The Women of "The Walking Dead" -- All Glammed Up For Emmy Magazine!

We're used to seeing them covered in dirt, bruises and zombie guts, but the women of "The Walking Dead" clean up real nice!

Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Laurie Holden (Andrea) and Danai Gurira (Michonne) grace the new issue of emmy Magazine, which hits newsstands on April 1.

The three "Walking Dead" regulars have shared little screen-time together given the show's splintered plot, so it was great seeing them teamed up for a fun fashion shoot.

Of course, the Season 3 finale of "The Walking Dead" airs this Sunday on AMC

Guess Whose Model Daughter?

When your parents are two of the most attractive actors, you're bound to be on the receiving end of some good genes

The 17-year-old daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger just posted this bikini photo of herself on her Tumblr page. At a statuesque 6'2", Ireland is signed with two major modeling agencies: IMG Models and Two Management.


This isn't the first time in the spotlight. Back in 2007, when she was just 11-years-old, Alec called Ireland a "rude, thoughtless, little pig" in a voicemail after she forgot to answer his call.

Kim Kardashian Talks Baby Names, Addresses Haters

Kim Kardashian has one thing to say to everyone criticizing her pregnancy weight gain: There's just more of me to love!

While the reality star has been catching a lot of flack lately for her growing baby bump (and hit-or-miss maternity style), she's trying not to stress out about it.

"I've always been curvy and I've always embraced my curves," she told Jay Leno last night. "Now there's just more to love. I have the rest of my life to be skinny and lose weight and I'm not really worrying about it."

While on "The Tonight Show," Kim also revealed one of her favorite baby names for her and Kanye West's son or daughter ... and no, it's not North, but it's close.

Check out the name in the video above -- what do you think?

Kate Middleton Plans Baby Shower with Help from Pippa!

She’s nearly six months pregnant and Kate Middleton is already planning her baby shower! Luckily, the Duchess of Cambridge comes from a family of party gurus, including sister Pippa.

Pics! Kate's Baby Bump

Getty Images

“It was her sister Pippa’s idea,” a friend of Kate’s told OK! magazine.

The insider added, “Pippa is in charge of decorations. Wine and beer will be available -- not that Kate will be drinking alcohol, of course there will certainly be none of the hard stuff.”

The younger Middleton is the right woman for the job. Last year she authored the book “Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends,” and has ample access to shower décor… thanks to her parents’ approximately $45-million business, Party Pieces.

While baby showers fall outside of typical royal tradition, the source said Kate still hopes the Queen will attend.

“While it’s all going to be very relaxed and fun, Kate is hoping the Queen will drop by, because the two are remarkably close," the insider said. "They bonded big time and really enjoy each other’s company. Since this is going to be a first for royals, Kate would love the Queen to be part of it.”

Easter And Nigeria’s Redemption

 THE resurrection of Jesus Christ, being celebrated today, Easter Sunday, is the miraculous event from which Christianity draws its essence. For Christians, it is the manifestation of the power of life over death, the triumph of good over evil, the victory of light over darkness, and the conquest of love over hatred. At no better time than now does the message of Easter resonate with Nigeria, a nation in dire need of redemption.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus are a lesson on the power of humility, service, self-sacrifice, and true love. He taught a lot of lessons through his parables and miracles, but the greatest lessons he taught are in his own life. He taught his followers that, in love, a man can lay down his life for others. That those who seek to be first must make themselves last and servant of all. And that is what he did when he accepted a humiliating death in order that humanity may live. Nigerians can learn a lot from the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Easter is a celebration of hope and new life. For Nigerian Christians in particular, Easter promises the triumph of good over evil after a long season under the weight and trauma of failed leadership, political banditry, monumental corruption and the resultant economic stagnation, social dislocation, and unprecedented violence and crime. With the event of Easter, Christians are convinced that all appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, evil can only dominate for a while, but will eventually crumble and give way to righteousness, truth and peace.
As Nigerians celebrate today, they must not lose sight of the notion of sacrificial love that is central to the life of Jesus Christ.
Authentic religion and genuine worship necessarily involve sacrifice and self-denial. What appears to be popular in Nigeria today, however, is a religion of convenience that glamorizes wealth, pleasure and power and makes little provision for sacrificial love, self-denial and self-abnegation. Mahatma Gandhi had identified this kind of religion (without sacrifice) as one of the seven deadly social sins of our age. Believers in Nigeria must strive to fight this deadly social sin. Citizens must capitalize on the best ideals of Christianity and Islam to transform the country from a land of endemic corruption, greed and graft, led by a succession of manipulators and opportunists, to a corrupt-free one under visionary leaders.
Nigeria’s constitution rightly recognizes that the only way to protect the exercise of citizens’ religious duties is to guarantee the freedom of religion. Nigerians should not lose sight of the fact that Jesus Christ was crucified for proclaiming a message that ran against conventional wisdom. He was politically murdered, contrary to due process, by civil authorities that made the cause of religious bigots their own. This highlights the danger to truth and freedom that can manifest itself when state and religion inordinately cohere.
Easter is an opportunity to reflect on the state of the nation. Nigeria’s stock has drastically fallen in the world on account of rampant corruption and misrule by past and present leaders. Many young Nigerians now lack the courage to dream dreams and pursue high ideals, as their vision has been rendered opaque and their confidence shaken. But Easter is a call to hope, a declaration that there is life beyond Calvary, a reality of eternal possibilities and renewal.
A nation may be awash with corruption and official malfeasance. It may even be tottering on the brink of collapse. But the people need not give in to a death wish. They can dream dreams. Nigeria can rise to new heights and regain her dignity. Nigerians can make Nigeria work for the benefit of everyone. It only takes sacrifice, discipline, determination, focus, commitment, integrity, and visionary, selfless leadership.
Buffeted though by a myriad of woes — a stagnant economy propped up with statistics, a corrupted judiciary, decaying national infrastructure, a manipulative ruling class steeped in corruption, terrorism, an escalation of kidnapping and armed robbery, declining educational and health care delivery, a self-serving political class — redemption is still possible.
As adherents of the two major religions of Christianity and Islam, when Nigerians abandon hypocrisy and, instead, live out the high ideals of the religions, redemption is certain.

I would have been a footballer –Bovi

Bovi
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Stand-up comedian, Bovi Ugboma, is an actor, a writer and producer. He discusses his career and competition in the industry

You are one of the multi-talented few in the industry…

When people ask me what I do, I say I am an entertainer. I am an actor, writer and a comedian. I produce my own TV show as well and I am going into films soon. Everything I have been writing, I keep for myself except for a few.

Does this have anything to do with your background?

Possibly. I studied Theatre Arts at the Delta State University. After graduation in 2002, I headed to the Nigerian Television Authority, Lokoja for the one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps.

You were once the personal assistant to Richard Mofe-Damijo

Interestingly, I met him in a rather unusual way. I wanted to sell a movie script and I went to his office. I was trying to convince him to buy when he showed me more than 30 scripts lying fallow in his office.  Somehow, we bonded and he offered me the job of a personal assistant, which I accepted on the spot. He taught me the business side of entertainment. It was in his office I learnt how to write proposals, meet clients and branding. We are still very close and he is more or less my father.

Why did you host a one –man show?

I think every comedian deserves an opportunity to entertain his audience at a full stretch. The norm in the industry now is that people host shows and feature so many artistes. In as much as it is a good thing, a comedian should be able to hold the attention of his audience for as long as possible.  One-man shows are not common in this part of the world but I pulled it off successfully.

How do you get inspiration for your jokes?

I draw content from social happenings, both past and present. I do a lot of satire. I pick on a particular issue and try to make light of it while still passing a very strong message.

 Comedians are known to steal jokes from their colleagues. Do you do that?

