Oil theft: Nigeria, Cameroon to fight sea piracy

The Nigerian Navy has hinted that plans are on the way to form a synergy with Cameroon to tackle the activities of sea pirates in Nigerian waterways.

The navy also indicated that illegal oil bunkering, particularly in the Niger Delta region, has been drastically reduced in the last five months.

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, stated this during his visit to naval formations in Rivers State.

Vice Admiral Jubrin, while addressing officers and men of NNS Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, pointed out that sea piracy in Nigerian waterways was caused by the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

According to him, there was disaffection from the affected people, which had given rise to sea piracy.

Also, the navy boss said illegal oil bunkering had reduced from 4.2 million barrels to barely 1 million barrels monthly and noted that oil theft, bunkering, illegal fishing as well as sea piracy remained serious challenges within the country’s maritime environment.

“By the time I assumed office, there were some challenges like oil theft, illegal bunkering, illegal fishing and piracy in the maritime environment.

“I made a promise that with the cooperation of all of you, we can check these social vices within our maritime environment. With your support, we have recorded huge success in meeting the expectation of the Nigerian Navy. We have reduced oil theft to the barest minimum; what used to be about 4.2 million barrels lost monthly has been reduced to barely 1 million barrels a month.”

While appreciating the efforts of the Navy and other security agencies in the fight against oil theft, he said the Federal Government would appreciate the force more, when its efforts were translated to improved revenue for the government.

Ilorin: How N20,000 Political Largesse Claimed 5 Lives

For three days last week, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital was in flames, courtesy of a violent clash that broke out among hoodlums suspected to be political thugs allegedly in the fold of a leading opposition party in the state.
The mayhem which started on Sunday following an alleged disagreement on the sharing formula of a paltry N20, 000 doled out by a prominent politician in the state to some hoodlums. The conflict continued till Tuesday.
At least, five lives were lost to the incident, though the police confirmed only three deaths. About 15 persons also sustained bullet wounds during the fracas which paralysed commercial activities in most parts of Ilorin metropolis.
Investigation by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that trouble started penultimate Friday evening shortly after some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Alore area of Ogidi ward in Ilorin West local government defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It was gathered that the hoodlums clashed with one another as they could not agree on sharing formula for the sum of N20, 000 reportedly doled out to them by a politician, thereby degenerating to bloody clash.
The fracas which started around Abayawo area later spread to Alore-Ode Adana-Omoda, Ode-Alawusa, Okelele and recorded the death of one person on that day.
However, in a reprisal that followed on Sunday, it was gathered that another person simply identified as Ebba was killed in cold blood at Ode Alawusa area.
In an attempt to avenge the death of Ebba, the hoodlums again on Monday renewed hostilities setting up fires, thereby paralysing commercial and social activities in the affected areas. Some of those who sustained bullet wounds were rushed to the headquarters of Kwara State Hunters Association situated at Balode Street, Isale Banni, Ilorin.
Soldiers and armed mobile police men in about 20 vans were deployed to the affected areas to disperse the miscreants. During the renewed clash on Monday, the death toll rose to five.
While an unidentified motorcyclist was allegedly shot dead by security operatives, another person simply identified as Dauda reportedly died in cross fire by the rampaging hoodlums. Two Air force personnel deployed to the trouble spots were also said to have been attacked during the fracas.
However, as the crisis progressed, the ruling APC and the opposition PDP in the state engaged in a war of words over what necessitated the nightmare that the peace-loving people of Ilorin were thrown into for three days.
The PDP threw the first salvo when its spokesperson, Chief Rex Olawoye, alleged that a certain government official masterminded the killing of a person said to be former member of APC but recently defected to the PDP. Olawoye blamed the incident on some hoodlums who he alleged were loyal to certain APC chieftains.
He said the alleged APC thug unleashed violence on some former members of APC who defected to the PDP recently. “Our party has made it clear to the commissioner of Police that it would not allow this sad occurrence to be swept under the carpet. We have asked that all those arrested so far, including alleged members of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) deployed by a high ranking political office holder in the area to reinforce the APC thugs to be investigated,” Olawoye stated.
In a swift reaction, the APC in a statement by its publicity secretary, Alh Sulyman Buhari decried the destruction of properties at Alore-Omode area of the metropolis and the wanton killing of innocent citizens by those he alleged were PDP agents.
The APC statement reads in part: “The APC expresses sadness that the life of a young Kwaran can be brutally cut short by thugs due to mere controversies surrounding the distribution of a largesse given to PDP members by a former senator in Kwara State.
“The violent activities of the opposition PDP in the state is a concern to the APC. The APC has consistently alerted the good people of Kwara State and the Police Command on the violent disposition, gangsterism and the rich record of violence the PDP flaunts.
“Surprisingly, the PDP has broken its own record of violence in the state. The APC condemns the murder of the deceased and the destruction of properties at Alore-Omoda area in Ilorin, during a clash between PDP thugs. Nothing better illustrates that fact that the PDP is truly a violent PDP.
“The death of the young man is avoidable and the destruction of properties in the affected area is unjustifiable. We wonder why the sharing of a largesse given to PDP members by a former senator in the state should lead to the killing of human being.
“The APC believes life is sacrosanct; either APC member or member of opposition parties or any Kwaran. The buck of this irresponsibility stops on the leadership of Kwara PDP. We warn the PDP to desist from oiling its evidently weak political machinery with the blood of Kwarans.
“Similarly, the PDP senatorial meeting at Oro Lodo primary school, Omu-Aran, last Saturday turned bloody as members engaged in a fight to finish during the distribution of a national cake that was sent from Abuja. Many persons were injured and many others were gravely wounded.
“Meanwhile, we are aware that the Police Command has taken charge of the unfortunate incident. We urge the Police Command to prosecute the PDP thugs and their sponsors to prevent future occurrence of same or related incident.”
Also, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) punctured the PDP’s claim that its members were called in to assist the APC supporters in the crisis as it dissociated itself from the violent clash.
In a statement, the state coordinator of OPC, Comrade Maruf Olarewaju said, “Our attention has just been drawn to a statement credited to the state PDP over the recent clash among political thugs linking OPC with the crisis. We state loudly and clearly that OPC is not in any way involved in the said political crisis.
“We are not a political thugs association and never shall we subject ourselves to any political party to be used as a tool to foment crisis. It is unfortunate that the PDP failed to verify the genesis of the problems within its party before it ran to the press. Our organisation is a non-partisan one and we will not want anybody or group or party to draw us to it crisis.
“We hereby call on politicians to play their politics genuinely and accordingly as ‘OPC is to protect and not to destroy’. The law enforcement agents and state government should not forget that last month, we alerted the public on the activities of some hoodlums grouping themselves together in Ilorin West local government area. It is unfortunate that nothing meaningful has been done on that. We call on the state government and security agents to get to the root of the Alore and Omoda fracas so as to bring the perpetrators to book.”
However, the riot act which the state police commissioner, Mr Ambrose Aisabor read to politicians in the state on the need for them to stop doling out peanuts to their followers might have been the cause of the controversy surrounding the crisis.
While parading 14 suspects arrested in connection with the crises in parts of Ilorin, Aisabor warned politicians in the state to stop promoting violence through their actions. He cautioned politicians against doling out peanuts to their supporters which the sharing often leads to violent confrontation.
Instead, Aisabor urged such politicians domiciled either in or outside the state to empower their people to fend for themselves. He added that, “The political situation in the state has been very peaceful. Though, occasionally, we see political thugs disturbing in one way or the other. Let me use this medium to advise politicians in Kwara State including those residing in the state and those outside that politics is a game of choice. You don’t force people or intimidate them.
“Instead of coming to Ilorin occasionally to distribute money to jobless youths, I expect politicians to set up cottage industries; factories where these teeming youths could be gainfully employed, rather than coming here to give them peanuts and in the process of sharing the money, they will be killing and maiming one another. That is not good politics. It is not the politics Nigerians want.
“On no account should they come to Ilorin to dole out peanuts to their so-called supporters who are glorified touts that will lead to violence. There are so many ways on empowering their people.
“I am also using this medium to warn them that apart from the president, vice president, governors and their deputies that have immunity, other Nigerians have no immunity. So, no Nigerian is above the law. We will deal with anyone found wanting according to the law.
The suspects paraded before the newsmen in connection with the crisis are Rasheed Isiaka, Lukman Adesegiri, Abdulazeez Yahaya, Lukman Ibrahim, Bolaji Ologele, Tunde Ologele, Abdulrafiu Shehu and Abdulganiyu Issah.
Others are Tunde Alakia, Abdulraheem Raji, Tajudeen Ahmed, Aromokala Issa, Opeyemi Yunusa and Abdul ganiyu Abdulazeez.
Some exhibits found on them include charm, one blood-stained cutlass, one saw and seven motorcycles.

