BREAKING: One killed and two injured In Kaduna Street Shooting

A shooting incident occurred Saturday evening in Kaduna reportedly causing the death of one person.
The incident, which occurred at about 8:45 p.m., had three men on a motorcycle shooting sporadically along Ghana road junction, Malali, in Kaduna metropolis.
Eye witnesses say a motorcycle rider was killed, and two other people injured, by the armed men. The deceased and the injured have been taken to the hospital.
It is not clear what the motive of the assailants was.
The police arrived at the scene of the incident and cordoned the area.

Suspected Boko Haram Members Attack Communication Masts In Zaria.

Suspects believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect have attacked several telecommunications facilities, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

A security source in Zaria said the men, traveling on motorcycles and armed with guns, fired shots into the air as they set fire to communication masts. He identified the specific locations as being Dan Magaji and Kwarbai.

Fire fighters were reportedly rushed to those locations to put out the flames.

Last week, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for similar attacks on telecommunications infrastructure in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, and Kano States.

Spokesman Abu Qaqa said his group wanted to punish GSM companies because they have helped security agencies to arrest and kill many of its members.  He vowed that the attacks would continue until the companies stopped cooperating with the authorities.

Catholic Bishops Urge Jonathan to Stop Reckless Borrowing and Fight Corruption

Nigerian Catholic Bishops concluded their annual conference, Friday, with a call on the Federal Government to curtail its penchant for obtaining loans- both domestic and foreign.
The Bishops, under the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, stated this in a nine-point communiqué they issued in Umuahia, venue of their conference.
Reckless borrowing, the clerics said, “would adversely affect proper economic growth and mortgage the future of our country.”
The Bishop’s voice is lending weight to the accusation by several Nigerians that the Federal Government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, and various state governments were involved n reckless borrowing.
The most recent of these loans was that announced by the Minister of Finance on Thursday that Nigeria had secured a 1.1 billion dollar loan from the Export Import bank of China for three key projects.
The Bishops called for caution by the various governments in obtaining foreign and domestic loans.
Fight corruption courageously
In the communiqué titled “Promoting authentic development in Nigeria,” the clergymen asked Mr. Jonathan to step up the Federal Government’s fight against corruption.
They urged the government and anti-graft agencies to muster the courage and sincerity to fight the scourge.
The clerics expressed concern that ‘’very little’’ had been done to thoroughly investigate and prosecute top government officials and prominent Nigerians allegedly involved in the fuel subsidy scam.
They called a governance that would ‘’entail active and critical participation of the citizenry in the formulation of policies and in their implementation.’’ They also asked the government to education and enlighten the citizenry on the political and economic choices government makes on behalf of the people.
‘’This will constitute the appropriate response to the people’s right to good stewardship, transparency and accountability,’’ the clerics said.
Wake up from your slumber
Another major issue of concern to the clergymen was the current insecurity in Nigeria as they advised the Federal Government to be more vigilant in its efforts to checkmate terrorist activities in Nigeria.
They said being more vigilant, especially at the borders, would help Nigeria check “any foreign sponsors of terrorist activities.
The bishops sad kidnapping, murders, and armed robberies, have left many killed and maimed in different parts of the country.
They called on security agencies and the government at all levels to “wake up to their duties to protect and defend the life and dignity of everybody in the country”.
The bishops said the “patient response’’ by Christians “in the face of sustained attacks on Christians and churches’’ was ‘’not borne out of cowardice”.
They said that Christians were acting with patience because of “universal Christ-like love, religious maturity and genuine patriotism.’’

BREAKING: Black Smoke Seen Rising Above US Embassy In Tunis As Protests Intensifies

Similar Incidents Occurred In Yemen Yesterday

A large cloud of black smoke has risen around the U.S. embassy in Tunis where stone-throwing protesters and police are waging a pitched battle.

Thousands of demonstrators have massed outside the embassy and several were seen climbing the outer wall of the embassy grounds and raising a flag on which was written the Muslim profession of faith, an Associated Press reporter on the scene says.

Police responded by firing tear gas, and police gunfire could be heard.

Islamist Protesters

Oshiomole's Aide's Killing: Court Orders Police to Pay Suspect N5 million

A High Court in Edo State has ordered the Nigerian Police to pay David Ugolor, a man arrested in connection with the murder of Olaitan Oyerinde, N5 million.
The judge, Esther Edigin, gave the order on Friday at a ruling in which she lambasted the police for disobeying an earlier order.
Ms. Edigin had on August 16 ordered the police to release Mr. Ugolor who had been detained without trial since July 16; a ruling the police declined to obey.
“Respect for law and order is the foundation of any society, but when the police moved to disobey court orders, then the society is heading for anarchy,” the judge said. “I make bold to say that the attitude of the police is a dangerous signal and a threat to human rights. This is most unfortunate.’’
Mr. Ugolor had sued the police for violating his fundamental human rights after he was detained without trial for more than 48 hours as permitted by law. He demanded for N500 million from the police, out of which the court approved the N5 million

Police objection ridiculous
In a bid to forestall Friday’s ruling, the police had filed a motion for extension of time within which to release Mr. Ugolor, who was eventually released last week.
Ms. Edigin rejected the police application saying there was no reasonable suspicion to warrant the arrest and detention of Ugolor.
“I find that the respondent’s bid to pull wool over this court’s face has failed. It is an application unknown to law. It lacks merit and appropriately dismissed,” she said.
The judge ruled that the police should have obtained a court order for further detention of Mr. Ugolor. She also ordered the police to desist from further arresting the accused in connection with this matter.

Ugolor still under trial
Ms. Edigin’s ruling, which the police, through their counsel, David Abuo, say they will appeal, is different from a murder charge the police has filed against Mr. Ugolor and other accused.
The murder trial will come up on September 27 at an Edo High Court.
The police insist that Mr. Ugolor, the Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, has a case to answer in connection with the killing of Mr. Oyerinde, the former Principal Private Secretary to Adams Oshiomhole, the Governor of Edo State.
The police and the State Security Service had paraded different suspects in connection with the killing of Mr. Oyerinde.
While the suspects paraded by the SSS admitted to killing Mr. Oyerinde, during a robbery operation, they did not link Mr. Ugolor or mention his name in their confessions. The suspects paraded by the police however mentioned Mr. Ugolor as being their sponsor as claimed that they had gone to the deceased house to specifically kill him.
Mr. Oshiomhole, who has interviewed both sets of suspects and met with the investigating officers insisted that the police had no basis to arrest Mr. Ugolor, as they could not sufficiently link him to the crime.

FCMB, FinBank merger to be concluded in October

 First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) has reassured its various stakeholders and those of FinBank that the two institutions which have been going through the process of integration will conclude the merger process in October, 2012.