There is a lot of recycling going on in the industry. There are jokes that are famous and we have seen up to eight people, tell the same joke. As a result, in most cases, people cannot tell who the originator of the joke is and comedians hide under that guise to repeat the joke during their performances. It is a matter of time before the practice is curbed but luckily, people hardly tell my jokes. I do not have an issue with people telling my jokes at private gigs, but it becomes an issue is when it is recorded to be broadcast.

So who are your role models?

I learn one or two things from different comedians including the up and coming. Basketmouth is my very good friend and he is one of the few people who saw what I was capable of before the world saw it. He gave me a lot of gigs and we think alike. We have our differences, we argue but our connection is very brotherly.

Alibaba is another person I respect; he was the one who told me I had the talent to do stand-up comedy.

Who do you consider your competitors in the industry?

I am my greatest competitor and I have always held my own. I am not even threatened by emerging competition because I think its better we have these people come on board instead of engaging in some illegal venture. Even if stand-up comedy does not work for them, they might through trial and error discover something else that will work for them. Almost everything in Nigeria has a bandwagon effect but the industry will filter itself.

Between Kate Henshaw and Genevieve Nnaji

 
Saying these actresses rank among the best in their industry is stating the obvious. Apart from A-list, they are the most sought after and their wide range of endorsements tell their success story.
But unknown to their fans , they do not see eye-to-eye as a no love lost situation exists between the duo. They avoid each other like a plague. While Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, who was allegedly at daggers drawn with Genevieve, has since mended fences, with the later it remains to be seen what will become of Genevieve’s frosty relationship with Kate.

Patience Jonathan flown abroad for treatment

Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan

There are indications that the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, has been flown abroad for medical treatment in an undisclosed German hospital.

Unconfirmed reports had it that the First Lady’s health might have relapsed, thereby necessitating her going abroad to receive fresh medical attention.

Mrs. Jonathan was conspicuously absent at a Good Friday service held at the Aso Villa Chapel on Friday although her husband attended with his mother, Eunice.

The President is currently in Lagos for the Easter break without his wife.

Her last public appearance was in France where she received a Global Women Leader for Peace Award 2013.

Our correspondent learnt that she returned to the country briefly after the event before embarking on a fresh trip.

But unlike the trip to France, a presidency source who pleaded anonymity, said Mrs. Jonathan did not embark on the current trip with her full entourage.

When contacted on the telephone, Mrs. Jonathan’s spokesman, Mr. Ayo Osinlu, confirmed that the First Lady was not in the country.

Osinlu however denied reports that Mrs. Jonathan is abroad for medical attention.

He said she was abroad attending to her foster mother who is sick. However, he did not disclose the country where the First Lady is attending to the ailing woman.

But investigations by our correspondent showed that Mrs. Jonathan may be in Germany.

It was further learnt that she is expected back in the country this week.

The source however could not say exactly when she will be back.

An online news medium, SaharaReporters, had reported on Saturday that Mrs. Jonathan  was sick again and was shuttling between Spain and Germany in search of treatment.

The report quoted a source as saying the First Lady was also contemplating receiving medical treatment from a United States hospital.

Mrs. Jonathan disappeared from the country for several weeks last year to attend to her failing health.

During the period, both the Presidency and Osinlu denied that the First Lady was receiving treatment abroad for an undisclosed ailment.

Specifically, Osinlu said Mrs. Jonathan was vacating abroad after the rigour of hosting a conference of African First Ladies.

But during a special thanksgiving service held in her honour recently at the Aso Villa Chapel, the First Lady admitted that she was sick and “died” for a week.

Party time as Nollywood celebrates @ 20

Drums are bound to be rolled out from April 27, as practitioners in the Nigerian film industry celebrate the industry at 20 in grand style.
The celebration is coming weeks after Nigeria’s President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, hosted practitioners  to a special dinner at the State House, Marina, Lagos, early this month.
At a press briefing last week, Heads of Nollywood guilds disclosed that the celebration will last for four months.
Following the programme of activities released by the coalition, the celebration will commence on April 27, with a media flag off, featuring Nollywood stars’ parade, mini documentary presentation, best of Nollywood films, insight into Nollywood at 20 events, interactive session with the press and invited guests. A special anniversary Jumat service will take place on May 3 and a non-denominational church service on May 5, which will hold in a major Mosque and Church respectively to thank God for the journey so far.

Apart from the anniversary raffle draw, there will also be CSR activities such as coaching clinics, visits, social work, fundraising and donations to the less privileged. The celebration will also feature screening of Nollywood classic movies in collaboration with electronic media owners, with a workshop for both members and the general public. There will also be a launch of appeal and trust fund for practitioners, while a novelty match will take place between Nollywood and other VIPs.
Also, plans are being hatched to stage a special anniversary film festival and commemorative film, while the celebration will climax with the Nollywood Gala at 20, featuring award presentation to deserving practitioners.
In her address,  president of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Ibinabo Fiberesima noted that, “Mr. President recognised Nollywood’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy in addition to re-branding of the country’s image, youth empowerment and employment. Now, Nollywood wants to celebrate 20 years of a motion picture revolution. This grand celebration, which promises to showcase our people, pride, possibilities and culture tagged Nollywood at 20, will begin on April 27, 2013.”

Glo dangles N24m star prize for singing reality TV show

The world’s acclaimed biggest singing talent reality TV show “The X Factor” which has been rocking Europe and the Americas has finally berthed in Africa, with Nigeria scoring the first, courtesy of the leading telecommunications company, Globacom, who has even gone a step further in offering a whooping N24 million as the star prize for the ultimate winner of the show.
The unveiling of the show took place at the Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday before a audience consisting of media executives, Glo Ambassadors, top management staff of Globacom and some members of the public who were invited to be part of the fun-filled launch which dragged on till late in the night. Highlights of the nights include musical interludes, jokes and open mic competition which got the audience dully entertained.
The ultimate winner of “ The X Factor” show is expected to smile home with  princely sum of $150,000 (N24 million), purportedly the biggest purse among current reality TV shows. The winner will also win a recording contract with internationally acclaimed Sony Music for the recording of an album and professional management of the winning individual or group.
According to the company’s Head, Reality Shows, Sulyman Bello, Glo is proud to be the catalyst that brought about this development and the attendant buzz cum excitement it will generate across the continent. “Africa has been yearning for a programme of this optimum quality and we are privileged to have made it possible” enthused Bello.
He added that Glo needed to do something special to signpost the special year of its 10th anniversary, hence the gift of “The X Factor” to entertain and delight its teeming subscribers across sub-Saharan Africa and the larger public.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of our operations and this programme is, in part, our modest way of thanking our subscribers for their loyalty and patronage” he said.
Commenting on the ultimate prize of $150,000 to the winner, Bello said that this is in sync with the profile of the show. “The unprecedented top prize is a reflection of the premium status of the programme; this is in addition to the coveted Sony Music contract with the attendant post-season super star status for the winner and international stardom which is not provided by any other music talent show in the country today”, he added.
The X Factor, a Syco-owned format, is produced and distributed worldwide by FremantleMedia. Speaking about the show’s upcoming debut in Nigeria, Jamie Lynn, EVP Sales and Distribution, EMEA at FremantleMedia said “The X Factor is one of the leading entertainment shows of this generation and we are absolutely delighted to be working  with Glo to bring Nigeria its own version. The blockbuster show has enjoyed immense success all over the world and we have no doubt it will make the same impact in Nigeria as it has had around the globe”
“The X Factor” is a Reality TV singing competition to find new talents. It is contested by aspiring singers, drawn from public auditions and is open to all ages, sex, styles, solo acts or groups. A major difference between the show and others is that the judges also double as coaches for the various groups.
It is peculiarly split in stages, following the contestants from auditions through to the boot camp, the judges’ homes; to the grand finale. Dancers are also featured and contestants could accompany themselves on guitar, piano or any other musical instruments.
“The X Factor” has been successfully launched in major countries including United Kingdom, the United States, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and Spain. Here in Africa, the month-long pre-auditions, which are the first stage, will kick off in Abuja on April 13th and later hold in Port Harcourt and Lagos. It will also run in Accra and Kumasi in Ghana.