Nigerian Leaders Need Mentors – Jerry Gana

A call has been made for a re-awakening of a strong and sustainable ethical structure that can grow and nurture a robust purpose-driven leadership-recruitment process where Nigeria’s future leaders are mentored for governance excellence in all segments of the Nigerian society.
The call was made in Abuja yesterday by former information minister, Prof Jerry Gana; the political adviser to the president, Prof Ahmed Rufai Alkali and the national coordinator of Vibrant Transformation Awareness and Leadership Development Initiative (VITALDI), Senator Saidu Umar Kumo.
Speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of VITALDI, Prof Gana who is the grand patron of the group observed that the need had come for all true citizens of the country to collaborate urgently and ensure that Nigeria remained on the path of sustainable growth and development.
He said, “The current moment in the country belongs to all Nigerians irrespective of race, region or religion, creed or class, male or female, young or old, political party A or political party B. It is for all Nigerians to rise and ensure that our collective destiny is derailed by a common enemy attempting to seize the moment. It is for all patriotic Nigerians to ensure that they are driven by a common purpose to defeat the common enemy.
“Leaders must therefore emerge to lead at every segment of the nation. For such leaders to lead well, there should be a robust leadership-recruitment process which also emphasizes robust mentorship. This is what I find needful now and which the VITALDI group seeks to achieve. We fully support it,” he said.

suarez and tyson

By now, the entire football-watching world has heard about Luis Suarez. Comparable to Mike Tyson’s ear biting incident in 1997, Suarez’s tendency to bite his opponents has become quite notorious amongst football fans.

This week’s match against Italy marks his third biting offense in professional soccer.

People are outraged, and rightly so, but few are asking why he did it. Why did Suarez choose to bite Giorgio Chiellini? Surely if he was frustrated he would be more likely to push, kick or punch his victim?

Despite the significant fuss around the incident, human to human biting isn’t actually that uncommon. According to study done in 2007 by the National Institutes of Health, human bites are the third most common type of bites seen in emergency rooms, right behind cat and dog bites.

Many researchers believe that human biting is a primitive response, where emotions override rational thoughts. The theory is that anger overcame Suarez and biting was his way to release his aggression.