Segun Odusanya, Deputy Managing Director/Executive Director (DMD) of FCMB who gave this reassurance in a chat with newsmen in Lagos over the weekend said the process is 95 percent completed.

“Our initial target was second quarter of the year, but we got delayed by issues around the Capital Market probe and the removal of the Securities and Exchange Commission Board. Things are now back to normal, and most of the approvals have been obtained”.

The FCMB DMD also revealed that post merger, the bank which has been noted for its niche in corporate banking will be expanding its retail banking focus to create a more robust and stable institution.

“We want to drive solutions across the various segments - corporate, commercial, small enterprises and consumer segments - of the economy. We have been doing this organically in the last five years, and have seen steady growths in all these segments”.

According to Odusanya, the acquisition of Fin Bank is expected to give two/three years leap (especially in the area of branch network, liquidity, and balance sheet size) to FCMB. He revealed that with the acquisition, FCMB has doubled its branch network, doubled its customer base, improved the liquidity position of the bank, and all these create a very good platform to provide better customer-centric products and services in the consumer space.

“We are now better situated to provide our expertise to more commercial and small enterprises to grow their businesses with not just the banking products we offer, but also with our expertise in corporate and financial advisory. We want to help create more entrepreneurs in this country and the opportunity to do this is enormous” he stated.

He went further to state “We are aggressively driving retail, but in doing this, we are not de-emphasizing corporate. We have made a lot of investments in people, products, systems and branches (from the acquisition) in both segments. We understand that both segments complement each other, and for us to continue to create endearing value a universal bank, we needed to provide services based on deep rooted insights across all the segments. We are currently having discussions with the central bank to further extend these services to the mass market”.

BREAKING: Protesters Set KFC Restaurant In Lebanon On Fire Following Pope's Visit And Blasphemous Film

A Scene From The Film

Hundreds of protesters set alight a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Friday, witnesses said, chanting against the pope's visit to Lebanon and shouting anti-American slogans.

Locals watching the attack said some people were shouting, "We don't want the pope" and "No more insults (to Islam)".

The incident came as Pope Benedict began a three-day visit to Lebanon and as anger over a film which Muslims have said is blasphemous to Islam spread across the region.
Lebanese officials say 1 person killed, 25 wounded during protest over anti-Islam film.

BREAKING: United States Shuts Down It's Offices in Nigeria

Anti-american protests raging in the muslim world over a movie, muslims said denigrated Prophet Muhammed, have made the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria shut its doors.
The embassy in a statement today said that it will close the Abuja embassy and all associated facilities at 11:30 a.m., and the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos will close at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 14, 2012.
The statement said “the U.S. Mission to Nigeria takes this action solely as a precautionary measure.”
The embassy suspected that protests against the controversial film may occur in Jos, Kano, and other parts of Nigeria and therefore warned American citizens to limit their travels not beyond their residential compounds during the afternoon of September 14.
According to the statement, “the Embassy continues to work closely with Nigerian Police and security agencies, which continue to take proactive security measures to ensure public safety. U.S. Citizens in Nigeria should consider their personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their planning.”
The statement catalogued various violent actions by muslims extremists in Nigeria.
“This year, extremists have attacked many locations in Nigeria, killing and injuring hundreds of people. They have threatened churches, mosques, media houses, police stations, immigration and customs offices, financial institutions, large hotels, shopping malls and markets, state government offices, communications centers, beer gardens, and nightclubs. Attackers have also burned and destroyed several public and private schools in Borno, and targeted several educational institutions in Kano and churches in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, and Borno states. Additionally, extremists continue to target westerners for abduction. As such, the situation in the country remains fluid and unpredictable,”it said.
The statement further warned American citizens: “All U.S. citizens should use caution and discretion when deciding to attend large functions or visit establishments identified as potential targets, and respond appropriately if they detect suspicious activities. Because of ongoing security concerns within the Federal Capital Territory, U.S. citizens should continue to expect heavy traffic congestion, road blocks, and significant police/security force deployments. All U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, pay attention to their surroundings, limit exposure to large crowds, and keep their cellular telephones in close proximity for use in cases of emergency.”
Nigeria has been a hot bed of muslim insurgency and sometimes short tempered muslim reactions to actions deemed “anti-Islam”, even if the actions were committed far from the Nigerian soil.

Impeachment Threat On the President: Court Refuses to Stop House Of Reps

A desperate attempt by the National Chairman of African Liberation Party, ALP, and serial Presidential election contender, Mr. Emmanuel Osita Okereke to stop the House of Representatives from commencing impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan before a Federal High Court siting in Abuja collapsed on Friday as the court declines to make the requested order.
The legislators had issued the impeachment threat against the President over the shoddy manner the presidency was handling the implementation of the Appropriation Act of 2012 which implementation level was abysmal as at the time the House went on recess. They threatened to commence impeachment proceedings against Jonathan if he fails to implement the budget 100% by the time the House resumes from its annual vacation by Tuesday, next week.
In refusing to grant the order to forestall the commencement of impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, the court held that it must be very certain that the impeachment proceedings has begun and on course before it can entertain the suit so as not to interfere with the responsibilities of the Legislative arm of government.
The presiding judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole further stated that sections 143 (1) of the 1999 constitution requires a joint impeachment resolution of both arms of the National Assembly before the president can be removed and observed that the Senate was not made a party in the suit. He thereafter held that by not joining the Senate as a party to the suit, that the motion ex-parte cannot succeed.
Furthermore, the court observed that it is not be a proper occasion for it to grant ex parte order against the. Speaker and the House of Representatives as its consideration of the reliefs sought by the Mr. Okereke largely benefits the president who is also a defendant in the suit making the situation a contradictory one.
Justice Kolawole averred that section 143 of the nation’s constitution empowers the National Assembly to remove the President from office but that the section makes it mandatory for both chambers of the National Assembly and noted that no single arm of the legislature can remove the President. Both chambers must act together but the Senate was however not a party in the suit.
“The presence of National Assembly is not sufficient to draw the Senate into the ring. The real and imminent urgency may not have been reached to warrant the intervention of this court. To this extent, the court must exercise its powers with caution as an arm of government. The procedure and guideline provided for in section 143 (1) to (9) are so elaborate and impeachment should not be undertaken so casually so as not to send wrong signals to foreign investors” the court noted.
These sections provide as follows,
143(1) The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the National Assembly:-
(a) is presented to the President of the Senate;
(b) stating that the holder of the office of President or Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified,
the President of the Senate shall within seven days of the receipt of the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be served on each member of the National Assembly.
(3) Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the President of the Senate (whether or not any statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice) each House of the National Assembly shall resolve by motion without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated.
(4) A motion of the National Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed, unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly.
(5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions, the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall at the request of the President of the Senate appoint a Panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provide in this section.
(6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person and be represented before the Panel by legal practitioners of his own choice.
(7) A Panel appointed under this section shall -
(a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the National Assembly; and
(b) within three months of its appointment report its findings to each House of the National Assembly.
(8) Where the Panel reports to each House of the National Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter.
(9) Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the receipt of the report at the House the National Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of each House of the National Assembly supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the Panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.
The court subsequently refused the ex parte application and ordered that the defendants be served with the processes to enable them have their say before the matter can be determined and adjourned indefinitely to enable the Chief Judge re assign the case file to a regular court as the court’s annual vacation ends today.
Mr. Okereke had in the ex parte motion prayed the court to grant an interim order restraining the leadership of the House from proceeding with the impeachment as it was capable of distracting the president from discharging his duties.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the House of Representatives’ the National Assembly; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice and President Goodluck Jonathan.
In his affidavit in support of the originating summons, Okereke stated that the move to impeach the president from office for non implementation of 100 percent of the 2012 budget in July 2012 is heating up the polity and averred that the September deadline issued by the House for 100 percent implementation of the budget which is three months earlier than the end of 2012 calendar year and six months from the end of the 2012 budget / fiscal year is a disguise to cause political turmoil.
He also stated that he and his party, the African Liberation Party, ALP, still nurse the aspiration to occupy the Presidency and that their aspiration may not be possible in a heated polity.