Waje speaks on ‘Nude picture’

Following the controversy surrounding the release of her ‘half-nude picture’ online, Waje has explained that the said picture was not only an abstract, but also, part of her new video concept.
She offered this explanation when Showtime contacted her   on her new video.
According to her, the picture is a scene in her new single titled I Wish, released during the week.

*Waje

“After being on set of the movie, Tunnel, I realized that our music videos are like movies painting the right picture and acting it. I Wish video is a lifeless theme and the song is a vulnerable song, and I tried to interprete it in that abstract nude picture with the broken mirrors. It’s me trying to interprete a woman’s vulnerability, xx ” she said.
Waje’s publicist, Ifeoma however refuted the rumour making the rounds that the singer went nude in the video, adding  “It was all graphics.”
According to her, Waje was putting on clothes in the video as shot by Clarence Peters.  “Waje didn’t go nude in that video. She was putting on her clothes with some jewelries.  The trick was all Clarence Peters’ work who made her look as if she was naked. You would notice that the picture was dark and blur with just her face being the most visible,” she said.

Pope Francis marks first Easter Mass …reaches out to ‘Muslim brothers

POPE Francis is expected to mark the first Easter Sunday mass of his papacy today few hours after he celebrated his maiden Easter vigil just as he prayed for peace in the Middle East and stronger Christian-Muslim dialogue at a torch-lit ceremony for Good Friday.
The newly-elected Argentine pope yesterday presided over a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica from 8.30 p.m. local time, baptising four adult converts—an Albanian, an Italian, a Russian and a US national.

Pope Francis (R) kissing the feet of a young offender after washing them during a mass at the church of the Casal del Marmo youth prison on the outskirts of Rome as part of Holy Thursday.AFP

The ceremony effectively wrapped up a series of intensive preparations leading up to Easter Sunday—the holiest day in the Christian calendar—by the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather today for the Easter Sunday mass when the Pope will issue a special blessing from the same balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he appeared on the night of his election.
Giovanni Maria Vian, editor of the Vatican’s official daily Osservatore Romano, said seeing the new Pope during Easter helped explain the timing of his predecessor Benedict XVI’s resignation.
Meanwhile the Argentine Pope reached out in friendship to “so many Muslim brothers and sisters” during a Good Friday procession dedicated to the suffering of Christians from terrorism, war and religious fanaticism in the Middle East.
The pontiff, who has rankled traditionalists by rejecting many trappings of his office, mostly stuck to the traditional script during the night-time Way of the Cross procession at Rome’s Colosseum, one of the most dramatic rituals of Holy Week.
With torches lighting the way, the faithful carried a cross to different stations,where meditations and prayers were read out recalling the final hours of Jesus’ life and his crucifixion.
This year, the prayers were composed by young Lebanese, and many recalled the plight of minority Christians in the region, where wars have forced thousands to flee their homelands. The meditations called for an end to “violent fundamentalism,” terrorism and the “wars and violence which in our days devastate various countries in the Middle East.”
Francis, who became pope just over two weeks ago, chose, however, to stress Christians’ positive relations with Muslims in the region in his brief comments at the end of the ceremony.
Standing on a platform overlooking the procession route, Francis recalled Benedict XVI’s 2012 visit to Lebanon when “we saw the beauty and the strong bond of communion joining Christians together in that land and the friendship of our Muslim brothers and sisters and so many others. That occasion was a sign to the Middle East and to the whole world, a sign of hope,” he said.
Friday’s outreach followed Francis’ eyebrow-raising gesture a day earlier, when he washed and kissed the feet of two women, one a Muslim, in the Holy Thursday ritual that commemorates Jesus’ washing of his apostles’ feet during the Last Supper before his crucifixion.
Breaking with tradition, Francis performed the ritual on 12 inmates at a juvenile detention center, rather than in Rome’s grand St. John Lateran Basilica, where in the past, 12 priests have been chosen to represent Jesus’ disciples.

Actress Kristen Bell gives birth to a daughter; names her Lincoln Read more: http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2013/03/28/Actress-Kristen-Bell-gives-birth-to-a-daughter-names-her-Lincoln

 

Hollywood actress Kristen Bell announced via Twitter she has given birth to her first child, a daughter she named Lincoln.
"Lincoln Bell Shepard is here," Ball's fiance, Dax Shepard, tweeted Thursday. "She has mom's beauty and dad's obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!"
"My new roommate poops her pants and doesn't pay rent...basically Dax pre-sobriety," Bell wrote. "Welcome baby Lincoln."
Shepard, 38, is a cast member of TV's "Parenthood."
Bell, 32, is one of the stars of "House of Lies."

      * Congrates Bell and Dax*

'Lost In Thailand': Xu Zheng Says China's Biggest Film Focused On Simple Life

The director of China's biggest box-office hit says "Lost in Thailand" succeeded by showing a rarely seen subject: modern Chinese life.
The historical epic, fantasy, action and thriller genres have long filled China's domestic movie screens. But "Lost in Thailand" was a low-budget and light-hearted road-trip tale about an ambitious executive who goes to Thailand to get his boss's approval for a business deal. Along the way he's pursued by a rival co-worker and encounters a wacky tourist who helps him rethink his priorities.
"There is hunger from the audience for movies that talk about the real-life situation in China. That's why the movie rocked," said Xu Zheng, the film's director, writer and star.
"There is a lack of films that talk about things that are related to the life of ordinary people" in China, he added.
Unusually for a Chinese release, the movie was a moral comedy whose characters reflect stressed-out, overworked, wealth-obsessed China.
Xu said his character, businessman Xu Lang, "represented the majority of the people, who are chasing after fame and desire, then becoming successful. That's what most of us do."
The movie starts with the executive hardened by cutthroat business competition and worn out by family troubles. He and a wacky tourist, co-star Wang Baoqiang, experience a series of capers and mishaps in scenes heavy with slapstick humor. In the end, Xu Lang realizes he's had his priorities all wrong.
"Lost in Thailand" smashed domestic box-office records, raking in 1.26 billion yuan ($200 million) last year, an especially surprising tally since it was not released until December. It edged out "Avatar" to become the biggest-grossing Chinese movie ever as China became the world's second-biggest movie market last year.
Most other Chinese-made hits last year were in traditional categories, such as Jackie Chan's action flick "CZ12," which was the second-highest-grossing Chinese movie in 2012.

Easter rush: Passengers stranded at Lagos airport

Airline

Hundreds of intending domestic air passengers heading for different various destinations to celebrate the Easter were on Thursday stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos and other airports across the country following massive flight delays by airlines.

Passengers travelling to Enugu from Lagos as well as other South-East and South-South cities had their flights delayed by three to five hours, airport officials said.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the delay was caused by a major technical hitch to the passenger checking system of a major domestic operator at the General Aviation Terminal of the Lagos airport during the early hours of the day.

The development, it was gathered, affected several of the airline’s scheduled flights throughout the day as the remaining flights were delayed by three hours on the average as a result.

A top official of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria at the GAT said, “The airline’s server was bad in the morning. This affected the passenger checking-in system. The server did not pick up until three hours later. In fact, the airline officials were already issuing boarding passes through the manual method before the server picked up three hours later.

“The delay in the morning affected every other flight throughout the day. Lagos to Enugu, Enugu to Abuja and other flights were affected by the delay.”