“I don’t think [Suarez is] choosing to bite. I mean why does your infant bite the cat? It’s a very infantile response; I don’t think it’s an intellectual choice,” says Health24’s resident Psychiatrist Professor Michael Simpson.

“[He probably has] very little, if anything, [going on in his mind] beforehand and during.” He added. "It's a very primal response."

Criminologists have even nodded at the idea that certain human bites are not done out of aggression, but out of a barbarous desire to stigmatize their victims.

Of further interest is the footballer's lack of remorse following the attack. He felt no need to apologise to Chiellini and has generally dismissed the incident as unimportant. The head of the Uruguayan Football Association claimed that the bite marks were photoshopped onto Chiellini by the media.

If Luis Suarez had attempted to bite someone in South Africa, he would have had to face up to a six month jail time, as human biting is categorized as a “peculiar form of assault.”

While human biting may seem like a small matter, 5 to 20 percent of all biting cases are a result from human biting. Additionally, human bites are often much harder to treat than animal bites, as the human mouth can carry up to 100 million organisms per millimetre, representing almost 200 different species of bacteria. Due to these high levels of bacteria, human bites that break the skin have a high risk of infection. Furthermore, Hepatitis B and C, HIV, herpes and rabies can all be past via a human bite.

Nigeria recovers N64.4 billion unremitted revenue from oil companies

Nigeria has recovered N64.4 billion unremitted revenue from some oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria between 2009 and 2011.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Ledum Mitee, stated this at the Public Presentation of Independent Audit Reports of 2007 to 2011 Fiscal Allocation and Statutory Disbursement (FASD) audit.

Mitee said that the companies involved include AMNI, Chevron, Midwestern, Mobil, Agip and Total.

According to him, another $5.8 million (about N928 million) is expected to be paid this week by Express Petroleum and Gas Company.

He said that the figure was different from the well documented recoveries of over two billion dollars that had been made in the past.

The chairman said NEITI had worked with the relevant agencies to take necessary measures to recover the money.

According to him, NEITI will take all necessary measures to recover all outstanding debts by working with relevant agencies.

The chairman, however, refuted the claim that over N1billion had been spent on NEITI’s report since its inception.

According to him, the amount of money spent by NEITI is not up to the reported figure.

American singer features Destiny Child in a Nigerian Gospel song

In her latest single, American singer, Michelle Williams features the other halves of the defunct Destiny’s Child, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, in a reunion for a popular Nigerian gospel song titled When Jesus Say Yes.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed that the producer of the song Harmony Samuel said that the song is an ode to his Nigerian roots.

The singer also said that, though the song leaked before its official release, the video which was shot in May will soon be available online.

Beyoncé pens beautiful open letter about Michael Jackson

Beyoncé, who is one of the highest selling entertainers globally, recently took the time to show gratitude to one of her idols.

Mrs Carter spared a moment while in Florida with hubby Jay Z for their On The Run Tour which kicked of this week in Miami to remember the late Michael Jackson.

On the 5th anniversary of MJ's death Bey wrote an open letter about the man who inspired her career.

In the open latter which she shared on her website, Knowles wrote:

"When I was just starting out, my first producer used to make me listen to Michael Jackson’s live performance of Who’s Loving You. He would have me watch that for hours back to back to back.

What he wanted me to learn was his soul. You could hear his soul. And he was this little kid who hadn’t experienced love but he was a vessel. For whatever reason he could evoke more emotion than an adult. It was so raw and so pure. It was these little things that he did that were just swag. It’s something that’s God given.

Michael taught me that sometimes you have to forget technique, forget what you have on. If you feel silly, you have to go from the gut just let it go.

Michael Jackson changed me, and helped me to become the artist I am, thank you Michael.

Love always,
B"

Chibok: Snakes Fight Insurgents In Sambisa

Some members of the Islamic militants, Boko Haram, arrested yesterday at Mairi Ward, behind the University of Maiduguri, by members of the vigilance group ‘Civilian JTF’, have confessed that most of them fled the Sambisa forest camp as a result of ‘spiritual attacks’ by mysterious snakes and bees, which have killed many of their colleagues.

According to one of them, Kolo Mustapha, snakes are now attacking them in the forest.

“Most of us are fleeing because there are too many snakes and bees now in the forest, and once they bite, they disappear, and the victims do not last 24 hours.

“We were told that the aggrieved people who had suffered casualties from our deadly missions, including the ghosts of some of those we killed, are the ones turning into snakes and bees attacking us in the forest,” he claimed.

According to him, some of their leaders too had escaped to Cameroon “because they are known to the Nigerian authorities and could easily be identified.”

He added that those who lived all their lives in Maiduguri had nowhere to run to, but to return and tried to sneak into town.

He said they came in last night and were trying to hide in some uncompleted buildings when some members of the ‘Civilian JTF’ saw them, after which they were identified and arrested.

“We are pleading with them to spare our lives; we were forced into the sect, but we know that, it is not the right way.

“I personally have never killed anyone, but I have my friend here who has killed many people,” he said.

Umar Abor, another arrested sect member, however, said that Mustapha was lying, as all of them had participated in all the heinous acts of the sect in the past.

“We have fought together since 2010; we have fought in Marte, Bama, Buni Yadima and Gwoza. We were not in Chibok, we have not seen the girls, but we heard about it.

 

INCREDIBLE: Woman gives birth after 14 years pregnancy!

_Saturday June 7, 2014, will remain the happiest day in the life of Mercy James. Reason? That was the day she miraculously gave birth to a baby girl after 14 years of being pregnant.