Woman in Court for forcing Relations into Prostitution

A 50-year-old woman, Yemisi Olalekan, has been remanded in prison custody by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for allegedly coercing two of her under-aged nieces into prostitution.

Testifying before Magistrate Olusola Aluko, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges of seduction, unlawful detention, exploitation and threat to life.

The charge sheet obtained on Wednesday alleged that Olalekan, who sells locally-brewed gin, was in the habit of tying her nieces to the bed in her room while she collected money from men to have carnal knowledge of them.

The charge sheet gave the nicknames of the nieces as Omogbe and Idi-Ileke aged 14 and 16 respectively, adding that the offence was committed in Ipetumodu last December.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Elisha Olusegun, told the court that Olalekan exploited the under-aged to enrich herself.

Olusegun said Olalekan also threatened to kill the teenagers if they exposed her.

The police prosecutor contended that the alleged act was contrary to Section 222, 226 and 86 (A) (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria.

Aluko, who said the accused must file a formal bail application, ordered that she be remanded in Ilesa prison custody till October 18, 2012, when the case would be mentioned in court.

A Bestman's Nightmare! Wedding Ring Disappears Just as The Priest Asks For it

Being best man is a job fraught with peril: is there anything worse than giving a bad toast, getting drunk, or doing both at the same time at your best friend’s wedding?

Well, it turns out there is: losing the wedding ring.

At St. John’s church in Surrey, south of London, during the wedding of Lewis Aubrey, 31, and Elizabeth Gray, 29, a ‘pling’ sound rang throughout the church, alarming everyone present.

“Was that the ring?” asked the priest, Nicholas Calver, who conducted the ceremony.

When the best man — the groom’s brother, Matt Aubrey — sheepishly confirmed that it was, the ceremony was paused while the wedding party tried vainly to find it. At one point, 20 people were reportedly crawling on the floor, lifting carpets, dissecting flower displays and even digging through the best man’s sporran, which is a fur pouch worn over a kilt.

The bride was in shock. “I was kind of just thinking, ‘Oh, God, the show’s got to go on. I want to get married,’” Gray said afterward.

It had taken Aubrey six months to search for just the right ring, and he wasn’t about to let it go lightly. One photo shows Aubrey covering his mouth moments after the ring was dropped; another shows Aubrey, in his kilt, kneeling on the floor to find the ring.

After several minutes of fruitless searching, Gray’s mother lent the couple her wedding ring and the ceremony continued.

“It kind of felt nice and it felt right to use my mum’s because it means something,” Gray told ABC News.

But the real hero of the day was Calver.  Armed with a shovel and a flashlight, the priest told The Telegraph, he spent two hours looking for the missing ring, finally discovering it in a crack between a step and the altar’s raised dais. Calver rushed to the reception and found the embarrassed best man. Poking Matt Aubrey in the rib, Calver said, “I think you owe me a drink.”

The best man entered into the reception holding the ring aloft like Frodo from The Lord of the Rings, Gray told ABC News. Then the real ring was placed on her finger and the priest blessed the marriage again. “So I kind of got married twice,” she said.

TECHNOLOGY: Apple Unveils The New iPhone 5

Apple has unveiled a taller, 4G-enabled iPhone at an event in San Francisco.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the device’s new size allows it to display an extra row of app icons on its home screen.

The firm said it was 18 per cent thinner and 20 er cent lighter than the iPhone 4S. However, it does not feature an NFC (near field communication) chip to allow it to make touchless payments.

Apple said the handset would work on Everything Everywhere’s 4G LTE network in the United Kingdom.

The news is likely to give EE – which runs the local Orange and T-Mobile services – an advantage against its rivals which will not launch the higher-speed data service until 2013.

“I think it’s obviously what the other networks feared would happen,” said Matthew Howett, a telecoms analyst at Ovum.

“The question will be how many non-EE customers make the switch.”

Apple said the handset would ship on 21 September.

The new screen offers a 16:9 ratio, matching that of widescreen televisions.

But its 4-in (10.2cm) size remains smaller than rival displays used by Samsung, Nokia, Motorola, LG, HTC and Sony’s flagship models.

Phil Schiller – Apple’s vice president of worldwide marketing, who unveiled the device – said existing apps would be shown with black borders until developers updated their products.

Image of Rory Cellan-Jones Analysis Rory Cellan-Jones Technology correspondent

For Apple, the latest version of the phone which supplies the lion’s share of its enormous profits was always going to be crucial to its financial future.

For the rest of the mobile phone industry, Thursday’s launch was something to worry about – how would it change this fast-shifting landscape?

With so many leaks there were few surprises about this bigger, thinner iPhone.

A better camera, more uses for the voice activation feature Siri, and its own mapping system with turn-by-turn navigation all add up to an impressive device.

But Android users, and in particular fans of Samsung’s best-selling Galaxy S3 will say Apple is just playing catch-up. Features like the ability to shoot a panorama have been on their phones for years.

That won’t stop the new phone being a big hit – with millions of existing users now likely to be nearing the end of their contracts.

Those who’ve got used to the iOS system will be keen to stay with it – while for newcomers to the smartphone, the iPhone will be the shiny new thing.

The impact that Apple’s latest model has on the UK mobile phone market is particularly intriguing. When Apple announced that its 4G iPhone 5 would work on EE’s new 4G network, you could hear the cheers from the headquarters of that company.

ut Vodafone and O2 – still furious that their rival has been allowed a head-start on 4G, will be even crosser now.

The handset also features a new Apple-designed chip, called the A6. Mr Schiller suggested this made it twice as powerful as the earlier model.