Further findings revealed that other intending passengers who came to buy tickets for the day were forced to postpone their flights till the next day.

The PUNCH had reported exclusively reported that the Easter holidays would be marred by scarcity of flights as a result of the suspension of flight operations by Aerocontractors Airlines because of an industrial action by its workers.

The flight scarcity on Thursday led to a situation whereby passengers were struggling to get seats aboard the few available flights.

Airport touts, in connivance with airline officials, were having a field day as a result of the development, raising fares astronomically for desperate travellers, who were only interested in getting to their destinations.

It was gathered that the ticket for a one-hour flight was sold for N40,000 at the GAT instead of the average price of between N28,000 and N30,000.

The situation was the same at some other airports where a one-hour flight to places like Abuja and Port Harcourt was selling for over N40,000.

A visit to the GAT of the Lagos airport showed that one of the leading airlines actually capitalised on the increasing demand to hike its fares.

The suspension of operations by Aerocontractors, the second largest domestic airline by passenger traffic, due to internal labour crises, had left the airline grounded for almost two weeks.

The airline’s management is battling its almost 1,300 employees who are protesting against alleged poor condition of service among other issues.

The development has had an adverse effect on domestic air travel, which is dominated by Arik Air and Aero in terms of large route network.

Passengers have been facing hard times getting seats on the South-South and South-East routes operated by only Aero and Arik. Destinations on these routes are Benin, Calabar, Uyo, Owerri and Enugu.

Other domestic carriers such as Dana Air, IRS Airlines, Medview Airlines and Chanchagi Airlines operate from Lagos to Abuja and a few cities in the North.

We made love the day she died – Arowolo

Akolade and Titilayo

Akolade Arowolo, the 31-year-old man standing trial for allegedly killing his banker wife, Titilayo, on June 24, 2011 said he and the deceased kissed and had sex for two hours on the day she died.

He added that the activity signified that they (couple) had a cordial relationship before her demise.

Akolade, who said his wife died on his 30th birthday, explained that although the marriage was good, it was not without its challenges.

He said, “That day she died was my birthday. I see birthdays as a new year in one’s life and I usually pray at the early hours of that day. I prayed till 3am but was woken by my wife’s kiss. We had sex for almost two hours and it was very good as we hadn’t done such in a while.

“We later prayed and talked about how we could improve on our relationship as well as business opportunities.”

Akolade said he only slapped his wife once throughout their three-year marriage, adding that their marriage was not a violent one as alleged.

Akolade, while being led in evidence by the defence counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, told an Ikeja High Court on Thursday that he met his wife at Lagos State University in 2005 while he was taking classes for a postgraduate degree.

He said they grew close and became good friends and he got her pregnant in 2008 and they got married in November that year.

He said, “We were great friends and lovers but that is not to say that we didn’t have challenges. In the course of our relationship, there were times people commended us because we knew how to counsel people.

“We were everywhere together and I took her to work on many occasions while sometimes, I would leave the car for her to take to work while I would use public transport. Our challenges were like those of many young couples. We disagreed on many things.

“For example, a few months before our daughter, Olamide, was born, we were making plans for the baby when she demanded N500, 000 to buy all necessary things. I told her I didn’t have that much on me and she should accept N100, 000 but she refused and left for her parents’ home.”

Akolade described his wife as hot-tempered adding that she always flared up whenever she could not have her way, earning her the nickname, Thatcher.

He said a few months into the marriage, he noticed that his wife’s attitude had changed and he sought advice from a friend who told him to leave the house whenever there was an argument. He said one day, his wife got him very angry and he slapped her only once.

He said, “One Friday, I went for a vigil but did not come back the following morning. I went to stay with a friend because I wanted my wife to miss me. However I started missing her and I went back home that same day. On getting home, I met a man in the house whom my wife identified as her colleague. The man left immediately after.

“I went through her phone and noticed that she had called her father, George Oyakhire, an ex-boyfriend of hers and an unidentified number. Later, I asked her why she didn’t call me when I did not come home but she said she did not have airtime. I then asked her that where did she then get airtime to call the three people I noticed on her phone.

“She flared up and said I should never go through her phone again. She then started to call her ex-boyfriend in my presence. I got angry, grabbed her phone and smashed it against the wall. She took my phone and smashed it as well, so I slapped her. She immediately left the house and went to her parents’ place.”

He said his wife was also secretive and had even confessed to having an abortion without his consent adding that the abortion later led to menstrual complications.

Akolade, who claimed to be an ordained pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said he was not jobless as reported but was an auditor and had even worked on big government contracts.

He maintained that his wife had on numerous occasions left him to be with her parents sometimes for months.

Justice Lateefa Okunnu adjourned the matter till May 22, 2013, for further hearing, standing down the case after Akolade broke down and could not continue with his testimony

Congratulations to Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard on the birth of their daughter! RELATED - Dax Pens Touching Letter To His Late Father "Lincoln Bell Shepard is here," Dax Tweeted. "She has mom's beauty and dad's obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!" VIDEO - Dax & Kristen Give Hilarious Baby Update Bell then wrote, "My new roommate poops her pants and doesn't pay rent ... basically @daxshepard1 pre-sobriety :) welcome baby Lincoln xo" This is the first child for both, Dax and Kristen began dating in 2007.

 

Congratulations to Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard on the birth of their daughter!
"Lincoln Bell Shepard is here," Dax Tweeted. "She has mom's beauty and dad's obsession with breasts. Hooray!!!"
This is the first child for both, Dax and Kristen began dating in 2007.

Colin Firth Seduces Emily Blunt In 'Arthur Newman'

Emily Blunt and Colin Firth are playing people who are pretending to be other people ...and it looks super romantic.The award-winning actors star in Arthur Newman which follows the life of a man (Firth) who fakes his own death and assumes a new identity in order to escape his life. He then moves in with a woman (Blunt) who is also trying to leave her past behind

Rick Ross Armed with Gun, May Face Jail Time

Rick Ross was the one who was nearly killed in a botched assassination attempt in late January, but he may be the one who ends up in jail.

According to the police report from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department — obtained by the Smoking Gun — Ross was armed with a black and chrome Smith & Wesson semi-automatic at the time of the shooting.
It was reportedly tucked inside of Ross’ front waistband and fully loaded with one bullet in the chamber.
His license to carry a handgun, however, was expired at the time of the incident. And that may land in some legal trouble.
If Ross were to go to jail over the unlicensed gun, he would just be another in a long line of rappers who’ve been to prison because of a firearm

I Would Never Tweet Something Like That – Kim Kardashian Responds

This is her response to the fake tweet above

Forbes list of 2013 richest hip-hop Artists

1) Sean “Diddy” Combs ranks No. 1 on this year’s Forbes wealthest Hip pop artist with an estimated net worth of $580 million. The bulk of the Bad Boy Records founder’s wealth comes from non-musical ventures, namely his deal with Diageo’s Ciroc. The agreement entitles him to eight-figure annual payouts and a nine-figure windfall if the brand is ever sold—and Ciroc’s value has never been higher.
“It is one of the fastest-growing brands within vodka,” says Jack Russo, an equity analyst at Edward Jones & Co. “Consumers are feeling a little bit better about their situation, and with that, they’re willing to spend more on premium products.”


2) Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter with a net worth of $475 million. He’s still rolling in cash from megadeals like his $204 million Rocawear sale in 2007 and his $150 million pact with Live Nation the following year. He continues to hold stakes in Roc Nation, Carol’s Daughter, the Brooklyn Nets—and, more significantly, the Barclays Center itself—while adding new partnerships with the likes of Duracell, Budweiser and Bacardi’s D’ussé Cognac


3) Andre “Dr. Dre” Young ranks third with $350 million, thanks mostly to his Beats by Dr. Dre headphones. A year after selling 51% of the company to handset maker HTC for $300 million in August 2011, Dre and his partners bought back half of the half they sold in 2012—and their investment continues to soar in value due to Beats’ whopping 65% market share of the premium ($99 and up) headphone market.






4) Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson at $125 million. The bulk of his fortune came from heavy sales of his music, merchandise, video games and books in the wake of his smash debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’—and particularly from his payout for the sale of his stake in VitaminWater parent Glacéau to Coca-Cola in 2007. Now he’s trying to replicate that feat with companies like SMS Audio, his answer to Dr. Dre’s Beats, and SK Energy, which has its sights set on category leader 5-Hour Energy. When informed that his net worth would be estimated at a little over $100 million this year, 50 Cent said simply, “That’s cool.” After being asked to elaborate, though, he changed his tune slightly.

“Oh, you want me to tell you an exact number?” he said with a grin. “I’ve got way more.”

If his new ventures continue to grow, 50 Cent’s number on this list should begin to reflect that belief as soon as next year.

Skuki Invest N150M In Designer Condoms

Smashing sensational duo Skuki (Peeshaun and Vavavoom) has hit on a unique formula for financial success. That being the production of a brand of condoms, called Peeshaun condom.
In a strategic bid to enlarge their entrepreneurial horizons, the two singers are set to launch the condom, a project that UNICEF (according to investigations) is sure interested in by way of partnership. A source close to the artists intimated that the condom named Peeshaun is already in the pipeline, undergoing registration, and it will be made public before the close of 2013.
Stories about their foray into condom manufacturing reeled in last year with the Osun-born singers saying, “We’re going into condom production because we believe hugely in family planning. Every day we come across children in the streets hawking when they are supposed to be in school.
“This actually means that if a couple can afford only one loaf of bread which can conveniently take care of two children. If they end up having five, they would have to share one loaf between the five instead of two. With this, we have malnourished children and infants that are not given the best attention that they should have.”
Currently on tour in South Africa, the duo confirmed the partnership with UNICEF, but declined to reveal the specific monetary figure allocated for the project. Although what they did reveal showed that they would be making the production in a Chinese company.

Oluwole Awolowo dies at 70

Publisher/Vice chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Chief Oluwole Awolowo is dead. He was aged 70. Oluwole, son of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died at 5.40pm Nigerian time at Wellington Hospital, St. Johnswood, London, United Kingdom yesterday.

A statement issued last night by Mr. Edward Dickson, managing director, ANN Plc, said Oluwole Awolowo’s death followed complications arising from a car crash he was involved in on September 30, 2006. The statement reads further: “He had been in and out of hospital, home and abroad, since he was involved in the ghastly accident seven years ago on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
“Despite his health challenges following the accident, Chief Awolowo devoted his life to the service of God and was deeply involved in evangelical activities. In the past four years, he authored a Christian column, OBA’s LECTERN, in the Sunday Tribune.”
The statement described the deceased as having fought a good fight and had gone to rest with his Maker, while requesting for prayers for the Awolowo family and the ANN. Chief Oluwole Awolowo was born on December 3, 1942. He attended the prestigious Ibadan Grammar School in Oyo State and the Leighton Park School, Reading, Berdshire, England.
He was also at the famous Leeds College of Commerce where he read Business Studies. Among other places, he worked in the Nigerian Tobacco Company, Ibadan; the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation; and the Nigerian Television Service, Lagos.

    RIP Oluwole

I’ve never met second girl that took pix of me in bed – Davido

If you remember this Amebo, In December last year, Dami duro crooner Davido was enveloped in a second lady-in-bed photo scandal with an unnamed girl after the first one involving girl friend Sonia went viral in March while holidaying in  Ghana.
Davido has kept mum on the matter until now when he tells former Big Brother Africa house mate Ebuka Obi Uchendu  hosts of TV programme Rubbing Minds that he never knew this girl.
“I was asleep in bed. The girl just snuck in and (makes gesture of taking photograph) I don’t know her. I used to stay in an apartment back then and movement was kind of free. Maybe I didn’t lock the door and she just snuck in and took the pix. I have  however moved to my new home where there is much tighter security.

I don’t know her – Davido

I didn’t realise what was going on even after the pix was posted online. I traveled to Ghana immediately afterwards and I noticed on the plane people were just staring at me and I wondered why. Since it was a flight my phone was switched off  and so I had no idea what was happening online. When I got to Ghana, I still got the same stare from people. I was asked by friends to switch on my phone and that was it. 300 calls from Dad, 600 calls from grandma, everyone one asking Davido what’s going on.”
Davido claims the girl in question later called his ‘people’ to apologise but then the damage had already been done. He hopes such incidences never occur again as he maintains his resilience to finish his studies, face his music business and continue to be a role model to others.

Police uncover bomb-laden Golf car in Kano

KANO Police command has averted what could have resulted in another devastating attack, with the interception of a bomb-laden Golf 3 car, including 238 live ammunition of different calibres and 14 hand grenades, bombs among others.
Other dangerous weapons found inside the Golf car were, one AK47 riffle, eight AK-47 magazines, one rocket launcher, two cylinders, remote controlled bomb, seven  remote control bombs, one assault riffle and four rolls of wire connectors among others.
Speaking with pressmen on Wednesday, the state police commissioner, Alhaji Musa Daura, said “on Tuesday, 26 March, 2013 at about 2130hrs, based on a tip off,  our men intercepted a Golf 3 motor vehicle with Registration No, AG701 KTN at an outskirt village in Kano.”
According to him, “the occupants of the vehicle on sighting the  police patrol vehicle opened fire and immediately,  our men responded  with superior firepower which made the occupants to abandon their vehicle and escaped with bullet wounds.”
The CP added that the intention of the hoodlums was to cause havoc.
He, however, urged the members of the public to continue to assist the people with useful information to nab men of underworld.

JTF kill 4 gunmen
The Joint Task Force Operation Restore Order has said that, its men in Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State gunned four suspected Boko Haram members.
JTF said the sect members were killed last night during a shootout with soldiers, who met them during their operation in the north eastern town of Geidam, 180 kilometres away from Damaturu, the Yobe state capital.
In an e-mail statement made available to newsmen in Damaturu, on Wednesday, spokesman for the Joint Task Force in Yobe state, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus confirmed the incident.
The statement said, “the incident occurred yesterday (Tuesday) around 5.00 p.m. when  suspected terrorists  attacked JTF location in Geidam town. The attack was repelled by the JTF and four of the gunmen lost their lives in the exchange gunfire,” Lazarus said.
Lazarus revealed that” three AK47 rifles, five rifle magazines and seventy two rounds of  7.62 mm ammunitions were recovered from the insurgents.”

Gunman injures 3 in Bauchi
Palpable tension and fear reigned on Wednesday morning among residents of the Federal Low Cost Housing Estate in Bauchi metropolis when a middle-aged gunman was killed in a gun duel with security operatives after he had injured, at least, three people in the area.
The gunman, who was armed with an Ak 47 riffle, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, stormed the area around 7:00 a.m., in company with another gang member, and attacked a policeman and the three injured civilians.
A source informed Nigerian Tribune that people in the area mobilised themselves on seeing the policeman escape, with a view to repelling the gunmen attack. They alerted security operatives and gave the gunman a chase, leading to the escape of his accomplice, who was said to be unarmed.
According to a top security operative who did not want to be named, there was an exchange of gunfire on the arrival of security men on the scene, which, he said, led to the death of the gunman.
He informed that one AK 47 riffle, two magazines with about 30 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the slain gunman by security operatives deployed in the area.
He further revealed that the injured were taken to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for treatment.
A resident, who identified himself as Mohammed Ali, told the Nigerian Tribune that the incident shocked the people in the area, especially as it happened early in the morning.
“I was taking my children to school and was standing by the road side waiting for a Keke NAPEP when we saw people running as a result of the attack. Fortunately for me, my house is nearby, so it was ease for me to take my children back home,” he said, adding that there was a lot of tension in the area while the whole episode lasted.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state police command, Hassan Mohammed Auyo, said the gunman was killed in an exchange of fire with security men.
According to Auyo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), “The armed man was killed during exchange of fire with security operatives after he had injured three people.”