The baby was promptly and aptly christined Miracle. And why not? If the mother had delivered at the expected time the child would have been a teenager by now and possibly in secondary school at the JSS 3 level.

Mercy, a single parent, said of her ordeal during the 14 years she was pregnant but could not give birth: “When I first took in, I knew that I was pregnant with signs and test that confirmed that I was. Four months later, I went to hospital for another test, the result showed that I wasn’t pregnant, but had fibroid.

Subsequently, I began to experience bleeding, at least once a day. Sometimes, my tummy would protrude in the semblance of pregnancy. I went to different hospitals, and I kept on receiving the same result that nothing was wrong with me. But deep down inside , I knew that all was not well with me.

Churches and native doctors

“So I was taken aback when a midwife told me I was pregnant. But considering the test which showed I had fibroid, I was angry with the midwife for giving me what I felt was a false prophecy of hope. Thereafter, I started going from one church to another and from one native doctor to the other. The results that I got from them all remained the same. I became more feeble and confused that I prayed for death to come.

“I went again to the midwife two years after and complained to her about the pains that I was going through, she told me again that it was not fibroid but pregnancy; she advised me to be more prayerful so that God will deliver me from the hands of the devil. I kept on praying and at the same time asking myself that if truly I’m pregnant, why is it that the baby was not kicking?

“I bought many concoctions that they said could cure fibroid and drank them. I even drank 12 bottles of a local cleanser but to no avail. This went on for years. Then God took pity on me and decided to wipe my tears.

On the day I gave birth to my baby girl, I initially thought that worms were trying to come out of my body not knowing that it was a baby. This was what I told the midwife when we came to her. But after examining me she told me to push.

I ignored her. I became unconscious for about 15 minutes and when I regained consciousness, I heard the cry of a baby. I was surprised and confused seeing my baby. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Hmm,I thank God for my life and that of my baby Miracle. I named her Miracle because she is truly a miraculous child”.

Miraculous child

The midwife at the Celestial Church of Christ, Kadoso Parish, Ajegunle where Mercy gave birth confirmed the development, especially the role she played.

The woman who simply gave her name as Mrs Ajetima informed thus: “She was pregnant for 14 years and was unable to give birth during this period. Then on Saturday around 6:30am I saw two persons carrying her to this place. When she came inside, I laid her down and asked one of my daughters to examine her, after the examination, I found out that it was a baby that was about coming out and not worms. I asked her to push and she refused. My daughter gave her a hard slap on her laps since she refused to push.

Behold a baby with placenta came out! I started shouting, calling on people to come and see for themselves that Mercy was truly pregnant, because if not, people will start to say that that Celestial woman has given Mercy a baby. Within a twinkle of an eye, the whole place was filled with people. God is wonderful”.

Also affirming the happy development, Mercy’s closest friend, Odunayo Odeyemi had this to say: “I have known mercy for over nine years now. I met her with the pregnancy . In fact, she did not know that she was pregnant. I followed her to many places but her problems kept on increasing. Merely looking at Mercy then before she gave birth, you will notice that she wasn’t okay. I kept advising her to have faith in God because I had experienced the same thing. I was pregnant for three years and three months and God delivered me.

“Mercy came to me on that fateful day around 4am begging me to give her a pain reliever, that she was having pains all over her body. I dressed up and took her to a man that sells drugs. After taking the drug, on our way home, she started having serious pains. I called her brother and we both took her to the midwife. Hours later, she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. We all were surprised because we never expected such a miracle to happen. She had a complete baby.”

Robert Davidson, one of Mercy’s friends, said that he concluded after seeing Mercy with a protruded tummy for three years that she had fibroid. So, “it came to me as a shock to learn that she delivered a bouncing baby girl.”

For Chidimma Ibe, a neighbour: “She always complained to me that she had stomach pains all these period. She told me that she had fibroid and sometime, she will complain of different things. She was totally confused as to what her condition was. I’m very much surprised and happy she gave birth to a complete baby girl. It was truly a miracle. God was on her side. God is wonderful because all the concoctions she took were enough to kill the baby.”

On the father of Baby Miracle, Mercy informed that they got separated on account of the ordeal that attended her pregnancy. “Friday is the name of my baby’s father. Actually, we are not married. He just proposed to me and I became pregnant for him. He knew about the pregnancy. He always gave me money for tests and scans but he got tired and left me after waiting for me for over a year without seeing any sign of a baby. I have no option than to go my own way,” she informed.

 

 

 

Luke Shaw: Man Utd sign Southampton defender for £27m

Luke Shaw (right) became the youngest player to feature at the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday.

England defender Luke Shaw has joined Manchester United from Southampton for £27m, making him one of the world's most expensive teenagers.

The 18-year-old's fee could rise to £31m, depending on his performance. An initial £27m offer was rejected in May.

“He has developed immensely during his time at Southampton and has all the attributes to become a top player”

Ryan Giggs Manchester United's assistant manager

The left-back has agreed a four-year contract with United, with an option to extend for a further year.

"I want to continue to progress my career and joining United is the ideal place for me to do that," he said.

Ryan Giggs, United's assistant manager, added: "Luke is a very talented young left back with great potential.

"He has developed immensely during his time at Southampton and has all the attributes to become a top player."

Shaw told Saints at the end of last season that he wanted to join United.

He became the youngest player to feature at the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil when he played the entire 90 minutes of England's 0-0 draw with Costa Rica on Tuesday.