The camera is an eight megapixel model – the same as in the iPhone 4S, and a lower specification than LG and Sony’s most recent devices.

However, Mr Schiller said the equipment and associated software meant the iPhone would create better photographs in low light than before.

The handset also uses a new, smaller, socket for its charger. This means owners will need to use an adapter to plug the device into existing speakers and other equipment. The adapter is listed as being £25 on Apple’s site.

The handset does not offer wireless charging like Nokia’s Lumia 920.

PHOTO: Prince Williams Removes Shoe and Kate Middleton Covers Her Hair When They Visited a Mosque In Malaysia Recently

Respectful: Prince William and his wife Kate take their shoes off. Source: AP

Dana Crash: 9 Bodies Yet Unidentified

Nine bodies of Dana Air crash victims have still not been identified, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, said on Thursday.

Following a closed-door meeting with family members of the crash victims, the governor told journalists that the state had recorded 94 percent success in the victims' identification process.

He said 141 out of the 150 bodies recovered from the site had been successfully identified and that further tests would be carried out on five of the remaining bodies.

Fresh samples had been taken from relatives of the five victims, leaving four bodies whose fates are yet to be decided.

While fielding questions on the four bodies, Fashola said, "we will have to decide how we will proceed because we have not been able to identify them”.

He, however, said that the identified bodies had been released to family members, and that 51 death certificates out of the 89 already issued, had also been collected by families.

Apart from discussions that bothered on the recovery of deceased's personal effects by the families, the governor said the meeting had also centred on improving the country's aviation industry.

"The families," according to him, were keen to "use the experience to reform the Aviation Sector irrevocably so that their loved ones would not have died in vain".

“It breaks one’s heart to see what they are going through," he added.

Some family members of the victims who shared their thoughts, said they had agreed to be part of a cause to engage regulators in the aviation industry, to prevent such occurrence in future.

"If there had been appropriate things on the ground on that day, there would not have been as many casualties as recorded. We would not have had the magnitude of loss because the fire that roasted the victims did not start immediately," said Onyinye Okocha, who was widowed by the crash.

Seke Somolu, another family member, commended the state government for doing “a lot more than the federal government has done", asking that the report of investigations into the cause of the crash be made public.

“The overwhelming emotion that came out of that meeting is the determination to have this kind of thing stopped."

Homosexuals are Killing Nollywood - Mr Ibu

Nollywood comic actor, John Okafor, who made quite an impression in his break out role in the 1997 movie, Agony, has raised the alarm over what he called the rising incidents of homosexuality in Nollywood.

The 52 year-old actor famous for his hilarious roles made this disclosure in a recent online interview with GoldenIcons TV in Houston Texas, US.

Okafor was not afraid to freely express how he felt about any given subject as asked.

He noted that the Nigerian movie industry was being plagued by twin viruses – piracy and homosexuality. Mr Ibu, as he is fondly called, said, “I am sorry if my friends are involved. It is a virus and it is killing our industry. If there is any way in this world that people can make them stop it or kill it, please do it. God will punish you, because God did not advise you to do it. God designed woman and dashed us for free,” he stated.

This is not the first time that the actor who once worked as a refrigerator-technician, factory worker and photographer will be outspoken about this issue. In past interviews, he has been quoted as strongly opposing it.

In another recent interview he said, “I have had experiences, but I would prefer not to mention names at this moment but to let sleeping dogs lie. If you are one, as I always say, and you don’t want to let go of that act, keep doing it but God is watching because the industry is getting spoilt. We are not happy. It’s not in our culture, just like nudity because it’s not acceptable here. It is foreign.

“We should be able to learn from our mistakes. Well, right now, I am just pleading for divine intervention. Look at our films these days. You go to the market, you’ll see them being sold like (sausage roll). Some don’t even get to the market because of the sexual appetite of some of the people who shot the movie. The evil spirit operating in them will not allow it make progress or go far. It is sad I tell you.”

Hoodlums Raid Lagos Computer Village

The ever-busy Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos was shut down for over four hours on Thursday after hoodlums wielding cutlasses and other dangerous items caused pandemonium in the area.

Greenwich News learnt that the violence was as a result of a feud between legitimate traders and hoodlums who operate as roadside traders.

It was learnt that because of the frequent cases of selling and buying stolen items by the hoodlums as well as the frequent complaints by environmental agencies, the Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria, which comprises legitimate traders, issued an eviction notice to the roadside sellers in the area.

Greenwich News learnt that crisis erupted in the market which is known for sales of phones and accessories, after the compulsory environmental sanitation exercise observed every Thursday in all markets in the state.

It was learnt that the hoodlums who did not take kindly to the eviction order resorted to violence.

The act was said to have caused anxiety as passers-by scampered to safety.

One of the CAPDAN officials, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the order was to sanitise the market.

He said, “We did not just wake up to order them to evacuate from the market. It was a well thought-out process and it was influenced by many cogent reasons. First, I don’t know if you are aware of the constant raids by the Environmental Services and Special Offences Unit of the state government on these same set of people (hoodlums).

“According to our investigations, these people sell stolen phones by the roadside as well as sub-standard products to customers. Some even buy stolen electronics and resell to unsuspecting customers.

“For instance, one of the hoodlums was arrested recently for selling a phone stuffed with Fufu (a staple food) to an unsuspecting customer at the price of the original.”

He added that it took the efforts of policemen from Area F Command and the Rapid Response Squad to restore peace in the area.

Spokesperson for the state police command, Ngozi Braide, however said the shops were not shut down.

While noting that peace had since returned to the market, she said the presence of policemen restored peace in the area.

When our correspondent left the market around 6pm, six police patrol vehicles were seen in the area while some of the arrested hoodlums were put in a Black Maria.

Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Rescuers At Accident Scene

Idowu

Friday, September 7, 2012, was a black day in Fagba Ishaga in Lagos State. Two men who were rescuing an accident victim on a railway line, including bystanders were hit by a speeding car.

Eyewitnesses said one of the men died on the spot while the other died on the way to the hospital. Many others were critically injured.

At Fagba railway level crossing where the accident occurred, an eyewitness, Peter Adebayo, said, “About 10.15pm, an oncoming train hit a car trying to cross. It was damaged and some of the tricycle operators in our park, rushed to get the car off the road and help the injured lone occupant.

“There was a crowd there and others who were waiting to board taxis or buy things because some women sell there in the night.

“A white Toyota Sienna ran into the crowd hitting everything on its way. By the time we rushed to the scene. Many people were already on the ground unconscious.”

A tricycle operator, Moruf Oguntoyinbo, was said to have died on the spot. He was the Chairman of the Fagba-Puposola Unit of the Tricycle Riders’ Association at the park.

Another tricycle operator, 42-year-old Musbau Adeyinka, popularly called Murphy in the area, died on his way to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Musbau’s wife, Wosila, told journalists, she was shocked when she heard about her husband’s death.