C'MON, NOT GOOD: Police kill 2 NSCDC officers

TWO officials of the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corp were on Tuesday, killed by gunmen, alleged to be officers of the Nigeria Police Force in Isawo area of  Ikorodu in  Lagos State.
The deceased officers are identified as Innocent Akhigbe , an inspector and Gabriel Adaji, an assistant inspector.
The slain officials were reportedly on routine surveillance of pipeline facilities in Ikorodu, when they were reportedly waylaid.
The NCDSC officers, who escaped the attack, however, recovered an identification card belonging to a police inspector and a service pistol
A source at the headquaters of NSCDC informed the Nigerian Tribune that the policemen were collaborators with pipeline vandals in the area.
The source said that some oil thieves, who had earlier escaped from the civil defence officials, mobilized the policemen, who launched the attack.
It was gathered that the civil defence officers, who were in two Hilux patrol vans invaded Ikorodu area and arrested some pipeline vandals.
“Some of the vandals escaped, after they could not withstand the civil defence officer but four of them were arrested “the source told the Nigerian Tribune
It was while the NSCDC were leaving the scene that an unmarked  Toyota Corolla crossed their vans and some gunmen opened fire on them.
One of the officers died on the spot, while  the other died at an unnamed hospital, where he was rushed to.
Meanwhile, the image maker in charge of the Lagos State police command, Ngozi Braide, while reacting to the incident, through a press release made available to the Nigerian Tribune, also claimed that a police team was attacked by civil defence officers.
The police in the statement stated that: “At about 0145hrs of date, there was a distress call from DM security PPMC, Mosimi that they were experiencing drop in pressure on the pipeline” and added that “the Unit Commander in charge of Konu immediately pulled out his men on Konu axis under Inspector Sunday Gabriel to proceed to the scene.”
The statement from the police also read that: “As they were approaching, they heard sounds of serious gunshot in their area of pipeline coverage and the inspector  instructed his men to proceed to that direction as it could be the activities of vandals.”
The statement further read that: “Upon arrival, they saw a group of Civil Defence Corp Members coming out from the direction where the shooting was earlier heard. The NSCDC men challenged the policemen who were about four in number on what their mission was in the area, “saying that it was their sole responsibility (Civil Defence) to guide and protect pipelines.
  “At this juncture, there was an argument between the NSCDC and the police and the most senior NSCDC officer, DSC Olufemi, ordered his men who were about 14 in number to disarm, arrest and handcuff the police team leader and three other members of his team,”  the statement from the police alleged.
Meanwhile, the Comandant-General of NSCDC, has appealed to men and officers of the Corps to remain calm and avoid any form of reprisal attack.
Addressing men and officers of the Corps in Abuja on Thursday over the incident, Abolurin asked them to continue to collaborate with other security agencies of government in tackling the issue of vandalism and oil theft and protection of life and property of the citizenry.
He urged the personnel to remain resolute and dogged in their drive in fighting the illicit act to a standstill without compromise.
According to Abolurin, the Federal Government through the enabling Act has mandated the Corps to carry out the function of mounting surveillance, protecting critical infrastructure of government, arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of vandalism as well as those suspected to be collaborators

2face Idibia's baby mama Pero Adeniyi spotted in Lagos

One of newly married 2face Idibia's baby mamas, Pero Adeniyi was spotted in Lagos over the weekend. Heard she's been around for a while now and was even in Lagos during 2face and Annie's March 8th traditional wedding in Eket. Pero told people she was in Lagos for business and will be returning to her US base some this week.

Pero and 2face have three kids together, Rose, Justin and the baby she had last year. She also has another child with ex husband, Tunde Borokini.

NOT FUNNY: Boko Haram: 900 corps members redeployed from Kano

NYSC members

Out of 2,400 members of the National Youth Service Corps in the  Batch A posted to Kano State for the 2012/2013 service year, about 900 of them have been redeployed to other states due to the current security challenge in the commercial city.

According to a report monitored on Channels TV on Tuesday, the state Coordinator of the NYSC  in the state, Salisu Yakasai, made this known during the closing ceremony of the Batch A orientation exercise in Kano on Tuesday.

The corps members were redeployed because of the recent  bomb attacks in the state with the latest being the attack at a motor park in the city.

Most of the corps members expected to undergo their primary assignments in the state were initially reported to have declined to report to the orientation camp.

Traumatised by the recent attack at the bus park,  majority of the fresh graduates sought to be redeployed to other parts of the country.

According to Yakassai,  the remaining 1,500 corps members would be posted to the rural areas of the state, which are considered safer.

Meanwhile, the state Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has promised corps members staying in the state  that the  state government would ensure the safety of the corps members in the state.

Apart from the attack on the bus park, where about 80 persons were believed to have lost their lives, nine riot policemen were also ambushed less than 24 hours after the bus park bombing, only escaping by the whiskers

WOW: British teenage whiz strikes deal with Yahoo

Nick D'Aloisio
| credits: www.mirror.co.uk

One of Britain’s youngest Internet entrepreneurs has hit the jackpot after selling his top-selling mobile application Summly to search giant Yahoo, Associated Press reported on Tuesday.

Seventeen-year-old Nick d’Aloisio, who dreamed up the idea for the content-shortening program when he was studying for his exams, said he was surprised by the deal. As with its other recent acquisitions, Yahoo didn’t disclose how much it is paying for Summly, although British newspapers suggested the deal’s value at several million dollars.

“I would have never imagined being in this position so suddenly,” he wrote on his website, before thanking his family, his school — and his venture capitalist backer Li Ka-Shing — for supporting him.

Summly works by condensing content so readers can scroll through more information more quickly — useful for the small screens of smartphones.

The deal announced Monday is Yahoo’s fifth small acquisition in the past five months. All of them have been part of CEO Marissa Mayer’s effort to attract more engineers with expertise in building services for smartphones and tablet computers, an increasingly important area of technology that she believes the Internet company had been neglecting.

Although the Yahoo acquisition won’t close until later this spring, D’Aloisio said the Summly will no longer be available. Summly’s technology will return in other Yahoo products, he said.

D’Aloisio will work for Yahoo in its London office — in part so that he can complete his high school exams. Two other Summly workers will join Yahoo at its Sunnyvale, California, headquarters.

D’Aloisio is younger than Yahoo, which was incorporated in March 1995

Secondary school dropout consults for teaching hospital

University of Uyo gate
| credits:

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man, Usen Effiong, for posing as a medical doctor and consulting for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for more than two months.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Etim Dickson, said Effiong, an indigene of Ukot Usung Itam, in Itu Local Government Area was caught based on intelligence report from the UUTH.

He said, “The police arrested Effiong in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital impersonating a medical doctor.

“The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, Dr. John Udobang denied ever knowing the young man. He is not a member of the association.”

He said the police had investigated Effiong and found out that he was actually impersonating a medical doctor, adding that the law would take its course.

Udobang told PUNCH Metro that he received a call from the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, UUTH, Dr. Sunday Udo on the activities of Effiong.

He said, “Udo told me that they caught someone who has not finished secondary school parading himself as a consultant in the teaching hospital as a medical doctor.”

Udobang explained that he went to the teaching hospital where he interviewed the suspect and found him with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure apparatus).

He said, “We also found some prescriptions and forms that he wanted to fill to become a member of the association of resident doctors”

“Later, when they went to look for him, he was found in the doctor’s consulting room eating.