He is United's second summer recruit - and second in as many days - after they signed Spain midfielder Ander Herrera, 24, from Athletic Bilbao for a fee believed to be £29m.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was the world's most expensive teenager when he moved to Old Trafford in September 2004 for an initial fee of £20m.

Shaw's signing eclipses that and matches the £27m Paris St-Germain paid Roma for 19-year-old Marquinhos in July.

The youngster also becomes the fourth most expensive defender in world football.

"While we are sad to see Luke depart the club, we fought to ensure that we got the right deal for a player in whom we have invested a great deal of work over the past decade," said executive director Les Reed.

"This deal is a good one for Southampton Football Club and hopefully sends a clear message to other clubs wishing to bid for our players.

"Luke's transfer fee will be reinvested into the team as our new manager, Ronald Koeman, builds for the new season and for years to come."

Meanwhile, Saints midfielder Adam Lallana is set to have a medical ahead of a proposed £25m move to Liverpool .

The 26-year-old England international is expected to complete his transfer within the next 24 hours.

England striker Rickie Lambert has already moved from Saints to Anfield.

P-Square Partners With International Music Star T.I

Popular Nigerian music duo, P-Square are back with yet another international music collaboration with American rapper and record producer, Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr, popularly known as T.I.

Information has it that the top Nigerian music acts shot the music video with T.I, on Wednesday, 25th of June, 2014, in Atlanta, USA.
No doubt, P-Square are really going places, thus setting the pace for other Nigerian music acts to follow suit.

 

KHLOÉ KARDASHIAN CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY WITH FRENCH MONTANA, FAMILY AT BRONX CLUB!

Khloé Kardashian kicked off her 30th birthday celebrations a little early Thursday night with some help from French Montana!

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star and her rapper beau partied at Don Coqui, a nightclub/restaurant in New York City's Bronx borough. Of course, Khloé's family—including sisters Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner and momager Kris Jenner—also came out to party to fête the b-day girl!

A source tells E! News about 50 people in total were part of the festivities, which kicked off at 8:30 p.m. and lasted until around 1 a.m. Everyone seemed seem to having a good time, enjoying wine and dancing!

Refineries ’ll be sold soon, says BPE DG

Despite the resistance against the privatisation of the nation’s refineries by the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, yesterday, disclosed that as soon as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is passed into law, Nigeria’s four refineries will be up for sale.

Speaking when the Thailand Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Chailert Limsomboon, paid him a courtesy call, Dikki affirmed that the PIB is currently before the National Assembly and would soon be passed into law.

“As soon as the bill is passed, the refineries will be privatised and the pipelines and depots concessioned,” he assured.

Dikki listed the huge growth potentials in key sectors of the Nigerian economy, adding that the bureau was currently concentrating on perfecting the legal and regulatory framework for all the sectors of the economy to create the enabling environment for private sector participation.

He noted that the purpose of the review of the legal and regulatory frameworks was to aggregate the regulatory powers currently dispersed in various agencies in each sector into one sector regulator and separate policy from regulation.

He also outlined the huge potentials in the transport sector, noting that Nigeria has over 193,000 kilometres of federal roads, which provide opportunities for potential road concessionaires.

According to him, 15 out of the 17 successor companies created out of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) are fully in the hands of the private sector while the remaining two are at the concluding stages for handover to the private sector, adding that the Transmission Company of Nigeria would continue to reside with the Federal Government.

Earlier, the ambassador disclosed that his country has made economic cooperation with Nigeria the high point of its new Africa Initiative.

He noted that in the past, Thailand had not paid enough attention to the economic opportunities in the West African sub-region, particularly Nigeria. “Hope we have not missed the train in the Nigeria privatization programme?”

According to him, he would make exploration of business opportunities and expansion of economic cooperation with Nigeria a priority, adding that the purpose of the visit was to learn about the reform and privatization policy in Nigeria and the new growth sectors to properly sensitise the Thai business community that may be interested in investing in Nigeria.

Oputa burial: Charly Boy battles Gov Okorocha in church

The funeral mass or­ganised at the Sa­cred Heart Catho­lic Church, Oguta, Imo State for the late Jus­tice Chukwudifu Oputa ended abruptly yesterday as his son, Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy stopped Governor Rochas Okoro­cha from making a speech in the church.

Okorocha, who was equally angry that proto­col was breached by Presi­dent Goodluck Jonathan who was represented at the mass by the Secretary of the Government of Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim by speaking before him, rose to make his speech but Charly Boy seized the microphone from the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jude Ike, which created confusion in the church.

The officiating priest and Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. (Dr) Matthew Hassan Kukah had pleaded with Charly Boy to allow Okorocha speak, but he re­fused, saying he would not allow his father’s burial to be politicised.

An ostensibly angry Okorocha started fuming in the church, which made the Attorney General of Imo State, Chukwuma Umeh, to order the lawyers who gath­ered in the church to leave.

As the lawyers were leav­ing, the dignitaries who at­tended the mass began to leave in droves as Okorocha and his convoy drove away in anger before the body of Oputa was taken back to his country home for interment.

Governor Okorocha had voted N20 million for the burial of Oputa, but the state lost track of the burial arrangement as the Oputa family shot the door on the burial plan. Charly Boy was quoted to have warned the Imo State governor to stay away from his father’s buri­al, but no reason was given for his action.

Anyim had read the presi­dent’s condolence message to Charly Boy in the church with Jonathan saying that he received with great sadness the demise of the eminent jurist.

Jonathan described the late Oputa as a respected public servant, patriot and internationally acclaimed jurist.

“He was not only an outstanding icon, he also readily gave himself in the service of our fatherland in demonstration of his faith in the emergence of a strong, united and prosperous Ni­geria,” Jonathan said.