 “He made a lot of promise to me and our six children, which he had yet to fulfil. I don’t even know how I would carry the burden of our children,” she said.

On Tuesday, when our correspondent visited one of the survivors, Idowu Babatunde, at Mercy Hospital, Fagba, he could not recollect what happened to him.

A doctor at the hospital, Kareem Shehu, said Idowu was brought to the hospital unconscious. He said although an x-ray had been taken to determine if the victim had any internal injury, Idowu could still not recollect how the accident happened.

Idowu’s wife, Folashade, said she learnt that her husband was one of the rescuers before he was hit by the bus.

Another victim, Bimbo Atanda, who had a broken leg, is being treated at home.

“I was going to a vigil, but I stopped at the bus stop to buy bread. I can’t even say where the vehicle came from. All I remember is being hit and, later found myself in the hospital,” Atanda said.

Greenwich News learnt that the driver of the bus has been arrested.

A police source identified him as Francis Adewunmi. He was said to have fled immediately after the accident, but was arrested when he came back to the scene early the following morning to retrieve his bus.

He is currently being detained at the Oko-Oba Police Division, Ishaga.

Patron of the Keke Owner’s Association, Mr. Hassan Balogun, told our correspondent that other people might have died.

He said, “We don’t know what happened to other victims because we only know of our members whom we rushed to the hospital. A lot of other people were rushed to different hospitals.

“Some of them may have even died, because when it happened everybody just rushed there and took away their own people.

“We took away members of our association and others we knew because we could not take care of all the victims. It was a really a terrible day.”

When the Police Public Relations Officer of the state command, Ngozi Braide, was contacted, she declined to comment.

“I don’t know you, I cannot release any information to you,” she said.

But a police source, privy to the case at Oko-Oba, said Adewunmi would soon be charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Security, Flooding Top Agenda as Jonathan Meets with Northern Governors

Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan and governors of the north met last night on security issues. The meeting also had in attendance Vice President Namadi Sambo and some senior aides to the president.

17 governors in the north were present. They include governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Idris Wada (Kogi), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarrawa), Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Gabriel Suswam (Benue).

Represented by their deputies were:  Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Muritala Nyako (Adamawa), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

The governors of Taraba and Sokoto states were absent.

The governor of Niger state who spoke to State House correspondents said the agenda was on security, and how to tackle flooding issues in the north.

Robbers Raid Nkem Owoh's House in Enugu

Armed robbers on Wednesday night raided the home of Nollywood star, Nkem Owoh, at Phase 6 Trans-Ekulu Layout Enugu.

The robbers carted away properties worth millions of naira from his home, including his newly acquired black coloured Mitsubishi Montero Jeep with number plate BU 64 FST worth about N8 million, alongside other valuables.

Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia, was not at home when the robbers broke into his house, a duplex, as he was said to be in Lagos where he was shooting a movie.

When journalists visited his home on Thursday, the place looked deserted and there was nobody around to speak on the matter.

However, when reached on phone, Owoh confirmed the incident, saying he lost his laptop, video camera and Jeep to the hoodlums.

Owoh described the incident as “very unfortunate”, adding that he had reported the matter to the Enugu State Police Command for necessary action.

When contacted on telephone, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Enugu State Command, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed that hoodlums broke into Owoh’s home.

He however said it was not a case of armed robbery, but car theft and burglary.

“Yes, the man was away from his home and some people who knew that he was not at home took advantage of his absence and broke into his house.

“The hoodlums made away with his Jeep. But, it is not a case of armed robbery or armed banditry as you are portraying it”, Amaraizu said.

Actress Shan George In Sex Scandal With 21yrs Old Boy, Four Others

If report by BON is anything to go by, then controversial Nollywood actress, Shan George may be in big trouble with former PMAN president, Tee Mac Omatsola.

This is because, according to what was reported, Shan George, who recently accused some married actresses of sleeping around with men like dogs, is being alleged of nursing a sizzling romance with the Tee Mac’s 21-year-old son.

As reported, Shan was alleged to have slept with about four band members of Tee Mac, who we learnt were young guys, during the FIFA World Cup held in South Africa in 2010. She reportedly gave the excuse of cold weather as the reason of having sex with the boys.

The report further claimed that Tee Mac was fully aware of Shan’s under ‘G’ runs with this boys she slept with but he chose to keep quite. But when Shan made effort to have a taste of Tee Mac’s handsome son, Tee Mac reportedly blocked her “dangerous” moves, knowing the kind of person she is.

It was further reported that about two months ago, Shan was suppose to make a trip to the just concluded London Olympics, where she was supposed to be among some Nigerian celebs to meet with Team Nigeria, but Tee Mac influenced the light-skinned actress being dropped when he probably forsaw that Shan would use the opportunity to concluded her mission with his son, who was part of the trip.

It was further gathered that Tee Mac also took a step further by warning Shan George to stay off his son or face his wrath.

Shan has had controversial relationships with some younger lovers in the past who are mostly in their 20′s. Efforts to get her reaction to this latest scandal proved abortive.

Prophet Mohammed Film: Islamists in Jos Protest

A group of Muslims in the troubled tin city of Jos, Plateau State, yesterday evening held a demonstration over an America-produced film that purportedly blasphemed Prophet Muhammad.

The protesters, who defied security agents, said they would rather die than to watch their Prophet insulted, and will submit only to the laws of Allah which, to them, are supreme to any other law.

The mostly youth and children protesters, who numbered almost 100 were led by one Malam Mansur Sani Adamu in the demonstration, which took place on Bauchi Road. They carried placards condemning the United States, Israel, Denmark and Holland, accusing them of plotting against Islam and Muslims. Before they dispersed, they chanted, “Allahuakubar, Allahuakubar, they have touched our Prophet….”

Malam Adamu said, “We are doing this to express our anger against enemies of Allah and Islam led by America and her allies like Israel, Denmark and Holland because they are plotting against Islam. These days they have also produced another depicting film; this is what is troubling us.

This denigration of Prophet Muhammad is very sad and we are against it. With this it is better that it is death that consumed us for our Prophet to be denigrated. All Muslims in the world should come out and protest and those who cannot should pray.”

According to our source, security agencies urged the protesters to disperse since they had not secured permission, to which leader of the demonstration responded, “If our Prophet is blasphemed we will not wait for any law, Islam supersede any laws of the country.”

Policeman kills bus driver for brushing patrol van

A middle aged man was on Thursday allegedly shot dead by a policeman in Iperu, Remo North local government area of Ogun State, South West Nigeria while two others sustained bullet wounds.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred when the deceased, a commercial driver allegedly brushed a police patrol van along the Sagamu/Benin express way.

Confirming the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi expressed the displeasure of the command over the incident, saying that investigations into the killing would commenced immediately while the culprit would be made to face the full wrought of the law if found guilty.