“He has confessed that he is not a doctor, and has not finished his school certificate, and has been coming there to consult in the last two months.”

Asked how it was possible for an SS II dropout to be consulting in a teaching hospital, Udobang replied that people used to see him but did not know his intention.

He said, “The Dean whose table he was sitting on used to see him and thought he was a medical student or a newly employed doctor that he has not known.

“It was after one of the younger doctors saw him and asked the Dean who he was that they started investigating him.”

Abuja, Warri Bombings: Henry Okah to spend 24 yrs in prison

A SOUTH African Court, yesterday, sentenced former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, Mr. Henry Okah, to 24 years imprisonment, having been found guilty on 13-count charge of terrorism. The charges related to two car bombs in Abuja, in which 12 people were killed and 36 injured on October 1, 2010, on the anniversary of  Nigeria’s independence, and another two explosions in Warri, earlier in March, 2010.
Judge Neels Claassen delivered the sentence in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, Phindi Louw, spokeswoman for the National Prosecuting Authority, said in a phone interview.  The sentence came after five postponements.
Okah was found guilty on January 21 of planning car bomb attacks in 2010 in Abuja, close to where President Goodluck Jonathan was celebrating Nigeria’s 50 years of independence. South African law allows trials of alleged terrorists arrested or resident in the country, no matter where their acts were committed. The court reserved pronouncement of the sentence to January 31, 2013. The sentence was later postponed to February 28, March 18, 19 and 20 before it was given yesterday.
MEND, the main rebel group in Niger Delta, which is home to Nigeria’s petroleum industry, Africa’s biggest, claimed responsibility for the Abuja bombing.
Okah was sentenced to 12 years for the Abuja bombing and another 12 years for a March, 2010 bombing in the Warri which MEND also claimed responsibility for, Louw said. Okah was also sentenced to 10 years for threatening South Africa and that term will run concurrently with the 12-year sentence for the bombing in Abuja, she said.

JAILED – File photo of Henry Okah in Court on February 28 2013.

MEND had threatened to attack the holdings of companies including MTN Group Ltd. (MTN), Africa’s biggest mobile phone operator, and SacOil Holding Ltd. (SCL), an oil and gas exploration company, saying South African President Jacob Zuma is interfering “in the legitimate fight for justice” in the Niger Delta region.
Okah, who denied the charges, declined to testify. He said his trial was unfair because the Nigerian government blocked about 20 witnesses from traveling to South Africa to give evidence, he said in an interview on January 31.
“The judge made his decision based on what was before him,” Okah said. “The problem is that my witnesses were stopped from coming.”
Nigeria’s government accused Okah of being the leader of MEND, which said it was fighting for a greater share of oil revenue for the region. Thousands of fighters have since dropped their weapons and accepted government’s amnesty.
While Okah denies being involved in the Abuja blasts and yesterday described the claim that he leads MEND as “ridiculous,” he has said he commands the support of many armed groups in Nigeria’s oil region.
It’s unfortunate – Falana
Reacting to the sentence, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, former counsel to Henry Okah, said the decision was unfortunate and urged Okah to appeal.
“It is very unfortunate after he had led the militants to lay down their arms here in Nigeria; after he and others were granted amnesty and after I defended him in Jos. The development is very unfortunate. I believe he will definitely appeal the judgment. He still has the ample opportunity to ask for the review of the judgment, and I am sure he will appeal.”
Not a surprise — MEND
On its part, MEND, yesterday, said it received with incredulity the 24 years sentence on Henry Okah after a “sham trial in a South African kangaroo court”.
In a statement by its Spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, MEND said the sentence did not come as a surprise to it and accussed the Federal Government  of influencing the verdict.
The statement read in part: “We are disappointed but not surprised that the South African judiciary has allowed itself to be compromised by the highly corrupt Nigerian government.
“The governments of South Africa and Nigeria should realise that this planned sentencing of Henry Okah would not in any way, shape or form, change our struggle as we will remain dedicated to our cause until we achieve full justice and emancipation for the Niger Delta and its people.”
Sentence politically motivated – Keyamo
Also, Lagos-based human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, said the verdict was politically motivated.
In a statement, Keyamo contended that the judgment was legally incorrect because “Okah was not given adequate facilities and the opportunity to defend himself.”
He therefore urged the Federal Government to “immediately use all diplomatic efforts to ensure that Henry Okah does not die in a South African prison and for the South African Government to grant him unconditional pardon.”
Last January, Edmund Ebiware, an accused accomplice of Henry Okah was sentenced to life in jail by a Federal High Court in Abuja over his involvement in the Oct 1, 2010 Independence Day bombing  by Justice Gabriel Kolawole.
Born in 1965, Okah was arrested in Angola and deported to Nigeria in February 2008, and charged with 62 count of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and arms trafficking, and faced the death penalty.
The trial, which began in April, 2008, was held in private, because late President Umaru Yar’Adua said it would “jeopardize national security”. Lawyers for Okah said a closed trial was an infringement of his rights and asked a superior court to overturn the decision.
In response, on May 26, 2008, MEND attacked a Royal Dutch Shell pipeline in the Delta region and claimed to have killed 11 Nigerian soldiers.
In July 2009, Okah’s lawyer announced that he accepted an amnesty which had been offered by the Nigerian government to any militant willing to lay down his arms in a bid to end attacks on the oil industry.
Senior MEND official “General” Boyloaf claimed that if Okah was set free, the organization would indeed lay down its arms, and Jomo Gbomo Jomo, spokesman of the organization, supported Okah’s decision since his health was failing.
However, other MEND leaders said that they would reject the amnesty. On July 13, 2009, Judge Mohammed Liman announced that Okah was released, telling him in person “Having reviewed what the attorney general said, you have become a free man at this moment.”

Why I killed my brother – Nigerian US Army deserter

Nigerian US Army deserter, Allen Williams Abiodun, 52, who was arrested on February 20, 2013, for allegedly killing his younger brother, a Merchant Navy personnel in Imude community, Oto Awori Local Government area  of Lagos, has finally opened up on why he committed the dastardly act.
The six-footer confessed  to Crime Alert  that he stabbed the deceased,  Allen Olawale Ayetimi,24,to death, following  continuous threat on his life by Olawale.
The late Olawale was reportedly sleeping  when Williams  allegedly stabbed him in the head, neck and jugular.
After allegedly committing the devilish deed, Williams reportedly dumped Olawale’s remains  in an uncompleted building foundation behind their compound and,covered it with leaves.
Report said he thereafter,  took his late brother’s ATM card,  Merchant Navy uniform and phone.
Crime Alert gathered that the deceased only returned from an official trip to  Port Harcourt at about 11pm that fateful day. Although, he  was based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,  his mission to Lagos, as reliably gathered, was to settle a score between his elder brother and their mother.
On arrival,the late Olawale reportedly washed his uniform, took his bath  and shared a brief moment with his mother and siblings in the shop they were confined to,during which he informed them of his intention to convince his brother to accept them back to the main building,unaware that he would never live to see his mission accomplished.