In his sermon at the mass service, Bishop Kukah said that the late Oputa was a man of justice and equity who, while was alive, en­sured that other people were not treated unjustly.

Kukah who served in the popular Oputa panel with the late jurist advised Ni­gerians, particularly politi­cians to emulate his lega­cies.

Dignitaries who attended the funeral mass included Senator Anyim; Labour Minister, Chief Emeka Nworgu; Deputy Speaker of House of Reps, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Gover­nors Willie Obiano, Rochas Okorocha; former gover­nors Peter Odili (Rivers) and his wife Mary; Achike Udenwa (Imo), Peter Obi (Anambra), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo).

Others are Senators Chris Anyanwu, Hope Uzodinma, Ike Nwachukwu, Chris Ngige, Ifeanyi Ararume, Ar­thur Nzeribe, Uche Chuk­wumerije, George Akume; Amb. Kema Chikwe; Abia Chief Judge, P.I Okpala, Imo Attorney General, Dr Chukwuma Nwachukwu Umeh.

Also present were Cap­tain Emmanuel Iheanacho; Diamond Bank boss, Chief Pascal Dozie, Chief Em­manuel Iwuanyanwu and former Police Inspector General, Mike Okiro.

Five die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway auto crash

•Gridlock resulting from multiple accidents at the Kara end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway… on Friday.

An early morning accident which occurred at Kara area of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway led to the death of five people on Friday.

The victims – three men and two women – were labourers sitting in the cargo carrier of a mini-truck that was on its way to a construction site.

According to eyewitnesses, the victims were crushed when the mini-truck was hit by a speeding trailer.

The truck, a Volvo MF7, was carrying a container inscribed with the logos of Indomie, our correspondents, who visited the scene of the accident noticed.

Even though the mini-truck had been towed away when our correspondent got to the scene, the trailer with a shredded tyre was seen at the scene.

An attendant of a car wash opposite the crash scene said only the driver of the mini-truck and another passenger survived.

He said, “The driver sustained some injuries, while the surviving passenger only had a scratch. He even came to our car wash to wash off his bloody arm.

“The mini-truck was trying to dodge a small pothole at top speed when the trailer hit it from the rear.”

The crash caused a gridlock extending from the expressway to Toll-Gate by the Ojota by-pass. Commuters and pedestrians coming from the Ojodu Road were also stranded for hours. While officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, National Emergency Management Agency and policemen were controlling traffic, many commuters escaped death as a tanker developed a faulty break and rammed into some vehicles stuck in the traffic.

All efforts to reach the office of the Public Relations Officer of the FRSC, Ogun State Command, for comments failed as there was no telephone number on the FRSC site.

But a statement on the Facebook wall of FRSC read, “Five fatalities were recorded and seven (were) injured in a crash which occurred at Kara along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“The vehicles involved were a white Mark truck, white Volvo truck and a white Nissan Cabstar. The obstruction has been cleared and the victims taken to the emergency centre and the Lagos mainland hospital.”

15 men gang rape 16-yr-old girl in Rivers

PORT HARCOURT — POLICE have arrested members of a 15-man gang that allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl in Gbuga area of Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The state Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, told newsmen, yesterday, at the Police headquarters in Port Harcourt that the girl allegedly attended a party organised in the area, adding that she took a glass of strong drink offered her by one of the rapists which made her pass out before she was allegedly raped by 15 men.

He said: “The victim reported that she attended a party at Ogbuga Street in Ogbunabali, Port Harcourt organised by one Tina.

“While at the party, she was given a glass of strong drink by Tambari Dumlesi. That was the last memory she had before she was raped by 15 men. She woke up to find herself in torn boxers and with swollen privates.

“The victim has since been taken to the Police clinic for check up and treatment while three suspects have been apprehended. Investigation is still on.”

Police nab ritualist

He said his men also arrested a ritualist and kidnapper in Igwuruta area of the state, adding that a human skull was among items recovered from him.

According to the Police Commissioner, the suspect confessed that the human skull was that of a lady he allegedly murdered for money rituals.

He said: “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad responded to a tip-off and led a combined team to arrest a suspect of cultism, kidnap and ritual killing in his home in Igwuruta, Rivers State on June 24, 2014.

“At the point of his arrest, the suspect was discovered to be in possession of two locally made pistols, live ammunition and a human skull. These were recovered from him.

“Upon subsequent investigation, it was revealed that the skull was that of a lady murdered by the suspect and his gang. The suspect also owned up to using the skull as a medium to get rich, claiming that the skull speaks to him and provides him with 10, 20, 50 Naira notes after special sacrifice.

“The suspect has since confessed his membership of the brutal cult group, Dey‑well.”

Corrected: ….claiming that the skull speaks to him and provides him with 10,20, 50 Naira notes after special sacrifice.

Woman who stole co-tenant’s child is a ‘prayer warrior’ –Neighbours of kidnap suspect

A crowd in the front of the auditorium of Holy Family Happy Family Ministry, Majidun

Rosemary Chukwu had become a sort of nuisance to her neighbours. Many times, they had complained about her praying habit.

“She would shout and scream and make noise while praying. She makes everybody uncomfortable. That is what everybody knows about her here. This is why we are still in shock about what she did,” said one of her neighbours at 33, Omo Ologede area in Majidun, Lagos.

But what Chukwu is currently embroiled in is simply shocking for the neighbours.