Eyewitnesses said after the killing, the residents in the area engaged the police officers in a fight leading to the burning of the police patrol vehicle.

Mr Adejobi however said that the situation has been brought under control as the state commissioner of police, Ikemefuna Okoye sympathize with the family of the deceased when he visited the scene of the crime.

Star Actress, Omotola in Court For Breach Of Contract

Top Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde who just back from  Jamaica where  she  reportedly finalised  some juicy contracts, has engaged the services of popular Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Festus Keyamo to defend her in a case of  breach of contract filed against her company, Redhot Concepts Limited by an up and coming lawyer, Keshi Elvis who holds brief for Megafield Solicitors.

According to the lawyer, trouble started when the latter failed to honour the contractual agreement they entered into in 2010.

He said all entreaties he made to Omotola and her company to honour the agreement hit brick wall, a situation which prompted his decision to  seek redress in court.
Narrating how he met Omotola, the young lawyer said   one Isaac  who was his younger brother ‘s colleague in his  office introduced him to the actress some  two years ago (February, 2010. ). Isaac had hinted his younger brother that Omotola was  in dire need of a young and vibrant lawyer to  handle her briefs. According to Isaac, Omotola’s former lawyer wasn’t handling her briefs satisfactorily and it was on this  premise  that  Elvis was introduced to the actress.

The lawyer stated further that “Omotola’s number was made available to me and after  series of telephone discussions, we scheduled an appointment in her office. Then, she was having issues with Africa Independent Television, AIT following a programme on Kakakii, where Omotola was said to have travelled to the United States to carry out breast enlargement.”

“I wrote a letter to the management of DAAR Communications, owners of  AIT and Raypower 100.5. The  matter was eventually resolved via retraction on the same programme and a letter of apology tendered by the company’s law firm representing Jumoke Alao.”

“ Impressed on how I  handled the matterwith AIT and other assignments, the actress  entered into contractual agreement  with my firm, where I insisted that my annual retainership fee would be N500,000. She negotiated for N200,000 per annum retainership fee. I prepared an MOU and after studying it, she invited me on 22nd or 23rd of February, 2010 for the execution of the MOU.” he recounted.

Meanwhile, in the memorandum of Understanding signed by Omotola’s company  and the lawyer, Keshi explained that the actress agreed to pay him  the sum of N200,000 annually as his retainership fee in addition to paying him also a professional fee as well as out of pocket expenses incurred by me while  handling her  brief which she did not honour.

“Both parties, without coercion,  signed the agreement. I have since carried out all instructions from Redhot concepts through Omotola”Elvis said.

According to the young laywer, since  the MoU,was endorsed,   he  has  only received a cheque of N50,000 from Omotola. He has gone to court  to demand for the balance of his retainership agreement for 2010 (N150,000) and the retainership agreement for 2011 ( 200,000) as well as fee for services rendered between this period which amounted to  N1,150,000.

“In February 2012, I wrote Omotola  where I terminated our agreement, with a letter of demand.. She ignored me all this while.”

However, in a counter affidavit from Omotola’s counsel, Festus Keyamo ,  and which was made available to WG, the actress agreed  owing the complainant the sum of N350,000, and not N1,150,000”as he claimed. The case came up yesterday, at the Magistrate court 1, Ikeja, Lagos.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact Omotola over the telephone to get her own side of the story proved abortive as her  cell phones were switched off.

Story And Video Clips Of A "Doctor" who Rapes his Patients Before Performing Abortion On Them

Joshua Drah

The women, some of whom are known faces in society, had gone to the clinic for surgical abortion at various times and the doctor, after making them strip naked for the operation, forced them to have sex with him with an excuse that without the sex, the abortion would not be successful.

The doctor is currently in police net and is being prepared to be charged to court as investigations continue into his case.

The must-watch video was secretly recorded by mysterious investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, at a private clinic located at Madina, a suburb of Accra.
For the three-month period that Anas and his team planted the secret cameras in the theater, the doctor was captured having sex with over 52 different ladies who had gone to him for abortion.

The women were aged between 20 to 40 years and were charged various amounts ranging from GH¢150 to GH¢400, depending on the age of the pregnancy.

He told the unsuspecting women, midway into the abortion, that unless an erected penis entered them, the exercise would be excruciatingly painful and almost unsuccessful so they had no choice but to let him enter.

Interestingly, the doctor slept with all the women without using a condom even as he performed the sex act standing, while they lay haplessly on the operation table.

Anas, in planting the camera, had to disguise himself as a cleaner and then later as a medical assistant sort of.

The must-watch sex video was be shown on Multi TV’s Joy News Channel on Wednesday, September 5, at 6pm.

The investigation is part of Anas’ Wild Ghana project in which he would be collaborating with Multi TV to investigate and capture on video some of Ghana’s most atrocious crimes.

Here is the Video Clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii4fYpoTZdA&feature=player_embedded
Copy and paste the above Youtube link to your browser to watch video

US Embassy In Nigeria Warns US Citizens Resident in Northern Nigeria Over Possible Attacks Following Libya Killings

Clinton And Jonathan

Following the outbreak of violent anti-American protests across the Muslim world, sparked by a highly-offensive U.S.-made anti-Muslim film that went viral on the internet, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria has issued emergency warnings to U.S.  citizens who may be traveling in Northern Nigeria or the Federal Capital City of Abuja.



“The U.S. Mission in Nigeria issues this emergency message to update U.S. citizens on the current threat situation in Nigeria,” the warning read. “The U.S. Mission reminds citizens of the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations, and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas.



“Violent and deadly demonstrations and attacks occurred in Cairo, Egypt, and Benghazi, Libya, during the past 24 hours, including a lethal attack against the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Extremists may attempt to target U.S citizens and other Westerners in Nigeria. The U.S. Mission in Nigeria strongly urges U.S. citizens in Nigeria to consider their personal security and to keep personal safety in the forefront of their planning.



The film popped up on YouTube dubbed in Arabic, stirring outrage. In response, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo said it deplored "the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims - as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions."



The statement made reference to last week’s attack on cell phone towers allegedly by extremists. Over 30 towers were damaged and cellular phone and internet service was affected.  “Additional attacks could further weaken the ability of citizens to communicate through cellular telephones and the internet. Land line telephone communications in Nigeria remain limited. U.S. citizens should attempt to arrange for multiple means of communication during emergencies,” advised the official document.



“This year, extremists have threatened  churches, mosques, media houses, police stations, immigration and customs offices, financial institutions, large hotels, shopping malls and markets, state government offices, communications centers, beer gardens, and nightclubs,” the embassy noted.” Attackers have also burned and destroyed several public and private schools in Borno, and targeted several educational institutions in Kano and churches in Plateau, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, and Borno states. Additionally, extremists continue to target westerners for abduction. As such, the situation in the country remains fluid and unpredictable.”