Williams Abiodun,

Before retiring to the bedroom which he shared with his elder brother, Olawale  was said to have instructed one of his sisters to boil water for him to bath the next morning.
Apprehension set in next day, after his sister went to inform him that the hot water was ready, only to discover his blood-stained clothes on the floor without any sight of him. As she was about to leave, she reportedly met Williams, who informed her that Olawale had gone to the bank.
Unsure of what to do, she reportedly  alerted her mother who raised  alarm that created a scene in front of the building.
A  neighbour who claimed to have seen Williams dragging what he suspected to be Olawale’s body into the bush told Crime Alert:  “I came out  at about 1 am to ease myself, only to notice some movements. Out of curiosity, I peeped to see what  it was, only to find Williams dragging something on the floor.
“When I finished from the toilet, he was returning from where he went.  I noticed his hands were stained with blood  and out of curiosity, I asked where the blood came from and he said he just killed a goat. Since  I  did not suspect anything, I went inside to sleep. It was when I heard a shout from their compound in the morning that I was compelled to  disclose what happened.”
This revelation reportedly led to William’s arrest after which he was handed over to the police.
However in this interview with Crime Alert at the State Criminal Investigations Department, Yaba, Monday,  where he was paraded alongside some robbery suspects that have been terrorizing Lagos,  it was observed that Williams was not coherent with his words. He simply stated that the deceased was never his brother.
According got him, “He is not my brother. He is Ogunmadede’s son. What happened on that  very day  was that as I was in my room at midnight, somebody pointed a  torch light in my face. And I said hey man, you know you have been threatening me. The next thing I did was to reach for a cutlass. I moved over and stabbed him in the head in order to act  safe. It did not look easy for me to kill him”

The victim, Olawale

Asked why he chased his mother and siblings from the main building, he denied that stating:   “ I am a US soldier for your information.  I only escaped and returned home in 1992 because of a lady I fell in love with from the Ogunmade family in Ondo State. But when I returned, she dumped me and I could not go back”.
Back to the question about his mother, he said, “I did not chase my mother away. In fact, she was in her office in Ikeja when the incident occurred”.
Asked how that was possible since he said the incident occurred at midnight,  he simply stared at this reporter. At a point,  he started behaving funny like one who is mentally deranged, saying things that were not relevant to the issue at hand.
Investigation carried out in his community revealed that he was  feigning to be mentally deranged, in order to be let off the hook.
One of his relatives who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “ He has never had any mental problem since I knew him. He is just pretending so  that one will think he is a mad man”.
Meanwhile, his mother and siblings are currently gripped with fear over the possibility of Williams’ release. But police operatives assured they would conduct a test on him to ascertain his mental state before charging him to court.

Help! I’m being roped for murder committed by policemen – Suspect cries out

A supervisor with Topflier company located  at  Kilometre 36 along Lekki/Epe expressway, Lagos, has called on the appropriate offices and concerned Nigerians to come to his aid, claiming he was being framed for a murder  he had no hand in.
Consequently, the supervisor identified as Emmanuel Igho, has been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Yaba for  the past six months.
He was however arraigned before   Yaba Magistrate’s Court 2, Sabo, Monday,but he was not  granted  bail , on the ground that the court was yet to get report from the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP.

Emmanuel Igho…’My hands are clean’

Trouble as gathered started for Igho,30, a father of two, following his attempt to render medical assistance to   a casual worker with one of the companies around his, who was  alleged to have  beaten to stupor by some policemen.
But unfortunately, the causal worker identified  as Abdulahi Musiliu, reportedly died moments after  arriving the hospital.
Narrating his ordeal to Crime Guard shortly before leaving the court premises, Igho said: “ It all happened on October 10,  2012. I was on a  routine patrol around the company’s  premises, when  I  saw  one Adbulahi Musiliu, a casual worker with another company in the estate and an unidentified person  smoking Indian hemp.
When I accosted them, Abdullahi challenged me, saying  it was like I wanted to loose my job. He said he was a Yoruba man and therefore,  was entitled to do whatever he liked anywhere. Sensing danger, I called the policemen attached to the company  to usher the smokers out. They  did and I went back to work.
But about  20 minutes later, Abdulahi came back with some boys who came to inquire about what happened between us. After explaining to them . They blamed him (Abdulahi) and begged on his behalf.
“As they were about leaving, Corporal Kehinde Ogburemi dragged Abdulahi and they started fighting, in the process of which  Abdulahi overpowered him. He inflicted injuries on the policeman and even tore his uniform. As we were trying to bring the situation under control, Kehinde and his colleague Moses Paul, fired some shots into the air which prompted  everyone to run for safety.
But as everyone fled, the policemen still held  Adbulahi and requested that  he   must give them N30,000 for the assault. His friends pleaded with  N3000 but the policemen refused, saying they should bring N20,000.
Abdullahi later left  apparently to look for money. By the time he came back, his friends had given the policemen  N3000 but they refused to accept. The argument over the payment dragged on till 7pm, when I was supposed to close for the day. But I decided to stay back to ensure the matter was settled. By the time they eventually resolved the matter it was 9pm.
Barely had I stepped out of the premises heading for home that one of the boys working with me ran to  inform me that the policemen were beating  Abdulahi. I rushed back and met him (Abdullahi )on the ground, unconscious. I even scolded the policemen that they should have taken the man to the station rather than beating  him up. And when I flashed my phone  torchlight on Abdulahi, I discovered he was forming in the mouth. I called  his friends to take  him home and even asked whether he had been sick before, but they said no.
I was at home at about 2am when I received a phone call from one of his friends that his condition had worsened. But I could not come out at that ungodly hour. However, I rushed to work very early the following  day and took Abdullahi to the hospital, because I was told he was abandoned there.
After examining his condition, the doctor said he would  be okay. I then left to notify manager of the company where he worked about what happened, who  went to the hospital with me to see him.
I also went to Mulero Police Station, Ajah, to  report the incident. But  at the station, I noticed that the policemen were trying to turn the case around by putting the blame on my boys who  were present when the policemen were beating Abdulahi”, he said.
Abdullahi as gathered, was transferred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital , LUTH, Idiaraba, on doctor’s advice on October 11, 2013, where unfortunately, he died.
Harvest of  arrest over   Abdullahi’s death.  
Continuing, Igho said, “one of my boys was   arrested on October 11, 2013 , following Abdullahi’s death. I had to bail him  with N2,000. Next day,  another worker was   arrested and  when I went to the station to effect his bail , I was arrested.
The policemen said I should testify that my boys killed Abdulahi but I refused and insisted rather, that their colleagues; Corporals Moses Paul and  Kehinde Ogboremi, from Mulero division who were  attached to our company beat up Abdulahi, which led to his being hospitalized and he died.
Detained since October 2012
On October 28, 2012,  I  was detained at  Mulero police division,from where I was transferred to the  SCID until this March, over an offense I knew nothing about. What I did was to protect my job by taking the deceased to the hospital and reported the case to the Police.
Is this how the world is? Is there no justice any more? I am therefore using this medium to beg for justice so that I do not end up in jail over a case I have no hand in”, he stated.
His lawyer,Ogedi Ogu, however assured that justice would be prevail at the end of the day. But regretted that effort to effect his client’s bail was stalled by the absence of the DPP’s advice.
Policemen arrested
However, Crime Guard’s investigation revealed that the two policemen in question had been arrested and were currently being detained at the SCID.
The policemen: Corporals Moses and Kehinde, who hail  from Edo and Ondo states respectively, were reportedly  arrested on the order of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Umar Manko. Although, it could not be ascertained whether  they were tried before their arrest but sources hinted  that their arrest and subsequent detention was to prevent them from escaping.
In their statement to operatives at the Homicide section of SCID, the policemen reportedly  admitted to have had a scuffle with the decease,but dissociated themselves from his death.
They also  reportedly claimed that  the deceased and his colleagues attempted to snatch their riffles from them, thereby necessitating the release of gun shots. They were said to have also tendered the torn police uniform as evidence.
However ,if found culpable , the Corporals as learnt, would be dismissed from the Force and charged for murder.
The prosecuting council had told the court last Monday that: “We have got the DPP’s advice concerning the officers. What we are waiting for now, is the DPP’s advice on the defendant. As soon as it comes, the case will be merged and all parties involved will be charged to court”.
Meanwhile, the remains of Abdullahi had been buried,while his family as gathered, had pleaded that the case be settled out of court.