The woman allegedly stole the seven-year-old child of her neighbour, Mrs. Gloria Emeka. In fact, our correspondent learnt from neighbours who caught her in the act that the timely intervention of security agents saved her from being lynched.

When our correspondent visited Omo Ologede on Wednesday, it was noticed that Chukwu and parents of the kidnapped child were co-tenants.

Another neighbour in the same compound, Biola Odunsin, narrated how he, in conjunction with other neighbours, caught Chukwu.

He said, “It was around 6.30am today (Wednesday), when the mother of the child raised the alarm that she could not find her son, Emmanuel.

“We all rallied around her to find out what happened. She informed us that she had sent him to fetch water from the well in the compound. She raised the alarm because her son took too long and when she went to the well, she only saw the empty bucket the boy took there.

“While we were looking for the child, Rosemary (Chukwu) even came out to join in searching for the child as well. She was pitying her mother, showing concern and asking us to check some other parts of the compound.”

One of the neighbours who also took part in the search for the child, told Saturday PUNCH that Chukwu even asked him to see whether the child was in another compound not far from the house.

Two other neighbours named Yakubu and Vincent told our correspondent that they entered the well where the child was sent to fetch water.

“We entered the well to see if the boy fell inside but we found nothing,” they said.

But while the search for the child was going on, Chukwu was said to have gone inside her apartment and came out with a large luggage.

“She carried the luggage on her head and passed by us as we searched for the child. She said she needed to drop the bag somewhere and that she would come to join the search later,” Odunsin said.

But a suspicious woman, the wife of the landlord of the house, alerted the search party, telling them to search the bag Chukwu had on her head before she was allowed to leave.

When the residents called after her to tell her to bring the bag for a check, she reportedly began to run. But a moment later, she was caught.

“We immediately opened the bag and inside was Emmanuel with a cloth used to gag him. The child would have died because he could not speak again. We tried hard before we could resuscitate him,” Odunsi explained.

However, the infuriated neighbours descended on Chukwu and while they were beating her, she screamed out that they should spare her because she was only a messenger.

“Pastor Ernest sent me! Please don’t kill me, Pastor Ernest sent me o!” she was reported to have told the party of residents.

Then Chukwu took the party to the church of the pastor who she claimed sent her, which turned out to be Pastor Ernest Nwankwo of the Holy Family Happy Family Ministry (House of Mercy), Majidun.

One of the residents who took Chukwu to the church said by the time they got there, the pastor was nowhere to be found. She was later handed over to the police who took her away.

A photograph of Chukwu obtained by our correspondent showed a plump, fair complexioned woman with a motherly face. She is said to have four children – two boys and two girls.

Neighbours said they had not seen her husband, as he was usually away from home even though they are still together.

When our correspondent visited the church on Wednesday, a crowd of residents had besieged the place, barely kept at bay by some sternly looking policemen who were said to have prevented the church from being burnt down earlier by angry residents.

Despite this, some youths had succeeded in entering the church before the police came and seized hundreds of audio CDs of an album recorded by the pastor.

The youths publicly and excitedly sold the CDs on the Ikorodu Road to motorists and passers-by for N50 each.

The policemen rebuffed every attempt to gain access to the empty church, while residents of houses nearby could not provide any information about the whereabouts of the pastor.

Some residents who pleaded anonymity informed Saturday PUNCH that the church was not a conventional one.

“They don’t hold service on Sundays, only on Tuesday and Thursday. The pastor claims to treat mad men,” one of them told our correspondent.

An eyewitness, who entered the church before police intervention, said when they stormed the church earlier, they met a man with his hands and legs shackled in chains.

“I am not a mad man. Please help me! I was taken from around Redeemed Church Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Pastor Ernest kept me here. There were many of us but they usually come to take away,” the man, who gave his name as Onuora Okeke, was reported to have said. The man also revealed to the people that he was from Anambra State and had been locked up in the church since 2012. Our correspondent learnt the man was taken away by the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, said the Chukwu would soon be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for investigation.

She also confirmed that the pastor of the church has not been found.

Our correspondent attempted to contact the Nwankwo through two phone numbers found on his church’s website but none of them were available as of press time.

Super Eagles Qualify

 

Argentina and Nigeria both qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite two Lionel Messi goals condemning the African side to a 3-2 defeat in their final group game.

The Barcelona forward netted a fierce opener, but Ahmed Musa equalised within 80 seconds with a curling finish.

Messi made it 2-1 before the break with a 25-yard free-kick, but Musa grabbed his second after bursting through.

Marcos Rojo scored Argentina's winner, knocking in a corner with a knee.

The result means Argentina finish top of Group F with three wins from three games, while Nigeria qualify in second with four points after Iran failed to defeat Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Nigeria will face France in the last 16 in Brasilia next Monday, while Argentina take on Switzerland a day later in Sao Paulo.

But both Nigeria and Argentina will surely need to tighten up if they are to advance to the latter stages of the competition, with neither likely to win any plaudits for their defending.

The crowd crammed into the Estadio Beira-Rio on Wednesday were not complaining, though, as they saw another goal-laden World Cup match.

It only took three minutes for the net to bulge when Messi arrived like a train to smash home after Angel Di Maria's effort came off a post.

The celebrations had barely died down when Nigeria levelled. Midfielder Michel Babatunde - who was later stretchered off with a wrist injury - fed the ball into the left side of the area for Musa, who shifted to his right before curling in.

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Messi curls free-kick past Nigeria

It was the first time in World Cup history that two opposing teams had both scored inside the first five minutes.

The forwards on show continued to expose the fragility of both defences, but it was not until stoppage time in the first half that the next goal arrived.