“All U.S. citizens should use caution and discretion when deciding to attend large functions or visit establishments identified as potential targets, and respond appropriately if they detect suspicious activities. Because of ongoing security concerns within the Federal Capital Territory, U.S. citizens should continue to expect heavy traffic congestion, road blocks, and significant police/security force deployments. All U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, pay attention to their surroundings, limit exposure to large crowds, and keep their cellular telephones in close proximity for use in cases of emergency.
“U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Nigeria are strongly advised to enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without Internet access may enroll directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By enrolling, you make it easier for the U.S. Mission in Nigeria to contact you in case of emergency.”

Forget 2015 for Now, PDP Chairman, Tukur, Tells Jonathan

Tukur

THE National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo to deliver on energy and infrastructure and put on hold discussions on 2015.

According to Tukur, he was not interested on who emerges for the 2015 general elections, just as he said  the next three years for the nation’s polls was not his immediate concern.
Speaking on Wednesday during a media interactive session to mark his 77th birthday anniversary at his Abuja residence, the PDP National Chairman stressed that what preoccupied his mind now was how to build a strong party that will transform the country to a greater level as well as focus on who will deliver on the party’s manifesto.

He admitted that his interest in 2015 lies on who will deliver on agriculture, energy, health and other sectors that would help to transform the country, reiterating that PDP under his leadership would not guarantee automatic tickets for incumbent political office holders in the 2015 general elections.

Tukur said, “PDP has been in government for 13 years because the party is consistent. We are not talking of 2015, but infrastructure development, energy, health, agriculture among others. We are talking of performance and not 2015. Give us energy. I am not after 2015 now, all I am interested in is selling the person who has done well based on his performance to the people by 2015. When we get to the bridge of 2015, we will cross it.”

The PDP National Chairman also told newsmen that if the nation’s problems must be addressed, there was the urgent need for the government to pay serious attention to education, adding that the country’s security challenges could be effectively addressed if the people were better informed through education.

When asked why members of the National Working Committee, NWC were not at the function, Bamanga Tukur explained that he was not fighting his members and that he got to know about the function at about 6pm.

The PDP national chairman who emphasized that his agenda for the party was based on three Rs, three Ds and three Es aimed at transforming the party and by extension Nigeria, however, explained that the three Rs, which are reconciliation, reformation and rebuilding will help to reconcile the warring factions in the party and by extension Nigeria, while the three Ds which stand for defence, dialogue and diplomacy would help to defend one in term of aggression, dialogue in a given situations so that peace would reign in the country and diplomacy whereby volatile situation could be addressed.

Education, panacea to Nigeria’s problems

The three Es, which stand for Environment, Energy and Education, the National Chairman of the party said would also help to develop the country.

While the environment would be sustained, Tukur maintained that improving energy would develop the country, while education would help to transform the country and put Nigeria among the most developed nations.

Tukur who expressed optimism that with effective utilisation of the country‘s natural endowments, national development would be guaranteed, said, “there is nothing that Nigeria does not have, whatever America and Europe have got, we have got too but to achieve development, we have to build a stable platform and take care of our environment.”

Petroleum Ministers Convoy Crushes Newspaper Staff To Death, NNPC Claims Responsibility

James Momoh

James Momoh, an Abuja-based media worker, died a gruesome death after he was run over by a convoy belonging to the Oil Resources minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

Momoh was reportedly on his way back from work at Nicon Junction, Maitama area of Abuja late Wednesday, when the tragedy occurred.
 A recent media report indicated that Momoh, employed by the Abuja-based Pilot Newspapers, was taken to the NNPC hospital where hospital workers were not able to save his life.

Momoh’s death was hushed up from the media until the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT council learned of the incident and issued a statement today expressing their condolences to his survivors.

 report indicated that Momoh was taken to the NNPC hospital where he later died after the incident.

A statement by the Chairman of Council, Comrade Chuks Ehirim, described the death of Momoh, a production staffer with the newspaper, as avoidable and unfortunate.

According to Ehirim, the death of Momoh brings to fore the recklessness of government convoys and their absolute disregard for traffic rules and other road users.

The NUJ FCT chairman accused the oil minister, who just returned to the country after an extended trip abroad, of failing to show any concern or human feeling for the dead man by reaching out to his relatives. He said she was rather more bothered about protecting her image.

Ehirim warned that the union will not fold its arms and watch government officials treat human lives with levity and called for proper investigation into the matter as well as proper compensation for the bereaved family.

Mrs. Allison Madueke arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday morning on a British Airways flight after news spread on the media that she was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. She denied the report on her Facebook page, cut short her trip by one week and quietly returned to Nigeria on Tuesday only for her convoy to kill the newspaper man on Wednesday night.

It was not known at press time whether Mr. Momoh had a family or what memorial services are planned.


Meanwhile, the Acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Mr. Fidel Pepple has described as untrue reports that the convoy of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was involved in a deadly car crash which killed Mr. James Momoh, a staff of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper in Abuja.
Mr. Pepple however confirmed that a shuttle vehicle belonging to the Corporation was involved in an accident which eventually led to the death of the Pilot Newspaper staff.

“I want to state categorically that the unfortunate event of last night has nothing to do with the convoy of the Honourable Minister as speculated.
The accident involved one of our shuttle buses which regrettably knocked down a pedestrian in the Mabushi area of Abuja and was immediately rushed to the NNPC Medical Centre for attention. But sadly the young man gave up the ghost,’’ he said.
The NNPC spokesman stated that the Minister’s convoy was not involved in the crash in any way noting that the vehicle in question is not part of the minister’s pilot vehicles.
He said the Management of the NNPC has taken steps to meet with the family of the deceased as well as the Management of Pilot Newspapers.

Man Beats Friend to Death with Frying Pan For Sleeping With Girlfriend.

A jealous stablehand brutally beat his friend to death with a frying pan after he caught him having sex with his girlfriend.

Bryan Harris, 45, from Newton Abbot, Devon, claimed he had been ‘defending his dignity’ when he battered victim Paul Drury in a prolonged attack that lasted up to 15 minutes.

Exeter Crown Court heard how all three had been staying in the same house when Harris awoke to find his room empty and Miss Lewis moaning.

Harris told the jury: ‘She was moaning in pleasure downstairs and Paul was naked on top of her and they were having sex on the floor of the living room.

‘I said to Paul “what are you doing?”

‘I was shouting and swearing at him. He got off her and we exchanged words. I was very annoyed and hurt and being betrayed by him and Dawn.

‘He told me he loved her too and said I’d used her for money. I told him I loved the girl.’

Harris admitted fighting Mr Drury, who had Asperger's syndrome, and said: ‘I was giving him a hiding to say “keep off my missus”. I had lost all control. I did not realise how badly I had injured him.’

