roads to a certain level that the water could not overtake them again.
The minister, however, lamented the attitude of Nigerians to good hygiene and environmental sanitation. He appealed that Nigerians must cultivate attitude change in waste disposal, and the building of flood plains and blocking waterways indiscriminately.
The Fika committee also denied being   aware of two reports that had been printed.  “We were only aware that some members had contemplated a minority report. It was only when members came for a meeting that it was disclosed that a minority report had been printed even though no one accepted responsibility in that respect,” the committee said.
It also implored the Federal Government to punish one Cyril Ofili for taking actions that were not in line with extant regulations of the public service. Ofili’s offence, it was alleged, was that he took the minority report to the SGF without the chairman of the committee’s consent or knowledge. It stated that he deliberately misled the SGF in his bias and clear violation of evident neutrality as demanded by the ethics of the service, but aligned himself with a group “if at all such groupings existed.”