Messi, who moments earlier drew an exceptional free-kick save from Vincent Enyeama, this time struck his dead ball over the wall and beyond the reach of the Lille goalkeeper.

It was the 27-year-old's fourth goal in three matches at Brazil 2014, having scored just once in his first eight World Cup appearances.

Match facts

• Messi has scored 10 times in his last eight appearances for Argentina
• This is the second time Argentina have conceded in the opening five minutes of a World Cup match since 1966
• Musa became the first Nigeria player to score twice in a World Cup match

Nigeria knew that Bosnia-Hercegovina had taken an early lead against qualification rivals Iran, but they did not rest on their laurels and were level within two minutes of the restart.

It was Musa again who hit the target. This time the CSKA Moscow forward played a one-two Emmanuel Emenike before slotting the ball past Sergio Romero.

Argentina pressed once more, with Di Maria twice forcing Enyeama to make good stops. But the Nigeria goalkeeper was beaten again eventually, when defender Rojo used his knee to convert a corner from the left.

A desperate Di Maria was thwarted again by Enyeama in the closing moments, as the match ended in the same thrilling manner in which it began.

 

Messi (second from right) scored his third goal in three World Cup games

Musa, out of shot, equalised for Nigeria only 80 seconds after Argentina's opener

Messi gave Enyeama little chance with his free-kick

Musa (centre) scored two goals from only two shots in the entire match

Rojo scored his first goal for Argentina in the second half

Nigeria: Abuja bomb blast in Wuse district kills 21

 

 

 

 

 

Plumes of smoke could be seen miles away from the site of the blast

Windows in nearby buildings were shattered by the strength of the explosion

The BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi says no-one has claimed responsibility so far

A bomb attack on a busy shopping district in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, has killed at least 21 people and injured 52 more.

The blast, near the popular Banex plaza shopping complex in Wuse district, could be heard from miles away and sent plumes of smoke into the air.

Police say a suspect has been arrested. No group has claimed responsibility.

Islamist militant group Boko Haram has bombed targets in Abuja and across northern Nigeria recently.

At the scene: Mustapha Mohammed, BBC Hausa Service, Abuja
I counted 12 bodies of men and women at the mortuary at the Maimata District Hospital, which is a few kilometres from the site of the blast.

Doctors and nurses were treating dozens of wounded - many of them for burns on their faces, hands and legs. The security forces were trying to keep order as relatives and friends rushed to the hospital to find out about the fate of their loved ones.

I saw one little boy, with bloodstains on his forehead. He was sobbing and looking for his mother.

A stranger brought him to the hospital after finding him, alone and disoriented, near the blast site. He got separated from his mother when the explosion ripped through the area. The boy did not know whether she was alive or dead, but the man looking after him feared the worst.

'Covered in blood'
Chiamaka Oham, who was near the site of the blast, told the BBC: "We heard a really loud noise and the building shook, and people started screaming and running out.

"We saw the smoke and people covered in blood. It was just chaos."

The area was packed with shoppers at the time of the blast, the BBC's Hausa service editor Mansur Liman reports.

Many cars outside the shopping complex were burnt out and many windows were shattered, he adds.

One man told the BBC his driver was killed in the blast: "I was in the complex when I saw that the ground was shaking. I saw my driver dead and a lot of casualties."

Government spokesman Mike Omeri confirmed that the blast was the result of a bomb attack.

The blast hit a busy shopping district at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT)

Many of the injured were taken to Maitama General Hospital

Boko Haram has staged previous attacks in Abuja, but most of its targets have been in the north-east of the country.

In April, more than 70 people were killed in a bomb blast at a bus stop on the outskirts of the capital in an attack claimed by Boko Haram.

The group also said it was behind a car bomb attack near a bus station in the suburbs in May, which killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others.

The group also carried out a deadly car bomb attack on the United Nations building in the Nigerian capital in 2011.

It has become a source of growing international concern since the recent abduction of more than 200 girls from a school in northern Nigeria.

Who are Boko Haram?

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has been designated a terrorist by the US government

• Founded in 2002
• Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
• Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state
• Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - also attacks on police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
• Some three million people affected
• Declared terrorist group by US in 2013

FIFA OPEN DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AFTER SUAREZ BITE INCIDENT

 

 

The Liverpool forward could be suspended for up to two years if found guilty and has until Wednesday afternoon to put together a case in his defence

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan was accused of biting by Italy centre-back Giorgio Chiellini.

The Liverpool striker, who has previously been embroiled in two biting controversies, seemingly leant into Chiellini and bit his shoulder, with the Juventus man keen to point a mark on his skin out to the referee.

And after announcing on Tuesday evening that they would look replays of the altercation, the world's governing body has deemed the incident serious enough to take forward.

A statement read: "Fifa can confirm that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the player Luis Suarez of Uruguay following an apparent breach of art. 48 and/or art. 57 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code during the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil match Italy-Uruguay played on 24 June 2014.

"The player and/or the Uruguayan FA are invited to provide with their position and any documentary evidence they deem relevant until 25 June 2014, 5pm, Brasilia time.

"According to art. 77 lit. a of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC), the Fifa Disciplinary Committee is responsible for sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials’ attention. Furthermore, according to art. 96 of the FDC, any type of proof may be produced (par. 1), in particular are admissible, reports from referees, declarations from the parties and witnesses, material evidence, audio or video recordings (par. 3)."

If found guilty, Suarez will almost certainly miss the rest of the World Cup, and could receive a ban of up to 24 matches or two years, which could affect his club career as well as international football.