Harris denied using a dented frying pan to carry out the violent attack on 32-year-old Mr Drury before he also left lover Dawn Lewis with serious facial wounds.

Miss Lewis, 46, said Harris has a strong sex drive but had not had sex with her for more than a month after she had had surgery.

She told the jury at Exeter Crown Court that Harris - whom she had only been seeing for a few months - ‘seemed to want it every day’.

Hours before the murder Harris had pestered her for sex but she refused despite his repeated attempts.

She told the jury she cannot recall how she got her injuries and was confused as to whether she had had sex with Harris on that November night.

In police interviews Harris insisted that two men and two women had burst into the house in and launched the attack which he single handedly repelled.

But he later admitted that he was responsible for the assaults on his friend and his lover.

Miss Lewis, who had taken a sleeping tablet, told the court that she could not recall having sex with Mr Drury.

She said: ‘I am almost 100 per cent sure I didn’t sleep with Drury, he was not a sexual person.’

Harris was found guilty of murdering Mr Drury and attempting to cause gbh to Miss Lewis with intent to do her gbh.

Prosecutor Michael Fitton QC said Mr Drury died in a ‘prolonged and brutal attack’ which left him with multiple head and other injuries to his neck, jaw, ribs and ear. He suffered fatal brain wounds.

Harris is due to be sentenced on Tuesday.

Terrorists Threaten to Capture and Kill British Prince Harry

The Afghan Taliban said on Monday they were doing everything in their power to try to kidnap or kill Britain's Prince Harry, who arrived in Afghanistan last week to fly attack helicopters.

Queen Elizabeth's grandson is in Afghanistan on a four-month tour, based in Camp Bastion in the volatile Helmand province, where he will be on the front line in the NATO-led war against Taliban insurgents, reports Reuters.

"We are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping," Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, told Reuters by phone from an undisclosed location.

"We have informed our commanders in Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him," Mujahid added, declining to go into detail on what he called the "Harry operations".

NATO Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was not worried about the Taliban threat against Prince Harry.

"That's not a matter of concern," Rasmussen told a news conference in Brussels on Monday. "I mean, we do everything we can to protect all our troops deployed to Afghanistan whatever might be their personal background."

Britain's Ministry of Defence declined to comment on Mujahid's statement. British authorities have given few details of Prince Harry's stint in Afghanistan for security reasons.

The 27-year-old prince, who is third in line to the throne, took up his new role two weeks after being photographed frolicking naked in Las Vegas.

Known in the military as Captain Wales, he first served in Afghanistan in 2008 as an on-the-ground air controller, but his tour was cut short when a news blackout designed to protect him while he was on the front line collapsed.

Drug Violence: 16 Bodies found in a Truck in Southern Mexico

Officials in southern Mexico say they have discovered 16 bodies left in a truck in a region plagued by drug violence.

The Guerrero state Attorney General's Office says the bodies were found in Coyuca de Catalan. That city is close to the border with Michoacan state and is about 170 miles (280 kilometers) southwest of Mexico City.

The region is a battleground between drug gangs including La Familia Michoacana and the breakaway Knights Templar.

Officials have not yet identified the victims or described a motive for the slayings.

Report Says Over N500 million PHCN pension is trapped in London

A panel set up to investigate the electricity workers’ pension contributions in the power sector has submitted its report to the minister of state for power.

Submitting the report on Monday in Abuja, the Chairman of the investigative panel and a former Auditor-General of the Federation, Joseph Ajiboye said that Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) workers’ pensions was never a contributory scheme and was never funded by a budgetary allocation but rather through an internal arrangement in the company.

“The problem with the PHCN was that they didn’t have sufficient fund to be able to meet the requirements of that closed system, that is the major problem,” he said.

Another major finding of the report according to Mr Ajiboye was the existence of a mini—estate constructed to service the electricity workers’ retirement fund which was sold off without remissions to the fund, thereby starving the fund and making it impossible to pay off retired workers.

The eight-man-panel also reported that over two million pounds (approximately N500 million) which ought to have gone to the retirement fund is presently stuck in a London account and that if recovered could help solve the on-going impasse between the electricity workers and the federal government.

The former Auditor-General said he believes that “government in its wisdom will find a solution to this problem.”

The investigative panel’s report has long been awaited. The panel was given 30 working days to probe the PHCN pension scheme especially the details of the N300 billion allegedly accumulated in the NEPA retirement fund which the former minister of power, Barth Nnaji had insisted was only N3 billion.

The Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Way while receiving the report from the panel, said “We hope this report will aid us to find a solution the lingering labour issue. And you know the only labour issue that is outstanding now is that of pension.”

The PHCN staff are demanding a 25 percent benefits on their pensions different from the 15 percent severance package offered by the federal government on grounds that this was a set standard for pensions and gratuity payoff peculiar to the PHCN pensions scheme under the retirement fund.

British MP Confirms Boko Haram-Sponsor Organisation

Eight months after a United Kingdom- based charity organisation, Al-Muntada Trust Fund, was accused by the State Security Service of funding the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, the charity group has come under UK’s probe after a British member of parliament accused the trust of funding the Nigerian sect.

The probe was announced in a report published in the British newspaper, The Guardian on Sunday.

It said that David Alton, a member of the House of Lords, raised concerns about the Al-Muntada Trust Fund’s activities with Foreign Office minister Lord Howell in July, as well as with the United Kingdom’s Charity Commission and the Metropolitan police.

However the Charity Commission was quoted by the paper as stating that while they are aware of concerns regarding Al-Muntada’s affiliations with Boko Haram, they were unable to confirm whether those concerns are directly related to the London-based Al-Muntada, since there are several other charity organisations registered under the same name.

The report said the London-based Al-Muntada is notorious for being a platform for radical clerics, and that Nigerian state security also has concerns with Al-Muntada allegedly funding Boko Haram.

Last February, the State Security Service, SSS, aided by other agencies were shocked to discover that Boko Haram actually received funding from a UK organisation and others in the Middle East.

Arrested leaders of the sect allegedly opened up on the sponsors. The leaders were said to have revealed that while the group got funding in its earlier days from al Qeada, its links with Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) opened it to funding from groups in Saudi Arabia and the UK.

The UK group, Al-Muntada Trust Fund,was specifically named as a Boko Haram financier by the SSS. Other Islamic organisations were also named as the group’s financiers, including Islamic World Society with headquarters in Saudi Arabia.

Members of the sect allegedly contributed as well notable Muslims, especially a certain businessman, in Borno and another in Bauchi .

The Bauchi man  said to have developed links with Al-Qaeda in Somalia having received some training from one Abu Umar Al-Wadud, was said to have escaped from Nigeria in 2009, to Somalia but visited Nigeria in October 2010 and was said to have held meetings in Kano with the leaders of Boko Haram, including Abubakar Shekau, the acclaimed military commander.